Links!

Sorry folks, I don't really have anything to say. And I didn't yesterday, either. What you gonna do? I've had work and social commitments and just a lack of interesting things. So for pure shits and giggles, go to some of these links if you haven't already. Oh, i'll mention that the sidebar is slowly revamping itself, so hopefully I'll have all the links put in again soon. But it takes time y'all!

Ja at My New Plaid Pants talks about Michael Haneke's Funny Games. This is an English-language remake of Haneke's own 1997 film. I'm only new to the world of Michael Haneke, and I've only seen three of his films (Hidden, The Piano Teacher and Code Unknown, which I discussed earlier this week. The Time of the Wolf is on tele next week though so I'll defo try to catch that). Unfortunately Funny Games isn't available down here yet, but as I said in the replies to that entry I made, the good thing about American remakes is that somebody always releases the original on DVD just in time to make some quick cash. So, anyway, Ja has some links to new images of the English-language version starring Naomi Watts and Tim Roth as the couple and Michael Pitt and Brady Corbit (from one of my absolute favourite films of last year, Mysterious Skin) as the psychopaths. Interesting.

It's this time of the year that Nat at the Film Experience really hits his stride, and he's doing so as I type. He has a review of Running with Scissors, he has more Best Foreign Language Film news than you can shake a stick at (go TEN CANOES!!!!), the ever-incestuous relationship between Burton-Depp-Carter continues with Burton's Sweeney Todd and he weighs in on the eternal battle of good vs evil... aka Martin Scorsese vs Clint Eastwood. I like Eastwood (well, I liked his last couple of movies. I haven't seen Unforgiven), but come on. Scorsese! But, I still wish The Aviator had of won a couple of years back.

GQ lists the 25 most Stylish films of all time. Of course, being a men's mag means it's all about men. I haven't seen a lot of those movies, but I gotta ask. They mention James Dean three times I believe yet not one of his films (Rebel Without a Cause being the obvious one) is listed. The white tee, red jacket and denim jeans is iconic, folks.

Top 10 World War II Movies. Pardon me while I yawn, but WWII is a topic that I just don't care about in movies anymore. Yes, Saving Private Ryan is good blah blah blah, but WWII movies are just like Hollywood blockbusters sometimes. Big fight sequence followed by quiet dialogue followed by fight scene (a path that Flags of Our Fathers seems to have taken. I find it amusing that the best ones on there are typical war films - Casablanca and Mrs Miniver. I haven't seen Schindler's List though. I really want to, but they never send it to me.

Dave Poland's 20 weeks to Oscar columb. And stuff.

Arden at Cinephilia says Little Children is for "Winslet and Field fans only" I'm a Winslet fan, but not a Field fan (I didn't like In the Bedroom that much) so should I still watch it? Hmmm.

I love reading Tech Support over at Kris' In Contention. The Tech departments don't get enough love.

The Envelope Buzzometer is up. The Queen, Flags of our Fathers and Dreamgirls take the top three spots for Best Picture buzz, but the actress category? Well... that's a shambles right now. So many possibilities. Mirren and Dench take spots #1 and #2, but at #3 is another Brit, but this time of a much younger generation: Sienna Miller. I actually predicted Sienna Miller for a nomination all the way back in April when nobody else even gave her a second thought, so it's funny seeing her get buzz let alone actually be in contention. I don't think she'll get a nom anymore, but ya know. I also predicted Cruz all the way back then too, so give me props please (lol, don't). Winslet and Bening round out the top 5. So... yeah, it actually is a shambles. No Streep. Huh? And apparently Ed Norton is in contention for Best Actor with The Illusionist or The Painted Veil. I... didn't see that one coming.

The Prestige gets a For Your Consideration ad. Alongside a Best Picture and Director consideration, they have two for Best Actor (Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale), one for Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson), three for Best Supporting Actor (Michael Caine, David Bowie and Andy Serkis) and two for Best Supporting Actress (Piper Perabo and Rebecca Hall). Something tells me they'll be getting none of those. Although, how much would it KICK ASS to see David Bowie as an Academy Award nominee?! A lot! That's how much.

I love No-Necked Monsters run by fellow Victorian Michael Scott (oh, the memories of that name). Today he has a review of Children of Men. I must admit to also being guilty of being filled with joy that we're getting a highly-anticipated Hollywood production a full two months before the United States. I'll hopefully be seeing it on Tuesday. eep. He also has a great write-up for the little Aussie gem from about 8-years-ago called Soft Fruit. I liked it when I saw it on VHS about five years ago, but it's true that nobody seems to remember it. Well, I do Michael! I DO!!!

And that's all for now, cause I need to eat and then get ready for work. Ciao.