Pezzonovante Blog

Oscar Predictions!

2009-01-23T02:12:00.013-05:00

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! I am back. It would give me great pleasure to announce all of the nominees for the 81st Annual Academy Awards but that would take up a single blog page so instead I'll just give you my two cents on who will win or be the runner up for each category.

P.S. I haven't seen all the movies on the list so this is a totally biased blog.
P.S. x 2 Expect Mr. Villa to put his 4 cents in.
P.S. x 3 What does P.S. stand for?

Actor in a leading role
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Sean Penn (straight man) is playing a homosexual man..enough said...that's acting, but I didn't see the movie so what do I know. I didn't see The Wrestler either, but I will and I am a big fan of Mickey so I hope he wins. Now the only movie I saw that was lead by one of these talented actors was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt carried a accent throughout the whole movie, and was on screen as a old wrinkly man to a Zac Efron looking teenager. I am giving credit where credit is due and Mr. Pitt picks better roles than a fat woman but still....I can't choose....ah what the hell..go Mickey!

Actor in a supporting role
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Short and simple...Downey was funny, Hoffman was incredible, Ledger was unforgettable.

May it go to the Joker.

Actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Anne Hathaway is stepping it up, congrats to her but she's not going to win. Streep is a juggernaut in this game having now received 15 Oscar nominations, she might take it. However, I spent time with Jolie in Changeling, she is talented as much as her significant other and I am going to have to with.....Meryl Streep.

Actress in a supporting role
Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

I saw Ms. Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and I thought she acted like Penelope Cruz, which was good but i think she was better in 'Blow'. Taraji Henson is a newcomer to the whole nominations bit and I think she deserves it...uh hum..Marisa Tomei is hot, not saying she didn't do a good job but I put her on the list because she's hot.

Best animated feature film of the year
“Bolt” (Walt Disney), Chris Williams and Byron Howard
“Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

My choice, and everyone else's...........WALL-E! A movie about obesity, waste, technology, and love, and has less dialogue than any animated movie I have ever seen. Again, WALL-E wins.

Achievement in art direction
“Changeling” (Universal), Art Direction: James J. Murakami, Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Art Direction: Michael Carlin, Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway

Changeling - 1920's style clothing and location, good job.
The Duchess - 18th century style clothing and location, good job.
The Dark Knight - I would have loved it if it was a bit more dreary.

.....I'm going to go with Changeling.

Achievement in cinematography
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

I haven't seen Slumgdog yet (I know, I'm horrible) and I don't want to offend anyone so I'll leave it up there. CCof BB had great direction as did The Dark Knight, but I am going to have to go with The Dark Knight because of the upside scene with the Joker.

Achievement in costume design
“Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor

In regards to costume design, I am going to go with....Australia only because I think costume design in CCofBB could have been stronger, but I know all to well that movies about England or France usually take the award home.

Achievement in directing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

I list everyone but I only saw CCofBB and so I'll go with that..no lifelines....final answer.

Achievement in film editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith

I am going to have to say...The Dark Knight.

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Damn, this is tough, um....The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Alexandre Desplat
“Defiance” (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Elfman
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

I am going to have to go with....Defiance.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman,
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

I'll say "O Saya"...love the drums, hate the synthesiser however. I get enough of that from Lil Wayne but M.I.A. is the sh*t.

Best motion picture of the year
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.) “Frost/Nixon” (Universal),
“Milk” (Focus Features),
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company),
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight)

I really can't answer this but I think I'm going to have to say Slumdog Millionaire...well maybe I can answer it.

Achievement in sound editing / Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Glenn Freemantle and Tom Sayers
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
“Wanted” (Universal), Wylie Stateman

Wow, what a list, um.....WALL-E...sound editing and mixing.

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Visual Effects?.......The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Adapted screenplay
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
“Doubt” (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

___________________ (I can't choose)

Original screenplay
“Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh
“Milk” (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

My vote goes to WALL-E.

So there you have it ladies and gentleman, my choices and my 2 cents.

P.S. x4 Here are the categories I did not list.

Best documentary feature
Best documentary short subject
Best foreign language film of the year
Best animated short film
Best live action short film

Behind the Scenes: Under the Circumstances

2008-12-18T09:57:00.002-05:00

So this is what Felix has been pretending to work on... I still don't believe it though.

Joell Oritz - Day N Nite (Brooklyn Remix)

2008-12-18T09:53:00.003-05:00

Joell Ortiz > Kid Cudi.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/52907433307fe79e/

Straight up jacked from Nah Right.

We Back, Snitches!

2008-12-17T19:04:00.002-05:00

Ok, well, not really. I'm back. I don't know about Mr.Felix, but I do know that I have a hell of a lot of time on my hands for the next month. What's been happening to Mr.Villa you ask?

Nuffin'.

Some things did change while we were away:

1) Barack Obama was elected president.
2) The Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since I was in 4th grade.

