Costume Designers Guild named the Nominees

The awards season continues, and now we know the nominees for the 14th Annual Costume Designers Guild awards.

Again, I selected my predictions with blue, and I hope I will guess the winners at least for Excellence in Contemporary Film nomination. I want that cool Gosling's jacket from "Drive" and I'm really into Lisbeth's style from "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Excellence in Period Film nominees have also not so many chances, when "The Artist" is there. And "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" has a good chance too, though I'd say the make-up there is more impressive than the costumes. 

The winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 21.

Excellence in Contemporary Film:
"Bridesmaids" – Leesa Evans and Christine Wada
"The Descendants" – Wendy Chuck
"Drive" – Erin Benach
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" – Trish Summerville
"Melancholia" – Manon Rasmussen

Excellence in Period Film:
"The Artist" – Mark Bridges
"Jane Eyre " – Michael O'Connor
"The Help" – Sharen Davis
"Hugo" – Sandy Powell
"W.E." – Arianne Phillips

Excellence in Fantasy Film:
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" – Jany Temime
"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" – Penny Rose
"Red Riding Hood" – Cindy Evans
"Thor" – Alexandra Byrne
"X-Men: First Class" – Sammy Sheldon

Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries:
"Downton Abbey" – Susannah Buxton
"The Kennedys" – Christopher Hargadon
"Mildred Pierce" – Ann Roth

Outstanding Contemporary Television Series:
"Glee" – Lou Eyrich and Jennifer Eve
"Modern Family" – Alix Friedberg
"Revenge" – Jill Ohanneson
"Saturday Night Live" – Tom Broecker and Eric Justian
"Sons of Anarchy" – Kelli Jones

Outstanding Period/Fantasy Television Series:
"Boardwalk Empire" – John A. Dunn and Lisa Padovani
"The Borgias" – Gabriella Pescucci
"Game of Thrones" – Michele Clapton
"Once Upon Time" – Eduardo Castro
"Pan Am (Series)" – Ane Crabtree

Who do you think should win these awards? Leave your predictions in comments below.

Soundtrack 2011

There is some time until the Golden Globe and Oscar awards, so I decided to continue summing up the previous film year. This time it is all about music.

I picked ten songs and compositions, which became my favourite ones.

1. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (feat. Karen O) - "Immigrant Song"
Film: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by David Fincher.

This song became even more popular than its original, which Led Zeppelin sang. It channeled the dark atmosphere of the film and made the opening sequence incredibly creepy and beautiful.



2. Kavinsky - "Nightcall"
Film: "Drive" by Nicolas Winding Refn.

"Drive" soundtrack is one of the best I heard this year, and "Nightcall" is a very catchy track, which always reminds me of Ryan Gosling driving away.



3. Alexandre Desplat - "Statues"
Film: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" by David Yates.

Alexandre Desplat knows how to create a magic and feisty composition. The scene before the Battle of Hogwarts is very impressive, especially the part when teachers, students and the Order of the Phoenix are trying to protect the school. It was breathtaking to watch and not the less to listen.



4. Rival Sons - "Torture"
Film: "Real Steel" by Shawn Levy.

"Real Steel" has a combined soundtrack of hip-hop and rock songs, but this one matches my taste perfectly.



5. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - "I've Had the Time of My Life"
Film: "Crazy, Stupid, Love" by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, originally from "Dirty Dancing" by Emile Ardolino.

I fell in love with this song a long time ago, since I saw "Dirty Dancing" for the first time, so I was glad to hear it in this romantic comedy. You have to be a really good dancer to lift a girl like that.



6. Hans Zimmer - "I See Everything"
Film: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows" by Guy Ritchie.

Less than a minute, but it gives me goose bumps.



7. Hans Zimmer - "Blackbeard"
Film: "Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" by Rob Marshall.

The film was average, but the score is great. Hans Zimmer made the first appearance of Blackbeard very badass.



8. Kerris Dorsey - "The Show"
Film: "Moneyball" by Bennett Miller.

Such a sweet girl with a very good voice sings for his father. I didn't like this film, but two scenes, where this song is featured, are very good and sentimental.



9. Henry Jackman - "Magneto"
Film: "X-Men: First Class" by Matthew Vaughn.

I'd call it "The Rise of the Great Villain". Fassbender's character got the best composition, which is good at describing his inner world.



10. Alexandre Desplat - "Lily's Theme"
Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" by David Yates.

The most tragic melody I've heard in the last Harry Potter films. It prepares the audience for a serious final of this story.



