Taraji P. Henson

Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ Mesmerizes in Criterion Edition

BrianTT — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:36:53 -0600

CHICAGO – I have been writing about DVDs and now Blu-Ray titles for the better part of a decade and have literally worked my way through hundreds of them and the Criterion Blu-Ray release for the widely acclaimed and Oscar-nominated “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is one of the best home releases I’ve ever seen.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

If you somehow missed it during its critically-acclaimed theatrical run, director David Fincher’s shockingly ambitious film tells the story of a man born as an old man and aging in reverse. What would you learn about life if you lived it in the other direction? If you were born with the calm wisdom of an older gentleman, how would it affect the way you approach the world?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was released on Blu-Ray on May 5th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount/Criterion

After his mother dies in childbirth, Benjamin is taken in by a woman (Taraji P. Henson) who runs an elderly home. Because he looks old, Ben fits in with the elderly but still has the optimism of a child. At the home, Ben (Brad Pitt) meets Daisy (first played by Elle Fanning and later by Cate Blanchett) and the two form a bond that will serve as the through line for the entire film. Fincher and writer Eric Roth weave in and out of the love story and include a sailor (Jared Harris) and an affair with a married woman (Tilda Swinton).

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was released on Blu-Ray on May 5th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount/Criterion

Pitt, Blanchett, and Henson are spectacular in this modern fairy tale that’s almost purposefully designed NOT to provoke an emotional response. Fincher is a director who likes to keep his audience at arm’s length. He’s the anti-Spielberg, far more interested in the recreation of something “Curious” than sentimental. It’s an expertly made film by one of the best directors alive and it’s a work that gets significantly better on repeat viewing.

Most DVD and Blu-Ray releases serve simple purposes. They bring a film home usually with a pretty standard video & audio transfer and special features that accompany the work. Every once in awhile, a home release does more than the standard and those are the ones that deserve your attention. The Criterion edition of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is one of those rare releases.

Why? To start, the film was practically made for Blu-Ray. The merging of the digital and the human at the very core of the film’s title character nearly demands that you see it in HD. Whatever you may say about the film itself, it’s design and effects can not be slighted and the movie looks and sounds as good as anything I’ve ever seen in the form. Honestly, the picture and audio quality nearly brings a tear to my eye and I look at HD Blu-Rays every single day. “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Godfather” are the two Blu-Rays I usually reach for first to show off the potential of HD. This is the new number one.

What truly separates the “Button” Criterion release is something that this company has been doing for years. They assemble special features that don’t just ‘accompany’ a film, they enhance it. There’s no filler on a Criterion release. You won’t see a “Button” gag reel.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was released on Blu-Ray on May 5th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount/Criterion

What you will find is one of the best filmmaking documentaries in years - “The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button”. Running even longer than the film itself at 175 minutes, the documentary chronicles the entire process but not in a cold, EPK way, but through the words of the people who made it. It’s an oral history of an ambitious, complex film from early draft attempts through the complex post-production. If you’re interested in how a film gets made, even if you don’t like Fincher’s work, you must see this documentary. It’s a stunner.

The incredibly well-spoken and interesting David Fincher also sat down for an audio commentary and Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett came in for interviews, but the three-hour documentary is all you’ll really need. I can’t stress its quality level strongly enough.

And what about the film itself? Hearing Fincher discuss his intent with the film allowed a few of my initial flaws with the final product to fall away. Maybe it was the rush of expectation and the exhaustion of awards season, but I think I undervalued the film a few months ago and it’s a work that I look forward to watching multiple times over the years. The fact is that most of Fincher’s films have aged well (go watch “Zodiac” again if you don’t believe me) and I think “Button” will age better than most (pun only mildly intended).

There are very honest “must-owns” on the Blu-Ray market. Some have been surprised that the technology hasn’t taken off as quickly as they predicted. It’s because most of the HD releases aren’t significantly better than the standard DVD released at the same time. If there were more titles like “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” were released, that perception would change quickly. Even if you don’t own a Blu-Ray player, buy the Criterion version of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. It’s one of the first things that you’ll want to watch on it when you eventually do.

