Smacking Down Oscar’s Final Five
Yes, we know. The Oscars have managed to create one of the least suspenseful “Best Picture” races in recent memory. Had they thrown in a wild card like “The Dark Knight” (or even, although less […]
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MOVIE SMACKDOWN Readers Predict the Oscars!
Based on an on-going poll of our readers’ opinions about the top Oscar possibilities, here’s what you might expect when they’re announced Thursday morning, in order of votes received: #1 – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (30.8%) #2 […]
Post-Inaugural Academy Awards Poll: Nominate Your ‘Best Picture’
While the world has rightfully been focused on the change in power in Washington (Gobama!), poor old Hollywood has to live with the fact that the Academy Award nominations will be announced this Thursday and […]
The Visitor (2008) -vs- About Schmidt (2002)
The Smackdown Middle age is not for sissies. Take it from me, kids. Even those of us who lead fairly examined lives are in for a pretty rough descent as the uphill ride starts heading […]
The Prestige (2006) -vs- The Illusionist (2006)
Over the hundred-plus years of cinematic history, there has been enough movie magic to create a worldwide love affair with film. Surprisingly, however, since the laterna magica first began projecting moving images, there have been remarkably few movies about magic.
The year 2006 was an exception, with the near-simultaneous release of two excellent films about 19th century professional prestidigitators — The Illusionist and The Prestige. For someone who loves magic and sleight of hand, this was a banner year worth sharing. While The Prestige made more money at the domestic box-office, approximately $53 million vs. $40 million, The Illusionist cost considerably less to make — $16.5 million vs. $39 million. Based on their return on investment, and the fact that The Illusionist was also the first to appear on the nation’s screens in 2006, we’ll give The Illusionist the designation of “Defending Champion,†and The Prestige our “Challenger†position. Now that our rivals are in their respective corners, let’s get out the wands and let the magic begin. […]
Changeling (2008) -vs- L.A. Confidential (1997)
The Smackdown Cops in Los Angeles were using integrity for target practice long before they started beating on Rodney King in the ’90s. In Changeling — set 80 years ago — director Clint Eastwood combines a shocking […]
Bride Wars (2009) -vs- Rachel Getting Married (2008)
The Smackdown What do women want? While Sigmund Freud may not have provided an adequate answer, Hollywood’s come up with something. Women want weddings! If not their own, any cardboard cut-out cutie’s will do in […]
Defiance (2008) -vs- Valkyrie (2008)
The Smackdown It’s Academy Award-worthy season, and you know what that means! Nazis! The multiplex is practically teeming with them. Valkyrie served them up for Christmas, and Defiance held it’s own limited New Year’s Eve […]
Marley & Me (2008) -vs- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
The Smackdown The tabloids made me do it. The temptation to compare Brad’s and Jen’s films, both opening on Christmas Day was too much for the Merchants of Venom (and now for me); Jen won […]
The Reader (2008) -vs- Doubt (2008)
Both “The Reader” and “Doubt” feature lead characters that either are or probably are having sex with underage boys. If you’re looking to find the rooting value in either of these films, you’ll have to look pretty hard. During the awards season run-up out here in Hollywood both films got a big push from their studios as “serious” films worthy of Oscar attention and it got each a few nominations from other awards-giving groups (but not in the “Slumdog Millionaire” or “Benjamin Button” stratosphere). Now “The Reader” has made it into the Final Five in the “Best Picture” category of the Academy Awards but, even so, is clearly a long shot. One thing we can settle here and now, though, is which one is worth paying to see in a theater and which one you can wait for the DVD. That’s just how we roll at the Smack so let’s get started… […]