The Scorecard Review

Friday the 13th Directed by: Marcus Nispel Cast: Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Derek Mears Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: R

Plot: Jason Voorhees (Mears) is back, or maybe we're supposed to be meeting him for the first time. Campers come to Crystal Lake and meet their doom at the hands of this grown up with mommy issues.

Who’s It For? Slasher fans will get their bloody fill, and so will those needing to see some naked ladies.

Expectations: Sure, the director's name (Marcus Nispel) makes me immediately think of Nipsey Russell, who I always confuse with Garrett Morris and then I just keep thinking about "baseball being berry, berry good to me" ... what were we talking about?

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Derek Mears as Jason Voorhees: So this kid sees his mom die, then survives in the abandoned

Feb 12
Feb 12 Confessions of a Shopaholic

Confessions of a Shopaholic Directed by: P.J. Hogan Cast: Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas Running Time: 1 hr 45 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: Based on the novels by Sophie Kinsella, a journalist (Fisher) lands a job as a financial magazine, even though she is drowning in credit card debt. Her vice is shopping and trying to deal with that may cost her a career and a man (Dancy).

Who’s It For? Those desperate to relive the joy they felt when they read the books. Guys, be warned ... you will be bored.

Expectations: I can like chick flicks, and there is a huge following with the books and I'm a Fisher fan ... but the trailers weren't impressive. I was nervous.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors: Isla Fisher as Rebecca Bloomwood: Think Sally Field

Feb 11
Feb 11 Best Ending of 2008 Films - Vote in TSR Awards

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The Oscars don't have this category.What film in 2008 had the best, most memorable ending? Was it saying good bye to a dog? The tragedy of Revolutionary Road? Or perhaps The Wrestler leaving us hanging.

Here are the complete list of nominees.

MARLEY AND ME SEVEN POUNDS SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE WALL-E THE WRESTLER THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON REVOLUTIONARY ROAD THE HAPPENING BURN AFTER READING

The Academy Awards just don’t cut it. Every year I watch, and every year I think they get something wrong. Not only that, why can’t there be more than five nominations, categories that fans care about (no offense “Best Achievement in Sound Editing), and who got second place?

Instead of sitting still — I created the Scorecard Movie Awards.

Categories range from the typical (Best Overall

Feb 11
Feb 11 Best Action Hero - Villain - Superhuman of 2008 - Vote in the TSR Awards

Click Here to vote of the 7th Annual TSR Movie Awards

The Oscars don't have this category. Who was the best Action Hero/Villain/Superhuman on the big screen in 2008?

Confused? Well here's a list of the nominees ...

BATMAN THE JOKER IRON MAN HELLBOY INDIANA JONES HANCOCK EDWARD CULLEN JAMES BOND THE INCREDIBLE HULK MONSTER FROM CLOVERFIELD MAX PAYNE RAMBO JENSEN AMES

The Academy Awards just don’t cut it. Every year I watch, and every year I think they get something wrong. Not only that, why can’t there be more than five nominations, categories that fans care about (no offense “Best Achievement in Sound Editing), and who got second place?

Instead of sitting still — I created the Scorecard Movie Awards.

Categories range from the typical (Best Overall Cast, Best Actor, Best Film) to the atypical (Best Ending, Best Quote, Funniest).

If you have seen two movies or 200

Feb 11
Feb 11 Brolin and Hopkins to be in Woody Allen's Next Movie

Writer-director Woody Allen has signed on Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins to star in his newest project. As usual with Woody's films, both the plot and title are unknown. According to Variety, the two actors are just the start of what will turn into an ensemble cast. This particular film will be the next after Whatever Works, Allen's latest picture due out in the summer. Shooting for the untitled project is set to begin in London at around the same time.

Financial support will come from Mediapro, a Spanish company that provided money for Allen's recent Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Producers are Letty Aronson and Steve Tenenbaum.

For those of you keeping track, Brolin has already starred in one Woody Allen film - Melinda and Melinda. This will be Hopkins' first.

It is interesting that

Feb 11
Feb 11 Michael Bay Talks Transformers: Revenge (not Rise) of the Fallen

Is Michael Bay more than meets the eye? As a director, we may not like some (or any) of his movies, but as a personality he seems to be something else. For example, he blew us away with his hilarious commercial for Verizon. He battled Internet trolls and squashed gossip with his online blog. Now, he has given his longest interview yet to Collider.com, who pulled him aside at the Friday the 13th premiere (a film he is producing). For a brief five minutes, with a few jokes and friendly smiles, Bay gave the world with a stimulating yet arguably light update specifically about the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Apparently, there's a scene in the sequel that takes place at the Egyptian pyramids. How did the Bayster earn the right

Feb 9
Feb 9 Most Disappointing Movie of 2008 - Vote in TSR Awards

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OK, the Razzies judge the worst of the worst, but how hard is it to know Meet the Spartans and The Hottie and the Nottie would be awful? At The Scorecard Review we judge the films that SHOULD have been good, but turn out to be crap. You know who I am talking about, but just in case you don't, here's the list ...