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ is released by Paramount Home Video and stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Jared Harris, Jason Flemyng, and Tilda Swinton. It was written by Eric Roth and directed by David Fincher. The film was released on May 5th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Release Date, Cover Art For Criterion’s ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’

BrianTT — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:35:15 -0600

CHICAGO – Paramount/Criterion made a huge announcement today, revealing that David Fincher’s Oscar-winning “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” will be inducted into The Criterion Collection in its debut on DVD and Blu-Ray on May 5th, 2009. The Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett drama will arrive in a two-disc special edition DVD and two-disc Blu-Ray with over three hours of special features.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was named by over 150 critics as one of the best films of 2008. The film marks Fincher’s first inclusion in the prestigious Criterion Collection. Cover art below.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on May 5th, 2009.
Photo credit: Paramount Home Video

The official details:

“The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray boast over three hours of enthralling special features including interviews with stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with behind-the-scenes footage of their astonishing on-screen transformations, an in-depth documentary revealing the unusual journey of the film itself including the secrets of its award-winning visual effects and an exploration of the groundbreaking computer wizardry that brought the magical world of Benjamin Button to life.”

“The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button two-disc and single-disc DVD are presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Criterion Edition DVD and two-disc Criterion Blu-ray include the following special features:

o The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button—four-part documentary:
o Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
o Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
o Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
o Walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
o Audio Commentary by director David Fincher

There is also a single-disc DVD presentation that includes the feature film.

‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ will be released by Paramount Home Video and stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Julia Ormond, and Jared Harris. It was written by Eric Roth and directed by David Fincher. It will be released on May 5th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 30-Image Gallery For Red-Carpet Arrivals at 2009 Academy Awards

BrianTT — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:45:22 -0700

CHICAGO – This 30-image slideshow contains a selection of the arrivals at The 81st Annual Academy Awards. Want to know what people were wearing? Check out images of Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, “High School Musical“‘s Vanessa Hudgens, Marisa Tomei, Mickey Rourke, Natalie Portman, Taraji P. Henson, Melissa Leo, “New Moon“‘s Robert Pattinson, and many more.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are credited to Adam Larkey and courtesy of ABC. All Rights Reserved.

oscars2009_red_carpet_01: Miley Cyrus
oscars2009_red_carpet_02: Emile Hirsch
oscars2009_red_carpet_03: Vanessa Hudgens
oscars2009_red_carpet_04: Freida Pinto
oscars2009_red_carpet_05: Melissa Leo
oscars2009_red_carpet_06: Viola Davis
oscars2009_red_carpet_07: Taraji P. Henson
oscars2009_red_carpet_08: Richard Jenkins
oscars2009_red_carpet_09: Heidi Klum
oscars2009_red_carpet_10: Leslie Mann
oscars2009_red_carpet_11: Amy Adams
oscars2009_red_carpet_12: Amanda Seyfried
oscars2009_red_carpet_13: Sarah Jessica Parker
oscars2009_red_carpet_14: Diane Lane
oscars2009_red_carpet_15: Marisa Tomei
oscars2009_red_carpet_16: Marisa Tomei and Natalie Portman
oscars2009_red_carpet_17: Mickey Rourke
oscars2009_red_carpet_18: Evan Rachel Wood
oscars2009_red_carpet_19: Meryl Streep
oscars2009_red_carpet_20: Jessica Biel
oscars2009_red_carpet_21: Penelope Cruz
oscars2009_red_carpet_22: Kate Winslet
oscars2009_red_carpet_23: Angelina Jolie
oscars2009_red_carpet_24: Alicia Keys
oscars2009_red_carpet_25: Virginia Madsen
oscars2009_red_carpet_26: Robert Pattinson
oscars2009_red_carpet_27: Melissa George
oscars2009_red_carpet_28: Natalie Portman
oscars2009_red_carpet_29: Mickey Rourke
oscars2009_red_carpet_30: Angelina Jolie

Read our full 2009 Oscar coverage of the winners.
Read our full list of the 2009 Oscar nominees.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Slideshow: 20-Image Gallery For Film Independent Spirit Awards With Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba

BrianTT — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:18:49 -0700

CHICAGO – This 20-image slideshow contains the selected images from the Piaget event at the “Film Independent Spirit Awards” from Saturday, February 21st, 2009. Celebrities photographed include Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Jon Hamm, Aaron Eckhart, Alec Baldwin, Laura Dern, Anthony Mackie, John Waters, Taraji P. Henson, Mena Suvari, Anne Hathaway, Melissa Leo, Michelle Williams, and Andie MacDowell.

