Andrew Dominik's first feature since The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford five years ago, Killing Them Softly, just had a big in-competition premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. To celebrate, The Weinstein Company has released a  brand new poster has for the film.

The story is adapted from George V. Higgins's New Orleans set novel, "Cogan's Trade", that follows professional mob enforcer, Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), who investigates a heist that occurs during a high stakes, mob-protected, poker game. James Gandolfini plays an alcoholic hitman, Richard Jenkins is a mob-lawyer and Ray Liotta (what would a mob movie be without Ray Liotta?) plays the mob boss running the poker game, a man who has a history of robbing his own games. The film focuses on the attempt by Cogan to clean up the mess and find the assailants – local hoods-for-hire Russell (Ben Mendelsohn), Frankie (Scoot McNairy- I love that name!) and the brains of the operation Squirrel (Vincent Curatola). Richard Jenkins plays a mysterious driver who acts as a mouth-piece for Cogan’s unseen employer.

The reviews coming out of Cannes are so far, very positive. Killing Them Softly will open in the US and the UK on September 21.  More as we get it.  Here are some pics of Brad Pitt and Ray Liotta from today’s press conference and premiere. Angie must be home with the kids, as it appeared Brad was flying solo.

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_{No, this is not Ray Liotta.} 

We got our first look at what was then called Cogan’s Trade back in February. Shortly thereafter, it was retitled Killing Them Softly. (I have no idea how that fits with the story but it reminds me of Roberta Flack.)  Whatever it’s called, it is director Andrew Dominik's first feature since The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford five years ago (which earned Brad Pitt the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival – an award won by Michael Fassbender in 2011. The film was on a LOT of “Best Of” lists for 2007).

Killing Them Softly is adapted from George V. Higgins's New Orleans set novel, "Cogan's Trade", that follows professional mob enforcer, Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), who investigates a heist that occurs during a high stakes, mob-protected, poker game. James Gandolfini plays an alcoholic hitman, Richard Jenkins is a mob-lawyer and Ray Liotta (what would a mob movie be without Ray Liotta?) plays the mob boss running the poker game  plays ??.

We have the first clip (vaguely NSFW due to a few F-bombs) to share (thanks to RopeofSilicon) in which Sam Shepard and Slaine (c’mon, you know Slaine. He’s the mountain that Ben Affleck discovered in Southie and put in both Gone Baby Gone and The Town. Not sure what he’s doing in NOLA.) are mob enforcers doing a bit of “taking out the trash”, otherwise known as Ray Liotta.  What confuses me about this is that I was under the impression Ray Liotta was playing the mob boss.

This is another one I’m looking forward to and looking forward to reading what others that will see it in Cannes have to say. The film also features Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Garret Dillahunt, Max Casella and Bella Heathcote (who can be seen in Dark Shadows starting today). Killing Them Softly will open in the US and the UK on September 21.

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Well finally there is truth to the rumors that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting married because his manager has confirmed it as opposed to the National Enquirer. Hehe. The couple have been together for 7 years and have 32 kids together. I'm kidding. I think last I checked it's 6 . And on top of that the Bradster designed the gem himself which she wore to the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts Chinese Galleries. Jeweler to the stars Robert Procop helped design the bauble and released a statement:

"Working closely with Brad Pitt to realize the star's vision for the ring, Robert Procop was able to source a diamond of the finest quality which was then transformed using Pitt's unique designs, cut with distinctive faceting to a shape and size that perfectly suits Angelina's long, slender fingers. "Throughout, Brad Pitt remained heavily involved, overseeing every aspect of the creative design process from the perfect cut of the diamond centerpiece – an elongated tablet shape – to the finishing touches such as the mounting of a galaxy of smaller stones which are graduated in size and faceted to match, adding a crowning luster to the ring. "The full creative journey – from conception to completion – took a year, with Brad Pitt waiting until the perfect moment to unveil this special jewel to Angelina Jolie." 

The price tag is estimated to be around the $250,000 mark. Although his manager says there is no date set for the wedding there is speculation it is happening this summer in France. If you want to see the bauble her boney malnourished fingers are rocking, head on over to the Daily Mail.

Congratulations to the happy home wreckers couple.

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Just under the wire, here are my predictions for this evening’s 84^th Annual Academy Awards. As I’ve said before, I can’t remember a year in which I was less interested. The whole thing just seems off this year. Not only because of the Brett Ratner/Eddie Murphy Fiasco and not only because Michael Fassbender was denied a nomination. So were Ryan Gosling, Albert Brooks and director Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive. Drive was almost completely shut out. Nick Nolte was worthy of a nomination for Warrior, but so were Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. There were several performances in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy that warranted recognition along with Gary Oldman’s long overdue nomination. Again, Tom Hardy was worthy, but especially Colin Firth and Mark Strong deserved mention.

