The Great Affair

Author(s): Chris P. (IL)
The Great Affair

Directed by Stephen Frears
Screenplay by Tom Stoppard
Cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel
Edited by Pietro Scalia
Music by Howard Shore

Main Cast

Clive Owen as Richard Burton
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elizabeth Taylor
Harry Connick, Jr. as Eddie Fisher
Emily Watson as Sybil Burton

Tagline: "Their lives were all but a scene."

Synopsis: It's the glamorous scene of 1960's Hollywood. 20th Century Fox's highly anticipated film, "Cleopatra" is suffering from a heap of negative press. First, the movie nearly bankrupt the studio because of its extremely high budgeting price and second, the off-screen love affair between co-stars, Elizabeth Taylor (Jones) and Richard Burton (Owen), is causing a tremendous amount of chaos and has created an international scandal that the public, media, paparazzi, and tabloid magazines are devouring with pleasure.

For Liz and Richard, their love was a way of finding admiration away from home. He was married to his long time wife, Sybil (Watson), and she was wed to her former co-star and companion during the death of her last husband, Eddie Fisher (Connick, Jr.). Once news breaks about their extramarital activities on the set of their film, it damages their marriages, their reputations, and even their own relationship. Sybil, who is devastated over her husband's unfaithfulness, leaves him. This leads Richard to become dependent on alcohol and causes him to repeatedly call off his relationship with Liz so he could reunite with his estranged wife. Elizabeth, who is rushed to the hospital with food poisoning, is confronted by Eddie who wants to reconcile with her but is unsure on how to forgive her.

But soon, Liz and Richard are back together and are married a year later. Their marriage, however, is plagued with many tempestuous set backs. Richard begins to lose credibility as a respected stage actor and becomes more unstable as his drinking and insomnia gets worse, Liz starts to gain weight as her indulgences for food and liquor grows ,which makes her an ideal target for the press, and their constant bitter fighting and arguments leads to a divorce and finally to an unsuccessful reconciliation. "The Great Affair" is the spectacular story about two of cinema's greatest actors, their complicated relationship, and the personal demons they had to face.

What the Press Would Say:

"The Great Affair", the latest from Academy Award-nominated director, Stephen Frears ("The Queen"), is a masterful Hollywood epic done to perfection. Telling the story of two of Hollywood's greatest icons and their tumultuous romance would have been a failure if done by any other director at the helm. But Frears succeeds by capturing the true nature of this famous couple's relationship and really digs deep into the personal struggles they had to face. The screenplay written by Tom Stoppard ("Shakespeare in Love") is just as impressive. Stoppard ignores the usual biopic clichés and gives these characters real depth and humanism. Technically speaking, this film looks fantastic. The viewer really feels the enchanting atmosphere of the era and what it must have been like for these characters to live during this time. The amazing performances are definitely worth recognizing as well. Oscar winner, Catherine Zeta-Jones, probably delivers the most risky and challenging performance of her career playing the fabulous Elizabeth Taylor. Jones gives her best work since "Chicago". She perfectly captures Elizabeth's essence. The glamor, the drama, the larger than life persona, it's all there and done in such a magnificent way.

Academy-Award nominee, Clive Owen, stars as Richard Burton. Owen manages to steal every scene he's in. He superbly portrays the legendary but troubled actor with an incredible amount of intensity and shows the real misery this man had to face while up against the public and his life. The supporting performances by Harry Connick, Jr. and Oscar nominated Emily Watson really make a lasting impression. Connick, Jr. plays Eddie Fisher, Liz Taylor's supportive husband who only wants to be with his wife but is frustrated by all the media attention her affair is getting him in. He does a phenomenal job at portraying a man who loved his wife but was unsure on how to accept her betrayal. Emily Watson portrays Sybil Burton, Richard's heartbroken wife who leaves her husband after he does the unthinkable to her. Watson creates a character that is sympathetic yet strong at the same time. It's extraordinary work. Overall, "The Great Affair" should be called one of the best films of the year. It's stunning performances, directing, writing, and technicals are all top notch and the film does a riveting job at showing what it was like for the people involved in this sensational Hollywood affair.

Awards Consideration

Best Picture
Best Director - Stephen Frears
Best Actor - Clive Owen
Best Actress - Catherine Zeta-Jones
Best Supporting Actor - Harry Connick, Jr.
Best Supporting Actress - Emily Watson
Best Original Screenplay
And In All Technical Categories

Her Journal

Author(s): D.W. (NV)
Her Journal

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Written by Robin Swicord
Inspired by the novel "Ella Price's Journal" by Dorothy Bryant
Music by Mark Isham
Produced by Steven Spielberg and Lucy Fisher

Main Cast:

Jacqueline McKenzie as Felice Chandler
Mark Ruffalo as Judd Chandler
Scout Taylor-Compton as Melanie Chandler
Kiefer Sutherland as Professor Barry Harkin
Kathleen Quinlan as Debbie Plain

Tagline: "The words came and made her free."