Official press release about the event: “For the second time, the swiss watchmaker and jeweller Piaget, renowned for its High Jewellery collections and exceptional lines of watches, has further strengthened its longstanding ties with Hollywood by deciding to sponsor the Independent Spirit Awards. Since its founding in 1874, Piaget stands for unique watchmaking and jewellery know-how allied with a pioneering spirit. The exceptional talent of Piaget’s craftsmen lies in their ability to constantly reinvent age-old watchmaking techniques and to make people dream by creating emotions around gold and diamonds. Today, art continues to find the most varied forms of expression; and boundaries are progressively shattered. Design, video, film, music and fashion are all creative territories that Piaget explores and integrates into its collections. Thus, it was only natural that Piaget team-up with Film Independent to celebrate for the second time, the best of independent films through sponsorship of the Spirit Awards.”

Read about the winners of the “Film Independent Spirit Awards”.

You can click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through this slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos are courtesy of Piaget and image.net. All Rights Reserved.

ISA_01: Jon Hamm
ISA_02: Jon Hamm
ISA_03: Aaron Eckhart
ISA_04: Aaron Eckhart
ISA_05: Aaron Eckhart
ISA_06: Jessica Alba
ISA_07: Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke
ISA_08: Jessica Alba
ISA_09: Jessica Alba and Alec Baldwin
ISA_10: Laura Dern
ISA_11: Anthony Mackie
ISA_12: John Waters
ISA_13: Taraji P. Henson
ISA_14: Jessica Alba
ISA_15: Mena Suvari
ISA_16: Anne Hathaway
ISA_17: Melissa Leo and Michelle Williams
ISA_18: Laura Dern
ISA_19: Andie MacDowell
ISA_20: Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 4 Passes to See All 5 Best-Picture Oscar Nominees in One Day

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:06:01 -0700

CHICAGO – We are pleased to announce what’s nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film opportunity: the chance for four lucky winners to see all five 2009 best-picture Oscar nominees (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “Milk,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon” and “The Reader”) in one glorious Chicago day.

This AMC best-picture showcase with the 2009 Oscar nominees also coincides with an exciting social networking experiment where movie watchers will be using Twitter, live blogging and other social networking tools to document their thoughts in real time.

Read on to learn more about this experiment. “Slumdog Millionaire” stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto from “Trainspotting” director Danny Boyle. “Milk” stars Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco and Alison Pill from director Gus Van Sant. “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E” failed to earn a 2009 best-picture nomination from the academy.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson from director David Fincher. “Frost/Nixon” stars Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt from director Ron Howard. “The Reader” stars Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes and David Kross from director Stephen Daldry.

If you win this remarkable HollywoodChicago.com Hookup, you’ll earn the opportunity to see all five heavy-hitting 2008 films for free. This redefines the definition of a movie marathon. The festivities start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 in downtown Chicago at AMC River East 21 at 322 E. Illinois St. and run all the way through 11:59 p.m. on the same evening.

Want more? You’ll also be entitled to a complimentary large popcorn with unlimited refills all day as well as a collectible movie pass to immortalize the opportunity. The 81st-annual Academy Awards will air on Feb. 22, 2009 at 8 p.m. ET. Want even more?

As if you’re not already getting hooked up enough, this is also your opportunity to be the critic and write for HollywoodChicago.com! Winners will be invited to blog on our discussion boards using your iPhone or data-friendly cell phone or your Wi-Fi-enabled laptop computer at a nearby venue.

One nearby Starbucks with free Wi-Fi is in the Dominick’s grocery store at Illinois and Fairbanks. A second Starbucks is at McClurg Court and Ontario. A Panera Bread is nearby, too. If you win, just make sure you create a thread or threads illuminating your feelings about each film.

To win your unforgettable, Oscar-nominated five-pack pass courtesy exclusively of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is submit an entry of why you deserve a pass using our confidential, Web-based submission form. Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and win can be found beneath the graphic below.

Image credit: AMC Theatres

If you noticed the prices mentioned in the graphic above, as a valued HollywoodChicago.com reader we are pleased to inform you that they don’t apply to you. We have negotiated these rates to be entirely free for our four lucky winners.

To secure your free five-pack pass, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply submit why you deserve a pass. You must submit your entry using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Your entry will be invalid if you do so. Please only submit your entry using this submission form.

You must include your e-mail address and full name in your submission. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and is only for us to contact you about your winning pass. Your personal information will not be sold or shared elsewhere.

Submit you entry now describing why you deserve a pass!

This HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: Four people who submit an entry describing why they deserve a five-pack movie pass and commit to blogging on HollywoodChicago.com will win! A studio representative will be at AMC River East on the morning of Feb. 21, 2009 to hand passes to the lucky HollywoodChicago.com four. You will need to present your photo ID to the representative.

