Some Reasons Why I Can't Wait For Oz:The Great and Powerful!

Oscar Diggs is quite the cad, small-time magician. Hurled via twister in a hot air balloon he lands in the vibrant and mysterious land called Oz. Greeted by a trio of witches who believe he is the great and powerful man destined to rescue their land from destruction, Diggs is tested by his wicked nature. Tempted to take glory and fortune offered to him because of his rumored powers, Diggs is motivated by Oz's inhabiants to do good for those who are being left helpless in Emerald City.

A prequel and loosely based off of L. Frank Baum's series, Oz: The Great and Powerful is coming to screen in two months. Due to the wicked manipulative advertising, I'm already feeling the excitement and hype for this fantasy adventure for several reasons.

The trailer. It's simply repetitive, always on television. I never actively seek it out on YouTube ten times a day. Never!....When I do catch it I always want to see it this weekend and then come to the realization I have to wait 36 more days...

A rarity: the special effects. I'm not a big fan of 3D nor CGi. I just happen to like my movies with an actual set and real people. In comparison to Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, this movie has the same technological world of bright bold colors and extravagantly strange creatures. Though not typically a gal pal towards special effects, I like how some of the film seems to be a mix of sets and green screen. And, hopefully the munchkins' heads won't be wrongfully replaced with other actor's faces.

The evolution of the Wicked Witch of the West/East/Some Other Direction. It's hard to set The Wizard of Oz aside to fully comprehend who is going to put bitch to witch. Hints from the posters and trailers point to Rachel Weisz, who plays Evanora Wicked Witch of the East. While Michelle Williams is goody-two-shoes Glinda, Good Witch of the North, Mila Kunis is Theodora, hailing wickedly from the West. Much confusion has risen over who is evolving into true wickedness.  Rachel Weisz has revealed that this character is much more sinister than past roles while Mila confessed little kids won't be a big fan of her character....

Obvious lead-in to a sequel. Comic Con spoilers reveal well...click the link if you want to be spoiled. We might not be finding out who the villain of Oz truly is...

My Love / Hate Relationship With James Franco. Part 1. I'm happy that Franco was cast over Robert Downey Jr and Johnny Depp. Nothing wrong with the former, a heck of a lot wrong with the latter.. Franco offers a little more smoothness I don't feel Downey or Depp would have pulled off. And Part 2: Despite his douchebaggery response to hosting the Oscars with Anne Hathaway, sometimes I can't help but think of him as the the male Lady Gaga. Often he goes beyond what is necessary to put in a very good performance, verging on a point of us seeing the magicless man behind the curtain, yet he's still crazy good enough to be entertaining...

Nothing says a big movie set for probable Blockbuster box office failure to bring in HUGE numbers than GORGEOUS character posters!

A prequel. Though it's a prequel to the Wizard of Oz story, it doesn't necessarily mean the 2013 film won't make some homages to the original 1939 classic film. Alass Dorothy Gale aren't in this tale but that also doesn't mean the finale won't have a sequel lead-in to seeing the girl from Kansas.

Thus it's not technically stealing thunder from the original. While other series (television shows and films) tried to re-imagine Dorothy and her pals, this is starting from the beginning. As BitchFlicks has pointed out this film is still not right on point with the Frank L. Baum series, making the witches their brand of feminist awesomeness, it's trying to pave its own way from other Oz adaptations that have failed and succeeded. Depending on the outcome of this first film, Dorothy and her silver slippers will make their way into the second film.

It looks pretty. I pretty much know which specific theater I want to see this in. The colors are just fabulous and I'm sure the digital clarity will make it even more so. I'm in the mood to watch something that's just fun. Sometimes too much anxiousness is spent on hoping a movie doesn't suck, and the watching experience worth its time and money. Oz: The Great and Powerful directed by Sam Raimi looks like one great magical ride through Oz.
 
P.S. I only hope this isn't Mirror Mirror. Otherwise, watch out for a special edition of the Trailer Was Better.