Jean Dujardin practically has it sown up at this point and while I can say, at least he’s not George Clooney, whom I like, but as I’ve said The Descendants was not the movie for which he should be honored. But about Dujardin I have to say, and remember I did like The Artist, he gives an excellent performance, but you have to know that there's something missing when everyone loves the dog the most*, and I have no idea what criteria the Academy used, but I’d like to know how they can consider that he gave a better performance than Fassbender did in Shame. Never in their careers have either Brad Pitt or George Clooney turned in a performance like Michael Fassbender’s either. It would never be asked of them. They are personalities, movie stars if you will, more than actors at this point. (And it has very little to do with actual nudity, lest anyone think I’m so easily distracted. Fassbender’s performance itself was what was naked and raw, like watching an open wound), Hell, Fassbender was worthy in any of the four big films he put out this year.

My original thinking was all wrong in that it’s not that Demian Bichir got Fassbender’s nomination, but rather Pitt and Clooney who elbowed out both Fassbender and Ryan Gosling or Michael Shannon for Take Shelter. (But Pitt and Clooney get nominated so that they will show up to the ceremony and walk the red carpet and people at home will tune in to watch.)

Then there's the whole debacle with Best Original Song. It’s not just the fact that “The Keeper” wasn't nominated and it really deserved to be (and I'm not alone in my thinking), but the fact that there are only two and they won't even be performed! We’re going to get a performance by Cirque du Soleil instead?! W.T.F.?

Those two categories aside, it saddens me that it’s just about a foregone conclusion that The Artist will win Best Picture.  The Artist was completely charming and delightful and I enjoyed it while I was watching it. Is that all we require of a Best Picture? I haven’t seen it again. That to me is a measure of a memorable film. In this day and age when home viewing options are more and more convenient and the lag time between a theatrical release and release on VOD, dvd or blu-ray grows shorter and shorter, for me to forgo a newer film and fork over my hard earned cash to see a film again and again in the theater, means it’s something special, in my opinion. I’ve seen Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy three times and I cannot wait to get my greedy hands on the dvd on March 20.  I’ve seen Hugo four times in both 3D and 2D. It continues to move me. Every damn time it takes my breath away.  

It is ironic that The Artist and Hugo both deal with similar periods in film history, albeit from different perspectives. But while The Artist will forever seem like a novelty to me; a silent, black and white film made in the 21^st century, the story itself is a series of clichés strung together. Hugo is in a word, magical (not to mention technically far superior. Martin Scorsese used 3D with the deft and sure hand of an artist – no pun intended- to enhance the film and the viewer’s experience. Not to make use of a gimmick or to squeeze a few more bucks out of each ticket) It was an example of a master at work. Martin Scorsese, the man who gave us Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas etc,  made a movie his 12 year old daughter could love and it was brilliant.

I do maintain that The Artist and Hugo would make one helluva double feature, but for me, Hugo was the Best Picture of the Year, hands down.

In any case, since I didn’t get a vote, here are my predictions **

and my picks if I had #. I'll be back later with your actual winners list!

BEST PICTURE

**The Artist
The Descendants
The Help
#Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

Tree of Life

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

BEST DIRECTOR

**Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne The Descendants
#Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

BEST ACTRESS

Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
#Viola Davis, The Help
**Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs

BEST ACTOR

**Jean Dujardin, The Artist
George Clooney, The Descendants
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
#Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Demian Bichir, A Better Life

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

#Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
**Octavia Spencer, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

**Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
#Nick Nolte, Warrior

Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

**Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
#J.C. Chandor, Margin Call

Asgar Fahredi, A Separation

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

**Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants
John Logan, Hugo
Stan Chervin, Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, Moneyball

George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

#Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

BEST ART DIRECTION

**Laurence Bennett, The Artist
Stuart Craig, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
#Dante Ferretti, Hugo
Rick Carter; Lee Sandales War Horse

Anne Seibel; Hélène Dubreuil Midnight in Paris

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

**Guillaume Schiffman, The Artist
Jeff Cronenweth, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Robert Richardson, Hugo
#Emmanuel Lubezki, The Tree of Life
Janusz Kaminski, War Horse

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Mark Bridges, The Artist
#Michael O'Connor, Jane Eyre
Sandy Powell, Hugo
**Lisy Christl, Anonymous

Arianne Phillips, W.E.