Winners will be chosen at our discretion based on how compelling your reason is and based on whether you agreed to the terms of this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Following your entry, winners can click this printer-friendly link to print out the information contained in this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup for your jam-packed movie Saturday. Here is the schedule of 2009 Oscar-nominated best-picture viewings on Feb. 21, 2009 at AMC River East:

“Milk,” 10:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. (15-minute break)
“The Reader,” 1:05 p.m. to 3:19 p.m. (25-minute break)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” (30-minute break)
“Slumdog Millionaire,” 7:15 p.m. 9:27 to p.m. (15-minute break)
“Frost/Nixon,” 9:45 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

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

Interviews With 2009 Oscar Nominees: Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins, Taraji P. Henson

BrianTT — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:14:27 -0700

CHICAGO – In 2008, HollywoodChicago.com was lucky enough to speak to several of of this year’s lucky Oscar nominees, including Melissa Leo of “Frozen River,” Richard Jenkins of “The Visitor,” Taraji P. Henson of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and Darren Aronofsky of “The Wrestler,” who may have missed out Best Director but saw his two stars, Marisa Tomei and Mickey Rourke, land major nominations.

We thought we would recap and link to some of the best interviews from our team in 2008 by a few of the people that the Academy deemed worth of Oscar nominations for their work in 2008.

“If you’re an actor, you are enough. You have to believe that - that you are enough.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Richard Jenkins about “The Visitor” (Nominee for Best Actor)

“We are here to grow into our best selves. That is my religion. Whatever can get you there and whatever the trials, that is what betters us. That is how the story of this film is played out.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Melissa Leo about “Frozen River” (Nominee for Best Actress)

“Frozen River” star Melissa Leo in Chicago on July 16, 2008.
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

“It was very bold for Eric Roth to choose to make Queenie an African-American woman who was the surrogate mother to Benjamin Button – a white character – which would have been very unusual at the time with what was happening in the country with race.” - Adam Fendelman speaks to Taraji P. Henson about “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Nominee for Best Supporting Actress)

(On Rourke) “Between action and cut, there was no one I’ve ever met who was as natural, and he was in complete control,” Aronofsky said. “He was aware of what was going on and was always fully there as the character.” - Patrick McDonald speaks to Darren Aronofsky about “The Wrestler” (Nominee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress)

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Kate Winslet, Brad Pitt, Josh Brolin Respond to 2009 Oscar Nominations

BrianTT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:06:48 -0700

CHICAGO – The lucky nominees for The 81st Annual Academy Awards have been responding to their nominations all day. If you’ve ever wondered how Oscar nominees feel about hearing their name announced on one of Hollywood’s biggest mornings of the year, read on for the official responses from Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Brad Pitt, Taraji P. Henson, Danny Boyle, Gus Van Sant, and many more.

Kate Winslet on her best actress nomination for “The Reader”:

“I’m extremely happy to have been nominated. And very fortunate. Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever been blessed with. I’m genuinely thrilled not just for myself but for the wonderful Stephen Daldry and David Hare. These nominations are a testament to their unwavering commitment to this film. And I’m also very happy for all the people in Germany whose hard work on THE READER, has been rewarded by these nominations. Surely Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are smiling down on us today!”

Oscar nominee Kate Winslet in The Reader.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company.

Brad Pitt on his best actor nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”:

“This is a great honor for the movie, and I’m especially happy for David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben Button.”

Taraji P. Henson on her best supporting actress nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”:

“I am very excited, deeply honored and grateful. I thank Laray Mayfield, David Fincher, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to bring Queenie to life.”

Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

Richard Jenkins on his best actor nomination for “The Visitor”:

“This nomination is such an unexpected honor and I am grateful to the Academy for the recognition. I’ve been awed by the work of my fellow nominees this year and am truly humbled to be in their company. Having been an actor for many years now, I am moved by the fact that something like this can happen at this point in my career, particularly for a film that has meant so much to me.”

David Fincher on his best actor nomination for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”:

“Benjamin Button was truly a labor of love and I am humbled by the nomination. On behalf of the producers, cast and crew, I’d like to thank the Academy, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros and most of all the city of New Orleans who gave birth to Benjamin.”

Christian Colson, Producer of “Slumdog Millionaire,” on his best picture nomination:

“It is wonderful to receive this amazing news here in Mumbai where we are premiering the movie tonight. All the film-makers are deeply proud of this recognition which we also hope will bring great joy to the people of this great city. A huge thank you to the Academy… and Jai Ho!”

