What You Missed: Dec. 20, 2014

Written by O’Boyd

Another new feature in Cinema Corner 2.0 is our wrap-up file of all the movie-related events from the day. Think the Drudge Report meets Hollywood.

Why should you have to search all over the Internet for movie news when you can get it all right here. We’ll list here some of the stuff we’ve posted from earlier in the day along with other items we think you should check out. Each day, we hope to provide you with a roundup of sorts of the things we believe you’ll enjoy and want to read about.

As always, enjoy.

From Walt Disney Studios’ Facebook page. Remember, there’s less than a week before Christmas. Be sure to get those presents wrapped.

OUR HEADLINES

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ says ‘thank you’

First picture of Spielberg, Hanks in Cold War spy mission film

Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart team up in first ‘Get Hard’ trailer

Well, looks like we’re down to four directors for next ‘Star Trek’ film

Legendary Pictures really wants you to get to know ‘Seventh Son’

JoBlo.com gives us six featurettes to educate us on “Kingsman: The Secret Service”

Andy Serkis can finally spill the beans, somewhat, on ‘The Force Awakens’

Watch the new trailer for ’71’ before you go see ‘Unbroken’

Jim Carrey teaming up with ‘Dumb and Dumber To’ producers for ‘Deep Cover’

Coming to Theaters: Dec. 19, 2014

What You Missed: Dec. 19, 2014

THE LATEST ON THE SONY HACK AND “THE INTERVIEW”

• Obama: Sony made a mistake in canceling “The Interview.”

• Sony’s CEO: “We have not caved.”

• Sony says it spoke to White House before and after “The Interview” was pulled.

• Sony hackers gloat over the studio pulling the plug on “The Interview.”

• Three actors from “The Interview” speak about the film and their roles.

• Sean Penn gives his opinion. So does George Clooney.

• Screen Junkies has six Seth Rogen/James Franco movies that also should be banned.

• Vulture has a great story about how “The Interview” has renewed interest in Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator.”

• Wanna see how Americans look in North Korean films? It’s not very flattering.

A new trailer for “The Interview,” approved, of course, by Guardians of Peace.

REST OF THE NEWS

• Kate Winslet is the latest to be considered for the Steve Jobs biopic.

• Is Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) going to make an appearance on the ABC television show “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?”

• Why hasn’t a redhead ever won an Oscar? The Hollywood Reporter explains.

• The first official trailer for “The Duke of Burgundy” makes “50 Shades of Grey” seem like a walk in the park.

• There are two 30-second TV spots for the Johnny Depp film “Mortdecai,” which hits theaters on Jan. 23. I’ll let you think on that.

You have seen the Christmas lights display set to songs from “Star Wars” and “Frozen.” You haven’t? Well, here you go.

• See Sarah Michelle Geller in a clip for the video-on-demand film “Veronica Decides to Die.” It releases on Jan. 20.

• The next movie on the Schmoes Know 25 Days of Christmas: “Elf.”

• Peter Jackson has never read a comic book and has no plans to make a Marvel film.

• Children’s movies are really sad and violent, a study concludes.

• Here’s the cast from “The Santa Clause” 20 years later.

• Screen Rant’s worst movies and best movies of 2014.

• Screen Crush’s best and worst movies of 2014.

• Bad Ass Digest has its best films of 2014 list.

First picture of Spielberg, Hanks in Cold War spy mission film

Written by O’Boyd

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks always make a great film couple.

The two have worked together on such classics as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Catch Me If You Can” and “The Terminal” along with the HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Their latest project comes out on Oct. 16 and involves the Cold War.

Entertainment Weekly posted a photo of the two during shooting for the yet titled film.

The film involves a rescue mission of a captured pilot behind enemy lines in the Soviet Union during 1960. Hanks plays a lawyer, James Donovan, involved in the situation. The film is based on a true story of Francis Gary Powers, a U.S. pilot shot down over Soviet airspace in 1960 while piloting a U-2 spy plane.

From EW.com:

“This is one of the more astonishing stories about the Cold War I’d ever heard. James Donovan is a hero to me, and Tom made him so completely accessible.”

It’s part of EW’s slideshow promoting the films of 2015 they are anxiously looking forward to seeing. That includes “Chappie,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ted 2” (in the first official picture released from the film), the Spielberg-Hanks film, “Spectre,” “Hunger Games: Mockingly Part 2” and some space film called “The Force Awakens.”

“Chappie”

“The Avengers: Age of Ultron”

Ted 2

“Spectre”

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2”

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” 

YouTube video pits Spielberg, Hitchcock, Tarantino, Kubrick, Bay in epic rap battle

Written by O’Boyd

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been searching for movie-related news and just happened to stumble upon something that’s pure gold.

This is another example.

Epic Rap Battles of History is a YouTube channel where people dress up as particular individuals and go toe to toe in a sing-off like the ones you’d seem Eminem do in the film “8 Mile.” The channel – created by Nice Peter, epicLLOYD, Dave McCary and Maker Studios – has been around since Feb 7, 2006 but, for some reason, Tuesday morning was the first time I’ve stumbled upon it.