Synopsis: 1967, San Francisco, California. The streets of Haight-Ashbury are roarin' with hippies, protestors, stoners and artists galore. The Vietnam War reaches it's pinnacle, the world is changing and people are engaging. It is the 'Summer of Love'. For 35 yr old Felice Chandler (Jacqueline McKenzie), devoted house-wife and mother, it is the 'Summer of Change'.

Struggling novelist of a husband, Judd (Mark Ruffalo) called it a phase, but for Felice, taking a creative writing course at the local bay area community college was a chance at finding a missing piece in her life. Out of touch and out of time, but ultimately tired of watching the world turn without her, she took her studies seriously. Her first assignment; Begin a journal.

Her journal would give us insight into a woman that would test herself with tough decisions, and break down the gender barriers. Her journal would lead to the steamy attraction, yet unsatisfying affair with her sexually inept English professor, Barry Harkin (Kiefer Sutherland) that leads to a forbidden abortion. Her journal takes her to the violent protests against the war where she meets her new best friend, the bi-curious journalist, Debbie Plain (Kathleen Quinlan), who is anxious to publish her journal to promote women's lib. Her journal is an object of jealousy for her husband when he finds out her affair and plans to publish, after his hokey western novels are continually passed over. Her journal hugely influences her once innocent daughter, Melanie (Scout Taylor-Compton) who joins the burning-bra/free-love/pro-drug movement that leads to a disturbing end when she is sexually corrupted by someone close.

Thanksgiving 1967

Dearest Journal,
The turkey is stuffed, the sweet potatoes are baked, and the pumpkin pie...well, the pie is bought. Melanie promised she would be here, I hope she comes. Judd said he would let her come, but it's her decision. This holiday has not come easy. It was only two weeks ago when I found her in my bed crying while my "best friend" lay naked and dead from a drug overdose. This journal has been both my savior and my nemesis, yet remains the only friend I have left. But I have to let go and build a heaven on the ground or maybe...hold that thought...there's a knock at the door.

What the Press Would Say:

Roger Ebert once said of director, Kathryn Bigelow, "...she is interested in the ways her characters live dangerously for philosophical reasons.". Her talent is unquestioned and admired by her peers, and "Her Journal" is her stamp of approval and masterpiece. Known for her critically acclaimed action-thriller Point Break, Bigelow sets out to showcase her versatility and sensibility.

"Her Journal", a story inspired by Dorothy Bryant's acclaimed novel, "Ella Price's Journal" that centers around a stereotypical housewife (Jacqueline McKenzie) of the 60's living in a 50's household, watching the world change without her, prompting her to take up a class at the local community college where her assignments center around writing a journal. The journal is the outlet she needs that allows for her emotions and feelings to pour out. And they flow like a river. She enters the peace/protest movement, experiments with drugs, sex, and everything the district of Haight-Ashbury could offer at that time. What wasn't expected were the effects it would have on her family dynamic. When the three closest people in her life uncover her journal, their worlds are rocked. Husband Judd (Mark Ruffalo) succumbs to his jealousy when he can't fathom how his wife can write about her short-comings and promiscuity, while he can't find a publisher who'll give his western novels the time of day. Felice's teenage daughter (Scout Taylor-Compton) falls into the hippy crowd, and ultimately out of her element. The antagonists, teacher Barry Harkin (Kiefer Sutherland) who sexually seduces her into a love affair and abandons her with news of her pregnancy, and best friend Debbie Plain (Kathleen Quinlan) draws Felice into a life she wasn't ready for. Perfectly cast Quinlan and Sutherland play down their characters who are real, relatable and often times eccentric. Sutherland’s performance is thickly layered in the affair scene where he under performs; his reaction is shameful but his actions play as a metaphor for the times when he blames his lackluster performance on the woman. Quinlan as best friend Debbie, a character inspired by Glenn Close’s feminist crusader Jenny Fields in The World According to Garp plays as her evil twin sister. A pair of memorable performances that should not go unrecognized come Oscar season.

Writer, Robin Swicord (Little Women) carefully pinpoints each cause and effect action her lead character makes, and leaves no question unanswered. It is a straight-forward, uncompromising look at a woman fighting for her own independence. She accentuates her flaws, but is sure to celebrate Felice's inspiring moments. It's not everyday a woman's role like this comes. Australian-born actress Jacqueline McKenzie is best known for playing the precocious girlfriend in Russell Crowe’s break-out film, “Romper Stomper”. McKenzie, who famously beat out many actresses for the role, makes her mark here as the rebel housewife, displaying fear, nervousness and anxiousness through more expression than dialogue. Her narration is a brilliant tool Bigelow uses for McKenzie to experiment with a more silent-acting approach. In the beginning her journal entries are narrated, where as time moves on, she becomes more independent and outspoken, with no narration, only until the final bittersweet scene.

