DiCaprio, De Niro tackling JFK assassination

There’s a JFK assassination movie coming. And the best news is Oliver Stone isn’t directing it. Leonardo DiCaprio (“The Great Gatsby”) and Robert De Niro are set to star in “Legacy of Secrets” based on the book of the same name. The book follows the saga of FBI informant Jack Van Laningham. DeNiro would play Mafia kingpin Carlos Marcello, who confided to Van Langingham that he ordered the hit on Kennedy.

David O. Russell (“Silver Linings Playbook”) is writing and will direct the film.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Oscars 2013: Winners and final thoughts

It’s officially over. The Oscars have been given out, the awards season is done and…the results were there was something for a lot of films. “Argo” ended its run with a Best Picture win, Jennifer Lawrence beat Jessica Chastain, Ang Lee surprised in Best Director. Lee’s win totally shocked me. I didn’t give him any real shot of winning. My biggest disappointment was Christoph Waltz winning Best Supporting Actor. Look, I enjoyed his performance, but out of that whole group, I actually thought he was least deserving. I also would have liked to see “Moonrsise Kingdom” get Best Original Screenplay. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a BIG Tarantino fan, but “Django” just wasn’t my favorite film, I enjoyed “Inglourious Basterds” a heck of a lot more and “Moonrise Kingdom” deserved to win something. What did you think of the Oscars? Share your thoughts!

Best Picture
Amour
Argo–WINNER
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln–WINNER
Hugh Jackman, Les Miserables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

Best Actress

Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook–WINNER
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Best Director
Michael Haneke, Amour
Ang Lee, Life of Pi–WINNER
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Original Screenplay
Amour, Michael Hankie
Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino–WINNER
Flight, John Gatins
Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola
Zero Dark Thirty, Mark Boal

Best Adapted Screenplay
Argo, Chris Terrio–WINNER
Beasts of the Southern Wild, Lucy Alibar and Benh Zeitlin, 
Life of Pi, David Magee
Lincoln, Tony Kushner
Silver Linings Playbook, David O. Russell

Best Original Song
“Before My Time” from Chasing Ice, music and lyric by J. Ralph
“Everybody Needs A Best Friend” from Ted, music by Walter Murphy; lyric by Seth MacFarlane
“Pi’s Lullaby” from Life of Pi, music by Mychael Danna; lyric by Bombay Jayashri
“Skyfall” from Skyfall, music and lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth–WINNER
“Suddenly” from Les Misérables, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; lyric by Herbert Kretzmer and Alain Boublil

Best Original Score
Anna Karenina, Dario Marianelli
Argo, Alexandre Desplat
Life of Pi, Mychael Danna–WINNER
Lincoln, John Williams
Skyfall, Thomas Newman

Best Production Design
Anna Karenina, Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, production Design: Dan Hennah; Set Decoration: Ra Vincent and Simon Bright
Les Misérables, Production Design: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Anna Lynch-Robinson
Life of Pi, Production Design: David Gropman; Set Decoration: Anna Pinnock
Lincoln, Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Jim Erickson–WINNER

Best Film Editing
Argo, William Goldenberg–WINNER
Life of Pi, Tim Squyres
Lincoln, Michael Kahn
Silver Linings Playbook, Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers
Zero Dark Thirty, Dylan Tichenor and William Goldenberg

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables–WINNER
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook

Best Sound Editing
Argo, Erik Aadahl and Ethan Van der Ryn
Django Unchained, Wylie Stateman
Life of Pi, Eugene Gearty and Philip Stockton
Skyfall, Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers–WINNER
Zero Dark Thirty, Paul N.J. Ottosson–WINNER

Best Sound Mixing
Argo, John Reitz, Gregg Rudloff and Jose Antonio Garcia
Les Misérables, Andy Nelson, Mark Paterson and Simon Hayes–WINNER
Life of Pi, Ron Bartlett, D.M. Hemphill and Drew Kunin
Lincoln, Andy Nelson, Gary Rydstrom and Ronald Judkins
Skyfall, Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson

Best Foreign Language Film
Amour, Austria–WINNER
Kon-Tiki, Norway
No, Chile
A Royal Affair, Denmark
War Witch, Canada

Best Documentary Feature
5 Broken Cameras
The Gatekeepers
How to Survive a Plague
The Invisible War
Searching for Sugar Man–WINNER

Best Documentary Short
Kings Point
Mondays at Racine
Open Heart
Redemption
Inocente–WINNER

Best Live Action Short
Asad
Buzkashi Boys
Curfew–WINNER
Death of a Shadow 
Henry

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin, Argo
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained––WINNER

Best Animated Short
Adam and Dog
Fresh Guacamole
Head over Heels
Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare”
Paperman–WINNER

Best Animated Feature
Brave–WINNER
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Wreck-It Ralph

Best Cinematography
Anna Karenina, Seamus McGarvey
Django Unchained, Robert Richardson
Life of Pi, Claudio Miranda–WINNER
Lincoln, Janusz Kaminski
Skyfall, Roger Deakins

