Larry Ratliff

Wait almost over for 2 of Oscar's leading ladies

 
Gabourney Sidibe, a newcomer, might just land an Oscar nomination as Claireece "Precious" Jones.  (Lionsgate)

Remember this name -- Gabourey Sidibe -- and a date; Nov. 13.

The excruciatingly real survival drama "Precious:  Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" opens on the 13th.

Once you see newcomer Sidibe as a severely abused (physically, emotionally) Harlem 16-year-old who refuses to let the worst circumstances imaginable define her, you won't need any convincing that this year's Academy Award race is out of the gates.

 

Hilary Swank as Amelia Earhart

(Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Also, look for amazing actress Hilary Swank to be back in the running for Oscar's golden statuette as legendary aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart in "Amelia."  Swank's an Academy Award perennial, having won Best Actress honors twice before.

Her first win came as cross-dresser Brandon Teena in the 1999 drama "Boys Don't Cry."  Swank took home her second Best Actress Oscar as determined boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in "Million Dollar Baby," director/actor Clint Eastwood's Best Picture winner of 2005.

"Amelia," directed by Mira Nair ("Vanity Fair") opens Friday (Oct. 23).  Swank teams with Richard Gere (as publishing magnate George P. Putnam) and Ewan McGregor, who portrays Earhart's longtime friend and lover Gene Vidal.

In "Precious," Sidibe commands the screen as Claireece "Precious" Jones, a Harlem teen who fantasizes about a better life as real-life horrors challenge her very existence.  Directed by Lee Daniels ("Shadowboxer"), "Precious" is the only film ever to win the Audience Award at both the Sundance and Toronto film festivals.

Oscar season is just heating up, of course.  There's no guarantee that either of these actresses will draw a Best Actress nod.

If you love movies, though, and appreciate the fine art of fine acting, let this serve as a head's up to check out two very strong -- and very different -- excellent performances.

Tarantino going for the triple 'Kill'

 
Uma Thurman might return as "The Bride" 10 years down the road in a third "Kill Bill" film. 

(Miramax Films)

It's more or less official.  Writer-director Quentin Tarantino is returning to the "Kill Bill" franchise one more time.

According to an article by James Young posted on the Variety Web site, Tarantino confirmed he was returning for more "Kill Bill" action Saturday in Morelia, Mex., where he was attending Morelia Film Festival.

 

It's two "Kill Bill" actioners down and probably at least one more to go for Quentin Tarantino.

(Courtesy:  WireImage.com)

"There to promote 'Inglourious Basterds' -- the festival opener -- the filmmaker said he wanted to give Uma Thurman's central character and her daughter Beebe 10 years of peace before the next bloody installment, which would push the project to 2014," the article said. 

Tarantino faced the attending press alongside old film-making pal Eli Roth, who co-stars in "Inglourious Basterds."

Since he isn't planning to get to "Bill" again until 2014, Tarantino is apparently exploring which genre he'll put his signature stamp on in between.  He's "wide open," according to Young's report:

"Tarantino added that he would like to do a 're-imagining' of a number of genres including a Western or a 1920s to '30s 'Pretty Boy Floyd' type gangster movie."

How about this for a working title:  "Kill, Kill, Kill Pretty Boy"?

Clooney vs. Clooney again is just loony

 George Clooney and adversary in "The Men Who Stare at Goats."  (Overture Films)

 

It's  déjà vu all over George Clooney again.

For the second time in a couple of years, the popular leading man, man-about-town, Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter ("Good Night and Good Luck"), Academy Award-winning actor ("Syriana") and pet pig lover has two major movies bumping heads in the fall movie schedule.

 

"Up in the Air" is one of two George Clooney movies  up in the air.  (Paramount Pictures)

In 2007, the dilemma involved the law firm drama "Michael Clayton" and the goofball professional football romantic-comedy "Leatherheads," which Clooney also directed.

Fast-forward to this fall and dueling Clooney star vehicles are vying for the same early November debut parking space.

According to an article posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site, "The always-crowded holiday movie season has its first controversy, with rival studios each slotting a George Clooney movie within a week of one another."

Overture's dark war-themed comedy "The Men Who Stare at Goats" is set for wide release on Nov. 6, according to the Hollywood Reporter article.

Meanwhile, it seems Paramount Pictures has a limited opening planned for its Clooney-starring "Up in the Air" a week later on Nov. 13.  A dramatic comedy, "Up in the Air" ignited positive buzz at the recent Toronto Film Festival, according to the folks over at The Hollywood Reporter.

From this aisle seat, two plans of action are called for:

One of the studios needs to back off the date, of course.  Look for that to happen.

Also, maybe some of those guys staring at goats should spend a little time staring at the fall movie release calendar.

Austin Film Fest gets 'Serious'

Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton play husband and wife in "Serious Moonlight."  (Magnolia Pictures)

 

"Serious Moonlight," a dark relationship comedy starring Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Justin Long and Kristen Bell will ring in the 16th annual Austin Film Festival on Oct. 22.

Director Cheryl Hines, who co-starred with late "Serious Moonlight" screenwriter Adrienne Shelly in "Waitress," is expected to be in attendance for the opening night screening at Austin's luxurious Paramount Theater.

Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air," which an on-line article posted by the Hollywood Reporter says "has been soaring through the fall festival circuit," will close Austin's showcase of screenwriters on Oct. 29.  Reitman, like Hines, is expected to be in attendance.

Twenty-four world and U.S. premieres will unspool at this year's event.

"'Serious Moonlight' became Shelly's final screenplay before she died, and Hines ('Curb Your Enthusiasm'), who starred with Shelly in 'Waitress,' has made it her directorial debut," according to the Hollywood Reporter article.  Click here to read the entire article.