plus 3, AP's best bets: Who will win the Oscars? - New York Post

AP's best bets: Who will win the Oscars? - New York Post
MOVIE MIXOLOGY - Newburyport Daily News
Disney’s Selena Gomez Knocks Out Nicole Kidman For New Movie Role - OnTheFlix
Soap Box Derby movie gets green flag - TMCnet

AP's best bets: Who will win the Oscars? - New York Post

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 11:00 AM PST

LOS ANGELES — Associated Press Movie Writers David Germain and Christy Lemire agree with each other — and just about every other Academy Awards forecaster — that Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Mo'Nique and Christoph Waltz will walk away with the acting trophies.

Germain and Lemire also agree that Kathryn Bigelow will become the first woman to win the best-director Oscar on Sunday.

That just leaves one prize among the top six where they disagree — best picture.

Here are their predictions, with both sounding off on best picture and director, Lemire offering their take on best actor and supporting actress, and Germain giving their opinion on best actress and supporting actor.

___

BEST PICTURE

Nominees: "Avatar," ''The Blind Side," ''District 9," ''An Education," ''The Hurt Locker," ''Inglourious Basterds," ''Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," ''A Serious Man," ''Up," ''Up in the Air."

GERMAIN:

I think "The Hurt Locker" was not only the year's best film, but also one of the finest war films in years.

And when it comes to immersing us in an unknown alien landscape, I feel James Cameron did it better 24 years ago on "Aliens" — without today's 3-D technology, computer animation and other advances — than he did it now with "Avatar."

"Aliens" was not only visual but also tactile — it looked real to the touch as well as to the eyes. "Avatar," lovely as it is to look at, still has a cartoon quality like so many blends of live action and computer animation.

But I suspect "Avatar" will win the big prize for its candy-colored imagery, its photorealistic visuals that turned human actors into 10-foot-tall blue aliens, its enormous commercial success and its growing reputation as a truly pioneering achievement that other filmmakers will point back to for decades to come.

"The Hurt Locker" long will be remembered by its small but devoted legion of admirers. Yet when it comes to doling out the biggest prize Hollywood has to give, how can Oscar voters not want to make a game-changer such as "Avatar" the one to remember as 2009's awards champ?

Cameron may have proclaimed himself king of the world when "Titanic" won best picture 12 years ago. This time, Cameron can bray that he's king of the cosmos.

LEMIRE:

Sorry, Dave. I know you love being right, but "The Hurt Locker" wins.

Yes, Cameron's film is a tremendous technical accomplishment, the product of years of painstaking, obsessive effort. It's groundbreaking — unlike anything that's come before it. But Bigelow's film, with its intimate intensity, has more of an emotional impact. There's not a single dishonest moment among the performances. And it's the first Iraq war movie that gets it right, while at the same time refraining from beating us over the head with any platitudes about the war.

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MOVIE MIXOLOGY - Newburyport Daily News

Posted: 03 Mar 2010 09:31 PM PST

SAN FRANCISCO — Movie magic will be the toast of Tinseltown on Oscar night, and what better way to bring the festivities couch-side than with a cocktail inspired by this year's nominees.

We asked mixologists from around the country to come up with award-worthy recipes. The results ranged from a classic cocktail that dates to the early days of flight to a bubbly concoction from the ice cream parlor featured in the family-friendly "Up."

So, dim the lights, set out the snacks and raise your glasses up, up in the air. Hurray for Hollywood.

¬¢¬¢¬¢

Recipe note: Some recipes call for exotic ingredients; where possible, we've suggested alternatives. But if you're feeling adventurous, cocktail ingredients such as Parfait Amour, a purple-tinged liqueur, are available online and at some liquor stores.

A number of the drinks call for simple syrup, a common cocktail ingredient that is equal parts sugar and water. To make, heat 1 cup of water to near boiling. Add 2 cups of sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let cool before using. Refrigerate in an airtight container.

AVATAR

This cocktail uses Parfait Amour (or the more common blue curacao) to create a drink with a hue similar to the blue skin of the nature-loving Na'Vi in "Avatar." Imagine enjoying it under the Tree of Life.

AME NA'VI

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ice

1 1/2 ounces gin

1 teaspoon dry vermouth

1 teaspoon Parfait Amour or blue curacao

1 teaspoon orange juice (no pulp)

Orange peel, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with strip of orange peel.

(Recipe from Rafael Jimenez Rivera, bartender at the Lobby Bar of the St. Regis in San Francisco.)

CRAZY HEART

Mixologist Tara Shadzi used bourbon in tribute to Jeff Bridges' washed-up country-western singer character in "Crazy Heart," and added roses for love.

