Moofies for 2010

Welcome (belatedly) to Club Moofie, 2010! 

Part of our festivities at the January  Moscar Awards included selecting films for viewing in 2010. There were some excellent nominations, making it quite difficult to whittle them down to 9 (+ 3 new releases to be determined throughout the year). Voting went smoothly, however, now that we are old hands at nominating and selecting. Everyone had at least one of their nominations picked, so let’s see what we came up with: 

MARCH 6th :

A Clockwork Orange (1971)
A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 dark satirical science fiction film adaptation of Anthony Burgess’s 1962 novel of the same name. At the Stanley Kubrick Archive amongst the call sheets for the film a single page with the following explanation of the film can be found. This would have been written by Kubrick himself before shooting commenced: ‘It is a story of the dubious redemption of a teenage delinquent by condition-reflex therapy. It is at the same time a running lecture on 
free-will, which strongly suggests that the book’s intention is Christian. Deprived of his capacity for moral choice by science, the central figure of the story,…read more at  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_(film) 

Up in the Air

Up in the Air is a 2009 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. It is a film adaptation of the 2001 novel of the same name, written by Walter Kirn. The story is about a corporate downsizer and his travels. The film follows his isolated life and philosophies along with the people that he meets along the way. 

MAY 1st (new date!):

Fargo (1996)

“Fargo” is a 1996 American dark comedy crime film produced, directed and
written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Frances McDormand as a
pregnant sheriff who investigates a series of homicides, William Macy as
a car salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife, Steve Buscemi
and Peter Stormare as the criminals, and Harve Presnell as the
salesman’s father-in-law.The film earned seven Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Original Screenplay for the Coens and Best Actress in a Leading Role for McDormand.[1] It also won the British BAFTA Award and the Award for Best Director for Joel Coen at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

Let the Right One In (2008), or ” Lat den Rate Komma In” 

Genre: Swedish | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Romance | Thriller

Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can’t stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people’s blood to live he’s faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Let The Right One In is a story both violent and highly romantic, set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.

JUNE 26th :

Eraserhead (1977)

David Lynch’s first film (1977).
Eraserhead polarized and baffled many critics and movie-goers, but has become a cult classic. In 2004, the film was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Lynch has called it a “dream of dark and troubling things” and his “most spiritual movie.”

+ a current release (to be decided)

AUGUST 28th: 

American Beauty (1999)

Synopsis at http://au.rottentomatoes.com/m/american_beauty/ 
The beauty in American culture is in its dysfunctionality. That’s the message in American Beauty. The movie is about Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), who sees no point to his existence: he is in a cold and frigid relationship with his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening); he barely talks to his daughter Jane (Thora Birch); and he has just been put on the firing line at his job. After meeting his new neighbour Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley) and smoking some pot (and not to mention becoming infatuated with Jane’s high school classmate Angela (Mena Suvari)), Lester undergoes a remarkable transformation and decides to stop being a conformist. He quits his job, much to the chagrin of his wife, and begins to work at a Burger King. (So much for rebelling against the establishment.)

 The New World (2005)

The New World is a 2005 drama-romance film directed by Terrence Malick. It is a historical adventure depicting the founding of the Jamestown, Virginia settlement and inspired by the historical figures Captain John Smith and Pocahontas. The New World was the fourth feature film written and directed by Malick. The cast includes Colin Farrell, Q’Orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer, Christian Bale, August Schellenberg,Wes Studi, David Thewlis and Yorick van Wageningen.

OCTOBER  30th :

 Mulholland Drive 2001 (yes, a second David Lynch film!)

“Mulholland Drive” is a 2001 neo-noir psychological thriller written and  directed by David Lynch, and starring Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Harring  and Justin Theroux. The film tells the story of an aspiring actress named Betty Elms, newly arrived in Los Angeles, California, who meets and befriends an amnesiac hiding in her aunt’s apartment. The story includes several other  seemingly unrelated vignettes that eventually connect in various ways,  as well as some surreal scenes and images that relate to the cryptic  narrative. The New York Times wrote that while some might consider the  plot an “offense against narrative order … the film is an intoxicating  liberation from sense, with moments of feeling all the more powerful for seeming to emerge from the murky night world of the unconscious.”

