Blue Valentine

BLUE VALENTINE Blu-ray Review

by Monika Bartyzel    Posted: June 6th, 2011 at 3:56 am

Not all romances end with rousing music and fairy tale happy endings: The Break-Up gave us the finite side of love; the Before Sunrise/Before Sunset franchise offered soulmates with bad timing; and that’s to say nothing of the doom that faced lovers like Romeo and Juliet. Yet on top of the decades and centuries of creative coupling, Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine finds new ground by unleashing the infrequently-visited aspects of romance as Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams meet, love, and leave. Hit the jump for my review of Blue Valentine on Blu-ray.

Top 10 Films of 2010

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 31st, 2010 at 10:06 am

I won’t deny the vanity of year-end lists.  Most professional critics will sit through over 100 new films per year and the year-end list is a badge of honor that says, “These are the films I appreciated the most.  Behold.”  Despite the vanity, I continue to think that the year-end Top 10 provides a valuable service to the average moviegoer.  Most folks don’t have the time, cash, or inclination to see every movie released in a given year and a Top 10 list says, “Here are the must-see films from the past 365 days.  Netflix them or something.”  I didn’t get to see every film that could have potentially made this list, but I feel confident in my choices.  So forgive my indulgence and hit the jump for my Top 10 films of 2010.

Best Performances, Directors, and Other Miscellany of 2010

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 29th, 2010 at 3:33 pm

In my profession, there are two very important things you must do: watch movies and keep notes.  I did an alright job with the first one, but admittedly fell short on the latter.  While last year I was able to confidently provide what I thought were the best kills and quotes, this year I didn’t do a good job with record keeping and so I’ve omitted those categories.  Next year I’ll be more meticulous and make it a point to see movie where people get destroyed while saying witty things.

However, I did see enough movies to confidently make a list of the folks I thought were the best actors, directors, and other miscellaneous greats.  Hit the jump to check out my picks.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Named Best Picture by the San Francisco Film Critics Circle

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 13th, 2010 at 10:12 pm

The San Francisco Film Critics Circle have announced their 2010 award winners and — you’re not gonna believe it — The Social Network took home Best Picture.  And Best Director.  And Best Adapted Screenplay.  The talent behind such fine films as The King’s Speech, Black Swan, Blue Valentine, Winter’s Bone, Animal Kingdom, Toy Story 3, and The Tillman Story also won some awards, but not quite as many.  Hit the jump for the full list of winners.

MPAA Overturns NC-17 Ruling on BLUE VALENTINE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: December 8th, 2010 at 1:56 pm

The MPAA has overturned its original decision to give Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine an NC-17. The Weinstein Company recently mounted a legal campaign to get Blue Valentine an R-rating and knock The King’s Speech down from an R-rating to PG-13.  This is wonderful news for Blue Valentine and for sanity. I saw the film earlier this week and while it’s raw and emotional, there’s nothing in it that merits an NC-17.  According to Deadline, the MPAA’s decision to overturn the rating was reportedly unanimous.

Blue Valentine, which stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as a married couple in a deteriorating relationship, should now open on December 31st without any problems from nervous exhibitors.  Now the trick is getting audiences to ring in the new year by watching the love between two people crumble and fall apart.

New Photo of Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

by Kimberly Lucas    Posted: November 27th, 2010 at 7:03 am

A new image of Michelle Williams as the titular character in My Week With Marilyn has been released, proving more and more that she was a superb choice to play the one and only Marilyn Monroe. The photo exudes the grace and ease that made the original bombshell so beloved and famous. The film is based of the memoirs of Colin Clark, an employee of Sir Laurence Oliver, who experienced firsthand Monroe’s and Olivier’s tumultuous relationship during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956. This film boasts of some of Britain’s finest actors, with Kenneth Branagh as Olivier, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormond, Judi Dench, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark.  Williams told the Daily Mail that she didn’t immediately want the role, but was pulled in by Monroe’s depth:

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist, eventually. Physically and vocally, everything about her is different from me. I’ve kind of gone to school and had teachers help me understand Marilyn, so I could project an essence of her. When I first approached the part, I thought that there were three, even four parts to Marylin.”

For more quotes and information on the film, continue after the jump.

New Posters for NO STRINGS ATTACHED and BLUE VALENTINE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: November 18th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

The theme of tonight’s posters: “complicated romantic relationships.”  On the lighter side of the spectrum, we have Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher smiling postcoitus for the romantic comedy No Strings Attached.  On the heavier side — the “This is so unnerving no one under 17 can see this” side — we have the washed out heads of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Wiliams weighed down by the angst of Blue Valentine.  Hit the jump to see both posters in full.

The Weinstein Company Assembles Legal Team to Challenge MPAA Ratings for THE KING’S SPEECH and BLUE VALENTINE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 18th, 2010 at 8:41 am

The Weinstein Company has a couple of serious awards contenders with The King Speech’s and Blue Valentine.  While critical acclaim for these films has already come out of the festival circuit, the Weinsteins are trying to get these films in front of as many people as possible.  Standing in the way is the MPAA, which has slapped The King’s Speech with an R-rating for langugage and Blue Valentine with an NC-17 for apparently being too emotionally devastating.

