mahna mahna (link-link-lee-link-link) mahna manha (link-link-lee-link) ♫
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 5:00PM 
Stale Popcorn on the Giant Face of Chris Pine and weird twin hands on the This Means War poster.
Empire Ken Watanabe is in discussions for a role in the live action adaptation of Akira. Now, y'all know how much I hate the future existence of the movie but casting one Asian actor is not going to help. Just like the decision not to change the character names this will only remind people that this movie was super racist in its casting and opted out of Asian actors in the lead Asian roles.
Awards Daily Sasha is sticking by Viola Davis (The Help) for a Best Actress win for now, despite the people screaming "Streep Streep Streep"
The Wow Report the cast of Absolutely Fabulous in 2011.
New York Times 101 Notable Books of 2011. Whoa, get reading, you!
Twitch makes a plea for action flick Fast Five for Best Editing. For your consideration...
80s Flashback
Press Play is looking at movies about grief in a very personal way. I loveRunning on Empty (1988) so much so I'm always glad to see a piece celebrating its emotional potency.
Between the Pages a Little Shop of Horrrors Cake. Wow. I think it's suppertime.
Muppet Mania
Aint It Cool I suspect this total love mixed with declining opinion will start happening more and more withThe Muppets (2011) but the total love you first feel makes it well worth seeing.
Gold Derby Can the Muppets finally win an Oscar? They've been waiting even longer than Glenn Close ;) since their first nomination came in 1979.
Slate on the origins of the Muppets catchy signature nonsense "Mahna-Mahna"
In Contention the sound of the Muppets.
Akira, Chris Pine, Muppets, Oscars (11), Oscars (70s), Running on Empty, This Means War, books
Reader Comments (11)
It looks like Harvey will push Streep into the winner's circle. She simply gives the best performance of the year. (Sasha seems almost desperate for a Davis win.)
Haha, when I first saw this post (and the This Means War poster in particular) I thought "since when does Nathaniel write about football?" (for a fraction of a second anyway). Just because I saw this earlier today. Yes, it's 4 people and sure the pose is completely different, but still, the resemblance is uncanny, is it not? :D
Enjoyed reading the piece on Running on Empty a lot, thanks for the link.
Speaking of films about grief, I saw this year's un certain regard winner Stopped On Track last night. If you can stomach the subject matter (a husband and father dying from a brain tumor), it's a very rewarding film. Highly recommended.
I love Christine Lathi's performance in Running on Empty. Too bad that was such a crowded year... maybe the crowdest ever?
med -- so you've already seen all the performances?
I realize the entire Oscar predicting game is based on speculation, but even then, I think predicting winners in November is a bit silly. I mean, I guess we could go ahead and say Rise of the Planet of the Apes will probably win Best Visual Effects and Hugo will probably win Best Art Direction, but for the major categories, it's still way too soon to declare a winner.
Having said that, I don't see Streep winning this year. I stick by my conviction that if they're ever going to give her a third Oscar, it's going to be for a performance that gets her across-the-board raves in a movie that's considered worthy of that performance. They're not just going to hand her one when there are other viable contenders, or at least I don't see that happening.
Sasha will jump on the Streep train when the remaining critics jump. It's only a matter of time. (And yes, she seems desperate for Davis to win for some reason). I look forward to seeing your Dec 4 predictions, Nathaniel.
Davis is a now or never deal. The Help has earned more money than The Iron Lady will likely make in theatrical release. Streep is personally pro-Davis which only helps Davis. Davis will win SAG but will the Golden Globes go for her?
It's been ten years since Halle Berry broke the color barrier. Berry being in her 30s is on par with best actress being a category for 20 and 30 somethings--but Viola Davis has a chance to join the lucky 13 club of 40 something actresses who've taken home Best Actress. Making it the lucky 14. Davis will get SAG--but will the Hollywood Foreign Press warm to her?
I am just looking forward to all the Meryl loves Viola and vice versa moments that will surely come when one of them wins over the other at the SAGs and other awards season shows.
It's Meryl's time again, finally. Viola has a bright future ahead of her and she'll be nominated again. I recently heard a critic say that Davis is this generations Streep. So Davis will be back and Streep will finally win her third. People keep saying Streep will vote for Davis. I think the better question is who will Winslet and Bullock vote for. I have a hunch...
Viola is going to television after this awards season. Yes she'll likely reprise her role in Fences for the film adaptation but if she's to win Best Actress the time is now. One of the reasons why Steep has lost so often is because it was a one shot deal for the other contender.
Katharine Hepburn winning her 4th, the Academy took the chance
Shirley Maclaine winning at age 49, the Academy had too
Geraldine Page winning, if the Academy didn't she'd be dead without every having won one
Cher winning, the 80s were her prime years as an actress the time was then
Jodie Foster winning, they love Jodie so they crowned her
Kathy Bates winning, a one shot deal like Cher's
Susan Sarandon winning, she was 49 years old
Gwyneth Paltrow winning, blood money from Harvey Weinstein
Hilary Swank winning, Annette Bening should've won
Helen Mirren winning, she was going to win
Kate Winslet winning, she's never won -- on her 6th nomination, in her 30s she's getting too old for them
Sandra Bullock winning, think Cher and Kathy Bates -- one shot deals
Viola Davis winning, She like Bullock lead a picture to huge boxoffice -- she's the first black female performer to go from a supporting nominee which is like standard to being in the best actress category -- it'll be a grave mistake if they don't let her get it. Black actresses don't get second chances because Hollywood is not invested in older women and women of color.