The group’s latest video pits Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchock, Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick and Michael Bay in a four-minute rap-off of the best directors in movie history. You can download the video, subscribe to the channel (ERB) and even vote on who won the rap.

There are also numerous other movie-related battles such as Hitler vs. Vader (Season 3), Romeo and Juliet vs. Bonnie and Clyde and Jack the Ripper vs. Hannibal Lecter (Season 4). The YouTube page already has over 15 million views this month alone, so chances are you’ve probably seen this stuff before. But if not, it’s worth checking out.

Warning: There is some language in it, pretty much the amount you’d expect from your average rap song or video. But it’s still worth watching.

Reviews of the Past: ‘Oscars 13 preview’

The next set of reviews we’ll be publishing are some of the ones Roger Thomas has done exclusively for The Stanly News & Press. Roger has written movie reviews for The Stanly News & Press and other outlets for years, long before starting this blog. So we decided it would be good to give readers a sample of his previous work, in addition to posts of reviews of current films. Other reviews will run daily.

Wow, what a year for Oscar!

By now, I think most of my three or four readers know that I love this time of year.  People often say to me, “You love the Oscars!” And I always replay, “No, I love movies and the Academy Awards celebrate good and often great movies.” My Oscar predictions, along with those of my editor B. J. Drye, will appear in the SNAP, but in this column, I only want to mention some interesting things about this year with Oscar.

Argo

First, assuming that “Argo” wins Best Picture (and most wise people are predicting it will win) this will be the first year I have agreed with the Academy since “Slumdog Millionaire” four years ago. No, I did not think “The Artist” should have beat “The Descendants” last year. Nor did I believe that “The Hurt Locker” should have beaten “Up In the Air” three years ago. And I have a list of films that should have won over “The King’s Speech,” but I will not name them all now.  For me, I am just excited that the Academy is probably going to get it right, again.

If “Argo” does win, not only will it be the first film since “Driving Miss Daisy” in 1989 to win without a Director Nomination, “Argo” and “Daisy” will be the only two films to have achieved this since 1932. As for the number of nominations the film received, four others received more nominations than “Argo.” The fifth most nominated film has never won the Oscar for Best Picture. “Chariots of Fire,” 31 years ago, ranked fourth for nominations (behind “On Golden Pond,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Reds”) and was able to still win Best Picture. “Argo” will make history in many ways if it wins Oscar night.

Silver Linings Playbook

There are other interesting things about this year. This is the first time in 31 years that a film, “Silver Linings Playbook,” received an acting nomination in each of the four categories. “(Reds” was the last film to achieve this, again in 1981.)

Steven Spielberg

Since Ben Affleck is not up for director, Steven Spielberg could win the Oscar for directing, making it his third win in this category. He would be tied with Frank Capra and William Wyler who each won three directing Oscars. Only John Ford won more with four wins for direction.

Daniel Day-Lewis

If Daniel Day-Lewis wins for “Lincoln,” and he will, this will be his third for Best Actor (following “My Left Foot” in 1989 and “There Will Be Blood in 2007).” No male has ever won three lead acting Oscars. Jack Nicholson has three Oscars for acting but one is for a supporting role in “Terms of Endearment.” Walter Brennan also has three Oscars for acting (all supporting) and Robert De Niro may get his third for acting on Oscar night. (De Niro has one lead and one supporting right now.) Another interesting point about Day-Lewis winning is that he will be the first actor to win for playing an American president; many have been nominated for playing real or fictional presidents but no one has won for such a role.

Amour

Other odd things could, but probably will not happen. A foreign film, “Amour,” could finally win Best Picture. A 9-year-old or an 85-year-old could break a record by winning Best Actress. A James Bond movie could win four Oscars. Naomi Watts’ extraordinary performance in “The Impossible” could surprise everyone with a win for Best Actress. Someone other than Anne Hathaway could win Best Supporting Actress. “Anna Karenina’s” amazing production design and cinematography could both be recognized along with the film’s costumes which seem to be a sure win. But I doubt any of these things will happen.

Here is what I know for sure. It will a fun night, with a few surprises, but do not expect a lot of upsets. The real surprise came earlier when “Argo” starting winning all the “guild awards.”

And one quick note about next year’s ceremony. Watch out for John Goodman. If “Argo” wins, Goodman will have a major supporting role in the last two Best Picture winners. Can he make it three? The former TV star has six films coming out in 2013, so anything could happen.

Finally, if “Argo” does win Best Picture, how many other Oscars will it receive? Many are predicting two or maybe three others. If “Argo” wins only three Oscars including Best Picture, it will be in good company joining “Crash,” “Rocky,” “The Godfather,” “Midnight Cowboy,” “All the King’s Men” and “Casablanca.” Quite a list of underachievers.

But regardless of who or what wins the Awards, my 24th Annual Oscar Party will be a great evening because those gathered in my home and those watching around the world will spend an evening celebrating a great year at the cinema.

And the winner was …

All the nominees