37th Annual Annie Award Winners Announced!

There were some surprises tonight at the 37th Annual Annie Awards.

First off, as I had expected a possibility to happen, Bruno Coulais’ music for Coraline beat Michael Giacchino’s Up score in the feature music category. The Music for Television award went to Guy Moon of The Fairly Odd Parents over Kevin Kiner’s score for The Clone Wars, and Michael Giacchino’s for Prep and Landing.

Next, in another big category, Writing for Feature, Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach won for Fantastic Mr. Fox over suspected front runner Up.

Best Feature though, did go to Up over Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and The Frog, and The Secret of Kells. Up also took home the honours in the Feature Directing category.

You can see all of the individual winners below. The awards were given out fairly evenly this year with two for Up, and three each of The Princess and the Frog and Coraline, and one each for Mr. Fox and Monsters vs. Aliens.

See all of the winners, (in bold), below.

Congratulations to all who were nominated!

-E. Corrado

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2009 ANNIE AWARD WINS BY CATEGORY:

PRODUCTION CATEGORIES

Best Animated Feature

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – Sony Pictures Animation

Coraline – Laika

Fantastic Mr. Fox – 20th Century Fox

The Princess and the Frog – Walt Disney Animation Studios

The Secret of Kells – Cartoon Saloon

Up – Pixar Animation Studios

Best Home Entertainment Production

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas – Universal Animation Studios

Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder – The Curiosity Company in association with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Green Latern: First Flight – Warner Bros. Animation Open Season 2 – Sony Pictures Animation SpongeBob vs. The Big One – Nickelodeon

Best Animated Short Subject

Pups of Liberty – Picnic Pictures

Robot Chicken: Star Wars 2.5 – ShadowMachine

Santa, The Fascist Years – Plymptoons

The Rooster, The Crocodile and The Night Sky – Barley Films

The Story of Walls – Badmash Animation Studios

Best Animated Television Commercial

Goldfish: In The Dark – Blur Studios, Inc.

Idaho Lottery “Twiceland” – Acme Filmworks, Inc.

McDonald’s Nutty Trade – Blue Sky Studios

Spanish Lottery “Deportees” – Acme Filmworks, Inc.

The Spooning – Screen Novelties /Acne MediaBest

Animated Television Production

Glenn Martin, DDS – Tornante, Cuppa Coffee Studios & Rogers Communications

Merry Madagascar – DreamWorks Animation

Prep and Landing – ABC Family/Walt Disney Animation Studios The Simpsons – Gracie Films

Best Animated Television Production for Children

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – Disney Television Animation

SpongeBob SquarePants – Nickelodeon

The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack – Cartoon Network Studios

The Mighty B! – Nickelodeon/Polka Dot Pictures/Paper Kite Productions

The Penguins of Madagascar – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT CATEGORIES

Animated Effects

Scott Cegielski “Monsters vs. Aliens” – DreamWorks Animation

Alexander Feigin “9” – 9 L.L.C.

Eric Froemling “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Tom Kluyskens “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” – Sony Pictures Animation

James Mansfield “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Character Animation in a Television Production

Mark Donald “B.O.B.’s Big Break” – DreamWorks Animation

Mark Mitchell “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios Kevan Shorey “Merry Madagascar” – DreamWorks Animation

Tony Smeed “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Phillip To “Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space” – DreamWorks Animation

Character Animation in a Feature Production

Andreas Deja “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Eric Goldberg “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Travis Knight “Coraline” – Laika

Daniel Nguyen “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Bruce Smith “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Character Design in a Television Production

Bryan Arnett “The Mighty B! – Catatonic” – Nickelodeon/Polka Dot Pictures/Paper Kite Productions

Ben Balistreri “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” – Cartoon Network Studios Craig Kellman “Merry Madagascar” – DreamWorks Animation

Bill Schwab “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Character Design in a Feature Production

Daniel Lopez Munoz “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Shane Prigmore “Coraline” – Laika

Shannon Tindle “Coraline” – Laika

Directing in a Television Production

Pam Cooke & Jansen Yee “American Dad: Brains, Brains & Automobiles” – 20th Century Fox/Fuzzy Door/Underdog

Rob Fendler “Popzilla” – Animax

Bret Haaland “The Penguins of Madagascar – Launchtime” – Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation

John Infantino, J.G. Quintel “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack: Candy Casanova” – Cartoon Network Studios

Jennifer Oxley “The Wonder Pets: Help The Monster” – Nickelodeon/Little Airplane Productions

Directing in a Feature Production

Wes Anderson “Fantastic Mr. Fox” – 20th Century Fox

Pete Docter “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Christopher Miller, Phil Lord “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” – Sony Pictures Animation

Hayao Miyazaki “Ponyo” – Studio Ghibli

Henry Selick “Coraline” – Laika

Music in a Television Production

Michael Giacchino “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Kevin Kiner “Star Wars: The Clone Wars “Weapons Factory” – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.

