Felipa's Flicks

Harrison Ford takes on the Smurfs and wins

There has been no rhyme or reason at the box office lately. This week, Harrison Ford takes it, followed by the Smurfs, leaving Harry Potter in the dust.

“Cowboys and Aliens,” starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, is the big winner at the box office this week with a first weekend take of $36.4 million. I frankly was expecting a little more from the film, but it is enjoyable if you are watching it for summer/popcorn satisfaction and Ford.

If you really like vintage Ford, then the Plaza Classic Film Festival is the place to be Thursday night. Two showings of the pristine, never-before-seen restoration of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” will be screened at 6:30, then again at 9:15. Expect some surprise guest introductions. Stay tuned.

Back to Hollywood, the all new “3-D Smurf Movie” opened in second place, coming in close to “Cowboys and Aliens,” earning a little more than $35 million, which shows the power of children in summer box office. The animated feature leaves much to be desired, and I think kids will fare better watching the original cartoons. “Captain America” flew into third place, falling a bit from its top spot last week, and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II” fell to fourth place, earning $22 million in week three. No need to really pity Potter, as the franchise has broken every worldwide record at this point. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” opens this week, and it should be interesting to see what happens in this box office mix. Opening in a disappointing fifth place this week was the very entertaining “Crazy Stupid, Love,” starring Steve Carell, Julianne Moore and Ryan Gosling. The film, produced by Carell, is a very real look at how love, loss and divorce affect everyone, including co-workers and other relationships. Carell is stunned by his wife’s pronouncement of divorce and another man in her life. What follows is a very funny, poignant look at human nature. Carell bar hopping with Gosling is truly memorable. Marisa Tomei is also featured and is always wonderful to watch. I highly recommend this film and not just as a “chick flick.” The storyline has a strong message.

The Plaza Classic Film Festival has opened to much spectacle. Along with special events at the Plaza through Aug. 14, there are opportunities to enjoy art-house films, foreign films and musical events.Even screenwriter Rob Edwards has spent all weekend in El Paso teaching style and philosophy to area filmmakers. Today, Spanish surrealist director Luis Buñuel’s “Viridiana” will be presented at 4:30 p.m. in the Philanthropy Theatre. It will be my pleasure to introduce the film and discuss Buñuel’s monumental contributions to Spanish cinema and as an inspiration to film directors and actors from around the world.

Next week, enjoy screenings of “The Godfather II" and “Rebel Without a Cause” and wonderful talks by the likes of Leonard Maltin, Jeanine Basinger and Peter Snell. For the complete list of films and events,  visit plazaclassic.com.

Read the Felipa’s Flicks movie blog and others at elpasotimes.com/blogs.

Last 'Potter' movie doing great at box office

It was more than just being wild about Harry; it was a box office frenzy with $169.1 million for the  opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II.”

Nothing came close to the epic proportions of the storyline or the appeal this summer. The word is out, but mum is the word here on the ending’ suffice it to say that one cannot possibly miss the final battle with Voldemort played to perfection by Ralph Fiennes. The film is not as long as one would expect, and even with no knowledge of the story, you can still enjoy the final salute to the students at Hogwarts. By the way, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” came in second, earning $21.3 million.

I believe that no film will outshine Harry Potter for some time. I believe he will stay on top of that box office throne.

This weekend the first of “The Avengers” series opens. “Captain America,” starring Chris Evans from the “Fantastic Four” movies, is this particular man of steel. Steve Rogers, alias Captain America, is on a serious mission during World War II. He is dealing with saving the world from unscrupulous scientists, strength-enhancing experiments and, of course, the Nazis. The film stars one of my favorite actors, Tommy Lee Jones, who practically steals the film, Stanley Tucci and Australian actor Hugo Weaving as “Red Skull.” My verdict is that this is a very entertaining film; Chris Evans can act as well as look marvelous, and I am looking for even more serious “Avenger” action next summer.

Another film that opens this week and that promises to be equally as entertaining is “Friends with Benefits,” starring Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis and Patricia Clarkson, who ultimately needs to have an Oscar on her mantelpiece. The film is about chemistry and how everything needs to be just a little old-fashioned in the end.

 “Twilight Saga” fans received an early morning surprise this week as cast members treated them to breakfast at the break of dawn on the opening day of Comic-Con. Saying thank you to their most devoted fans were cast members, including Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen), Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen), Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale), Julia Jones (Leah Clearwater), and Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater). One thousand people lined up for “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.” The crowd was overwhelmed with excitement as the stars greeted them, signed autographs and posed for photos. “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1” will open in theaters worldwide on Nov. 18. 

