2008 Annie Awards Full List of Winners.

http://www.annieawards.org/

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature

“Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Best Animated Home Entertainment Production

“Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs,” The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Best Animated Short Subject

“Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death,” Aardman Animations Ltd.

Best Animated Television Commercial

United Airlines “Heart,” Duck Studios

Best Animated Television Production

“Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II,” ShadowMachine

Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children

Animated Television Production Produced for Children “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” Nickelodeon

Best Animated Video Game

“Kung Fu Panda,” Activision

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects

Li-Ming Lawrence Lee “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Feature Production

James Baxter “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Television Production or Short Form

Pierre Perifel “Secrets of the Furious Five,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production

Nico Marlet, “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Nico Marlet, “Secrets of the Furious Five,” DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Feature Production

John Stevenson & Mark Osborne, “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Joaquim Dos Santos, “Avatar: The Last Airbender: Sozin’s Comet Pt. 3,” Nickelodeon

Music in an Animated Feature Production

Hans Zimmer & John Powell, “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Music in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

 Henry Jackman, Hans Zimmer & John Powell, “Secrets of the Furious Five,” DreamWorks Animation

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production

Tang Heng, “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Production Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Tang Heng, “Secrets of the Furious Five”  - DreamWorks Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production

Jen Yuh Nelson, “Kung Fu Panda”  - DreamWorks Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Chris Williams, “Glago’s Guest”  - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

Dustin Hoffman, Voice of Shifu, “Kung Fu Panda”  - DreamWorks Animation

Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Ahmed Best, Voice of Jar Jar Binks, “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II”  - ShadowMachine

Writing in an Animated Feature Production

Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, “Kung Fu Panda”  - DreamWorks Animation

Writing in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Tom Root, Douglas Goldstein, Hugh Davidson, Mike Fasolo, Seth Green, Dan Milano, Matthew Senreich, Kevin Shinick, Zeb Wells, Breckin Meyer, “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II”  - ShadowMachine

PIXAR goes home empty-handed at the 36th Annual Annie Awards, DreamWorks Animation SKG takes home the top prize for Kung Fu Panda, sweeping the awards

Results from Variety.com’s Awards Central.

Well, the results are in and while I am surprised at the fact that WALL•E did not take home the Best Feature, and Best Feature Director, the majority of the production awards I had guessed would be going to Kung Fu Panda/Secrets Of The Furious Five. The one in particular that I missed and kind of knew all along was that Dustin Hoffman was going to be taking home the prize for voice acting. I chose Ian McShane, also for Kung Fu Panda, fully aware that it would probably be his co-star as mentioned above. Admittedly, when there were more than one animator/production designer/etc. nominated for Kung Fu Panda, I guessed and picked one. And on these, I only picked the wrong one once, in the Storyboarding Feature category.

I am quite pleased that I was able to sucessfully call both of the music awards, and several of the others as well. My feeling all along was that, while this may sound unusual, Kung Fu Panda has a more animated feel to it that WALL•E, and seemed more like an Annie Award contender. But, that’s just my take. Who knows how close these races were? This does beg the question though. Does WALL•E have serious competition at the Oscars? The Annie Awards do not always pick the same winner as the Oscars, as many may recall that Cars took home the Annie Award in 2006 at the 34th Annual Annie Awards, while the Oscar that year went to Happy Feet.

So WALL•E does not take home any awards, nor does Bolt. All of the movie awards this year went to Kung Fu Panda, I believe. It all comes down to the vote, I guess, and I am willing to bet that some of these races were very close indeed.

- Erin V.

2008 Annie Awards Predictions

Here are John C. and Erin V.’s predictions for the 36th Annual Annie Awards. We will post a list of winners later in the night. EDIT: Winners now included in bold-italic. Our correct guesses are also in bold type.

John C. had 8/24 correct guesses and Erin V. had 13/24. Needless to say, we call the movie categories quite a bit better it seems...

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature

Wall·E – Pixar Animation Studios - John C.

Wall·E – Pixar Animation Studios - Erin V.

Winner - “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Best Animated Home Entertainment Production

Batman: Gotham Knight – Warner Bros. Animation - John C.