Guy Moon “The Fairly OddParents: “Wishology- The Big Beginning” – Nickelodeon

Music in a Feature Production

Bruno Coulais “Coraline” – Laika

Michael Giacchino “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Joe Hisaishi “Ponyo” – Studio Ghibli

John Powell “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” – Blue Sky Studios

Production Design in a Television Production

Mac George “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Andy Harkness “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Janice Kubo “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends” – Cartoon Network Studios

Production Design in a Feature Production

Christopher Appelhans “Coraline” – Laika

Ian Gooding “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Tadahiro Uesugi “Coraline – Laika

Christophe Vacher “9” – 9 L.L.C.

Storyboarding in a Television Production

Sunil Hall “The Mighty B!: Catatonic” – Nickelodeon/Polka Dot Pictures/Paper

Robert Koo “Merry Madagascar” – DreamWorks Animation

Brandon Kruse “The Fairly OddParents: Fly Boy” – Nickelodeon

Joe Mateo “Prep and Landing” – ABC Family/Walt Disney Animation Studios Kite Productions

Adam Van Wyk “The Spectacular Spider-Man: Final Curtain” – Culver Entertainment

Storyboarding in a Feature Production

Sharon Bridgeman “Astro Boy” – Imagi Studios

Chris Butler “Coraline” – Laika

Ronnie Del Carmen “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Tom Owens “Monsters vs. Aliens” – DreamWorks Animation

Peter Sohn “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Voice Acting in a Television Production

Danny Jacobs - Voice of King Julien - “Merry Madagascar” – DreamWorks Animation

Nicky Jones - Voice of Chowder - “Chowder: The Dinner Theatre’” – Cartoon Network Studios

Tom Kenny - Voice of SpongeBob - “SpongeBob SquarePants – Truth or Square” – Nickelodeon

Dwight Schultz - Voice of Mung Daal - “Chowder:The Party Cruise” – Cartoon Network Studios

Willow Smith - Voice of Abby - “Merry Madagascar” – DreamWorks Animation

Voice Acting in a Feature Production

Jen Cody - Voice of Charlotte - “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Dawn French - Voice of Miss Forcible – “Coraline” – Laika

Hugh Laurie - Voice of Dr. Cockroach Ph.D. – “Monsters vs. Aliens” – DreamWorks Animation

John Leguizamo - Voice of Sid – “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur” – Blue Sky Studios

Jenifer Lewis - Voice of Mama Odie – “The Princess and the Frog” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Writing in a Television Production

Daniel Chun – “The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XX” – Gracie Films

Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers-Skelton – “Prep and Landing” – Walt Disney Animation Studios

Valentina L. Garza – “The Simpsons: Four Great Women and a Manicure” – Gracie Films

Billy Kimball and Ian Maxtone-Graham - “The Simpsons: Gone Maggie Gone” – Gracie Films

Billy Lopez – The Wonder Pets – Save the Honey Bears” – Nickelodeon Productions/Little Airplane Productions

Writing in a Feature Production

Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach – “Fantastic Mr. Fox” – 20th Century Fox

Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy – “Up” – Pixar Animation Studios

Timothy Hyde Harris and David Bowers – “Astro Boy” – Imagi Studios

Christopher Miller and Phil Lord – “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” – Sony Pictures Animation

JURIED AWARDS

Winsor McCay Award – Tim Burton, Bruce Timm, Jeffrey Katzenberg

June Foray – Tom Sito Ub Iwerks Award – William T. Reeves Special Achievement – Martin Meunier and Brian McLean

Certificate of Merit – Myles Mikulic, Danny Young and Michael Woodside

DVD Review: Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat - A Universal Pictures’ Release

http://www.couplesretreatmovie.com/

Release Date: October 9th, 2009

DVD Release Date: February 5th, 2010

Rated PG for mature theme, sexual content and coarse language

Running time: 114 minutes

Peter Billingsley (dir.)

Jon Favreau (writer)

Vince Vaughn (writer)

Dana Fox (writer)

A.R. Rahman (music)

Vince Vaughn as Dave

Jason Bateman as Jason

Faizon Love as Shane

Jon Favreau as Joey

Malin Akerman as Ronnie

Kristen Bell as Cynthia

Our reviews below:

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Couples Retreat DVD Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

In Couples Retreat, four couples take a group vacation to a tropical island, to try and work out issues in their relationships. Most surprising about the film is that it’s actually smart. Despite being, at times, ridiculous. The acting, by the well-known leading and supporting cast, is all good,

It is very funny and it actually offers valuable advice about relationships. While some of it is quite silly, it all works for the movie. It's one of the better recent romantic-comedies. Ignore all the negative reviews and check this one out. I had a lot of fun watching it.