In the end, Felice will go through emotions she never wanted, decisions she'd never thought she'd make...to live a life of complete freedom, but at what cost? Her memoirs would take her from liberation to tragedy but end with a sense of hope for not just her but for her wayward daughter. "Her Journal" is a film not to be forgotten with some of the most memorable scenes ever put to film. Watch it for Bigelow's canvas like settings and tricky direction. Watch it for Swicord's original spin on an acclaimed novel. Watch it for the unforgettable chemistry Jacqueline McKenzie has with the likes of Ruffalo, Sutherland and Quinlan. Watch it for Mark Isham's tantalizing score. "Her Journal" is a film that is written in the wind, caught in mid-air, framed and placed in a museum.

Best Picture
Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actress - Jacqueline McKenzie
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actor - Kiefer Sutherland
Best Supporting Actress - Kathleen Quinlan
Best Adapted Screenplay - Robin Swicord

In a Flash

Author(s): JG (NY)
In a Flash

Directed by: Oliver Stone
Written by: Oliver Stone
Music by: John Williams

Main Cast:

Patrick Wilson as Andrew Collard
Ed Harris as Charlie Meyer
Julia Roberts as Susan Collard
Elle Fanning as Emily Collard

Tagline: "In a flash, everything can change".

Synopsis:

Six months after being inaugurated as the next President of the United States, Andrew Collard is faced with the toughest decision of his life. His ten year old daughter Emily is diagnosed with a rare type of cancer and her chances of surviving it are slim to none. Collard's most trusted doctor, Charlie Meyer, tells him that the only way that Emily can possibly survive is through stem cell treatments. The problem is that President Collard spent his entire campaign movement preaching that he was against stem cell research. His wife Susan demands that Doctor Meyer go ahead with the treatments but Andrew is hesitant and tells him to wait. For days, Andrew is troubled by his situation, losing hours of sleep and focus. While he wants to do everything possible to save his daughter's life, he knows that he will be highly criticized by the public for going against his word and beliefs. Ultimately, Andrew decided to put the life of his daughter above his career and reputation and approved for Doctor Meyer to give Emily stem cell treatments in order to possibly save her life. When the news broke out, the public and media went crazy. Many of President Collard's supporters felt betrayed and looked upon him with disgust. Haters insisted that he be impeached. The controversy tore Andrew up inside as he tried his hardest to defend himself. However, the resentment and lack of support from the American public really got to him and forced him to make a rash decision in order to escape it all.

What the press would say:

Oliver Stone is sure to have another hit with his latest masterpiece, "In a Flash". He creates and directs a story so moving and breathtaking that it's hard to believe that it's a work of fiction. "In a Flash" tells the story of the new President of the United States, Andrew Collard. A short while after he goes into office, he finds out that his daughter is dying of cancer and that he has to decide whether to attempt to save his life or reputation. Patrick Wilson wonderfully captivates the role of President Collard. He proves that he can take on a serious role and justly portray the title character. Wilson digs deep into his characters mind and feelings so much that you really believe he really is Andrew Collard. His physical transformation is also outstanding. Ed Harris plays the role of the doctor who will provide Collard's daughter with stem cell treatments. Harris brings a sense of wisdom and comfort to his character that really makes him shine. Elle Fanning is wonderful as Collard's dying daughter and Julia Roberts rounds out the great cast as the emotional Susan Collard.

"In A Flash" is filled with the right amount of excitement, intensity, and depth and is sure to be a must-see film!

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director: Oliver Stone
Best Actor: Patrick Wilson
Best Actress: Julia Roberts
Best Supporting Actor: Ed Harris
Best Supporting Actress: Elle Fanning
Best Original Screenplay: Oliver Stone
Best Film Editing
Best Cinematography
Best Original Score

The Latent Promise

Author(s): Sergio (Spain)
The Latent Promise

Directed by Robert Benton
Written by Nicholas Meyer
Music by Gabriel Yared

Main Cast:

Ed Harris as Paul LaGrange
Sam Shepard as Thomas LaGrange
Debra Winger as Johanna LaGrange
Eva Green as Lorraine
Jesse Bradford as Vince
Jack Rovello as Vince (Child)

Tagline: "A promise is a sacrifice. To fulfill it can be a condemnation".

Synopsis: The only person Vince has in life is his father Paul, but he is going to leave his home to start a new life. He has never received a sample of affection from his father and that has caused a big empty hole in his personality he can’t refill. They work together with the beasts all day long and the agricultural program of the New Deal doesn’t benefit them at all. They spend all day without speaking because Paul has never been a very communicative man. His life is a continuous big sensation of deception and that is causing him a lot of frustration and depression. Vince needs to open his heart to anyone but he is not able to do it. His mother, his family, his origins… everything is a big mystery for a boy who needs answers in his lonely life.

