And The Winner Is...

The 81st Annual Academy Awards have drawn to a close and it was quite a spectacle. Many great moments happened during the show from acceptance speeches to musical performances.

Among the top winners were the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (Why he was not included in the In Memoriam segment I will never know...) Also, Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Kate Winslet in The Reader, Sean Penn for Milk, and Best Picture belonging to the overwhelmingly succesful, Slumdog Millionaire.


ABC's coverage of the Academy Awards has everything you need concerning Oscar and the winners in each category.

Fashionistas be sure to enjoy E! Entertainment's coverage of the Red Carpet and all the best and worst dressed stars on Hollywood's biggest night.

This Week's New DVD Releases

The new DVD releases out for this week range from top A-list actors in Hollywood to the teen superstars of the silver screen.

Body of Lies, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russel Crowe is the spy thriller directed by acclaimed director, Ridley Scott.

DiCaprio plays a CIA agent who is searching for terrorists bombing in the land of Jordan. Aided by his supervisor (Crowe) the two seek to bring the terrorist group down but can DiCaprio's allies be trusted?

Next is Changeling, starring actress and United Nations ambassador, Angelina Jolie, under the direction of living legend Clint Eastwood.

Based on a true story from back in the 1920s, Jolie plays a hurting mother who has had her young son abducted. However, when he is said to be found, she suspects cover-up and misconduct as she does not believe the boy to be her real son.







Last, we have the Grease for a new era. The final chapter of High School Musical 3: Senior Year is here!

Starring all the original cast members: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, and Monique Coleman, their senior year proves to be the toughest time for the high-school clique as they prepare to graduate.

Will Troy and Gabriella (Efron/Hudgens) stay together? Will the group break up? What will be the future of the crew? Are they going to college? Will Chad and Troy (Bleu/Efron) remain the best of friends? Will Sharpay (Tisdale) stay fabulous?

All these pressing questions and more are answered in the final piece of the high school trilogy. Tapeworthy has more insights into this high-energy song and dance film.

By the way, there will be no College Musical. Sorry kids.

The Friday Night Movie Pick of the Week!

Opening Feb. 20, 2009 is the new Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes to Jail starring Tyler Perry as Madea, David and Tamela Mann, Derek Luke, and Keshia Knight-Pulliam.


From Perry's play of the same name, this comedy is sure to bring the funny as Madea is sent to jail after being chased on the highway by police. As her family supports from outside her prison bars, Madea has the chance to speak into a young woman's life in need of a change.

Madea is as crazy as they come, from packing heat to not hesitating to knock someone's head off for getting in her way. However, for all her craziness is an equal part of wisdom that is always worth listening to.

This movie, all produced by the mind of Tyler Perry, combines the comedy, love, and wisdom that has been essential to his wonderful movies and plays. This fresh Madea movie will make you laugh, learn, and love.


If you enjoy this film, you'll enjoy many more of Tyler Perry's plays and videos.

Looking Back on Yesteryear: Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

In the month of February of last year (Feb. 8 2008), the premiere of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (Rated PG-13) came to a theater near you. This hilarious comedy starring Martin Lawrence, Cedric the Entertainer, Mo'Nique, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mike Epps, and James Earl Jones is a must see for those who love to laugh.

Martin Lawrence plays famous talk-show host, RJ Stevens, who gains acclaim for his book entitled "The Team of Me." His philosophy has kept him distant from his family as he built his own success from the ground up. But when he returns to his home for his parents 50th Anniversary & family reunion, he comes back to a tough-loving family that raised him and reminds him to never forget where you've come from.

The Critical Critics Review has an opposite critique from my own that may be worth taking a look. Side Note: Check out their grading scale; it's the shiznit!

This comedy about the power of family is one you may want to add in your collection or rent at your local Blockbuster or Netflix.

The International Has Landed in the USA

3 STARS

The International (Rated R) starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts is a smart thriller that doesn't lack "juevos" if you know what I mean.

Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Owen) goes above and beyond his call of duty to bring to justice a corrupt and powerful bank that funds war and terror.

Teamed up with New York assistant DA, Eleanor Whitman (Watts), the two travel around the world in attempts to bring this illegal funding to a permanent close against an opposition who doesn't take it lightly by any means.

Full of action, thrills, and an intelligent plot that will make you wonder just how can this duo pull this off, The International is not for the squeamish or the mind-drifters.


Stay focused on the twists and turns the film will take, and you'll leave a satisfied viewer.

Entertainment Weekly & Rotten Tomatoes reviews have different takes on this thriller that may help your decision on viewing this film.

The 81st Annual Academy Awards & The Race for Oscar!

