starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, Janet McTeer
written by: Jane Goldman
directed by: James Watkins
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for thematic material and violence/disturbing images
Film Review: “The Woman in Black”
Author: Jason LeRoy
Film Review: “Coriolanus”
starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain, James Nesbitt, Paul Jesson
written by: John Logan
directed by: Ralph Fiennes
MPAA: Rated R for some bloody violence
Spinning Platters Interview: Glenn Close on “Albert Nobbs”
Glenn Close has long been perceived as an intimidating woman, which likely stems from a number of factors. Maybe it’s because of her unhinged work in the iconic role of Alex Forrest, the psychotically unstable mistress who will not be ignored, in the ’80s landmark Fatal Attraction. It could be due to her impossibly imperious turn as the scheming, vicious Marquise de Merteuil in Stephen Frears’ Dangerous Liaisons. The under-21 set likely grew up cowering from her scenery-chewing Cruella De Vil in the live-action 101 Dalmations. Not even the small screen has been safe from Close’s fire-breathing intensity, whether it be her hugely acclaimed work on The Shield, or her two-time Emmy-winning turn on Damages as Patty Hewes, the ferocious litigator who will stop at nothing — nothing — to win a case. So even though Close is currently promoting what is arguably the least threatening character she has ever played, this does not necessarily make her more comfortable to be around. At least not when she turns the tables during our interview and begins grilling me about my thoughts on her Oscar-nominated new film, Albert Nobbs.
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Spinning Platters Predicts the 2012 Oscar Nominations: What Should — and Will — Be Nominated
The Academy Awards are commonly referred to as the gay Super Bowl, and for good reason: they each represent the culmination of months of grueling, bone-crunching competition, tend to feature misguided musical numbers, and are ultimately about impossibly wealthy people fighting over trophies while the rest of us cheer from the breadlines. In short: it’s the best thing that happens all year. My post-Oscar depression is far more devastating than even the worst case of post-Christmas blues. Such emptiness. The nominations for this year’s 84th Academy Awards will be announced in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, January 24. After the jump, check out my picks for what should be nominated and what we’re likely to read about on Tuesday.
Film Review: “Haywire”
starring: Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Bill Paxton, Michael Angarano
written by: Lem Dobbs
directed by: Steven Soderbergh
MPAA: Rated R for some violence
Film Review: “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”
starring: Thomas Horn, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright
adapted by: Eric Roth
directed by: Stephen Daldry
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for emotional thematic material, some disturbing images, and language
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Film Review: “Joyful Noise”
starring: Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Keke Palmer, Jeremy Jordan, Dexter Dardin, Courtney B. Vance, Jesse L. Martin, Kris Kristofferson, Dequina Moore
written and directed by: Todd Graff
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some language including a sexual reference
Film Review: “The Iron Lady”
starring: Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Alexandra Roach, Olivia Colman, Harry Lloyd, Richard E. Grant, Anthony Head
written by: Abi Morgan
directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some violent images and brief nudity
The Spinning Platters Guide to the Best Films of 2011
Welcome to our list of the best films of 2011! I’m Jason LeRoy, the film editor of this fine website, and I’ll be your guide to the most excellent cinema this year had to offer. I have to say, this is a pretty exciting moment for me. While I’ve been writing about film in one form or another since 1995, 2011 is the first year I’ve managed to see just about everything. It is with no small amount of consideration (or afternoons and evenings spent slumped over in theaters around town) that I’ve compiled this list. So look after the jump for my top 10 films of the year, some honorable mentions, and a handful of staff-pick rebuttals for Best Film of 2011. And especially since this year was uncommonly lacking in unifying critical favorites, please leave your own picks in the comments below.
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Film Reviews: “War Horse” / “The Adventures of Tintin”
War Horse
starring: Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston, David Kross, David Thewlis
written by: Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
directed by: Steven Spielberg
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of war violence.
The Adventures of Tintin
starring: Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis, Daniel Craig, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost
written by: Steven Moffat, Edgar Wright, and Joe Cornish
directed by: Steven Spielberg
MPAA: Rated PG for adventure action violence, some drunkenness and brief smoking.
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