TOP 5 SHOTS from "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

It's official. I'm out of excuses for not bringing this column back, be it with less of a bang than a slight ease-in, so another welcome to the retooled "Top Shots". You may have noticed in prior lists that the amount of dynamic shots has a potential to vary from film to film. Occasionally, I'm just stretching to a ridiculous point to bring ten shots in, so having a sense of rotation in the list is as freeing as it is stressful. Not having an extra five shots to lean back on means much more care in picking five for the top, so this week felt the need for something that wasn't so incredibly overbearing in terms of numerous cinematic opportunities.

Seeing as "The Bourne Legacy" is out this weekend, which not only features star Jeremy Renner, but also cinematographer Robert Elswit, the choice for this week wasn't just obvious. It was delightful, given it's a film I have no problem seeing repeatedly. "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" made the cut for my Top 20 of 2011 literally under the wire, given an update to replace "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" at #20 for something I genuinely had a great deal more encouragement towards. It's a film that not only knows how to have a ridiculously good time, but to evoke some tangible emotional themes throughout that the casual viewer might overlook.

"The Bourne Legacy" Trailer

I admit myself guilty. I watched it. I broke my rule so easily, and I watched the trailer for "The Bourne Legacy", but it wasn't for no reason. It's because this entry of the series is moored in trepidatious and uncertain waters. As somebody who thought the first three films absolutely kicked ass, the idea of somebody stepping on that territory with something "new" terrifies me. I really don't want to see them fuck this one up, and that's why I watched it. And you know what? I'm in. It looks pretty cool. I'm not sure how they'll make it necessary, but I'll bite.

Film Review: "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol"

When you hit the fourth film in a feature franchise, there are a number of ways you can go. You can establish a strong footing for the rest of your series ("Harry Potter"), you can abandon everything that made the previous trilogy great ("Star Wars", "Indiana Jones", "Pirates of the Caribbean", the list goes on), or you can do what "Mission: Impossible" did, and just go out and make the best film you possibly can. This a series that had nothing to do in the first two installments, so no real purpose, and then they tried something interesting with the third and deepened the characters, gave it a jolt of humor, and several needed splashes of style. They did well to hold onto that.

So do I see this as the fourth film in the franchise? No. I actually consider it the second in the series that Abrams kicked off in 2006. Now it has become the jumping off point for Brad Bird's first time as a live action director. I think I had some trepidation when the first trailer came around, but we should have never expected an emotional hard-hitter. That's not what this series is, but it does have an emotional undercurrent that works as a steady heartbeat to hold everything together. What Brad Bird has established in his past of animated films is a lively energy and constantly upheld excitement. That translates perfectly for this piece.

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" Trailer

There's been a fair bit of silence around the latest "Mission Impossible" film, and I'd like to think it's more skillful than it is apprehensive. Then this trailer comes around and reveals just a little too much. I'm no fan of a film showing its card before it plays, so that kind of upset me a bit. Still, the trailer packs a strong enough punch. Between the Burj Khalifa and a sandstorm car chase, I'm totally in.

"The Avengers" Teaser Trailer

I suppose I'm not going to be as crazy about this trailer as most people will. After all, I don't think I've ever merited a Marvel superhero film anywhere above 3 stars. However, I am looking forward to seeing how these characters coexist. From what I see here, Tony Stark seems to be much of the catalyst here. Steve Rogers is all too serious. Banner is kept on hold to the end, as they would. Thor doesn't get much beyond chuckling at Stark's joke. I think he'll certainly be amused by Stark. I can imagine the two of them having a drink at some point in the film. I'll wait and see what else comes. It looks fun.

"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" Teaser Trailer

Really, of all the ways they could've gone, they put Eminem as the musical backdrop of this trailer? More than a tad unorthodox, but I expect the marketing is trying to lure in the Transformers crowd that will be seeing it before Dark of the Moon. Yes, they vault a car in the air that Tom Cruise just barely misses, and he does, once again, vault off the side of a building, but how can you not expect that from a Mission Impossible film? Honestly, Ghost Protocol looks to be an exciting sort of film, but the teaser obviously wouldn't show that. It's a showcase of the action on display in the film. Don't pass judgment just yet. And honestly, when Tom Wilkinson surprisingly shows up in your film, how can you complain?

Oscar 2010 Predictions: Supporting Actor

We live in a world of good and bad, and it almost seems as if we spend so much time defining the line between those two that we forget about the line between good and great. That's my biggest problem with this year's Oscar race, and I doubt that I'm alone on this one. I had so much overwhelming trouble compiling a list of last year's best, not only because I hadn't seen everything, but because there were so few truly great films. Not to mention the fact that at the time I was compiling my list, I hadn't made the important revelations that didn't occur until we reached this Oscar race. This Oscar season has really shaped me more critically than any other in recent memory, and that's the biggest complement I can give it.

