Aida

Author(s): Alfredo

Location: NY

"Aida"

Directed by Alan Parker
Screenplay Written by Alan Parker
Produced by Walt Disney Studios
Cinematography by Allen Daviau
Film Edited by Michael Kahn
Costume Design by Aggie Guerard Rodgers
Art Direction by Bo Belch
Musical and Lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice

Main Cast

Sharon Leal - Aida
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Radames
Carrie Underwood - Amneris
Daniel Craig - Zoser
Elijah Kelly - Mereb
Sanaa Lathan - Nehebka
Tyrees Allen - Amonasro
Daniel Oreskes - Pharaoh

Tagline: "Every Story is a Love Story"

Synopsis:

"Every story, tale or memoir
Every saga or romance
Whether true or fabricated
Whether planned or happenstance"


Our story takes place in ancient times. A time where Pharaohs and gods ruled the land. Egypt is one of the most powerful nations in the known world. Our story begins with Radames, captain of the Egyptian army, he is returning from an expedition through the land of Nubia, Egypt's long-time enemy. He is young, handsome and adventurous. His soldiers capture a group of Nubian women, he finds himself captivated by the fierce and majestic Aida, the only woman who makes any attempt to resist. After arriving in Egypt, Aida is saved from death in the copper mines by Radames, who sends her as a handmaiden to his betrothed, Princess Amneris. Amneris is a young, beautiful woman with a bubbly personality. She lives her days in the palace without a real care in the world dreaming of her wedding to Radames. When Aida is presented to Amneris by Radames' servant Mereb, a young man who has learned the tricks of survival in Egypt, she is liked instantly by the princess. Amneris could sense that there is more to Aida than meets the eye. The Princess couldn't have been more right for Aida was no regular Nubian women; she was the Nubian Princess. A fact that Mereb and Nehebka, another of the Princess' handmaidens, discover but promise Aida to keep secret for if the Egyptians find out they will kill her.

"Every story, new or ancient
Bagatelle or work of art
All are tales of human failing
All are tales of love at heart"

Meanwhile, Radames' father, Chief Minister Zoser, greets his son with news that the Pharaoh is dying, and Radames must prepare to become the next ruler of Egypt. Without Radames' knowledge, his father is poisoning the Pharaoh in order to accelerate Radames' ascension to the throne. With news of the Pharaohs illness the wedding between Radames and Amneris is moved up. In seven days Radames will be Pharaoh of all of Egypt which will give his father, Zoser, more power. Amneris is excited by this news but Radames is worried that this wedding will mean the end of his adventures. He shares his worries with Aida who in turn shares hers with him. There is a growing attraction between the two. Soon Amneris turns to Aida to confide her worries about her father's looming death. They begin to become friends. Radames no longer being able to hold his feelings for Aida in any longer confesses. Aida tells him that she is attracted to him as well. They share a passionate moment together. That moment is taken away from Aida when she getss word that her father, Amonasro, has been captured and will be put to death. Aida is taken by Mereb to the Nubian camp, where she her people plea for her help.

"This is the story
Of a LOVE that flourished
In a time of HATE
Of LOVERS no tyranny could separate
Love set into motion on the Nile's shore
Destiny ignited by an act of WAR"

Aida is torn between the love of her country and the love of a man that is the enemy to her country. Aida never expected for her love of Radames to ignite a revolution, betrayal, hurt feelings and ultimately death. Aida must be strong and fulfill her destiny. What happens in the rest of our story will be told for generations to come. It will be written in the stars. Our story of Aida will be forever known.

What the Press would say:

It is a gray, dreary day in New York City. There seems to be no colors except gray. In the Egyptian wing of a modern museum everything is gray. There is no color save for one statue. The statue is adorned with a bright red gown. It is the statue of Amneris, a female Pharaoh. The statue slowly comes to life. It steps down from the display and starts to walk through the Egyptian wing. As she walks she becomes more flesh. The walls start to become more brightly colored. She begins to sing. We soon realize that we are no longer in the Egyptian wing of a modern museum but we have been transported to Ancient Egypt. There are bright colors everywhere. Amneris (Underwood) goes into her song "Every Story is a Love Story".