So Fetch Friday: Counting down to Oscars

Best Picture Montage from 1928 to 2011

+ Bond. James Bond - all six of them might be making a special appearance at this year's Oscars despite Skyfall wasn't snubbed for Best Picture and the LAST Bond film that was recognized was 30 years ago...Nothing says Awkward Oscar tribute than this. Would be great to see all Bonds there though!

+ Get FREAKED THE FRACK OUT by the Madame Tussauds wax figure of Sandra Bullock. Can't. Sleep. Now.

+ Oscars going to be paying tribute to musicals in film over the past 10 years...I've only liked Phantom of the Opera and Chicago, sooo...

+  Entertainment Weekly has a great Oscar guide, if you want to see the current list of nominees. It's getting closer to showtime: have you chosen your top picks yet?

+ Setting a new blazing trail in space with Star Trek director J.J. Abrams is set to continue the Star Wars series. A huge Trekkie that I am, much more than a Star Wars fan, I hope Trek doesn't flounder in the great wide black outerspace.

+ I have no intention of ever seeing Movie 43 and it doesn't look like any of its stars are intending to promote or see it either... Good luck to you, if you're going to!

+ Film Flare gushes over Cary Grant. And, we will to - shamelessly.

+ The phenomenal Fox series Fringe ended this week with a gripping series finale. Wire discusses why it might be the last Sci-Fi on Network tv for a long time. Such a sad thought...

Next on The Drama Llama: Oscar Related posts (Favorite & Least Favorite wins, Favorite Memories, more), new Quotes series, and Up for Reconsideration: Kate Winslet in The Reader

The Words: Some Movies Need to Backspace

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Dennis Quaid

Directed by: Brian Klugman & Lee Sternthal

Clayton Hammond (Dennis Quaid) is an author who has written a book about a writer Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper) who steals a manuscript of a book written by the Old Man (Jeremy Irons)...  The first level is Dennis Quaid narrating a part of his novel to an astute book crowd. We gain from the reception of his reading appearance that this thing is ballin!!. We will also call him The Architect for he is the builder of this laborious story of half truths, which make up this movie of  flashbacks, flash sideways, and flash forwards. For us as The Tourist we sit through the first half of the film (about 40 minutes) knowing absolutely nothing about Quaid's character. Yet as Quaid's unnecessary narration drawls on, we know he writes worse than a 1st grader.

A Love Letter to Dick Van Dyke

Dear Dick Van Dyke,

I am blogging this to you and I hope that you will read it so you'll know. My heart beats like a hammer and I stutter and I stammer every time I see you on TV Land.

I guess I'm just another fan of yours and I thought I'd blog and tell you so. You made me love you. I didn't wanna do it, I didn't wanna do it. You made me love you and all the time you knew it, I guess you always knew it.

Gif credit

You made me happy, sometimes you made me glad. But there were times, sir, you made me feel so sad. You made me sigh 'cause I didn't wanna tell you, I didn't wanna tell you - I think you're grand, that's true. Yes I do, 'deed I do, you know I do.

I must tell you what I'm feeling. The very mention of your name sends my heart reeling.
You know you made me love you!

Aw, gee, Mr. Van Dyke, I don't wanna bother you! Guess you got a lotta girls that tell you the same thing. And if you don't wanna read this, well, you don't have to. But I just had to tell you about the time I saw you on "The Dick Van Dyke Show". That was the first time I ever saw you, and I knew right then you were the nicest fella on tv! I guess it was 'cause you acted so, well so natural like - not like a real actor at all, but just like any fella you'd meet at school or at a party.

Then one time I saw you in a picture with Julie Andrews, and I had to laugh a little cause the way you danced with the penguins. And then one time I saw you as Caractacus Potts. You were making a flying car in a farm on a hill, and I was sitting there when you sang Hushabye Mountain, and you almost knocked me down! Oh - but it wasn't your fault! Naw, I was in total awe.

But you made funny faces. Yeah! You fell down and made funny faces, and I cried all the night long me just 'cause you entertained me every time! Aw, I'll never forget it, Mr. Van Dyke. Honest engine, you're my favorite actor!

