December Marathons - DISCUSSION AND REVIEW THREAD

[Emma]

Lol... I bought Melinda and Melinda partly because of Allen and partly because of Will Ferrel XD

But I agree... Z was great  

[goodguy]

I have seen "Everyone Says I Love You", ... The first I had bought because of Drew Barrymore.

Surely you remember that it was a musical? And Barrymore was the only one who had her songs dubbed by someone else, if I recall correctly.

[Emma]

  actually Goldie Hawn sang to well for someone just breaking in to song and Drew Barrymore convinced Allen that she couldn't sing :p

[Tom]

I have seen "Everyone Says I Love You", ... The first I had bought because of Drew Barrymore.

Surely you remember that it was a musical? And Barrymore was the only one who had her songs dubbed by someone else, if I recall correctly.

Yes I remember. Also I remember that Natalie Portman and Lukas Haas was in it. I also knew that about Drew Barrymore. The reason for that was, that she did convince Woody Allen that she could not sing at all. And he did let her off the hook even though he wanted the actors to sound amateurish on purpose. Strangely enough Drew Barrymore did sing in "Music and Lyrics" if I remember correctly. And off-key "99 Luftballons" in Wedding Singer.

[Emma]

She did sing in Music and Lyrics, haha.... Oh boy, Hugh Grant made me laugh in that XD that song "Pop goes my heart" its brilliant.

..And I believe she did sing in the Wedding Singer... although I only briefly remember.... the only thing I really remember about that film is Adam Sandler singing a Boy George song and that "Somebody kill me please" song.

[Rich]

Title: Things We Lost in the Fire

Runtime:118
Certificate:R
Year:2007
Genres:Drama

Plot:Academy Award® winners Halle Berry* and Benicio Del Toro** "give two of the year's most brilliant performances"†† in the critically acclaimed drama Things We Lost in the Fire. Audrey (Berry) is reeling after a terrible loss, and impulsively invites a troubled life-long friend Jerry (Del Toro) to stay with her and her two children. With each other's help, Audrey and Jerry discover hope and happiness in their new lives. Directed by Oscar® nominee Susanne Bier (After the Wedding), produced by Academy Award® winner Sam Mendes†, and also starring Golden Globe® winner David Duchovny (The X Files), Things We Lost in the Fire is a "truly moving and emotionally honest"†† film.
My Review:
Not sure why this film attracted me so much, perhaps the mood I am in, or maybe such a great performance from love him or hate him actor Benicio Del Toro. His portrayal of a heroin addict, friendless bar one, hated initially by the wife (halle berry) until his redeeming features and kind heart start showing through, is oscar like in its domination of the screen.
Although the pace is somewhat slow, and the length nearly 2 hours, I enjoyed this moving film and totally got in to all of the emotions, heartbreaks, fears and despairs. I have not a great experience with drugs or addicts, but this film seems to genuinely portray such a life accurately, the usual depressive state a user feels, and maybe hope for anyone either going through rehab or trying to find reasons to attempt to get clean.
But the film offers much more than this, it is uplifting and motivating, the script is exquisite, the acting of an extremely high standard once Duchovny disappears from the set, the direction is superbly and sympathetically handled by Susanne Bier, and the camerawork truly makes you feel part of the unfolding drama.
One of the best movies I have seen this year, highly recommended.

My Rating
 

[Tom]

Title: Say It Isn't So
Year: 2001
Director: J. B. Rogers
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 92 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: German: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: English, German

Stars:
Chris Klein
Heather Graham
Orlando Jones
Sally Field
Richard Jenkins

Plot:
Boy meets girl. Boy loves girl. Boy discovers she may be his sister. (Boy, this could be trouble.) To make matters worse, by the time he discovers 'it isn't so', he has precious little time to stop the woman of his dreams from marrying another man. It's shameless romantic comedy at its finest from the twisted minds behind There's Something About Mary and Me, Myself & Irene!

Awards:

Taurus Award	2002	Nominated	Best Overall Stunt by a Man	Gilbert B. Combs, Jacob Rupp
World Stunt Awards	2002	Nominated	Best Overall Stunt by a Man	Gilbert B. Combs, Jacob Rupp

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

I haven't seen this one since I first got it. I didn't like it all that much then. I thought I give it another chance, but the movie is really boring and full of bad jokes.