Years ago, Thomas was Paul’s only family, his beloved brother, his reference, his mirror. Paul and Thomas work together, they are friends too and confidants. Thomas has formed his own family besides Johanna and, after several years of marriage, she has give birth to a little boy called Vince, an unexpected miracle at their age. Paul is a lonely, traveling single man and a family is not in his plans. Paul adores his nephew Vince and he is happy because he has never seen his brother happier before. But all that happiness will disappear, inevitably. Paul loses his nephew one afternoon when he was under his care, while Peter and Johanna spend the day in the city after a year enclosed in their town. Vince appears drowned in the river the morning after.

From this day Paul and Thomas cannot look at the each other’s face. The forgiveness is impossible and the town is getting smaller day by day for both. Paul can’t stand this situation because his brother’s life is broken and he can fix it in any way. Life gives them a big blow again and their hearts can’t stand more pain. The day of the funeral Paul whispers something to his brother and his reaction is very violent, he throbs his brother and doesn’t accept what his brother has secretly told him. Paul leaves the town, leaves the judgments, and leaves the heavy pain over his shoulders.

Paul begins his life in another place, working in a factory. He sells everything he owns and gives all his money to a young and desperate woman, called Lorraine, in exchange for something: a son.

Thomas realizes the truth when he finds a baby at his door. Paul has done it. He is upset because he can’t accept what his brother has promised him but he doesn’t know where his brother is and they now have to take care of the small baby with a very big responsibility on his name: Vince. Thomas and Johanna refuse to love the baby but they can’t help the strong feelings they’ve dug up again. Maybe they can be happy again, maybe this time. But life is ironic and sometimes cruel and unexpected.

Thomas gets ill. The crisis is getting bigger and after Thomas’ death, she has to sell the farm and the house. Johanna searches for his brother-in-law, carrying her child, following the few clues she has researched. She finally finds Paul, a drunkard man who lives in a small and greasy apartment. She asks him for help, she has some money, but she needs him to start a new life, in a new house taking care of Vince. He refuses the proposal because he has lost his job after the last big strike. Johanna buys a little farm and she works alone on it all day carrying her child. But one day Paul appears in her house and finally helps her to survive. They rarely talk. They sacrifice the affection, even their sexuality. After her death, Paul remains on Johanna’s farm working the land and taking care of a child he promised he would never love. A big sacrifice he has to do in life to expire the words he said the last time he saw his brother alive.

What the press would say:

Before seeing the film what I have find more attractive is the name of Robert Benton as the director. Renowned scriptwriter and the correct director, Benton has directed in the nineties two excellent movies (Nobody's Fool, Twilight), in which he has shown an absent virtue almost completely in the current cinema: the classicism, allowing his cinema to be developed without exclamations, taking the necessary time in order so that the spectator could assimilate, to live through the history, and to savor it while it is digested.

Nicholas Meyer has created a story based on the definition of the characters and how they confront the challenges of their lives in a very complicated epoch, when the priority is to survive, leaving the emotions in a second plane. The most difficult were the casting choices. The actors had to be credible and coherent with the story. Ed Harris was the first choice to play Paul LaGrange because he was able to bring to life this complex man. Ed Harris is one of the best actors nowadays and he can transmit the austerity of the role. Robert Benton was looking for a very strong actress to play Johanna, a very hard character but with some sweetness and charisma. Nicholas Meyer told him that he was thinking of Debra Winger when he wrote Johanna’s character but they knew that it was impossible because she was retired. Debra was perfect for the role and after a disappointing search they decided to send the screenplay to her agent. She was reluctant but she finally accepted it, and fell in love with the character. Sam Shepard was very interested in the screenplay and he gets the role because he was perfect as Paul’s older brother. This melodramatic story obtained a big support from the producers because of the cast and the strong background story that they wanted to tell. The dramatic moments of the film are executed in an excellent way because they don’t try to look for the easy tears but for the big emotion and empathy. The plot turns around a boy with a big responsibility over his shoulders without knowing. It’s about the secrets of our parents, how they affect us and how even the saddest person has had a life full of joy, the only problem is that we haven’t met them in the right time.