Batman: Gotham Knight – Warner Bros. Animation - Erin V.

Winner - “Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs,” The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Best Animated Short Subject

Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death – Aardman Animations Ltd. - John C.

Presto – Pixar Animation Studios - Erin V.

Winner - “Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death,” Aardman Animations Ltd.

Best Animated Television Commercial

Sarah – Z Animation - John C.

United Airlines “Heart” – Duck Studios - Erin V.

Winner - United Airlines “Heart,” Duck Studios

Best Animated Television Production

The Simpsons – Gracie Films/Fox TV - John C.

The Simpsons – Gracie Films/Fox TV - Erin V.

Winner - “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II,” ShadowMachine

Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children

A Miser Brothers Christmas – Warner Bros. Animation in association with ABC Family & Cuppa Coffee Studios - John C.

A Miser Brothers Christmas – Warner Bros. Animation in association with ABC Family & Cuppa Coffee Studios - Erin V.

Winner - Animated Television Production Produced for Children “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” Nickelodeon

Best Animated Video Game

Kung Fu Panda – Activision - John C.

Kung Fu Panda – Activision - Erin V.

Winner - “Kung Fu Panda,” Activision

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects

Li-Ming Lawrence Lee “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - John C.

Li-Ming Lawrence Lee “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Li-Ming Lawrence Lee “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Feature Production

Jeff Gabor “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios - John C.

James Baxter “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - James Baxter “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Television Production or Short Form

Pierre Perifel “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - John C.

Pierre Perifel “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Pierre Perifel “Secrets of the Furious Five,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production

Sang Jun Lee “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios - John C.

Nico Marlet “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Nico Marlet, “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Nico Marlet “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - John C.

Nico Marlet “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Nico Marlet, “Secrets of the Furious Five,” DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Feature Production

Andrew Stanton “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios - John C.

Andrew Stanton “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios - Erin V.

Winner - John Stevenson & Mark Osborne, “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Alan Smart - SpongeBob SquarePants “Penny Foolish” – Nickelodeon - John C.

Alan Smart - SpongeBob SquarePants “Penny Foolish” – Nickelodeon - Erin V.

Winner - Joaquim Dos Santos, “Avatar: The Last Airbender: Sozin’s Comet Pt. 3,” Nickelodeon

Music in an Animated Feature Production

Hans Zimmer & John Powell – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - John C.

Hans Zimmer & John Powell – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Hans Zimmer & John Powell, “Kung Fu Panda,” DreamWorks Animation

Music in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Kevin Kiner – “Star Wars The Clone Wars: Rising Malevolence” – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. - John C.

Henry Jackman, Hans Zimmer & John Powell – “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Henry Jackman, Hans Zimmer & John Powell, “Secrets of the Furious Five,” DreamWorks Animation

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production

Ralph Eggleston “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios - John C.

Ralph Eggleston “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios - Erin V.

Winner - Tang Heng, “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Production Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Andy Harkness “Glago’s Guest” – Walt Disney Animation Studios - John C.

Tang Heng “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Tang Heng, “Secrets of the Furious Five” - DreamWorks Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production

Ronnie Del Carmen – “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios - John C.

Alessandro Carloni – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Jen Yuh Nelson, “Kung Fu Panda” - DreamWorks Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Chris Williams “Glago’s Guest” – Walt Disney Animation Studios - John C.

Chris Williams “Glago’s Guest” – Walt Disney Animation Studios - Erin V.

Winner - Chris Williams, “Glago’s Guest” - Walt Disney Animation Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

Mark Walton – Voice of Rhino – “Bolt” – Walt Disney Animation Studios - John C.

Ian McShane – Voice of Tai Lung – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Dustin Hoffman, Voice of Shifu, “Kung Fu Panda” - DreamWorks Animation

Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Ahmed Best – Voice of Jar Jar Binks – “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” - ShadowMachine - John C.

Ahmed Best – Voice of Jar Jar Binks – “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” - ShadowMachine - Erin V.