I don't care what happens, let the whole world stop. As far as I'm concerned, you'll always be the top, 'cause you know you made me love you!

Original Lyrics Dear Mr. Gable by Joseph McCarthy
gifs by: alwaysfairweather and watching-dickvandyke @ tumblr

So Fetch Friday: Favorite Oscar Acceptance Speeches

The award show season for movies and television is one of my favorite times of the year. Ever since I was a little girl, I've dragged my family into the living room to celebrate one of Hollywood's biggest, if not the most momentous events of the calendar, the Oscars. It's the one day/night where I sit for hours in front of the television, pointing out my favorite celebrities appearing on the red carpet, gab about the glorious and horrendous fashion, and above all, become emotionally stunted with the humorous, often humbling, thank yous.

With one acceptance speech I'm reminded that all the "heavenly gods and goddesses" of the screens were all and still are people with a dream to act which came true. Most never even imagine being honored by their peers. In celebration of all the celebrating in film, here are some of my favorite acceptance speeches - I'm so curious to know which are yours too!

Cuba Gooding Jr for Best Supporting Actor in Jerry Maguire. Not only one of my favorite movies of all time but one of my favorite performances too. A partner to Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire, Gooding kills it at his only client; eccentric, family-oriented, bursting with frustration Rod Tidwell. A deserved award for a deserving performance in a cut-too-early standing ovation worthy speech.

Heath Ledger for Best Supporting Actor in The Dark Knight. A young man and actor the world lost too soon, and a filmography that goes much deeper than anyone could write about. Ledger's performance as the Joker will be as unforgettable as the saddened moment his family accepted the award on his behalf.

Vivien Leigh for Best Actress in Gone With The Wind. An actress who didn't win as many as she should have for all of her wonderful performances. Starring in what would be one, if not the one iconic film in cinematic history, Leigh's victory is gracious, humble, and simply divine as she always was.

Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor in The Fighter. An actor with a stable of performances so worthy of nominations. A longtime fan since seeing him in Little Women when I was nine, so happy to witness the night he finally nicked one.

Marion Cotillard for Best Actress in La Vi En Rose. She could win an Oscar for a Crest toothpaste commercial. A bundle of stunning nerves and grace, Cotillard expresses what everyone must think of when they run out of people to say.
 

Hattie McDaniel for Best Supporting Actress in Gone with the Wind. For a heartbreaking performance  and an award that broke down barriers, Hattie McDaniels gives a beautiful thank-you speech which makes my heart as full as the one she felt.

Kate Winslet for Best Actress in The Reader. For a performance I wasn't a big fan of, I still can't deny that Kate Winslet was long deserving to win an Oscar. Her speech for finally scoring the big one zings my heart as much as her Dad's whistle zaps through the room.

Audrey Hepburn for Best Actress in Roman Holiday. Not a movie I've seen yet but I trust by love of her work that it is well deserved. And, her speech is just about the gentlest ones ever uttered. Who can't just listen to her soft voice all the live long day .

Tom Hanks for Best Actor in Philadelphia. Words so beautiful and spoken so sincerely, there might not be a truer heavenly speech that tops this one -as moving as his performance in the film. An equally wonderful speech is worth a looksie as well for his award-winning work in Forrest Gump.

Where's Courage on the Red Carpet?

Which stars will wear what and who are as seriously predicted as the Oscar-making films' and their performances. The red carpet is a big moment of the award show season. It's fun to tune into the fashion, and for regular movie goers, just to see our favorite stars banding together to catch up, drink, drink, and see each other lose. But more and more in recent years it's becoming boring as hell.

The biggest questions to ask leading up to fashions' biggest nights are what colors will an actress show up in? Will the dress be strapless or with sleeves? My biggest question is where did the surprises go?


I'm not suggesting anyone has to show up in a horrid black dress that's not even appropriate for a funeral, or a swan dress. What do these ensembles have in common ? They stick out. The glamour of the red carpet has evolutionized beyond such tacky choices but these are more than memorable.