This is the opening scene of Aida, the newly adapted screen version of a Broadway musical directed by Alan Parker and starring Jonathan Rhy Meyers, Sharon Leal and Carrie Underwood. Aida is one of the best Broadway Musical Adaptations that has been made since "Chicago". The opening scene of the film sets us up for what is about to happen. With this one scene we know that we are no longer in our world. We are in a world far away. A world where it is perfectly normal for people to break out into song and dance. And what a song and dance it is!

Sharon Leal ("Dreamgirls", TVs Boston Public) is a revelation as Aida. Leal steps out of the shadow of Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce and takes center stage. She brings all the power and emotion that is needed to successfully portray the character of Aida. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is fantastic as Radames. His rock n roll voice fits the character perfectly. Meyers brings all of his brooding charm to the role. Leal and Meyers will bring tears to your eyes as the two star crossed lovers.

Leal and Meyers are accompanied by one of the best supporting casts in any film this year. The standout is Carrie Underwood in her first acting role. She is marvelous as Princes Amneris. Underwood more than holds her own opposite more polished actors like Meyers and Craig (who is magnificent as Radames' scheming father, Zoser.) Underwood takes her singing to new heights in order to take on the vocal demands of Amneris.

Aida is a film that is visually stunning, beautifully acted and sung. It is sure to go down in film history. The film more than deserves every single nomination that is given to it. It is the one to beat this awards season.

Best Picture
Best Director - Alan Parker
Best Adapted Screenplay - Alan Parker
Best Actress - Sharon Leal
Best Actor - Jonathon Rhys Meyers
Best Supporting Actress - Carrie Underwood
Best Supporting Actor - Daniel Craig
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Original Song - "A Love Song for Eternity" Written by Elton John and Tim Rice

Booth

Author(s): Joshua

Location: NY

"Booth"

Written & Directed by Andrew Dominik
Produced by Dede Gardner & David Valdes
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Cinematography by Roger Deakins
Film Editing by Dylan Tichenor
Costume Design by Patricia Norris
Art Direction by John P. Goldsmith
Original Music by Carter Burwell
Rated PG-13: For Violence and Some Language

Main Cast

Ben Foster - John Wikes Booth
Paul Dano - Lewis Powell
Tate Donovan - George Atzerodt
Garret Dilahunt - Michael O'Laughlen
John Robinson - John Surratt
Justin Chatwin - David Herold
Damian Lewis - Samuel Arnold
Patricia Clarkson - Mary Surratt
Jackie Earle Haley - Dr. Samuel Mudd
John Terry - Abraham Lincoln
Bruce Davison - William H. Seward
Jon Don Baker - Andrew Johnson
Bonnie Johnson - Mary Todd Lincoln

Tagline: "Thus Always to Tyrants"

Synopsis: He was a member of the Booth family of actors. He too would grow up to become a talented stage actor. He would also grow up to become a confederate sympathizer during the Civil War that started in 1861. He would write in a journal. A journal that contained his deepest thoughts and determinations. This is the story of John Wilkes Booth. The man who would become the first person ever to assassinate a U.S. president.

By 1864, the war had shifted to the North. Booth was devising a plan by then. He needed the best men on his side to pull it off. Those men were George Atzerodt, Samuel Arnold, Michael O'Laughlin, David Herold, John Surratt, and Lewis Powell. Booth's plan was to kidnap president Abraham Lincoln and exchange him to the confederate army, but that will never happen. Lincoln never showed up to his destination, leaving Booth's confidence in a diffrent, more dark direction.

President Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward. Booth believed that if those three men were killed, the Confederates will have the war in the palm of their hands. April 14, 1865 will be the day. The day that John Wilkes Booth makes history.

