Post by ebnpresident on Dec 22, 2009 2:53:08 GMT -5
Best Picture
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Alexander the Great (James Franco) had conquered most of the well-known world by the time he was 32, and was one of the most successful military commanders of all time, going undefeated in battle. He arguably defined what a great ruler is making Macedonia a great power, yet his true story is so much more than the history books tell. His mother, Olympias (Nicole Kidman), was a passionate and headstrong woman who had the largest influence on his life. Olympias was the fourth wife of Phillip II (Russell Crowe) and their marriage was often abusive and dangerous, ending in divorce, yet Olympias had trouble moving on and Alexander was bitter towards his father because of his father’s treatment of his mother. As a child Alexander was taught by Aristotle (Ian McKellen) and began fighting in wars at just 16. His loveless but passion filled relationship with his wife Roxane (Emily Blunt) was just a mask to his true love, his relationship with Hephaistion (Chris Pine), his best friend and fellow warrior. No matter how many lovers Alexander took or how wrong his relationship was perceived to be, Alexander could never let go of his love with Hephaistion. From growing up with dangerous yet powerful parents, his close relationship with his mother, his conquering of India and Persia, his love and eventual mysterious poisoning, Alexander the Great defied the rules to be the greastest ruler history has ever known, as predicted by his mother. From Academy Award Winning Director Baz Luhrmann of The Queen of Egypt comes the story of the man who knew no boundaries, who never found a war too big or a problem too hard, the story of Alexander is one of power, love, strength, war and death, all told colorfully and emotionally by Baz Luhrmann.
CONDITIONS OF JUSTICE
A 16 year old Kentucky boy is tragically killed and hung naked on top of the schools flagpole. The boy’s mother Angela (Uma Thurman), a junior high school teacher, and father (Mark Ruffalo), a firefighter, are having a hard enough time with his death when it is suggested by a classmate he was killed because he was gay. Angela becomes consumed by her pain and blames herself for taking him to such a conservative church, believing he was never comfortable with her knowing the truth. With the trial nearing the boys who were believed to murder her son get Grant Jameson (Alan Alda), a heartless conservative bulldog of a lawyer. Angela contacts liberal journalist Michelle Emmerich (Neve Campbell) who writes a story about hate-crimes that brings the case loads of media coverage. Hot-shot gay San Francisco lawyer Ben Lein (Benjamin Mackenzie) has a sorted past and wants to help Angela get justice for her son. He convinces Angela and Michelle that it will be an uphill battle to get maximum sentences for the teens who killed her sons, especially in a conservative state like Kentucky, with stone-tight alibis and against a lawyer like Grant Jameson. They must attempt to prove that the boys murdered her son and did it out of prejudice.
For Angela this is a story of redemption for the death of her son, yet through the case and the pro-gay and anti-gay protests surrounding it, Angela becomes an unlikely gay advocate. Angela sees pain and oppression, and fights for the rights of all, not just for redemption for her own son. As Ben Jackie and Miranda take on the very public case of her son, they form a sort of very personal connection and become the center of media attention. Through all this Miranda’s marriage is falling apart, as she becomes a stronger and smarter than she ever knew she could be. Conditions of Justice is a fictional story about very real-life issues, and how one-mother’s love turned into a legal case brought to national attention.
Best Actor
JAMES FRANCO (Alexander the Great)
James Franco plays Alexander the Great, one of the greatest rulers in history. A strong, erratic, tempermental and charismatic man who was an alcoholic and had a male lover.
“We know James Franco is charismatic and charming, but as Alexander he is commanding and powerful on screen.”
“The best performance of the year. James Franco doesn’t imitate, he captures the character Alexander.”
Best Actress
RACHEL BILSON (Paint It Black)
Academy Award Winner Rachel Bilson plays Josie Tyrell, a plucky, self-aware, charming white trash twentysomething runaway from the trailer parks of Bakersfield who is a habitué of the 1980’s punk rock scene in Los Angeles. As beautiful as she is troubled, as edgy as she is emotional. She is a nude model for artists. Her life is torn apart when her boyfriend shoots himself in the head, which forces her into a deep drug-fueled rage.
“In Paint It Black, Rachel Bilson gives us Josie Tyrell. An artists model who is troubled, yet fascinating. The character is an emotional trainwreck. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Bilson playing this character.”
“Bilson gives us one of her singular creations. She is frustrating, charming, destructive, self-aware, beautiful, spiteful, and kind all at once. Bilson deserves another Oscar for this role”
UMA THURMAN (Conditions of Justice)
Uma Thurman plays Angela, a Virginia mother and teacher who is faced with the fact that her son is gay, just weeks after mourning his death. Instead of falling deeper into depression, she fights to convict his killers and to promote gay issues around the country.