+ a current release (to be decided)

 

JANUARY 8th  2011 (date o be confirmed):

Blade Runner  (1982)

Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is based loosely on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.

The film depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in November 2019 in which genetically engineered beings called replicants—visually indistinguishable from adult humans—are manufactured by the all-powerful Tyrell Corporation. As a result of a violent replicant uprising, their use on Earth is banned, and replicants are exclusively used for dangerous or menial work on Earth’s “off-world colonies”. Any replicants who defy the ban and return to Earth are hunted down and “retired” by police assassins known as “blade runners”. The plot focuses on a brutal and cunning group of recently escaped replicants hiding in Los Angeles and the semi-retired blade runner, Rick Deckard, who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083658/

Spirited Away (2001) 

Japanese animation by Hayao Miyazaki
In the middle of her family’s move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures.

This date will also include our  Moscar Awards, 2011 and nominations for 2011 films.

A great selection – challenging and diverse! Well done, Club Moofiers!

See you all soon, 

SB

The Moscars – Special Awards

Dear All,

The Moscar – fest is still continuing, with Special Awards to be listed  and Moofies for 2010 soon to come.

Our Special Awards for the day were as follows:

1. BEST NEW CLUB MOOFIE MEMBER: Paul

Welcome Paul! This award  was accepted by Paul on behalf of Paul.

2. MOST MEMORABLE CAMEO APPEARANCE AT A CLUB MOOFIE MEETING: Christine G.

Other nominees included: Jonathon J. and Florence J.

This award will be accepted on behalf of the family by Rebecca.

3. MOST POLITICALLY AWARE CLUB MOOFIE MEMBER: Barbara

For her inside info on the machinations surrounding “Stolen” at 2009’s Film Festival.

4. BEST NEW CLUB MOOFIE SNACK:   “Grain Waves”

This award was accepted by Andrew. Other Nominees included: Cashew Nut and Pumpkin Dip, Jelly Snakes, Lavosh Crackers and Lindt Intense (Various Flavours).

5. The 2009 Club Moofie “IS IT MY TURN AGAIN?” aka “THESE STOOLS ARE TABLES” AWARD FOR MOST ACCOMMODATING HOST went to Wendy.

Awarded for hosting Club Moofie above and beyond the call of duty. THANK YOU!

6. The 2009 Club Moofie “WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN” AWARD FOR MOST SIGNIFICANT LIFE EVENTS IN ONE YEAR  went to – and  it was a tie : Sylvia and Andrew  (Syndy).

Awarded for an engagement (carried over from 2008), wedding and honeymoon. PHEW!

7. BEST CLUB MOOFIE QUOTE –  Rebecca

For her thoughts on “Duck Soup”:

“Why don’t you slam your penis in a drawer, it would be about as much fun as watching “Duck Soup”.

Other nominees included:

Rebecca for:

“I loved her in “Amelie”! ”  – on Juliette Binoche”

“Amelie – is that the one with Juliette Binoche?”

“Is that the one with Jodie Foster?” – on checking that the film for review was “In the Cut”, prior to viewing

Paul “For all the controversy over the full-frontal shot, I wish it had been better lit. ” – on Meg Ryan in “In the Cut”

“It wasn’t something you see often in film, so I was happy about that” – on seeing depictions of incest in “Old Boy”

Clint: “I have a pet hate about the portrayal of engineers” – on “Star Trek”

Wendy: “It’s a pretty f***ed up movie!”  – on “Old Boy”

8. BEST LOCATION FOR A CLUB MOOFIE MEETING  went to: Clint

For September’s Spectacular Club Moofie Afloat Effort. THANK YOU!

So that wraps our Club Moofie Moscar coverage for 2009, and once again happy viewing for 2010!

SB

The Moscars – continued!

Hi All, 

Ah, what a great discussion we had last night about our two chosen films to kick off 2010, accompanied by many tasty treats and snacks, and beautifully hosted by Beck (and John and Flossie too). 