Winner - Ahmed Best, Voice of Jar Jar Binks, “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” - ShadowMachine

Writing in an Animated Feature Production

Ari Folman – “Waltz With Bashir” – Sony Pictures Classics, Bridgit Folman, Les Films D'ici, Razor Films - John C.

Jon Aibel & Glenn Berger – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger, “Kung Fu Panda” - DreamWorks Animation

Writing in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Paul McEvoy and Todd Berger – “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - John C.

Paul McEvoy and Todd Berger – “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation - Erin V.

Winner - Tom Root, Douglas Goldstein, Hugh Davidson, Mike Fasolo, Seth Green, Dan Milano, Matthew Senreich, Kevin Shinick, Zeb Wells, Breckin Meyer, “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” - ShadowMachine

Updated at 4:00am on Saturday, January 31st, 2009.

The Annie Awards - Animation's Highest Honour

http://www.annieawards.org/

The 36th Annual Annie Awards will take place on Friday, January 30, 2009, at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles, California.

The pre-reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by the Annie Awards ceremony at 8 p.m. and post-award party at 10 p.m.  All events are held at Royce Hall.  Winners now in Bold type.  

2008 Annie Award Nominations by Category

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature

Bolt – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Kung Fu Panda – DreamWorks Animation

$9.99 – Sherman Pictures/Lama Films

Wall·E – Pixar Animation Studios

Waltz With Bashir – Sony Pictures Classics, Bridgit Folman, Les Films D'ici, Razor Films 

Best Animated Home Entertainment Production

Batman: Gotham Knight – Warner Bros. Animation

Christmas Is Here Again – Easy To Dream Entertainment in association with Renegade Animation

Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Justice League: The New Frontier – Warner Bros. Animation

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning – DisneyToon Studios

Best Animated Short Subject

Glago’s Guest – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Hot Dog – Bill Plympton Studio

Presto – Pixar Animation Studios

Sebastian’s Voodoo – Joaquin Baldwin

Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death – Aardman Animations Ltd.

Best Animated Television Commercial

Giant Monster – Curious Pictures

Long Legs Mr. Hyde – Curious Pictures

Rotofugi: The Collectors – Screen Novelties/RSA Films

Sarah – Z Animation

United Airlines “Heart” – Duck Studios

Best Animated Television Production

King of the Hill – 20th Century Fox TV

Moral Orel – ShadowMachine

Phineas and Ferb – Disney Television Animation

Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II - ShadowMachine

The Simpsons – Gracie Films/Fox TV

Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children

A Miser Brothers Christmas – Warner Bros. Animation in association with ABC Family & Cuppa Coffee Studios

Avatar: The Last Airbender – Nickelodeon

Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends “Destination Imagination” – Cartoon Network Studios

The Mighty B! – Nickelodeon

Underfist: Halloween Bash – Cartoon Network Studios

Best Animated Video Game

Dead Space – Electronic Arts

Kung Fu Panda – Activision

Wall·E – Heavy Iron Studios, a division of THQ, Inc.

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects

Alen Lai “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios

Li-Ming Lawrence Lee “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Fangwei Lee “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” – DreamWorks Animation

Kevin Lee “Bolt” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Enrique Vila “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios

Character Animation in a Feature Production

James Baxter “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Jeff Gabor “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios

Philippe Le Brun “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Victor Navone “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios

Dan Wagner “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Television Production or Short Form

Sandro Cleuzo “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Joshua A. Jennings “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” - ShadowMachine 

Pierre Perifel “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Feature Production

Valerie Hadida “Igor” – Exodus Film Group

Sang Jun Lee “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios

Nico Marlet “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Bryan Arnett – Mighty B! “Bat Mitzah Crashers” – Nickelodeon

Ben Balistreri - Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends “Mondo Coco” – Cartoon Network Studios

Sean Galloway “The Spectacular Spider-Man” – Sony Pictures Television

Jorge Gutierrez – El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera “The Good, The Bad, The Tigre” – Nickelodeon

Nico Marlet “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Directing in an Animated Feature Production

Sam Fell, Rob Stevenhagen “The Tale Of Despereaux” – Universal Pictures

Ari Folman “Waltz With Bashir” – Sony Pictures Classics, Bridgit Folman, Les Films D'ici, Razor Films 