Best Visual Effects
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and R. Christopher White
Life of Pi, Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott–WINNER
The Avengers, Janek Sirrs, Jeff White, Guy Williams and Dan Sudick
Prometheus, Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill
Snow White and the Huntsman, Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Philip Brennan, Neil Corbould and Michael Dawson

Best Costume Design
Anna Karenina, Jacqueline Durran–WINNER
Les Misérables, Paco Delgado
Lincoln, Joanna Johnston
Mirror Mirror, Eiko Ishioka
Snow White and the Huntsman, Colleen Atwood

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Hitchcock, Howard Berger, Peter Montagna and Martin Samuel
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane
Les Misérables, Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell–WINNER

Oscars 2013: Best Picture

Here’s the big one. The nine nominees are: “Lincoln”, “Amour”, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, “Argo”, “Zero Dark Thirty”, “Django Unchained”, “Silver Linings Playbook”, “Les Miserables” and “Life of Pi”.

This is another wide open category. To me, this comes down to “Argo” and “Lincoln”. I’m giving it to “Argo”. I think the Academy will do this partly because the film has won pretty much every big award and they might be regretting snubbing Ben Affleck. Then again, maybe this is a big day for Steven Spielberg and company and they want to honor one of the nation’s greatest Presidents. But don’t be surprised if “Amour”, “Silver Linings Playbook” or “Les Miserables” wins the award too. that will depend on if any of the films gains momentum in the other categories. For example, if SLP wins Best Supporting Actor or Actress (Robert De Niro or Jacki Weaver), Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence) and Best Director (David O. Russell), this should be a shoo in to win. That being said if Les Miserables wins Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway) and an upset is pulled in Best Actor (Hugh Jackman) perhaps this will be a big night for that film. And don’t forget “Amour”. If Emmanuelle Riva upsets Lawrence in Best Actress, this could be a big night for that film as well.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Oscars 2013: Best Director

This could be another wide open category. Who will take home the trophy?

This year’s nominees are: Steven Spielberg for “Lincoln”, Michael Haneke for “Amour”, Benh Zeitlin for “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, David O. Russell for “Silver Linings Playbook” and Ang Lee for “Life of Pi”. With “Argo” getting so much momentum, this could be the year in decades that a Best Picture winner also doesn’t win Best Director since Ben Affleck did not get nominated.

Of these nominees, only Seitlin I think doesn’t stand any real shot of winning. The other four you could make a very strong case for. “Amour” is just beloved by so many people, this could be a case of the Oscars looking to give it some recognition, though that will probably come with a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. Lee’s “Life of Pi” was extremely successful at the box office, wowed critics and is probably the most unique film of the five in this category. But “Silver Linings Playbook”, again I go back to if that film gains momentum, look out, because it could be a big night for that film. I think we’ll know early on if Russell has any shot. If any of the other actors from the film besides Jennifer Lawrence wins, I’d say he’s one of the two who can win. But my pick is Spielberg. With “Argo” getting so much attention, it’s easy to forget “Lincoln” used to be the big favorite to win Best Picture. This seems like this could be a consolation prize given to the film.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Oscars 2013 : Best Actor

This one also appears to be a lock. But can anyone steal the Oscar from the favorite?

The nominees this year for Best Actor are: Daniel Day-Lewis for “Lincoln”, Hugh Jackman for “Les Miserables”, Joaquin Phoenix for “The Master”, Denzel Washington for “Flight” and Bradley Cooper for “Silver Linings Playbook”.

Like when he starred in “There Will Be Blood”, this seems to be Lewis’ award. Phoenix is a definite no and I’m shocked he even got nominated because of his little anti-Oscar rant. Washington was great in “Flight”, but just not too much sward season buzz for that film. Cooper is the dark horse candidate. But most of the awards attention for “Silver Linings Playbook” seems to be going to Jennifer Lawrence. That being said, if Jacki Weaver and/or Robert De Niro pull an upset in the Supporting Actress or Actor category, it could be an early sign that momentum is in this film’s favor. If that’s the case, don’t be shocked if Cooper takes home the Oscar. But it would seem that only Jackman has any real shot to take the award from Lewis. To be honest, it would seem if Lewis wasn’t in this category, this would be Jackman’s to win, so perhaps voters will throw him a bone since Lewis already is a decorated and respected actor? That’s probably his best chance at winning. But I’ll go with the safe pick Lewis.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Oscars 2013: Best Actress

This could be the most difficult category to call at the Oscars this year. The Best Actress nominees are Jessica Chastain for “Zero Dark Thirty”, Jennifer Lawrence for “Silver Linings Playbook”, Emmanuelle Riva for “Amour”, Quvenzahane Wallis for “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and Naomi Watts for “The Impossible”.