FYC:
Best Picture
Best Director: Robert Benton
Best Original Screenplay: Nicholas Meyer
Best Leading Actor: Ed Harris
Best Supporting Actress: Debra Winger
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Shepard

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Author(s): Kizuna (AZ)
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

Produced By: Steven Spielberg and Kurt Wimmer
Directed By: Hideo Kojima
Written By: David Hayter and Hideo Kojima
Musical Score By: Harry Gregson-Williams

Principle Cast:

Hugh Jackman as Solid Snake/Iroquois Pliskin
Edward Norton as Hal "Otacon" Emmerich
Gary Oldman as Revolver Ocelot
Cillian Murphy as Jack/Raiden
Malcolm McDowell as Solidus Snake/George Sears
Johnny Depp as Vamp
Naomie Harris as Helena Dolph-Jackson/Fortune
Ken Davitian as Fatman
Nora Zehetner as Olga Gurlukovich
Alexis Bledel as Emma "E.E." Emmerich-Danziger
Richard Roundtree as Peter Stillman
Jack Coleman as Richard Ames
Bill Paxton as President James Johnson
Chris Cooper as Colonel Roy Campbell
Rachel Bilson as Rosemary
Brendan Gleeson as Colonel Sergei Gurlukovich
Idris Elba as Commandant Scott Dolph
Paul Bettany as Liquid Snake (voice only)

Taglines: "Freedom is Inherited From Those Who Have Fought for It"

Synopsis: Two years after the events of Shadow Moses Island, the legendary mercenary-soldier Solid Snake, and his partner, scientist/hacker Dr. Hal "Otacon" Emmerich, have established Philanthropy, a non-government organization that is vehemently opposed against any productions of the Metal Gears, bipedal walking tanks that are capable of shooting nuclear warheads from any location on earth. After receiving news that the Marines have started a Metal Gear project of their own, Snake and Otacon attempt to investigate, infiltrating the tanker the weapon is stored on. The mission becomes even more complicated however, when old-time enemy Revolver Ocelot and his ally, Colonel Sergei Gurlukovich, have come to take the weapon, RAY, for themselves. An explosive showdown results in the ship being sunk, Colonel Gurlukovich and the Marine's leader, Commandant Scott Dolph, dead by Ocelot's hand , and the weapon stolen. Snake and Otacon are labeled terrorists and have supposedly been killed after the tanker incident...

Another two years pass, and a terrorist group called "Dead Cell" has seized control of the Big Shell Clean-Up Facility where the tanker was sunk, and they're holding President James Johnson and several more people hostage. The Dead Cell's members include Vamp, a supposedly immortal vampire-like man who can run on water; Fortune, Scott Dolph's daughter who wishes to be killed but can't be hit by bullets; and Fatman, an explosives expert. To make matters more complicated, their leader claims to be Solid Snake, who was confirmed dead after the tanker incident, and the plant is also supposedly a storage facility for a new type of Metal Gear weapon called Arsenal Gear. The terrorists are demanding a massive ransom in exchange for the hostages' lives and they threaten to destroy the facility and create a catastrophic environmental l disaster if their demands are not met.

A rookie agent, Jack, codename Raiden, supposedly operating under a newly reformed FoxHound, is sent in to save the day, receiving back-up from his CO, Colonel Roy Campbell, and his girlfriend, data analyst Rosemary. Joining forces with the mysterious SEAL Lieutenant Junior Grade Iroquois Pliskin (who knows more than he lets on), bomb specialist Peter Stillman (the former teacher of Fatman), an odd cyborg ninja calling itself Mr. X, tanker survivor Olga Gurlukovich (who may or may not have a secret agenda) and Otacon's estranged step-sister Emma (who helps in the programming of Arsenal Gear), Raiden prepares to take down Dead Cell, save the president and prevent a disaster. But as his mission unravels, ;Raiden begins to learn about the terrible secrets driving this conspiracy, and he may be forced to make a difficult decision that could very well put the safety of the whole word at risk.

What the press would say:

Everyone knows that video game-to-movie adaptations haven't had a good run in Hollywood . But after the success of the first Metal Gear Solid film, cared for with the greatest degree by its cast and crew, especially Hideo Kojima, a sequel was inevitable. And despite sequels very rarely living up to their predecessors, this one not only delivers - it outshines the first.

The returning cast from the first film is as amazing as ever, with Hugh Jackman's performance as Snake/Pliskin shining ever so brightly in the picture, bringing a whole new depth and magnitude never seen in the character before. The supporting cast is also amazing; Johnny Depp gives a memorable performance as the mentally unhinged Vamp, Naomie Harris' scene-stealing performance of the femme-fatale Fortune is breathtaking, while Malcolm McDowell, Nora Zehetner, and Alexis Bledel make real impressions as the morally grey Solidus, the tragic Olga Gurlukovich, and the spunky whiz-kid Emma Emmerich, respectively.