Closer to home, the dynamic duo of Charles Horak and Eric Pearson along with the El Paso Community Foundation and some very benevolent and hardworking El Pasoans are getting the region ready for the Plaza Classic Film Festival. It all begins at the beautiful Plaza Theatre on Aug. 4 and continues through Aug. 14, with some of the finest films of this generation.

Many young, local filmmakers will also be given a chance to shine and to participate in many exciting events surrounding the festival. Documentaries will also be featured, including the incomparable “Strand: Under the Dark Cloth,” which tells the incredible story of photographer Paul Strand. His unbelievable works are on exhibit in a special showing at the El Paso Museum of Art. This film will be presented at 1 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Philanthropy Theatre. For more information and for tickets, log on to www.plazaclassic.com.

Read the Felipa’s Flicks movie blog and others at elpasotimes.com/blogs.

'Cars' makes big office splash

As promised, “Cars 2” made its way to the box office finish line.The Pixar extravaganza earned $66.1 million in its first week to beat out the early summer competition, including “Bad Teacher” with Cameron Diaz and to push “Green Lantern” to third place.

“Cars 2” is good but not Pixar's finest, and it drags a bit — even for the children — in the middle of the film.

There is enough momentum this Fourth of July weekend to give “Cars” some competition in the form of robots cruising through the streets of Chicago.“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” opened Wednesday to big crowds, big raves and $42.3 million. Directed by Michael Bay, the third installment deals with the return of the Decepticons who, with government control, hope to eradicate the Autobots, who hope to save the world in light of what Apollo 11 astronauts found on the moon. Yes, none of this makes any sense, but it does not matter when 3-D robots are re-created on the screen right before your eyes and come to life with Shia LaBeouf at the helm. All of this is happening without the help of Megan Fox, but instead with the able assistance of Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely. John Turturro, who lends his voice to “Cars 2,” also stars, as does Oscar winner Frances McDormand and the incomparable John Malkovich.

Do I like this movie? Of course I do, because what is not to like? Incredible scenery, amazing special effects and a third installment that actually works. Bravo and enjoy your holiday weekend, not to mention all that popcorn. 

Also opening this weekend is the sublime and almost lame “Larry Crowne,” starring Academy Award winners Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks. Here, Hanks plays a Navy veteran who is a little down on his luck, returning to community college and falling for his speech professor. It is sweet and nice, and no 3-D glasses are required, but the tameness is a little dulling to the senses. Both actors deserve better.

 Disney kids fans will love seeing their star and possible Justin Bieber love interest Selena Gomez on the big screen. “Monte Carlo” stars Gomez herself along with Andie MacDowell as three women descend on Paris and by chance wind up in Monte Carlo where they learn a little about life and love and possibly a gambling table or two. Big sigh.

Speaking of sequels and future installments, I had no idea there was a “Mission Impossible 4” on the horizon. Much to my surprise, it is named “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.” Sneak previews were just released this week, and Tom Cruise is reportedly strong and better than ever. Brad Bird, of “The Incredibles,” is at the helm of this film, and as a reviewer I must admit that when Cruise gives himself to a project, he does it full throttle and works with the stuntmen, and leaves nothing to chance. Judging by the preview, this next “Mission Impossible” looks as if it could be a contender

That time of year again: Razzie nominations

As cinephiles prepare for tomorrow's Oscar nominations, the ugly stepchild award known as the Razzies announced the best of the worst in cinema for 2010.

Worst picture nominees include the Jennifer Aniston vehicle "The Bounty Hunter," M. Night Shyamalan's "The Last Airbender," sequel "Sex and the City 2", "Vampires Suck," a Twilight parody film from multiple Razzie nominees Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, and the latest installment of the franchise that inspired it, "Twilight: Eclipse."

Click here for the full list of nominees.

Screen scene: Chamber fest film series wraps up, Cinema Novo spring schedule kicks off

The Music Film Series at the El Paso Pro-Musica Chamber Music Festival ends its run with the Wednesday screening of "From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China".
 
The film follows Stern, a Ukranian violinist, as he mentors young musicians in 1970s communist China.
 
The screening begins at 7 p.m. in the Philanthropy Annex of the Plaza Theatre. Tickets are $5. For more information, call 833-9400 or visit eppm.org.
 
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UTEP started it's spring season of Cinema Novo at the UTEP Union Cinema last weekend with a screening of the Clint Eastwood film "Hereafter." This week's feature is "The Kids Are Alright, the Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy starring Annette Bening (who won a Globe for her role) and Julianne Moore.
 
All screenings start at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays until April 30. For more information, visit the Cinema Novo site.
 
