Spirit Award Wins, Reaction Shots, and Opening Monologue

Since the Spirit Awards fancy themselves as Off Hollywood, let's do this one a little differently. I thought we'd just share the winners a sentence from their speech and only reaction shots. Just to shake things up! We're Off Live Blogging. Tape Delayed capsule-like. But first the delightful Anna Kendrick.

Hi, I'm Anna Kendrick and I'm proud to have appeared in the only movie this year that actually cured cancer. The other nominees are great. I'm just saying."

The idea of the Spirit Awards as the anti-Oscars, held in a tent instead of a big auditorium, "California Casual" instead of gowns and tuxes, and held on the saturday afternoon before Oscar big Sunday night -- well, it would work a lot better if their nominee lists weren't so padded with actual Oscar nominees and films. One wishes they were just a wee bit more, well, independent. 

Okay more than a wee bit. A lot bit. One does wish.

Okay, let's get to it

Click to read more ...

50/50

Joining the very slim ranks of Cancer Comedies, 50/50 must surely number among the best of them. The film begins with a long shot of 27 year-old Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) jogging. It's unclear why the film begins this way (we never see him exercise again) but it's telling. Adam is about to embark on a sweaty exhausting journey with no set destination and it takes him awhile to come into focus.

As protagonists go, Adam is a passive blurry character. He lets his loud friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) control their friendship. Even though he's only just given her a dresser drawer, his girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) is calling all the relationship shots - including no blow jobs which infuriates Kyle on Adam's behalf. Adam seems content to sit back and take whatever life does or doesn't offer him. Enter: Cancer...

...read the full review at Towleroad

P.S. Are you visiting JGL in the hospital this weekend or do you have other movie plans?

P.P.S. I didn't spend much time on her in the review but Anjelica Huston is just a marvel in her very brief role (2 ½ scenes?). She's had plenty of (unfortunate) time now to hone her skills at delivering full characterizations in mere moments. She gets two of the biggest laughs in the movie but it doesn't end with comedy. She's fierce and touching, too. Brava.