The DVD includes an alternate ending, deleted and extended scenes, as well as commentary with Vince Vaughn and Peter Billingsly. It also includes a gag reel and a bunch of featurettes.

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Couples Retreat DVD Review By Erin V.

*** (out of four)

Couples Retreat is a funny comedy about four couples (all friends) who take a couples retreat together, in order to take advantage of the group rate. When I first saw the trailers for this one, I didn't think much of it. It looked like an average, silly and stupid rom-com. It is silly, but it was also a ton of fun.

The script is well written, and all of the actors/actresses play their roles well, and are believable. Couple's Retreat is an enjoyable movie that I think a lot of people are really going to enjoy on DVD. I'd recommend it.

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Couples Retreat DVD Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Couples Retreat is a funny and quirky little comedy about four different couples. When one of the couples is at risk of divorce, the eight different friends decide to take a vacation to Eden West, a beautiful tropical island resort. They are constantly told to avoid Eden East, the singles resort on the other side of the island. I won’t tell you any of the story’s details, as I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises.

With an all-star cast, a well written script and quirky, likable characters, Couples Retreat is a lot of fun.

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Couples Retreat DVD Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

What happens when eight friends (four couples) all share the cost and head off to a tropical resort for couples therapy and fun in the sun? A very funny movie and a positive look at what it means to be a couple is what happens. Couples Retreat has an all-star comedic cast headed by Vince Vaughn. The dialogue is smart and the visual gags never seem over the top. This is just all out fun.

So if you can’t afford to bring your special someone to a real resort for Valentine’s, then get a copy of Couples Retreat, put the kiddies to bed, make some tropical drinks and enjoy your own couples retreat from your comfy couch.

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Couples Retreat DVD Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

Couples Retreat is the trip to a Polynesian atoll taken by four couples in their thirties who have agreed to go together for a group rate and to help save the marriage of one of them. When they arrive, they realize that before any fun in the sun they are obliged to participate in intensive group activities and couple counselling.

Directed by Peter Billingsley, Couples Retreat was better than expected. Christopher Guest has made some of the best ensemble comedies with interlocking storylines, and with an intelligent script and excellent cast in believable leading and supporting roles this one comes closer than other recent films. For example, Four Christmases had a good cast but a weaker script than Couples Retreat, and a train wreck like He’s Just Not That Into You had neither. Couples Retreat will stand up well in subsequent viewings, which makes it worth buying.

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Consensus: Couples Retreat is a surprisingly funny and enjoyable film, with a smart script and very good cast. *** (Out of 4)

Movie Review: Dear John

Dear John

http://www.dearjohn-movie.com/

Release Date: February 5th, 2010

Rated PG-13 some sensuality and violence.

Running time: 102 minutes

Lasse Hallström (dir.)

Jamie Linden (screenwriter)

Based on the book Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Deborah Lurie (music)

Channing Tatum as John Tyree

Amanda Seyfried as Savannah Lynn Curtis

Henry Thomas as Tim Wheddon

Scott Porter as Randy

Richard Jenkins as Mr. Tyree

(l to r) Braeden Reed, Amanda Seyfried and Channing Tatum star in DEAR JOHN, an Alliance Films release.

Our reviews below:

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Dear John Review By John C.

**1/2 (out of 4)

Richard Jenkins plays a man with Asperger’s syndrome in Dear John. He is brilliant in every scene he’s in. The problem is, he’s not the focus of the story. The main plot of Dear John just happens to be an average, melodramatic and very predictable romance.

John (Channing Tatum) is a soldier going back to war in two weeks. When vacationing with his father, he spends lots of time at the beach. This is mainly just so that the audience can see him surfing. When he sees a bag get knocked into the water, he jumps in to rescue it. Turns out, it belongs to Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), a visiting student. Naturally, they fall in love. And naturally their relationship has to be kept going through the use of “Dear John” letters.

John has a rocky relationship with his father, wonderfully played by the aforementioned Richard Jenkins. The singular moment that rings most true in the film is a scene between John and his dad. It’s touching and beautiful. Some may argue against this scene, but it’s the one thing that holds an otherwise average movie together. Every time Richard Jenkins was on screen, I saw the movie that this could have been.

The combat scenes are well shot, but more played for melodrama rather than true suspense. I predicted nearly every plot-point. That’s not really a complaint, more just an observation. In these kind of letter movies one side always burns all their letters.

Though I’m sure it will be very popular around Valentine’s day, and it is worth seeing for Richard Jenkins, I think Dear John will play just as well on DVD. And that’s more where my recommendation would lie.

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Dear John Review By Erin V.

***1/4 (out of 4)

Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, Dear John is a romantic story of two people who fall in love with each other over two weeks together while on break. They are John, (Channing Tatum), and Savannah, (Amanda Seyfried). Unfortunately, Savannah has to go back to college, and John is only on a temporary leave from the army. Still, they vow to write each other as often as possible, in order to stay close while so far apart.