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Kern Place mainstay Felini Film Cafe has daily screenings at 7 p.m. This week's standouts include the 2009 Australian film Mao's Last Dancer, about a Chinese ballet dancer whose journey takes him from Beijing to Houston, and the 2010 British film Nowhere Boy, a critically acclaimed portrait of John Lennon's adolescent years. If you haven’t seen 2010’s buzzfilm The Social Network, which has made big waves this award season, you have a chance this Saturday at a 4 p.m. screening.
 
The screenings are Friday and Saturday, respectively. For more information, visit www.fellinifilmcafe.net.

The Critics Choice Awards

I'm back from Hollywood following a whirlwind journey to the Critics Choice Awards. The show was broadcast Live on VH-1 from the Hollywood Palladium. It all began with the "Governator" himself Arnold Schwarznegger talking about his possibly journey back on the big screen, with an audience filled with stars from yesterday and today. Robert Duvall, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman along with Keith Urban... All were there for the first awards show of the season that are clearly the gauge for the Oscar. The only odd presentation moment belonged to the Best Documentary Category presented by the Kardashian sisters, which made audience members wonder if they had even seen any of these films.  "Waiting for Superman," was the big winner which is a captivating look at the cracks in the education system.

I was keeping score on my picks, and I did well in most cases. The two films that scored the most nominations went home moderately empty handed. "Black Swan," meant an award for Natalie Portman for the film despite 12 nominations. "True Grit," was honored for the young performance of Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie. The big winners of the night were "The Fighter," for Best Ensemble Cast and Best Supporting Actors Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. My pick of "The Social Network," won Best Film, Best Directing nods for David Finscher, best screenplay and others. The Best Actor category was won by Colin Firth for "The Kings Speech."  Another one of my favorites this year, "Inception," won Cinematography and most of the technical awards.

In other categories, one of the finest films this year "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," was honored as the Best Foreign Film, and Toy Story 3, nominated for Best Film as well, was awarded with the "Best Animated Feature," prize.

I enjoyed chatting with Jon Hamm of 'The Town," and television's "MadMen," fame, Annette Benning, Kevin Spacey and Ryan Gosling. I had better stop, because I'm beginning to drop names the size of boulders.. Yikes. All in all, a star studded evening. Stay tuned for more as the awards season heats up and watch for the names of the winners.

I'm Back and Ready for ACTION and the Critic's Choice

Well Hello...it has been quite a year for me, but I'm back and ready to report all about films, and to hear what you think about the very latest at the cinema.

This week, I am in Hollywood and while sending my son off to Studies Abroad to Vietnam, ( yes.. he opted to go there from Loyola University in Chicago for studies in World History), I'm preparing to attend the Broadcast Film Critics "Critics Choice Awards."

The awards will be broadcast Live from the Hollywood Palladium on Friday, January 14 at 9:00 p.m. (eastern time), on Vh-1. My money is on "The Social Network," and I definitely predict that Christian Bale will win an award for Best Supporting Actor for "The Fighter." Stay tuned, and we will see if my predictions are correct. I will be on the red carpet and will report the names of the winners and let you know who was here and how it all went. This will be a very interesting year for awards as it is anybody's guess as to who will win.

This Sunday, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association will hand out Golden Globes on Sunday on NBC. Check your local listings for times. This will be an interesting week iN Hollywood, and I will keep you posted as to all of the developments.

Stay Tuned!!!!

My last year at the Plaza Classic Film Festival

Chris Canales / El Paso Times blogger

Starting on August 5, casual moviegoers and connoisseurs of classic films alike will flock downtown to the historic Plaza Theatre to pass an afternoon gazing up at the big screen. I have seen at least a few screenings at the Plaza Classic Film Festival each year since the El Paso Community Foundation started holding it a few years ago, and it has become a staple of my summers in El Paso.

Last year, the Plaza Classic Film Festival really burst onto the scene as a premier event for audiences nationwide. I remember I was flying to Austin when I read about the festival in Spirit, Southwest Airlines's in-flight magazine. The fact that travelers around the country were being called to come to El Paso because of this event was inspiring; El Paso typically has a bit of a weak tourist draw.

This year, however, the festival takes on a special meaning for me. This August, I will be moving to New York City. I don't know if or when I will be back in town for another festival, so I am determined to make this my best yet.

The full schedule for the festival hasn't been released yet, but many of the films that they will show have already been named. You just can't miss movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the 1927 action flick Metropolis, or Hitchcock's timeless horror thriller Psycho. I can't, at least, especially when I fill my head with the thought that many of these films would actually have been screened in the Plaza when they were first released. This is hands-on entertainment history; taking a step into the Plaza festival is like taking a step into the past, into its original glory days.