Tatia Rosenthal “9.99” – Sherman Pictures/ Lama Films

John Stevenson & Mark Osborne “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Andrew Stanton “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios

Directing in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Bob Anderson - The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror XIX” – Gracie Films/Fox TV

Joaquim Dos Santos – Avatar: The Last Airbender “Sozin’s Comet Pt. 3” – Nickelodeon

Craig McCracken, Rob Renzetti - Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends “Destination Imagination” – Cartoon Network Studios

Chris McKay – Moral Orel “Passing” – ShadowMachine

Alan Smart - SpongeBob SquarePants “Penny Foolish” – Nickelodeon

Music in an Animated Feature Production

Kevin Manthei – “Batman: Gotham Knight” – Warner Bros. Animation

John Powell – “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios

Max Richter – “Waltz With Bashir” – Sony Pictures Classics, Bridgit Folman, Les Films D'ici, Razor Films 

William Ross – “The Tale Of Despereaux” – Universal Pictures

Hans Zimmer & John Powell – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Music in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Carl Finch & Brave Combo - Click and Clack’s “As the Wrench Turns” – CTTV Productions

Henry Jackman, Hans Zimmer & John Powell – “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Kevin Kiner – “Star Wars The Clone Wars: Rising Malevolence” – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.

Guy Moon – Back at the Barnyard “Cowman: The Uddered Avenger” – Nickelodeon/Omation

Guy Michelmore – “Growing Up Creepie: Rockabye Freakie” – Taffy Entertainment LLC

Production Design in an Animated Feature Production

Ralph Eggleston “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios

Paul Felix “Bolt” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Tang Heng “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Evgeni Tomov “The Tale Of Despereaux” – Universal Pictures

Raymond Zibach “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Production Design in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Andy Harkness “Glago’s Guest” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Tang Heng “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Seonna Hong – The Mighty B! “Bee Patients” – Nickelodeon

Dan Krall – Chowder “The Heavy Sleeper” – Cartoon Network Studios

Raymond Zibach “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production

Alessandro Carloni – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Ronnie Del Carmen – “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios

Joe Mateo “Bolt” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Jen Yuh Nelson – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Rob Stevenhagen – “The Tale Of Despereaux” – Universal Pictures

Storyboarding in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Butch Hartman – Fairly OddParents “Mission: Responsible” – Nickelodeon

Andy Kelly – Ni Hao, Kai-Lan “Twirly Whirly Flyers” – Nickelodeon Productions/Nelvana

Andy Schuhler – “Secret of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Eddie Trigueros “The Mighty B! “Name Shame”– Nickelodeon

Chris Williams “Glago’s Guest” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production

Ben Burtt – Voice of Wall·E – “Wall·E” – Pixar Animation Studios

Dustin Hoffman – Voice of Shifu – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

James Hong – Voice of Mr. Ping – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Ian McShane – Voice of Tai Lung – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation

Mark Walton – Voice of Rhino – “Bolt” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Ahmed Best – Voice of Jar Jar Binks – “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” - ShadowMachine

Seth MacFarlane – Voice of Peter Griffin – Family Guy “I Dream of Jesus” – Fox TV Animation/Fuzzy Door Productions

Dwight Schultz – Voice of Mung Daal – Chowder “Apprentice Games” – Cartoon Network Studios

Writing in an Animated Feature Production

Jon Aibel & Glenn Berger – “Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation 

Etan Cohen and Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath – “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” – DreamWorks Animation

Ari Folman – “Waltz With Bashir” – Sony Pictures Classics, Bridgit Folman, Les Films D'ici, Razor Films 

Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio – “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who” – Blue Sky Studios

Writing in an Animated Television Production or Short Form

Joel H. Cohen – The Simpsons “The Debarted” – Gracie Films/Fox TV

Scott Kreamer – El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera “Mustache Love” – Nickelodeon

Paul McEvoy and Todd Berger – “Secrets of the Furious Five” – DreamWorks Animation