“Through all the pain and sadness, Thurman’s performance is somehow uplifting. We truly see the transformation of her character. It is a subtle and effective performance”
“Thurman plays the everywoman to great effect. She is so convincing and believable, you can’t help but root for her. A genuine and intelligent performance that should earn Thurman another well-deserved Oscar nomination”
Best Supporting Actor
BENJAMIN MCKENZIE (Conditions of Justice)
Benjamin McKenzie plays Ben Lein, a gay San Francisco lawyer named Ben Lein who takes on the case of a murdered Virginia boy. Ben has a shady and painful past, and will do anything for justice.
“Benjamin McKenzie gives the best performance of his career. He is sympathetic and at the same time undeniably ferocious”
“Near the end of the movie Benjamin McKenize delivers one of the best court scenes in recent film history. He grabs your attention and refuses to let go. He truly seems impassioned. This is his Oscar to lose”
CHRIS PINE (Alexander the Great)
Chris Pine plays Hephaistion a great warrior and the male lover of Alexander the Great. He plays a friend, lover and fighter.
“Chris Pine is the biggest discovery of Alexander. His raw performance makes Alexander’s infatuation with his best friend quite believable”
“The true heart of Alexander the Great lies in supporting actor Chris Pine. In a movie filled with conniving, power-hungry characters, it’s impossible to imagine it without the fine heartfelt work of Pine.”
Best Supporting Actress
MEG RYAN (Paint It Black)
In Paint It Black Meg Ryan plays Meredith Loewy, a manipulative concert pianist who is refined, wealthy and well-traveled. She lives among the empty wealthy elite of Los Angeles. After her sons tragic suicide, she becomes even more cold and bitter, before forming a tenuous relationship with his young girlfriend.
“Ryan gives a bold performance. Unlike the film’s protagonist, Ryan’s character is thoroughly unlikeable at times. Yet through her cold bitterness, Ryan lets us know who this character is. It’s a remarkably deep performance”
“As much as you want to hate Ryan’s character, you feel for her and you feel like you know her. Ryan is simply marvelous”
NICOLE KIDMAN (Alexander the Great)
Kidman plays Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. She is the ultimate strong woman. In a society where women are put down, Olympias was assertive and strong. It took a mother like Olympias to raise a son like Alexander. Famed for her beauty and fighting spirit, Olympias can be at scheming and power-hungry, while also being a loving mother and powerful political figure.
“With her flowing red-blonde hair, Nicole Kidman has great strength. She is truly unpredictable, and you can truly see Kidman’s love for her son”
“Her icy glare and statuesque beauty are put to great use here. Kidman is pitch-perfect as Olympias, and druly understands the character. Her best performance since The Hours.”
NEVE CAMPBELL (Conditions of Justice)
Academy Award Nominee Neve Campbell plays Michelle Emmerich. Emmerich is a liberal journalist who gets national attention for a young gay Virginia boy who was murdered while forming a very special bond with his mother.
“After Persuasion and Growing Up James, Conditions of Justice once again shows what a great actress Campbell is. Her character can be overbearing and pushy, yet this bleeding-heart of a character, is made three-dimensional and believable by the very modern talents of Neve Campbell.”
“Campbell plays perfectly off of Thurman’s soft-spoken Angela. She really seems to understand and relate to this character.