BEST FILM EDITING

**Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion, The Artist
#Thelma Schoonmaker, Hugo
Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Christopher Tellefsen, Moneyball
Kevin Tent, The Descendants

BEST MAKEUP

Albert Nobbs
**#Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The Iron Lady

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

**Ludovic Bourse, The Artist
#Howard Shore, Hugo 
Alberto Iglesias, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams, War Horse

John Williams, The Adventures of Tintin

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

**#"Man or Muppet," The Muppets

“Real in Rio”, Rio

BEST SOUND EDITING

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
#Hugo
**Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Drive

War Horse

BEST SOUND MIXING

**#Hugo

Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Moneyball

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

**Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
#Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Real Steel

BEST ANIMATED FILM FEATURE

**#Rango
Puss in Boots
Kung Fu Panda 2

A Cat in Paris

Chico & Rita

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Hell and Back Again

BEST FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FEATURE

Bullhead, Belgium
Footnote, Israel
In Darkness, Poland
Monsieur Lazhar, Canada
**#A Separation, Iran

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*Props to my homeslice C. for that one!

We’ve got your first look at Brad Pitt and his pompadour in Cogan’s Trade. I’ve been hearing about this one for what seems like ages. Word coming off of the New Orleans set last year was very positive and it was speculated we’d get a release in early 2012 (since it’s been in post-production since May 2011). Well, it’s the middle of February and we still don’t have a release date. Rather than see that as a bad sign, I’m thinking it means that The Weinstein Company is positioning it for the fall festivals and perhaps awards contention. (We know Brad’s not getting an Oscar this year, perhaps he’ll have better luck next, especially with the power of the Harvey behind him.)

While the full details of the plot are not yet known, since the film is based on a novel by George V. Higgins, we have clues.  It follows Cogan (Pitt) as he investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game. James Gandolfini plays an alcoholic hitman, Richard Jenkins is a mob-lawyer and Ray Liotta (what would a mob movie be without Ray Liotta?) plays the mob boss running the poker game.

Cogan’s Trade reunites Pitt with his The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford director Andrew Dominik. If you’ll recall, Pitt won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival and the film was on a LOT of “Best Of” lists for 2007.  Cogan’s Trade also stars Ben Mendelsohn, Max Casella, Sam Shepard, Garret Dillahunt and Bella Heathcote. Enjoy the pics. We’ll keep you posted on release dates

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Well, it’s all over but the shouting.  (You think I'm kidding, the crowds were insane!) The winners have been declared for the Orange British Academy Film Awards for 2012 held tonight February 12 at the Royal Opera House in London.  Miss Piggy was a lovely and gracious hostess  and a welcome addition to the regular red-carpet personalities like Edith Bowman and  Fearne Cotton. Jon Hamm showed up just to class up the joint, as did presenter Penelope Cruz.

Sir Tom Jones kicked things off with a musical homage to 50 years of James Bond. It was a little difficult to discern the words, but he's still got the voice. Host Stephen Fry, was, as always witty, charming and erudite.

You’ll find the complete list below, but in case you haven’t heard yet, The Artist swept almost every category for which it was nominated. That’s not really all that surprising and it does pretty much seal the deal for the Oscars in two weeks time. If Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and its star Gary Oldman were going to pull any upsets, this would have been the place for that very British film to do it.  TTSS did win Best Adapted Screenplay (which was deserved. I thought it would. The writers are British, of course, but one of the cowriters, Peter Straughan’s wife Bridget O’Connor, died before seeing it produced) as well as Best British Film. 

So, needless to say, Oldman and Michael Fassbender were denied and Jean Dujardin is going home with the golden mask. (Although I would have liked to have seen Fassy get it, I thought surely the British Academy would see fit to reward Oldman. I do think, however, that Dujardin’s win puts the nail in Clooney’s Oscar coffin.)  George did show up of course, just in case. As did Brad Pitt. George was flying solo and Brad was sans Ange. He must have left her in Berlin. Love the pic of George and Colin Firth sharing a bro-hug. And only the beautiful Livia Firth could get away with that manly tux on the red carpet.

Ralph Fiennes (Coriolanus) was denied in favor of another first-time actor turned director Paddy Considine who was awarded the Best Debut by a British Director, Writer or Prducer prize for Tyrannosaur.  Ralph looked fantastic though and we all know that’s more important.

