Back in 2011 Margot Robbie was a show stopper on the little seen, but well liked ABC series Pan Am. For those who have seen the show, she obviously made an impact then, but its he performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, which will be released in all theatres on Christmas Day that will make this woman a star.
Back in 1980 Martin Scorsese launched another blonde's career, Cathy Moriarty, and this performance in Wolf is just as memorable. There is something magnetic, about Robbie, which partly includes her beauty, but its her performance as Naomie, which steals scenes in a movie full of scene stealers. Robbie is fantastic as she indulges in drug fueled debauchery with DiCaprio, but grounds the films leading man throughout the last third of the film. Robbie's Namoie is fantastic, and in a movie mainly about the men, she is certainly a memorable character, and gives a great performance.
This Australian actress from the Gold Coast has done much state side, but watch for her star power to launch through Wolf. Robbie has a film opposite Michelle Williams, entitled Suite francaise from director Saul Dibb, which will be released next year. Robbie will also star opposite Will Smith from writer/director team Glenn and John Requa (Bad Santa, I Love you Phillip Morris). Look for Robbie to star in many more films, and Joss Whedon take note you have your Ms. Marvel!
Directed by: Martin Scorsese (The Departed, Goodfellas)
Written by: Terrence Winter (Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, and Jonah Hill
This film is going to be a mixed bag for people, most people want a moral to a story, or a "lesson learned." The lesson learned in this film is that people are selfish, and within out society they are willing to lie, cheat, and steal to get snort and sleep with whoever they want. Not exactly a good lesson. If you are expecting these characters, and director Martin Scorsese to coddle you into making you feel like everything will turn out fine then go see a Disney flick.
Wall Street centers on the real life, Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio) a broker who is taught by a mentor played briefly by Matthew McCounaughey to pull a fugazi, namely steal from his clients. The economic crisis in 1987 sends Jordan back to the bottom, where he must climb, or well claw his way back into the game. While searching for a job he stumbles upon a small firm in Long Island that uses pink sheets selling penny stocks to the less financially solvent people. While those around him fail to gain the big sales, Jordan dreams big in order to take the fifty percent commission, and boy can he sell
As his own person wealth begins to rise he meets Donnie (Hill). Donnie questions Jordan on his fancy car, and on his bank statement. In one of the most memorable moments of the film Donnie asks Jordan to prove he made 72 grand in one month, and he will quit his job, and work for him. Soon Donnie is on a pay phone quitting his job, and the bond between best friends begins, and as their friendship grows, their goals of running their own con through their firm Stratton Oakmont begins.
This film is above conning the audience, this is proof as Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have worked together on five films starting with Gangs of New York, then The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island, and now this picture. With every film they get bolder and magnetism on the screen grows, this is their best work together.
Leonardo DiCaprio pulls off another "Gatsby-like" role with Jordan, but within this film the material is much stronger, and the range of his performance is so damn convincing. Jordan could and maybe should be described as a terrible person, but like the real life person many were drawn into his world, and you feel the same way about DiCaprio's performance. DiCaprio speechifies, he has the command of his stock troops, or even when he's lying to the people he "loves" there is something so raw, and brutal about this performance.
Martin Scorsese adds to the decadence of his Jordan's surroundings with one of the most visually sumptuous looking films. A lot of the credit should also go to cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (Amorres Perros) who does a fantastic job highlighting the orgy (sometimes literally) of goods from mansions and yachts to sex crazed parties.
Martin Scorsese's last film, Hugo, was also visually stunning, but these films are like night and day. Scorsese uses the sharp wit from Terence Winter's script to help highlight this dark world with brutal honesty. Leo is a funny guy, but Jonah Hill steals the show with comedy in this film, the guy is just funny; he knows how to deliver a line of sarcasm and humor with perfection. Hill is a scene stealer. The same can be said for Margot Robbie who bursts onto the screen the same way blonde bombshell Cathy Moriarty did in Raging Bull. Robbie does not always deliver the laughs, but she draws you in, and eventually as she loses herself and Jordan you get the intensity you want from her character, this is what Jennifer Lawrence should have delivered in American Hustle.
Martin Scorsese pushes the limits; he tells a darker, braver story about a group of guys who con the pants off Wall Street. Using Winter's brilliant script Scorsese's tale blends humor to show just how ridiculous the world of white collar crime has become, and some of the earliest stories from people stealing from the poor and keeping for themselves. Scorsese does not clean up the story, he shines a bright spot light on just how nasty these men were, and that even in the end the they still try to sell themselves and other people their bull shit. In the hands of a lesser team this could have gone badly, but with Scorsese and Leo they pull off another great work of art.
