Tag Archives: Everybody’s chattin’

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Everybody’s Chattin’ – April Reviews Edition

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Happy Friday everyone! It’s gonna be in mid 60s today, so that’s sure gonna add an extra step in my Spring. Finally it actually feels seasonal this weekend :D

Well, it’s time for another Everybody’s Chattin’ post and this time I want to highlight reviews some of you fine bloggers have written recently. I specifically want to focus on films that I haven’t seen yet, either new releases or older ones already out on dvd. Without further ado, here we go!

Mark reviews In the Mouth of Madness, John Carpenter’s psycho thriller starring Sam Neill.

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To The Wonder

Nick from Cinema Romantico gave a beautiful review of Terrence Malick’s To The Wonder… calling it a ‘rapturous testament to the fleeting nature of love and life‘

I had just seen the trailer for this and was very intrigued. Then I head over to Bonjour Tristesse and saw that he has reviewed Wong Kar Wai’s latest, The Grandmaster.

Now, I’m a big fan of Jennifer Lawrence and sometimes I’d make an exception for ‘some’ horror movies if it intrigues me enough, but Keith‘s review of House at the End of the Street convinces me that I shouldn’t bother with this one.

Two of my favorite Chris-es (from FilmHipster and Terry Malloy Pigeon Coop) in the blogosphere recently teamed up to bring us an excellent, succinct review of A Dangerous Method, which despite the two fantastic lead actors, isn’t as compelling as it could’ve been.

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Animal Kingdom

Kevin has been ‘traveling’ to Australia lately for his ‘Wizard of Oz’ series and he sang the praises for what he call ‘a supreme piece of filmmaking’ that is Animal Kingdom.

Now, I’ve only seen one Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s film (The Tourist), but unfortunately it was such a departure (NOT in a good way) from his first film. Tyson recently reviewed Donnersmarck’s excellent debut The Lives of Others, which I hope to catch soon!

This is one of the critically-acclaimed indies I have yet to see, but Stephanie’s recent review of Martha Marcy May Marlene makes me extra curious, even if it’s just to see Elizabeth Olsen’s performance.

Now, I know this is one of the indie new releases everyone is excited about, and Roshach has some really positive things to say about The Place Beyond the Pines. I’m not a huge fan of the cast but I’m intrigued enough to rent it.

GoT_Season3Ep4_PicLast but certainly not least, Lady Sati‘s been um, preoccupied with HBO’s massively popular Game of Thrones lately, as you’ve likely have seen from her GoT posts on her blog. Though I don’t watch the show, I still enjoy reading her reviews/commentary with all the gorgeous photos, such as this one on Season 3, Episode 4 And Now His Watch Is Ended.

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Well, my MSPfest viewing mini-marathon continues with In A World and The Hunt this weekend. I saw Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist last night which I was quite impressed with, especially with Riz Ahmed‘s performance. Stay tuned for the review of that next week and my thoughts on I, Anna coming later this weekend.

Well, before you’re off to any of the links above, tell me, what’s your weekend viewing plans?

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Oscar Musings, Predictions & Everybody’s Chattin’

Happy last Friday of February… or as we cinephiles call it, the start of Oscar weekend! As usual, the Oscars will be televised live this Sunday by ABC and in more than 225 countries worldwide from 8:30-11:30 p.m., ET.

Adele_Bassey_OscarI’m a bit bummed out that the James Bond tribute won’t be featuring all of the Bond actors after all, that’s been something I’ve been anticipating. I mean, wouldn’t that be cool?! But I guess that’s too good to be true. I guess we’ll have Adele singing the Oscar-nominated theme song Skyfall and I believe Dame Shirley Bassey will also make an appearance (yay!) Not sure what she’ll be singing though, but I’m sure it’ll be phenomenal! Oh, did you know that the cast of The Avengers will be on hand to present? Apparently that’s what it said on the Oscar blog.

Now, it’s been sort of tradition (well, only since a couple of years ago) that I’d post my winner predictions in the major categories. I haven’t seen ALL of the films nominated, but heck this is just for fun, so who’s gonna stop me! :D

  1. Best Picture: ARGO
  2. Best Director: Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
  3. Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis (Lincoln)
  4. Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
  5. Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln)
  6. Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)
  7. Best Animated Feature: Brave
  8. Best Original Screenplay: Moonrise Kingdom
  9. Best Adapted Screenplay: ARGO
  10. Best Foreign Language Film: Amour
  11. Best Song: Skyfall
  12. Best Costume Design: Anna Karenina
  13. Best Cinematography: Life of Pi

Most of my predictions are basically just gut instinct so we’ll see how I’d fare, ahah. This year I’m rooting for ARGO, that’s the film I chose for the LAMB Devours the Oscars Series.