Andy will be covering last night’s events shortly. 

In the meantime, results for our second Annual Moscar Awards are as below. 

There were a few surprises, and a few obvious winners – some categories where difficult (not many actresses featured in our  moofie selection last year) and some easy. We also had a bit of a revamp in the categories themselves (let me know what you think of the new format). 

The 2009 2nd Annual Moscar Award Results:

The BEST ACTOR Award went to: Sam Rockwell for “Moon”

Other nominees included: Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon” with a nod to him in “Good Night and Good Luck”, David Strathairn for “ Goodnight and Good Luck”, Joseph Cotton for “Citizen Kane”, and Min-sk Choi for“Old Boy”.

 The  BEST ACTRESS  Award went to: Irene Jacob for “Three Colours: Red”

Other nominees included: Patricia Clarkson for “ Goodnight and Good Luck, Rebecca Pidgeon for “ State and Main”, Meg Ryan for “ In the Cut”, Zoe Saldana for “ Star Trek”, Sarah Jessica Parker for “ State and Main”, and Judith Vittet for “ City of Lost Children”.

 The WORST ACTOR/ACTRESS  Award went to 2 winners:

 On individual merit: Meg Ryan for “ In the Cut”

 And for a range of votes for the collective, as well as individual votes for Zeppo and Groucho ,  the clear winners  are :

The Marx Brothers  for “Duck Soup”

Other nominees included: Willian Hurt for “ Kiss of the Spider Woman”, Milton Concalves for “ Kiss of the Spider Woman” (the policeman), Nick Damici for “In the Cut” (serial killer), and Jennifer Jason Leigh (In the Cut).

The BEST SCRIPT/DIALOGUE  Award went to: George Clooney and Grant Heslov for “Good Night and Good Luck”.

Other nominees included: David Mamet for “State and Main”, Peter Morgan for “Frost/Nixon”;Orson Welles, John Houseman and Herman J. Mankiewicz for “Citizen Kane”;Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Gene Rodenberry for “Star Trek”; and The Marx Brothers for “Duck Soup”.

The BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Award went to: Eric Caro, Phillipe Le Sourd, Darius Khondji for “City of Lost Childern”

Other nominees included: Gregg Toland for “Citizen Kane”, Daniel Mindel for “Star Trek”, Piotr Sobcinski for “Three Colours: Red”, Robert Elswitt for “Goodnight and Goodluck”, and Dion Beebe for “In the Cut”.

The ISOLATION TANK AWARD FOR THE ACTOR/ACTRESS YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO BE STUCK ON THE MOON WITH INDEFINATELY went to:

 Sam Rockwell for “Moon”

Other nominees included: George Clooney for “ Good Night and Good Luck”, Winona Ryder for “ Star Trek”, Patricia Clarkson for “ Good Night and Good Luck”,  and Lieutenant Uhuru/Zoe Saldana for “Star Trek”.

 

The WILLIAM HURT AWARD FOR THE ACTOR/ACTRESS YOU WOULD LEAST LIKE TO SHARE A CELL WITH IN AN INDETERMINATE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY went to:

And it was a tie with accumulated points again: William Hurt for “ Kiss of the Spiderwoman and The Marx Brothers – 1 vote for the group, one vote for Groucho.

Other nominees included: Dr Krank for “City of Lost Children”, Joseph McCartney (playing himself) for “Good Night and Good Luck”, and Margaret Dumont for “Duck Soup”.

The award for WORST FILM went to: “ Duck Soup”

Other nominees included: “In the Cut”, “Kiss of the Spider Woman”,  “Old Boy”, and “City of Lost Children”.

And lastly:

The 2009 Club Moofie Award for BEST FILM went to – and it was a tie: “Moon” and “Star Trek”.

Other nominees included: “Good Night and Good Luck”, “Three Colours: Red”, “Frost/Nixon”, “Citizen Kane” and “City of Lost Children.