I found the romantic storyline in this movie to be fairly average as far as these kinds of movies go, but the part that really upped the movie for me was not the relationship between John and Savannah so much as the relationships between them and John’s father, who is a coin collector with Asperger's syndrome. He is played very well by Richard Jenkins - one of the most accurate portrayals of an individual with Aspergers’ in a movie I’ve seen. It is neither under, nor overplayed.

It was his elements in the story that I found created some of the most real and touching moments. It was these scenes that felt especially real, and it was interesting to see his relationship with his son John, and John’s relationship with him.

I have not read the book, although I am now interested to. I think that says something about a film to actually interest you enough to want to look at the source material. Both autism and Aspergers’ were represented well in the film, and that is one of the reasons that I’d really like to read the book.

I enjoyed the film, although it felt slightly long in a few parts. Still, overall, a good effort on the part of all those involved, and for the audience that’s actually going to buy a ticket to this film, I think they are going to really enjoy it.

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Dear John Review By Nicole

*** (out of four)

Dear John is a nice low-key romantic movie. Based on the book by Nicholas Sparks, the story relays the often long distance love between Savannah and John. From the day Savannah meets, John, they fall in love in only two weeks. When John, who is a soldier in the US army goes over seas, he expects to be back soon. But 911 happens, so John goes over to Afghanistan. While overseas, John and Savannah correspond through a series of letters.

I really liked the romance between Savannah and John. But some of my favourite scenes involve John’s father, who is suggested to have Asperger’s syndrome. He shares his love of mule coins with the people he cares for. The bond between John and his father is sweet and believable. Richard Jenkins is perfectly as an undiagnosed Aspie.

Another side plot involving autism depicts Savannah’s neighbour, Tim and his son Alan, who has mild autism. Both Brandon Reed, (7 year old Alan), and Luke Benward, (14 year old Alan), are very believable as a young autist.

I really liked Dear John. The story, while sad at times, is also very sweet. The acting is really good throughout. This movie will appeal to teens and adults of all ages.

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Dear John Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Dear John is a touching romance based on the novel Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. As a Nicholas Sparks fan I was pleased with this movie adaptation.

The story follows the lead characters John Tyree (Channing Tatum) and Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) as they continue their initial two week spring break romance through a series of letters. Savannah is a college student and John is in the army. When 9/11 happens John’s stay in the army is extended and their love further tested.

Much of the plot is predictable in terms of romantic highs and lows. However Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried are really nice to watch in their roles as John and Savannah. The high point in Dear John is John’s relationship with his father, a quiet man who collects coins and has undiagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome. The father, Mr. Tyree is played beautifully by Richard Jenkins (from the movie The Visitor). Jenkins’ portrayal of Aspergers’ Syndrome is touching and accurate. Also portrayed accurately is Savannah’s young neighbour, Allan who has autism. There are some interesting plot twists involving Allan and his autism.

Overall Dear John is a really nice movie. Be warned there is more than one “keep the tissues handy” scene. However Dear John never descends into melodrama.

Dear John is a good movie choice as Valentine’s Day approaches for those of us who love a good romance story.

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Dear John Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

Dear John is a sweet romance based on a Nicholas Sparks novel. In 2000, John Tyree (Channing Tatum) meets Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried) while he is on leave from service in the Special Forces, and she is on spring break. Falling in love after two weeks, they promise to keep in touch by letters over the next year until John can come home for good. Just before finishing his tour in the Balkans, the 9/11 attack happens and his unit volunteers for active service in the Middle East. The succeeding several years apart threaten their relationship. What lifts the story from the ordinary is the theme of autism. John’s retired father (Richard Jenkins) is socially awkward, bound by routine and constantly tending his coin collection, i.e. an Aspie. Savannah’s family friend Tim (Henry Thomas, who was Elliot in E.T.) has an autistic son, so she recognizes the Asperger traits in John’s father. When she points this out to John he is at first defensive, unaware that this is not necessarily a bad thing. Savannah is then inspired to specialise in autism for her education degree and start up a horse camp for special needs kids after graduation.

Being totally inoffensive, Dear John can be enjoyed by the whole family, young and old, which may lead some to dismiss it as a Hallmark film in all but name. However, the autism theme, the attractive leads and strong supporting cast, particularly Richard Jenkins, raise it to a slightly higher level.

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Channing Tatum stars in DEAR JOHN, an Alliance Films release.

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Consensus: Dear John is a nice romantic movie to see around Valentine's Day. While the storyline is fairly average in terms of a love story like this, Richard Jenkins' portrayal of Aspergers', makes this one worth seeing. It is a fine film that succeeds in what it was trying to be. *** (Out of 4)

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Richard Jenkins stars in DEAR JOHN, an Alliance Films release.