SOUTHERN HEART

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ice

1 1/2 ounces bourbon

1 1/2 ounces elderflower liquor

Juice of 1/4 of a lemon

Rose petals (optional)

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients except the rose petals. Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass. Float fresh rose petals on top.

(Recipe from mixologist Tara Shadzi at Skybar at Mondrian in Los Angeles)

DISTRICT 9

The movie about displaced aliens inspires a drink with a green theme. Slivers of cucumber add a tentacle effect.

ALIEN COOLER

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

1 1/2 ounces julienned cucumber

Ice

1 1/4 ounces premium vodka

3/4 ounce Veev ( or other acai berry liquer)

3/4 ounce lime juice

3/4 ounce simple syrup

Club soda

Cucumber slice, to garnish

Place the julienned cucumber in a 10-ounce tall, narrow tumbler. Add ice, vodka, Veev, lime juice and simple syrup. Fill the glass with club soda. Stir to mix, then garnish with a cucumber slice on edge of glass.

(Recipe from Jon Ojinaga at the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco)

AN EDUCATION

A classic, sophisticated cocktail in tribute to "An Education," a coming-of-age story set in 1960s England.

MELROSE MANHATTAN

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

1 1/2 ounces bourbon

Splash of tawny port

Dash of juice from maraschino cherries

Mix and serve straight up (no ice) in a small tulip or snifter glass.

(Recipe from the Library Bar at the Warwick Melrose Hotel in Dallas)

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

Inspired by Shoshanna, the young woman who gets revenge on the Nazis in wartime Paris — while wearing a stunning red dress — mixologist Tony Roumph used French spirits and bright red pomegranate syrup for this drink.

LADY IN RED

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

1/2 ounce pomegranate juice

1/2 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Ice

2 ounces Remy Martin VSOP

1 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur

Candied ginger and pomegranate seeds, to garnish

In a liquid measuring cup, stir together the pomegranate juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. Measure out 1 ounce of this mixture, then reserve the rest for another use.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the 1 ounce of pomegranate-lemon syrup, Remy Martin VSOP and the ginger liqueur. Shake, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a slice of candied ginger and several pomegranate seeds.

(Recipe from Tony Roumph at the Cityhouse Restaurant at the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco)

JULIE & JULIA

This drink is named Vin Amer Fizz in tribute to Julia Child and her legacy of bringing classic French dishes to American households. Vin is French for wine; amer means bitter, and fizz stands for good times.

"Julie & Julia" follows the parallel stories of Child, working on her cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" during the post-war years, and Julie Powell, a modern young woman who shakes up her life by making the recipes.

In true artisan fashion, mixologist Jackson Cannon starts with house-made rose vermouth. But for us American servantless cooks, a store brand works just fine.

VIN AMER FIZZ

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

2 ounces rose vermouth

1 ounce apricot brandy

1/2 ounce lemon juice

1 egg white (or an equivalent amount of pasteurized egg white product, depending on preference)

Ice

Champagne

In a cocktail shaker, combine the vermouth, apricot brandy, lemon juice and egg white. Shake well to emulsify. Add ice, then shake again to chill. Strain into a coupe or martini glass. Top with Champagne.

(Recipe from Jackson Cannon of Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks in Boston)

A SERIOUS MAN

The approaching storm at the end of "A Serious Man" inspired this drink, a take on the dark 'n stormy.

A SERIOUS MAN

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Juice of 1/2 lime

3 ounces ginger beer

2 1/2 ounces premium dark rum

Lime peel, to garnish

Pour the lime juice into a tall glass. Fill with ice. Add the ginger beer, then pour the rum gently on top so it "floats." Garnish with a strip of lime peel.

(Recipe from Bryan Ranere of Foreign Cinema in San Francisco)

"Up," a movie about an old man and his young neighbor who fly in a balloon-powered house to South America, includes some San Francisco Bay area landmarks, including the popular ice cream parlor, Fenton's Creamery, in Oakland. Fenton's master blender Scott Whidden came up with this recipe he says will take you "Up, up and away!"

CELEBRATION ICE CREAM FLOAT

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Italian sparkling water

1/4 ounce orange syrup (such as Torani)

Premium vanilla ice cream

Fill a tall glass with sparkling water and the orange syrup. Mix, then stir 1 teaspoon of the ice cream into the soda until frothy. Gently top the soda with a scoop of ice cream.

(Recipe from Scott Whidden of Fenton's Creamery in Oakland, Calif.)