Rating:

[Tom]

Title: Analyze This
Year: 1998
Director: Harold Ramis
Rating: FSK-12
Length: 99 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78, Pan & Scan 1.33:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish

Stars:
Robert De Niro
Billy Crystal
Lisa Kudrow
Chazz Palminteri
Kresimir Novakovic

Plot:
Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal team with Lisa Kudrow, Chaz Palminteri and director/co-writer Harold Ramis to make you a comedy offer you can't refuse in this laugh-out-loud mob hit. De Niro, deftly spoofing the wiseguy roles that have been a staple of his estimable career, plays powerful New York crime family racketeer Paul Vitti. Crystal, always one joke ahead of sleeping with the fishes, is shrink Ben Sobel, who has just days to resolve Vitti's emotional crisis and turn into a happy, well-adjusted gangster. Yes, Sobel is a family pychiatrist.But surely this isn't the kind of family he had in mind.

Awards:

American Cinema Editors Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical	Christopher Tellefsen
ASCAP Awards	2000	Won	Top Box Office Films	Howard Shore
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	2000	Won	Favorite Comedy Team	Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards	2000	Won	Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy	Lisa Kudrow
Golden Globe	1999	Nominated	Actor in a Leading Role - Musical or Comedy	Robert De Niro
Golden Globe	1999	Nominated	Picture - Musical or Comedy	Jane Rosenthal, Paula Weinstein
Young Artist Awards	2000	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actor	Kyle Sabihy

Extras:
Commentary
Outtakes
Scene Access

My Thoughts:

I found this movie rather boring. It had its moments, but overall nothing I will be dying to see again. I thought that I had never seen this movie before, but a lot of it was familiar so I think I must have caught parts of it on TV in the past.

Rating:

[Tom]

Title: Garden State
Year: 2004
Director: Zach Braff
Rating: 14A
Length: 102 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Zach Braff
Natalie Portman
Ian Holm
Peter Sarsgaard
Jim Parsons

Plot:
Twentysomthing, emotionally detatched Andrew Largeman (Braff) returns home to New Jersy after nine long years. Now, as he tries to re-connect with his past, a series of chance encounters with Sam, (Natalie Portman) – a free-spirited girl who's everything he isn't – sets the stage for a fateful, mind blowing take on what his future might hold. Co-Starring Peter Sarsgaard, Ian Holm, and Method Man, GARDEN STATE is “hilarious” (ROLLING STONE).

Awards:

Empire Magazine Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Newcomer	Zach Braff
Grammy Awards	2005	Won	Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media	Zach Braff (compilation producer)
Independent Spirit Awards	2005	Won	Best First Feature	Zach Braff; Pamela Abdy; Gary Gilbert; Dan Halsted; Richard Klubeck
Independent Spirit Awards	2005	Nominated	Best First Screenplay	Zach Braff
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Female Performance	Natalie Portman
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Kiss	Natalie Portman, Zach Braff
MTV Movie Awards	2005	Nominated	Breakthrough Male Performance	Zach Braff
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2005	Won	Best Breakthrough Filmmaker	Zach Braff
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Picture
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Comedy or Musical	Peter Sarsgaard
Satellite Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Actress – Comedy or Musical	Natalie Portman
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Actor: Drama	Zach Braff
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Actress: Drama	Natalie Portman
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Blush Scene	Zach Braff
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Breakout Performance - Male	Zach Braff
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Liar	Natalie Portman
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Liplock	Natalie Portman, Zach Braff
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie Love Scene	Zach Braff, Natalie Portman
Teen Choice Awards	2005	Nominated	Choice Movie: Drama
Writers Guild of America Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Original Screenplay	Zach Braff
Young Artist Awards	2005	Nominated	Best Family Feature Film – Drama

Extras:
Closed Captioned
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Outtakes
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

This movie is written, directed and stars Zach Braff, the guy from Scrubs. I never followed Scrubs, so I mainly know him from this movie. He did a good job here as a first-time director. I bought this movie because of Natalie Portman. She did a great job here.
I didn't know him the last time I watched this movie, but "Sheldon" is a small part in it

Rating:

[Emma]

I really liked Garden State I thought it had a nice soundtrack, and was just generally nice, its one of those films that's quite satisfying.... even though its quite strange in places.