Click the banner below to read why I think ARGO deserves to win Best Picture!

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For sure I’ll be tuning in and live blogging Sunday night. Good thing I’ve asked my boss to take Monday off as I’ll be so tired and my brain will be filled with film stuff to concentrate on work anyway.

So now, on to the links! These are some awesome Oscar-related posts you should check out if you haven’t already:

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Paula and Aurora are currently hosting a spectacular 31-Days-of-Oscar blogathon and this week Paula posted her random Oscar predictions. See if her picks match yours.

On a related note, Michael @ It Rains…You Get Wet participated in that blogathon by posting what he calls Oscar’s misjudgments… Recasting Oscar’s Picks of the 1990s. See what he’d righteously overturn within each of the decades he’s been watching movies, starting with the 1980s and later he’ll be posting his picks for the 2000s.

Another entry to the 31 Days of Oscar deals with the ever-so-fascinating topic of Oscar Curse… Is it for real? Well head out to check out Iba‘s post on I Luv Cinema and decide for yourself.

I don’t know how he does it but Josh @ Classicblanca has taken it upon himself to RANK all 85 Best Picture Oscar Winners since 1929 (honoring films in 1927 and 1928). Check out which films made his top 10 and which number the first Oscar-winning-film Wings falls on his list!

HowGreenWasMyValleySpeaking of Best Picture Oscars, there’s always one of those Best Pictures that people deem as ‘non deserving.’ That somehow it had robbed another more well-deserved nominee. Well, Ryan @ The Matinee ruminates over the year HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY won Best Picture over CITIZEN KANE in his Battle Born post.

Now, some moviegoers care about the award shows and some don’t even bother with them (I know my pal Ted is nodding profusely). Well, Dan @ Public Transportation Snob recently appeared on The Film Pasture’s Podcast discussing if the Oscar still matters.

Now, on top of the industry awards, some bloggers have been posting their own awards in various categories. Andrew @ Encore Entertainment just posted his picks of top ensemble cast in 2012, Very interesting list since I had just posted the question on best and worst casting of the year.

Now, last but certainly not least… Keith @ Keith and the Movies has been posting reviews of films nominated for Oscar this year (or contain Oscar-nominated performances). He apparently found nothing objectionable about Michael Haneke’s Amour, giving it a full 5 stars. Find out why in his Amour review.
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Well that’s it for the Oscar links. Thoughts on this weekend’s ceremony and/or my predictions?

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January Weekend Viewings & Everybody’s Chattin’

Happy Friday everyone, and welcome to another edition of Everybody’s Chattin’!

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It’s been a week filled with sub-zero temps here, and indeed it’s been brutal waking up to – 12˚ F in the morning but hey, it makes us all Minnesotan tough! I’ve lived here about a year longer than anywhere else in the world, including my home country, so I count myself a Minnesotan now :D

Well, we’re still smack dab in the middle of movie dumping grounds of the Winter months, so I’ll definitely be skipping all of the new releases this weekend. Yet another Hans Christian Andersen’s butcher-job adaptation Hansel & Grentel: Witch Hunters, Jason Statham’s Parker and the Farrelly brothers’ star-studded Movie 43 all looks like they’re only worth a rental, at best.

I plan on watching the BBC’s Emma starring the lovely Romola Garai that my co-worker lent me, and hopefully catch up on a Jimmy Stewart movie and more of The IT Crowd!

Now it’s time for links!

ApocalypseNowPosterYou know I adore my pal Michael‘s TMT series and this week he reviewed Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam-war themed classic Apocalypse Now. I’m not a war movie buff, but I might have to give that a watch at some point.

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Another classic review of a film I haven’t seen yet, but I’m definitely intrigued as I quite like Chuck Heston. Jeff of The Stalking moon recently wrote an in-depth review of The Omega Man (1971). This one also deals with the ‘apocalypse’ but this time involving a plague caused by biological weapons! Reminds me of 28 Days Later, but with Moses, er I mean Heston being the only one left to save the human race. Yeah, I’m game for that!