Tom Root, Douglas Goldstein, Hugh Davidson, Mike Fasolo, Seth Green, Dan Milano, Matthew Senreich, Kevin Shinick, Zeb Wells, Breckin Meyer – “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” – ShadowMachine

Chris Williams – “Glago’s Guest” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

JURIED AWARDS

Winsor McCay recipients - Mike Judge, John Lasseter and Nick Park for career contributions to the art of animation

June Foray award - Bill Turner for significant and benevolent or charitable impact on the art and industry of animation

Certificate of Merit award - Amir Avni, Mike Fontanelli, Kathy Turner, Alex Vassilev

Closing The Ring DVD Review

Images © Scion Films Premier (Third) Limited Partnership/ Uk Film Council/ Closing The Ring Limited/ Ctr Canada Limited. Distributed Exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.

CLOSING THE RING - An Alliance Films Release

http://www.closingtheringmovie.co.uk/home.html

On DVD: January 27th, 2009

Rated Canada 14A for sexual content, violence and nudity

Running time: 117 minutes

Sir Richard Attenborough (dir.)

Shirley MacLaine as Ethel Ann

Christopher Plummer as Jack

Mischa Barton as Young Ethel Ann

Stephen Amell as Teddy Gordon

Neve Campbell as Marie

Pete Postlethwaite as Mr. Quinlan

Brenda Fricker as Eleanor

Gregory Smith as Young Jack

David Alpay as Chuck

Martin McCann as Jimmy Reilley

Our reviews below:

_____________________________________________

Closing The Ring Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Closing The Ring takes place over fifty-years. It takes place in 1991 in Branagan Michigan where Ethel Ann, (Shirley MacLaine), has just buried her husband and in Belfast, Northern Ireland where the young and naive Jimmy Reily, (Martin McCann) and old-man Mr. Quinlan, (Pete Postlethwaite), have found an old ring buried in the hillside. The film switches back and forth between 1991 and 1941, almost seamlessly as we realize how everyone is connected and how much impact the past can have on it’s future. I really liked how everything gets tied together at the end, so for this reason alone Closing The Ring is intelligent entertainment mixing in drama, romance and even some humor. The cinematography of Ireland, by Roger Pratt, is beautiful. Closing The Ring probably won’t be that easy to find, But is definitely worth checking out.

The DVD includes the film’s theatrical trailer and an interesting twelve-minute making-of featurette.

_____________________________________________

Closing The Ring Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Closing The Ring is an extremely underrated film. This movie had much more than I had expected. The depth of the storyline is amazing as everything from the past is seen by the end as a direct cause of something in the present.

The movie opens in 1991 - fifty years after three American soldiers went to fight in WWII. In the present, 1991, Ethel Ann, (played in 1991 by Shirley MacLaine, and in 1941 by Mischa Barton), has just buried her husband who fought in the war fifty years prior. Meanwhile, young Jimmy Reilley, (Martin McCann), is on a hill in Belfast, Ireland, where he meets Mr. Quinlan, (Pete Postlethwaite), who is digging up a B-17 war plane that crashed fifty years ago. There, Jimmy finds a wedding ring, and decides to track down it’s owners.

The movie continues to cut back and forth between 1941 and 1991 and the level that these story lines match up is extraordinary. A lot of people may have found this movie confusing at times, and I am sure that you would get a lot more out of it on the second viewing. I enjoyed the background score that played throughout the movie, which was composed by Jeff Danna. Overall, Closing The Ring is a well made movie that is definitely worth watching especially around Remembrance/(Veteran’s) Day.

The disc also includes a 12 minute making of featurette called Love, Loss & Life: The Making Of Closing The Ring, and the theatrical trailer, which are both worth watching.

_____________________________________________

Closing The Ring Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Closing The Ring is a wartime romance that spars over 50 years. The movie begins in the United States, in the year 1991. A funeral for a man named Chuck is being held in a small church, while his widow Ethel Ann sits outside. Meanwhile, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, an older man, Mr. Quinlan, and a young man Jimmy, are digging on a hill, searching for any remains of a lane that had crashed 50 years prior. The movie than flashes backward to 1941, and back again, showing how the characters’ lives are so intrinsically connected. In the end, everyone’s lives come together, like a ring.