UP IN THE AIR

The skies inspire a cocktail for "Up in the Air," a movie about a corporate downsizing expert with a passion for frequent flying. This is a classic cocktail that dates to 1916, when flying was a new-fangled adventure. The Creme de Violette gives the drink a tinge of blue sky.

THE AVIATION

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ice

1 1/2 ounces gin

1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur

1/3 ounce Creme de Violette (or blue curacao)

3/4 ounce lemon juice

1/4 ounce simple syrup

Lemon peel

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients except the lemon peel. Shake well, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Twist a lemon peel over the surface of the drink to add a few drops of lemon oil.

(Recipe from Charles Joly of The Drawing Room in Chicago)

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Disney’s Selena Gomez Knocks Out Nicole Kidman For New Movie Role - OnTheFlix

Posted: 04 Mar 2010 10:46 AM PST

selena gomez image

Disney's Selena Gomez knocks out Nicole Kidman for new movie role. According to Variety , Selena Gomez who stars in Disney's "Witches of Waverly Place" has knocked out well established actress Nicole Kidman for a new movie role in "Monte Carlo." They say that the role was originally meant for Nicole Kidman,but they decided to update the script so that it would have a younger spin on the story.

It will place two of the characters in college and one of them just out of high school. Selena Gomez will be playing the youngest character. Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester is also in talks to play one of the three characters. Instead, Nicole Kidman will produce the film with Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan. Nicole Kidman may also play a supporting role in the film. The movie is set to start filming this May in Monaco, Budapest and Paris. You can read the story at Variety by Clicking Here.

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Soap Box Derby movie gets green flag - TMCnet

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 03:56 PM PST

Mar 03, 2010 (The Akron Beacon Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Corbin Bernsen's planned movie about the All-American Soap Box Derby has gotten the go-ahead from the actor-producer.

Bernsen, who plans to shoot most of the movie in the Akron area, was in town recently to make sure the financing would be available for the film, 25 Hill, which he also wrote and will act in and direct.

Bernsen originally imagined the movie costing $750,000 to $1 million but said the commitments he now has for about $500,000 are enough to get the film going -- if the commitments are all met.

"It's not a jump-up-and-down [situation]," Bernsen said on Wednesday. "But we are green-lit." The movie is in better shape than it was when Bernsen was interviewed on Sunday. Then he considered starting with as little as $300,000 or $400,000, although he said Wednesday that would still have meant coming up with a total of $500,000 before the movie was finished.

Still, Bernsen said: "People did step up on Monday. People who had committed before came in, and we got a good amount of checks. And I saw great energy going forward. I also got direct promises from a good handful of other people that looked me in the eye and said, 'You will have [money] . . . in the next week and a half or so.' " He still hopes to raise more, to get at least $750,000 to make the movie as conceived -- and especially to allow for more extensive shooting in July, when 25 Hill will work in and around actual derby events.

"We have the confidence now," he said. "We have a massive list of people still saying they want to contribute. . . . We are confident that we will get enough to make a really good movie." Some observers have asked why Bernsen himself does not simply put up the money. After all, he is a steadily working actor currently appearing on USA Network series Psych.

"I've already written a script for nothing," he said. "I've already spent X amount coming here on these six trips. . . . I have an ownership in the movie, but I'm also writing, directing, producing . . . for free." He will get paid Screen Actors Guild minimum for appearing in the movie, he said. But he noted he has also given up other possible jobs to work on the film.

"I could be out doing movies-of-the-week, movies, TV guest appearances and all that kind of stuff," he said, adding that he often makes as much as $500,000 on work during breaks from Psych and he has instead been focusing on the derby film. "That is my investment." Besides, he said, a movie that is not a community project "is not as exciting." "My original intention was to get this funded between myself and people I know in Los Angeles," he said. Such a movie probably would have been shot in California. "It's when it became a community project, a made-in-Akron thing, that it became a different thing." Bernsen said that while scouting locations on Tuesday, the movie team found a house in Silver Lake that was so perfect for the film, it was a sign that it will get done. (He declined to say whose home, pending completion of a deal to shoot there.) "It was just a really nice, great vibe to the house," he said. "The people couldn't have been nicer and really opened their arms to us and opened their house, and we worked out something." More will yet be worked out. Production offices in derby headquarters will open in about two weeks, with shooting tentatively set to start around April 5. Bernsen hopes also to cast some roles locally.

Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal and in the HeldenFiles Online blog at http://heldenfels.ohio.com, on Facebook and on Twitter. He also does a weekly video chat for Ohio.com. He can be reached at 330-996-3582 or rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.

To see more of the Akron Beacon Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ohio.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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