academy awards

"An Education" - I smell an Oscar nomination

Rated PG13 Directed by Lone Scherfig Starring Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 4.5/5 Word of Warning: None – I simply love this movie. Finally, a really good film is in theaters. How refreshing! Fabulous directing, outstanding acting and a clever narrative make this film a HeidiTown favorite (and I would nominate “An Education” for Best Picture come Oscar

Oscar Rewind

This year’s Academy Awards show did not disappoint, nor did it provide many surprises. “Slumdog Millionaire,” nominated for ten Oscars, walked away with six, including Best Picture and Best Director. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” won only three Oscars, including Art Direction, Visual Effects and Makeup. Ron Howard’s critically acclaimed “Frost/Nixon,” and “Doubt”  were both  shut out. Kate Winslet finally won Best Actress for “The Reader,” after having been

HeidiTown Oscar Predictions

From gowns to speeches, I am crazy about the Academy Awards.   I sit rapt through the red carpet show, the award ceremony and the follow-up best and worst dressed shows that will follow all week. Obviously, I look forward to the Academy Awards, and they are finally  here. Here are my illustrious  predictions: Documentary Feature –  The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), Encounters at the End of the World, Garden, Man on

"The Reader" - a mixed review

Rated R Directed by Stephen Daldry Starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Hannah Herzprung, Karoline Herfurth Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 3 Word of Warning: Graphic sex scenes, this one is not for those who blush easily.                 I’ve been watching previews of this movie for month and I really wanted to like “The Reader.” It was recently nominated for an Oscar in the

"Frost/Nixon" - not quite as boring as it appeared in the previews

Rated R Directed by Ron Howard Starring Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Toby Jones, Matthew MadFayden Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 3.5 Word of Warning: The R rating is entirely to a few four-letter words. Other than those words, it would have been a PG movie.   Good performance throughout the movie, in addition to the historical significance of the event, makes “Frost/Nixon” worth watching, but I do not feel it

"The Wrestler" - Rourke's role of a lifetime

  Rated R Directed by Darren Aronofsky Starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Judah Friedlander, Ajay Naidu Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 4.5 Word of Warning: This is a movie for adults and the R rating is appropriate.   Complete with solid writing, a believable storyline and outstanding performances, I believe “The Wrestler” is one of the best movies of 2008. The movie opened in limited release, but with critical

"Gran Torino" a short review

Rated R Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 4.5 Word of Warning: Language, racial slurs and violence – this one’s not for the kiddos or the easily offended.   Written, directed and starring an icon of our time, Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino is one of the best movies of 2008 (it was in limited release during December, widely released in January). Clint Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a veteran of the Korean War and

"Doubt" a review

Rated PG Directed by John Patrick Shanley Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 3 Word of Warning: Dialogue driven film, adapted from a play; may bore the young or those who prefer a faster paced movie.   I have no doubt Meryl Streep will win the Best Actress for her portrayal of Sister Aloysius Beauvier at the Golden Globes and Oscars this year. “Doubt” is

Movie Review: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Rated PG13 Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 3.75 Word of Warning: Some war scenes and tame sexual situations.   After watching months of previews for this movie, I had had enough of the storyline and when it finally arrived in theaters I didn’t go to see it right away. However, when I finally decided to see “Benjamin Button,” the story had me captivated from beginning to end. As I walked out of