Movie Review: St. John of Las Vegas

St. John of Las Vegas - A KinoSmith Release

http://saintjohnmovie.com/

Release Date: February 5th, 2009

Rated 14A for coarse language, nudity and mild sexual references

Running time: 85 minutes

Hue Rhodes (dir.)

Hue Rhodes (writer)

Dante Alighieri (based on a story, Dante’s Inferno)

David Torn (music)

Steve Buscemi as John

Romany Malco as Virgil

Sarah Silverman as Jill

Peter Dinklage as Mr. Townsend

Tim Blake Nelson as Ned

Steve Buscemi and Romany Malco in St. John of Las Vegas

Our reviews below:

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St. John of Las Vegas Review By John C.

**1/2 (out of 4)

St. John of Las Vegas has already been receiving mixed reviews. My name is John, and I enjoyed this movie. Steve Buscemi holds together the film, making all the sideshow acts actually fit together into a strange little package. St. John of Las Vegas is not a great movie, but I thought it was a pretty good one. Though not every moment works on the same level, it’s got some funny set pieces, and some very nice moments with supporting actors Peter Dinklage and Sarah Silverman.

St. John of Las Vegas opens with John Alighieri, (wonderfully played by Steve Buscemi), investing $1000 in 1000 lotto tickets. These are flash forwards in a fractured narrative. John works for an insurance company. When he is promoted to the level of fraud detection, he has to go to Vegas to try and prove whether or not a stripper really had an accident that put her in a wheelchair.

People have been unfairly comparing it to something from the Coen Brothers, mainly just because it mirrors Dante’s Inferno in a similar way that O Brother, Where Art Thou? mirrored The Odyssey. With a Coen Brothers film you can continue to find the symbolism in it long after you’ve seen it. I don’t think there is much symbolism going on in this film. You’ll like it more if you don’t go in expecting Coen Brothers brilliance, but rather just a quirky little film.

This is a road-trip movie. Though the road doesn’t quite lead anywhere other than a series of side-show characters, I still had a fun time taking this trip. Plus, its got a clever twist that I didn’t see coming. It’s worth seeing for Steve Buscemi’s starring role.

It’s exactly what I expected from the trailers, and I think the people who buy a ticket are going to enjoy it. Not one that you have to rush out and see, but one worth checking out.

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St. John of Las Vegas Review By Erin V.

**1/2 (out of 4)

St. John of Las Vegas is a crazy comedy about a compulsive gambler, (Steve Buscemi), who after moving from Las Vegas and his temptation, works at a Insurance Fraud Investigation company in New Mexico.

Trouble is, as he moves up the ranks, eventually he is called to investigate fraud in, you guessed it, Las Vegas. So, he goes across the country by car with another, more senior investigator, Virgil. They are to investigate a suspicious car crash involving an exotic dancer who was oddly hit from behind in the middle of the desert...

Along the way, they meet a bunch of strange characters from the people who run junkyards, to a group of (almost) naked naturists who guard a wildlife reserve from outside objects - (which I found to make for an odd, yet funny scene) - like the car that they traverse the desert in.

I found the movie to be entertaining enough, if mostly for the fact of how well Steve Buscemi plays the role. I would recommend seeing St. John of Las Vegas for the acting by him, as well as some of the supporting roles, like in particular, that of his boss, (Peter Dinklage), and love interest, (Sarah Silverman). This being said, it would hold up just as well on DVD, so I’d say you could wait for rental if it interests you.

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St. John of Las Vegas Review By Nicole

*** (out of four)

St. John of Las Vegas is a quirky comedy and mystery story. The title character, John, is a fraud investigator for an insurance company. He is attracted to his co-worker, Jill, who loves to collect happy face paraphernalia, whom the arrogant boss, Mr. Townsend, has been with before.

John is sent on a mission with another investigator, Virgil, to find out clues about how a Las Vegas exotic dancer got injured in a car crash while driving through the desert. Trouble is, John is a compulsive gambler, and is reluctant to go where he will be tempted.

John and Virgil’s mission involves dealing with some rather strange people, including a flaming carnival man and a group of armed nudists. (Some people may be offended by the nudists, as they are seen “full monty”). The journey leads to a surprising twist at the end.

St. John of Las Vegas is a funny movie. Steve Buscemi is really good as John. St. John of Las Vegas is worth checking out.

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St. John of Las Vegas Review By Maureen

**1/2 (out of 4)

St. John of Las Vegas is an off the wall, comedy about two not so above board insurance fraud investigators in Nevada. Steve Buscemi is really fun to watch as John Alighieri, a compulsive gambler who is trying really hard to hold down a job in insurance fraud investigation and impress his happy faced co-worker/girlfriend, Jill (Sarah Silverman).