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AnthonyMackieManyFacesAnother favorite blog series of mine is Nostra‘s ‘The Many Faces’ and today he’s highlighting one of my favorite actors, Anthony Mackie. I’ve only seen about five of his films so far, and though he didn’t have a leading role in most, he’s always great to watch. I missed Night Catches Us at TCFF a couple of years back where he’s actually the lead, so I have to catch that soon. I’m thrilled that the 33-year-old Louisiana native will be in Captain America: Winter Soldier!

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Eric just posted a few rental mini reviews and I’m glad to see he has some nice words for Headhunters! That’s one of my favorite films of 2012. Haven’t seen the other three though, I’m pretty sure Killer Joe is not my cup of tea.
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UpstairsDownstairsPosterYou can always count on Terrence to post the latest movie trailers every week, but this sci-fi drama is one I’ve been wanting to see: Upside Down. I love a sci-fi star-crossed romance, which is why the premise of this one intrigues me. Check out the latest poster and trailer of the movie starring Jim Sturgess and Kristen Dunst. I really hope this turns out good!

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I carry this picture with me always… that’s Floppy sitting on my lap

Lady Sati recently reviewed another winning clay-mation feature from Tim Burton, Frankenweenie. The premise should appeal to every dog lovers, and as someone who lost my beloved Floppy in grade school, I know it’ll be quite emotional for me. Sati actually rated it higher than Corpse Bride which I like, so I definitely need to rent it soon!

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Keith is apparently a huge fan of French Cinema. His recent review of Girl on the Bridge sounds quite intriguing. What he said here really sold me “… the real magic of this picture lies in the unusual relationship between these two lost souls.” The film stars Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis (Johnny Depp’s former flame).

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Now lastly, I’d like to highlight a new blog I discovered recently. Mr Rumsey happens to be a fellow Bond fan as well, so it’s been fun ‘chatting’ with him about Bond, even though I need to get him to come around on his thoughts on Dalton, ahah. In any case, check out Mr Rumsey’s Film Related Musings blog.

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He recently did a sweet review of one of my 2011 favorites, Warrior.

I’ll be doing this for future Everybody’s Chattin’ post whenever I come across a new blog I like.

So what are you going to see this weekend? Whatever you do, hope it’s a good one!

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Weekend Viewings + Everybody’s Chattin’

Happy Friday everyone!

Well, Winter has definitely arrived here in Minnesota. We’ve got a sprinkle of the dreaded ‘s’ word yesterday… yep, snow! But fortunately it was just a snow mix so it didn’t stick much at all, in fact, on my way home there’s barely a trace of it. Different story if you live in Northern MN though, I think they’ve got some measurable amount up there. Folks going to Halloween parties this weekend should definitely bundle up though, brrrrr!

Anyway, I’ve actually seen two of the movies opening today, Cloud Atlas, and Chasing Mavericks on advanced screening last week, but I’m taking a bit of a break from writing reviews as I’ve been working on them non-stop for TCFF.

I definitely will review both of them next week though. Seems like neither one is getting favorable critical reviews on rottentomatoes, but with a much higher audience reviews (surprise, surprise). Cloud Atlas actually got pretty decent reviews a couple of weeks ago, but it kept dwindling down closer to the movie opening. As for Chasing Mavericks, I enjoyed it for two main reasons: Gerry Butler surfing (‘nuf said) and the beautifully-shot 40-foot waves. Man, I wish I knew how to surf!! The movie isn’t as as bad as the critics made it out to be (heck if I had a nickle for every time I said this!) Needless to say, I’m definitely on the audience side on this one, so if you’re on the fence about either movies, I’d say give ‘em a shot.

Well, it’s time for links! 

Novia‘s shifting her gaze from her beloved Cillian Murphy to shine a spotlight on her second crush, Benedict Cumberbatch. Most of you know him from the excellent BBC’s Sherlock, but check out ‘Benny’ Special, consisting of reviews of three movies he’s appeared in.

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Speaking of crushes, my Glaswegian friend Mark is in the midst of doing a review trilogy of Scottish films and his first two happen to star my all time favorite Scot! Check out his review of the Scottish drama One More Kiss, featuring a very young and six-pack-free Gerry Butler and one of my all time GB roles as The Stranger in Dear Frankie.

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As part of her 7 Days of Halloween special, the creative genius Lady Sati highlighted French actress Isabella Adjani in Possession as one of her favorite performances. There are sooo many movies of similar title, but this one was released in 1981 which also stars Sam Neill.

