Friday, April 6, 2012

Cajun Style!

THE WAR ROOM (1993)
Criterion Collection

Dir. Chris Hegedus and D. A. Pennebaker


At a brisk 95 minutes, ‘The War Room’ is an engaging and informative behind-the-scenes look at the 1992 presidential campaign of then-governor Bill Clinton, from his shaky beginnings in the democratic primaries to his landslide victory against incumbent George H. W. Bush on election night. The events that unfold throughout out the campaign are seen primarily from the perspective of Clinton’s Director of Communications, George Stephanopoulos, and a fiery Lead Strategist by the name of James Carville, introduced as the Ragin’ Cajun. Both men have since become household names in the American political sphere, but the documentary affords the audience the opportunity to get a first-hand glimpse of the incredibly bright, ambitious, charismatic and visionary minds behind the very successful campaign that reminded the voters that “It’s the economy, stupid” and circumvented the attacks from the Bush campaign on Clinton’s character, including numerous allusions to the draft.


In stark contrast to most contemporary documentaries, no names appear onscreen to guide the audience through the numerous cast of characters on either side of the political spectrum, but dedicated CNN viewers and other political enthusiasts will recognize less well-known personalities such as Paul Begala and John King. The film also focuses briefly on Mary Matalin, the Deputy Campaign Manager for the Bush/Quayle ticket and Carville’s significant other. The relationship between the two has always been the subject of much interest, due to their vast political differences, and the film shows both in peak form attacking the other side in their professional roles, while keeping their personal relationship intact. There is ample footage of the politicians themselves, including Clinton and his family, but the hub of activity and excitement is the War Room itself, where the campaign strategy sessions occur, not to mention the campaign offices, where the many unnamed staff and volunteers work tirelessly alongside Stephanopoulos and Carville towards the common goal. ‘The War Room’ is a feat, not least of all because it shows the audience how campaigns were run before the advent of the 24-hour news cycle. American politics has changed significantly since the events of this film, and Hegedus and Pennebaker have created a piece of work that perfectly encapsulates the state of American political discourse at a crucial point in recent history. It is valuable viewing for all.

Monday, January 23, 2012

It's That Time of Year Again...

Less than 12 hours to go, which means it's dream ballot time!

Best Picture


The Artist
Drive
Jane Eyre
Martha Marcy May Marlene
Moneyball


A Separation
Submarine
Take Shelter
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Weekend


Best Director


Tomas Alfredson, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Bennett Miller, Moneyball
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive


Best Actor


Demián Bichir, A Better Life
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Peyman Moaadi, A Separation
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter


Special mentions:


Tom Cullen, Weekend
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Ryan Gosling, Drive
Woody Harrelson, Rampart
Peter Mullan, Tyrannosaur
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball


Best Actress


Olivia Colman, Tyrannosaur
Adepero Oduye, Pariah
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids


Special mentions:

Viola Davis, The Help
Kirsten Dunst, Melancholia
Keira Knightley, A Dangerous Method
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin


Best Supporting Actor


Albert Brooks, Drive
Patton Oswalt, Young Adult
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Special mentions:


Benedict Cumberbatch, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Tom Hardy, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method
Mark Strong, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy


Best Supporting Actress


Jessica Chastain, The Help
Elle Fanning, Super 8
Anna Kendrick, 50/50
Carey Mulligan, Shame
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Special mentions:


Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help
Amy Ryan, Win Win


Adapted Screenplay


Jane Eyre - Moira Buffini
Moneyball - Story by Stan Chervin; Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, Steve Zaillian
The Muppets - Jason Segel, Nicholas Stoller
Submarine - Richard Ayoade
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan


Original Screenplay


Bridesmaids - Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
A Separation - Asghar Farhadi
Take Shelter - Jeff Nichols
Weekend - Andrew Haigh
Win Win - Thomas McCarthy, Joe Tibani


Special mentions:

50/50 - Will Reiser
Pariah - Dee Rees
Rango - Story by James Ward Byrkit, John Logan, Gore Verbinski; Screenplay by John Logan
Young Adult - Diablo Cody


Cinematography


Drive - Newton Thomas Sigel
Jane Eyre - Adriano Goldman
Melancholia - Manuel Alberto Claro
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Hoyte Van Hoytema
The Tree of Life - Emmanuel Lubezki


Special mentions:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Jeff Cronenweth
Moneyball - Wally Pfister
Rampart - Bobby Bukowski


Original Score

A Better Life - Alexandre Desplat
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo -
Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
Jane Eyre - Dario Marianelli
Moneyball - Mychael Danna
The Skin I Live in - Alberto Iglesias


Animated Feature

Rango


Documentary Feature

Bill Cunningham New York
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Project Nim


Foreign Language Film

A Separation


Until tomorrow!