So, you can stand to reason that all of the performances in the Best Supporting Actor category are good, but can we really say that they're all great? I hardly believe that to be the case, especially since one of my favorite supporting performances of the year wasn't even nominated here, and I'm not speaking of Andrew Garfield's sweet and sympathetic performance in The Social Network. I'm talking about Vincent Cassel's finely cut performance in Black Swan as the intense ballet director and Nina's romantic fancy. Almost every character in the film is two-sided, which offers only the greatest performances.

As for what is nominated, I can't say all are deserving to be here, and the one I find my mind coming back to constantly is Geoffrey Rush in The King's Speech. I know he used to be the frontrunner, but he just lacks the extra depth that's needed to go above and beyond. If there's anybody who's going to steal the top prize from the preferred winner, it will be him, but undeservedly so. Similarly, Jeremy Renner did a fantastic job with what he was given in The Town, and he just bordered on being truly great. The role was there, and he was there, but something benign just seems to be holding him back a bit.

So who is nominated here and deserves to be here? For one thing, I still feel Mark Ruffalo's character in The Kids Are All Right was given a melancholic and half-fulfilled ending, which is really perfect for the performance he gave. It's really fascinating in that less-is-more sort of way, and Ruffalo has always excelled in such subtleties. John Hawkes is my #2 pick for this category, and he emphasizes everything I loved about Winter's Bone, with the gruff exterior shrouding a wearied heart underneath. He's sadly not going to win this year, which adds to my hopes that he really pulls out all the stops in Martha Marcy May Marlene.

This category simply belongs to Christian Bale this year, and it's almost an act of apology after the Academy snubbing him all these years. It's unfortunate that he hasn't received a nomination until now, but it's great that he's set to receive his first win this year. He always falls completely into these roles, from every expression and every breathe, and it almost always feels unique to that specific character. This is one of those instances, and when Bale's playing a coked up former-wrestler whose fame is widely debatable, as is the case in The Fighter, you're going to deal with some crazy emotions. Bale matches those perfectly, as he almost always does.

1. Christian Bale (The Fighter)
2. John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
3. Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
4. Jeremy Renner (The Town)
5. Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

Will & Should Win: Christian Bale (The Fighter)

Potential Upset: Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

Should Have Been Nominated: Vincent Cassel (Black Swan)

What's Next?: Best Supporting Actor

We had something of a weak start to this series last week, with a bunch of supporting actresses who weren't planning on doing anything radical or new in the next year. This week is certainly a step in the right direction, with five supporting actors who have rather large and immediate plans made. Take John Hawkes for example, who is currently nominated for his role in Winter's Bone, which premiered a year ago at Sundance. This year he has a similar Sundance darling in the form of Martha Marcy May Marlene, in which he plays the leader of the cult that Elizabeth Olsen's character is trying to escape from. I'd be very happy to see the man back here again next year.

Mark Ruffalo's next feature is certainly an ambitious one, and he has some literally huge shoes to fill. He's set to appear as Bruce Banner, otherwise known as the Hulk, in Joss Whedon's The Avengers, currently slotted to release in May of 2012. On a related note, Christian Bale also has a superhero role by the first name of Bruce to head into after he picks up his Oscar statuette later this month. The Dark Knight Rises is piecing itself together as we speak, with a few casting rumors still circulating. I doubt they're going to put Robin Williams in as Hugo Strange, because I feel we have all the villains we need for the film to work. However, if Joseph Gordon Levitt ends up playing a supporting protagonist, I'm totally in. Wally Pfister has also recently said that he's read the script for the film, and it could potentially top The Dark Knight. If that doesn't make you want to push time forward to July 2012, then I have no idea what does.

I'm sorry if it felt like I was going off course, but I just had to get that news out there. Getting back on topic, Geoffrey Rush can be said to have big plans this year, but depending on who you ask, he could also have made some decisions. This May, Rush reunites with Johnny Depp for the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, On Stranger Tides, this time circling around the fountain of youth. With each film, there is a certain chance of some shred of disappointment, and this is no different. Still, it may be good impure entertainment, but certainly no more. Capping things off with Jeremy Renner, he has two rather large box office enterprises to head into. For one thing he has a supporting role in The Avengers, so he may have a scene to shoot with Mark Ruffalo. On the more immediate horizon, he's working with Brad Bird on Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, which could be the best film in the franchise. I expect big things of Brad Bird, and he's never let us down before. Not to my recollection anyway.

Images (in order): Christian Bale in The Dark Knight; John Hawkes in Martha Marcy May Marlene

Seydoux, Kapoor, Patton, Nyqvist, and Holloway Join "Mission: Impossible 4"

We have a fully loaded report on the growing cast of Brad Bird's Mission: Impossible 4. I've been completely in love with the casting for this film up to this point, and if this is our final cast then consider me contented. We've already received news that Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) has joined the cast, which seems to include people who had bit parts in all the films you love. Lea Seydoux (Inglourious Basterds), Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire), Paula Patton (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire), Michael Niqvist (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and Josh Holloway (Lost) are all on board for the latest outing in the franchise.

Oscar 2010: Does "The Town" Stand A Chance?