Best Director
Steven Soderbergh (Conditions of Justice)
Baz Luhrmann (Alexander the Great)
Sofia Cappola (Paint It Black)
Best Film Editing
The High School Chronicles
Conditions of Justice
Alexander the Great
Paint It Black
Best Original Song
1) "Beyond the Lockers" - Dashboard Confessional (High School Chronicles)
2) "What I Need" - Kelly Clarkson (Pushing 40)
Best Original Score
Alexander the Great
Conditions of Justice
Paint It Black
Best Adapted Screenplay
Paint It Black
Best Original Screenplay
The High School Chronicles
Alexander the Great
Conditions of Justice
Best Art Direction
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
The Fading
Best Cinematography
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
The Fading
Best Costume Design
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
Pushing 40
Paint It Black
Best Makeup
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
Best Sound Mixing
Eye witness
Alexander the Great
Atlantis
Vigilante: Origins
The Invisible Man 2
Best Sound Editing
Conditions of Justice
Atlantis
Vigilante: Origins
The Invisible Man 2
Best Visual effects
Atlantis
Vigilante: Origins
The Invisible Man 2
Animated Feature
My Robot
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Alexander the Great (James Franco) had conquered most of the well-known world by the time he was 32, and was one of the most successful military commanders of all time, going undefeated in battle. He arguably defined what a great ruler is making Macedonia a great power, yet his true story is so much more than the history books tell. His mother, Olympias (Nicole Kidman), was a passionate and headstrong woman who had the largest influence on his life. Olympias was the fourth wife of Phillip II (Russell Crowe) and their marriage was often abusive and dangerous, ending in divorce, yet Olympias had trouble moving on and Alexander was bitter towards his father because of his father’s treatment of his mother. As a child Alexander was taught by Aristotle (Ian McKellen) and began fighting in wars at just 16. His loveless but passion filled relationship with his wife Roxane (Emily Blunt) was just a mask to his true love, his relationship with Hephaistion (Chris Pine), his best friend and fellow warrior. No matter how many lovers Alexander took or how wrong his relationship was perceived to be, Alexander could never let go of his love with Hephaistion. From growing up with dangerous yet powerful parents, his close relationship with his mother, his conquering of India and Persia, his love and eventual mysterious poisoning, Alexander the Great defied the rules to be the greastest ruler history has ever known, as predicted by his mother. From Academy Award Winning Director Baz Luhrmann of The Queen of Egypt comes the story of the man who knew no boundaries, who never found a war too big or a problem too hard, the story of Alexander is one of power, love, strength, war and death, all told colorfully and emotionally by Baz Luhrmann.
CONDITIONS OF JUSTICE
A 16 year old Kentucky boy is tragically killed and hung naked on top of the schools flagpole. The boy’s mother Angela (Uma Thurman), a junior high school teacher, and father (Mark Ruffalo), a firefighter, are having a hard enough time with his death when it is suggested by a classmate he was killed because he was gay. Angela becomes consumed by her pain and blames herself for taking him to such a conservative church, believing he was never comfortable with her knowing the truth. With the trial nearing the boys who were believed to murder her son get Grant Jameson (Alan Alda), a heartless conservative bulldog of a lawyer. Angela contacts liberal journalist Michelle Emmerich (Neve Campbell) who writes a story about hate-crimes that brings the case loads of media coverage. Hot-shot gay San Francisco lawyer Ben Lein (Benjamin Mackenzie) has a sorted past and wants to help Angela get justice for her son. He convinces Angela and Michelle that it will be an uphill battle to get maximum sentences for the teens who killed her sons, especially in a conservative state like Kentucky, with stone-tight alibis and against a lawyer like Grant Jameson. They must attempt to prove that the boys murdered her son and did it out of prejudice.
For Angela this is a story of redemption for the death of her son, yet through the case and the pro-gay and anti-gay protests surrounding it, Angela becomes an unlikely gay advocate. Angela sees pain and oppression, and fights for the rights of all, not just for redemption for her own son. As Ben Jackie and Miranda take on the very public case of her son, they form a sort of very personal connection and become the center of media attention. Through all this Miranda’s marriage is falling apart, as she becomes a stronger and smarter than she ever knew she could be. Conditions of Justice is a fictional story about very real-life issues, and how one-mother’s love turned into a legal case brought to national attention.
Best Actor
JAMES FRANCO (Alexander the Great)
James Franco plays Alexander the Great, one of the greatest rulers in history. A strong, erratic, tempermental and charismatic man who was an alcoholic and had a male lover.
“We know James Franco is charismatic and charming, but as Alexander he is commanding and powerful on screen.”
“The best performance of the year. James Franco doesn’t imitate, he captures the character Alexander.”
Best Actress
RACHEL BILSON (Paint It Black)
Academy Award Winner Rachel Bilson plays Josie Tyrell, a plucky, self-aware, charming white trash twentysomething runaway from the trailer parks of Bakersfield who is a habitué of the 1980’s punk rock scene in Los Angeles. As beautiful as she is troubled, as edgy as she is emotional. She is a nude model for artists. Her life is torn apart when her boyfriend shoots himself in the head, which forces her into a deep drug-fueled rage.
“In Paint It Black, Rachel Bilson gives us Josie Tyrell. An artists model who is troubled, yet fascinating. The character is an emotional trainwreck. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Bilson playing this character.”
“Bilson gives us one of her singular creations. She is frustrating, charming, destructive, self-aware, beautiful, spiteful, and kind all at once. Bilson deserves another Oscar for this role”
UMA THURMAN (Conditions of Justice)
Uma Thurman plays Angela, a Virginia mother and teacher who is faced with the fact that her son is gay, just weeks after mourning his death. Instead of falling deeper into depression, she fights to convict his killers and to promote gay issues around the country.
