Christians in Cinema BLOG

It’s only Wednesday, and this has already been a busy entertainment news week. Oscar nominations were announced, actor Heath Ledger died, and a video of actor Tom Cruise raving about the virtues of Scientology is making the rounds on the internet.

First, the Oscars. Glad to see 3 songs from “Enchanted” nominated for Best Original Song. One of the successes of the movie was the music, and how well the typical Disney musical style was translated into the live-action film. Watching the “Happy Working Song” unfold was like watching the stage of version of “Beauty and the Beast” when the household items come to vivid, singing life. A song from “August Rush” was also nominated in this category. I was disappointed the score wasn’t nominated, because that movie has the best score I’ve heard in a long time.

“Michael Clayton” reminds me what a great actor George Clooney is.

Very few of the nominations are surprises, with the following selected as the top 5 films of the year: “Atonement,” “Juno,” “Michael Clayton,” “No Country for Old Men,” and “There Will Be Blood.” My favorite of the 5 is “Michael Clayton.” It’s a tour de force for George Clooney, who portrays a law firm’s “fixer,” the one who handles the dirty laundry. When he’s called upon to “fix” a fellow attorney who has stumbled upon evidence that could wreck one of the firm’s multi-million dollar cases, he comes face to face with the realization of what he has become. The sullied and stained man whose horrible choices have led him to the brink of moral bankruptcy slowly emerges as a hero; a warrior for the right cause. The strength of this film is in the character development and the intensity that George Clooney, Tilda Swenson, and Tom Wilkinson bring to their roles. Not surprisingly, all three have received Oscar nominations.

The big cloud hovering over the Oscars is the Writers’ Guild strike. Will it still be going on February 24th, the night of the 80th annual awards ceremony? It’s rumored that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has an alternative plan to work around the writers and actors supporting them, but only time will tell.

In other awards news, MovieGuide will soon post its nominees for awards to be given out at the Awards Gala in Beverly Hills on February 12th. One of my favorite faith films from last year, Saving Sarah Cain, has been nominated for the $50,000 Epiphany Prize. Abigail Mason, who plays the eldest niece Lyddie, has been nominated for the Grace Award in Television. Congratulations to producer/director Michael Landon, Jr., and producer/writer Brian Bird of Believe Pictures!