Meryl Streep glammed it up and put on the ritz as if she expected to win. Everyone predicted it was in the bag for her in Blighty and they were right.  (There were ads for The Iron Lady during the BBCAmerica telecast of the BAFTAs that emphasize the fact that it's been 29 years since she won an Oscar. Heavy-handed in my opinion.) Viola Davis lost out, but her costar Octavia Spencer continued her run and won Best Supporting Actress for The Help. (Who were those guys Spencer had with her? They look like bodyguards.) Poor Michelle Williams who seemed a front-runner at one point, has all but been forgotten. She looked good though. 

Kenneth Branagh lost out to Christopher Plummer, but I’m just glad he showed up (Plummer didn't). I can’t get enough of him. He’s still as adorable as he was in Henry V. (And can I just say that I freakin’ LOVE that his wife isn’t some waifish trophy?)  Although, I do have to say Gary Oldman always looks like someone just handed him the keys to the kingdom whenever you see him with his arm around wife no. 4, Alexandra Edenborough.

One category that was a surprise: the Orange Rising Star Award. Last year it was won by Tom Hardy, and in the five years before that it was won by the likes of Kristen Stewart, Noel Clarke, Shia Labeouf, Eva Green and James McAvoy. This year the nominees were Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman) who showed up with his gorgeous pregnant bride, Elsa Pataky, Eddie Redmayne, (My Week with Marilyn, Pillars of the Earth, Les Miserables), Tom Hiddleston (Thor, The Avengers, Deep Blue Sea, War Horse, Midnight in Paris), Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids for which he won an IFTA the night before, The Boat That Rocked, Friends with Kids) and Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood). Guess who won? That’s right, the actor you’ve never heard of. I guess the other four don’t need a leg up, at least according to UK cinema-goers, who vote for the award. Deacon couldn't believe it either, calling it "surreal" before saying "Fank you".  Actually Adam Deacon appeared in a movie ten years ago with Gerard Butler. Deacon was in Shooters when he was just 16. I guess that’s a reason to watch it again. *coughlikeIneedonecough*

Martin Scorsese was given the British Academy Fellowship Award,sort of a 'lifetime achievement' award, presented to him by Max von Sydow. It was an oddly introduced tribute with only two taped testimonials, one by Robert De Niro and another by Christopher Lee (who appeared in Hugo this year). I guess  they couldn't given him this one and Best Director, so that went to Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist. (By the way, how does a movie with no dialogue win Best Original Screenplay?)

Some exciting news was leaked on the red carpet as well. Bond girls Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, who both looked stunning, were in attendance and Harris revealed that Skyfall would include “a lot” of Daniel Craig nakedness. You read that right. She said “nakedness”.  Now, while I don’t expect Craig to go all ‘Fassbender’, another slow climb out of the sea, dripping wet in those tight blue trunks would be appreciated. Just sayin’.

The biggest surprise of the night, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe showed up to hand out the BAFTA for Best Picture…The Artist. (Since it was a suprise they didn't walk the red carpet. It would have exploded from the hotness.)

So here’s your complete list of winners as well as a lot of pretty pics of the pretty people.  Meet you back here in two weeks for the Oscars!

Outstanding British Contribution To Film

John Hurt

Best Original Screenplay

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Kristin Wiig, Annie Mumolo – Bridesmaids
John Michael McDonagh – The Guard
Abi Morgan – The Iron Lady
Woody Allen – Midnight In Paris

Best Supporting Actress

Carey Mulligan – Drive
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Judi Dench – My Week With Marilyn
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer – The Help

Outstanding British Film

My Week With Marilyn
Senna
Shame
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn
Jim Broadbent – The Iron Lady
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Ides of March
Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Best Production Design

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

Best Debut by a British Director, Writer or Producer

Richard Ayoade – Submarine
Paddy Considine, Diarmid Scrimshaw – Tyrannosaur
Joe Cornish – Attack the Block
Ralph Fiennes – Coriolanus
Will Sharpe, Tom Kingsley, Sarah Brocklehurst – Black Pond

Best Film Not in the English Language

Incendies
Pina
Potiche
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

Best Costume Design

The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
My Week With Marilyn
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Makeup & Hair

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
The Iron Lady
My Week With Marilyn

Best Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

Best Film Editing

The Artist
Drive
Senna
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Sound

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

Best Original Music

Ludovic Bource – The Artist
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore – Hugo
Alberto Iglesias – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
John Williams – War Horse

Best Visual Effects

The Adventures of Tintin
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Best Animated Short

Abuelas
Bobby Yeah
A Morning Stroll

Best Short Film

Chalk
Mwansa The Great
Only Sound Remains
Pitch Black Heist
Two And Two

Best Film

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Tomas Alfredson – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Lynne Ramsay – We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Actor