12 Years a Slave took home three prizes at the Boston Society of Film Critics (BSFC) today, winning Picture, Director for Steve McQueen, and Best Actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor. The other big winner was Enough Said, which won Best Screenplay, and James Gandolfini won Supporting Actor for the film. The other most note able fact about the BSFC is that The Wolf of Wall Street made a lot of waves as the runner-up in many categories. Cate Blanchett also continued her dominance at the critics group; she and Jared Leto have been continuously the two names present between winners, and runner-ups.
Boston Globe critic Ty Burr stated that many, including himself were not able to see a screening of Wall Street, but believe it could have done better, beating Slave even for Best Picture if it had been seen by more.
Best Picture: 12 Years a Slave; runner-up: The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Director: Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave: runner-up: Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave: runner-up: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine: Judi Dench in Philomena
Best Supporting Actor: James Gandolfini, Enough Said; Runner-up: TIE! Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips, and Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb, Nebraska; Runner-up: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Best Screenplay: Enough Said; runner-up: Wolf of Wall Street
Best Documentary: The Act Of Killing; runner-up: Blackfish
Best Animated Feature: The Wind Rises; runner-up: Frozen (near tie)
Best New Filmmaker: Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station; runner-up: Josh Oppenheimer Act Of Killing
Best Cinematography: Gravity, Emmanuel Lubezki; runner-up: The Grandmaster
Best Editing: Rush; runner up: Wolf of Wall Street
Best Use of Music in a Film: Inside Llewyn Davis; runner-up: Nebraska
My jaw just hit the floor! Not only did the New York Film Critics Circle shake things up yesterday, but the National Board of Review added a new major contender to the ranks. Her from Spike Jonez just won Best Picture and Best Director. Her had had great word of mouth from their screening, but no one has been putting any serious weight behind the film. Is it time to change our tune?
Let's do an assessment! Here is a list of the Best Picture winners from 2000 to the present:
The only film which was not nominated for Best Picture of this line-up was Quills way back in 2000, and even in the 1990s only Gods and Monsters (1998) did not receive a nomination, so that is is two films which have not recieved a Best Picture nomination in the last 22 years. This bodes well for Her.
Here is where the support for Her becomes a bit murkier. Over the last 12 years, 7 of the 12 directors we not nominated for Oscar, and the combined Best Picture/Best Director win for Her here could place the film as a non contender.
In the other major categories Bruce Dern won Best Actor for Nebraska. Over the last 12 years only three actors have not been nominated for Oscar, two of which were in the early 2000s. Best Actress went to Emma Thompson in Saving Mr. Banks. This is Thompson's third win at the NBR, and proves she is a serious contender for this award as only two women in the last twelve years were not nominated for Oscar.
Nebraska took home two acting trophies the second was for Best Supporting Actor Will Forte. Look out for Forte to be a much stronger contender, the only person who did not receive an Academy Award nomination in this category after winning was Leonardo DiCaprio last year. Fruitvale Station was another big winner taking home three prizes including Best Supporting Actress, Octavia Spencer. This film has gotten a lot of bumps from critics groups, and could gain even more traction come Oscar time. In the past 12 years, 8 of the 12 nominees have received Oscar nominations.
Just a couple of other notes, Inside Llewyn Davis looks strong, even though the Independent Spirit Awards did not pay as strong of an homage to the film. The Wolf of Wall Street won Adapted Screenplay, and was listed as a top ten film of the year, big news. American Hustle did not win a single prize, and was left off the top ten list. These less consistent winners may be a tell tale sign that this is going to be an extremely competitive awards season, and I am grateful.
Here are the full list of winners: (Source Awards Daily)
Best Film: HER
Best Director: Spike Jonze, HER
Best Actor: Bruce Dern, NEBRASKA
Best Actress: Emma Thompson, SAVING MR. BANKS
Best Supporting Actor: Will Forte, NEBRASKA
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, FRUITVALE STATION
Best Original Screenplay: Joel and Ethan Coen, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Best Adapted Screenplay: Terence Winter, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
Best Animated Feature: THE WIND RISES
Breakthrough Performance: Michael B. Jordan, FRUITVALE STATION
Breakthrough Performance: Adele Exarchopoulos, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
Best Directorial Debut: Ryan Coogler, FRUITVALE STATION
Best Foreign Language Film: THE PAST
Best Documentary: STORIES WE TELL
William K. Everson Film History Award: George Stevens, Jr.