What the Press would say:

Andrew Dominik, the genius who brought you "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" delivers another masterpiece with "Booth". The story of the last years of the famous assassin John Wilkes Booth is told perfectly in this film that will stay with you until the Oscars.

Ben Foster gives an massive performance as John Wilkes Booth. "What an excellent chance i had, if I wished, to kill the president on Inauguration day", are words Booth wrote in his journal after attending Lincoln's second inauguration. The hatred and anger of this character is delivered so perfectly by Foster. He is playing a man that supported the confederates all the way. He also supported slavery, and when Lincoln annouced voting rights for blacks, Booth felt he had to do something to end it all, and he did. On April 14, 1865, Booth walked into Ford's Theatre where the president was locationed. Watching a play next to his wife, Lincoln was shot in the back of the head by Booth. Booth is then on the run. He travels by horse to Virginia and stays in a farm, where the 26 year old will be killed two weeks after the assassination.

Paul Dano and Jackie Earle Haley deserve recognition for their performances. Dano playing Lewis Powell, the one that Booth trusted. Powell was giving the task to kill Secretary of State William Seward, but serious events will prevent that task from being accomplished and Powell will be one of the convicted of the assassination of Lincoln. Haley plays the famous Dr. Samuel Mudd. Till this day, it is a mystery if Mudd was really part of the plot to kill the president. Haley deserves lots of praise as we see his character get to know John Wilkes Booth and later arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment. There are also some big names in great supporting roles, like Tate Donovan as George Atzerrodt, the man who was giving the task to kill VP Andrew Johnson, but later walked away from his mission. Patricia Clarkson, who jumps into the shoes of Mary Surratt. Mary opens her home for Booth and his clan. She never knew what they were planning in her own home. She is later arrested and sentenced the death penalty by hanging and pleads for her life all the way till the end. We also have respected near-cameos from John Terry as Lincoln, Bruce Davison as William Seward, and Jon Don Baker as Andrew Johnson.

Each scene delivers more than what we expected, it never dissatisfies, and the cinematography is beautifully delivered. The cast is great, but the true treasure is Ben Foster. Even when Foster's Booth is killed, we still get a few surprises. And in the end, with all of the convicted getting their verdicts, is even more of a satisfying shocker.

FYC
Best Picture
Best Director - Andrew Dominik
Best Actor - Ben Foster
Best Supporting Actor - Paul Dano
Best Supporting Actor - Jackie Earle Haley
Best Supporting Actress - Patricia Clarkson
Best Original Screenplay - Andrew Dominik
Best Crew
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Art Direction
Best Film Editing
Best Casting Choice - Ben Foster
Best Original Score

A Brother's Cry

Author(s): JG

Location: NY

"A Brother's Cry"

Directed by: Marc Forster
Written by: Paul Haggis
Music by: Alan Silvestri

Main Cast

Ryan Reynolds as Jimmy Coleman
Kevin Zegers as Thomas Coleman
Jennifer Garner as Linda Marren
Emmy Rossum as Helen Watson
Harrison Ford as Richard Coleman
Diane Wiest as Alice Coleman

Tagline: "Battle.Betrayal.Brothers."

Synopsis: Jimmy and Thomas Coleman belong to a middle-upper class family living in Connecticut during the start of the Vietnam War in 1965. Thomas is smart, talented, and well-respected, while his older brother Jimmy is more rebellious and is looked upon as a slacker. Their parents, Richard and Alice, favor and spoil Thomas and barely pay any attention to Jimmy. Jimmy was never really jealous of Thomas growing up, but as they got older, his feelings began to change. Jimmy secretly loves his best friend Linda and is crushed when he discovers that she is madly in love with Thomas and has only befriended him in order to move closer to his brother. Thomas, however, has a serious girlfriend of his own, Helen. Jimmy falls into a jealous craze and plots to get rid of Thomas. Several weeks later, the U.S. increases the number of young men to be drafted for the army. Jimmy is informed that he is needed for the war, but manages to get out of it by faking a terminal illness. He then volunteers his brother Thomas to serve as his replacement even though he did not have Thomas's consent. On the night Thomas is called to join the army, he accepts his fate but ends up proposing to Helen, promising her that he will return.