Which are your top-10 songs you heard in films the previous year?

5 Sexiest Film Characters of 2011

Inspired by Empire magazine, I made my own list of the sexiest characters. But it is so hard to choose, so I decided to make it in the limit of one year.

P.S. Those characters are in no particular order.

1. Captain Jack Sparrow
Film: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

Yes, Johnny Depp still has it. His pirate is one of the most memorable, sly, and funny characters of the decade. And, of course, I like his hair and make-up. If someone says it makes him less manly, I will laugh, because he is more manly than half of todays' Hollywood.

2. Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
Film: "X-Men: First Class"

Michael Fassbender played a few memorable characters in 2011, but I choose his young version of the great villain. Why? He is handsome, powerful, a bit mysterious. Thanks to him I wasn't missing Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in this X-men film.

3. Jamie Rellis
Film: "Friends with Benefits"

There were a few similar films about friendship and sex this year, but this one I enjoyed the most, mostly because of Mila Kunis. She is smart, independent and beautiful, and her Jamie Rellis was the same. I'm glad that this Ukrainian girl makes her dreams come true.

P.S. I bet many men were jealous of Justin Timberlake, while they were watching "Friends with Benefits".

4. Marilyn Monroe
Film: "My Week with Marilyn"

Marilyn was a sex symbol, and she is still one of the most beautiful and charismatic women of all times, so she totally deserves to be included in my list. Michelle Williams is a good actress and she perfectly channeled the inner beauty of miss Monroe, which always made her so special.

5. Driver
Film: "Drive"

This film is one of my favourite of the previous year. Ryan Gosling shocked me again, because he played his part very well. We don't know the real name of his character, but I admire the choice he made. If "Drive" had another final, I probably wouldn't include its main character here. Yes, it is incredibly sexy when a man saves a woman.

Who are your top-5 sexiest characters of the previous film year? Leave your list in comments below.

What are we waiting for? Fall 2011

Top-10 movies, which you should watch in the movie theaters this fall.

1. "CONTAGION"

Tagline - "Don't talk to anyone. Don't touch anyone."

There is a virus, but no zombies? That's something new. With good cast and Steven Soderbergh's talent it is a new drama that shows how people act in such critical worldwide situation. And it looks like there is going to be no second, third or forth part. I hope.

Release date - September 9, 2011

2."DRIVE"

Tagline - "Get in. Get out. Get away."

I bet you heard about it many times. But haven't you seen it? Even 'big and scary' critic from The Rolling Stone magazine, Peter Travers, loved it! It looks like the story about a stunt driver by day and a getaway driver by night, who is played by handsome and talented Ryan Gosling, is worth of every bit of your attention.
Everything you need to know about it is here.

Release date - September 16, 2011

3."MONEYBALL"

Tagline - "What are you really worth?"

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are teamed up to make a basketball dream team. Based on a true story it is going to be an interesting drama about how to achieve your dream despite financial problems.

Release date - September 23, 2011

4. "THE IDES OF MARCH"

Tagline - "Is this man our next president?"

Another drama with Ryan Gosling, this time not about drivers, but about politicians. Directed and co-stared by George Clooney, this movie got many positive reviews. With those two it couldn't be another way.

Release date - October 7, 2011

5. "THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN"

Tagline - "This year, discover how far adventure will take you."

Have you heard about Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson? Do you know that they're very talented men and they've filmed a bunch of great movies? Now they're going to present an animated story about a boy, treasures, lost ships etc.
You can watch trailer and read the whole synopsis here.

Release date - October 26, 2011 (UK)

6. "THE RUM DIARY"

Tagline - "One part outrage. One part justice. Three parts rum. Mix well."

Johnny Depp isn't playing a Captain Jack Sparrow, but he still drinks lots of rum. He is a journalist now and he goes to Puerto Rico, falls in love with married girl, drinks again, sometimes writes for a local newspaper and has to choose between money and truth.
Read everything about this upcoming drama here.

Release date - October 28, 2011

7. "PUSS IN BOOTS"

Tagline - "Nine lives. One destiny."

The voices of Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek will be heard in this new Dreamworks' animation. It is a deserved spin-off from "Shrek" story about a very self-confident and brave cat.
Trailer is here.

Release date - November 4, 2011

8. "MY WEEK WITH MARILYN"

Tagline - "An incredible true story, which happened with a legend of 20th century."

Michelle Williams is the Marilyn. Simon Curtis is the director and Kenneth Branagh is the Sir Laurence Olivier, who is rumored to have some tense relationship with miss Monroe. My bonus is Emma Watson in an episodic role of a wardrobe girl Lucy.

