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Home > Archive > Feb 21, 2008

Celebrating Oscar Time
By Ann Staples
It is time for the biggest night for movie fans around the world! The Academy Awards is the benchmark in the film industry recognizing top talent in multiple categories.
The saying “it is an honor to just be nominated” may be overused, but it is true. Anyone in that business is dying to get the nod. The winner’s prize is the legendary golden Oscar statue that brings a lifetime title every time the winner’s name is mentioned.
From the red carpet fashions, the opening number and host monologue, star presenters, speeches, to the tribute for those who have passed in the last year, it is an important event!
The 80th Academy Awards will air on ABC on Sunday night, Feb. 24. Tune in early and surf the entertainment channels for the countdown and red carpet interviews that build up the excitement. Comedian Jon Stewart will host the show for a second time.
Many people have Oscar parties, but I prefer to watch without distractions. I am a social bird, but for that night I don’t want anybody to talk to me unless it is during the commercials! Strict rules at my house!
Check out oscar.com for a fun look at Oscar history, print your own ballot, enjoy past fashions, etc.
“The Savages”
“The Savages” has two Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Original Screenplay. This R-rated film stars the stellar Philip Seymour Hoffman who not only won for Best Actor in ’05 for “Capote”, but he is up for Best Supporting Actor this year for “Charlie Wilson’s War.” He is fantastic in every role he plays.
Stage and screen talent, Laura Linney (“Man of the Year,” “Truman”) is a good match for Hoffman’s skills. They play siblings who are not particularly close, but are forced to come together when their estranged father is diagnosed with dementia.
This family has problems. The parents divorced when the children were young. The father, played perfectly by Broadway star and film character actor Philip Bosco (“Hitch”), had little or no contact with his kids after the split.
A lot of resentment bubbles under the surface. Jon (Hoffman) is a professor and book author who can’t commit to his loving girlfriend. Wendy (Linney) is an aspiring writer working for a temp agency who lies and can’t get her life together. She is also sleeping with her married neighbor.
Now Jon and Wendy have to figure out what to do with the man that they used to know as their father who is now incapable of caring for himself.
This story has been reported to be in part humorous, but my opinion is that it is only funny when you can actually laugh at life’s most unfortunate or uncomfortable circumstances. It is a very slow moving story that simulates how life can be sometimes when things are out of sync.
I did laugh, but not often and only when things were so pitiful that they rang true. If you have ever dealt with dementia and the care choices that go with this terrible process you will either laugh or cry in this show. It is rated R for some language, Wendy’s sexual relationship (you don’t see a lot of detail), and slow subject matter that most youth don’t want to see.
I have mixed feelings about this movie. It is acted out in such a true way that you forget you are watching a movie and not a real dysfunctional family. Talent-wise and tackling a serious subject it gets an “A”, but pacing wise a “C.”
“Definitely, Maybe”
“Definitely, Maybe,” rated PG-13, is a relationship story told by a father to his young daughter in a clever story form. Ryan Reynolds (“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder”) is known for his college frat boy type of past roles. It is refreshing to see him move on to better things in his career.
His character, Will, is the soon-to-be-divorced father of a bright young girl named Maya. The beyond-her-years-talented Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) is the sensible daughter who wants to know how her parents met and married.
Her curiosity is sparked by her first sex ed class at school. She is very verbal in asking Will questions about the male/female anatomy that she just learned about.
Maya just wants to know about love, but how does an adult explain the complications of relationships without telling too much? Will decides to tell about his past and how he met Maya’s mom by changing the names to make Maya guess which of the three women in his life became his wife.
Elizabeth Banks (“Spider-Man” 2 and 3), Isla Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”), and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz (“Constant Gardner,” “The Mummy”) play the roles of Emily, April, and Summer.
Will meets them at varying stages of his life starting out as a determined college grad looking for a political career, a disillusioned Bill Clinton supporter (funny timing with Hillary’s current campaign), beginning a new business, and figuring out who he really, really loves: his college sweetheart, the quick witted friend, or the wild and free journalist.
Wise Maya helps her dad figure it all out.
The tale is told in an interesting and smart way. But like many movie promotions, “Definitely, Maybe” is deceptive. When youngsters, girls in particular, and parents see little Miss Breslin is in this movie they will want to see it.
She is in the anticipated upcoming film “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” about the popular doll series. But parents be warned this is probably not a movie for young kids or pre-teens.
It could have been scripted in a more family friendly fashion, but ended up with more of a grown-up feel. In my true disclosure I liked it for the older crowd and give it a “B+”.
Until next time … Save me a seat!
Ann Staples is a St. George resident who has reviewed movies for KCSG, KONY 99.9 FM, and KDXU 890 AM. She is the former host of local lifestyle and entertainment TV shows "KCSG Today" and "So Utah." Ann is married to dentist Larry Staples and has three children, four step-children, and 11 grandchildren.

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