The story in this film is amazing. The scenery is beautiful, and the score is just as lovely. The violence in this film is surprisingly minimal, considering that this is a wartime film. However, when violence is shown it is heart breaking, but really brings the story together. Nudity is also seen in 2 scenes, and is gratuitous, but is brief, and not the main focus of the film. Over all, this is a lovely movie about how every person is connected.

The bonus features include a 12 minute making of feature, and the trailer. The making of feature is good, but it would have been nice to have more bonus features. This is one movie that you will definitely want to own.

_____________________________________________

Closing The Ring Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Closing The Ring is a lovely wartime romantic drama loosely based on a true story. The story is told through flashbacks between 1941 and 1991 and across two continents, in Belfast, Northern Ireland and in the Midwestern United States.

We first meet Ethel Ann, (Shirley MacLaine), in the U.S. in 1991 at the funeral of her husband, Chuck. She seems strangely detached and unable to grieve. The story then starts the flashbacks and flashfowards between the two eras and locations. The story moves quickly and the viewer has to pay attention to follow the connections between all the characters. The story does unfold with an ending that is satisfying to the viewer.

I liked the film. I liked the storyline about love and loss and the cinematography. The score is lovely to listen to and the acting genuine and believable. It has a nice lo key feel to it. My only complaint is the one full nude scene of the younger Ethel Ann. It does nothing to movie the story forward and seems to only be there for the sake of having a nude scene.

In terms of seeing this movie on DVD, it works well on the smaller screen and has enough in terms of extras to make it worthwhile. If you like wartime romances you’ll probably like this one. A good love story is always worth watching.

_____________________________________________

Closing The Ring Review By Tony

**** (out of 4)

At the end of 1941, Teddy (Stephen Amell) secretly married Ethel Ann (Mischa Barton) just before going off to war with his airman buddies Chuck (David Alpay) and [young] Jack (Gregory Smith). Teddy was killed when his plane crashed on Black Mountain overlooking Belfast. When Chuck came back Ethel Ann married him.

Closing the Ring moves back and forth between fictional Branagan Michigan and Belfast in 1991 and in flashbacks to 1941. In the opening 1991 Michigan scene we see Chuck’s daughter (Neve Campbell) and [old] Jack (Christopher Plummer) at his funeral while [old] Ethel Ann (Shirley MacLaine) sits smoking outside the church. Meanwhile young Jimmy (Martin McCann), meets the grumpy retired fireman Quinlan (Pete Postlethwaite) on Black Mountain, and helps him dig up bits of the plane wreck even though his granny Eleanor (Brenda Fricker) had warned him to stay away from there. He finds a gold ring and with Quinlan’s help phones Ethel Ann whose name with Teddy’s is engraved in it. In 1991 Black Mountain was a convenient location from which to set off IRA bombs. When Jimmy’s mountain hikes come under suspicion both from the IRA and RUC police, Quinlan sends him to America to deliver the ring.

I suspect that Closing the Ring may prove to be one of the most underrated and overlooked films of all time. Released in Britain in 2007 it was about a year before it came and went here with dismally mixed reviews, and its DVD release today has gone almost unnoticed. Though admittedly confused at first, over two hours we slowly discover how the lives of all these characters are connected over time and space as they come to grips with old secrets. Trashed by some, I believe this type of flashback narrative structure full of interesting coincidences was no more confusing here and was more plausible than the much more popular Slumdog Millionaire. It is a treat to see consistently excellent work from all the young actors and their older counterparts, brilliantly directed by Richard Attenborough, who at 83 could have been a war veteran himself. Despite the obvious dramatic nature of the stories, there is a lot of humour. For example, though Jimmy is pious and naive, his granny is often reminded by her plainspoken friends of her wartime Past providing much needed immoral support to the Yanks (including Jack).

Produced in Canada and Northern Ireland, the film is beautifully shot, using restored period aircraft from the Hamilton Ontario Wartime Aircraft Museum (plugging my home town). I suppose the brief scenes of partial nudity which put off my colleagues could have been left out. The fine musical score alternates between American and Celtic tunes. The DVD extras include a trailer and 12 minute featurette with the usual glowing comments all around between the actors and director which in this case are totally justified.