Watching the Fashion Police is not as much fun when people took risks. Now what qualifies for actors or actresses to make the worst dressed is that their eyeliner is too out of synch with the color's dress, or the cut / shape is not perfectly aligned.

Even the best tailored and styled dresses can be as thrilling as the mishaps. It's just that so many of the choices run together as every event passes by. In their own unique and elegant ways outfits like Michelle Williams and Hilary Swanks will be remembered in five or ten years from now. They had appropriate cuts, colors, and styles but still opened our eyes to something unique not seen before.

As events go on one by one dresses look so much more similar, they almost become blurred from one occasion to the next. Not too many outfits make it to the 'Groundbreaking and Absolutely Amazing Your Eyes Will Not Be Able To Take It list'. Or at the very least, I'm just asking for some more 'Be Remembered In Ten Years' choices. The above may not be ideal; they are quite cheap and tacky but they had personality, gusto, balls, courage.

Favorite Frames: The Deep Blue Sea

Sometimes a motion picture comes along that words just aren't enough. Your understanding for the movie or simple love can't be conveyed through picking out words to describe what you get from a performance or directing style. When you do your thoughts become too technical to explain how a movie strikes you differently than others. Sometimes you can only capture frames and note what touches you about them. Inspired by The Deep Blue Sea and other favorite films, I'm introducing a new series: Favorite Frames.

 Starring: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston

Directed by: Terrence Davies

Summary: Set "Around 1950" and based off the play by Terry Rattigan, Weisz is Hester Collyer; a housewife struggling to breathe in a marriage to an emotionally blinded Higher Court judge, William. She falls into a devastating leap of love with a handsome, young soldier Freddie Page (Hiddleston). They are lethal to each other. Physically transfixed, sometimes stepping on the right emotional chords, other moments definitely not. Freddie isn't exactly a hero; his words are as harsh when he's sober as when he's sloshed, doesn't earn enough for them to get by, and is vain over his old days as a soldier. Hester has an enduring unrelinquishing hope for their tryst, that one day he will love her the same way she loves him.

So Fetch Friday: It's Oscar Time, yo

I'm not sure if you heard but the were announced this past Thursday. Some noms were expected (Les Miserables, Lincoln for Best Picture) some snubs were not (Leonardo DiCaprio for Django Unchained). Still it's the Oscars and I can't wait for the biggest night in film.

+ Surprising many Argo won Best Picture and Best Director at the Critics Choice Awards last night. Predictions thought Les Miserables would win for Best Picture or Steven Speilberg for Best Director at the big time show, was the wins last night a sign of things to come for Oscars?

+ 2013 has arrived and if you thought to yourself that you want to be more like Amy Poehler and Tiny Fey, HelloGiggles has a fantastic guide on how to do just that.

+ Monopoly is a big tradition in my family, in that I am always defeating my family members at it. Recently gamers have been called to vote on which of our favorite playing pieces will be retired. I hope they don't get rid of Man's best friend; the golden retriever

+ The Cinema Spectacle reminds us that there are surprises for Oscar wins and nominations.

+ The saga that is Kate and Leos' friendship-never-blossoming-romance continues as Leo delves in this interview about into their longtime friendship.

+ Megastar Liam Neeson thinks sex is losing its mystery. Yeah, I agree.

+ Long time Star Trek fan had pleasure seeing Star Trek: Into Darkness before passing away.

"Here’s a man who spent his days helping to cultivate one of the best film festivals in the country and when the end was near, he took solace in cinema. “Dying Man Gets to See New ‘Star Trek’ Movie” is flashy headline, but this story is a powerful reminder of why we love cinema. Movies are capable of transporting us to new worlds, of helping us forget our pain for two hours — it’s comforting to know that a real movie fan was able to embrace what he loved until the very end."

The Journey to the 2013 Best Picture Showcase Marathon Begins

Have you heard of the Best Picture Showcase? No?! Well, you're in good hands because for the past two years I've been a surviving member of the AMC Theaters Best Picture Showcase club. (Also known as the I Survive Award Show Season club but I digress).