Over this weekend, as The Town quietly achieved critical and box office acclaim, it appears that somewhere out of that emerged a flicker of Oscar hope. After seeing the film, I felt that it was spectacular and better than most of the films out there this year, but it didn't stand a chance against the other films up for Oscar glory. However, it seems people have really responded to it in a positive way, most especially at an Academy screening. I know that the Academy is a pretty big part in deciding who is nominated, but I'm very careful about what I hear coming from these screenings.

I think that when it comes down to it, it's going to be a fight between The Town and Inception, because the two have some prevalent similarities, besides the fact that they're both heist films. If I were to ask a reader stumbling upon this blog which had a more likely chance of winning, they'd say Inception, not only because it's more of a crowd-pleaser, but because it's just a better film. I'm sorry to stamp out all hope of The Town being nominated, but it's just not that kind of film. It's one of my favorites of the year, but so is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Is it going up on my predictions? No. If this film has any chances, it's in Jeremy Renner for Supporting Actor, and that's where Warner Bros. should put most of it's cards for this film.

Film Review: The Town

Three years ago, critics welcomed Gone Baby Gone by saying that Ben Affleck had finally found his muse in the form of directing. At the time, I felt that it was a bit of a jump, as I do for any film from a first time director. However, seeing as Affleck pulled out another spectacular film in his sophomore effort solidifies him as an up and coming filmmaker. It's hard to get an idea in your head of him directing, because we're used to seeing him playing dumb and emotionless characters. Here he displays ace directing and pretty decent acting as well.

The Town would've been the best heist film of the year if it weren't for a little film called Inception, but it makes a close second place. It's set in Charlestown, one of the most crime infested neighborhoods in Boston. Affleck plays Doug MacRay, an intelligent and calm leader of a group of bank robbers. The opening scene of the film drops us right into the action with a heist going exactly as planned without a hitch, except one Claire Keesey. After tracking her down to ensure that she doesn't tell too much to the FBI, Doug falls for her.

One of the sub-genres I most appreciate is the heist film, because when they do it right, you can't help but appreciate all the thought they put into it. You can't be just another dumb grunt to pull off anything like the stuff Dougy and the gang are dealing with. You have to be precise, and you have to be willing to make sacrifices. The heists in The Town aren't just precise, but they're also intense action set-pieces that easily trump films like The A-Team. You know from the beginning to the end that they're eventually going to get jammed up. That sense of foreboding stays with you throughout the entire film.

This film contains one of my all-time favorite ensemble casts, with everybody bringing something to the table. Though it isn't saying much, this is Ben Affleck's best performance to date, and he's moving in the right direction. His role could've been played by somebody else, but he's able to hold the film together from both sides of the camera, and that's very prevalent here. Rebecca Hall nicely fits the role of Claire, and she's more than just a pretty face. She's going through a lot of trauma, and though Doug keeps trying to help her, their entire situation is just too much for her.

Titus Welliver, better known as the Man in Black from Lost, gets a small role, but he makes the best of the little screen time he is afforded. Pete Postlethwaite is pretty intense as the main villain of this story. His one or two scenes with Affleck add so much to the story. Blake Lively also inhabits a smaller role than most of the players, and she's pretty much cast as your typical coked-out prostitute mother that I hope she isn't given too much of in the future. She does some nice work here.

Finally, we get to my favorites in the film. Jon Hamm may be the guy who's trying to crunch in on our protagonists, but he pulls it off with style and class, as per usual. I was always leaning forward whenever he showed up on the screen. It's a semi-one-dimensional role, but his work with it suggests that he deserves bigger and better roles in the future. Then there's Jeremy Renner, who does a good job at playing both the loyalty and betrayal that his character, Jem Coughlin, is feeling towards Doug MacRay. His accent was so dead-on that I wasn't able to understand some of the things he was saying. That alone is incentive enough to see this film again.

Robert Elswit does some slick and silvery cinematography that greatly amplifies the genre film atmosphere of the film. If I have one quibble with this production, it's the score by Harry Gregson-Williams and David Buckley. It definitely delivers during the action scenes of the film, but it didn't work in some of the more personal moments. It just didn't fit where it should have. The Town has a very firm grip on the audience's attention from the get-go, and that's what delivers the emotional intensity of this picture. It's definitely a must see for anybody who enjoys thrilling, quality entertainment.

A-

"Mission Impossible 4" to star Jeremy Renner!

I made a post on Jeremy Renner landing a role in the Brad Bird directed Mission Impossible movie, and I had to retract it. It wasn't for any other reason than me noticing that there were some facts that I wasn't completely informed of so I wanted to bring those to light. It turns out that Tom Cruise is going to be playing a more diminished role in this film, which won't take place where the last film left off. This one will actually feature a new lead character played by none other than Jeremy Renner. This is a hell of a lot different from earlier reports, and it's clear that Brad Bird is steering the franchise in a new direction, and probably a better one.

The new film may not even have Mission Impossible in the title at all. I understand if Brad Bird wants to add a new flair of originality to the franchise, and it's really been lacking that. The more news that comes out for this film, the more excited I am to see it. So we'll just have to wait and see what will happen with the series from here on out.