THE FOURTH SEASON - PREVIEW EDITION

Well everyone, here we are again. The Golden Moon Awards has their nominees for it’s fourth season; so let’s get on with the show, shall we?

Since this is the first year that I am voting in the Golden Moon Awards nomination process, and since I am just writing reviews here, I had a certain advantage. There is a rule in the first round of the nominations that says that I am not allowed to vote for my own pictures.

So, I get to vote from the entire slate, It also a disadvantage as well. There was some really solid talent and projects out there, and it meant that I had to really narrow down my scope, and look extra hard to find those true “gems”, that were out there this season. I must admit… it was really difficult to make my final decisions.

Now I am going to break down each category, look at the nominations… and then give you my predictions as to who is going to take home the Golden Moon, and who is going to leave empty handed.

There are some categories that I feel that the nominations were well deserved, there were some categories that I am very much in disagreement with… and then there are some films that I feel were just plain “snubbed” in a particular category, and should receive some special consideration.

So, lets start the breakdown of the categories, shall we?

Best Marketing

Let’s see now, here are a list of the nominees for BEST MARKETING OF A MOTION PICTURE:

1) CAPTAIN AMERICA: DESTINY
2) DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
3) THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS

First, a film that I feel pretty much got ignored in this category, and that was the surprise treasure of the FOURTH SEASON… and that was the movie CAROUSEL. This marketing strategy was a throwback to the old, “painted art” style of movie posters that was very prevalent in the 1940s-50s.

It’s a “throwback” to old Hollywood… and that’s what captivated me all the more about the marketing and promotion of this film. It wasn’t flashy like CAPTAIN AMERICA: DESTINY or DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, which also leads me to my favorite choice… THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS.

This films teaser poster was a throwback to the old, painted WWI recruiting posters, and really captured the feel and essence of the film. It’s also a “throwback” as well to old-styled Hollywood promotions, and it’s what I loved about it.

But, this isn’t about my favorites… it’s about my predictions to win the much-coveted GOLDEN MOON AWARD. And for my prediction, the GOLDEN MOON AWARD for BEST MARKETING OF A MOTION PICTURE goes to…

 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

The reasons are actually quite simple. Great marketing (and this film had bunches of it) contributes to the success of this, and perhaps any film.

Although CAPTAIN AMERICA: DESTINY’s promotions depicted the somber and sullen tone of the film (and probably deserves some real voter consideration, because of it), it was also the films ultimate demise at the box office, and therefore… I feel it loses out on the GOLDEN MOON AWARD. Once the movie going public found out about the death of Captain America… they stayed away from the motion picture, and went to other movies. Henceforth… poor box office receipts = poor marketing.

Most Wanted Sequel

The lists of nominees for MOST WANTED SEQUEL are:

1) DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
2) MCMILLAN AND WIFE
3) STAR WARS: MYSTERIES OF THE SITH

Okay… STAR WARS has been done to death already!!! As much as I am a “hard-cored” STAR WARS junkie… even I can recognize when something has reached the “market saturation point”. The only problem is that I feel it’s probably a foregone conclusion that there will be more STAR WARS films, since I believe there are already projections for additional films in the works.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS… again, it’s a forgone conclusion that there WILL be a sequel… so for me; it’s a waste of an award presentation. Big box office, action film usually translates into a high percentage of there being a sequel already in the works… and probably already is.

My personal favorite, was the light-hearted crime drama/comedy of MCMILLAN & WIFE… it is definitely a film that truly deserves the sequel treatment. So, I believe the film that will win the GOLDEN MOON AWARD for MOST WANTED SEQUEL will go to…

 MCMILLIAN & WIFE

It’s the one film in the list of nominees that I feel really deserves the sequel treatment, and the award… hands down!!!

Best Supporting Actress

For BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE, the nominees are as follows:

1) Claire Danes - THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS
2) Dakota Fanning - CAROUSEL
3) Scarlett Johansson - PAPERBACK STORY

Really… I’m not even going to beat around the bush on this one. I think that the GOLDEN MOON will go to…

 Claire Danes – THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS

Although the other performances were well deserved in their nominations, CLAIRE DANES is the odds-on favorite, and it’s much deserved.

Best Supporting Actor

For BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, the nominees are:

1) Don Cheadle - SOUTH EAST
2) Eric Bana - PAPERBACK STORY
3) John Goodman - WARLAND

Eric Bana’s performance as Rainfall in PAPERBACK STORY, although a well-deserved nomination, pales in comparison to the performance of John Goodman as the cameraman who goes by the name of “Viking” in the movie WARLAND… and is a far more deserved choice for the GOLDEN MOON AWARD.

