Felipa's Flicks

Broadcast Film Critics Preparing a Big Telecast

The Broadcast Film Critics are getting ready for the first big Awards Show of the Season. The screeners are being presented in droves and members are voting in such categories as Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Actor and Actress, Best Young Actor and Best Comedy.  This has certainly been an interesting year in the cinema, as I watch movie after movie, and I am still waiting for "that film," to jump out and I scream out, "That the one!"

So far this year true standouts include " District 9,"  " The Informant," and "Precious." Worthy performances were offered by Meryl Streep in "Julie and Julia," Matt Damon in "The Informant," Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Basterds," and  Penelope Cruz, in Pedro Almodovar's "Broken Embraces."

More to come as the voting comes down to the wire by the end of the week.

Watching movies over again...

I have been working diligently to write the Flip's Picks column every week. I must admit that recently it has been hard to sit still and watch a movie. I  love films so much, they are such an escape for me, especially now, but everything out there seems to trigger something much deeper emotionally. I have been working to get through it and films have helped me more than you can imagine.

I watched Zombieland with much trepidation, although I love a good Zombie film. This weekend, I saw it again and relaxed and enjoyed it with my son in Chicago. What an entertaining film. Woody Harrelson is amazing. One of the best cameo appearances ever is by Bill Murray in this film. This was a total guilty pleasure and I am so glad I saw it again, and felt good watching it. Mindless but great.

I also saw Inglorious Basterds for the second time. I really appreciated what Quentin Tarantino was trying to do and at first where I thought that it was inappropriate to change the history  of the world so completely,now I see where he was taking "his take" on the subject. It was fascinating..

So.. onward and upward and hopefully  with time, it will all get better

The Thing from Another World

Another Halloween delight is on Saturday, October 31 as the Mesilla Valley Film Society and Sci Fi Guru Jay Duncan present "The Thing from Another World." The Howard Hawks classic film made in 1951 will be presented at 1:30 p.m. at the Fountain Theater in Old Mesilla. Tickets are $4.00  and only $1.00 for members of the film society. For more information, log on to www.mesillavalleyfilm.org.

Phantom of the Opera

Once again... apologies for ignoring this Blog... My heart and my head sometimes don't work well together these days. I am really trying to enjoy films again...so bear with me... Now that award's season is upon us surely I'll have some controversial things to say.

But here is something that is fantastic and happening on Thursday night here in El Paso. The Plaza Film Festival in conjunction with the Community Foundation is not only opening up the Plaza Theater but opening up the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ for a special Halloween screening of  the 1925 Silent Film Classic, "Phantom of the Opera," starring Lon Chaney Sr.

The film begins at :00 p.m. Admission is only $5.00 and tickets can be purchased at the Plaza Box Office. Once again, enjoy the Plaza

This week at the Movies

Happy Halloween! As a result, that which is ghoulish on celluloid took top honors at the box office. A documentary released this week however, could very easily walk away with the gold.
 
" This Is It," the Michael Jackson documentary featuring rehearsals of the comeback tour for London is exceptional. Choreographer and Director Kenny Ortega shows a little about the man, but shows all of the raw talent. The film is eerily captivating as he once again emerges as being that performer who despite all, was larger than life. The film debuted on Wednesday instead of the typical Friday, so next week's numbers should be very interesting. 
 
I cannot say enough about "Paranormal Activity," the $15,000 film that has taken in more than 33 million dollars at the box office. Interestingly enough, the frightening film caught the eye of none other than Steven Speilberg, and the studios initially wanted to take the story and the idea and create a big box office production. Instead, it was released in its original form.This small budget film will make horror film history. " Saw IV" opened in second place and if you have seen 1, 2 and 3 perhaps you know what is going on, because I do not have a clue.
 
In third place is the perfectly charming "Where the Wild Things Are." The Spike Jonze film with the talents of the Jim Henson studios is a beautiful film, bu I am still trying to decide whether it should be viewed as an animated feature. I had the great privilege of seeing the film in an IMAX theater in Chicago, which was truly an overwhelming experience. See the film any way you can, especially with 'tweens, as the Maurice Sendak story comes across wonderfully on the screen with a very powerful message about families.
 
Getting back to Halloween, closer to home, Sci Fi fans can rejoice today in Old Mesilla. Science Fiction historian Jay Duncan presents "The Thing from Another World." The Howard Hawks classic will be presented today at the Fountain Theater in conjunction with the Mesilla Valley Film Society. Admission is $4.00 or $1.00 for film society members.
 
Another El Paso connection comes in the form of an animated feature that opens in theaters on November 13. "Fantastic Mr. Fox,"  with the Oscar winning voices of George Clooney and Meryl Streep features an incredible soundrack including the oldie but goodie," Let Her Dance," by the Bobby Fuller Four. A wonderful tribute to an El Paso icon.

Picks of the Week

Tyler Perry does it again? How does he do it? It seems like his films are not exactly award winners, yet movie goers are always ready for more. This weekend was no exception as "Tyler Perry's I can do bad all by Myself," is number one at the box office with a big 23 million bonanza in its first week.
 