The Weinstein Company has assembled a legal team to fight the ratings, since the “R” would lower The King’s Speech‘s potential box office and the “NC-17″ would outright kill Blue Valentine.  Hit the jump for more.

New Poster for BLUE VALENTINE Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams

by Ramses Flores    Posted: November 9th, 2010 at 8:14 pm

The Weinstein Company has released a new poster for their upcoming drama, Blue Valentine.  The film stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and tells the story of “love found and love lost told in past and present moments in time.”  The film — directed by Derek Cianfrance — has been gaining awards buzz since it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and the poster lets you know that by including a big quote at the top praising the film’s performances.  Blue Valentine has also recently been at the center of some minor controversy after earning an NC-17 rating from the MPAA, which the Weinsteins are currently trying to appeal.  You can hit the jump to check out the poster and synopsis for the film.

Nominations Announced for 2010 Gotham Independent Film Awards; Nominees Include WINTER’S BONE and THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 18th, 2010 at 11:48 am

The nominations for the 2010 Gotham Independent Film Awards have been announced.  It’s a little too early to begin the award prognostications and the Gotham Awards aren’t a good indicator, but it is interesting to see the films they’ve singled out.  Winter’s Bone leads the pack with three nominations, including Best Feature, Best Ensemble Performance, and Breakthrough Actor (Jennifer Lawrence).  The other nominees for best feature were Black Swan, Blue Valentine, The Kids Are All Right, and Let Me In.

Hit the jump for a full list of nominees.  The Gotham Independent Film Awards will be held on November 29th.

The Weinstein Company to Appeal NC-17 Rating for BLUE VALENTINE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 14th, 2010 at 8:03 am

Last Week, Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine was hit was an unexpected NC-17 rating for a scene that was emotionally jarring but not graphically offensive.  Since most theaters won’t run NC-17 films, The Weinstein Company was left with the choice to either appeal the rating or have Cianfrance make cuts and re-submit the movie.  The Weinstein Company have now issued a statement saying they will appeal the rating.  Hit the jump to read the official statement from Harvey Weinstein regarding the matter.  Blue Valentine stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams and is set to open on December 31st.

Trailer for BLUE VALENTINE Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 8th, 2010 at 10:44 am

The Weinstein Company has released the trailer for Derek Cianfrance’s drama Blue Valentine starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.  While the film was recently slapped with an NC-17 rating by the MPAA, I predict that the movie will find its way to an “R” whether through the appeals process or by making the necessary cuts (probably the latter).  The trailer doesn’t hint at anything that would lead to an NC-17 unless the MPAA has decided to take a hardline stance against people hugging and crying.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  Blue Valentine is slated to open on December 31st.

BLUE VALENTINE, Starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, Gets Hit with NC-17 Rating

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 8th, 2010 at 9:50 am

The MPAA has created a stir this morning by giving the drama Blue Valentine an NC-17 rating.  The “NC-17″ is a kiss-of-death for a film and most theaters won’t exhibit a film that has NC-17 (and as demonstrated this week by Hatchet 2, you can’t get away with no rating either).  Blue Valentine stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams and is about the deterioration of a marriage.  So as to avoid spoilers, hit the jump to find out what was so offensive to the MPAA as to merit the dreaded NC-17.

2011 Oscars May Move to January; Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer Will Produce

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: June 23rd, 2010 at 7:38 am

Shortly after the official announcement that Bruce Cohen (American Beauty) and Don Mischer would produce the 2011 Oscars, rumor leaked that the Academy was considering moving the awards ceremony to January.  The events have never taken place prior to the last week of February (2009′s February 22nd airdate was the earliest), but the Academy Board of Governors may want to challenge the Golden Globes as January’s premiere awards ceremony, as well as get the jump on the SAG Awards (January 30th) and the BAFTAs (February 13).  More after the jump:

The Weinstein Company Purchases BLUE VALENTINE at Sundance; Might Also Land THE TILLMAN STORY

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 29th, 2010 at 12:04 pm

While some may have thought The Weinstein Company was down for the count, Harvey Weinstein has finally pulled the trigger at Sundance as his company purchased director Derek Cianfrance’s relationship drama Blue Valentine – which stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams – for just over $1 million. Also, according to Variety, TWC is close to landing the documentary The Tillman Story, which is about former NFL player Pat Tillman and the cover up by our government after he died.

While I haven’t seen The Tillman Story, the buzz in Park City is the film is really good.  But I did see Blue Valentine and it’s fantastic.  You know how everyone always says how good someone’s performance is?  Trust me when I say, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are amazing in this film, which is about the beginning and ending of a couple’s relationship.  Director Cianfrance cuts back and forth during the movie and he uses bright colors and film for the beginning of the relationship, and close-ups with the Red camera for the end.   It’s a great way to show the difference in time.  With how good the movie is, it’s no surprise it landed a distributor.  More from Sundance soon.

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