Kathryn Bigelow Makes History; Oh Snap!

Kathryn Bigelow made history last night by becoming the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, for The Hurt Locker.  Obviously, a woman winning isn't the only shocker.  Bigelow won the award intead of James Cameron for his behemoth hit, Avatar.  Cameron had momentum after winning a Golden Globe for directing Avatar just two weeks ago.

Since the DGA Awards began in 1948, only six times has the DGA winner for feature film directing not gone on to win the Oscar for Best Director.  The last time this happened was in 2002 when Rob Marshall won the DGA Award for Chicago, but Roman Polanski won the Oscar for The Pianist.

Here's the press release from the DGA for last night's awards:

Press release from the Directors Guild of America:

Kathryn Bigelow wins DGA Feature Film Award for The Hurt Locker. Other winners of 2009 DGA Awards announced. (January 31, 2010)

LOS ANGELES, CA: The winners of the 2009 Directors Guild of America Outstanding Directorial Achievement Awards and the recipients of the Guild's 2010 Career Achievement Awards were announced tonight during the 62nd Annual DGA Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles . Kathryn Bigelow won the DGA's Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for The Hurt Locker.

Following the welcome by DGA President Taylor Hackford to an audience of more than 1,600 guests, director/actor Carl Reiner hosted the ceremony.

Presenters included (in show order): Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison (Glee), DGA Board Member Jesus Trevino, Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington (Avatar), Jodie Foster (The Beaver), DGA Board Member Donald Petrie, Carey Mulligan (An Education), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire), President and CEO of Disney Robert Iger, Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Anna Kendrick and Jason Bateman (Up In The Air), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), DGA Secretary/Treasurer Gil Cates, Robert Zemeckis (A Christmas Carol), Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight), Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds), Jane Alexander (Terminator Salvation), DGA President Taylor Hackford, and 2008 DGA Feature Film Award winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire).

The DGA's Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film has traditionally served as a near-perfect barometer for the Academy Award for Best Director. Only six times since the DGA Award's inception in 1948 has the winner not gone on to receive the Academy Award for Best Director.

This is Ms. Bigelow's first DGA Feature Film Award. [END]

Here is a list of the 2010 Director's Guild of America winners:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film:
KATHRYN BIGELOW
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)

Ms. Bigelow's Directorial Team:
Unit Production Manager: Tony Mark
First Assistant Director: David Ticotin
First Assistant Director (Canadian Unit): Lee Cleary


DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Feature Documentary
Winner: Louie Psihoyos, "The Cove"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Movie for Television
Winner: Michael Sucsy, "Grey Gardens"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Dramatic Series Night
Winner: Lesli Linka Glatter, "Mad Men," "Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Comedy Series
Winner: Jason Winer, "Modern Family," Pilot

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical Variety program
Winner: Don Mischner, "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Reality Program
Winner: Craig Borders, "Build It Bigger Season 3": "Hong Kong Bridge"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Daytime Serial
Winner: Christopher Goutman, "As The World Turns," "Once Upon A Time"

DGA Award for Outstanding Direction in Commercials
Winner: Tom Kuntz - Eyebrows, Cadbury; Tailor, Skittles; Scents For Gents, Old Spice; Tips, Career Builder

Must be Able to Portray Caucasian

Paramount Pictures is casting the next Coen Brothers movie, entitled "True Grit."  They are looking for a 12 to 16 year old girl to play the scappy lead, Mattie.  Contact truegritcasting@gmail.com if you are able to play a white girl.  I got a press release about this movie, and there is an actual line in it that says, "Must be able to portray caucasian."

James Cameron Inspires George Lucas - A Bits & Bites Extra

According to Entertaiment Gather, George Lucas says that after seeing Avatar, its success with 3D technology has him thinking about at least one future Star Wars film in 3D.  Yea, me!

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Review: Isaac Hayes, Yaphet Kotto Rev Up "Truck Turner"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 172 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

Truck Turner (1974)
Running time: 91 minutes
DIRECTOR: Jonathan Kaplan
WRITERS: Michael Allin and Oscar Williams (from a story by Jerry Wilkes)
PRODUCERS: Paul M. Heller and Fred Weintraub
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Charles F. Wheeler
EDITOR: Michael Kahn

ACTION

Starring: Isaac Hayes, Yaphet Kotto, Alan Weeks, Annazette Chase, Nichelle Nichols, Sam Laws, Paul Harris, John Kramer, and Scatman Crothers

With its whacked-out violence, splashy sex, foul language, preening ho’s, and funky costumes, Truck Turner is one my best experiences with so-called blaxploitation films. The early Jonathan Kaplan (The Accused, in which he directed Jodie Foster to her first Oscar) directorial effort stars Isaac Hayes as Truck Turner. Turner is a bounty hunter who with his partner Jerry (Alan Weeks) is tracking a vicious and powerful pimp named Gator (Paul Harris). Turner kills Gator after an extended chase scene and huge shootout. Driven by revenge, Gator’s main squeeze, Dorinda (Nichelle Nichols), puts a hit out on Truck. After Truck easily dusts off the hit squad, Dorinda convinces Gator’s old rival and nemesis, Harvard Blue (Yaphet Kotto), to go after Truck in what turns out to be a bloody finale.

