Sasha Stone

Woody Harrelson climbs the Oscar “Rampart”

October 9, 2011 By Thelma Leave a Comment

Woody Harrelson,Robin Wright,Cynthia Nixon,Ben Foster,Oren Moverman,James Ellroy,Hot sex,The Messenger

Harrelson breaks bad in blue

As I said a month ago while still in Toronto, Harrelson has done it again: “..as Dave Brown, a second generation policeman in the Rampart Division who rides his cop car like a Marlboro man, smoking, drinking, never eating. For him, Downtown LA is the frontier; he even gets out of his car as if he were climbing off a saddle into the muck. His moniker is “Date Rape.” He doesn’t go gentle through the night with perps, a practice that has now put his position on the force in peril. His jaw juts and his shades cover nearly dead eyes. Yes, he could be a character out of a Jim Thompson novel, The Killer Inside Me.”

Now, Sasha Stone chimes in at Awards Daily: “For the first time, I’ve seen a performance that has to be considered one of the strongest contenders to win Best Actor so far this year. George Clooney, Jean DuJardin, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Oldman and Brad Pitt all are in contention to win. The other notable performance is Michael Fassbender in Shame. Somewhere in there room might have to be made for Woody Harrelson’s bad cop in Oren Moverman’s exceptional film, Rampart. ”

Bang-bang, you shot me down, bang-bang…

Oscars 2012: Best Supporting Actress Roundtable

September 28, 2011 By Thelma 19 Comments

OK, luvvies, let’s take a flyer into Best Supporting Actress territory. This is truly the wilderness. Here’s my first pass, with many holes since ….One thing I’m sure of: Viola Davis in Best Actress — pretty confident of Keira Knightley also in lead category.
1. Octavia Spencer, The Help
2. Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
3. Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus
4. Marion Cotillard, Midnight in Paris
5. Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
6. Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter or Tree of Life
7. Berenice Bejo, The Artist
8. Sandra Bullock, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
9. Kate Winslet, Carnage
10. Carey Mulligan, Shame

Let’s rip.

Susan Wloszczyna: This looks pretty close to the mark of who is in the running. I would give the edge to Vanessa Redgrave, however. Although I found her rather ridiculous in Anonymous (I think I am in the minority in thinking this was Anony-mess) she is the epitome of riveting in a rather rousing Shakespeare adaptation.

As for the Melissa McCarthy confab: I thought of her force of nature in Bridesmaids. She had me won over instantly with her dainty pearl necklace — a nice contrast with her wardrobe that was inspired by Guy Fieri of Food Network fame — although it clashed with her carpal tunnel brace. If she were nominated I wouldn’t complain.

I would also move Berenice up a notch. I think the academy is going to fall hard for The Artist and she is perfection in it.

Sasha Stone: It’s hard for me to care about the Oscars this year. But every so often a name pops up that sparks my genuine interest. Melissa McCarthy is one of those. [Read more…]

Oscar 2012: Best Actor Roundtable

September 21, 2011 By Thelma 15 Comments

Brad Pitt,Moneyball,Baseball,Sports Movies

Pitt catches awards buzz

Next up for our Oscar roundtable, Sasha Stone of Awardsdaily.com, and USA Today film reporter Susan Wloszczyna and I jaw about the early Best Actor frontrunners. While I began by posting a list of the serious contenders, Stone dubs this the year of the Oscar Hottie:

Thelma: Let me throw out the first pitch on best actor: George Clooney in The Descendants is the frontrunner, but even Clooney admits that’s a position that takes incredible stamina. You’re just asking to be knocked off the block. Still, if any one can campaign for this award like a politician out of The Ides of March, it’s George. And then there’s his old pal Brad Pitt, with the one two punch of Moneyball and The Tree of Life, and he’s a star that every one wants to come to their party. And then there’s the bad boy: Michael Fassbender. I’ve yet to see Shame, and he’s definitely the year’s rising male star, but is that, or his repressed Jung in A Dangerous Method, Oscar-able?

Susan: Clooney in The Descendants is the safest bet for now. And Pitt could easily be in there for Moneyball.

A Dangerous Method is proving to be a divisive film as some dismiss it as a talky bore while others embrace how it reveals the rift between these two fascinating men of the mind as they have a tug of war over a patient who is a key to both their theories. Still, Shame feels like the one that will place Fassbender in the race.

However, the more time goes by, the less The Ides of March feels like a generator of nominations. It’s well made but its script feels like it is five years out of date and its revelations about politicians are few.

So where will the other candidates come from? I wish Paul Giamatti could sneak in with Win Win but that feels like an Independent Spirit Award type situation. More likely is Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris, if the academy decides to reward Woody Allen‘s return to form — as well as Wilson’s own reawakening as an actor.

Leo in J. Edgar could go either way. I would feel more sure if this were a Scorsese film than an Eastwood. Tom Hanks in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close? Daniel Craig in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? Gary Oldman — in the overdue club big time — for Tinker Tailor? All possible but mostly unseen.

And oui to Jean Dujardin for The Artist. He seems more likely than Ryan Gosling at this point.

Sasha: Hanks will be too small a part in Extremely Loud so, if anything, he goes supporting. And trust me, if the movie is as good as the screenplay it will rip your heart out.

The actors I’m thinking of right now are: [Read more…]