Results tagged “atonement”

I'm usually the first to slag the large theater chains for their lack of creativity in programming. As such, I feel compelled to point out when they actually make a good decision. In this case, AMC is doing something so obviously cool that I can't believe it isn't done every year (maybe it will be going forward). This Saturday, several AMC theaters in the Southland will be hosting a marathon of this year's Best Picture Nominees. For only $30 (including a free large popcorn and unlimited free re-fills) you can see . Click here for all the details.

"No Country For Old Men," "There Will Be Blood," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," and "Atonement" all received nominations for Best Picture this morning, as the Academy Award nominations were announced in Beverly Hills. "No Country" and "There Will Be Blood" are the front runners with eight noms apiece, including a Best Actor nod for perennial Oscar fav Daniel Day-Lewis, and directing nominations for the Coen Bros. and Paul Thomas Anderson. While Javier Bardem was recognized with a Best Supporting nom for his work in "No Country," neither Tommy Lee Jones nor Josh Brolin were nominated for the film (although Jones is in the running for a Best Actor award for his work in "In the Valley of Elah" -- did anybody actually see that?).

Despite being thoroughly outed by Vikram Jayanti in his superb documentary, , the Globes do retain some credibility in certain quarters. I don't buy that they are any sort of barometer for Academy Award nominations, but they do give nominees the extra media attention that may tip an Oscar nod their way. That said, here's what I thought about tonight's results and what they may portend.

Not too long ago, I recall picking up a certain book on a shelf somewhere and reading the back, and then deciding it was going to be mighty depressing and put it back. A couple months later, I went to see Atonement on a friend's request, knowing nothing of the story, and discovered it was the same book. And yes, friends, this story is depressing. Without giving too much away, (and you probably know this much already anyway), this is the story of a romance that might've really been something, had one major twist not taken place. Unfortunately it does, however, and pretty much nothing else goes right for the rest of the movie, while you sink further and further into the grayness of two beautiful people longing for each other, the guilt of one selfish little girl, and the tragedies of World War II. Yeehaw.