Kaplan directed a breezy and smoothly moving, violent action feature that would fit right in with current hyper-kinetic action flicks. Michael Kahn, who would go onto to be Steven Spielberg’s editor-of-choice and win three Oscars for editing Spielberg films, showed why he is so highly respected and graced with so many awards and nominations. Kahn’s editing created the sense of urgency, desperation, danger, and fear that was necessary to sell this particular kind of urban thriller. He actually raised the sense of looming disaster that hides around every corner in the urban setting.

The stars of this show, however, were the stars. Isaac Hayes gave a great performance as the kind of relentless and destructive protagonist that Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and Harrison Ford would become so famous and so wealthy for playing. His Truck Turner is every bit the unstoppable force that the Arnold’s Terminator is. Hayes also provided the cool score for this film. Nichelle Nichols bold, foul-mouthed, Dorinda alone is worth the cost of admission, especially since we get to see her brick house form squeezed into her tight and sexy futuristic ho outfits. Yaphet Kotto is always a welcome sight, and he was so smooth and sensible that it’s almost a shame that Harvard Blue wasn’t the star.

7 of 10
A-

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New People Anime and Sci-Fi Flicks for February

Press release from VIZ Media:

VIZ CINEMA INVITES ANIME AND SCI-FI FANS TO ATTEND SPECIAL FILM EVENTS IN FEBRUARY


Theatre Scheduled To Present A DEATH NOTE Film Marathon, 20th CENTURY BOYS DVD Release Party And A GURREN LAGANN Encore Double Feature

VIZ Cinema, the nation’s first and only movie theatre dedicated to Japanese film, gives Bay Area anime, sci-fi and pop culture fans a variety of special movie events to look forward to throughout February.

VIZ Cinema leads off with Death Note movie marathon on Saturday, January 30th in support of the Animation On Display convention (January 30th–31st) taking place at the nearby Hotel Kabuki. On February 9th, the theatre will screen 20th Century Boys 2: The Last Hope to celebrate the release of the second DVD of the exciting live-action film trilogy from VIZ Pictures. Rounding out the month’s anime-related events will be an encore double-feature presentation of Gurren Lagann: The Movie 1 & 2 – for one night only – on Sunday February 21st. VIZ Cinema offers special combo tickets for $15.00 for the Death Note and Gurren Lagann double-feature showings. Preview trailers and screening times for all films are available at: http://www.vizcinema.com/.

DEATH NOTE
Saturday, January 30th, 7:30pm

Sample the action and suspense of the live-action films based on the bestselling supernatural mystery manga that sold over 15 million copies! The story begins when ace student Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue “Shinigami” death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook will die. Upset with the justice system, Light takes matters into his own hands and vows to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of all evil. Special discount combo tickets available for $15.00 for films 1 & 2! Regular admission is $10.00 when purchased separately. Animation On Display attendees receive $2.00 off the regular price with attendee badges. No additional discount will apply to $15.00 combo tickets.

DEATH NOTE 2: THE LAST NAME
Saturday, January 30th, 10:00pm

Death Note 2: The Last Name begins on the heels of the first movie as Light Yagami joins the investigation team in pursuit of the serial killer known as “Kira.” While L still strongly suspects that Light is “Kira,” Light tries to uncover L’s real name so he can kill him with his Death Note. But things get complicated when a new rash of murders all around the world take place, with a “Second Kira” claiming responsibility. Light learns the identity of the Second Kira and suggests they join forces to get rid of L. Will L be able to catch “Kira” before he is killed?

20th CENTURY BOYS 2: THE LAST HOPE
Tuesday, February 9th 7:30pm

Don’t miss the exclusive event preceding the long-awaited DVD release of 20th Century Boys 2 from VIZ Pictures. It’s now 2015, and Friend rules a disturbing new world. Kenji’s niece, Kanna, is now in high school and her textbook contains a fabricated story about him being the terrorist behind the horrific events of 2000. Kanna, knowing the truth, openly resents this, and as a result she is marked as a problem child and sent to Friend Land, a facility where people with rebellious anti-Friend behavior are re-educated. There Kanna learns a crucial secret about Friend. Tickets for this special screening are $25.00 and will include a copy of the 20th Century Boys 2 DVD, a postcard, and NEW PEOPLE pin buttons to all who attend. $10.00 tickets are also available for regular admission.