George Clooney – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Michael Fassbender – Shame
Brad Pitt – Moneyball
Gary Oldman – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Actress

Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Viola Davis – The Help
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton – We Need To Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jim Rash, Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Tate Taylor – The Help
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon – The Ides of March
Steve Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin - Moneyball
Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Animated Film

The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Rango

Best Documentary

George Harrison: Living In A Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Rising Star Award

Adam Deacon
Chris Hemsworth
Tom Hiddleston
Chris O'Dowd
Eddie Redmayne

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For your daily Fassbender, we have pics from the Irish Film and Television Awards, held tonight in Dublin where Fassy won yet another award for Best Actor in a Film for his performance in Shame, (giving the Academy yet another punch in the schnoz in my humble opinion). Michael (probably) won’t be celebrating this win til the wee hours since he’s up for yet another round tomorrow night. He’ll hop a flight or take the ferry across to London for the Orange British Academy Film and Television Awards, better known as the BAFTAs (even though they do television separately) where he’s again nominated for Best Actor. He does have serious competition from Gary Oldman though. (Anyone but Clooney. Love ya George, but I can name at least two other films you were better in.)

Irish cutie Chris O’Dowd won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Film for Bridesmaids.

Over on the continuent, the Jolie-Pitts were at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele for the Berlinale premiere of Angelina’s directorial effort, In the Land of Blood and Honey. Is it me or is Ange softening her look lately? Probably an off-night.

Below are some pics of Hollywood’s ‘Golden Couple’ as well as the ‘World’s Sexiest Ginger’ (I just made that up.) Enjoy.

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I don't know how I missed this, but back in December, the New York Times published its Hollywood Issue of the New York Times Magazine and its centerpiece was titled “Touch of Evil”, featuring some of the year’s best actors as classic Hollywood villains. The actors all had their choice of roles and designed the scenarios with photographer/videographer Alex Prager and Kathy Ryan, the NYT director of photography. Sometimes a role or a ‘type’ was suggested to them, and they accepted or sometimes they had something or someone specific in mind. I thought it a fitting companion to yesterdays post, Time Rounds Up the Great Performances of the Year.

Take a look at the photo above.

1.Jack Nance as Henry Spencer in David Lynch’s Eraserhead (1977). 2. Images of invisible men, including The Invisible Man (1933) and a photo of the Chinese artist Liu Bolin (in front of the taxi van). 3. The ventriloquist’s dummy Fats from Magic (1978). 4. Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). 5. Michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street (1987). 6. Charles Laughton as Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). 7. Dominique Sanda as Anna Quadri in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Conformist (1970). 8. The silent film star Pina Menichelli. 9.Catherine Deneuve as Carole in Roman Polanski’s Repulsion (1965). 10. Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). 11. Malcolm McDowell as Alex in A Clockwork Orange  (1971). 12. A still from Green Street Hooligans (2005). 13. Lana Turner as Cora Smith in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946).

These are the characters channeled by George Clooney as The Tyrant, Mia Wasikowska as the Home Wrecker, Brad Pitt as the Madman, Rooney Mara as the Sociopath, Gary Oldman as the Menacing Dummy, Kirsten Dunst as the Siren, Jean Dujardin as the Hothead, Glenn Close as the Vamp, Viola Davis as the Vengeful Caretaker, Jessica Chastain as the Fire Starter, Ryan Gosling as the Invisible Man and Michael Shannon as the Tycoon. 

Gary Oldman as the Dummy is perfection. (Anyone see Magic with Anthony Hopkins? Spot. Freaking. On.), Brad Pitt surprised the hell out of me. Another spot on performance and genuinely f*cking creepy! Clooney was having a larf even as a villain, as was Gosling. Shannon was doing a take on Agent Van Alden (Boardwalk Empire) if you ask me. (And don’t get me started on the fact that his “Best Performances” only listed Take Shelter – and he was brilliant, don’t misunderstand- but whatever anyone thinks of the movie, he was by all accounts fantastic as Donnie in Machine Gun Preacher. Mia Wasikowska has Restless listed in her credits and while she may have been exceptional, the movie was, by general consensus, not. Sorry. I guess I got started anyway). Glenn Close is a little long in the tooth for “The Vamp”, although she did look fantastic in the stills. By far the best performance though, was Viola Davis'. The bugs! How the hell did she do that?? And that was one hell of a good Nurse Ratched.

Watch the slideshow for the stills, but you MUST watch the video for the performances.

Here are a few of the pics including a couple from behind the scenes. Enjoy!

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