_____________________________________________

Consensus: Closing The Ring is a film that was seriously underrated in North America. It was nominated in 2008 for Best Film, and Best Production Design at the IFTA, (Irish Film and Television Awards) - and deservingly so. Though the storyline may seem complex at first, it is very well made, with solid acting. This movie is definitely worth checking out especially around Remembrance Day. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona DVD Review

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

http://vickycristina-movie.com/

On DVD: January 27th, 2009

Rated Canada 14A for sexual content, coarse language and mature theme.

Running time: 97 minutes

Woody Allen (dir.)

Rebecca Hall as Vicky

Scarlett Johansson as Cristina

Javier Bardem as Juan Antonio Gonzalo

Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena

Christopher Evan Welch as Narrator

Chris Messina as Doug

Patricia Clarkson as Judy Nash

Kevin Dunn as Mark Nash

Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson star in Woody Allen’s VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, an Alliance Films release. Photo by: Victor Bello/TWC 2008.

© 2009 Gravier Productions, Inc. and Mediaproducción, S.L. Artwork © 2009 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved. Distributed exclusively in Canada by Alliance Films. All Rights Reserved.

Our reviews below:

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Vicky, (Rebecca Hall), a smart and going to be married university student and her naive friend Cristina, (Scarlett Johansson), decide to spend their summer in Barcelona to take pictures, study the architecture and have a vacation. There they run into Juan Antonio, (Javier Bardem), a painter who still has feelings for his ex-wife. Penelope Cruz plays his ex as crazy, neurotic and impossible not to watch. She is fully deserving of her Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The cinematography of Spain by Javier Aguirresarobe, provides a scenic backdrop for the film. Woody Allen’s characters are totally believable, yet could only exist in the movies, his writing is sharp and the dialogue is very funny. From start to finish Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a lot of fun.

The DVD has no bonus features, not even the film’s theatrical trailer, so even though the film is great, it’s not really worth the 20 to 25 dollars that it is selling for.

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona actually surprised me in a great way. I did not expect it to be as funny as it was. The writing is great, and would have been deserving of a Best Screenplay nomination.

The story begins when Vicky, (Rebecca Hall), and her friend Cristina, (Scarlett Johansson), go on a trip to Spain for the Summer. In Barcelona they meet Juan Antonio Gonzalo, (Javier Bardem). Both young women find him attractive, although Vicky is engaged to be married. As they strike up relationships with him, his estranged ex-wife, Maria Elena, (Penélope Cruz), comes back into the picture.

The acting by the whole cast is great, in particular by Penélope Cruz who is nominated for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona for an Oscar. This is most deserving, and I would not be surprised if she wins. Over all, this movie is very well made, and the light music in the background really keeps the mood. The other thing that I must note, is that I loved the narrator, (Christopher Evan Welch), which gave the film a certain mood that really fit here.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is definitely worth seeing at some point. Since the disc has no extras, you would not be missing out if you PPV this one. Eventually though, you may want to add it to your collection.

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a funny comedy, with a lot of interesting twists and turns. When two American women go to Barcelona to study the architecture, they run into an artist named Juan Antonio, who takes a liking to the both of them. Cristina finds him fun, and agrees to go off with him to Oveido. Vicky, however is engaged, and doesn’t want to go out with someone else, let alone a man who has a psychotic ex-wife. But Vicky agrees to go to Oveido, just to keep an eye on her naive and impulsive friend, Cristina. Things start to get complicated when Cristina gets sick. But the relationships between Vicky, Juan Antonio, and Cristina get in a real tangled knot when Juan Antonio’s ex-wife, Maria Elena comes back into the picture. There, some really unusual and quirky things start to happen.

This movie is fun and very exciting. The acting is excellent, and Penélope Cruz is perfect as Maria Elena. The scenery in the film is beautiful, and the narration track adds a light, comedic element to the movie. The music is very fitting, and quite lovely.

