Casey Affleck

HollywoodChicago.com Analyzes 10 Oscar Contenders For Best Supporting Actor, Actress

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:37:32 -0700

CHICAGO – HollywoodChicago.com film critic Adam Fendelman has analyzed the 10 nominated contenders for best supporting actor and best supporting actress (five in each category) and reveals his selections for the top prize. Hosted by Jon Stewart, the 80th Academy Awards ceremony will be presented on Feb. 24, 2008.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees

Casey Affleck, “The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford”
Adam Fendelman says: Everyone remembers who assassinated Jesse James, but no one recalls who mowed down Robert Ford shortly thereafter. While Casey’s delivery of the spineless character might indeed embody Ford with authenticity, he ultimately shoots himself in his own back with a laissez-faire performance.

Ben Affleck (left) and brother Casey Affleck on Oct. 10, 2007 at the
Chicago International Film Festival premiere of “Gone Baby Gone”.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

Javier Bardem, “No Country For Old Men”
Adam Fendelman says: No words necessary. The Oscar goes to Javier. (Disclosure: More words in this space only waste your time. We instead decided for no-nonsense brevity and award the haunting and brilliantly chilling villain with no contest. If the academy deviates from this path, something’s seriously gone awry.)

Javier Bardem in “No Country For Old Men”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Charlie Wilson’s War”
Adam Fendelman says: We empathize for him here. After devouring the best-actor cake for “Capote,” the reality is he’s always brilliant and doggedly steals the show whether or not he’s in a lead or supporting function. The only reason he falls short in this category for this year is because he’s ousted by Javier Bardem.

Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Charlie Wilson’s War”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Hal Holbrook, “Into the Wild”
Adam Fendelman says: As if he’s not actually acting, you absolutely feel his pain when denied a beautifully benevolent offer to father the family fearing Emile Hirsch. We wish two Oscars could be dished out here, and if the academy does side with him, it’ll be not only because of this performance but also his body of work.

Hal Holbrook on Jan. 26, 2008.
Photo credit: WireImage.com

Tom Wilkinson, “Michael Clayton”
Adam Fendelman says: We take back the reverie for two Oscars in this category. There should actually be three equally shared between Javier, Hal and Tom. Wilkinson’s spot-on performance as an insanely intelligent but nonetheless insane maniac is one of the year’s most memorable and clearly defined supporting men.

Tom Wilkinson in “Michael Clayton”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Best Supporting Actress Nominees

Cate Blanchett, “I’m Not There”
Adam Fendelman says: We know the rules. Of course an actress can score the winning nod both for best actress and best supporting actress. Because we so resiliently have Cate winning the best-actress statue for “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” our chips are all in on the academy being distracted for awarding her doubly.

Cate Blanchett on Jan. 26, 2008.
Photo credit: WireImage.com

Ruby Dee, “American Gangster”
Adam Fendelman says: We have no shame confessing that we looked her up to see who the heck she was. Yes, she played Denzel Washington’s tough-loving mama, and we do grant props for her crack at slapping straight his gansta’ ways. You can’t take the chow outta the dog, of course, and this film’s entirely overshadowed by him.

Ruby Dee in “American Gangster”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Saoirse Ronan, “Atonement”
Adam Fendelman says: With two award wins and eight nominations, being recently born in 1994 is only a testament to Saorse’s burgeoning talent. She has a piercing way about her, and while her Oscar run will only go as far as a supporting-actress nomination, keep a vigilant eye on this one to take the big trophy in the future.

Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Amy Ryan, “Gone Baby Gone”
Adam Fendelman says: Oh. My. God. We can only assume Wikipedia’s not in a joking mood in its entry for Amy Ryan, which is a third justifiably comprised of lines actualizing the fact that she is nominated for this award by eight societies and actually won – we repeat loudly: WON – from 19. We can’t argue here with the masses.

Amy Ryan on Feb. 3, 2008.
Photo credit: IMDb

Tilda Swinton, “Michael Clayton”
Adam Fendelman says: While she has cutthroat competition in this year’s category from Amy Ryan, her delightfully shady character and bona fide ways as a high-powered, high-paid corporate snake earn Tilda Swinton a well-deserved first Oscar nomination. She’s just one penny short, though, for the big ticket.

Tilda Swinton in “Michael Clayton”.
Photo credit: IMDb

Discuss this on our discussion boards here!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Film Festival to Unroll Red Carpet For John Cusack in ‘Grace is Gone’ on Friday

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:52:43 -0600

CHICAGO – If you missed Wednesday night’s red-carpet affair with Ben and Casey Affleck for “Gone Baby Gone,” you can still hit up the Music Box Theatre at 3733 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago on Friday night for John Cusack’s turn in the limelight.

John Cusack in “Grace is Gone”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
Just like Wednesday, press will arrive at 5 p.m. on Friday and Cusack’s red carpet is scheduled for 6 p.m. That means it’ll be more like 30 to 45 minutes from then. The event is part of the Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF).

This time, Cusack’s motivated to show not just for press and fans but because he’ll be receiving a Gold Hugo award for career achievement. “Grace is Gone” will be shown after the red carpet around 7 p.m.

Joining Cusack will be young Chicago first-time actresses Shelan O’Keefe and Gracie Bednarczyk. They play his two daughters in the film about losing his wife in war and what it’s like on his family in the U.S.
If you miss the night’s festivities, I’ll again be on the carpet to bring you full coverage. Also, stay tuned for Sunday night’s appearance by Anthony Hopkins. He’s the writer, director and star in “Slipstream”.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Anthony Hopkins to Appear on Chicago Red Carpet For ‘Slipstream’ on Oct. 14

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:41:27 -0600

CHICAGO – Following Wednesday’s appearance of Ben and Casey Affleck and Friday’s John Cusack show, Sunday again at the Music Box Theatre will feature the legendary, 70-year-old Anthony Hopkins for “Slipstream”.

From left to right, Stella Arroyave, Anthony Hopkins,
Lisa Pepper and Camryn Manheim in “Slipstream”.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
He’s the star, writer and director of “Slipstream,” which is a classic “mess with your head” film. I’ll be on the carpet beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday to bring you full coverage. Hopkins is scheduled to appear after 6 p.m.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Chicago Rolls Out ‘Gone Baby Gone’ Red Carpet For Ben, Casey Affleck

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:38:08 -0600

CHICAGO – On a frigid Chicago night, the Chicago International Film Festival on Wednesday rolled out the red carpet for Ben Affleck and brother Casey Affleck to pump Ben’s directorial debut film “Gone Baby Gone”.

Press began arriving at 5 p.m. to set up cameras. Casey arrived first at about 6:40 p.m. sporting eccentricity with his stylish brown hat. Ben arrived at about 6:50 p.m. to a barricaded crowd of enthusiasts.

Both gravitated like magnets to WGN-TV entertainment reporter and film critic Dean Richards and then entertainment reporter and film critic Bill Zwecker of the Chicago Sun-Times and CBS 2 Chicago.

A devout fan (above) flaunted her life-sized human poster. At first, Ben didn’t pay it any attention. Even though his face was plastered on someone else’s body, I pointed out that the body was James Dean. Flattered, he responded: “It could have been much worse.”

See below for a video I shot of an animated Ben Affleck in a TV interview. Below the video, you’ll find more photos to help you capture the scene.

11:51 p.m. update: Metromix film critic Matt Pais just posted his video footage from the event with brief Ben and Casey Affleck interviews.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com