Danny Boyle on his best director nomination for “Slumdog Millionaire”:

“I’m ecstatic! Thank you to the Academy from the cast and crew here in Mumbai where the film was made and where it’s being premiered tonight. It feels like you’ve given us a billion nominations!”

Oscar nominee Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire
Photo credit: Ishika Mohan

Simon Beaufoy on his best adapted screenplay nomination for “Slumdog Millionaire”:

“Secretly and sometimes not so secretly, this is the nomination that floats in every screenwriter’s dreams. I am fantastically happy and honored- not just for myself but for Vikas Swarup’s wonderful novel without which I would have never started my journey to the world’s Maximum City , Mumbai.”

A.R. Rahman on his best score and best song nominations for “Slumdog Millionaire”:

“I am overjoyed by this nomination and deeply grateful that the Academy has embraced the music of this film. Slumdog Millionaire has paid magical dividends for so many people around the globe. I am deeply honored to be a part of a film that has inspired so many.”

Dev Patel of “Slumdog Millionaire” on the film’s nominations:

“It’s just amazing. For Slumdog Millionaire to be included in the nominations for the Oscars is a huge honor. When we first began working on the film I don’t think any of us ever imagined that we might end up attending the Oscars ceremony as a result. I’m just so proud to be a part of this project and I have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the film. Thank you to everyone who has supported us. I truly feel blessed.”

Freida Pinto of “Slumdog Millionaire” on the film’s nominations:

“The entire Slumdog Millionaire experience has exceeded my wildest expectations. I feel thrilled and so thankful that Danny had faith in me even though I had no past experience in films. Hailing from Mumbai, it means even more to me that a film about this unique city has been nominated for such a prestigious award. It’s been an absolute honor to have worked with such a passionate team and its wonderful to know that critics and audiences across the globe have loved what we have worked so hard to achieve.”

Anne Hathaway on her best actress nomination for “Rachel Getting Married”:

“It is such a thrill to be recognized in this category with these remarkably talented women. I was with my parents and my dog when I got the news and we were all overjoyed- although I’m not sure my dog knew what was going on. This is a great day to be an actress!”

Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, Producers of “Milk,” on their best picture nomination:

“Today’s eight nominations are a huge tribute to everyone involved in the making of MILK. The goal of all of us was to bring Harvey Milk’s wonderfully inspiring story to audiences everywhere. The nominations will go a long way towards making that happen.”

Sean Penn stars as real-life gay rights icon Harvey Milk in director Gus Van Sant’s “Milk”.
Photo credit: Phil Bray

Gus Van Sant on his best director nomination for “Milk”:

“I am so thankful, so humbled, by The Academy for the nominations they have given our film - I’m so proud of our screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, Sean Penn and Josh Brolin and our incredible team, Danny Glicker, Danny Elfman, Elliot Graham, and our amazing producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. These nominations ensure that Harvey Milk’s legacy will live on.”

Dustin Lance Black on his best original screenplay nomination for “Milk”:

“I won’t lie, I was up at 4:30 AM Pacific Time this morning. I couldn’t sleep. I took a shower, I started washing dishes, I did a load of laundry… I was completely losing my mind waiting for that local ABC telecast.”

“My heart jumped when Josh Brolin got nominated, but the tears started flowing when Gus got his. I couldn’t have asked for a better director for this project, a fiercer protector of this little spec script that meant so much to me. And that script would have been nothing without the dedicated talent of nominee Sean Penn, who truly inhabited Harvey’s soul, and Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill, Joseph Cross, and on and on. This film was a real team effort.”

“By the time the nominations got to Best Picture, I was a wreck. Tears… lots of tears. I couldn’t breathe. My big hope had been that the Academy would recognize our film enough that Harvey’s story could get a wider release, but I could never have predicted 8 nominations including Best Picture. I’m still pinching myself.”

“When I first heard Harvey’s story at 13, I was a closeted kid living in a conservative Mormon, military home. It was a rough time for me. Hearing Harvey’s story not only gave me the hope he talked so often about, it very likely saved my life. What happened this morning means this film WILL win a wider audience, and maybe, just maybe Harvey’s message will reach some of those kids out there today who have been told they are “less than,” that they are sick, that God does not love them, and perhaps, from the grave, 30 years later, Harvey might give those kids the hope and love he gave me so long ago. It might sound overblown to some, but I firmly believe these nominations are life-saving. I can’t thank the Academy enough.”

