Oscars 2012 Predictions

The end of the awards season is almost here, which means the Oscars are upon us!

With no further delay, here are my predictions:

BEST PICTURE:
The Artist
This award is pretty well locked up. The Artist is a black and white silent film that tells the story of a Hollywood actor in 1927 who fears that his career will end with the rise of talking pictures. In the history of the Academy Awards, Best Picture has often gone to a film that had a wide release and is well-known to mainstream audiences like Gone With Wind (1939), The Sound of Music (1965), or The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). However, once in awhile, a little-known, yet critically-acclaimed independent film with a limited release takes home the top prize, like Chariots of Fire (1981), Slumdog Millionaire (2008), or The Hurt Locker (2009). This is definitely one of those years. The Artist is completely charming, romantic, and undeniably fun. It's full of new (and very talented) actors, but there's also a number of familiar faces like John Goodman and James Cromwell. It definitely deserves to win.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE:
Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Again, this is a no-brainer to predict. Dujardin has taken home every Lead Actor award there is this season. He anchors the film with a hilarious and touching performance.

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Viola Davis in The Help
I had a very hard time with this one. I saw The Iron Lady just a few days ago and afterwards I was certain that Meryl Streep was definitely going to win. Her performance as Margaret Thatcher is uncanny and she absolutely carries the film. (Though her performance is incredible, the film itself has narrative problems, which is a different conversation altogether...) So, two days ago I so was certain that Streep was going to win, that I had a hard time remembering who else was nominated. When I looked at the list again I remembered Davis' incredible performance in The Help as Aiblileen, the maid to a wealthy, ungrateful family in Mississippi in the 60's. The Help came out in August, which is not a typical release date for an Oscar contender, so when I originally saw it I didn't have any preconceived Awards Season influences on my mind. However, in hindsight, Davis is the clear winner. She also has two other factors that work in her favor: 1) She was nominated three years ago for her incredible performance in Doubt, which the Academy voters certainly have not forgotten and 2) She is the only actress whose film is also nominated for Best Picture, which is extremely uncommon, especially now that there are 10 pictures in the category. As a bonus, Davis has won a number of awards already this year and her speeches have been beautiful.

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Christopher Plummer in Beginnners
It's about time Mr. Plummer won an Oscar. The Academy loves actors who play roles that defy their established images. In Beginners he plays widower in his 70s who comes out as gay. He is the father of the lead character, played by the adorable and talented Ewan McGregor. Their on-screen chemistry is amazing. Beginners is one of the most charming films of the year.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Octavia Spencer in The Help
Again, this is a no-brainer. Spencer plays Minny, the sassy, strong maid who works for a lonely aspiring socialite, played by Jessica Chastain. Chastian is nominated in this category as well. These two actresses light up the screen together. Spencer has a great sense of comedic timing, but she really shines in the dramatic scenes, where we see her talk about her abusive husband and the desparate situation her children are in. It's always nice to see a new face win an Oscar because it ensures that we will see a lot more from her in the future.

BEST DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius
The film that wins Best Picture almost always wins Best Director because the categories are so closely linked. The Artist is the one of the most unique and original films to be made in a long time. It was very brave to direct a silent black and white film in 2011 and Hazanavicius did it beautifully and will be appropriately rewarded for his visionary work.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris
I don't know if I've ever seen a film that made me smile from start to finish the way Midnight in Paris did. Woody Allen is one of the greatest screenwriters of all time. He has a sense of humor that appeals to everyone and his characters are memorable and lovable in this movie. Allen also has a knack for taking undervalued, mainstream actors and turning them into real actors and he certainly worked his magic on Owen Wilson in Midnight in Paris.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash for The Descendants
I do not love The Descendants the way the critics do. It's one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the year. I don't hate it, but I don't think it's one of the best films of the year. It's amazing how far a film can go when its star is George Clooney. His performance is great, but I wasn't blown away by it, the way everyone else seems to be. I just get annoyed when a movie makes it to awards season because its head-liner is a mega-star. The film would not have gotten the attention it has if it has lesser-known actor. However, its writing is actually really great. Alexander Payne, who also directed the film, has an ear for witty, realistic dialogue. The characters are well-drawn, particularly Clooney's teenage daughter, played by Shailene Woodley whose performance elevates to film to new heights.

BEST ANIMATED FILM
Rango
You may notice the absence of a Pixar film in this category this year. Pixar's only offering this year was Cars 2, which failed to meet the high caliber of all their other films. Rango, however is a fun film about a chameleon who becomes sheriff of an town in the Wild West. Its A-List voice talent includes Johnny Depp, Abigail Breslin, and Isla Fisher.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Loduvic Burce for The Artist
Silent films sink or swim depending on their score. The music is a main character in silent films and The Artist's score top-notch.


BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Man or Muppet" from The Muppets
 There are only two songs nominated this year and this is the clear winner. It's sung by Jason Segel and Jim Parsons in a hilarious scene where their contemplate their existences. Are they men or are they Muppets? I dare you to watch the video and try not to smile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WWWTW1P8rQ

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Artist
This award could go to either The Artist or Hugo. Both films are visually stunning. However, I think The Artist has the upper hand on this one. Its lighting is beautiful and it's shot beautifully. However, Hugo could upset this category.

BEST ART DIRECTION
Hugo
Again, this award could go to either The Artist or Hugo. However, in modern day film making I think that color plays a huge part in Art Direction and The Artist is black and white. Art Direction is the combination of all the visual elements in the film- the sets, the set dressings, the harmony of the colors on screen, etc.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Hugo
Once again, this one is a tight race between The Artist and Hugo. But, again, the use of color is important to costume designing in this day and age of filmmaking.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

A Separation, Iran

A Separation is a powerful drama about the tumultuous relation between a husband and wife and the events that endanger their marriage. Their domestic struggles are multiplied by the added pressure of the expectations of Iranian society.

 

BEST MAKE-UP

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II

As an avid Potter fan, I believe that the series deserves much more respect from the Academy than it has received over the last ten years. They've received a few noms here and there, but have never won anything. It's a piddly little award to win, but they deserve to get at least one, especially since they are the clear winners in this category. The Iron Lady does display some incredible age make-up to make Meryl Streep look like Thatcher at many stages of her life, but Deathly Hallows' make-up was so much more involved. They created about 30 Goblins for the Gringotts break-out scene; gave the entire cast battle wounds that got progressively worse as the battle raged on; made Ralph Fiennes near-impossible to recognize as Lord Voldemort; and, most impressively, the age make-up on Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, and Bonnie Wright in the epilogue when they are meant to be 19 years older.

BEST SOUND EDITING 

War Horse

When there's a epic war movie nominated in this category it's usually the clear winner, and such is the case with War Horse. If a sound editor has done their job right, the audience doesn't even know it's there. The battles in War Horse are the best parts of the film, with the explosions, cries of men and horses, and deadly silence in the after math.

BEST SOUND MIXING

War Horse

Sound mixing involves orchestrating all the elements of sound in the film (music, sound effects, and dialogue) and finding the right balance between all of them. Again, the battle in War Horse are very powerful, which is, in part, due to the sound.

BEST FILM EDITING

The Artist

Director John Favreau once said, "Shooting a film on set is like shopping for groceries and editing the film is like cooking the meal." A film begins to take shape in the editing room. A silent film is all about the visuals and The Artist is the clear winner this year.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I wish Harry Potter could win another award, but the incredible use of motion-capture in Rise of the Planet of the Apes surpasses Potter. In the film the genetically enhanced ape, Caesar, is played by actor Andy Serkis. Serkis is well-known for his work in motion capture, particularly his work as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I won't spend time explaining the science of motion capture here, but if you want to learn about it you can read my post that describes it in great detail. I actually wrote this post over the summer when Rise of the Planet of the Apes was released. Read it here.

And there you have it. My predictions for the 2012 Academy Awards.

Tell me your predictions in the comments!

Fun Film Fact 1/31/12

Adrian Rawlins, the actor who plays James Potter (Harry's father), in the Harry Potter film series has the same birthday as the character James Potter in the books- March 27th. Clearly the casting was meant to be!

Fun Film Fact 09/18/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009)
In the scene where Ron is poisoned by Slughorn's wine, the foam in Rupert Grint's is made of egg whites.

Fun Film Fact 09/04/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2
The creepy/awkward, delighted/demented hug that Voldemort gives Draco as Draco walks across the courtyard to his parents and the Death Eaters was completely improvised by Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort). A lot of fans hate the hug, but, personally, I love it. I find it awesome because it means that Fiennes knew Voldemort so well that he could improvise a gesture that was so perfectly in character. It's a moment of ecstasy for Voldemort, but since he has never known love he has probably never hugged anyone before, so of course it's awkward.

Favorite Movie Teachers

I'm back! While I was on vacation I cooked up a new 'favorites' list.

In honor of the new school year I'm going to write about my favorite teachers from the movies. There are many movies whose central character is a teacher, but as I was compiling this list I found that most of my favorite movie teachers are not main characters. They are supporting characters who mentor and teach the main characters. I find that I adore these teachers because of how they affect and change the lead characters. If the teacher is important to the hero, then they are important to me, the viewer.

Now, before I go on, I would like to admit that I have a gaping hole in my cinematic knowledge. Almost every list of Best Movie Teachers you can find has Mr. Chips from Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). I know and love the book, so I know and love Mr. Chips, but sadly I have not yet seen the film. I know, I know. Shame on me. So, that's why Mr. Chips is not on this list. Moving on...