Yes, I will be immersed in the bright lights of one of the traditional film capitals of the world, but my heart will always rest in the Plaza on August afternoons. I won't always be able to make the most of the opportunity to catch one of the greatest films of all time in one of the greatest venues, but if you can, take advantage. The experience is truly unbeatable.

Films at the 2010 Plaza Classic Film Festival (still incomplete as of June 28, 2010)

Nominees for the Critic's Choice Awards

Here is the list... The Broadcast Films Critics Association is the first to pick the best of the best for 2009, which always acts as the gauge for the Academy Award nominations and winners. The Critic's Choice Awards will be broadcast on Friday, January 15, 2010 on VH-1, 9:00 P.M. EASTERN/7:00 P.M. Mountain Time. I think the best movie this year is "A Serious Man," the film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.

NOMINEES FOR THE 15TH ANNUAL CRITICS' CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Nine
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up In The Air

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney - "Up In The Air"
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
Viggo Mortensen - "The Road"
Jeremy Renner - "The Hurt Locker"

BEST ACTRESS
Emily Blunt - "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Carey Mulligan - "An Education"
Saoirse Ronan - "The Lovely Bones"
Gabourey Sidibe - "Precious"
Meryl Stre ep - "Julie & Julia"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon - "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"
Christian McKay - "Me And Orson Welles"
Alfred Molina - "An Education"
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz - "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Marion Cotillard - "Nine"
Vera Farmiga - "Up In The Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up In The Air"
Mo'Nique - "Precious"
Julianne Moore - "A Single Man"
Samantha Morton - "The Messenger"

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Jae Head - "The Blind Side"
Bailee Madison - "Brothers"
Max Records - "Where The Wild Things Are"
Saoirse Ronan - "The Lovely Bones"
Kodi Smit-McPhee - "The Road"

BEST A CTING ENSEMBLE
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Precious
Star Trek
Up In The Air

BEST DIRECTING
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron - "Avatar"
Lee Daniels - "Precious"
Clint Eastwood - "Invictus"
Jason Reitman - "Up In The Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Mark Boal - "The Hurt Locker"
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - "A Serious Man"
Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber - "(500) Days Of Summer"
Bob Peterson, Peter Docter - "Up"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Wes Anderson, Noah Baumbach - "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell - "District 9"
Geoffrey Fletcher - "Precious"
Tom F ord, David Scearce - "A Single Man"
Nick Hornby - "An Education"
Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner - "Up In The Air"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Barry Ackroyd - "The Hurt Locker"
Dion Beebe - "Nine"
Mauro Fiore - "Avatar"
Andrew Lesnie - "The Lovely Bones"
Robert Richardson - "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST ART DIRECTION
Dan Bishop - "A Single Man"
Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg - "Avatar"
John Myhre, Gordon Sim - "Nine"
Naomi Shohan, George De Titta, Jr. - "The Lovely Bones"
David Wasco, Sandy Reynolds Wasco - "Inglourious Basterds"

BEST EDITING
Dana E. Glauberman - "Up In The Air"
Sally Menke - "Inglourious Basterds"
Bob Murawski, Chris Innis - "The Hurt Locker"
Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron - "Avatar"
Claire Simpson, Wyatt Smith - "Nine"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Colleen Atwood - "Nine"
Janet Patterson - "Bright Star"
Sandy Powell - "The Young Victoria"
Anna Sheppard - "Inglourious Basterds"
Casey Storm - "Where The Wild Things Are"

BEST MAKEUP
Avatar
District 9
Nine
The Road
Star Trek

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar
District 9
The Lovely Bones
Star Trek
2012

BEST SOUND
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Nine
Star Trek

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Princess And The Frog
Up

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Star Trek

BEST COMEDY
(500) Days Of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
The Proposal
Zombieland

BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Gifted Hands
Grey Gardens
Into The Storm
Taking Chance

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Broken Embraces
Coco Before Chanel
Red Cliff
Sin Nombre
The White Ribbon

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Anvil
Capitalism: A Love Story
The Cove
Food, Inc.
Michael Jackson's This Is It

BEST SONG
"All Is Love" - Karen O, Nick Zinner - "Where The Wild Things Are"
"Almost There" - Randy Newman - "The Princess And The Frog"
"Cinema Italiano" - Maury Yeston - "Nine"
"(I Want To) Come Home" - Paul McCartney - "Everybody's Fine"
"The Weary Kind" - T Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham - "Crazy Heart"

BEST SCORE
Michael Giacchino - "Up"
Marvin Hamlisch - "The Informant!"
Randy Newman - "The Princess and the Frog"
Karen O, Carter Burwell - "Where The Wild Things Are"
Hans Zimmer - "Sherlock Holmes"

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.