“Through all the pain and sadness, Thurman’s performance is somehow uplifting. We truly see the transformation of her character. It is a subtle and effective performance”
“Thurman plays the everywoman to great effect. She is so convincing and believable, you can’t help but root for her. A genuine and intelligent performance that should earn Thurman another well-deserved Oscar nomination”
Best Supporting Actor
BENJAMIN MCKENZIE (Conditions of Justice)
Benjamin McKenzie plays Ben Lein, a gay San Francisco lawyer named Ben Lein who takes on the case of a murdered Virginia boy. Ben has a shady and painful past, and will do anything for justice.
“Benjamin McKenzie gives the best performance of his career. He is sympathetic and at the same time undeniably ferocious”
“Near the end of the movie Benjamin McKenize delivers one of the best court scenes in recent film history. He grabs your attention and refuses to let go. He truly seems impassioned. This is his Oscar to lose”
CHRIS PINE (Alexander the Great)
Chris Pine plays Hephaistion a great warrior and the male lover of Alexander the Great. He plays a friend, lover and fighter.
“Chris Pine is the biggest discovery of Alexander. His raw performance makes Alexander’s infatuation with his best friend quite believable”
“The true heart of Alexander the Great lies in supporting actor Chris Pine. In a movie filled with conniving, power-hungry characters, it’s impossible to imagine it without the fine heartfelt work of Pine.”
Best Supporting Actress
MEG RYAN (Paint It Black)
In Paint It Black Meg Ryan plays Meredith Loewy, a manipulative concert pianist who is refined, wealthy and well-traveled. She lives among the empty wealthy elite of Los Angeles. After her sons tragic suicide, she becomes even more cold and bitter, before forming a tenuous relationship with his young girlfriend.
“Ryan gives a bold performance. Unlike the film’s protagonist, Ryan’s character is thoroughly unlikeable at times. Yet through her cold bitterness, Ryan lets us know who this character is. It’s a remarkably deep performance”
“As much as you want to hate Ryan’s character, you feel for her and you feel like you know her. Ryan is simply marvelous”
NICOLE KIDMAN (Alexander the Great)
Kidman plays Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. She is the ultimate strong woman. In a society where women are put down, Olympias was assertive and strong. It took a mother like Olympias to raise a son like Alexander. Famed for her beauty and fighting spirit, Olympias can be at scheming and power-hungry, while also being a loving mother and powerful political figure.
“With her flowing red-blonde hair, Nicole Kidman has great strength. She is truly unpredictable, and you can truly see Kidman’s love for her son”
“Her icy glare and statuesque beauty are put to great use here. Kidman is pitch-perfect as Olympias, and druly understands the character. Her best performance since The Hours.”
NEVE CAMPBELL (Conditions of Justice)
Academy Award Nominee Neve Campbell plays Michelle Emmerich. Emmerich is a liberal journalist who gets national attention for a young gay Virginia boy who was murdered while forming a very special bond with his mother.
“After Persuasion and Growing Up James, Conditions of Justice once again shows what a great actress Campbell is. Her character can be overbearing and pushy, yet this bleeding-heart of a character, is made three-dimensional and believable by the very modern talents of Neve Campbell.”
“Campbell plays perfectly off of Thurman’s soft-spoken Angela. She really seems to understand and relate to this character.
Best Director
Steven Soderbergh (Conditions of Justice)
Baz Luhrmann (Alexander the Great)
Sofia Cappola (Paint It Black)
Best Film Editing
The High School Chronicles
Conditions of Justice
Alexander the Great
Paint It Black
Best Original Song
1) "Beyond the Lockers" - Dashboard Confessional (High School Chronicles)
2) "What I Need" - Kelly Clarkson (Pushing 40)
Best Original Score
Alexander the Great
Conditions of Justice
Paint It Black
Best Adapted Screenplay
Paint It Black
Best Original Screenplay
The High School Chronicles
Alexander the Great
Conditions of Justice
Best Art Direction
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
The Fading
Best Cinematography
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
The Fading
Best Costume Design
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
Pushing 40
Paint It Black
Best Makeup
Atlantis
Alexander the Great
Best Sound Mixing
Eye witness
Alexander the Great
Atlantis
Vigilante: Origins
The Invisible Man 2
Best Sound Editing
Conditions of Justice
Atlantis
Vigilante: Origins
The Invisible Man 2
Best Visual effects
Atlantis
Vigilante: Origins
The Invisible Man 2
Animated Feature
My Robot