Oh yea... and in the words of the great DP, the economy got "Effed the Eff Up!".

More drops to come.

Video: Rapper Big Pooh ft. Joe Scudda & Chaundon - Plastic Cups

2008-09-10T17:39:00.000-04:00

Sweet.

Trailer - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2008-09-06T16:27:00.000-04:00

He's aging backwards. Freakin' sick.

Common feat. Pharrell - Announcement

2008-08-30T20:00:00.002-04:00

Nice... still waitin' for Universal Mind Control though...

Under the Circumstances: Day 1

2008-08-30T19:57:00.001-04:00

Word on the street is that we may have started filming... maybe... there may also be visual proof... but that may just be rumors...stay tuned...

Fast and Furious Trailer

2008-08-25T16:59:00.000-04:00

It's definitely the best one yet...

RE: Under the Circumstances

2008-08-15T22:03:00.002-04:00

We've realized that most of you are probably visiting the blog for updates on the casting call for our latest short film "Under the Circumstances". We'll be contacting people shortly about auditions. Check this post in the next few days, as well be putting up information as time goes on.

Jay-Z - Jockin' Jay-Z

2008-08-12T02:37:00.005-04:00

This is song is firrrrrrrrrrre w/ the extra hard "r". Definition of Jockin' for those out of the loop.

Update: I'm such a douche... I posted the wrong song... it should be good now...

Video: Kanye West - Champion

2008-08-12T02:34:00.001-04:00

I need to get me one of them Yeezy puppets...

RIP Bernie Mac

2008-08-09T09:46:00.002-04:00

Actor and comedian Bernie Mac dies at age 50

Damn. There were some hoaxes earlier this week about him dying, so I'm keeping an eye out on this one... the AP and CNN are running with it though, so hopefully they did their due diligence...

Video: N.E.R.D, feat Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and Pusha T - Everybody Nose (Remix)

2008-08-06T20:29:00.003-04:00

Chea! Straight out jacked from Nah Right.

Feel Better Mr.Freeman

2008-08-05T02:52:00.003-04:00

This is how me and J.S. usually argue...

And in case you've been under a rock:

Morgan Freeman hospitalized after car wreck

Video: Joel Ortiz - Good Times

2008-07-30T08:54:00.002-04:00

Ok. This video brought me out of hibernation. Ortiz does a nice job of recollecting and making me feel all nostalgic...

The Joker

2008-07-18T14:39:00.003-04:00

Now I know how people felt when Star Wars came back out in the late 1990s. With tickets sold out all weekend, and people strolling into work late just to see the Joker, I mean The Dark Knight, great reviews, and oscar buzz for the late Ledger, I can honestly say this movie is going to break box office records. Seriously, when is the last time you were so excited to see the secondary character in a flick.

ENJOY!....I WILL.

Good Morning

2008-07-18T09:25:00.005-04:00

I'm in a good mood this morning. I felt like sharing that w/ ya.

Video: Gym Class Heroes - Peace Sign/Index Down

2008-07-15T01:41:00.001-04:00

Video: N.E.R.D - Spazz

2008-07-15T01:17:00.001-04:00

Spazz if you want to.

Casting Call for Under the Circumstances

2008-07-14T22:27:00.002-04:00

Casting Call for: Under The Circumstances
(Comedy/Adventure) - Short Film

Shooting Period: August - September

JACKSON

Male
20+
Either White or Hispanic
Short Hair
Athletic
Must be able to give wide range of facial expressions
Must have good stamina

STACY

Female
20-30 years old
White (European Descent) or Hispanic
Between 5’2” and 5’10”
Below 150 lbs
Blonde, Brunette, Redhead, etc.

MAC

Male
20s-30s
European Descent or Hispanic
Normal Built - Overweight
Long Hair

JERSEY

Female
20s-30s
Any Race
5’4” or taller
Between 120 lbs - 160 lbs
Exotic color hair preferred
Piercings and/or tattoos preferred
Must be comfortable with wearing lingerie

VEGAS

Male
Up to 40 years old
Any Race
4’0 or shorter
Black Hair
Must have full beard
Piercings and/or tattoos preferred

Please email photo and resume to info@pezzonovantefilms.com

Video: Nas - Sly Fox

2008-07-10T21:57:00.002-04:00

Take that Bill "We'll Do It Live" O'Reilly!

Myspace sucks.

Lifted from Nah.

Video: Futuristic Brunch

2008-07-09T22:22:00.003-04:00

Wow. Just a heart attack waiting to happen. They're at it again.

Wall-E Theory

2008-07-08T12:51:00.004-04:00

Didn't see Wall-E, but maybe I aught to... specially seeing as how I've already wasted money watching that garbage Hancock...

Brought to you by Jay Smooth

Jay-Z covers Oasis' Wonderwall?

2008-07-02T01:31:00.002-04:00

Jay-Z performing at Glastonbury, not the most impressive cover of the famous Oasis song, but he makes up for it with 99 problems.