This list includes a wide array of teachers. Of course there are school teachers, but I've also included some coaches and a few wise old sages. As was the case with my Fathers Day list, this not a list of the "best" teachers, just my favorite teachers. I tried REALLY hard to choose 10 teachers, but I couldn't let one of them go, so here are my top 11 teachers:

#11 Economics Teacher
FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986)
Played by Ben Stein

"Bueller... Bueller..." It's probably the most famous monotone line ever. Even if you haven't seen Ferris Bueller you've at least heard that line. I have had more than one teacher who quotes that line when they ask a question and no one raises their hand to answer it.

#10 Dewey Finn
THE SCHOOL OF ROCK (2003)
Played by Jack Black

Usually I can't stand Jack Black, but he is perfectly cast in The School of Rock. He plays a washed-up rocker who impersonates a substitute teacher at a fancy prep school to make some money. Instead of teaching the curriculum, Dewey turns his class of 10-year-olds into a rock band. At first he seems completely incompetent, but it turns out that Dewey is great teacher. Of course he's not teaching what he's supposed to be teaching, but he relates to the kids in way their parents and other teachers just don't and the class grows to love him. Dewey also manages to loosen up the strict principal of the prep school, played by Joan Cusack. Black and Cusack are a fantastic comedy duo.

 

#9 Erin Gruwell

FREEDOM WRITERS (2007)

Played by Hilary Swank

Freedom Writers is based on the inspiring true story of Erin Gruwell. In the film Gruwell is an idealistic young teacher whose first teaching job is at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. Most of the students in the school live in serious poverty and will be lucky if they graduate. Almost every student is part of a gang. The Latinos hate the Cambodians who hate the blacks and so on. The film follows one of Gruwell's classes through their freshman and sophomore years. Slowly, but surely, she is able to get through to her students. She teaches them to love reading and writing, but she also breaks down the barriers between the many gangs in her class. She teaches them tolerance and the importance of applying themselves. Hilary Swank seems to be Hollywood's go-to actress for gritty, real-life stories (Boys Don't Cry, Conviction) and, as always, she is amazing. 

#8 Professor Remus Lupin

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004)

Played by David Thewlis

There are many teachers in the Harry Potter series. I considered putting Severus Snape on this list, but, though I love him dearly, I don't love him because he's a teacher. In the films Professor Lupin is probably the most well drawn-out teacher. Some would argue that Dumbledore is a better teacher than Lupin and, though that is true in the books, we don't see Dumbledore do much teaching in the movies. Keep in mind this list is based on the films, not the books. Lupin is the first professor that Harry sees as more than teacher. Lupin teaches him how to defend himself against dementors, but he is also a window to the past. Before Harry meets Lupin he knows almost nothing about his parents. Lupin is the first person who can talk to him intimately about Lily and James and their relationship quickly moves from teacher/student to father/son. A lot of Potter fans don't like David Thewlis, but I think he is perfect casting. He was first considered for Professor Quirrell in Sorcerer's Stone but the part went to Ian Hart, leaving Thewlis available to play Lupin. He captures Lupin's strong, gentle qualities, but he is also able to portray his defeated, broken side.

#7 Sam Mussabini

CHARIOTS OF FIRE (1981)

Played by Ian Holm

Sam Mussabini is Harold Abrahams' running coach. Abrahams is determined to become the fastest man in the world, so he seeks out Sam to help him achieve perfection. Harold is stubborn, but eager to learn and Sam is best coach in the business. Sam is blunt and straight-forward with Harold, but he is also great comic relief in the film. Abrahams is a Jew and Mussabini is half-Arab and together they are victims of racism and doubt. Though much of England looks down upon them, they never waiver from their ultimate goal: to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Ian Holm nabbed an Oscar Nomination for this role. (P.S. You may have noticed that Chariots of Fire shows up on a lot of my lists. I promise I'm not trying to shoe-horn it in everywhere. I just believe it is one of the greatest films ever made, so I find it fits into a lot of my 'favorites' lists.)

#6 Ms. Norbury 

MEAN GIRLS (2004)

Played by Tina Fey

In the crazy, dramatic, frenzied girl-world of Mean Girls Ms. Norbury is the voice of reason. She is the smart, down-to-earth high school calculus teacher that everyone wishes they had. Mean Girls is meant to be satirical, so a lot of the characters are over-the-top, but Ms. Norbury stays very real. Her personal life stinks, but she is still a great teacher and she turns out to be a great role-model for her students. When the Burn Book written by the Plastics causes mayhem and destruction in the school, the other teachers turn to Ms. Norbury to sort things out. As a confident(ish) woman she is able to talk to the high school girls in way that makes them understand how horribly they treat each other and how it can be fixed. Tina Fey also wrote the screenplay. I basically worship her. She is the smartest woman in comedy these days. 