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There are many reasons why I love my friend Michael’s blog, even the name It Rains… You Get Wet is just so clever! One of my fave series of his is TMT, which stands for a Theater… a Movie… and a Time. Check out those posts if you haven’t already, even if you don’t like or know the movie, his stories are fun to read… and you’ll wish you have as good a memory as he does!
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Nice to see I’m not the only one having Bond fever this month! :)

People are doing all kinds of posts and lists to commemorate Bond month. Dan from Top 10 UK definitely lives up to his blog name as he has a plethora of top 10 007-themed lists, such as this Top 10 Bond Gadgets courtesy of Rodney of Fernby Films.

Fellow Bond fan Dan Fogarty, aka Fogs is doing all kinds of Bond lists, and a couple of days ago he listed his top 10 Bond theme songs. I agree with all but one from his list.

A couple more Bond lists I like, PG Cooper ranks 22 Bond girls, most of which I agree, especially his pick of number 1 who happens to be one of my all time favorites because she’s sexy and intelligent, definitely not a bimbo. Last but not least, growing up with two brothers, I’ve always been into cars and what’s a Bond movie without the Bond car right? John Kenneth Muir listed his top 5 Bond Cars, and I love his unconventional choice of a yellow French automobile that is far from the glamorous Aston Martin DBS!

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So what are you going to see this weekend? Whatever you do, hope you have a good one!

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Everybody’s Chattin’… TCFF news + Blogathon Reminder

Happy Friday all! Aren’t you glad the weekend is almost here? It’s another slow weekend for movies, at least where I live. The only new one I’m interested in is The Master, but it hasn’t opened anywhere near me. Hopefully next weekend when it opens in wider release. So maybe we’ll opt for watching The Dark Knight Rises a second time :D

Before I get to the links, I just want to give an update of the upcoming Twin Cities Film Fest coming to town next week!

Just yesterday, it’s been announced that TCFF will kick off with Magnolia Pictures A Place at the Table, a powerful documentary by co-directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush about the hunger crisis in America. Featuring Jeff Bridges and Tom Colicchio, with music by T Bone Burnett and The Civil Wars, the film debuted at this years Sundance Film Festival with the title Finding North.

If you live in the area, check out the TCFF web site on how you could take part in this event. 50% of proceeds from all hunger-related events to benefit local charities.

Stay tuned for the full line-up, I’ll definitely post it as soon as it becomes available!

Ok, now time for the link loves!
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I wish I could attend TIFF again as my first experience in meeting my all time crush Gerry Butler was such a memorable one :) But a few lucky people are attending, and I’ve been reading their reviews the past few days.
…		 Apparently Terrence Malick’s movie To The Wonder that premiered at TIFF is not exactly um, wonderful.
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I LOVE fashion and I LOVE movies, but for some reason I have not done a post that combine my two passions like Andina did here on The Romantics. Her blog certainly lives up to its name as I’m now inspired to do a similar post in the near future :)
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Michael @ It Rains… You Get Wet blog has been sharing his own top 10 list on various genres in response to American Film Insitute (AFI)’s list. This time he sets his eye on his Top 10 Romantic Comedies.
There are many things to adore about Sati’s blog. One of my favorite series from Cinematic Corner is her ‘Appreciation’ posts as they’re full of gorgeous images of the actors in question, such as the two recent ones from the oh-so-hunky Idris Elba and the sublime Michelle Williams.
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Dan @ Top 10 Films is no doubt the KING of all top 10 lists and this past week he looked at Top 10 1980s films that need a sequel.Now, I don’t agree with all of them but surely everyone has an opinion with the movies on his list. This one blu-ray certainly travels well. I’ve mentioned in this weekend roundup post that my pal Michael, aka Le0pard13 lent me his blu-ray of ROB ROY.Well, from my house, off it went to Dan @ Fogs Movie Review. Now check out his review AND convo with Michael as he starts his first ever Reader Recommendation series!…

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Last but not least, I want to remind everyone of the…

Small Roles… Big Performances blog-a-thon!

Based on the people responding in the comments section, so far we’ve got about two dozen bloggers who’ll be participating, yay! Please do invite others you think might be interested in taking part.

You can read the details by clicking the image above but just to reiterate once again, this blog-a-thon is intended to celebrate the under-appreciated actors, so preferably it’s NOT a brief performance/cameo of famous movie stars like Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts, even if their performance made a huge impression on you.

