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Oscar Vault Monday – Hannah and Her Sisters, 1986 (dir. Woody Allen)

I remember distinctly the first time I saw this film: it was about two days before I was moving away from San Francisco (that story is a whole other kettle of fish) and it came on PBS and I decided I would watch it. I was blown away. At that point I think I’d only seen about 8 other Woody Allen films (I’ve seen 31 now) and I just loved this film to pieces. I rewatched it again Saturday as part of TCM’s The Essentials and I fell in love with it all over again. Woody Allen won his only sole Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for this film (his only other writing win was for Annie Hall, which he shared with Marshall Brickman). The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning three: Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actor Michael Caine (won), Best Supporting Actress Dianne Wiest (won), Best Original Screenplay (won), Best Director, Best Picture. The films also nominated for Best Picture that year were Children of a Lesser God, The Mission, A Room with a View and winner Platoon.

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Movie Quote of the Day – Hannah and Her Sisters, 1986 (dir. Woody Allen)

Mickey: And I remember very clearly, I walked the streets. I walked and I walked. I didn’t know what was going through my mind. It all seemed so violent and unreal to me. I wandered for a long time on the Upper West Side, you know. It must have been hours. My feet hurt, my head was pounding and I had to sit down. I went into a movie house. I didn’t know what was playing or anything. I just, I just needed a moment to gather my thoughts and be logical and put the world back into rational perspective. And I went upstairs to the balcony and I sat down. And, you know, the movie was a film that I’d seen many times in my life since I was a kid, and I always loved it. And, you know, I’m watching these people up on the screen and I started getting hooked on the film. And I started to feel: “How can you think of killing yourself? Isn’t it so stupid? I mean, look at all the people up there on the screen. You know, they’re real funny, and what if the worst is true? What if there’s no God, you only go around once, that’s it? Well, don’t you, you know, want to be part of the experience? You know, what the hell, it’s not all a drag. ” And I’m thinking to myself, “Jeez, I should stop ruining my life searching for answers I’m never going to get and just enjoy it while it lasts. ” And, you know, after, who knows? I mean, you know maybe there is something, nobody really knows. I know “maybe” is a slim reed to hang your whole life on but that’s the best we have. And then I started to sit back and I actually began to enjoy myself.

New Poster For Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight In Paris’

Love, love, love this poster. I have such high hopes for this movie (despite my lukewarm feelings for most of Allen’s recent filmography). Midnight in Paris is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2011  before opening in the United States on May 20, 2011.

Movie Quote of the Day – Crimes and Misdemeanors, 1989 (dir. Woody Allen)

Cliff Stern: Last time I was inside a woman was when I visited the Statue of Liberty.

Movie Quote of the Day – Interiors, 1978 (dir. Woody Allen)

Joey: I feel a real need to express something, but I don’t know what it is I want to express and or how to express it.

Movie Quote of the Day – Annie Hall, 1977 (dir. Woody Allen)

Duane: Can I confess something? I tell you this as an artist, I think you’ll understand. Sometimes when I’m driving. . .on the road at night. . .I see two headlights coming toward me. Fast. I have this sudden impulse to turn the wheel quickly, head-on into the oncoming car. I can anticipate the explosion. The sound of shattering glass. The. . .flames rising out of the flowing gasoline.
Alvy Singer: Right. Well, I have to – I have to go now, Duane, because I, I’m due back on the planet Earth.

Trailer for Woody Allen’s “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger”

This looks promising. I haven’t really liked most of what I’ve seen of Allen’s later oeuvre of movies. This looks like it could be more like is films from the 80s and 90s – my favorite period in Allen’s career. Regardless, the cast looks amazing, so at least there’s that.

You can see the trailer here at Yahoo! movies. This film is rated R for language and releases September 22, 2010.

15 Breakthrough Performers of 2009

2009 was a good year for cinema. So good I had to have a Top 15 instead of a Top Ten (and now, after I’ve seen a lot of the End of the Year fare, I feel like I’d need a Top Twenty). There were some newcomers who blew us away and some actors/actresses who have been kicking around Hollywood for years waiting for That Movie that makes them a household name, and for them 2009 was that year. I’m going to do this list in alphabetical order by last name.

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20 Years of Best Supporting Actor nominees

This will conclude my posts featuring my favorite Academy Award nominated performances from the last 20 years. Just like my post dedicated to Best Actor nominees I couldn’t narrow it down to ten, so there are fifteen again. I guess I tend to like actors more than actresses. If you’re interested in buying any of the films discussed below, click here.

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