To celebrate what the Academy Awards select as the best of the best from the film industry, AMC Theatres screens the Best Picture nominees in marathons: either a two weekend marathon or over 24 hours (in select theaters)! Finding this little nugget in 2010 this event has become one of my favorite times of the award show season: sitting in a movie theater for twelve hours each for two days watching all the best nominees strut their stuff.

This year, unlike 2010 (my first year attending) I'm going into this Best Picture marathon pretty much blind. Of the nine nominees I've seen only three; one of them I really loved, the other one I loved, and the third almost made me black out.

In anticipation for the big weekend where I will haul my happy rear into the cinemas for two whole days, I'm listing which Best Pictures I'm most looking forward to watching (in somewhat of a particular order) in February! What did you think of the Best Picture nominees?

Zero Dark Thirty. Telling the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, I haven't had much excitement towards Kathryn Bigelow's second Best Picture nominated film. A big fan of The Hurt Locker the film exudes a tone too similar to her first big hit. Amazing, charismatic and fresh face woman of awesomeness Jessica Chastain is a huge draw for the film but overall I'm just not a moth attracted to the film's flame.

Lincoln A history buff I am but even the DNA implantation from Abraham Lincoln to Daniel Day Lewis has me a little weary. Biopics can be a great source of bringing history to the focus of today's fast-moving world and remember where our country once was, and how far we came... but I worry that the script and structure of the film will lag too much I will mentally drift off like I used to in social studies class.

Amour Over the 2012 year there is was a lot of respectful buzz towards this film, and this is one of the movies I predicted in private conversations with my family that might get nominated. I'm happy to see this among the officially nominated. I don't think I'm ever one to shy away from tragic love stories and this one is fitting close to the top of the bill exploring its struggles after one spouse is paralyzed after suffering a stroke.

Life of Pi stars just a young man survives for 227 days after a shipwrecked voyage with a bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Though I wasn't really aware of the original material, the book by Yann Martel has ignited a passion for spirituality with its readers. A big fan of director Ang Lee and not one to shy away from the issues of spirituality, I'm most intrigued to be taken on its adventure.

Les Miserables is not a movie that I felt lived up to its hype. Perhaps when I saw it, I wasn't as emotionally connected as I could have been. As my mom and sister sobbed great sobs, I was as cool as a cucumber and I wasn't so entranced by the soundtrack either. Try again I will to fall in love with the music, the romance, and the heartbreak of the world-renown-musical-which-continues-to-blow-the-worlds-mind.

Silver Linings Playbook is a movie I really loved with a book I really loved more. But, I am in complete adoration of Bradley Cooper's performance as well as the supporting actors. I hope to come away feeling the same way about Jennifer Lawrence's performance as Tiffany.

Django Unchained surpassed my expectations by leaps and bounds. Quentin's writing and direction is truly in top form as well as the cast as he assembled. Completely disappointed that Leonardo DiCaprio wasn't justly and rightly nominated for his performance, I'm happy to be seeing his amazing work again as well as Samuel L. Jackson's supporting role.

Argo George Clooney produced it. Ben Affleck directed and stars in it. So yeah, I'm behind it. But, in all seriousness, my family are definitely, infinitely sure that this one will walk away to be my absolute favorite. Not that Affleck's beautiful face and the films big wins at the Critics Choice Awards won't have a helping hand, its mix of drama, comedy, play on Hollywood and political events are factors I love in most of my favorite movies

Beasts of the Southern Wild While most audiences seem to shirk away from Terrence Malick's beautiful, stunning, and moving The Tree of Life, this is another tiny film I was so looking forward to during the film year and didn't have the opportunity to see. So thankful for the AMC Best Picture Showcase, I am truly anticipating this wondrous film about how life is truly connected in every way possible.

Happy Birthday King of Kings

I hate to say it but Elvis had a less than stellar career. I'm talking of course when he conquered the big screen, not his illustrious music career (which the biggest moments of Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga can't match.)