#5 Charles Xavier

X-MEN (2000)

Played by Patrick Stewart

Professor Xavier runs a private school for young mutants. He provides a safe place for them to learn to control and use their superpowers. These mutants who grow to be X-Men and -Women have been ostracized by society and Professor X's school gives them a place to belong. For most comic book heroes being super means a lonely existence, but I like how Professor X brings all the X-Men together at his school. In most other superhero movies the hero learns to use his powers by himself, but in X-Men the students are taught by more experienced supers. I think Professor X's school gives the X-Men franchise a unique place in the superhero genre.

#4 Miss Dodger

PHOEBE IN WONDERLAND (2008)

Played by Patricia Clarkson

Phoebe in Wonderland is a wonderful little indie film that tells the story of a young girl Phoebe, played by Elle Fanning (Dakota's younger sister), who has Tourette's Syndrome and OCD. When she is cast as Alice in her school's production of "Alice in Wonderland" she finds that her ticks and distressing mannerisms go away when she is performing. She is encouraged to immerse herself in the world of theater by her drama teacher Miss Dodger. Miss Dodger teaches her students the power of imagination and teamwork. She takes particular interest in Phoebe and helps her tackle her real-world problems as well. I really like this movie because I can relate to the notion that while you perform on stage, the real world takes a backseat for a while. I would say Phoebe in Wonderland is not a fantastic movie, but it sure is great. It has a bit of a weird, fantasy edge and I would have preferred that it stayed more real and grounded, however, Elle Fanning's acting is incredible. She was only nine when it was filmed and it's a pretty heroic performance. 

#3 Obi-Wan Kenobi 

STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE (1977)

Played by Alec Guinness

Obi-Wan Kenobi a classic example of a wise old sage. He is the first person to teach Luke about the ways of the Jedi and he sets Luke on the path that leads him to countless acts of heroism and bravery. I love it when a character like Obi-Wan has a great back story. It makes the character more real if we know the life he lived before he met our hero. Too often audiences are asked to just believe that a character is worldly and wise or battle-worn without being told how he became that way. Obi-Wan has studied the ways of the Jedi for decades, he fought in the Clone Wars and he saw how the Empire came into power. With his experience and knowledge he guides Luke toward his destiny. Even in death Obi-Wan influences Luke.

#2 Miss Stubbs

AN EDUCATION (2009)

Played by Olivia Williams

In An Education 16-year-old Jenny is swept away by a much older man who introduces her to art and music and culture that she's only ever read about in school. In the beginning scenes we see Jenny being very active in class. She is the smartest student in the school and her English teacher, Miss Stubbs, knows she has a great future ahead of her. Miss Stubbs sadly watches as Jenny is carried away by a dangerous relationship. She does her best to steer Jenny in the right direction, but as Jenny's beau introduces her to more and more, she begins to feel wise beyond her years. She is more blunt with Miss Stubbs and even talks down to her. Jenny leaves school when she gets engaged to David, leaving behind the opportunity to go to college. When the relationship falls apart Jenny has nothing. She is not allowed back in school, so she goes to Miss Stubbs to ask for help. Despite the way Jenny has treated her, Miss Stubbs is forgiving and helps Jenny get her life back on track. I really like Miss Stubbs because I think she is the kind of woman Jenny will someday grow up to be: strong and intelligent, but also kind and patient.

#1 Ms. Edmunds

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (2007)

Played by Zooey Deschanel

Out of all my favorite teachers Ms. Edmunds is the one I would most like to have as a real-life teacher. Ms. Edmunds is the young music teacher at Jess and Leslie's school. Jess is a quiet, lonely kid who loves to draw and use his imagination. Jess has four sisters, so he gets very little attention at home. His father is disappointed that Jess would rather draw than work at the family hardware store and his mother is always too busy to spend any time with him. Though the film is mainly about the friendship between Jess and Leslie, Ms. Edmunds is very important to Jess as well. She encourages Jess to explore his creative side. In one of my favorite scenes she takes Jess into the city to an art museum. In that scene she seems like more of a big sister than a teacher. I am so happy that Zooey Deschanel is acting now. She started out as a singer in her band called She and Him. Her first big movie was Elf. She's a great actor and she has such beautiful, expressive eyes. She lights up the screen in this movie. The scenes where she is singing in class are just luminous. 

And there you have it. My favorite movie teachers.

Who are some of your favorites?

Fun Film Fact 08/09/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001)
The platform attendant at King's Cross station, the one who asks Harry "You think you're funny, do you?" is a real King's Cross employee. The filmmakers liked him so much that they brought him back for Chamber of Secrets. He's the one who yells at Harry and Ron when they crash into the barrier that's been sealed by Dobby.

Fun Film Fact 08/08/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (2001)
Composer John Williams composed the iconic "Hedwig's Theme" before seeing a single frame of the movie. Warner Brothers was putting together a promotion that needed music, so they asked Williams to quickly write something. Isn't that crazy given that "Hedwig's Theme" is now one of the most recognizable pieces of movie score? I'd say it's right up there with Chariots of Fire and Star Wars. 