His films are always released during the slow periods, but he clearly has a large following on the big screen and the small screen as well. It knocked off "Inglorious Basterds," to third place and a week box office take, and "9" the interesting intergallactic animated feature came in second. I did learn while in Chicago recently that Tyler Perry is one of the most generous men in the business raising money and awareness for inner city schools. Maybe  it is a good thing that he is so very successful, as he is truly a star who cares for others.
 
This week, one of my favorites of the year, "The Informant," opens everywhere. The film stars Matt Damon as the Whistleblower in one of the biggest "cover-ups" to ever be uncovered in corporate history. Damon's character is bi-polar, and his performance is overwhelming. "Cloudy with a Chance for Meatballs," is an animated feature opening this week and targeting families. It is based on a popular children's story where it literally rains food, and delicious food at that. Sounds like a Chuck De Broder dream moment. Catch this film in 3-D and will also be seen in I-Max theaters.
 
The movie that is capturing much attention this week as well is "Jennifer's Body." The movie, created and produced by Diablo Cody, the mastermind behind the independent hit,"Juno," is the story of a gorgeous high school girl who is possessed by  demons and develops an insatiable appetite for all of the best looking boys. Appetite is an understatement, as Megan Fox stars as the "mean girl," with serious attitude and cannibalistic tendencies. It is a quirky story, dark and sometimes almost funny, but it loses a bit in its quest to gross out the audience.Amanda Seyfried stars as the nerdy friend who works to put a stop to the madness. The jury is still out on this one.
 
Finally, yes, if you ever wondered if it would happen again, Sylvester Stallone is working diligently on the production of Rambo V. John Rambo now headed to the forest to capture unidentified beasts? Stay tuned.

Go to the Plaza Theater all week!!!!

The finest films in the world are being shown at the Plaza Theater for its second year of the Community Foundation's celebration of the grand old movie house. Today alone, you can see everything from "The Getaway," to "The Terminator." Tomorrow, it's "Lawrence of Arabia," and you can have breakfast on Monday morning at 10:00 a.m. with Audrey Hepburn at Tiffany's. For more information about this amazing explosion of film, log on to www.elpasotimes.com.

Julie and Julia

It is indeed not easy to sit for more than two hours in a Neck Brace and makes me realize all the more how movies are much too long these days.

I love to cook and I love to watch chefs in action, and of course, Julia Child not only set the trend in place for American chefs but for women who could learn to walk away from the Pot Roast and delve into more exciting culinary adventures.

"Julie and Julia," a film by Nora Ephron, is two stories in one. First off, Julia Child, the 6'2" inch boisterous life loving wife of an American Diplomat falls in love with all that is French in 1948, primarily its cuisine and changes the tide of all that is culinary as she breezes through Le Cordon Bleu and becomes the ultimate kitchen conoisseur and friend to all Americans with her zest for the finest. The story then takes us to this milennium and Julie Powell, a writer who decides to create all that Julia mastered in her best selling book of 1961,"Mastering the Art of French Cooking." With the support of her husband as well, she takes on all 500 recipes.

Meryl Streep is Julia Child. She is fascinating, engaging, contagious. The only difference in the two is the height as Meryl is only 5'6". Stanley Tucci plays her loving husband and even while being persecuted in the days of McCarthyism, their unwaving support of each other is bliss. This is the story that fascinates the film viewer. Julie is played by Amy Adams, and while she is a good young actress, and already knows how to work opposite Streep after last year's turn in "Doubt," her story just doesn't keep you as glued to the screen.

There was I suppose no real way that Ephron could have juxtaposed the two, but if the movie was just devoted to Child, I think that would have been good enough. I also, as a food junkie, expected  to see more food prep. Large portions and creamy sauces would have made the film incredible, the way that it did for "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Like Water for Chocolate," and even "Chocolat." Nora Ephron also did "Heartburn," with Meryl Streep and that film too lacked enough food gusto. I realize that everyone in Hollywood cannot possibly be more than a size 2, but this movie definitely could have used a few more calories.

It has been some time

Dear All.. It has been some time since I have visited this blog. Clearly, my life has changed forever. I thank all of your for your good wishes, and even if you don't agree with me on my views on film, just understand that this is a great escape for me, we need to agree to disagree. Life is too short.. Trust me... I know....

Plaza Classic Film Series to Add Foreign Films

A special addition to an already exciting line-up for this year's Plaza Classic Film Series. Some of the finest vintage Foreign films will be offered in the motion picture extravaganza. EP Film Salon Creator Chuck Horak along with Eric Pearson and the Community Foundation are bringing these films to light.

From France:

Francois Truffaut- The 400 Blows

Jean Cocteau- La Belle et la Bette

Henry Georges Clouzot- Les Diaboliques

Albert Lamorisse- White Mane and The Red Balloon

From Italy:

Frederico Fellini- La Strada

From Sweden:

Ingmar Bergman- The Seventh Seal

From Japan

Akira Kurosawa- The Hidden Fortress

The festival is encouraging groups to book ahead of time. For more information about the Festival, log on to www.plazaclassicfilmfest.com.