A big year for science fiction here at Club Moofie! This year, the highest scoring films reflected the voting, with “Star Trek” coming in first with 4.1 out of 5, and “Moon” coming in 2^nd with 4.  Interestingly, “Citizen Kane” came in 3^rd with 3.9 out of 5, yet did not do so well in the voting.  The lowest scoring film was “ In the Cut” , where as “Duck Soup” picked up the Worst Film gong.

Here are the averaged scores for the films seen in 2009, for your reference:

“Star Trek” – 4.1                                               

“Moon” – 4

 “Good Luck and Good Night” – 3.9                       

“Citizen Kane” – 3.9

“ Three Colours: Red” – 3.9

“Frost/Nixon” – 3.3                                               

“State and Main” – 3

 “Old Boy’ – 2.6

“ City of Lost Children”  –   2.6      

“ Kiss of the Spider Woman” – 2.4

“Duck Soup” – 2.2                                               

“In the Cut”  – 1.5

We also had a few special awards this year, which I will feature in a new post as this is getting quite long!

Thanks again to all participants! 

Cheerio for now,

SB

Club Moofie 2nd Annual Moscar Awards

Dear All, 

Well, well, I am indeed sorry for the delay in writing up our last meeting…writing this on the eve of our next meeting – in fact in about an hour’s time – is cutting it close, isn’t it! Although I do feel somewhat appeased by the fact our Moscar news will keep company with the very imminent (if not always eminent) Oscars, due to commence Sunday evening in the US, and Monday for us folk here in Oz. 

Without further ado (there’s been enough of that already), a big thank you once again to Barbara for hosting our awards day – such a lovely and welcoming location, made merrier by excellent company, and a post-Moscar stroll along the beach, followed by a late supper back at Barbara’s weekender. Special mention must be made to the new dessert invented for the evening : backlava, wok-warmed, served with vanilla ice-cream and doused in Bailey’s Irish Cream. 

My memory fails me at this point as I do believe we named it something witty, but unless someone can tell me what that was, I hereby suggest we dub it “The Moscar”. May it  – with time – find itself ranked up there with “Peach Melba” and “Pavlova”. 

SO: 

Interesting results once again for Club Moofie, as well as the Moscars, and also our selections for the coming year – it was a jam packed day!

Firstly, a brief overview of Moofies reviewed for our last session. 

“City of Lost Children”

Some positive responses here for design and execution, a nod to the craziness of the events too, but some less enthusiastic responses from those who did see  it  – several abstains from voting due to not finishing the film, probably did not give an accurate score for this moofie.  A few who had seen the film in earlier years found i wanting on re-watching – sometimes the way when revisiting old favourites. Maybe the digital age has spoiled this era of filmaking a little?  What do you all think? 

Scores: 

Wendy  – 4

Andy – 2

Clint – 3

Barbara – 2.5

Sylvia –  1.5

Paul and Beck did not see this film. 

“Three Colours: Red” 

This was received rather more enthusiastically – many of us had seen it previously, as well as the others in the trilogy (Blue and White). Well- acted (very French), beautifully filmed, and with an interesting plot and dialogue, this also scored well in the Moscar voting. 

One comment from Wendy, agreed to by most of the group, regarded the storyline and how little hints of the denouement and trajectory of the tale were left for you to consider along the way – subtle, but definitely present. This technique, in the hands of another director could easily have been misconstrued as contrived, but in the hands of this director, it worked beautifully. 

Scores:

Wendy  – 5

Andy – 2

Clint – 4.5

Barbara – 4

Sylvia –  4

Paul – 4

Beck did not get to see this film. 

Quote for this part of the day: 

“I started the other one, but I was a bit deterred…” – Barabara on “City of Lost Children”. 

“I don’t think I will see it. I don’t want to be frustrated. ” – Paul on “City of Lost Children”. 

“If it had been an Hollywood movie, I would have expected  her to survive, but because it was an independent film, it was a nice surprise” – on the survival of the main character in “Three Colours: Red”. 

Ok sadly, I am now running rather late, so the Moscar info and films for this year will be posted tomorrow – I promised! 

See you all soon – in about 45 min!!!

SB