Ever wondered what a special effects-driven disaster movie like the upcoming “2012″ would look like if all the FX were removed? Well, an editor has done just that, posting a minute and a half of footage from “2012″ with just the actors. John Cusack and company do a lot of screaming and reacting, and it’s hilarious. Want to know what the end of the world really looks like? Stick around for the closing shot!
Tags: 2012, actors, CGI, cusack, cut, effects, funny, Hilarious, no, video
The 2008 Screen Actor’s Guild Award nominations were announced this morning. There were some really nice surprises her for people who’s Oscar chances were waning. Melissa Leo (”Frozen River”) and Richard Jenkins (”The Visitor”) got nods for low-budget indie films that have scored pretty well in various critic’s polls (all aggregated here), but the biggest surprise on this list is the inclusion of Dev Patel from “Slumdog Millionaire.” Yes, the movie is a Best Picture nom cinch, but three actors play each of three main roles in the movie, so Patel’s performance (which has been all but ignored elsewhere) getting a nomination here is a big deal. Leo Dicaprio got shut out for “Revolutionary Road,” as did Clint Eastwood for “Gran Torino,” Sally Hawkins for “Happy-Go-Lucky,” Cate Blanchett for “Button,” and Marisa Tomei for “The Wrestler.” And five nominations for “Doubt”? That’s overdoing it, don’t you think?
BEST ENSEMBLE
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Doubt”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Dev Patel, “Slumdog Millionaire”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Tags: 2008, actors, announced, Award, guild, nominations, SAG, screen
The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock stars in this true-story tearjerker about an underpriveleged black kid who goes to live with an upper-class white family and eventually play pro football. You know what to expect.
Planet 51
It’s nothing new, but Alan says this first-time animated outing from Ilion Animated Studios is good-natured and has a fun premise.
2012
Director Roland Emmerich’s latest disaster porn film is worse than a failed character drama; it’s an overly long, boring, and contradictory action film. Shame on John Cusack.
Pirate Radio
This British import starring Philip Seymour Hoffman skirts with cliche but has just enough heart and humor to stay afloat, says Phil.
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Grant Heslov’s adaptation of the nonfiction book has a loopy enough tone, but it’s all over the place and feels more like a series of gags than a cohesive movie.
The Fourth Kind
This alien abduction suspense movie shouldn’t have included “documentary” footage that feels forced and fake if it wanted to feel real, says Phil.
Disney's A Christmas Carol
Phil says that Robert Zemeckis should have focused his attention more on a little Christmas spirit and less on bombastic chase sequences in this Charles Dickens adaptation.
A Serious Man
Alan says the Coen brothers’ latest is a well-made an intriguing intellectual exercise that Coen fans shouldn’t miss out on.
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
Alan says this lighthearted vampire movie with John C. Reilly doesn’t make any sense, but is a helluva lot of fun.
Amelia
Hilary Swank plays Ameila Earhart in this beautifully shot but emotionally inert biopic, says Phil.