They're off! The nominees for Oscar are here and it's a stellar line-up. Among the top contenders is Mickey Rourke, a comeback seasoned vet. After 14 years of battling personal problems, authority issues, and matters that Rourke describes on Charlie Rose as "past childhood shame and abandonment," he is back to take his place as a respected actor in the industry. His movie, The Wrestler has been gaining major notoriety especially after his Golden Globe win. (I'm rooting for ya Mickey!)




Also, seasoned veteran Sean Penn (one of my favorite actors) stars in the movie Milk as San Francisco gay activist, Harvey Milk. His performance has also gained critical acclaim, and he is held in high-esteem as an actor that is one of the best of his generation.

Last, the late great Heath Ledger, in his final full-length feature role as the Joker in The Dark Knight, 2008's biggest summer blockbuster and the second biggest box-office smash only to 1997's Titanic. His phenomenal portrayal of the Joker is the darkest yet and the most complete in reference to the comic-book villain. Regardless of this movie being a superhero film, his performance is well-deserving of Oscar glory.

With so many great performances from this year's Academy Award nominees including Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, Josh Brolin, Angelina Jolie, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Taraji P. Henson, and much more, The 81st Academy Awards is sure to have one of its best years yet.

For everything Oscar, go to www.oscar.com and be sure to watch the Oscars on Feb. 22 at 8pm ET/ 5 pm PT on ABC.

Charlie Rose has more informative & in-depth interviews into Oscar's top contenders that are worth the view.

Are You Looking for the Funny or the Scary?

Tomorrow is the dreaded day of Friday the 13th!

Oh please. Don't buy into the hype. You have choices. If you do go for the scary, here is tomorrow's scary movie preview to the madness.

Friday the 13th (Rated R) starring Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti, and Danielle Panabaker is a revamp of the horror franchise as the hockey-mask psychopath known as Jason goes on a killing spree where a group of friends go camping on Crystal Lake.



This not a film for kids. I repeat this is not a film for kids. Expect the gore, sexual content, and everything else you'd expect from this franchise. Comingsoon.net provides ample footage from trailers, interviews, and behind-the-scenes clips.

Also, new to theaters this weekend is a comedy for the ladies starring Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy in Confessions of a Shopaholic (Rated PG). Based on the best-selling novel by Sophie Kinsella, everything you need to know about the film lies in the title. Fisher plays a New York shopaholic that gets in way over her head with bills and dramedy ensues as it affects her life and relationships.

Sounds typical? Probably. If you absolutely must see more, here is the trailer:




Also, look out for The Pink Panther 2 that opened last week, February 6. Steve Martin (one of my favorite comedians) stars as the bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau on a new case sure to be chock-full of comedy.

The film also stars a solid cast including Alfred Molina, Jermey Irons, John Cleese, and stunning Bollywood actress, Aishwarya Rai. (DMR rating: 5 STARS for Aishwarya Rai.)

Hollywood's Pair of Aces Take A New Journey Together

2 1/2 STARS

If you've seen any commercial or trailer for this film, you know this isn't a feel good flick. However, that doesn't mean it is not a good film.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet star in the intense drama, Revolutionary Road (Rated R), their second movie together since the 1997 epic blockbuster, Titanic (DMR rating: 5 STARS).

An adaptation of the 1961 Richard Yates novel, the two play a young married couple in the 1950s. Unhappy and wanting to live life to the fullest, they desire to be free from a way of American life that has limitations.

However, when they find a way to be free and live their dreams, society and circumstance pulls them back and the flaws within the seemingly perfect pair come to the surface.

Directed by Sam Mendes (Winslet's real-life husband) this intense film depicts another interpretation of white-suburbia in the 1950s and that the mentality that society has is not so far from the way society is today.

This film is not for everybody. However, it has powerful acting and remains true to the realities people dealt with at the time. Strong language, sexual scenes, and brief nudity are a part of the film as well.

EW.com & Rotten Tomatoes movie reviews on Revolutionary Road are quite different and can help you determine whether to watch this film or not.

Weekend Movie Premieres- February 6, 2009

New to cinemas this Friday is the dramedy chic-flick, He's Just Not That Into You (Rated PG-13) with an all-star cast of Drew Barrymore, Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Justin Long, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Busy Phillips, and Anna Bugarin. Here's a taste of what you can expect:



Also, if you're jonesing for some action, Push (Rated PG-13) comes to theaters this Friday starring Chris Evans, Dijimon Honsou, and Dakota Fanning.

*Side note: Fanning debuted in one of my favorite films: I Am Sam. It's a must see. Check it out.

SuperHeroHype.com has a special interview from the cast of Push that gets you behind-the-scenes and into the action.

Previews of Upcoming 2009 Blockbusters

Heads up moviegoers! Some upcoming & promising blockbusters for 2009 have been announced during Superbowl XLIII. Look out for:

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26, 2009)




Star Trek (May 8, 2009)




G.I. JOE (August 7, 2009)