Take a listen:

Favorite Pieces from the Deathly Hallows: Part II Soundtrack

I'm waiting until I've seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II for a third time before I post my review, but for now here are my thoughts on the AMAZING soundtrack composed by Alexandre Desplat.

The Deathly Hallows: Part II soundtrack has 25 tracks, so I'm not going to talk about them all, just my favorites.

Beware of Spoilers Throughout

"Lily's Theme"

This piece of music is a perfect example of why I love a human voice and strings in a film's score. This plays during the very beginning of the film as we see shots of Snape at Hogwarts and oppressed students. One of the main things I've missed from the Potter films is Lily Potter. She is the reason Harry survived Voldemort's killing curse and she is a huge presence throughout the books. Despite her absence in the prior movies, she is very present in this film and that is mostly through the music. This beautiful female voice is heard all through the film. It plays during scenes about Harry and scenes about Snape. As much as those two hate each other, their mutual love for Lily ties them together.

"The Tunnel"

This piece plays as Harry, Ron, Bellatrix/Hermione, Griphook, and Bogrod travel into the depths of Gringotts on the twisty-turny track. I have to say, this scene made me a little dizzy the first time I saw and that wasn't even in 3D. The way it's shot suggests that the filmmakers were anticipating this to be one of the big 3D moments in the film, but the exciting and intense music prevents it from seeming gimmicky.

"Dragon Flight"

I love this song because it's the first piece of soaring (no pun intended), sweeping, and, dare I say, magical score. The first time I saw the film the moment at about 0:43 made me really excited to go home and listen to the soundtrack over and over again. This scene is the first sign of the action and excitement that is yet to come.

"Courtyard Apocalypse"

My favorite scene in the film is The Prince's Tale, but this is my favorite piece of music. It plays as Harry, Ron and Hermione fight their way through the castle and courtyard to get to Voldemort and Snape. At this point I had been crying for awhile, but this scene made me sob. Hogwarts is so much more than a school to so many of the characters and it was devastating to see it reduced to rubble and flames. This music is so epic and sad and the visuals are so scary and intense. The trio runs past so much destruction: Lavender Brown being killed by Fenrir Greyback, acromantulas, a giant wielding one of the rings from the Quidditch pitch, to name a few. I love this scene because it's a reminder that there are so many people fighting with Harry for the fate of the wizarding world. We all know how brave the trio and the members of the Order are, but there are hundreds more who are just as brave and willing to die for the cause. This song gives me chills.

"Snape's Demise"

I L-O-V-E how this piece of music begins with Hedwig's Theme. Harry and Snape's relationship is one of the most complicated relationships in the series. Snape's final act, giving Harry his memories, brings the two together. We also hear "Lily's Theme" again which is very fitting, of course.

"The Resurrection Stone"

When I listened to the soundtrack before I saw the film this is the piece of score that stood out to me. This is certainly one of the saddest parts of the film and one of the saddest pieces of music. Harry resurrects his parents, Sirius and Lupin and they walk with him as he walks to his death. So often in films the piece of score that plays right before a death has what I like to call "angel voices" meaning the score is accompanied by a high-pitched choral arrangement. The angel voices kick in right on cue at 1:15. Immediately after the angel voices we hear "Lily's Theme" again. See what I mean about her presence being throughout the film?

"Procession"

I would have to say this is the darkest piece of music, which is fitting because this is the darkest part of the film. The Death Eaters, led by Voldemort, victoriously proceed into the courtyard as Hagrid carries Harry's body. This song begins with a very ominous and sad version of "Lily's Theme." I like that "Lily's Theme" plays here because, though it's not mentioned in the film, Harry's sacrifice has protected everyone from harm, just as Lily's sacrifice protected Harry 16 years ago.

Now, the last song on the soundtrack is called "A New Beginning" but it is NOT the last song in the movie. The last song in the movie is called "Leaving Hogwarts."

"Leaving Hogwarts" plays at the end of the first film, Sorcerer's Stone, as Harry, Ron and Hermione board the Hogwarts Express. As the music reaches its peak at 1:49 the final image of the film appears: a beautiful shot of the train leaving Hogsmeade Station with Hagrid waving on the platform and Hogwarts in the background. Before Alexandre Desplat was confirmed as the composer for Deathly Hallows: Part II there were rumors that John Williams was going to return for the final film. As we hoped and prayed that Williams would return, my sisters and I talked about how amazing it would be if "Leaving Hogwarts" played during the epilogue. We never expected that to actually come true. Needless to say, when it started playing at the midnight premiere we lost our minds. In the book, there are many things that bring the story full-circle and the choice to play "Leaving Hogwarts" was a B-E-A-utiful way to bring the series to a close.

