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Independent features have good Oscar shots

Indie filmmakers dream of strolling onto the stage with small aspirations and walking away with the big prize. But there’s a red carpet roadblock. Oscar voters usually give arthouse flicks and foreign products recognition by honoring them with nominations, not wins. INDIE NOMINEES “American Splendor” Adapted Screenplay “Whale Rider” Best Actress, Kiesha Castle-Hughes “City of [...]

Larger than life

The childlike whimsy of Big Fish, the fable of Edward Bloom’s remarkable youth, reminds us why the sunset of one’s life is both a haunting and joyous experience. To achieve its unworldly harmony, the film juxtaposes fact and fantasy. Aging Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) is a retired salesman fighting cancer from his bedside, but young [...]

New faces welcome at Red & Black

I was with a friend celebrating the new year when he told me he had a resolution. It wasn’t a promise to change the world or a proclamation of greatness. He said he was only as good as his best effort, so that’s what he would give. That was it. What he said seemed to [...]

This is the end, my friends

This is the classic rant to end all classic rants — well, at least for my part. Finals week is upon us — and with it comes a certain sense of finality in it all. The end of another horrifying fall reality televsion season, the end of an SEC championship run, the end of the [...]

Return of ‘Rings’ heralds cinematic benchmark

J.R.R. Tolkien suffered many hardships in life, but his quaintness and incredible imagination often belied misfortune. “LORD OF THE RINGS” EXTENDED EDITION RELEASES “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Two Towers” extended editions are being released in 100 cinemas nationwide. What: “The Fellowship of the Ring: Special Extended Edition” When: Dec. 5-12 What: “The [...]

Some comedians get last laugh

As an avid late night television prowler, I’m the first to admit that I’m tired of late night’s established frontmen. Which is why my recent dream was so strange — a sort of “Celebrity Deathmatch” meets “Cool World” vision. Needless to say, it was odd — but telling.  The date: Nov. 17  The [...]

Pirate’s life is for me

I was pondering the possibility of a new, trendy commercial this weekend. It went something like this:  Two tickets to the movie theater: $15  A medium popcorn: $4.75  A Monster Cherry Icee: $4  An evening at home watching pirated films on the PC: Priceless Come to think of it, Motion Picture [...]

Bruised Bulldogs play with pride against Gators

For many Georgia fans, the drive to Jacksonville through the marshy stretches of South Georgia is a hopeful venture. The drive home, however, is much less forgiving. So goes the story of my second visit to the Sunshine State and AllTel Stadium — the territory currently known in Bulldog circles as “destination disaster.” After a [...]

Scary movies lack thrills, chills

It’s nearly Halloween, and the most terrifying thought of all has just occurred to me. Horror movies aren’t original, and they aren’t summoning many screams. I can almost hear Alfred Hitchcock rolling in his grave. Almost. “They keep coming back in a bloodthirsty lust for HUMAN FLESH!” So claims the tagline of 1968′s “Night of [...]

What Moore can I say about this filmmaker?

Documentary wizard Michael Moore was on stage at the 75th Annual Academy Awards, and the world was watching. Having earned an Oscar for “Bowling for Columbine,” his controversial film about the motivations of gun violence in America, Moore — in typically rousing fashion — made his proclamation. “We like nonfiction, and we live in fictitious [...]

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