The true honor of this film's best performance, however, belongs to Cillian Murphy as the controversial character, Raiden. Despite the fans' criticism of the character when the game first came out, Murphy's performance is more than guaranteed to turn the majority's opinions around. He gives a very hard-hitting, emotional performance as the tragic hero who is manipulated and betrayed by everyone around him. Proving that he is a truly dedicated character actor, Murphy's physical and mental transformation as Raiden is so effective that he completely disappears into the character, becoming barely recognizable. And it’s also through Raiden and Murphy’s perspective that we see just how strong, smart, self-aware and gifted Solid Snake truly is. Murphy’s performance as Raiden serves as the dramatic foil for Jackman’s Snake, being wonderfully different in such a way that the chemistry between them sparks like crazy. Murphy and the intricate plot of the story work together so well, being two halves of the whole, weaving together to make a masterpiece.

The story of this film is very intricate (almost too intricate at times), but there is no bad acting, cheesiness or overdramatic moments; it's just an honest to goodness political conspiracy and military thriller with strong themes of pacifism, the meaning of existence, the pointlessness of war, the stupidity of nuclear deterrence, the dangers of nuclear weapons in general, the psychological effects of warfare on children and adults, and the motivations behind the different lifestyles people choose. The academy may be reluctant to nominate a video game-to-movie adaptation, but Metal Gear Solid 2 is not just a video game-to movie adaptation; it's a movie all on its own.

Nominations:

Best Adapted Screenplay - David Hayter and Hideo Kojima
Best Actor - Cillian Murphy
Best Supporting Actor - Johnny Depp
Best Supporting Actor - Hugh Jackman
Best Supporting Actress - Naomie Harris
Best Cinematography
Best Visual Effects
Best Musical Score
Best Costume Design

New York, Illinois

Author(s): Pierre Davis (OH)
New York, Illinois

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

Main Cast:

Radha Mitchell as Francine Tate
Liev Schreiber as Paul Jones
Casey Affleck as John Tate
Abigail Breslin as Justine Tate
Julianne Moore as Leslie Jones
Kate Winslet as Nancy Wells
Josh Brolin as George Wells
Anna Sophia Robb as Francine Wells
Skander Amin Casper as Young Paul

Tagline: "Realize Life from New York to Illinois".

Synopsis:

Skipping Out For A Friendship: Francine Wells (Anna Sophia Robb) met Paul Jones(Skander Amin Casper) when she was 14 while skipping class in the boys’ bathroom. She heard him crying inside of the bathroom stool after being teased because of his new haircut. They become quick friends and discuss things about their life that neither one of them would tell anyone else. How Paul’s Mom Leslie (Julianne Moore) is a prostitute, he has never met his father and how he was almost sold to a pimp so his mother wouldn’t get killed or how Francine’s father (Josh Brolin) is an alcoholic who went to war in Vietnam and abuses her and her mother Nancy (Kate Winslet). They begin to make up a plan on leaving the city of Illinois. When the day comes to put their plan in effect Paul is nowhere to be found at the bus station.

Unplanned Sorry: When Francine goes to Paul’s house she discovers that he and his mother are packing up. When Francine asks Paul where they are going he says that they are going to New York City to start all over. He tells her that they say if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. Francine remembers watching things about New York on T.V.; the beautiful bright lights and parties in Times Square on New Years Eve. She wishes him luck and says that she will truly miss him. He promises that he will write and the moving van leaves while Paul is mouthing Sorry.

Reality and Fate: Francine Wells now Francine Tate (Radha Mitchell) is 32 years old now still living in Illinois working with young abused kids who mirror her childhood. She is married with a daughter Justine (Abigail Breslin) and a wonderful husband by the name of John (Casey Affleck). She stopped getting letters from Paul about a month after he moved and he claimed that the move was great and he was meeting all kinds of people. She thinks about him daily and wonders what would have happened if he would have stayed, would she be Mrs. Jones? Then all of a sudden she receives a letter from Paul again who urges her to come down so they can meet up for old time’s sake. She writes Paul back and agrees. When she arrives at the airport she looks all over for the handsome overweight little kid with the bushy brown hair only to find a fragile man in a wheelchair with pale white skin holding up his hand. When she goes up to Paul (Liev Schreiber) he lets her know that he has been living with A.I.D.S since the age of 22. They begin to reminisce about the old times and what they have been doing since they split so long ago. Paul tells her that his mother died when he was 21 after she was shot by a drug dealer for stealing. He tells her stories of his young days how he first came out to his mother and how she attempted to make him straight by tying him up to his bedpost showing him the posters of Deep Throat. He also tells her how he contracted the disease from a man he thought he was in love with, Johnny, the only man who he would have died for. He then tells Francine that maybe it was his fate since God didn’t give his mom the disease and instead him. Francine lets Paul know that her parents are stronger then ever after her father put the bottle down to keep his family and how she finally loves it in the windy city. Paul admits that he wants her to stay with him for his dying days. She tells him that she has a child and a husband but lets him know that he can stay with her in his old home town.