This is really a three woman race between Riva, Lawrence and Chastain. Wallis would be a feel good story, but children actors and actresses rarely get the win and Watts has just been overshadowed. Of the three who stand a real shot, Chastain is the least likely to win. Her chances have taken a big hit over the past month because of controversy, then a lack of buzz and increased attendance and buzz for Lawrence. “Zero Dark Thirty” is a great film, but it’s looking like that film as a whole will be on the outside looking in. Lawrence has seen her stock rise greatly. After “The Hunger Games” and “Silver Linings Playbook”, Lawrence took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress. And with SLP finding an increased audience, she has a lot of the momentum. Riva may spoil her run to the Oscar, however. Riva’s performance is fantastic. I mean fantastic. I was surprised by Lawrence’s great performance, shocked by how good Chastain was. Now after having time to think about it, if I was going to give it to who deserves it the most based on performance only, Riva would be my choice. Also, she’s turning 86 on Oscar night! How would that be for a birthday gift? Still, I get the sneaking suspicion that Lawrence will take home the trophy. Lawrence will win, though I wouldn’t be shocked, and probably happy, if Riva takes it home.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Oscars 2013: Best Supporting Actress

The favorite is clear. Does anyone stand a chance of knocking her off?

The nominees for Best Supporting Actress are: Amy Adams for “The Master”, Anne Hathaway for “Les Miesrables”, Sally Field for “Lincoln”, Helen Hunt for “The Sessions” and Jacki Weaver for “Silver Linings Playbook”.

Hathaway won the Golden Globe and honestly, I can’t see a situation where she doesn’t win. But if she is going to get upset in this category it’ll be by Field or Weaver. Weaver’s best hope is that “Silver Linings Playbook” gets a lot of momentum as in Jennifer Lawrence wins Best Actress and if Weaver wins this category, that film moves up my list to win Best Picture. That seems unlikely, however. Field would be my choice as the actress to win if for some reason Hathaway doesn’t. The Oscars love historical films and this is  right up there.

The two actresses with absolutely no chance are Adams and Hunt. For all the hype surrounding “The Sessions”, that film just didn’t generate the buzz after its release that it needed to be an Oscar contender. And Adams, like with Hoffman, will fall victim to backlash with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master”. Clearly, this is Hathaway’s to lose and she seems to be the biggest lock of the acting categories.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Oscars 2013: Best Supporting Actor

Ok now we’re in crunch time for the Oscars. Today, I’m looking at the Best Supporting Actor race. Out of any category, this one appears to be the most wide open. The nominees are: Tommy Lee Jones for “Lincoln”, Robert De Niro for “Silver Linings Playbook”, Alan Arkin for “Argo”, Philip Seymour Hoffman for “The Master” and Christoph Waltz for “Django Unchained”. Every single one of these nominees have won an Oscar before, so there’s no chance of someone getting a “we owe you” Oscar this year. It’s safe to put Hoffman on the not going to win list. “The Master” just lacked the buzz this year after it’s release. Waltz won the Golden Globe, though personally, I hope he doesn’t win. I still think Leonardo DiCaprio was the more deserving actor from that film to be in this category. But he has to be considered one of the front runners. My dark horse is Arkin. The big question is with “Argo” gaining all this momentum because of Ben Affleck getting snubbed, will that carry into other categories, or just Best Picture? Arkin, of course, could sneak past the other nominees if the Academy gives in to the film’s momentum.

De Niro gives an absolutely great performance in “Silver Linings Playbook”. I just get the feeling that film is going to get largely overlooked, aside from perhaps Jennifer Lawrence. My pick is Jones in “Lincoln”. Let me put it to you this way: Daniel Day-Lewis is considered a lock for Best Actor. And for me Jones was much more memorable. End of story.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

J.J. Abrams talks “Star Wars”, Lance Armstrong

Director J.J. Abrams has one big sci-fi epic coming out this year in “Star Trek: Into Darkness”. That film stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban and more. Now, he’s directing “Star Wars Episode VII” and had this to say about his goal for the film (talking to the Huffington Post):

“I can just say what I want to do: I want to do the fans proud. I want to make sure the story is something that touches people. And we’re just getting started. I’m very excited.”

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Abrams said that he and Bradley Cooper had been talking about Cooper playing Lance Armstrong in an upcoming biopic. The film will be based on the upcoming book “Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong”.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters leads weak weekend

“Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters” led a slow weekend at the box office. The film, which stars Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton earned $19 million, which was a little below expectations. “Mama” took second place with $12.8 million while “Silver Linings Playbook” starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper earned $10 million in third. “Zero Dark Thirty” took fourth place. Obviously that means “Parker”, starring Jason Statham and “Movie 43”, which starred Kate Winslet, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kristen Bell, Emma Stones, Christopher MIntz-Plasse, Dennis Quaid, Anna Faris , Gerard Butler and more tanked. The former earned $7 million while the latter earned just more than $5 million. I’d say that this was all of their “Norbit”, but remember “Norbit” was financially successful.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.