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Twilight The Happening Speed Racer Eagle Eye The Day the Earth Stood Still Australia The Spirit

The Academy Awards just don’t cut it. Every year I watch, and every year I think they get something wrong. Not only that, why can’t there be more than five nominations, categories that fans care about (no offense “Best Achievement

Feb 9
Feb 9 Best Music of 2008 - Vote in TSR Awards

Click Here to vote of the 7th Annual TSR Movie Awards

What film had your toes tapping in 2008? The Oscars let you vote on the score, or an individual song, but at The Scorecard Review we judge a film by all the music. So, did Mamma Mia! drive you crazy? Was Slumdog Millionaire the best of the bunch, or did Bruce Springsteen's song in The Wrestler get the job done? We've also got Milk, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and seven other films to choose from.

The Academy Awards just don’t cut it. Every year I watch, and every year I think they get something wrong. Not only that, why can’t there be more than five nominations, categories that fans care about (no offense “Best Achievement in Sound Editing), and who got

Feb 9
Feb 9 Best Blockbuster of 2008 - Vote in TSR Awards

Click Here to vote of the 7th Annual TSR Movie Awards

I know what you're thinking ... nothing was better than Wall-E. Or maybe Iron Man with Robery Downey Jr. was your best dollar spent.

You can't possibly think Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or Twilight was the best blockbuster of 2008.

Well now you can decide ...

The Academy Awards just don’t cut it. Every year I watch, and every year I think they get something wrong. Not only that, why can’t there be more than five nominations, categories that fans care about (no offense “Best Achievement in Sound Editing), and who got second place?

Instead of sitting still — I created the Scorecard Movie Awards.

Categories range from the typical (Best Overall Cast, Best Actor, Best Film) to the atypical (Best Ending

Feb 9
Feb 9 Veronica Mars Movie to a Theater Near You?

David Pohl

If you are a big "Veronica Mars" fan (like I am) cross your fingers that the new Veronica Mars movie will get the green light when Rob Thomas makes his pitch in the next few weeks. Writer/Producer Rob Thomas told Entertainment Weekly, "I'm preparing the pitch now -- literally now," in a Monday morning interview. "I hope to go in and talk to [executive producer] Joel Silver and [Warner Bros.] in the next week or two to see in they're interested."

Thomas was quick to point out that a successful pitch doesn't mean the movie will get made. "They will want to consider [the pitch], look at some numbers -- whatever it is people on the business side do -- and then they'll give me some sort of response. Then, if they

Feb 9
Feb 9 He said - She said ... Push

Morrow McLaughlin

He Said - She Said

It's once again time for He Said/She Said, starring Nick Allen as "He" and Morrow McLaughlin and "She." She Said:

It's fascinating how this movie just inches into average when all of the individual elements are, conceptually, so extremely cool. Mutant psychic powers are always a romp and the movie itself looks like it's trying out for grainy, wide-lens John Wooesque look-a-like of the year. And despite all that, it's tepid and a wee unoriginal. The underlying story is summed up so hastily in order to get to the action sequences, that there are gaps and holes galore. Plus, the setup itself is so logically immovable the rest of it is actually impossible--there would be no escaping Division if they had the best remote "watchers" in the world and any attempt at

Feb 9
Feb 9 Brett Ratner To Direct Youngblood

David Pohl

Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand) will direct Rob Liefeld's iconic graphic novel "Youngblood," a story about a superhero team sanctioned and overseen by the U.S. Government. Reliance Big Entertainment recently acquired the rights for Ratner in a mid-six figure deal. Ratner seemed excited when he told Daily Variety, "Most of the great graphic novels are gone, and 'Youngblood' is one of the few comic books left with tentpole potential." Ratner went on to say, "It was a real personal passion project for me, and a lot of people wanted ('Youngblood'), but the amazing thing about the guys at Reliance is the speed with which they're able to move."