The only setback about the DVD is that there are no bonus features, not even a commentary track. However, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is such an enjoyable film, that the DVD is definitely worth owning.

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

The Golden Globes got it right when they named Vicky Cristina Barcelona Best Comedy/Musical Picture. Woody Allen’s romantic comedy about two American women, Vicky and Cristina, and their romantic adventures in Barcelona is extremely well written and very funny.

When both Vicky, (Rebecca Hall), and Cristina, (Scarlett Johansson), meet Juan Antonio, (Javier Bardem), their expectations of love and relationships are challenged and result in some interesting twists and turns. One of the interesting twists and turns comes form Juan Antonio’s mentally unstable ex-wife, Maria Elena, played to perfection by Penélope Cruz. It is no surprise that Cruz is up for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Oscars.

The fast-paced dialogue between the four main characters is what carries this film. The acting is excellent and the interactions between the characters is believable. The technique of using a narrator talk us through the story works well. The music also works really well in keeping the story interesting. Visually, this is a very pretty movie to watch. The Barcelona architecture and scenery are lovely. My only complaint is with the English subtitles when Juan Antonio and Maria Elena are speaking Spanish. I found the subtitles hard to read. They moved too quickly for me and the white type blended into some of the background.

Overall, this DVD is worth owning despite the fact that there are no extras or bonus features. If you are a Woody Allen fan, you’ll want this one. (Note that this is an adult comedy, not a family film.)

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Vicky Cristina Barcelona Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), in Spain for the summer, are invited by divorced artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) to his villa for a weekend of good food, wine and sex. Cristina, a free spirit, is charmed by Juan Antonio’s frankness just as much as Vicky, engaged to marry a man just as bourgeois as she, is scandalized. They accept, and Juan Antonio is not disappointed with either of them. Soon enough Cristina moves in with him. After some time, the ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) turns up after a suicide attempt and moves in under Juan Antonio’s care. I don’t want to reveal any more and spoil the fun.

Admittedly, after faithfully seeing the first 20 Woody Allen films back in the day, I got away from his work, save for Sweet and Lowdown. This is a good comeback for me, with all the sharp writing and wit of the best of his films. All the acting is brilliant as expected. A few differences were notable. Woody Allen himself doesn’t appear, not even as the narrator. The story is as appropriate to its Spanish setting as most of his New York stories fit their location. Don’t be creeped out by the appearance of Javier Bardem if you only know him from No Country for Old Men. His part here is much more typical of his work. The musical score, consisting largely of solo classical Spanish guitar pieces, is also perfect.

There are no real extras on the DVD, but it is still worth getting, if you can afford it. Woody Allen films rarely seem to go on sale.

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Consensus: Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a funny romantic comedy with sharp writing, and strong performances by it’s actors. It is definitely deserving of the awards/nominations it has been getting. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

Oscar Upsets

By John C.

I was upset by the fact that The Dark Knight wasn’t nominated for Best Picture, and The Reader got in instead, which is just solid proof the Academy is not cool enough to nominate a movie like The Dark Knight, which would only have made their ratings go up. But the one category that had me reloading the page, because there must have been a mistake, was Best Song. Everyone, myself included, thought Bruce Springsteen was in a lock to win for The Wrestler, which is perhaps one of the greatest film songs ever written, but he didn’t even get a nomination. That's right. No nomination for The Boss. Surprisingly, there are only three songs nominated, Jai Ho and O Saya from Slumdog Millionaire, and Down to Earth from WALL•E. It’s not like there wasn’t enough space, they can nominate up to five.

There were no actor or director nomination’s for Clint Eastwood for Gran Torino, no director nom for Darren Aronofsky for The Wrestler or Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight. No actress nom’s for Kristan Scott-Thomas in I’ve Loved You So Long or Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The Dark Knight should have been nominated for Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture, and The Wrestler should have not only been nominated, but have won for Best Song.

One of the nominees they did get right was for Heath Ledger’s brilliant turn in The Dark Knight, as The Joker. Exactly one year ago today he died of an accidental drug overdose, may he rest in peace.

So there you have it. Once again the Academy could have gotten it right, but they didn’t. And this year it wasn’t even that hard.