Film

Duncan Riley’s Inquisitor website fell into the amateur’s trap yesterday. Duncan went for the easy laugh criticising Disney pushing High School Musical 3 for Best Picture Oscar. What a sloppy piece of writing.

Most movies with a “For Your Consideration” ad in “the Trades” are contractually obligated by the talent contracts. Neither Disney, AMPAS members (the Academy), the Producers, Director or above the line talent expect to win an academy award except for possibly a music or technical award.

What the “For Your Consideration” campaign does is enhance the reputation and hence the careers of the professionals who made one of the most profitable movies of 2008. Disney is “in business with” these people. Disney may appear to be an impersonal factory turning out tween entertainment and merchandising, but those people produce those products. And all else being equal a “For your consideration” campaign also tells the rest of Hollywood that those people are players.

Tags: business, campaign, Film

We saw a preview of Juno tonight. It opens in Australia on 17 January 2008. Go see it, it’s the best film of the year. It’s as good as Little Miss Sunshine, American Beauty, Election, The Breakfast Club – I can go on.

It captures a voice of youth and the way you felt if you were ever a freaky little teenager. Juno reflects that youth is for the young but dealing with issues beyond our maturity is a life-long lesson.

Juno is a sixteen year old high school junior who falls pregnant after a one night fling with her best friend Bleek. She finds adoptive parents for the baby and the story develops around this smart alec, punk, clever, cute, insightful mother-to-be as she deals with: her feelings for Bleek, her other best friend Leah, her parents, the adoptive parents, pregnancy and school. Any more and I’d have to give spoilers.

Tags: Film, movie, review

We saw a preview of 27 Dresses thanks to 20th Century Fox and Metro Magazine – since 1968 Australia’s oldest, continuously published film and media magazine.

I’ve managed to somehow overwrite the original review – how frustrating.

I like a good romantic comedy. Most of my more blokey friends think I’m a bit suspect. However I’ve found 2 things to be self evident: 1) Chicks like rom-coms and chick flicks – this makes them great date movies with significant fringe benefits, and 2) after watching a chick flick most self-respecting women will happily endorse you excursion to the pictures with your mates to see the latest addition to the Alien franchise.

Tags: Film, movie, review