Josh Brolin on his best supporting actor nomination for “Milk”:

“It is very special because of this movie. I am happy ‘Milk’ received so many nominations and that people are paying attention. The subject matter is so timely and important right now because of what is happening in California with Prop 8. When I think about my life a few years ago, being happy just to feed my kids, never in a million years would I have imagined I would be up at 5 in the morning getting phone calls saying I was nominated for an Academy Award. There is no reality to it.”

Elliot Graham on his best editing nomination for “Milk”:

“I am very, very, very, very excited - and excited for the whole film. I’m just so proud of the film; it’s so significant that a story like this be recognized and be a part of this, it is absolutely extraordinary and we are all in awe of Gus and Sean and their talents.”

Danny Glicker on his best costume design nomination for “Milk”:

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the artistic team that told this story, and to be recognized by the Academy. I’m so proud of Gus Van Sant and Dustin Lance Black’s vision and of the actors’ performances. And I’m forever grateful to have a small part of myself up there on the screen in MILK.”

Martin McDonagh on his best original screenplay nomination for “In Bruges”:

“My heartfelt thanks to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, particularly the writers’ branch, for their support. I’m thrilled that a tale so peculiar and twisted, and that was released so long ago, has stayed in their minds for so long.”

Mike Leigh on his best original screenplay nomination for “Happy-Go-Lucky”:

“This is the fourth time I’ve been nominated for Best Original Screenplay, and once again I’m honored and delighted that the quality of writing I and my actors work so hard to achieve has been recognized and respected by my fellow Writers in the Academy.”

Viola Davis on her best supporting actress nomination for “Doubt”:

“I still feel like the little brown skinned girl from Central Falls, Rhode Island who dreamed the biggest dream. And how great that all of my fellow actors were recognized with this incredible honor.”

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

‘WALL-E,’ ‘The Dark Knight’ Snubbed For Major 2009 Oscar Nominations

BrianTT — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:36:15 -0700

CHICAGO – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their 81st annual nominees this morning, January 22nd, 2009. For a body that has been known to make shocking mistakes, they may have topped themselves by excluding the two most beloved movies of 2008, “WALL-E” and “The Dark Knight” from the Best Picture category.

Heath Ledger landed a nomination for “The Dark Knight” and “WALL-E” was included in the screenplay category, but both were left out of several major categories, including both Christopher Nolan and Andrew Stanton being ignored for best director of the year.

Overall, “The Dark Knight” scored eight nominations and “WALL-E” racked up an impressive six, but the exclusion of both from director and picture makes it clear that the Academy didn’t think they were among the best films of the year.

Christian Bale (left) stars as Batman and Heath Ledger (right) stars as the Joker in “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

The films that did have a good morning when the nominees were announced on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 include “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” with a stunning 13 nominations. “Button” will compete with “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “The Reader,” and “Slumdog Millionaire” for the big prize. “Slumdog” came in second with a surprising 10 nominations. “Frost/Nixon” scored five nods, “Milk” landed an impressive eight, and “The Reader” can lay claim to five.

The best director category matched the picture one five for five with David Fincher, Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant, Stephen Daldry, and Danny Boyle all being able to put Oscar-nominated next to their name now. Shockingly, Christopher Nolan was left off the list and some had expected that Darren Aronofsky, might make the cut for “The Wrestler”. We forgot about the Academy’s blind adoration of Stephen Daldry. Three movies - “Billy Elliot,” “The Hours,” “The Reader” - a best director nomination for all three.

In one of the few pleasant surprises of the day and a category that they arguably got right, Richard Jenkins will compete for best actor for “The Visitor” with Frank Langella from “Frost/Nixon,” Sean Penn for “Milk,” Brad Pitt for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler”.

Angelina Jolie made up for her snubbing last year and landed a nod for her work in “Changeling”. She’ll fight for best actress with Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married,” Melissa Leo in “Frozen River,” Meryl Streep in “Doubt,” and Kate Winslet in “The Reader”. The exclusion of Sally Hawkins’ award-winning work in “Happy-Go-Lucky” was the shock of the day and the kind of snubbing that will be remembered for decades.

The supporting actor category produced a surprise with Michael Shannon landing the only nomination for “Revolutionary Road”. He will compete against the frontrunner, Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight,” Josh Brolin in “Milk,” Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder,” and Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt”. Why does it feel like Heath Ledger’s category is the only one people will tune in for? If they’re smart, they’ll give it away late in the telecast.