With Thomas away at war, Jimmy hoped to come out of his "perfect" brother's shadow and win over Linda. However, he realizes that Thomas's absence didn't really make his life that much better and Linda didn't give up on the idea that she and Thomas were meant to be together. Soon after, the Coleman family receives the tragic news that Thomas was killed in battle. Jimmy is furious at himself because he knows that this is all his fault and that it should have been him who was killed at war. He goes into a mild depression and feels completely responsible for his brother's death. He can't bear to remain at home with his heart-broken parents, so he decides to move away to re-start his life. Twenty-five years pass and Jimmy has turned himself into a successful social worker, using his experiences and feelings toward his brother Thomas as a form of helping others. Jimmy decides to move back to his hometown once his father Richard falls into a coma. Late one night, Jimmy is sitting beside his father's bed when he hears a knock on the front door. He gets up to open it and sees a familiar face. It's his brother Thomas standing before him, with eyes filled with hatred, wrath and vengeance.

What the Press would say:

Marc Forster beautifully directs this phenomenal story about brotherhood and life. "A Brother's Cry" takes us through the lives of the Coleman family during the beginning of the Vietnam War. Jimmy and Thomas are brothers who are complete opposites from each other. Most of the picture is from Jimmy's point of view, where we get to see his transformation as a man. The story evolves when Jimmy secretly gets Thomas drafted for the war as his replacement, after the girl he loves admits that she loves Thomas. After this point, viewers will be amazed at the twists and turns the plot takes you through. The last scenes are extremely climactic and will have you on the edge of your seat! Ryan Reynolds is the true star of the film and perfectly adapts to this dramatic role, playing the lead character Jimmy. He makes his character so real and relatable that it's hard not to sympathize for him with everything he goes through. Kevin Zegers is wonderful as the ideal brother Thomas, fully capturing every aspect of his character's confident and gentle manner. The film also includes strong supporting roles from Jennifer Garner, Emmy Rossum, Harrison Ford, and Diane Wiest. This film is definitely a must see and delivers a meaningful message about brothers and relationships.

For Your Consideration:

Best Picture
Best Director: Marc Forster
Best Actor: Ryan Reynolds
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Zegers
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Garner, Emmy Rossum
Best Original Screenplay: Paul Haggis
Best Art Direction
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Original Song
Best Original Score

Camp Destiny, Vermont

Author(s): Evan Dunbar

Location: NY

"Camp Destiny, Vermont"

Directed By: Julian Schnabel
Written By: Diablo Cody
Score: Marc Mancina
Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Distributed By: Miramax Pictures and Fox Searchlight

Main Cast

Young Bryce – Max Penraat
Young Kati – Eve Perchanok
Young Saharo – Gideon Olshansky
Young Olivine – Singha Hon
Older Bryce – Ben Foster
Older Kati – Emma Stone
Older Saharo – Michael Cera
Older Olivine – Lucy Liu

Tagline: "I Wouldn’t Be Better, I’d Just Be Better Now"

Synopsis: Four 14 year-olds who are basically from different universes, meet at a sleep away camp. Bryce is an artist from Montana, Kati, a valley girl from Beverly Hills, Saharo, a male model from Richmond, Virginia, and Olivine, a politically active emo girl from New York City. The four become close friends, forming bonds through their shared experiences. These range from conquering Olivine’s fear of water, to warding off a bear on an overnight. On the last night of camp, Saharo confesses his love for
olivine, and she says she loves him too. The next day sweet goodbyes among the four friends are exchanged, who must now return to the world of stereotypes, where they can’t be themselves without some kind of ridicule.