Fun Film Fact 07/14/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE (2009)
Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, the boy who plays 11-year-old Voldemort in the flashback to the orphanage, is Ralph Fiennes' (Voldemort) nephew. I'm sure it was a bit of nepotism that got him the audition, but there is no denying that he was perfect for the role.

Fun Film Fact 07/13/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (2007)

Spoiler Alert

In the scene where Sirius dies, Dan Radcliffe's scream of anguish was so intense that director David Yates didn't want to put it in the film because he knew young kids were going to see it. Instead he opted to play the moment with no sound, just sad music. Personally I wish he had kept it in. I'm a big fan of Dan's acting in Order of the Phoenix and it would have been a great moment.

 

Ah, heck. Why not have another one today?

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX (2007)

In the scene where Dumbledore's Army is being chased through the Hall of Prophesy by the Death Eaters none of the shelves holding the prophesies were actually there. There was just green tape marking where the shelves were and then they were all added digitally later. There were a lot of unusable takes because the actors were running so fast that they kept running into where the shelves would be.

Fun Film Fact 07/12/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (2005)
Before the film was released Warner Brothers released a screenshot of Harry next to the Riddle's tombstone in the Little Hangleton graveyard. The tombstone had the names Thomas Riddle, Mary Riddle, and Tom Marvolo Riddle. There was an uproar among the fans because the name "Tom Marvolo Riddle" should not have been on the tombstone. The people buried beneath the tombstone are Voldemort's father and grandparents. "Tom Marvolo Riddle" is Lord Voldemort's Muggle name, thus it should not have been on the tombstone. The backlash was so great that Warner Brothers changed the tombstone digitally so it had the proper names in the finished film.

ORIGINAL

CHANGED

Fun Film Fact 07/11/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (2004)
The visual effects animators were having trouble capturing the eerie, floating nature of the dementors, so to help them out director Alfonso Cuaron had a real dementor made. He put the dementor in a tank of water and filmed it. The way the dementor moved in the water was exactly the look Cuaron was going for. That way the animators had reference footage, so they could achieve the desired look. If you pay attention during the film, you can see that the dementors do, in fact, look like they're moving through water.

Harry Potter and the Midnight Premiere

Movies are not meant to be seen on a television, no matter how big it is, or on a little laptop screen. Movies are meant to be seen on a 22 ft. by 52 ft. screen and in a theater filled with people. The way you experience a film has everything to do with the environment in which you see it. I find that I laugh more when I am surrounded by people who are also laughing. Dramatic moments are made more dramatic when the theater is so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The greatest experiences I've ever had in a movie theater are the Harry Potter midnight premieres. There is nothing quite like seeing a new Harry Potter film at midnight.

At the movie theater I go to people start arriving at 6:00pm and there is a long, wide roped off line that everyone sits in. We all hang out, talk, make friends, play Harry Potter trivia, and read excerpts from the books as we wait anxiously for 11:30pm when we are let into the theaters.

The midnight premieres are all about the costumes. People who dress like Muggles are in the minority. I always try to choose a costume that is relevant to the movie we'll be watching, so for Half-Blood Prince I was Narcissa Malfoy because she's introduced in that film and for Deathly Hallows Part I I made myself a Golden Snitch dress and wore a headband that said "I open at the close" like the one Dumbledore leaves Harry in his will.

When the film starts the excitement in the theater is palpable. Each Potter film begins with the Warner Brothers logo, which has gotten darker and creepier as the films progress. For Deathly Hallows Part I the logo disintegrated like rusty metal, a sign of what was to come I suppose. Personally, I get a rush of adrenaline when that logo appears. In some ways it makes the reality of the moment hit home. Yes, I am about to watch a new Harry Potter film. And yes, I am among the first in the country to experience it. Bring it on. 
 
Midnight audiences are the best because it's all die-hard Potter fans. Everyone knows the books inside out, so we all laugh at our favorite lines from the books and cry our eyes out at the deaths. There is also this weird mixture of thrill and anticipation because, though we are all waiting for the best parts of the book to appear onscreen, there is nothing that prepares you for the moment when it is actually realized. I find this happens most with the action sequences. Reading about an action sequence is very different from watching an action sequence.

The other thing I really like about the midnight showings is that the audience knows when to laugh and when not to laugh. What I mean by that is that in the Potter films the are a few moments that might appear to be funny to someone who hasn't read the books. The best example of this is in Deathly Hallows Part I. When Harry, Ron and Hermione are captured by the Snatchers, Hermione hits Harry with a stinging jinx to distort his face so the Snatchers won't know who he is. His face becomes all swollen and lumpy. I was in non-midnight screenings where people who had clearly not read the books laughed at how ridiculous he looked. Fans of the books never laugh at that moment because they know the terrible danger that is about to come their way. They know that the trio will be taken to Malfoy Manor and they know Hermione is about to be tortured.