DEADLINE for submission: Friday, September 28. Please email me your link to rtmaramis@yahoo[dot]com.

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That’s all folks. So what movie(s) are you planning to see this weekend?

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Everybody’s Chattin’ … and an [FB] announcement

Happy Friday everyone!

Not only is the weekend almost here, Pixar’s BRAVE has arrived, yay! My hubby and I are going to see it tonight.

Move over Rapunzel, I think Princess Merida has the most glorious hair ever!

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Now, before I get to the links, I just want to apologize for skipping the Everybody’s Chattin’ post last month. I know most of you probably don’t even notice it but for me, the best part about blogging is the community aspect and I really appreciate my friends who have done so regularly, like Ryan [my inspiration], Sam, Pete, Sati, and my pal Terrence’s Happy Haps. I love spreading link loves, I mean that’s what makes this blogging thing go around :D

Paula’s FCM Blogathon #2
FCM stands for Future Classic Movies and following the success of the first blog-a-thon, Paula is now at it again with its second round. Check out which film made her list and other bloggers’ selections.
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I’m so jealous that he’s seen the movie already. Check out what he thinks of the latest from Pixar, certainly one of my most anticipated from the year.
John’s historical figure roles suggestion for Leonardo DiCaprio
Inspired by his recent viewing of J Edgar, John thinks up even more 20th century historical figures for him to tackle! Leo should definitely give him a call :D
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Lady Sati’s Appreciation for Jean Dujardin
One of the most beautifully-designed blogs out there, Sati’s recently made a wonderful tribute on my favorite French actor right now. Ladies, you better sit down first ;)
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Fernando’s Ridley Scott Double Bill
The Alien movie must be getting a lot of play this weekend with the release of Prometheus. Check out why Fernando likes both for different reasons.		 Kristin’s Double Reviews
I LOVE it when people do a post of two VERY different movies, that’s what Kristin did with her reviews of Prometheus and Rock of the Ages.
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Now on to the announcement! Well, isn’t it obvious… I finally bite the bullet after resisting it for a couple of years… FlixChatter is now on Facebook!!

Thanks to those who have LIKED me, now for the rest of you, would be a dear and do so please? I’d sincerely appreciate it :D


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So what are you going to see this weekend? Whatever you do, hope you have a good one!

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Everybody’s Chattin’ … and the Bond casting poll update

HAPPY FRIDAY, all! 

Man, I just realized I haven’t done an Everybody’s Chattin’ post in ages. As you can tell, I’m not big on structure or keeping up w/ series like my blog friends [you know who you are :D ] but I promise I’ll keep this post more regularly from now on.

Now, before I get on the links, I just want to update you with the results of the Bond casting poll from a week ago. My Twitter pals might already know this but the winner with 173 votes is… drum roll please…

Richard Armitage!

Well I know the Armitage Army is quite a fervent bunch ahah, but hey, just look at this guy, I wholeheartedly endorse this lean, 6’2″, green-eyed actor as the super spy. In fact, as I’m going to start watching BBC’s Spooks in between Sherlock to see more Richard in all kinds of Bondian action!

Ok, it’s Friday, so a bit of confession can’t hurt :)

Well, after watching some Spooks clips and The Hobbit behind the scenes & press conference videos, last night I had a dream I was part of The Hobbit set in New Zealand. It was during break and the couple of hundred of cast and crew are all sitting in this lush park of some sort. It was almost dark and we’re all sitting in clusters of people and somehow, in my group is Thorin himself [Richard is playing the leader of the dwarfs y'see] and Frodo [Elijah Woods] or someone who look like him. I honestly can’t remember the whole details, the only part I did remember is asking Richard how long he’s been on location. It was quite noisy with so many people around us and so he had to lean very close to me to hear what I was saying, tee-hee… he replied that it must have been around 10 months or so. In any case, it’s one of those dreams you really don’t want to wake up from. Oh man, to be amongst the cast of the most anticipated movies of all time AND sitting next to such a gorgeous creature! :D :D

Now time for the links!

  • Ryan over at the fantabulous The Matinee gets the spotlight on him as he’s being interviewed by Kid on the Front Row on his blogging history, podcasting, etc. A very insightful post on a truly inspirational blogger, check it out!
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  • I always love an unconventional movie lists, and recently Andrew from Encore’s Entertainment did a Nurse Appreciation post by listing some of his favorite nurses in movies.
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  • Tyler of Southern Vision has come up with a bunch of interesting art-house lists, this time he turned his attention to war films. Check out which films make his Top Ten.