Over the next few months, the shy and reflective Bryce tries to connect again with Olivine, who basically pushes him away. Bryce recoils and asks Kati for advice. She in turn tries to talk to Saharo. Saharo is always busy with Olivine, and won’t answer her IM’s or calls. 4 years later, Kati and Bryce arrive at Dartmouth College. They are still as close as they were at camp. Upon seeing the much more mature Olivine and Saharo, and exchanging pleasant hellos, the two duos part ways. The next day Olivine invites Bryce to come to a party with her and Saharo. Bryce asks if Kati can go, but Olivine says that she wouldn’t fit in. Bryce walks away, and continues to ignore Saharo and Olivine. Kati joins him, and after Saharo and Olivine break up, they both come to them
seeking help. They are both refused it by the friends they thought they were close too. They didn’t realize that they had cut Bryce and Kati in half. Olivine then is caught doing cocaine, and is kicked out of the college. A month later, a story appears on the news of how Olivine was found dead in her parent’s bathtub. Saharo runs sobbing from the dorm rooms and throws himself at the feet of Kati and Bryce. They step on his hands and walk away, holding hands tightly. Bruce pulls out a gun and shoots himself
in the head. A piece of paper falls out of his clutched hand. Kati, sobbing, picks it up. Her and Bryce open it. It reads, “I’m sorry. I’m better now.”

What the Press would say:

With a relatively unknown cast, Director Julian Schnabel works wonders with his emotional and visual masterpiece “Camp Destiny Vermont.” The heart wrenching story of friendship, and the true powers of it, is written, in a way where it can make you laugh one second, and cry the next, by Diablo Cody. She also wrote “Juno.” Newcomer Max Penraat gives a stellar performance as the shy and quiet artist, Bryce, and is worthy of recognition. Eve Perchanok gives the one truly funny character that seems ditzy a heart of gold. She acts as if she has been in the bizz for years. Emma Stone, best known for her role in “Superbad,” breaks out of
her shell, and turns the formerly ditzy girl into a speculative student, reminiscent of Elle Woods. With some of the most beautiful and engaging cinematography in recent years, it is hard to look away from this highly intelligent piece. “Camp Destiny, Vermont” is not only the best picture of the year, but the best in the past few years. “Camp Destiny” is not only visually stunning, it also showcases some of the best rising talent in the business. “Camp Destiny, Vermont” will become a perennial, shared by the generation, and cherished by the Academy.

For Your Consideration

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Original Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor: Max Penraat
Best Supporting Actor: Gideon Olshansky
Best Supporting Actress: Eve Perchanok
Best Supporting Actress: Singha Hon
Best Actor: Ben Foster
Best Actress: Emma Stone
Best Actor: Michael Cera
Best Actress: Lucy Liu
Best Score
Best Cinematography
Best Costumes
Best Makeup
Best Art Direction

Day of the Jackal

Author(s): Adam

Location: TX

"Day of the Jackal"

Directed by MARTIN CAMPBELL
Written by TONY GILROY
Produced by FRANK MARSHALL & PAUL GREENGRASS
Based on the 1973 film
"THE DAY OF THE JACKAL"
Based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth

Main Cast

DANIEL CRAIG as The Jackal
MATT DAMON as Paul Landon
CATE BLANCHETT as Elise Rowan
SIDNEY POLLACK as President James Sullivan
ALBERT FINNEY as Prime Minister Michael Livingston
BRENDAN GLEESON as Vice President Jack Stanton
CHRIS COOPER as Stephen Lane
PADDY CONSIDINE as Gustov The Messenger

Tagline: "One man aims to kill the president. The other aims to stop him"

Synopsis: WASHINGTON: After a day of meeting at the White House, American President James Sullivan and British Prime Minister Michael Livingston have settled on an agreement to remove troops of their countries from and ongoing war in Iraq. In light of the historic event, the two men along with Vice President Jack Stanton, will be doing a week long tour of European cities to promote a new proposition for a joint American/European alliance to maintain peace in feuding nations.