[Tom]

Title: Finding Nemo
Year: 2003
Director: Andrew Stanton
Rating: FSK-0
Length: 96 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital Surround EX, German: Dolby Digital Surround EX, German: DTS ES (Matrixed), Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: Commentary, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish

Stars:
Englische Stimmen
Albert Brooks
Ellen DeGeneres
Alexander Gould
Willem Dafoe
Brad Garrett

Plot:
When Nemo, a young clownfish, is unexpectedly carried far from home, his overprotective father, Marlin (Albert Brooks), and Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly but forgetful regal blue tang fish, embark on an epic journey that leads to encounters with vegetarian sharks, surfer dude turtles, hypnotic jellyfish and hungry seagulls!

Awards:

Academy Award	2003	Won	Best Animated Feature Film	Andrew Stanton
Academy Award	2003	Nominated	Best Music, Original Score	Thomas Newman
Academy Award	2003	Nominated	Best Sound Editing	Gary Rydstrom, Michael Silvers
Academy Award	2003	Nominated	Best Writing, Original Screenplay	Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds (Screenplay); Andrew Stanton (Story)
American Cinema Editors Awards	2004	Nominated	Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical	David Ian Salter, Lee Unkrich
American Film Institute Awards	2003	Won	Movie of the Year
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Best Animated Feature	Pixar Animation Studios
Annie Awards	2003	Nominated	Individual Achievment - Animated Effects	Justin Ritter
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Animated Effects	Martin Nguyen
Annie Awards	2003	Nominated	Individual Achievment - Character Animation	Dave DeVan
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Character Animation	Doug Sweetland
Annie Awards	2003	Nominated	Individual Achievment - Character Animation	Gini Santos
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Character Design in an Animated Feature Production	Ricky Nierva
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Directing in an Animated Feature Production	Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Music in an Animated Feature Production	Thomas Newman
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Production Design in an Animated Feature Production	Ralph Eggleston
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production	Ellen DeGeneres as the voice of Dory
Annie Awards	2003	Won	Individual Achievment - Writing in an Animated Feature Production	Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, Dave Reynolds
BAFTA	2003	Nominated	Screenplay (Original)	Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds
BMI Film & TV Music Awards	2004	Won	BMI Film Music Award	Thomas Newman
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2004	Won	Best Animated Film
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2004	Nominated	Best Picture
European Film Awards	2003	Nominated	European Film Academy Non-European Film - Prix Screen International
Golden Globe	2003	Nominated	Picture - Musical or Comedy	Graham Walters
Hugo Award	2004	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
MTV Movie Awards	2004	Nominated	Best Comedic Performance	Ellen DeGeneres
MTV Movie Awards	2004	Nominated	Best Movie
Online Film Critics Society Awards	2004	Won	Best Animated Feature
Satellite Awards	2004	Nominated	Best Motion Picture – Animated or Mixed Media
Satellite Awards	2004	Nominated	Best Original Score	Thomas Newman
Saturn	2003	Won	Best Animated Film
Saturn	2003	Nominated	Best DVD Special Edition Release
Saturn	2003	Nominated	Best Music	Thomas Newman
Saturn	2003	Won	Best Supporting Actress	Ellen DeGeneres
Saturn	2003	Nominated	Best Writing	Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds
Visual Effects Society Awards	2004	Won	Outstanding Character Animation in an Animated Motion Picture	Andrew Gordon, Brett Coderre (For "Speaking Whale")
Visual Effects Society Awards	2004	Nominated	Outstanding Character Animation in an Animated Motion Picture	David DeVan, Gini Santos (For "Inside the Whale")
Young Artist Awards	2004	Won	Best Family Feature Film – Animation

Extras:
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interactive Game
Kurzfilm "Knick Knack"
Music Videos
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
THX certified
Trailers
Virtuelles Aquarium

My Thoughts:

A great movie. The animation is wonderful. Dory is the most fun character in this movie. Too bad that I didn't watch it in the theatre.

Rating:

[Tom]

I have finished my December marathon list

[Jimmy]

 

Mine is almost done also, I keep a christmas movie to watch at midnight and it will be over.