Not Just a New York Thing: When she tells her husband John the news his homophobic side comes out. He witnessed his mother catching his father with another man. After an argument he finally gives in not wanting the situation to get in between their marriage. Even though he knows that Paul is a good person from what he heard from Francine and that A.I.D.S can’t be contracted by breathing or touching he is still reluctant to even talk to the man. When Paul moves in he immediately becomes close with Francine’s 11 year old daughter Justine to the disgust of John. They begin a bond that brings out the little boy in Paul which was just what he needed. Everything is good with the move except that John avoids all contact with Paul even trying not to touch the same plate or door knob as him. A once almost perfect marriage has grown into arguments between John and Francine. Until one day while Justine and Francine is at the grocery store Paul falls out on the floor and starts to breathe heavily. John without even thinking rushes over to Paul to hold the fragile man. Paul opens his blue eyes and says I won’t hurt you John so why do you hurt me? John begins to cry and apologizes to Paul. Francine and Justine walks in the house to find Paul in Johns arms crying and they understand that John has finally forgave his father and most importantly himself.

What The Press Would Say:

Paul Thomas Anderson brings you one on the most moving movies in years. He directs this film straight to the podium in Hollywood and lets us know that “There Will Be Blood” was just the beginning with this beautifully written screenplay. He brings this film which is mainly about the understanding of the main characters rather than just the love shared between them. The cast headed by the breathtaking performance from Radha Mitchell from “Melinda and Melinda” is phenomenal. Radha brings the character of Francine to life with her caring nature although she has an abusive past. She lets us in with every single moment she appears on screen and should get plenty of attention after being overlooked for her work in “Melinda and Melinda“. The true breakout performance is that by the A.I.D.S stricken character Paul played by Liev Schrieber from “Scream” fame. He comes out of nowhere with this Tour De Force of a performance that mirrors that of Tom Hanks. He brings a little more depth to that of Tom Hanks and shows the pain, struggle and fight for survival. He truly is a joy to watch on screen losing over 30 pounds for this film. Casey Affleck is showing why he is the future of acting with the performance of the homophobic husband John. The scene with him and Liev will bring even the toughest man to tears. The critics will just obsess over his brave and sometimes ignorant performance. Julianne Moore is amazing in the little screen time she has as the mother to Paul, living as a prostitute and struggling as a single mother. She makes the audience wonder how the woman got like that and the critics would love to see a film about her life. The scenes with her included makes every actor takes a backseat and watch a veteran bring the one of the best performances of the year. Abigail Breslin is as lovable as always and the performance by Josh Brolin who plays Francine’s father is fantastic. He also stands out as the abusive alcoholic turned family man. With a supporting cast rounded up by veteran actor Kate Winslet also Anna Sophia Robb and Skandar Amin Casper Keynes from “Bridge to Terabithia” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” plays the child versions of Francine and Paul very well, they bring us in at the beginning of the film and keeps us there. This movie will stay on your mind long after you leave the theatre helping you understand how people can change but understanding of each other overshadows the changes that they have endured over time from New York to Illinois or any state or country.

For Your Consideration:
Best Picture: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson
Best Actress: Radha Mitchell
Best Actor: Liev Schrieber
Best Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck
Best Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore
Best Song: New York, Illinois by Maroon 5

POZ

Author(s): James Somerton (Canada)
POZ

Directed by: Tim Van Patten
Written By: Steven Knight

Main Cast:

Jeffrey Wright as Robert Pyke
William H. Macy as Anthony Ferris
Chandra Wilson as Helen Myers
Julie Dreyfus as Madeline Hawkings
Ashley MacIsaac as Christopher Gainly

Tagline: "Is It Murder?"

Synopsis: The courtroom is silent as Robert Pyke takes the stand. Madeline Hawkings, the prosecutor, stands up and approaches the bench as her client, Helen Myers, stares coldly at Pyke. Anthony Ferris, Pyke's attorney, can feel his heart racing as Hawkings prepares to speak. Madeline rests her arm on the bench and says, "Mr Pyke, was it your intention to infect my client with HIV when you slept with her?". To which he replies, "Yes."

About a year before the trial, Robert Pyke had been diagnosed with HIV. He kept it hidden from everyone, especially his sexual partners. And being an advertising executive at a major firm, he couldn't risk them finding out. The only person who knew about it was his doctor. But even he didn't know what Pyke was up to in his spare time.

Always the ladies man, Pyke was out every night, putting notch after notch in his headboard. Infecting so many women with this virus. Now sitting in a packed courtroom, the majority of the women he had infected probably still didn't know he had done it. But now the one woman who had figured it out was staring him dead in the face from across the room.

Helen Myers was anything but dumb. Having received her PHD in computer programming, she had been working for Apple Computers until a few weeks ago, when she was forced to take a leave of absence. She had found out about the infection during a routine physical and, instead of feeling sorry for herself, immediately began to track down who could have infected her. Having been good friends with a prosecutor, Madeline Hawkings, she was able to fast-track a trial once she had figure out that it had been Pyke.