LONDON: The Jackal, a professional assassin, walks out of Heathrow airport and enters a black vehicle. Inside, a man known simply as Gustov the Messenger hands him an envelope containing a picture of President Sullivan and gives him clear instructions. In eight days, during the final stop of the peace tour in Paris, he is to shoot and kill the president of the United States.

NEW YORK: Paul London, an agent in the FBI's counter-terrorism unit, has successfully busted a bomb plot on a large African-American church by a notorious white supremacist group. He has been informed that a lead was given to the bureau concerning a plot on the president's life during his peace tour.

Landon and his investigative team are determined to stop The Jackal in his motives. As they follow his route for days through cities such as Moscow, Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague, Milan, Dublin, Madrid and eventually Paris, they find themselves one step behind him and closer to learning the realities behind the shocking motive. Elsie Rowan, a woman The Jackal had a one night encounter with along the way, has described his looks and given Landon details of his characteristics, thus providing a clear image of who they are looking for. As their thrilling cat and mouse chase continues, Landon shockingly learns that the plot may actually be an inside job. One that involves Stephen Lane, a pro-war congressman who was benefiting greatly from the war, and even Vice President Stanton, who was not too intent on the war to end.

What the Press would say:

"In 1973, a film titled "The Day Of The Jackal" which was based on the outstanding novel by Frederick Forsyth turned an actor named Edward Fox into a star. This intelligent and entertaining remake, has not converted Craig into a star, but solidified his talents as a great actor. We've seen him play a gangster's son, a vengeful Isreali assassin and even James Bond. As The Jackal, he has crafted the villainous figure with such skill. His movement, his presence and his sheer personality as the character is fantastic. He is such a powerful figure with such intense motives, yet his mood and his movement is so unchaotic, that it creates such a different kind of villain. Matt Damon shines as Landon. A generally confident actor with admirable talents, his determination to complete the film's central motive as the character is perfect for an actor of his age and shape. Come nomination time, it may just be the battle of the leads between Mr. Craig and Mr. Damon."

"In the supporting department, Brendan Gleeson does superb as Vice President Stanton, a man who shows dedication in supporting his commander in chief, but at the same time holds very shady ways underneath everything. Playing the role with a dead-on East Coast accent, the Irish-born actor shows his talent for playing foreign characters."

"With a fine script from Mr. Gilroy and superb directing from Mr. Campbell, the creative team behind this ambitious recreation of a classic thriller holds true to the concept of its predecessor. It aims to create an entertaining and suspenseful edge of your seat thriller, and aims to minimize itself as an over the top action film. At that, it succeeds. You are never bored, and are always given something to follow along with throughout each scene of the film. When the moments of thrilling excitement arrive, they are done superbly."

FYC
BEST PICTURE (Drama)
BEST DIRECTOR- Martin Campbell
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY- Tony Gilroy
BEST ACTOR- Daniel Craig
BEST ACTOR- Matt Damon
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- Brendan Gleeson
BEST FILM EDITING
ALL CREATIVITY AWARDS

The Devil in Austria

Author(s): James Somerton

Location: Canada

"The Devil in Austria"

Directed By Steven Speilberg
Written By Steven Zallian
Edited By Michael Kahn
Cinematography By Janusz Kaminski
Score By John Williams

Main Cast

Daniel Craig as Adolf Eichmann
Heino Ferch as Ernst Kaltenbrunner
Romola Garai as Veronica Liebl
Ben Kingsley as Gideon Hausner
Guy De Saint Cyr as Heinrich Himmler

Tagline: "The Final Solution Was Only The Beginning"

Synopsis: In 1932 a twenty-six year old man named Adolf Eichmann joined the Nazi Party in Austria. Quickly moved into the booming "Jewish Section" of the Nazi Party, Adolf was put in charge of creating solutions to "The Jewish Question". Deportation to Madagascar was one suggestion but it was quickly thrown out when a war began.

The next idea? Termination.

From the years of 1940 to 1945, Adolf Eichmann was in charge of systematically killing over five million European jews. But with the end of the war he was forced to flee to Argentina. Here, along with his wife and children, he began a new life working odd jobs under a new name Ricardo Klement. Any fear of retribution was forgotten after a few years in hiding. But the hunter had become the hunted.