Don Cheadle (in SOUTH EAST), although a solid actor, did not give a performance that I feel came even close to measuring-up to the performances given by either Eric Bana (in PAPERBACK STORY) or John Goodman (in WARLAND).

So, my instincts tell me that the GOLDEN MOON AWARD for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE will go to…

 John Goodman - WARLAND

His performance was indeed the top of the heap, and deserves the GOLDEN MOON AWARD in this category.

Best Cast

For BEST CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE, we have the following nominees:

1) CAROUSEL
2) SOUTH EAST
3) UNCOMMON VALOUR: A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE

I’m going to preface this category, by adding a sidebar comment… in the form of a question. Now, I personally love Jack Hammer’s films, but here is the question that I am going to pose to all that voted for the initial nominations in this category…

How can the film UNCOMMON VALOUR: A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE receive the nomination for BEST CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE, and not one of the actors/actresses that appear in the film receive even one nomination in their respective categories?

Beats me… I don’t think I’ll ever figure out the voting process.

Personally, I feel that the film that should have been nominated, and was pretty much dismissed in this category, was the film THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS. It was the far, more deserved nomination in the category.

So, you know what my pick for the winner GOLDEN MOON for BEST CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE will be? I feel that, the award will go to…

 CAROUSEL

Even if THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS had received the nomination, instead of UNCOMMON VALOUR: A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE; I think that CAROUSEL is still the favorite to win the award in the category this season.

Best Starring Couple

The nominees for BEST STARRING COUPLE IN A MOTION PICTURE are:

1) Claire Danes & Jim Carrey - CAROUSEL
2) Rene Russo & Harrison Ford - MCMILLAN & WIFE
3) Robert De Niro & Sean Penn - THE HEIRS – PART 3

Personally, this category is a tough one to call… and it’s really only a close race between two choices; it’s really a tight horserace between the choices of…

1) Claire Danes & Jim Carrey - CAROUSEL
2) Rene Russo & Harrison Ford - MCMILLAN & WIFE

I’m not saying that Robert De Niro & Sean Penn (in THE HEIRS – PART 3) was not by any means noteworthy, but it pales in comparison to the other two pairings. I’m really torn, but in the end, I feel that the couple that has the inside track in the category of BEST STARRING COUPLE IN A MOTION PICTURE is…

 Rene Russo & Harrison Ford - MCMILLAN & WIFE

It is because of this couple (Rene Russo & Harrison Ford) that I really feel that MCMILLAN & WIFE is also most deserved of the GOLDEN MOON AWARD for MOST WANTED SEQUEL.

I loved CAROUSEL, and I loved the pairing of Clair Danes & Jim Carrey and I thought that their performance is what makes the decision that much harder to choose one pairing over the other. I think when all is said and done; I think Rene Russo & Harrison Ford will win this horserace… by a nose.

Best Villain

So, we are about halfway through the nominees, and that brings us to BEST VILLIAN IN A MOTION PICTURE:

1) Al Pacino - THE LAW
2) Christopher Lee - DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
3) Donald Sutherland - THE GROTTO

First, let me say that I really feel that Christopher Lee deserves an additional nod, for his portrayal of Reverend Quint Yancey (in RETURN OF THE LAST LAWMAN), in my opinion. Although all of the performances are well deserved of their nominations, I really feel that one performance stands out, towering above all the rest. Beneath all the make-up and movie magic, the performance of Christopher Lee as vile and evil Lord Deravis (in DUNGEONS & DRAGONS) is by far the best of the nominees.

So, I feel that the winner of the GOLDEN MOON for BEST VILLIAN IN A MOTION PICTURE will be presented to…

 Christopher Lee - DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

He proves yet again why he is probably the most versatile actor to grace the silver screen.

Best Actress

Now, we are entering the home stretch, and look at the nominees for BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE:

1) Claire Danes - CAROUSEL
2) Julia Roberts - WARLAND
3) Kirsten Dunst - SOUTH EAST

I think that if you ask most experienced actors, they will all tell you the same thing. Musicals present the toughest challenge for any actor. It’s not enough to just be able to act, but you have to do so… while singing. So, I don’t think it will come, as any surprise as to which performance I feel is most deserved of this award.

I feel that, when all is said and done, the GOLDEN MOON for BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE will go to…

 Claire Danes - CAROUSEL

Best Actor

Now, with only four categories left to give you my predictions, I give you the category of BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE, and the nominees are:

1) Colin Farrell - THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS
2) Daniel Radcliffe - SOUTH EAST
3) Robert De Niro - THE HEIRS – PART 3

Although the film SOUTH EAST received SIX nominations, and seems to be a “closet” favorite amongst the nominations, Daniel Radcliffe’s performance pales in comparison to that of Colin Farrell (in THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS) for the choice of BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE. People are also clinging on to the past, with what I feel, although what was a good performance by Robert De Niro (in THE HEIRS – PART 3), it was nowhere near Robert De Niro at his best.