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  • The Elephant Man is one of those films I’ve been meaning to see for a while, and Andina reminded me why in her excellent review of this David Lynch film.
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  • Ok, last but not least, the Ten Best Actor Relay Race that I did a couple of weeks ago is now in Sam Fragoso’s hands this week. Check out his blog Duke & the Movies to see which actor he took out and added in. The race is definitely getting more and more interesting, well done Nostra!

Oh, with The Avengers only a week away, my pal Terrence is gearing up for his Avengers Initiative, a week’s worth of Avengers-related posts from friends, including yours truly. You don’t want to miss all the fun!
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Well, before you click away to these awesome posts, tell me what’s your viewing plans this weekend?

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Everybody’s Chattin: Blog Series Edition

Welcome to the last day of January, folks!

Can’t believe one month in 2012 already gone by… but before we get into my birthday month of February, I thought I’d give a shout out to some of the notable blog series and new blogs I’ve been frequenting lately. Let’s get started shall we?

Trilogy Thursday
I LOVE this idea. Max @ Impassioned Cinema & Claire @ Cinematic Delights team up to discuss their favorite trilogy and they definitely started out with the best… Pixar’s TOY STORY!
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Max also came up with a new series on his blog, highlighting a filmmaker of choice and he starts the series with one of my faves: Christopher Nolan, courtesy of Matt from Matt & the Motion Pictures
Duo Posts Series
Michael @ It Rains… You Get Wet has been posting a series of parallel reviews with another blogger, examining a noted book and its later film adaptation. The latest edition is on this noir classic The Maltese Falcon.		 TDYLF Infographic
One of the most brilliant stuff you’ll find at John’s The Droid You’re Looking For blog is his meticulously-crafted infographics! As the Oscar’s soon approaching, check out his handy Breaking Down the Oscar chart featuring facts and figures about Hollywood’s most beloved statue!
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Today’s Minnie Driver’s 42nd Birthday! I really think she’s such an underrated actress, hence my inclusion on this list. One of my favorite roles of hers is Bernadette ‘Benny’ Hogan in Circle of Friends, which happens to be one of my fave movies set in Ireland


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Tuesday’s Overlooked Movies
These insightful posts are courtesy of Iba @ I Luv Cinema. Every week she reviews a movie she thinks more people should check out and it’s almost always something I hadn’t seen before. This week’s edition is Little Voice starring an all Brits cast including Michael Caine and Brenda Blethyn.
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My matey Scott @ Front Room Cinema has been doing well on one of his new year’s resolution to feature more classic cinemas. This time he’s got help from Sam @ Duke & The Movies in reviewing Jean Paul Belmondo’s trend-setting French New Wave film Breathless.
The Story Behind Film Studio Logos
The King of all great blog series Nostra @ My Film Views has recently launched a great one that gives us an insight into the brand history of Hollywood’s famous studios. The latest one he’s featuring is 20th Century Fox.		 Robert Bresson Marathon
Tyler @ Southern Vision is at it again with his directors marathon… offering great insights into off-the-beaten path works mainstream moviegoers likely overlook. This time he starts with the review of Les anges du péché (1943).
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Last but not least, I’d like to give a shout out to these new blogs I’ve been enjoying the past few months. Definitely check ‘em out if you haven’t already!
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• Paula’s Cinema Club
• Aziza’s Picks
• Duke & The Movies
• Never Too Early Movie Predictions
• Matt & The Motion Pictures
• Splendid & Lovely
• The Movie Lounge
• All Eyes on Screen
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Be sure to stay tuned for another classic flix guest review and the follow up to this favorite actors voice list later this week!
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Everybody’s Chattin’ – End of Year Edition

Hello everyone, hope your weekend’s been great and you weren’t too caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping :D Well typically I have my weekend roundup by now but I’m a bit behind, but I figure since I was planning on having Everybody’s Chattin’ post for this weekend, this can go in lieu of that.