Survivors of what was now being called The Holocaust were getting their revenge. Nazi hunters from Israel were hunting down all the remaining nazis in the world. After the Nuremberg Trials, they took it upon themselves to find any Nazi who had escaped justice. Adolf Eichmann was one of them. Caught in May of 1960, Eichmann was put on trial in Jerusalem for fifteen different charges.

Encased in a bullet proof booth for the duration of the trial, Eichmann rarely reacted to any of the charges made against him. Simply saying that he only followed orders.

Eichmann was sentenced to death, and executed on May 31, 1962.

What the Press would say:

Steven Speilberg returns to form with this magnificent, and horrifying, leap back into history. We're constantly reminded of the events of the holocaust, but rarely mentioned is the man behind it all. Adolf Eichmann engineered the holocaust; thinking up methods of transportation and extermination. Visiting the death camps far more often than any other of his colleagues, Eichmann is said to have even grown accustomed to the smell of the bodies burning or decomposing. A feeling that we are almost forced into reliving.

Daniel Craig's portrayal of Eichmann is terrifyingly real. He is so calm in the most tense situations that you sometimes wonder if he is even aware of his surroundings. However, we do see him fall into utter panic when he is fleeing Berlin. Only in this scene are we privy to glimpses of the war and his inner paranoia. When visiting the death camps he is so mechanical its scary. We are treated to a different side of Eichmann when with family though. His wife and children bring out a softer side in him, one that doesn't even think of his "great work" that is being performed. Craig really shines in the courtroom scenes though. We're so accustomed to seeing yelling and arguing in a courtroom that when we see the calm and poised Eichmann it is far more shocking than any flamboyant lawyer.

Eichmann's adversary in the courtroom is Gideon Hausner, played by Ben Kingsley. This is a strong willed prosecutor that has taken down many Nazis before Eichmann is beyond confident that Eichmann will be the next to fall. He is just as strong willed as Eichmann but finds it a bit harder to keep his emotions in check. The back and forths between these two characters are so well written. The impassioned Hausner going against the almost emotionless Eichmann gives such a contrast between the two characters.

The final moments of the film are truly emotional. As a viewer, we have grown to loathe Adolf Eichmann and seeing him in his final moments is just as meaningful now as it was then. This is not a hateful film, we do get to see Eichmann as a human; being with and loving his family. After watching the film though it becomes clear that Eichmann was a Nazi first and a family man second. Steven Speilberg gives us his best film since "Schindler's List". This film shares the same raw emotion as "List" but it is an emotion of hate, fear, and anger that drives this film. The fact that this man had a family and was not simply a monster almost made me angrier. Speilberg elicits so much from us with this film that its hard to walk away without feeling changed. Here we get to know the man who truly engineered the holocaust. A terrifying man that was all too normal. This film, however, is not normal. It transcends cinema and tackles the worst war crimes in history. In a time when torture and war crimes permeate our even news broadcast, this shows us what happens when people turn a blind eye.

POSSIBLE NOMINATIONS

Best Picture
Best Director - Steven Speilberg
Best Actor - Daniel Craig
Best Supporting Actor - Ben Kingsley
Best Original Screenplay

Fire of the Sun

Author(s): Ryne

Location: Portland

"Fire of the Sun"

Directed by Paul Haggis
Written by Eric Roth and Paul Haggis

Main Cast

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Solomon Tessema
David Anders as Lt. Mark Carwin
Senait Ashenafi as Hiwot Tessema
Rachel Weisz as Emily Carwin
Leo Gullotta as General Vito Costa
Sophie Okonedo as Kirsay Solgos
James Caviezel as Pvt. Aldo Mancini
Ralph Finnes as General Edward Ashmore

Tagline: "Under the fire of the sun, temptation brought a nation together"