With Winslet moving from supporting to lead for her work in “The Reader,” that left the race for that category wide open with Penelope Cruz returning back to frontrunner status for her turn in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”. She’ll compete with the ladies from “Doubt” - Amy Adams & Viola Davis - Taraji P. Henson for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” and Marisa Tomei for “The Wrestler”.

Taraji P. Henson (left) stars as Queenie with Brad Pitt (right front) in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

Another shocking snub happened in original screenplay when the regularly-nominated Woody Allen was left out of the category in favor of “Frozen River,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “In Bruges,” “Milk”, and “WALL-E”. The adapted screenplay category was the most predictable of the day with “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Doubt,” “Frost/Nixon,” “The Reader,” and “Slumdog Millionaire” being the predictable competition.

Nominees for best foreign language film include “Der Baader Meinhof Complex,” “The Class,” “Departures,” “Revanche,” and the likely winner, “Waltz With Bashir”. Animated film nominees were pretty routine with “Bolt” and “Kung Fu Panda” competing for second place with “WALL-E” a likely winner. The final snub of the day? Bruce Springsteen didn’t make the cut for his great title track from “The Wrestler”. The other nominees follow.

Best Art Direction
“Changeling”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“The Duchess”
“Revolutionary Road”

Best Cinematography
“Changeling”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Costume Design

“Australia”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Duchess”
“Milk”
“Revolutionary Road”

Best Documentary Feature
“The Betrayal”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“The Garden”
“Man on Wire”
“Trouble the Water”

Best Editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“Slumdog Millionaire”

Best Makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

Best Original Score
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Defiance”
“Milk”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“WALL-E”

Best Original Song
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E”

Best Sound Editing
“The Dark Knight”
“Iron Man”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“WALL-E”
“Wanted”

Best Sound Mixing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“WALL-E”
“Wanted”

Best Visual Effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Iron Man”

3:26 p.m. update on Jan. 22, 2009: Various nominees have responded with statements about their 2009 Oscar nominations. Read this story here.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson Keep ‘Not Easily Broken’ From Falling Apart

BrianTT — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:18:31 -0700

CHICAGO – Stars Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson do their best to make Bill Duke’s “Not Easily Broken” a genuine domestic drama instead of the cluttered melodrama that it easily could have been with two lesser actors in the lead roles.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

The film opens in 1995 with the marriage of Dave Johnson (Chestnut) and Clarice Clark (Taraji P. Henson). The man marrying these two beautiful people suggests that the bond of three strands is not easily broken. Dave is one, Clarice is the other, and God is the third. Of course, the film to follow will challenge the breakability of this marriage but not in the ways that you might expect.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Not Easily Broken” in our reviews section.

Years later, the life that Dave and Clarice thought they would have hasn’t turned out exactly as planned. Dave watched a promising sports career collapse when he injured himself at the end of his rookie year. Now, Clarice is the earner in the relationship, selling high-priced real estate to upscale couples.

Dave spends a lot of his time coaching his youth baseball league and wishing he was a father himself. He spends his nights with his friends Tree (Kevin Hart), an emotional young man who basically serves as comic relief, and Brock (Eddie Cibrian), a guy in the middle of a divorce. He’s not often at home and life has clearly pushed Dave and Clarice apart.

‘Not Easily Broken’ stars Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson, Jenifer Lewis, Maeve Quinlan, Kevin Hart, Eddie Cibrian, Niecy Nash, and Wood Harris. ‘Not Easily Broken,’ which was written by Brian Bird from the book by T.D. Jakes and directed by Bill Duke, opened in Chicago on January 9, 2009.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Not Easily Broken” review.

Morris Chestnut as Dave Johnson and Taraji P. Henson as Clarice Clark in TriStar Pictures’ drama Not Easily Broken.
Photo credit: Ron Phillips/Sony Pictures

Interview: Taraji P. Henson of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ on Playing Brad Pitt’s Mother

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:11:14 -0700

CHICAGO – It turns out that skipping a “blowout” garage sale she was planning paid off for up-and-coming actress Taraji P. Henson after all, she told HollywoodChicago.com’s Adam Fendelman in a Chicago interview. Not being there netted an even grander sale for her acting career: Henson was cast as Brad Pitt’s surrogate mother in the Oscar-buzzing film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” star Taraji P. Henson in Chicago on Dec. 5, 2008.
Photo credit: Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com

Rating: 4.0/5.0

The film, which was adapted for the screen by Eric Roth and is based on the 1920s short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, stars Brad Pitt opposite Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. It’s a curious film indeed about Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) who ages backward. He’s born old and grows youthful.