Every year TCM celebrates and honor's The King's birthday by running a marathon of his films. And, when the calendar rolls around to this day I am both looking forward to it and completely not.

It's easy why I anticipate it: It's Elvis. How can you go wrong with Elvis? The hair. That look. Those hips. His charisma. How he wore those black suits. The music. Even when he sang about Old Macdonald, they're still catchy because: It's Elvis!

But, it has to be admitted a good portion of his filmography didn't live up to the talent he had. Though fine on his own, a good portion of his filmography is just his characters being wild about girls, girls, girls. Playing twins he walks away with a girl on each of his arms. As a former Lieutenant he foils a treasure-hunters plan to uncover buried treasure, and gets his girlfriend in the end. And, let's not even venture into the Middle East where Elvis helps restore the government as a kidnapped American movie star.

Most of Elvis' movies are just fun and are pure entertainment. Ann Margret levels his sexual appeal in Viva Las Vegas. In Blue Hawaii he returns from the Army and finds love as a tourist guide. Not too many men get in a love triangle and walk away with both dames in Fun in Alcapulco. These still use Elvis singing songs and catching girls' hearts flying out of their chest, but they're just a tad better.

"It's come to this?!"  
- Elvis Presley on having to sing Old MacDonald

In more drama-laden films, however, Elvis finally gets to show his true acting chops. Like Jailhouse Rock, where his ego and temper lands him in jail and then at the top of the music charts. Doing his own stuntwork in Roustabout, as a carnival performer Presley works alongside Barbra Stanwyck. Wild in the Country Presley goes the dysfunctional young adult route when he's charged for various misdemeanors, one such having an affair with his psychology counselor.

Many of Elvis' movies didn't match their box office returns. Most received lukewarm or even colder reviews. But he still kept on making movies and managed to keep his star status, which still exists some several decades later.

Today, there's pretty much nothing like it. When a star falls, he or she falls quite hard either at the box office or personally. Only a few celebrities have the same longevity as stars from Classic Hollywood did.

Collectively our attention span has changed. Sure, there may be small legions of fans that go to see any movie no matter how much wildfire of bad reviews it receives. But, tabloids and social media give us too much info of a celebrity. We get tired without of them before they have a chance to make a mark anywhere. Reviews travel fast and far these days. We just aren't up for putting our money on movies that don't live up to the movie stars' talent like we once were (Gerard Butler, we're all looking at you!).

There are many things of today's film world that makes me love what was yesterday. This situation is one of them: A huge star like Elvis could go on year after year to make such corny pictures but maintain a once-in-a-lifetime legendary status. And, every year around his birthday, I'll still keep looking forward to this day. Because it's Elvis!

"I dream big but start small" - 20 Something directed by Lanze Spears

 Director: Lanze Spears

Approached to me by the film's director Lanze Spears, I was humbly invited to watch a viewing of his documentary film "20 Something". Traveling city to city and sleeping on the floor of friend's apartments, Lanze's dream was to tell the story of other struggling 20 Somethings who are passionately committed to achieving their dreams.

Each part of "20 Something" takes us face to face with young adults who give us different fresh perspectives on their dreams meeting the realities of the world around them. From Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Anastasia is an aspiring actress who faces where and how she's working to break through into the indie genre. In Atlanta, Georgia, an artist Sean paints his life on his canvas, determined to bring the segregated art scene together. Residing in Savannah, Georgia, Clare shows what it's like to be an aspiring model but also having more settled dreams in advertising. And aspiring actor Mike turns his dreams of working in front of the camera to behind the scenes. Rounding out the group is Taylor from Manhattan, an artist who markets himself through web work and striving to make the world more environmentally equipped.

As a fellow 20 something who balances work, school, and home priorities, it's an inspiring journey to watch "20 Something". Getting to where we want to go requires no minimal amount of networking, facing our individuality, marketing ourselves against our peers, and finding collaborators to make it to the big time. There are days we ask what are we doing it all for, where are we going, should we give up. So many take a different life direction than their intended goals while others refuse to quit with the path they've chosen. You see others in this film as passionate to their dreams as you are to yours. It's an experience to see that you are not alone on what we feel is a long fork-filled road for others are striving just as hard.