But this is a trial less about Pyke's guilt than the definition of what his actions were. Helen Myers and her attorney want him tried for attempted murder while Pyke's lawyer wants the case tried as a simple case of reckless conduct. The trial proceeds with testimonies by therapists, doctors, HIV specialists, and acquaintances of Pyke's. But now the star witness, Pyke himself, is in the hospital. The HIV infection has advanced to AIDS and it is mutating rapidly. Any verdict now could be too late.

What the press would say:

"Do I feel sorry for you? No. Do I want you to die? No. But only because that would mean I'm going to die too." This line, spoken by Chandra Wilson near the end of "POZ", encapsulates the atmosphere of this film. Here we are shown characters so drawn in by their own hell that they fail to see what others may be going through. The character that most exemplifies this is Robert Pyke, an advertising executive whose freewheeling ways lead to him contracting one of the most feared diseases in the world. Played by Jerffrey Wright, Pyke relives the last year of his life as he hears testimony in a courtroom. Jeffrey Wright's performance will take your breath away as, possibly, one of the most spiteful characters in film history. His Robert Pyke is a sour man, so drawn into his own bad fortune that he feels he must spread the pain. The only way he can live with himself is to infect as many women with this "thing" that he can. He is cold and indifferent to his actions, and completely believes that he's justified. Through his flashbacks, we watch him degrade from a charming executive to a deplorable louse. Finally he is made to pay for his actions by Helen Myers, a woman who he has infected. She, unlike the other women, had been tested and put two and two together. Now she's out for his blood. In a roll that is simultaneously sympathetic and venomous, Chandra Wilson brings Helen Myers to life. When she is speaking with her attorney, or to the press, you feel terrible for her. Her life had been nearly perfect before that night she spent with Pyke. A well respected computer programmer, Helen hadn't exactly had a sex life in years so she was more than happy to take Pyke up on his offer at a singles gathering. Now she regrets it with all her soul. Contrast to this is the Helen Myers we see in the courtroom, her eyes staring holes through Pyke's cold exterior. Everything with the trial seems to be going in her favor until Pyke lands in the hospital and a mistrial is declared because he is medically unable to defend himself.

Now we finally get to see Pyke break his facade. He's dying in that hospital bed and he knows it. Now he finally realizes what he has done; that so many people are going to have to go through this because of him. Jeffrey Wright truly shines now as the pain of his body radiates from him. His performance is masterful, gut wrenching, and heartfelt. The film shifts now and we feel sorry for Pyke, or at least a little bit. He has driven everyone away from him so now there is no one at his bedside. Even his own lawyer, played to understated perfection by William H. Macy, won't visit him. Nightly visits by a gay nurse named Christopher are anything but comforting. As he writhes in pain, Christopher teases him with painkillers. "You know, if you were a gay man, there never would have been a trial. You would have been hung out to dry without any chance to defend yourself," Christopher tells him on one rainy night before administering the morphine. The next day, Pyke receives his first visitor, even though a severe throat infection has rendered him mute. Helen Myers has come to confront him face to face. The lawsuit is over and she needs some finalization. When you're watching this scene it becomes impossible to take your eyes off the screen. Jeffrey Wright and Chandra Wilson's performances here are startling. "You go through life and you see all these other people's pain. But you think your invincible. You think you're immune. Until you wake up one day and God slaps you in the face with something like this." After a deep breath, she looks back at Pyke and says, "I hate you. I hate you so goddamn much, but you can't die. Because even though you shouldn't be allowed to live anymore, you got to give us some hope. Me and all those other women. Give us some hope. That we might make it through this. You took so much away, you can at least give us that." When Helen leaves the hospital, fighting back tears after seeing her own eventual demise in front of her, we are made to sit with Robert Pyke as he silently contemplates what Helen has said.

"POZ" is a film that truly makes you think. What is the proper punishment for a man like Robert Pyke? Would time in jail really mean anything to him now? Is there really justice for this kind of crime? Screenwriter Steven Knight and director Tim Van Patten ask these big questions and leave us to answer them for ourselves. They bring us through a dark, twisting maze of flawed characters and terrible judgement, but don't escort us to the exit. We need to find our own way out. "POZ" isn't a film for everyone. It's scarier than a lot of horror movies, as it shows just what can happen to you when your a little bit irresponsible. It terrifies you, and then forces you to face the reality. It angers you by what Pyke has done. And then it makes you evan angrier at yourself when you feel sorry for him. "POZ" will stay with you for a very long time. It's nearly impossible to shake once you've seen it. Like the disease itself.

POSSIBLE NOMINATIONS
Best Picture
Best Director - Tim Van Patten
Best Actor - Jeffrey Wright
Best Supporting Actress - Chandra Wilson
Best Original Screenplay - Steven Knight