For Henson, auditioning for the part of Queenie (Benjamin Button’s surrogate mother) was as long of a shot for her as the Earth is to Pluto. But prior to the audition, the film’s casting director already had her in mind based on Henson’s 2005 performance in “Hustle & Flow”. That film won her a Black Movie Award for her supporting role as well as a Black Reel Award for the same. She won a BET Award in 2006.

Even if the industry still hasn’t recognized Henson for her “Hustle & Flow” performance, her 18 episodes of “Boston Legal” from 2007 to 2008 as Whitney Rome or her role in 2007’s “Talk to Me” with Don Cheadle, Henson says after this press tour and upon release of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” “you will surely know me now” and know how to pronounce her Swahili name, too.

Matthew Henson, by the way, is the co-discoverer of the North Pole and is Taraji P. Henson’s great great cousin. She jested: “That’s where I got my survival skills.” Henson has been talked about as a potential nominee for the upcoming Academy Awards in a relatively weak category for actresses in a supporting role.

Once Henson overcame the incredulity of landing a role she viewed as a moon shot, she describes the adapted script from Eric Roth (who also wrote “Lucky You,” “The Good Shepherd,” “Munich,” “Ali,” “The Horse Whisperer” and “Forrest Gump”) and the direction from David Fincher (“Zodiac,” “Panic Room,” “Fight Club” and “Se7en”) as having come to fruition through “bold choices”.

Taraji P. Henson (left) stars as Queenie with Brad Pitt (right front) in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

She added: “It was a bold choice for David Fincher, too, as it was something very different from what we’re used to seeing him direct. It was even a very bold choice for Brad Pitt in that it’s a not-so-glamorous role for him (even though some how he pulls it off).”

“That’s what intrigued me most,” Henson said. “I consider myself an artist who takes chances and risks in my work. I like to surround myself with people who do the same. I honestly didn’t think I had a chance to get this film.”

Taraji P. Henson stars as Queenie in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.
Photo credit: Merrick Morton, Paramount Pictures

Her “serious” garage sale had jewelry and racks of clothes with hangars she bought to hang up the garments. Henson even turned her tae bo kickboxing bag into a mannequin. While she initially was upset about having to stop what she was doing to audition for a role she thought she’d never get, after the audition Henson learned the film’s casting director had her in mind for this character from the beginning.

Still, she thought Fincher wouldn’t take her seriously, and even if he did, the studio certainly wouldn’t and would want a “bigger star”. Henson describes the all-too-common situation of a film and its studio seeking choices that’d most likely lead to financial gain for the picture rather than riskier choices that can help to assure a quality film.

“I’ve been in this game for a minute now. I’ve been down this road before. Big feature film. Big names. Big director. They want big names all across the name. They think I don’t have an audience because I haven’t been in a big blockbuster film. There are people in the industry who aren’t so creative. They’re number crunchers.”

She added: “You have not-so-creative people making creative decisions. I didn’t think I had a chance because I know the industry doesn’t consider me to be a name and I don’t have box-office draw.”

In describing the work ethic of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and her conversations with them between takes, Henson said she didn’t talk much with them about work. She added: “We’re all parents and we live in between takes. We talked about normal stuff then like kids and life. We didn’t talk about our acting processes.”

In terms of Henson’s preparation for her role, she said she didn’t do much research.

“I already am a mother and have always been a nurturer. Even when I was a child, I never played with Barbie. I couldn’t stand Barbie because she had too much,” Henson said. “But I liked playing with the baby dolls and being the mother. The animatronic baby I’m acting with in the beginning of the film was right up my alley because I was doing that as a little girl. It took three puppeteers to operate it.”

RELATED SLIDESHOW
27-image slideshow for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

RELATED READING
More writing from critic Adam Fendelman.

In terms of why we’re seeing so many adapted movie scripts these days based on beloved stories and fewer original screenplays, Henson again tags the reason as one that’s “safer” financially.

“They feel safer with best-selling books – like ‘Twilight’ and the Harry Potter films – because they already have an audience. They’re already seeing audience money. It’s harder for an original idea,” she said.

Henson added: “They don’t see money because it hasn’t been done before. You have to go in the back door and be the little engine that could to prove it – like ‘Hustle & Flow’.”

In retrospect, the opportunity cost of Henson’s audition paid off in spades. She concluded: “Thank god I canceled that garage sale.”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” which is directed by David Fincher and was adapted for the screen by Eric Roth based on the 1920s short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. The film opens on Dec. 25, 2008.

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