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FEBRUARY 04, 2011

Reeling in the Years is closing

Thanks for stopping by Reeling in the Years. We have decided to retire this blog. For movie reviews and local film news, make sure to bookmark tampabay.com/things-to-do.

JANUARY 13, 2011

Poster art for Lebowski Fest Tampa, coming Feb. 26-27

lebowskitampaposter.jpgThis is going to look great on t-shirts and posters; the official artwork for Lebowski fest Tampa, bring all the Dudeness you desire on Feb. 26-27.

Go to the Lebowski Fest website for complete information and what-have you.

DECEMBER 20, 2010

Florida Film Critics Circle likes The Social Network best but Inception tosses a curve

Like nearly all other groups during awards season, the Florida Film Critics Circle -- of which I'm a member -- has selected The Social Network as the best movie of 2010.

But just to be different -- it's Florida, after all -- the FFCC bestowed more of its annual awards to Christopher Nolan's brain-twisting fantasy Inception, for Nolan's original screenplay plus cinematography, visual effects and art direction/production design.

The Social Network won only one other award, for Aaron Sorkin's adapted screenplay.

Colin Firth was named best actor for The King's Speech, with Natalie Portman was selected as best actress for Black Swan, continuing their early momentum in the Academy Awards marathon. The Fighter landed a one-two punch in the supporting performer competition, with Christian Bale and Melissa Leo topping the balloting. ... Read more

DECEMBER 13, 2010

The Social Network collects four prizes from the Southeastern Film Critics Association

The Southeastern Film Critics Association has chosen The Social Network as 2010's best picture, with additional prizes for David Fincher's direction and Aaron Sorkin's adapted screenplay, plus the best acting ensemble award.

Colin Firth's portrayal of a stammering british monarch on the cusp of World War II in The King's Speech earned the best actor award, with Natalie Portman claiming best actress for playing an unhinged ballerina in Black Swan.

The group's 19th annual balloting included 43 film journalists like yours truly, from nine Southern states.

Here's the SEFCA's consensus top-10 list of 2010 films, plus category winners and runners-up: ... Read more

DECEMBER 06, 2010

All I want for Christmas is The Green Hornet's car, Black Beauty

green_hornet_black_beauty.jpgYou can probably guess with 30-caliber machine guns poking out of the hood that the car I took for a test drive this morning isn't a hybrid. And you know for certain by the look on my face that it was a ton of fun.

I may just make this my new sig photo.

My colleagues Lyra Solochek (who took the photo) and Pete Couture -- the "Daily Drivers" reviewing cars for the Times -- joined me at the Tampa fairgrounds to take the Green Hornet's rip-roaring ride Black Beauty for a too-brief but exhilarating ride. Separately, of course. I don't trust anyone's driving but mine. ... Read more

DECEMBER 03, 2010

Friday Fromage: Princess Di has an appointment today with The Dentist

Forgive me for a personal smear of Cheez Whiz, in loving tribute to today's loss of a wisdom tooth or two by Mrs. Moviedude, a.k.a Princess Di. She's a trouper, and I guess surviving a week of soft-to-chew food with her makes me one, too.

I could post the dentist scene from either version of Little Shop of Horrors or Marathon Man ("Is it safe?") but those are pretty good flicks and the office visits are, after all, only one scene. No, we need a full-length feature of improperly applied drills and anesthesia to get my baby in the proper mood. Therefore, we present the newest Fromage ever delivered on a Friday, 1996's ortho-horror flick The Dentist. ... Read more

DECEMBER 02, 2010

First big winner of the awards season: National Board of Review really "likes" The Social Network

socialnet.jpgThe National Board of Review, a cadre of film historians, academics and artists, on Thursday became the first organization to announce winners -- nominees and weeks of campaigning aren't their style -- for the best cinematic achievements of 2010.

Their choice? David Fincher's The Social Network, a contentious dramatization how Facebook was created. In addition to best feature, The Social Network picked up NBR prizes for best director (Fincher), adapted screenplay (Aaron Sorkin, working from Ben Mezrich's book The Accidental Billionaires) and actor Jesse Eisenberg (left), playing Facebook mogul Mark Zuckerberg. ... Read more

NOVEMBER 30, 2010

Spirit Awards toss Winter's Bone seven nominations; The Kids Are All Right with five

The first measuring stick in a marathon leading to the Oscars -- the Spirit Awards for independent films -- announced its nominations this morning.

Don't be surprised if many of the nominees do double duty on Hollywood's splashiest weekend of the year, with the Spirits handed out Feb. 26 and the Oscars a night later. The complete list of nominees is available here. ... Read more

NOVEMBER 29, 2010

What? The Oscars couldn't get Rob Lowe and Snow White to open the show again?

roblowe.jpgIt makes perfect sense for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to hire James Franco and Anne Hathaway for hosting duties... of the early morning Oscar nominations announcement on Jan. 25, 2011.

It doesn't make any sense at all that the academy chose Franco and Hathaway to host the actual Oscars telecast on Feb. 27.

What? Did every other movie star above the celebrity level of, say, Ned Beatty turn down the gig?

Let's be clear: Hathaway makes movies and proved by singing an "improvised" song with Hugh Jackman at the 2009 Oscars that she possesses musical talent and comedic timing. But she's no Billy Crystal who, if you think about it, became one of the show's greatest hosts with Hollywood credentials almost as slim. ... Read more

NOVEMBER 24, 2010

Today's Special: Aasif Mandvi from The Daily Show coming to Tampa with with his movie Saturday night

My buddy Tara Schroeder at Tampa Theatre hustled to book the indie comedy Today's Special for Thanksgiving weekend, hoping that the film's star and co-writer Aasif Mandvi might attend. Mandvi is a former Tampa resident and USF grad, who still has family ties here. You probably know him from his hilarious work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. ... Read more

About the bloggers

For new movie reviews and movie news, this blog's for you. Steve Persall, movie critic for the St. Petersburg Times, weighs in on blockbuster movies, small-budget movies, the best movies, the worst movies ever and everything in between. Steve was conceived behind a drive-in movie theater his father operated and raised in projection booths and concession stands. He doesn't care how you did it up north.

E-mail Steve Persall:
persall@sptimes.com.

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