Cool Art Posters for Oscar Nominees

Check out these cool new posters that illustrator Dean Walton, aka Mr. Shabba, has knocked up for five of this year's Best Picture nominees at the Academy Awards, The Social Network, Black Swan, True Grit, The Fighter and The King's Speech.  It's amazing how he's managed to capture so much of the character of the films in such minimalist paintings.  Check them out at the gallery over at SlashFilm here.

The Social Network Wins Big at London Critics' Awards

Increasing the interest around tomorrow's Bafta Awards and the building Oscar race, The Social Network won in four major categories at the 31st London Critics’ Circle Film Awards on Thursday night. The film about Facebook's creation took Film of the Year, while Aaron Sorkin was awarded for his excellent script with Screenwriter of the Year. Emerging young actor Andrew Garfield received Best British Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Zuckerberg's best friend Eduardo Saverin, and director David Fincher picked up Director of the Year.

The Social Network's biggest rival for the Oscars, The King's Speech, also received plaudits, as the race for the gold statues intensifies. It took the Attenborough Award for British Film of the Year, while Colin Firth received Actor of the Year for his performance as the stuttering King George VI and director Tom Hooper was awarded with British Director of the Year. The symmetry in the awards gives no clue as to who will take Best Director and Picture at the Oscars, the two awards that seem destined to go to one of these two films.

Other winners included Christian Bale for British Actor of the Year, now looking likely to add a Bafta tomorrow night to his growing trophy cabinet following his outstanding performance in The Fighter, and Gareth Edwards as Breakthrough British Film-maker for his film Monsters.

Check This Out: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The ultimate collection of melodramatic NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOs. Hell yes!

Who We Are: Alex

Hello Internet. I’m a student at the University of Leeds, studying Spanish and Economics. So then, what qualifies me as a film blogger and reviewer, you may ask? Well nothing really. I just truly love films, and tend to watch a lot while procrastinating or just generally slacking. I thought doing this website would be a good way of putting this tremendous skill, yes skill, into action. A way to get off my ass, write some shizzle about film and inform the Internet of the latest movie news. So what do I look for in a film? Well I like a film with a great soundtrack and practically anything starring Bill Murray. Plus I believe the Dude or, His Dudeness, or, Duder, or, El Duderino (if you’re not into the whole brevity thing), is some kind of deity.

Twitter: @alex_steely

Review: True Grit

The Coen Brothers do it again, but reign in much of their trademark style in this genre piece. Great direction, writing and an outstanding cast performance make this the best western since The Assassination of Jesse James.

Let’s get one thing straight. I love the Coen Brothers. No Country for Old Men, Miller’s Crossing, Fargo, The Big motherfucking Lebowski – can’t get enough. Neither can the critics, it seems. With countless nominations, and multiple Oscar wins for the previously mentioned Fargo and No Country for Old Men, they’re kind of on a winning streak. The problem is, when you’re on a winning streak, that’s precisely what you have to keep doing. True Grit, a remake of a well known John Wayne picture and based on a classic western novel by Charles Portis, could have finally been their fall from grace. They’ve proven with the The Ladykillers (2004) that remakes may not be their forte, and when True Grit was announced to be a Coen Bros. remake, fanboys across the web simultaneously crapped themselves. Fear not, fanboys. True Grit isn’t as much a win as it is a triumph.

Review: The Fighter

While nothing new for the genre, a collection of excellent performances from Bale and company make for a very compelling boxing drama.

At a time when you’re spoilt for choice with the amount of good films out there (The King’s Speech, Black Swan, 127 Hours, etc.) some can slip under the radar, even if they don’t really deserve to do so. Luckily this hasn’t happened to The Fighter, David O. Russell’s boxing drama set in the depths of working-class Lowell, Massachusetts. It tells the real life tale of “Irish” Micky Ward’s formative years, struggling to make the grade before turning pro and getting his one shot at the big-time. It all sounds pretty generic, but that’s before you’ve met the family. Micky (Mark Wahlberg) is forever in the shadow of brother Dicky (Christian Bale), an ex-fighter that could have made something of himself had he not succumbed to the sweet, sweet charms of crack. There’s nothing wrong with a relaxing bit of crack you say? Well with consistent bouts of violence, brushes with the law and a spell in prison, it doesn’t seem to be working out too well for him. He also happens to be Micky’s trainer. Then you have the matriarch Alice (Melissa Leo), a tough, possessive bulldog of a woman who dotes on Dicky and their gaggle of terrifying sisters whilst “managing” Micky’s career.

Review: Tangled

Cheeky and entertaining without ever really standing out or bringing anything new to the animated genre. Perfectly good family fun, just don’t expect Beauty and the Beast.

Walt Disney Animation Studios return to the fairy tale format that made them famous with Tangled. The story is a re-telling of the Brothers Grimm tale Rapunzel, with Mandy Moore playing the longhaired princess. She’s taken as a child to live in a hidden tower by the evil elderly Gothel (posing as her mother) for the rejuvenating qualities of her hair. Every year, on Rapunzel’s birthday, the king and queen release lanterns in the hope that their lost daughter will see them and return. One night, while still a child, Rapunzel sees the lanterns and from then on dreams of seeing them up close. Eighteen years later and she is eager to see the outside world, and more importantly, the floating lanterns. Her opportunity comes in the form of the crook Flynn Rider, played by Zachary Levi, who promises to take her to see the lights. This deal does not go down well with Gothel, as she needs Rapunzel to keep her youthful looks. The chase through the kingdom ensues, with Rapunzel and Flynn getting into all types of tangles.