The fun begins when the company boss, Mr. Townsend (Peter Dinklage) pairs John up with Virgil (Romany Malco) to do an investigation of a now wheelchair bound stripper supposedly injured in a car accident outside Las Vegas. Virgil and John head out on a crazy road trip that puts them in the path of gun-toting nudists, strippers, a human torch, and other oddities and dangers. But things never are as they seem to be when it comes to fraud as John eventually figures out.

What makes St. John of Las Vegas watchable is the strong cast, particularly Steve Buschemi, Sarah Silverman, Peter Dinklage and Romany Malco also deliver fun to watch performances.

This is by no means a serious movie. Much of the comedy is silly and unnecessary. However this is still an entertaining way to spend 85 minutes. If you like Steve Buschemi, St. John of Las Vegas is worth checking out, either in theatres or on DVD.

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St. John of Las Vegas Review By Tony

**1/2 (out of 4)

We first meet John (Steve Buscemi) in a Nevada gas bar minimart, flirting with a cashier half his age as he takes $1000 in cash from an envelope to buy lottery tickets. He narrates his recent story in a series of flashbacks. As a recovering Las Vegas gambling addict, John had moved a tank of gas away to Albuquerque, taking an entry position with an auto insurance company. He continued to play a few lottery tickets but was able to maintain a modest home and begin a romance with colleague Jill (Sarah Silverman). Seeing potential in him as a fraud investigator, his boss (Peter Dinklage) sent John back to Las Vegas with his best agent Virgil (Romany Malco) to check out an alleged accident involving the stripper Tasty D Lite (Emmanuelle Chriqui) and a Buick Wildcat. Along the way they run into a strange assortment of characters, including intimidating chop shoppers (Danny Trejo, Stephen Eiland), nighttime naturists in a “burning man” type desert compound (Tim Blake Nelson et al), and a carnival human torch (John Cho).

As the debut feature for writer/director Hue Rhodes, with writing credit and the title character’s surname shared by Dante Alighieri, Saint John of Las Vegas may suffer in comparison with another classically inspired film like O Brother Where Art Thou. However, with its quirky storyline and strong cast to match, it can be enjoyed on its own terms. Steve Buscemi is perfect as the unlikely leading man and his relationship with Virgil is in the great tradition of black/white buddy films going back at least to Silver Streak. Sarah Silverman is sweet and quirky. As a driven executive obsessed with his own motivational videos, Peter Dinklage is hilarious without ever getting up from behind his desk for a cheap gag about stature.

Though it is uneven, Saint John of Las Vegas has enough laughs with interesting characters in strange situations to be worth a look.

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Sarah Silverman in St. John of Las Vegas

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Consensus: St. John of Las Vegas is a quirky and funny little film. Though every moment does not work on the same level, it's worth seeing for Steve Buscemi, Sarah Silverman and Peter Dinklage. **1/2 (Out of 4)

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Peter Dinklage in St. John of Las Vegas

Great Digital Film Festival: February 5th - 11th, 2010

From February 5th to February 11th, the Scotiabank theatre in Toronto will be hosting The Great Digital Film Festival. There will be 20 classic films presented in new digital prints. Tickets are just $5, and you can stay for a double-bill for $9. It’s a great deal.

The films range from The Wizard of Oz to The Shining. Four of the films that are screening are Best Picture winners. The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), Amadeus (1984), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Get all the details on this amazing event here. Stay tuned for our coverage of some of the films.

-John C.

Thoughts on the Oscar Nominees

By John C.

It's been an incredibly exciting and historical morning. So both The Blind Side and District 9 got nominated for Best Picture, instead of Invictus which everyone was predicting. It’s a brilliant line-up. Invictus was a very good film, but you know what? I actually liked The Blind Side a bit better.

For Best Animated Film, The Secret of Kells got a surprise nomination along with 4 very deserving nominees. I can’t say either way my thoughts on Kells, as I haven’t seen it yet.

History was made as Pixar’s masterpiece Up was nominated for Best Picture, only the second time an animated film has been nominated in that category. The first time was The Beauty and the Beast in 1991.

The acting categories are all superb, especially Best Supporting Actress. I’m guessing the acting awards will go to Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Mo’Nique and Christoph Waltz.

Star Trek, Invictus, and The Messenger weren’t Best Picture nominated, but each one has been nominated for some very deserving awards. The other film that was in the running for Best Picture, The Hangover, didn’t receive any nominations, but that was also kind of predictable. It’s really not an Oscar movie.

Lots of stuff to be happy about. I think the Academy has actually gotten it pretty much right this year. Some popular choices for Best Picture, as well as the usual Oscar fare. Perfect. Obviously it's always sad to see some films not recognized, but I think this is as right as The Academy was going to get it. One of the things that is a bit sad is the exclusion of (500) Days of Summer for Best Original Screenplay.

Nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Watch live streaming of the announcement here. (Starts at 5:38 PST/8:38 EST AM)

In Best Picture, both District 9 and The Blind Side made it through, so the only one of "the 9" that didn't get through was Invictus. This is a brilliant line-up!

You can re-watch the streaming of the announcement here. You can see a printable list of nominees here.

Nominations for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards below:

Best Picture:

Avatar

The Blind Side

District 9

An Education

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire

A Serious Man

Up

Up in the Air

Acotr in a Leading role:

Jeff Bridges-Crazy Heart

George Clooney-Up in the Air

Colin Firth-A Single Man

Morgan Freeman-Invictus

Jeremy Renner-The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Supporting Role:

Matt Damon-Invictus

Woody Harrelson-The Messenger

Christopher Plummer-The Last Station

Stanley Tucci-The Lovely Bones

Christoph Waltz-Inglourious Basterds

Actress in a Leading Role:

Sandra Bullock-The Blind Side

Helen Mirren-The Last Station

Carey Mulligan-An Education

Gabourey Sidebe-Precious

Meryl Streep-Julie & Julia

Actress in a Supporting Role:

Penélope Cruz-Nine

Vera Fermiga-Up in the Air

Maggie Gyllenhaal-Crazy Heart

Anna Kendrick-Up in the Air

Mo’nique-Precious

Animated Feature Film:

Coraline

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

Up

Art Direction:

Avatar

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Nine

Sherlock Holmes

The Young Victoria

Cinematography:

Avatar

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

The White Ribbon

Costume Design:

Bright Star

Coco Before Chanel

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Nine

The Young Victoria

Directing:

James Cameron-Avatar

Kathryn Bigelow-The Hurt Locker

Quentin Tarantino-Inglourious Basterds

Lee Daniels-Precious

Jason Reitman-Up in the Air

Documentary Feature:

Burma VJ

The Cove

The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

Food, Inc.

Which Way Home

Documentary Short:

China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Teaars of Sichuan Province

The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner

The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant

Music by Prudence

Rabbit à la Berlin

Film Editing:

Avatar

District 9

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Precious

Foriegn Language Film:

Ajami

El Sevreto de Sus Ojos

The Milk of Sorrow

Un Prophète

The White Ribbon

Makeup

Il Divo

Star Trek

The Young Victoria

Music (Original Score):

James Horner-Avatar

Alexandre Desplat-Fantastic Mr. Fox

Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders-The Hurt Locker

Hans Zimmer-Sherlock Holmes

Michael Giacchino-Up

Music (Original Song):

Almost There-The Princess and the Frog

Down in New Orleans-The Princess and the Frog

Loin de Paname-Paris 36

Take It All-Nine

The Weary Kind-Crazy Heart

Short Film (Animated):

French Roast

Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty

The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)

Logorama

A Matter of Loaf and Death

Short Film (Live Action):

The Door

Instead of Abracadabra

Kavi

Miracle Fish

The New Tenants

Sound Editing:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Star Trek

Up

Sound Mixing:

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Star Trek

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Visual Effects:

Avatar

District 9

Star Trek

Writing (Adapted Screenplay):

District 9

An Education

In the Loop

Precious

Up in the Air

Writing (Original Screenplay):

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

The Messenger

A Serious Man

Up

DVD Review: Cold Souls

Cold Souls - An E1 Films’ Release

http://coldsoulsthemovie.com/#/home

Release Date: August 7th, 2009

DVD Release Date: February 2nd, 2010

Rated PG for mature themes, coarse language

Running time: 101 minutes

Sophie Barthes (dir.)

Sophie Barhtes (writer)

Dickon Hinchliffe (music)

Paul Giamatti as Paul Giamatti

Dina Korzun as Nina

Emily Watson as Claire

David Strathairn as Dr. Flintstein

Katheryn Winnick as Sveta

Lauren Ambrose as Stephanie

Our reviews below:

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Cold Souls DVD Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

A soul is like a human hard drive. Without out it we would barely be capable, and on it are our memories. And according to Sophie Barthes’ film, Cold Souls, sometimes it looks like a chickpea.

In Cold Souls, Paul Giamatti plays Paul Giamatti, a struggling actor who has his soul extracted, but illegally sold to Russia. This is a thought-provoking dark-comedy that asks questions about our souls, ponders them, and in a weird way, perhaps, gives us the answers. While at the same time keeping the laughs coming. The bizarre, dreamlike premise and brilliant performance by Paul Giamatti, make Cold Souls worth seeking out.

My only complaint about the film is that there are no subtitles during the Russian language scenes. If you want to know what’s going on, you’ll have to activate the subtitles on the DVD.

The DVD includes approximately 9-minutes of deleted scenes, and a nice little featurette on the construction of the “Soul Extractor”, an amazingly well made prop.

