Larry Ratliff

Oopsy, Oscar-nom Bullock also up for a Razzie

Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper in "All About Steve."  (Courtesy:  20th Century Fox)

I've written before about how two well-made, entertaining movies out of three amounted to a very good comeback year, of sorts, for Austin-area resident Sandra Bullock.

As for 2010?

So-so so far, even though the personable actress drew her first Academy Award nomination for "The Blind Side" early Tuesday morning as she slept, according to what Bullock later told Matt Lauer during a "Today Show" telephone hook-up.

So what can possibly be negative?

A day earlier, according to an article posted on the People Web site and other sources, Bullock also got her name tossed into the hat by the Golden Raspberry Foundation for her offbeat, manic performance in "All About Steve," heretofore to be known as "that Sandra Bullock movie that just won't go away." 

In case you're unfamiliar with The Razzies, that means Ms. Bullock, while being considered for best actress by Oscar, is also under scrutiny as worst actress by the Razzie folks. 

The awful news is that if she does win in both races, Bullock will be the first actor (male or female) in history to pull off what Stephen M. Silverman in People calls "the double-barreled win" in the same year.

The good news?  Bullock has some mighty stiff competition for worst actress.  In addition to Megan Fox's dual nominations for "Transformers:  Revenge of the Fallen" and "Jennifer's Body," she's up, no down against  Beyoncé ("Obsessed"), Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana:  The Movie") and Sarah Jessica Parker ("Did You Hear About the Morgans?").

Good luck/bad luck, Sandra. 

Sandra Bullock is back, baby!

After a two year layoff, Sandra Bullock came back  strong in 2009.  (Courtesy:  Warner Bros.)

When she's not on a movie set, Sandra Bullock resides just outside Austin.

The sometimes Texan got some very good news just before the turn of the new year.  Quigley Publishing Co. announced that Bullock, who appeared in three films in 2009, roared back to stardom as the year's top Hollywood star.

According to a Reuters story posted on the Hollywood Reporter Web site, the honor is based on votes from hundreds of movie house executives.

"Bullock beat out such stars as George Clooney and Denzel Washington, on the strength of her roles in "The Proposal" and "The Blind Side," according to the story.

"All About Steve" was a comic clunker, of course.  But her two rousing successes pushed Bullock to the top of the list.

Who was close on her heels?  Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks also ranked high.  Check out the Hollywood Reporter story to fill out the rest of the Quigley list.

That Guy reviews movies in record time

Director/co-star Clint Eastwood watches Hilary Swank put her fight-face on in "Million Dollar Baby."  (Warner Bros.)

Although it may not seem that way to anyone who reads my movie reviews (click here), it's become obvious that I've been spending way too much time on them.

A succinct movie reviewer calling himself That Guy With the Glasses wraps up his stance on a movie in a concise five seconds. 

Need proof?  Click here for That Guy's review of "Million Dollar Baby," Clint Eastwood's Best Picture Academy Award winner of 2004 starring Hilary Swank (who fought her way to Best Actress honors).

Thanks to Mike for the "That Guy" head's up.

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.

Visit 'Sin' city at the DVD/video store

 

Paulina Gaitan in "Sin Nombre." (Focus Features)

A big movie star competes with a big little-movie-that-could on the new arrival DVD shelves today.

Even though Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams are on display in "State of Play," if I could just pick one new DVD release today it would be "Sin Nombre."

As I said in my review when the directing and cinematography winner from this year's Sundance Film Festival debuted on big screens in April, "Sin Nombre," or "Without a Name," is one of the most disturbing, soul-rattling movies I've seen in some time.

It's also one of the finest.  It's in Spanish with subtitles, but Cary Joji Fukunagas' epic dramatic-thriller mesmerizes as it follows Central American immigrants on a dangerous train trip through Mexico to the U.S.

Click here to read the full review.

Actually, "State of Play" is a fine choice as well, especially if you like the names in the cast:  Crowe, Affleck, McAdams and Helen Mirren.

I like Crowe in the role of an investigative newspaper reporter for several reasons.  The guy can act, for one thing.  Call it a guilty pleasure, but I like seeing a newspaper reporter's cubicle that's almost as messy as my desk.  (A bite of yesterday's sandwich, anyone?)

Click here to read my "State of Play" review.

Also debuting at the vid store today:  "Sugar," a coming-of-age baseball player immigration drama. 

Click here for the review.

Yo, Stallone/'Rambo' plead the fifth

 

Sylvester Stallone's John Rambo hasn't forgotten how to rumble in the jungle.  (Lionsgate)

Some movie hunks just can't put the bandanna behind them.

According to an article posted on the Variety Web site, Sylvester Stallone is ready to jump back into the war weary John Rambo role for a fifth cinematic mission.

"Nu Image/Millennium Films has greenlit the franchise's fifth installment, with Sylvester Stallone starring and directing, repeating his duties from 2008's 'Rambo.'

"The upcoming project's storyline revolves around Rambo fighting his way through human traffickers and drug lords to rescue a young girl abducted near the U.S.-Mexico border. Production will start in the spring," the Variety article states.

Rambo's still lagging behind Stallone's rocky "Rocky" franchise.  Stallone, now 63, has been in the cinematic ring six times as gritty Rocky Balboa.