Synopsis: As fascist Italy begins to expand the Axis Empire into the East African country of Ethiopia, the British government, who controls the surrounding nations, considers troop withdrawal. The government instead wants to focus efforts on the Western Front in Europe. Solomon Tessema (Akinnuoye-Agbaje) heads a group of Ethiopian resistance fighters known as Ethiopian Republic Coalition, or ERC, who are keen on stopping potential Axis influence. This group, however, relies heavily on British support to defend their nation. General Edward Ashmore (Finnes) feels that his army should not abandon their duty to the people of Ethiopia. He suggests to the government that they allow any soldier who wishes, to stay and fight along side the ERC. The British government agrees, but only a few actually stay. Lt. Mark Carwin (Anders) is one of the men who chose to stay. This came to a shock to his wife, Emily (Weisz), who works as a nurse for the British army. She has repeated voiced her displeasure with living in Ethiopia and her desire to return home. Mark understands his wife’s discomfort with the situation, but external forces are keeping him from leaving. The remaining British forces begin to assimilate with the ERC to fight fascist Italy. During the assimilation, Mark introduces Emily to Solomon and his pregnant wife, Hiwot (Ashenafi). Emily and Hiwot quickly become friends. Emily learns that Hiwot’s best friend, Kirsay (Okonedo), went missing several days earlier, but in Ethiopia, there is not much that can be done. The integration of forces seem to be going well, but with the Italian army mobilizing, they will soon be tested.

General Vito Costa (Gullotta) has been planning the invasion of Ethiopia for months now. The victory that looms directly in the future ensures Axis control of Africa within the coming months. Ethiopia has no chance. The British have withdrawn troops and the ERC cannot resist for long. Nothing stands in the way of victory. If somehow things do not going according to plans, a prisoner apprehended by Pvt. Aldo Mancini (Caviezel) may provide some sort of assistance. This prisoner, going by the name Kirsay, frequently says that she personally knows Solomon Tessema and the ERC will never give up. If she does indeed know Solomon, she could become very handy in the coming weeks.

The Italian army officially began its invasion of Ethiopia on January 20, 1941. The stories of the ERC resistance are intertwined with the birth of the Tessema’s baby that reveals the reason Mark stayed in Ethiopia, the events surrounding Kirsay’s capture, and General Costa’s struggle realizing that Ethiopia will fight to the bitter end.

What the Press would say:

Paul Haggis gets back to perfect form with the second part of his World War 2 trilogy. He does what he does best in directing this superbly put together ensemble. He bravely uses Amarigna, the native language of Ethiopia, and Italian to build tension that otherwise would not be there. Eric Roth, with help from director Paul Haggis, writes a screenplay that is once again brilliant. The script is one of the main reasons every actor shines in their role. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje gives a performance like I have never seen before as the charismatic Solomon. The audience can really feel the intensity in his eyes when he rallies the ERC and the heartbreak in his heart when he learns that Hiwot’s child isn’t his. It is by far one of the best performances of the year. In the supporting roles, the unknown Senait Ashenafi and David Anders, who the studio decided to push as supporting, give excellent performances in their respected roles. Ashenafi proves as the movies goes on, there is more behind Hiwot than just a pretty face. She captivates you from her very first scene and dominates the screen every time she appears. David Anders gives an exceptional tour de force as the troubled Mark. To often does a villain overshadow the “good guy” in this category now a day. Mark’s love for his wife is undeniable and the audience can tell with the torture he goes through knowing the effects of his affair. Anders portrays this troubled nature of Mark to perfection. I predict he gathers several precursor victories subsequently landing his first Oscar nomination. In a year that has brought us such masterpieces as “Jackrabbit”, “Lucky Clover”, “A New Agenda”, and “Cinematheque”, “Fire of the Sun” has become the film to beat come awards season.

FYC:

Best Picture
Best Director (Paul Haggis)
Best Actor (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)
Best Supporting Actor (David Anders)
Best Supporting Actress (Senait Ashenafi)
Best Original Screenplay