Gurren Lagann: The Movie ~ Childhood’s End
Sunday, February 21st 5:00pm

Based on the hit animated television series, this sci-fi feature takes place in a fictional future in which human beings have been forced to live in closed-off underground villages. Kamina and Simon are constrained by the limits imposed by the village elder. Yet, all this will change when Simon stumbles across a fantastic mechanized device – just as the village’s peace is broken by a violent intrusion. Special discount combo ticket is now available for $15.00 to watch films 1 & 2.

Gurren Lagann: The Movie 2 ~ The Lights In The Sky Are Stars
Sunday, February 21st 7:30pm

Overcoming the loss of loved ones, Simon survived mortal combat with the Beastmen leader Lordgenome. Seven years later, humans have returned to the surface to build a flourishing civilization. But, the peaceful times don’t last forever as humans begin developing beyond their world into outer space and encounter an unknown enemy.

VIZ Cinema is the nation’s first movie theatre devoted exclusively to Japanese film and anime. The 143-seat subterranean theatre is located in the basement of the NEW PEOPLE building and features plush seating, digital as well as 35mm projection, and a THX®-certified sound system. Tickets and schedules are available at http://www.vizcinema.com/. [END]

Saw 3D versus Paranormal Activity 2? - Negromancer News Bits and Bites Extra

Mike Fleming at Deadline Hollywood writes about what looks like the beginning of a Lionsgate vs. Paramount Pictures war, with the Saw franchise and a Paranormal Activity sequel as the soldiers.

Review: Superb "Baadasssss" Recounts Landmark Film

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 185 (of 2005) by Leroy Douresseaux


Baadasssss! (2004)
First released as How to Get the Man’s Foot Outta Your Ass (2003)
Running time: 108 minutes; MPAA – R for pervasive language and some strong sexuality/nudity
PRODUCER/DIRECTOR: Mario Van Peebles
WRITERS: Mario Van Peebles and Dan Haggerty (from the book by Melvin Van Peebles)
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robert Primes
EDITORS: Nneka Goforth and Anthony Miller

DRAMA with elements of a documentary

Starring: Mario Van Peebles, Joy Bryant, T.K. Carter, Terry Crews, Ossie Davis, David Alan Grier, Nia Long, Paul Rodriguez, Saul Rubinek, Vincent Schiavelli, Khelo Thomas, Rainn Wilson, Len Lesser, Sally Struthers, Adam West, Ralph Martin, Robert Peters, Khalil Kain, and John Singleton

Baadasssss! is writer/director/actor Mario Van Peebles quasi-documentary/part tribute film dramatization of his father, Melvin Van Peebles’ struggle to direct and get distribution for his quintessential blaxploitation flick, Sweet Sweetback Baadasssss Song. Mario Van Peebles seamlessly weaves a film that is both a riveting drama and a searing document and testimony of the struggle of the black artist to get his work to black people, in particularly black filmmakers, who still struggle (though not as much as Melvin Van Peebles did in the early 70’s) to get black visions before not only a black audience, but all filmgoers.

Maybe what makes the film really get into the soul of the viewer is that the co-writer, director, and producer, Mario, is playing his father Melvin Van Peebles. Mario did play a part in the Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, so his memories do color the film’s recollection of history. However, Van Peebles seems able to view his father’s artistic and commercial struggles as a filmmaker because Mario has also struggled to get his directorial vision on film. The work, as both Mario’s own film and the movie about his father’s trials on his own film, makes Baadasssss! double personal to Mario. Thus, Baadasssss! is both film as the history of filmmaking and a film about filmmaking, and it does both of them quite well.

Mario, however, like his father, didn’t make a film alone, and though Mario conveys the intensity of the filmmaker’s struggle with a bravura performance, the supporting cast expertly creates an atmosphere of contention, support, financial and logistical chaos that makes the version of Melvin’s war that Mario puts on film seem so damn real. Standouts include David Alan Grier, Joy Bryant, Rainn Wilson, and Khelo Thomas as young Mario Van Peebles.

A film of such powerful inspirational force, Baadasssss! is a must see for fans of movie history in general and of African-American cinema, in particular. Most of all it’s a perfect portrayal of an artist going through the fire for his work.

10 of 10