Reliance has also acquired the rights to French graphic novel "Fly Wires" for Ratner to develop. Ratner will produce the project, to be

Feb 9
Feb 9 Box Office Review - February 8, 2009

Box Office

WEEKEND TOP 5 STUDIO ESTIMATES, FEBRUARY 6-8, 2009 Rank. Movie Title - Weekend Gross | Theaters | Total Gross | Week #

1. He's Just Not That Into You - $27.5 million | 3,175 | $27.5 million | 1

2. Taken - $20.3 million | 3,184 | $53.4 million | 2

3. Coraline - $16.3 million | 2,299 | $16.3 million | 1

4. The Pink Panther 2 - $12.0 million | 3,243 | $12.0 million | 1

5. Paul Blart: Mall Cop - $11.0 million | 3,169 | $97.0 million | 4

Source: www.boxofficemojo.com

I know. I'm supposed to say something clever about how it appeared people ARE into you, as opposed to him not being into you. I can't. A trip to Mexico made me miss the screening, and a new puppy has given me

Feb 9
Feb 9 Mermaid (Rusalka)

Megan Lehar

Mermaid (Rusalka) Directed by: Anna Melikyan Cast: Masha Shalayeva, Yevgeni Tsyganov, Mariya Sokova Running Time: 1 hr 55 mins Rating: Unrated

32nd Portland International Film Festival Country: Russia English?: Nope. Subtitled.

Plot: Alice (Shalayeva) grows up in a small seaside village where she attends a school for the mentally disabled because she refuses to speak. But after moving to Moscow with her family, she meets Sasha (Tsyganov). She saves his life, falls in love with him and becomes his housekeeper to get close to him.

Who’s It For? Mermaid is a sophisticated fairytale. Adults and older teens who don't mind subtitles and like a bit of magical realism should really enjoy this film.

OVERALL

I've seen a few Russian movies in my day, and Mermaid isn't like any of them. Sure, it's a

Feb 8
Feb 8 Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love

Megan Lehar

Youssou N'dour: I Bring What I Love Directed by: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi Cast: Youssou N'dour, Moustapha Mbaye, Peter Gabriel Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins Rating: Unrated

32nd Portland International Film Festival English: Yes, and French w/subtitles

Plot: Senegalese singer Youssou N'dour begins work on an album to celebrate his Islamic faith. Then the terrorist attacks of September 11th occur, and N'dour pushes back the release date. In 2004 he releases the album, but finds the Senegalese people are unwilling to accept the album, claiming it's sacrilegious. The film documents N'dour's attempt to find success for this album.

Who’s It For? Fans of world music, or anyone interested in learning more about it. N'dour's a really great singer and an interesting interview.

OVERALL

Vasarhelyi's film follows Youssou N'dour as he conceives, produces and promotes

Feb 8
Feb 8 The Chaser

Megan Lehar

The Chaser (Chugyeogja) Directed by: Hong-jin Na Cast: Yun-seok Kim, Jung-woo Ha, Yeong-hie Seo Running Time: 2 hrs Rating: Unrated (for adults)

32nd Portland International Film Festival Country: South Korea English?: No, but subtitled in English.

Plot: Police Detective turned pimp Joong-ho (Kim) runs low on ladies, so when a seedy client calls, he forces ailing Mi-jin to take the job. Unfortunately, this client happens to be a total whack-job. Joong-Ho goes off to catch the client and find Mi-jin and in the process has a really wild night.

Who’s It For? Adults who aren't squeamish. I'd recommend it to fans of other recent South Korean films like Oldboy and The Host.

OVERALL

Do you love tense thrillers, but just wish there was a little police farce thrown in? Do you like your heroes

Feb 8
Feb 8 Push

Push Directed by: Paul McGuigan Cast: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins Rating: PG-13

Plot: A group of people with telekinetic powers (Evans, Fanning, and Belle) are being hunted by a government agency called Division. At the same time, they must prevent a super-serum from getting into the agency's hands.

Who’s It For? The dating crowd that didn't plan on seeing He's Just Not That Into You anyway.

Expectations: Isn't this around the same time that the similar-looking, super-stupid Jumper came out last year?

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors:

Chris Evans as Nick Gant: Screenwriter David Bourla has constructed a likable character with Nick - Evans just gives him a good face/body. The twenty-something wafting around Hong Kong is a solid example of Push's idea that these special abilities are more burdening than they

Feb 8
Feb 8 Pink Panther 2

Pink Panther 2 Directed by: Harald Zwart Cast: Steve Martin, Emily Mortimer, Jean Reno, Andy Garcia Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins Rating: PG

Plot: Inspector Closeau (Martin) works with a team of top-notch investigators to catch an elusive thief called The Tornado.

Who’s It For? Younger families should be a little cautious with some material, as sprinkles of racist, sexist, and sacrilegious jokes will either fly over the heads of kids or stick awkwardly.

Expectations: From its announcement, Pink Panther 2 seemed like a sequel motivated less by fans and more by finance. Still, Martin is a brilliant clown. Maybe for ninety minutes he can distract the audience from realizing the film's real objective.

SCORECARD (0-10)

Actors:

Steve Martin as Inspector Closeau: Even in something less pertinent to his career, Steve Martin is committed to his klutziness. This is

Feb 8
Feb 8 Coraline

Morrow McLaughlin