Another interesting thing about seeing the Potter films in theaters is watching the evolution of the audiences. On average I see each Harry Potter movie about 6 to 7 times in theaters. As the weeks progress, the audience changes. It goes from the die-hards to people who are not the biggest fans but are still interested to people who haven't read the books but feel like they should see the movie because it's a big cultural moment. In each screening there are also people like me who just keep coming back for more. My family has a tradition where we go to the movie at midnight and then see it again at 7pm. That way we get to see it with a first-time audience twice.

When you go to the movies you and everyone around you are meant to be swept away and carried through the story. And therein lies my favorite thing about going to the movies. When you see a movie in the cinema you are transported into the world of the film, but you are also very much aware of the people around you. You are taken in by emotion of the movie, but you are also surrounded by family, friends and strangers who are along for the ride too.

This feeling of community is exemplified a hundred-fold at Harry Potter midnight showings. I always feel as though I'm in a theater of 300 of my best friends. These midnight premieres just reaffirm what every Potter fan knows: Harry Potter brings people together.

Fun Film Fact 07/10/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002)
Rupert Grint's favorite scene to film was the scene where he vomits slugs because the props department made the slug goo in a bunch of different flavors like strawberry and peppermint, so it was quite fun for him.

Fun Film Fact 07/09/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002)
In the scenes where Fawkes the phoenix is not flying it's an animatronic bird made by the props department. The bird was so realistic looking that Richard Harris (Dumbledore) thought it was a real bird even though he was acting right next to it. Between takes he said to the director Chris Columbus, "It's quite amazing how well-trained these animals are these days." Oh, how I miss Richard Harris.

Fun Film Fact 07/07/11

HARRY POTTER
Over the ten years that the films were made, Daniel Radcliffe wore 588 pairs of glasses and used 60-70 wands.

Fun Film Fact 07/4/11

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (2002)
In the scene at the end of the film between Dumbledore, Harry and Lucius Malfoy, Malfoy says, "Let us hope that Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day." Harry's response, "Don't worry. I will be." was an ad-lib by 13-year-old Daniel Radcliffe. In later interviews Jason Isaacs (Malfoy) called the moment "electric."

Fun Film Fact 06/27/11

Happy Birthday Tobey Maguire!
Here's a fun fact about SPIDERMAN (2002)
Chris Columbus was approached to direct the film, but he opted to do Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone instead and the job went to Sam Raimi.

Magical Moments: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

With the finale of the Harry Potter franchise fast approaching, I thought I'd take some time to look back at the past 7 movies. Sure, as a book-purist there are many things about these films that make me unhappy, but the things that do make me happy out-weigh them a hundred-fold. So, over the next few days I'm going to choose my favorite moments from each film. First up, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:

The Prologue: This scene sets the magical tone for the film. Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall both have fantastic entrances. Dumbledore appears out of nowhere in the fog on Privet Drive and McGonagall transforms from her tabby cat animagus. The scene between Richard Harris and Maggie Smith is merely a tease for the embarrassment of riches that is the cast of this film. Oh, how I miss Richard Harris. He will always be the Dumbledore I picture when I read the books.

The Title Card: Baby Harry's scar transforms into the title card and we get the first real display of Hedwig's Theme. I'd say that Hedwig's Theme has taken its place in the Movie Score Hall of Fame, right next to Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia, and Titanic.

Dudley Trapped Behind The Glass: On a trip to the zoo for Dudley's birthday, Harry accidentally makes the glass of the boa constrictor's exhibit vanish and sets the snake free. Director Chris Columbus added the little part where Dudley falls into the cage and then gets trapped because the glass reappears. I love this moment because it's my favorite Dursley family moment. Dudley cries for his mother, Aunt Petunia shrieks her head off, and Uncle Vernon catches Harry laughing. The best shot is a shot of Dudley with his hands pressed up against the glass on one side and Petunia screaming and mirroring him on the other side.

Owl Post: I love the scene where hundreds of Harry's Hogwarts acceptance letters flood the Dursley's living room because it's my first memory of the Potter films. The very first thing I can remember about these movies is seeing a promotional picture of this scene in National Geographic For Kids.

Harry's Wide-Eyed Wonderments: After Harry learns he's a wizard there's a series of scenes that I like to call Harry's Wide-Eyed Wonderments. It's basically one scene after another where Harry learns something new about the wizarding world and smiles and stares with enormous eyes. Diagon Alley, Gringotts, the Nimbus 2000, getting his wand, seeing Hedwig for the first time, watching Percy Weasley go through Platform 9 and 3/4. Dan Radcliffe has quite large eyes which makes it all the better.