Best Ensemble: PRISONERS
Spotlight Award: Career Collaboration of Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio
November was about two films at the box office Thor: The Dark World, and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Thor started strong, and will do better than the original already besting it with 186 million domestic, and 404 million foreign. By the end Thor will do about 200 million domestic, which is half of Iron Man 3, but still decent. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has made 296 million domestic, and 276 in foreign markets, look for this film to give Iron Man 3 a run for its money as the number one film of the year.
While the God of Thunder and the "Girl on Fire" were the epic films of the month there were two other note able films released in November, Frozen and The Best Man Holiday. Frozen has grossed 93 million domestic in just five days, looks for families to eat this film up, and push it past 200 million easily. Holiday has grossed 63 million, and by the end of its run could keep climbing adding on another 15-20 million. Frozen is proof that classic Disney animation has strong legging, and Holiday is proof in the power of good black cinema.
I will also add that I was correct about last months must-see movie, look for Nebraska at a theatre near you within the next few weeks it was a great film. What does December have in store?
December 6th
A few years back Crazy Heart was a sleeper hit with Jeff Bridges (although I hated it). Out of the Furnace looks more like last years Rampart, and ironically both star Woody Harrelson. Bale and Harrelson are said to be strong. Furnace has lots of potential.
The Coen Brothers have a magical power with their films, a unique nature, which captivates audiences and their fans time and time again. Inside Llewyn Davis is said to be another great film from the duo, with a great cast, music T-Bone Burnett, how can you go wrong?
Must See of the Month: Inside Llewyn Davis
December 13th
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was one of the most disappointing films from last year, Peter Jackson and his team seemed to lost their magic. I believe splitting this film into three films was the real mistake, but anything to make money. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug could redeem the first, but I fear will also just be mediocre.
What can I say, another film with Tyler Perry, and Madea, this one entitled, Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas. I honestly do not have any words, this film looks terrible.
Must Skip of the Week and Month: Tyler perry's A Madea Christmas
December 20th
Anchorman became a thing of legends, Will Ferrell may not be the most liked out there, but the first film has been quoted more than any in recent history. Will a sequel ruin the greatness of the first? It could. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues has potential, but be wary.
I will be getting to see American Hustle at a screening this week, and will be able to speak to the film further. David O. Russell has had his two most recent films (The Fighter, and Silver Linings Playbook) get Best Picture nominations. Will this film succeed? Looks good.
Mary Poppins is my favorite Disney film of all time. Will Saving Mr. Banks do the behind the scenes magic justice? With another great ensemble and the director which added the heart to The Blind Side on board with Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson this will be a magical experience.
The film I am most excited for (personally) is the Spike Jonez film Her starring Joaquin Phoenix as a man who fall in love with an operating system while trying to get over an ex-girlfriend. This may leave you a little cold, but watch the trailer below.
Must See of the Week: Her
December 27th
Ben Stiller has never been one of my favorite actors, but his work behind the scenes is always pretty solid.The Secret Life of Walter Mittylooks to be his most large scale endeavor, but this looks to be too grand of an attempt, that may may not be worth the adventure.
Martin Scorsese is a genius, and The Wolf of Wall Street could be one proof this man know how to make great cinema with its blended dark humor, and intense realism of the modern day economic greed. This weekends screening proves the film has ambition, and will most likely be that film people flock to the way they went to see Django last year.
Turning a play into a film can be tricky, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, Gods of Carnage, The History Boys, the list could go on and on. I imagine August: Osage County will have fans of the play a little less pleased, but audiences will eat this film up. My thought before its release is that I have hope for it to be good, but am keeping my expectations low.
47 Ronin is bringing Keanu Reeves back to the big screen, but with an inflated production budget, and move able release date this film is already trouble in the making.
I think Grudge Match may get old school fans of Stallone and DeNiro to show, but I will forewarn you this movie is going to be terrible.
Back in 2011 Margot Robbie was a show stopper on the little seen, but well liked ABC series Pan Am. For those who have seen the show, she obviously made an impact then, but its he performance in The Wolf of Wall Street, which will be released in all theatres on Christmas Day that will make this woman a star.