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Cold Souls DVD Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of four)

Cold Souls is a comedy about an actor named Paul Giamatti (played by Paul Giamatti), who is feeling burdened by everything in his life, including his upcoming performance in a play. So, when his agent suggests ‘Soul Storage’, he decides to try it - but just for two weeks. Unfortunately, his soul is stolen and trafficked to Russia on the black market. Realizing that being soulless is not all that great, he has to figure out where his soul has gone - and how to get it back...

This movie really works for the acting - particularly from Paul Giamatti - but from the great supporting cast as well. Admittedly when I’d first heard of the premise, I thought that it just sounded really strange, which it is, but it’s also really funny. The story plays out quite well, allowing you to believe that this strange ‘soul extractor’ machine could somehow just ‘be’ in this parallel world, and that this ‘soul trafficking’ could really be a problem.

The DVD also includes some cool extras, including a featurette about the making of the ‘soul extractor’ prop. Unfortunately - and this may be an error in the disc encoding - the Russian language scenes are not captioned. You can watch the whole film with the hearing impaired captions on, which allows you to see the English translation, but except for in the deleted scenes, there are no automatically inserted captions.

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Cold Souls DVD Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

Cold Souls is a strange and quirky comedy that raises important questions about life, death, and why people have souls. In the film, Paul Giamatti plays a stage actor with the same name. Paul finds it difficult to act, as his soul has gotten tired. So before a performance of Uncle Vanya, Paul decides to give his soul a break at a “soul bank”. A storage facility for souls. It turns out, that not only does the soul bank store souls, it trades the through a Russian soul bank. The souls are traded by “Mules”, people who carry the souls in their bodies across the border. This is not without risks, and complications arise that require Paul to get his own soul back.

Cold Souls is an interesting movie. The acting is good, and the story really makes you think long after the movie is over. Cold Souls is a funny little indie film that is worth checking out.

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Cold Souls DVD Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

There’s something inherently dark about the concept of selling one’s soul. Yet Cold Souls is one funny, even if dark, movie. Credit has to go to Paul Giamatti who plays an emotionally drained actor named Paul Giamatti. When Giamatti feels he no longer has the soul to properly play uncle Vanya in a Chekov play he turns to an organization that will remove your soul for you and all the burdens that come with having a soul. Little does he know that there are Russians who have a black market soul exchange business going on.

The whole premise of Cold Souls leads to some interesting questions about the existence and nature of souls. The movie Cold Souls handles the whole question with a wonderful dark humour that never plays over the top with dialogue or slapstick. This is an intelligent and funny movie. Cold Souls left me with lots to think about and a whole new take on chickpeas.

Cold Souls is intelligent fun for a cold winter’s night.

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Cold Souls DVD Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

Paul Giamatti (using his own name) is overwrought preparing the stage role of Uncle Vanya. The Soul Storage Company offers a solution–to remove his soul (placed in cold storage) and thus unburden him of pent-up anxieties. Now soulless, he finds he still can’t perform, and the borrowed soul of an alleged Russian poet just makes things worse. However, when he tries to get his own soul back, he discovers it has been stolen by the Russian boss whose soap opera actress wife wanted to try out an American actor’s soul for inspiration. The Russian soul “mule” takes him to Russia to get it back.

The French-born writer/director Sophie Barthes claims that the idea for this bizarre and brilliant dark comedy came to her in a dream just after reading Jung and watching Sleeper. Paul Giamatti is a joy to watch portraying what just might be himself on really bad days, particularly playing against the other distinguished stage actor David Strathairn as the Soul Storage Company’s sinister Dr. Flintstein. The rest of the cast is also excellent, especially the Russian actress Dina Korzun as the mule. The film dragged at times and was a bit hard to follow on first viewing, particularly during dream sequences with weird disjointed memories left behind by the borrowed souls. Brief scenes of Russian dialogue came inextricably without subtitles, which was frustrating for those of us who have no Russian. I had to go back over these scenes on the DVD with captions on to see what I had missed. The visuals, from the dreary Russian scenes to the brightly lit clinical soul storage facility with its delightful extraction machine, are beautifully shot by the director’s partner Andrij Parekh, and the soundtrack is appropriately atmospheric, with original music by Dickon Hinchcliffe and sultry songs by artists such as Lhasa (regretfully now gone).

The DVD comes with the usual extras, including a hilarious extended stage workshop scene with Paul Giamatti. The film’s website links to the very funny fake site of the Soul Storage Company. Despite my disorientation on first viewing, just how good Cold Souls was became apparent when I watched the trailer again and couldn’t stop laughing. This one’s a keeper.

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Consensus: With a bizarre, darkly humorous premise, and brilliant lead performance by Paul Giamatti as Paul Giamatti, Cold Souls is a dark and thought-provoking delight. *** (Out of 4)