 

Flashback to Godric's Hollow: As Hagrid tells Harry how his parents died there's a flashback that shows Voldemort murdering Lily and James. This isn't the scene that scared me the most (we'll get to that in a bit), but I did find it very scary. Voldemort is just a faceless, cloaked being. You see Lily holding baby Harry and yelling "James!" Voldemort blows down the nursery door and kills Lily. A fun fact about this scene is that J.K. Rowling wrote this part of the screenplay because she was the only one who knew exactly how it happened.

Meeting Ron and Hermione: Parts 2 & 3 of the trio are introduced just the same as in the books. Ron is lovable and easy-going and Hermione is a charming know-it-all. Of the three main actors, I think Emma Watson is the stand-out in this first film.

Harry's First Night in Gryffindor Tower: After the Sorting and the Welcoming Feast there's a short, wordless scene of Harry in Gryffindor tower. He's in his pajamas and he's sitting in the windowsill looking out at the Hogwarts grounds. At this point in the book there's some narration about how Harry feels like he's found a home. As the camera pans past him, Dan gives the tiniest of smiles. It's a heart-warming moment.

Troll Aftermath: There's a little deleted scene that takes place after they've fought the troll that I really like. It's the moment where they really become friends. It's quite cute. Check it out:

Christmas in Gryffindor Tower: I love the two Christmas scenes in this movie, but there's one particular shot that's my favorite. Harry wakes up to find that he has presents for the first time ever and he runs down the stone steps and into the Common Room. I don't know why, but I love the shot of him running down the stairs. It's just very little boyish and cute. Some of Dan's acting in this film seems a little forced at times, but this happy moment just feels very real.

The Yelling Book: And now we come to the scene that scared the begeezers out of me the first time I saw it. Harry sneaks into the restricted section of the library and opens a book. A face bursts out of the book and starts yelling loudly. Now that I'm more secure in my life it doesn't scare me at all, but I think I found it so scary because it was so tangible. I was smart enough to know that a dark wizard wasn't going to kill me in my sleep, but there were hundreds of books in my house.....

Harry's Sweaters: This is another one of those random things that I find charming. Harry has an impressive collection of cable-knit sweaters. He wears a blue one when Oliver Wood teaches him about Quidditch. He wears a red one when he sneaks into the restricted section of the library. He wears a green one when they visit Hagrid and meet Norbert. And finally, he wears another red one when the trio goes through the trap door. This sweater gets torn up by the flying keys and the chess game, but it makes a reappearance in Chamber of Secrets and it is somehow perfect again. Hmmmm..... It's almost like magic...

 

The Chess Game: The chess game is my favorite scene in this movie for many reasons. First, I like how little it makes them all look. This never occurred to me when I watched Sorcerer's Stone when I was younger because they were the same age as me, but know that I'm older and I've watched Dan, Rupert and Emma grow up, it's fun to see how little they look next to the ginormous chess pieces. Secondly, I love how Ron is given his shining moment. Of the four Potter directors, Chris Columbus treated Ron with the most respect. Yes, Ron is often comic relief in the books, so it's okay for him to be comic relief in the movies. But Ron is also very smart and brave and intensely loyal to his friends. (There's a reason his patronus is a terrier.) What's NOT okay is the way he was made to be nothing but dumb and goofy in movies 3, 4, 5, and 6. Without Ron, Hermione and Harry would never have won the chess game. Ron sacrifices himself in order to win the game. The end of the scene is the best because it's a real moment of unity for the three of them. It's the moment where they each seem to understand what their role is in this friendship. Ron understands how high the stakes are and he will do anything for his friends, including being knocked unconscious by a chess queen twice his size. Hermione is very much the care-taker of the group. She stays with Ron and alerts Dumbledore to what is happening. Harry is the leader of the pack and goes on to fight Quirrell and Voldemort, but he knows that he would not have made it through the many protective enchantments without Ron and Hermione.

The Hospital Wing: This scene is my favorite Richard Harris moment. When Harry wakes up in the hospital wing after the fight with Voldemort, Dumbledore has all the answers. He is so loving and whimsical. ("Alas, earwax.") However, there is a moment I wish they had kept in. In the book, when Dumbledore talks about how Harry's mother died to save him, Harry starts to cry. Dumbledore purposefully becomes interested in something else to give Harry time to dry his eyes. It's an emotional moment, but J.K. Rowling adds in a bit of humor in a way that only she can. 

Ten Points To Neville: At the closing feast Dumbledore gives out a few last minute House Points to Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but he also gives 10 points to Neville. Matt Lewis' look of astonishment is one of the great comedic moments from all 7 movies.

Hogsmeade Station: Harry says goodbye to Hagrid who gives him a photo album of pictures of his parents. I mostly love this scene because of the music. The track is called "Leaving Hogwarts." It's a sweeping, joyful melody that makes the film go out on a high note. The last line of the movie basically sums up Harry's feelings about Hogwarts: "I'm not going home. Not really."

And there you have it. My favorite moments from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 

What are some of your favorites?