Release date - November 4, 2011

9. "HUGO"

Tagline - "One of the most legendary directors of our time takes you on an extraordinary adventure."

Young actor Asa Butterfield scares me a bit, but there is Chloe Moretz, Jude Law, Christopher Lee, Helen McCrory and Sacha Baron Cohen to make me more comfortable to watch it. This is new Martin Scorsese's fantastic story, which tell us how living in a Paris train station looks like.

Release date - November 23, 2011

10. "A DANGEROUS METHOD"

Tagline - "Freud vs Jung."

Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and between them a patient played by Keira Knightley. Unusual and not surely romantic. With such cast it couldn't be bad, so I will definitely see it in the nearest future.

Release date - November 23, 2011

"DRIVE" (2011) - New poster, stills and synopsis

Along with a new poster and stills, the detail synopsis has been revealed: "Driver (RYAN GOSLING) is a stunt driver by day and a getaway driver by night. Doesn't matter what job he does, Driver is most comfortable behind the wheel of a car. Shannon (BRYAN CRANSTON) is part mentor, part manager for Driver. Since he knows what a great talent Driver is behind the wheel, he either peddles him to film and television directors in the entertainment business or thieves who need an accomplished getaway driver, taking a cut for his own pockets. Always looking to make a buck, Shannon's current plan is funding a stock car that Driver can race on the professional circuit. Since Bernie Rose (ALBERT BROOKS) is the wealthiest guy he knows, even if the sources of his money are questionable, Shannon proposes he be their investor. After seeing Driver in action at the speedway, Bernie Rose insists Nino (RON PERLMAN) partners with them as well.

Primarily a loner and ambivalent about the deals Shannon makes for him, Driver's world changes the day he shares an elevator ride at his apartment building with Irene (CAREY MULLIGAN). When he sees her again at the grocery store with her young son, Benicio (KADEN LEOS), he is transfixed, and willingly offers help when they are stranded in the parking lot because Irene's car won't start. Soon Driver settles into a routine of driving Irene to her waitress job and watching Benicio, entangled in their lives while her car is fixed. This interlude in Driver's life abruptly stops when Standard (OSCAR ISAAC), Irene's husband, is let out early from prison for good behavior. Even though nothing has happened between Driver and Irene, Standard is threatened by another man's presence in his family's life. Driver backs off, respectful of Irene's desire to keep her family together, but when he finds Standard bloodied and lying in the garage with a scared Benicio standing next to his father, Driver is embroiled even further in Irene's life. Then trouble begins…" (Official movie website)

More about "DRIVE" (2011)! (trailers, interviews, stills, posters etc.)

Poster - Icon vs. Icon
Stills - Official movie website

"Drive" (2011) - Poster with Ryan Gosling

The Refinery creative company presented the new poster of action movie called "Drive", starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bruce Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. This bright pink color was a very brave decision, but it doesn't really matter, when Ryan is on it.

More about "Drive" (2011)! (posters, trailers, synopsis etc.)

Poster - IMP Awards

"DRIVE" (2011) - Official poster

Finally, the official poster of the last Nicolas Winding Refn's movie called "Drive" has been released. I really like Ryan Gosling's outfit - this jacket is something!

More about "Drive" (2011) (trailers, synopsis, interviews etc.)

Poster - Collider

"Drive" (2011) - Red Band Trailer

This story is about a stunt performer, played by Ryan Gosling, who sometimes works as getaway driver. Director Nicolas Winding Refn said about his movie: "Being realistic is OK, but it's not necessarily very interesting. We weren't aiming to make a documentary. But we wanted to strike a balance so that the film wouldn't become over-stylised." For him it wasn't usual to make movies at Hollywood, so he told how it feels to make movie there: "It was extraordinary, I was in this house with a swimming pool and an orange grove, it was mythical for me to be in that place. And the incredible thing was that everybody was helping me, while I had all these negative preconceptions. The producers were always there for me. I was able to make the movie I wanted to make." Other characters in "Drive" are portrayed by actors Carey Mulligan, Bruce Cranston, Christina Hendricks and Ron Perlman. Finally, I want to add that some critics are impressed by their performances and really enjoyed the movie and Nicolas Winding Refn got Prix de la mise en scène (Best Director Award) at the 64th Cannes Film Festival because of this movie.

Clip

Report from Cannes Film Festival (with pictures)

64th Cannes Film Festival - The End (all winners)

Red Band Trailer