Hudson, Grant, Brando and Peck

I have no real reason to post this photo… I just wish I could be a fly on the wall in this room when this photo was taken [sigh]…

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Anyway, for the end-of-year edition, I’m gonna highlight some of the series I like from my blog friends, just one of the things that keep me coming back to their fab blogs! There are also a couple of new blogs I’d like y’all to check out, so here goes:

First thing first…

  • Do you love classic films? Well then you want to check out one of FC’s awesome contributors, Paula G’s blog Paula’s Cinema Club for interviews, classic reviews, TCM Picks, etc. Now if only I can get her to blog more on Gregory Peck, ahah.
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  • FC’s regular commenter Daveackackattack now has his own blog:
    I Have Seen The Sun – with his blog he hopes to share his passion for movies and share a world to you that I know and love so well. So expect dense posts with lots of visual aids, links, lists and tangential rambling about all things visually interesting.
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Now, on to my favorite blog series:

  • Claire Packer‘s Favourites Friday – she features one movie on a given Friday and tells us why it’s one of her favorites!
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  • Eric from The Warning Sign posted his ‘50 Movies I Need to See by the End of the Year‘ project last June. His latest ones were Sunset Boulevard and Mr Smith Goes to Washington. Check out the reviews here and wish him luck on the rest!
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  • Nostra from My Film Views has been putting together The Many Faces series for some time and it’s always fun to check out who he’ll feature next. The latest one is Bruce Willis, one of my favorite action heroes!
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  • My friend Michael from It Rains… You Get Wet has incredible memory… there is no way I could do this kind of series as I can’t even remember where I saw something even six months ago! Every one of his TMT (a Theatre… a Movie… and a Time) series, such as this Home Alone one, is a joy to read. He always includes pictures of the cinema along with his well-written reviews.
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  • My pal Terrence aka ScarletSp1der‘s Time to Vote Tuesday he puts together every week. There’s still time to vote on your Favorite Holiday Movies and you can choose up to four!
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  • As if you need more reasons to visit the massively entertaining Front Room Cinema, Scott keeps the Icon series going with FRC Fallen Icons. His first one was Wesley Snipes, and ever since I’m always curious to see who he or his staff will feature next!
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  • Tyler from Southern Vision recently started a Profile series that’s highly informative for those not-so-well-versed on foreign films. The latest one he featured was Spanish auteur Luis Buñuel.
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  • Ok, last but not least, ILuvCinema‘s got a brand spankin’ new look! Check our her newly-redesigned blog and visit her latest Tuesday Overlooked Film series while you’re at it.
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So be sure to look for my Weekend Roundup sometime tomorrow … no cinema trip this weekend but you can bet on more Gregory Peck movie marathon, ha..ha..

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Everybody’s Chattin’ – Reviews Edition

Happy Friday, friends!

Here in the USA, we celebrate Veterans Day. Just a quick history on what Veteran’s day is about:

  • 1919 – President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as Armistice Day to remind Americans of the tragedies of war.
  • 1938 – The day becomes a federal holiday.
  • 1954 – Congress changes the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all United States Veterans.

With that, I just want to briefly say a huge THANK YOU to those who have served this great country. Freedom definitely is not free…

Now for the Everybody’s Chattin’ series today, I’m selecting five reviews of movies I have not seen yet. So here we go:

  • Tom Bielby @ Front Room Cinema did a review of Awakening. It’s a ghost story set in 1920s England. I like the cast of Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton, and despite my distaste for spooky flicks, this one looks pretty good!
  • Sometimes reading a review of an older epic film gave you a whole new appreciation for it. That’s what happened when I read Nostra’s review of Schindler’s List at My Film Views.
  • Rich at Wide Screen World is taking part in the French New Wave Week, and his latest review is on François Truffaut’s celebrated 400 Blows. I haven’t seen the film myself, and his review makes me curious to check it out.
  • Despite all the buzz and overwhelmingly positive reviews of Drive, Russell from 1:37 Exactly just couldn’t bring himself to love it. He explained why in his well-written review.
  • I’m kind of hitting a few birds with one stone with this one as my pal Terrence a.k.a The Scarlet Sp1der have compiled ten movie reviews, including The Rum Diary, Tower Heist, etc. that he deemed worth checking out.
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  • Bonus TV review: My pal Novia at Polychrome Interest just gave an in-depth look into HBO’s miniseries Game of Thrones, a series I’ve been meaning to check out. I totally feel her reluctance about watching it, which I also share given my upbringing.

Now, before you saunter off to check these great posts though, please do share what your weekend viewing plans. I’m hoping to see Immortals this weekend and perhaps have some time to check out more Gregory Peck films :D