I think that Jim Carrey (in CAROUSEL) also deserved the nomination over Robert De Niro, but I think that everyone probably has already figured out just how I felt about the theatrical release of the movie CAROUSEL.

Even if Jim Carrey had received the nomination, I still feel that the GOLDEN MOON for BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE will go to…

 Colin Farrell - THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS

It’s the best of the nominated performances (and perhaps the best performance of the year, in any category), and the most deserved selection for BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE.

Best Screenplay

Now, we continue onward to the GOLDEN MOON nominations for BEST SCREENPLAY, and they are as follows:

1) Ted Froats - CAROUSEL
2) Jack Hammer - THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS
3) Joey Stark - WARLAND

First, although WARLAND was a fairly good picture, there are films that should receive a far more consideration in this category. Ted Froats, and his adaptation of the great Rodgers & Hammerstein musical CAROUSEL was a positive masterpiece of work on his part. Jack Hammer as well, for his film THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS is a tremendously crafted screenplay as well.

So, when all is said and done, I think that the GOLDEN MOON AWARD for BEST SCREENPLAY will go to…

 THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS - Jack Hammer

It’s a great, epic period piece… and it is also a tremendous film all by itself. This is definitely a case where the sequel is by far a better film than the original work.

Best Director

Here we have the last two nominations, so let’s look at BEST DIRECTOR OF A MOTION PICTURE; and the nominees are:

1) Neil Jordan - SOUTH EAST
2) Peter Jackson - DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
3) Peter Weir - THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS

Although Peter Jackson still has not lost his magical touch, I think that the Director that really deserves the coveted GOLDEN MOON AWARD is…

 Peter Weir - THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS

His direction, vision, patience and perseverance is what brought us the tremendous masterwork of craftsmanship that will help this film be fondly remembered amongst the great, “larger than life” epics of film-making like such films as Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments and Cleopatra.

Best Picture

Last, and the best of them all; we have the nominees for BEST MOTION PICTURE, and they are as follows:

1) SOUTH EAST
2) THE GREAT WAR SERIES. STORM BREAKS
3) WARLAND

Again, although WARLAND is a solid motion picture; I think that CAROUSEL was a far better crafted end result... and should have received the nomination instead of WARLAND for BEST MOTION PICTURE.

SOUTH EAST, again with it’s SIX nominations, I feel is going to be looking in, from the outside of the ceremonies, and be shut out. Yes, it was a closet favorite amongst many of the voters, but falls short in all categories.

So, I think you can figure out, the film that I feel should (and perhaps must) win the GOLDEN MOON AWARD for BEST MOTION PICTURE will be…

 THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS

It was the cream of the crop, and deserves the accolades that are, I feel, well deserved.

IN CONCLUSION…

Well, that wraps up my predictions for the GOLDEN MOON AWARDS. It will be interesting to see how my predictions pan out. So, if my predictions are accurate, then the final awards results will look like this, from the biggest winner, to the lowest loser…

1) THE GREAT WAR SERIES: STORM BREAKS (5 Awards / 6 Nominations)
2) MCMILLAN & WIFE (2 Awards / 2 Nominations)
3) DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (2 Awards / 4 Nominations)
4) CAROUSEL (2 Awards / 5 Nominations)
5) WARLAND (1 Awards / 4 Nominations)
6) CAPTAIN AMERICA: DESTINY (0 Awards / 1 Nomination)
7) UNCOMMON VALOUR: A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE (0 Awards / 1 Nomination)
8) STAR WARS: MYSTERIES OF THE SITH (0 Awards / 1 Nomination)
9) THE GROTTO (0 Awards / 1 Nomination)
10) THE LAW (0 Awards / 1 Nomination)
11) PAPERBACK STORY (0 Awards / 2 Nominations)
12) THE HEIRS – PART 3 (0 Awards / 2 Nominations)
13) SOUTH EAST (0 Awards / 6 Nominations)

There may be some surprises in store since the awards voting can be extremely fickle, but for now, I’m off to get ready for my trip to the coverage of the awards ceremony. I’m looking forward to it… to say the least.

My next article will bring you all of the previews of the new releases you have come to expect. I’m going to have to try to squeeze it in between all the events, parties and coverage leading up to the actual awards ceremony.

Until next time, head out to the lobby, get yourself a large popcorn and a drink, and…

SEE YOU IN THE MOVIES!!!