From showing how we kick back in the clubs at night to staying the course, "20 Something" is a wonderfully composed film. The film doesn't make a show out of daily struggles but organically explores them. From his tireless commitment to make his film, it has been screened at major film festivals and gain award recognition. In a world where times are sometimes too tough to keep going, I think anyone who sees it will connect to a situation and feel inspired to keep moving forward.

So Fetch Friday: Going to buy some Liption Tea NOW

 Hugh Jackman is the Lipton Tea Ambassador. And, I ask my God why can't we have amazing commercials like this in the States? Not even adverts from the Superbowl in recent years matches the awesomeness that is wild, inventive oversea commercials starring the highest paying actors in the universe.

+ Quentin Tarantino's films as infographics is a splendid way to see into the imagination of the creator and the director's worlds. Also Tarantino revealed the least favorite movie of his filmography is Death Proof - ouch, I love that movie.

+ You can make roads wherever you're going with the Back to the Future new set with Lego!

+ A big thank to Being Norma Jean for showcasing her 2013 picks of movies she's most anticipated for. Many of them I was totally unaware of such as Michael Fassbender & Brad Pitt starring in two movies together?! . . .

+ Speaking of which Sexiest Man of the Year Bradley Cooper, and would've been Sexist Man of the Year had Cooper not existed, are in A Place Beyond The Pines. And the trailer promises some heavy dramatic acting from both.

+ Did you participate in Mettel's Alphabet Blogathon? Mettel compiled a list of the most popular selections from all of our entries. The post may surprise you - it did me!

+ Rianna at Frankly My Dear gives an amazing review to The Way We Were, one of my favorite classics starring THE Barbra Streisand and THE Robert Redford.

+ Where are the application forms for Monsters University? I want to sign up now. NOW.

Django Unchained (2012)

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Kerry Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson 
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Rating: Must See
Just Two Cents: It's a rambunctious sort.

Summary: Labeled exploitative yet also also brilliant Django Unchained is set before the Civil War. Django (Jamie Foxx) is a slave freed by a German bounty hunter Dr. King Shulz (Christoph Waltz). In exchange to help him track down some of his targets, Schulz helps Django find his wife at a plantation owned by the salvage Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio).

Best Bits: Tarantino delivers on taking ideas that do not look any sort of good on paper and delivering on screen. His script, clouded by the public controversy, is a story about slavery. Yes, it is. It's also a beautiful love story between Django and his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). It's about the plain evil ignorance and intolerance but also the few sympathetic actively against slavery. And, one freed slaves' life towards empowerment.

The film is riotous during the first half of the film (in which a scene of the premature KKK argue over the ill construction of their raid gear) and also balances a partnership develop between Django and Dr. Schulz. Together on-screen Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx are similar to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. They create a friendship that easily makes you escape into the world of which they live.

The films' second act leaves you on pins and needles. Enter Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie. Though already a fan of Leo's and begrudging his lack of nominations for past roles, DiCaprio exceeds expectations. How he encapsulates the venomous hatred and belligerence of "Mr. Candieland" is a performance as flawless as it is scary. Stephen, played by Samuel L. Jackson, as his right hand man, is unlike anything we've seen of him before: surprisingly reviling yet uncannily funny. Together they too weave a presence that's unforgettable.

Why It's Great: There are many more layers underneath the skin of Django Unchained that is being painted on the media's canvas. And, it really can only be experienced if you see it. Like I did on with audience members of all races, whom everyone seemed to enjoy. The film makes you cringe, laugh, and shirk at all the right moments as is Tarantino's amazing skill to craft a script  can make you do.

What I felt walking out of the theater was hard for me to sew together my thoughts into words. Luckily through Tumblr I found the lovely and talented Kerry Washington emanating my thoughts quite perfectly: