Be Kind Rewind

I don't miss the VHS format. Hitting the tracking button, the way you could see a tape dying just a little bit more with each viewing, and of course, the rewinding. I love DVD but gosh darn it, Michel Gondry is nostalgic for those old tapes and he's made a film to show us why.
"Be Kind Rewind" is the story of a little video store in Passaic, New Jersey that still only rents out VHS. The store's owner, Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover, taking a break from hanging out with his communist dictator pals) is going out of town for a week and leaving his young associate Mike (Mos Def) in charge. Mr. Fletcher really should have nothing to worry about. After all the place doesn't exactly get inundated with customers. West Coast Video (clearly Blockbuster) across the street is well stocked with plenty of copies of the latest DVD releases. As Mr. Fletcher leaves town he frantically tries to give Mike an important message: to keep his eccentric best friend Jerry (Jack Black) out of the store.
One night after the store is closed Jerry convinces Mike to join him in an attempt to disrupt the local electrical power grid, which Jerry feels is doing things to his mind. Fed up with Jerry's shenanigans Mike leaves in the middle of the mission and Jerry is electrocuted. The next morning a dazed Jerry heads into the store and browses through every tape. The following day two customers (it's amazing the store has even that many) complain that the tapes they rented have been erased. A magnetized Jerry has ruined the store's entire stock. The one regular, Miss Falewicz (Mia Farrow) wants to rent "Ghostbusters." Mike awkwardly tries to explain that he can't rent out the copy right now but she insists that when she comes back in a few hours, she had better be able to rent it. Not wanting to let down the only loyal customer the store has, or Mr. Fletcher, Mike comes up with a solution. Armed with a video camera he tells Jerry, "I'm Bill Murray, you're everyone else."
They spend the remainder of the afternoon shooting their own 20 minute long version of "Ghostbusters," reconstructing the film's highlights from memory. What starts out as a desperate experiment soon turns Mike and Jerry into local celebrities and turns the little store into a success. But the FBI warning, well it turns out they really mean that.
Michel Gondry is an incredibly talented director, as evidenced by the incredible "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." His follow-up feature, "The Science of Sleep" while pretty good, suffers from the same problem "Be Kind" does. Gondry's talents lie behind the camera, not as a screenwriter. "Eternal Sunshine" worked because it married his innovative visual style with Charlie Kaufman's brilliant dialogue and character development. Gondry's concepts are interesting but his dialogue lacks punch. Like "Science," "Be Kind" is a pretty good film that could have been great. It's at its best when we're seeing bits of Mike and Jerry's remakes (or "Sweded versions" as they call them), particularly of "Ghostbusters" and "Rush Hour 2." This is also when Black and Def get a chance to shine. Like most everything else in this movie, their performances are likable but only really special for a few moments at a time.
Glover turns in a pretty good performance, atoning slightly for his schlocky work in "Shooter." The rest of the supporting cast isn't really that memorable. It's hard to believe that this is the same Mia Farrow from "Hannah and Her Sisters" and relatively new Melonie Diaz is no great shakes as the recruited all-purpose actress.
Despite its notable flaws I still enjoyed "Be Kind Rewind" simply because it's a film with true heart. The "Sweded" remakes must look like the films a young Gondry made 20 years ago in his own neighborhood. The message of the value of community and the way that film can bring people together is delivered in a bit of a corny way, but it's clear that Gondry really means it.
This is the first 2008 release I've gone to because well, when "Untraceable" looks to be a better option than most everything else that has come out, we are indeed in a bad place movie wise. And I was not about to pay $9 for "Untraceable." But the movie year is young yet and while I don't expect '08 to deliver nearly as many great films as 2007 I'm sure that there will be some terrific movies in the year ahead.
I recommend "Be Kind Rewind," but I'd say your best bet is a matinee or just wait for it to come out on ta- er, DVD. 7/10.

And now the post-game.

Well that's it. The Oscars are over. As usual not much in the way of surprises but at least the best picture winner actually deserved to win best picture. How often does that happen?

So Supporting Actor, just as I expected, Javier Bardem was the big winner for "No Country." Again, I really wanted Casey Affleck to get it but Bardem was outstanding so I really can't complain.

Supporting Actress was definitely a surprise. Tilda Swinton was the last person I expected to get it. I was thinking sentimental favorite Ruby Dee or maybe Cate Blanchett's Bob Dylan would take it. Even Saoirse Ronan and Amy Ryan seemed more likely to me. I think Swinton wasn't really given enough to do in "Michael Clayton," but she's a wonderful actress and she's long deserved this kind of recognition.

Best Actor: Was there any doubt in anyone's mind that Helen Mirren was going to say, "The Oscar goes to Daniel Day-Lewis"? I promise I won't make a "milkshake" reference here (other than, ya know, that), but I'll say it went to the right man.

Best Actress: Marion Cotillard was a close second to Julie Christie for me. An excellent choice and I hope this gets more people to rent "La Vie en Rose." It's a very good movie and she's really outstanding in it.

Adapted Screenplay: When the Coens won this one I think there was little doubt about what lay ahead.

Original Screenplay: Like everyone else seems to, the Academy has Diablo Fever. I've made my feelings on "Juno" known already (ya know, "It's good but not THAT good"), but yeah, this one was almost as much of a lock as Bardem or Day-Lewis.

Director: After 12 films (10 of which I consider to be near great to great) the Coens finally won in this category. And unlike Martin Scorsese it's for a film that genuinely deserves the honor.

Picture: "No Country For Old Men"! The best movie to win Best Picture probably since "Unforgiven." Go Coens!

As for the show itself I thought Jon Stewart did a terrific job as host. Like Steve Martin, he's a natural for this kind of thing. He's gonna do this a lot in the future and I think that's a good thing.
I thought one of the nicest moments was Robert Boyle's speech when he received his honorary Oscar. At 98 he's still sharp as a tack and it's amazing how long he's been in the business. He did production design for Hitchcock and on "Fiddler on the Roof." It was wonderful to look at his eyes as he took in the ovation from the audience.
The other nice moment was Jon Stewart bringing Marketa Irglova (winner for best song for "Once") back out to speak after she was initially cut off before she could get a word out. A very classy moment.
I liked Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill playing the parts of Dame Judi Dench and Halle Berry respectively. I think I agree with Jonah. Rogen's is more of a Dame Judi Dench.
Well not much else I can think of really. I didn't get nearly as many of the technical categories right as I usually do. Two years ago I called nearly everything. This year I was about fifty-fifty. I'd say I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out this year. 2007 was an amazing year for film and I'm sad to see it go.
As for '08 I finally went to the first film of the year I even felt was worth seeing, Michel Gondry's "Be Kind Rewind." I'll post a review of it soon. Until then, I'd like to say...Oh no! Not the "wrap it up" music. I just want to say-

Oscar Day!

For movie fanatics today IS the Super Bowl. Regardless of how we feel about the nominees we gather around the TV and watch intently. "So what does Bob think?" you're wondering. I know that because after all you are looking at my blog. :)

Best Supporting Actor: Since I gave him the Bob Award, obviously I'm rooting for Casey Affleck for "The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford." But Javier Bardem is a lock, let's face it. Bardem is amazing as the understated personification of evil, but Affleck's performance is more impressive due to the subtle transformation of the character.

Supporting Actress: I'm guessing it will be Ruby Dee for "American Gangster." It's weird to think that the sentimental favorite is in a movie with "Gangster" in the title, but here we are. Of the five nominated actresses though, I think Saoirse Ronan for "Atonement" is the most deserving. Without her that movie would have little beneath the surface.

Actor: "I. Drink. Your. MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP!" Daniel Day-Lewis will and should win for "There Will Be Blood." George Clooney is fine in "Michael Clayton," but he's hardly anything special. What did he do in this movie that he didn't in "Syriana" or "Good Night, and Good Luck"?

Actress: I lean slightly towards Julie Christie for "Away From Her." But if Marion Cotillard won for "La Vie en Rose" I would be happy too. Ellen Page is the one nomination for "Juno" that I actually agree with and she may pull of an upset, but I think Christie is more deserving and will win.

Adapted Screenplay: I'm rooting for Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" in this category. The power struggle between Day-Lewis and Paul Dano is written masterfully. But the Coens for "No Country For Old Men" would be a great choice too and I'm guessing that's what the voters will choose. Don't count out "Atonement" though. They'll probably want to give it something.

Original Screenplay: Despite having the lines, "honest to blog" and "Phuket, Thailand!" Diablo Cody's "Juno" is a lock to win this. It's a very good screenplay and a very good movie, but it definitely has some cringe-worthy moments, as noted above. I didn't even think it was the best pregnancy comedy this year. "Knocked Up" was better. Of the scripts nominated I feel that Brad Bird's "Ratatouille" was easily the best, but the Academy will give it Best Animated Film and say that's that.

Director: The Coens will walk away with this one. "No Country For Old Men" is filmmaking at its absolute finest. But if Paul Thomas Anderson took it home for "Blood" I'd be happy too. The other three nominees are merely rounding out the field.

Picture: "No Country" for my money, will and should win.

So there are my thoughts going into tonight. These thoughts don't necessarily reflect what I would choose without the limitations of the Academy's choices. As evidence of that, here's who I REALLY feel should win. In case you missed them, here again are the Bob Awards:

Here be the winners! You don't like it...start your own meaningless movie awards.

Bob Awards for the Movie Year, 2007

Best Art Direction: Ratatouille- Harley Jessup's imaginative take on Paris. There was no other movie whose world I wanted to visit more.

Cinematography: The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford- Roger Deakins is considered by many to be the best in the business. The genuinely magical Blue Cut train robbery scene shows why.

Costume Design: Blades of Glory- Julie Weiss's costumes went a long way towards making this very silly comedy work.

Film Editing: Hot Fuzz- I usually find frenetic editing to be empty flash but the work of Chris Dickens enhanced the comedy tremendously.

Makeup: La Vie en Rose- Covering the entire life of singer Edith Piaf made for a unique challenge which was more than lived up to.

Original Score: Assassination of Jesse James- No other score more effectively established a film's tone than the mournful music of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Original Song: Music and Lyrics- "Pop Goes My Heart" by Andrew Blakemore and Alanna Vicente really could have been an infectious '80s pop song.

Sound: No Country For Old Men- The most tense moments on film in 2007 were silent as Brolin and Bardem listened for each other.

Visual Effects: Transformers- Ahhh this movie was fun.

Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck- Assassination of Jesse James- From wide-eyed child to killer, Affleck plays Robert Ford's transformation with nuance and subtlety.

Sup. Actress: Sigourney Weaver- The TV Set- Her hilarious work in this underrated film is all the more impressive because the character was originally written as a man. Not one line of dialogue changed.

Actor: Brad Pitt- Assassination of Jesse James- My favorite performance of the year. The audience doesn't know what Jesse James will do next any more than those on screen do.

Actress: Julie Christie- Away From Her- This is not simply "actor plays disease, actor wins awards." As a woman slipping away into Alzheimer's Christie is truly heartbreaking.

Monty Python Award for Best Ensemble Cast: Knocked Up- A prime example of true ensemble acting. Everyone contributes something special and -most importantly- funny.

Adapted Screenplay: Zodiac- James Vanderbilt- A great film about obsession and time, it takes us through the history of the legendary case while giving us fantastic, authentic dialogue.

Original Screenplay: Hot Fuzz- Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright- Very clever and well-constructed comedy with great dialogue and real character development.

Director: (tie) Edgar Wright- Hot Fuzz; Joel & Ethan Coen- No Country For Old Men; Paul Thomas Anderson- There Will Be Blood- I couldn't pick just one. Wright blends comedy and action perfectly, the Coens are as sharp as they've ever been, and Anderson's cinematic eye is second to none.

Best Picture: Hot Fuzz- Comedy and action, it's like the anti-awards film. I choose it as my number one film of 2007 because it manages to brilliantly satirize cop and action films while also working as a cop and action film. The story structure would work in a serious drama just as well. That it's an extraordinarily witty comedy makes it even better. Besides, I hadn't enjoyed watching a movie that much in a long time.

And now for the fun stuff…

Funniest and Most Entertaining Movie: Hot Fuzz

Funniest Performance: Michael Cera- Superbad

Favorite Quote: "I am Stanley Kubrick, and I have shaved off my beard off!"- Color Me Kubrick

Funniest Scene and Best Action Sequence: Sandford Shootout- Hot Fuzz

Best Dramatic Scene- The Assassination Scene- Assassination of Jesse James

Best New Word: "Mind-bottling"- Blades of Glory

"Withnail and I" Award for Best Friendship: Michael Cera and Jonah Hill- Superbad

Best Villain: Billy Mitchell- The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Best Animated and Family Film: Ratatouille

Best Foreign Language Film: The Lives of Others

Best Documentary: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Best Couple: Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore- Music and Lyrics

Best Mustache: Paddy Considine- Hot Fuzz

Worst Male Performance: Robert De Niro- Stardust (How did he come to this?)

Worst Female Performance: Lisa K. Wyatt- Southland Tales

Worst Villain: Danny Glover- Shooter

Worst Screenplay and Director: Richard Kelly- Southland Tales

Worst Picture: License to Wed

Most Pretentious Movie: Southland Tales

Worst Cameo: Bono- Across the Universe

Best Cameo: Paul Rudd (John), Jack Black (Paul), Justin Long (George), and Jason Schwartzman (Ringo)- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Don't Worry, It's Not Your Fault: The Rock- Southland Tales; Ricky Gervais- Stardust

Actors to Remember: Elizabeth Reaser- Puccini For Beginners; Fran Kranz- The TV Set; Thomas Turgoose- This Is England; Saoirse Ronan- Atonement; Sam Riley- Control; Paul Schneider- Assassination of Jesse James, Lars and the Real Girl

Filmmakers to Remember: Andrew Dominik (Writer/Director)- Assassination of Jesse James; Michael Davis (Writer/Director)- Shoot 'Em Up; Douglas Coupland (Writer)- Everything's Gone Green; Sarah Polley (Writer/Director)- Away From Her

"Unforgiven" Award for Most Badass Movie: Hot Fuzz

Clint Eastwood Award for Most Badass Performance: Simon Pegg- Hot Fuzz

"XXX" Award for Best Over the Top Action Movie: Shoot 'Em Up

"Idiocracy" Award for Movie Most Inexplicably Mistreated By Its Studio: The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford (Warner Bros.)

Best Internet Short: Always Crashing In the Same Car (Re-uniting the leads of my favorite movie, "Withnail and I," Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann)

Best Trailer: Control

Worst Trailer: Alvin and the Chipmunks

Trailer So Pretentious I Almost Puked: I'm Not There

Best Movies You Probably Missed: "Fido," "Color Me Kubrick," "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters," "The TV Set," "Waiter," "Everything's Gone Green."

Best Car Chase: (tie) New York City- The Bourne Ultimatum; The End of "Death Proof"- Grindhouse

Best Sequel: The Bourne Ultimatum

"Hoosiers" Award for Inspirational Movie That's Genuinely Inspirational: Amazing Grace

Movie with the Most Positive Message: Lars and the Real Girl

Best Soundtrack: Walk Hard

Best Monologue: Ego's review- Ratatouille

Best Use of a Classic Rock Song: Zodiac- "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan

Movies That Wisely Used the Kinks- Hot Fuzz; The Darjeeling Limited; Juno; The Savages

Performer of the Year: Michael Cera- Superbad; Juno

Filmmaker of the Year: Judd Apatow- The TV Set (Producer), Knocked Up (Writer/Director), Superbad (Producer), Walk Hard (Co-Writer/Producer)

Best Ending: No Country For Old Men

Oscar speech, Part II

I wanted to do it again...

YOUR OSCAR SPEECH

Wow. Oh boy. I wasn't going to prepare a speech, but my ailing grand niece told me I'd jinx myself if I didn't. So, thanks, Gert! [Pause. Inhale deeply. Nod to Jack Nicholson.] I'd like to thank the Academy. I'd like to thank the splediferous, stunning, cantankerous actors I was nominated with. Just to be included in a group with you all is an honor. I'd like to thank my manager, Ari Goldsteinberg, my agent, Bryan, my stylist, and all the immensely talented people at Picturehouse, Harvey Weinstein, Perry, and Willard Langford.

I'd also like to thank my parents, who supported me through bear mauling. And Ethel Burpleson, my one ... true ... love [gaze into audience]. Last, but certainly not least, we all just lost Britney Spears, a truly mustachioed visionary and tiggeriffic soul. [Begin tearing.] I'd like us to take a moment to ... No! I drink your milkshake! Don't start playing that music, I have 42 more people to go! My editor Roderick Jaynes, my accountant Peter Marwood, my lawyer Mr. Kobayashi, and my personal assistant Stuart, Josh at Glockenspiel Pictures. Brad Grey. When we started this project, pig independence was something no one wanted to talk about. Victims of Lindsay Lohan, this is for you! Thank ...

Write your own Oscar speech!

The good folks at radaronline.com are giving us ordinary folk the chance to write our own Oscar speech, mad libs style. So after picking all of the random words I could think of here's what I ended up with.

YOUR OSCAR SPEECH

Wow. Oh boy. I wasn't going to prepare a speech, but my ailing grandmother told me I'd jinx myself if I didn't. So, thanks, Bubby! [Pause. Inhale deeply. Nod to Jack Nicholson.] I'd like to thank the Academy. I'd like to thank the amazing, beautiful, cantankerous actors I was nominated with. Just to be included in a group with you all is an honor. I'd like to thank my manager, Avi, my agent, Joel, my stylist, and all the immensely talented people at New Line, Harvey Weinstein, Sinclair, and Robert Sondheim.

I'd also like to thank my parents, who supported me through cat attack. And Peter Dragon, my one ... true ... love [gaze into audience]. Last, but certainly not least, we all just lost Britney Spears, a truly gargantuan visionary and magnificent soul. [Begin tearing.] I'd like us to take a moment to ... No! unbelievable! Don't start playing that music, I have 74 more people to go! My editor Chris Dickens, my accountant Oscar Wallace, my lawyer Jackie Chiles, and my personal assistant Amy, Josh at dragon Pictures. Brad Grey. When we started this project, Darfur was something no one wanted to talk about. Victims of SARS, this is for you! Thank ...

NEW "INDIANA JONES" TRAILER!!!

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!

The Bob Awards!

Here be the winners! You don't like it...start your own meaningless movie awards.

Bob Awards for the Movie Year, 2007

Best Art Direction: Ratatouille- Harley Jessup’s imaginative take on Paris. There was no other movie whose world I wanted to visit more.

Cinematography: The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford- Roger Deakins is considered by many to be the best in the business. The genuinely magical Blue Cut train robbery scene shows why.

Costume Design: Blades of Glory- Julie Weiss’s costumes went a long way towards making this very silly comedy work.

Film Editing: Hot Fuzz- I usually find frenetic editing to be empty flash but the work of Chris Dickens enhanced the comedy tremendously.

Makeup: La Vie en Rose- Covering the entire life of singer Edith Piaf made for a unique challenge which was more than lived up to.

Original Score: Assassination of Jesse James- No other score more effectively established a film’s tone than the mournful music of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Original Song: Music and Lyrics- “Pop Goes My Heart” by Andrew Blakemore and Alanna Vicente really could have been an infectious ‘80s pop song.

Sound: No Country For Old Men- The most tense moments on film in 2007 were silent as Brolin and Bardem listened for each other.

Visual Effects: Transformers- Ahhh this movie was fun.

Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck- Assassination of Jesse James- From wide-eyed child to killer, Affleck plays Robert Ford’s transformation with nuance and subtlety.

Sup. Actress: Sigourney Weaver- The TV Set- Her hilarious work in this underrated film is all the more impressive because the character was originally written as a man. Not one line of dialogue changed.

Actor: Brad Pitt- Assassination of Jesse James- My favorite performance of the year. The audience doesn’t know what Jesse James will do next any more than those on screen do.

Actress: Julie Christie- Away From Her- This is not simply “actor plays disease, actor wins awards.” As a woman slipping away into Alzheimer’s Christie is truly heartbreaking.

Monty Python Award for Best Ensemble Cast: Knocked Up- A prime example of true ensemble acting. Everyone contributes something special and -most importantly- funny.

Adapted Screenplay: Zodiac- James Vanderbilt- A great film about obsession and time, it takes us through the history of the legendary case while giving us fantastic, authentic dialogue.

Original Screenplay: Hot Fuzz- Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright- Very clever and well-constructed comedy with great dialogue and real character development.

Director: (tie) Edgar Wright- Hot Fuzz; Joel & Ethan Coen- No Country For Old Men; Paul Thomas Anderson- There Will Be Blood- I couldn’t pick just one. Wright blends comedy and action perfectly, the Coens are as sharp as they’ve ever been, and Anderson’s cinematic eye is second to none.

Best Picture: Hot Fuzz- Comedy and action, it’s like the anti-awards film. I choose it as my number one film of 2007 because it manages to brilliantly satirize cop and action films while also working as a cop and action film. The story structure would work in a serious drama just as well. That it’s an extraordinarily witty comedy makes it even better. Besides, I hadn’t enjoyed watching a movie that much in a long time.

And now for the fun stuff…

Funniest and Most Entertaining Movie: Hot Fuzz

Funniest Performance: Michael Cera- Superbad

Favorite Quote: “I am Stanley Kubrick, and I have shaved off my beard off!”- Color Me Kubrick

Funniest Scene and Best Action Sequence: Sandford Shootout- Hot Fuzz

Best Dramatic Scene- The Assassination Scene- Assassination of Jesse James

Best New Word: “Mind-bottling”- Blades of Glory

“Withnail and I” Award for Best Friendship: Michael Cera and Jonah Hill- Superbad

Best Villain: Billy Mitchell- The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Best Animated and Family Film: Ratatouille

Best Foreign Language Film: The Lives of Others

Best Documentary: The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

Best Couple: Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore- Music and Lyrics

Best Mustache: Paddy Considine- Hot Fuzz

Worst Male Performance: Robert De Niro- Stardust (How did he come to this?)

Worst Female Performance: Lisa K. Wyatt- Southland Tales

Worst Villain: Danny Glover- Shooter

Worst Screenplay and Director: Richard Kelly- Southland Tales

Worst Picture: License to Wed

Most Pretentious Movie: Southland Tales

Worst Cameo: Bono- Across the Universe

Best Cameo: Paul Rudd (John), Jack Black (Paul), Justin Long (George), and Jason Schwartzman (Ringo)- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Don’t Worry, It’s Not Your Fault: The Rock- Southland Tales; Ricky Gervais- Stardust

Actors to Remember: Elizabeth Reaser- Puccini For Beginners; Fran Kranz- The TV Set; Thomas Turgoose- This Is England; Saoirse Ronan- Atonement; Sam Riley- Control; Paul Schneider- Assassination of Jesse James, Lars and the Real Girl

Filmmakers to Remember: Andrew Dominik (Writer/Director)- Assassination of Jesse James; Michael Davis (Writer/Director)- Shoot ‘Em Up; Douglas Coupland (Writer)- Everything’s Gone Green; Sarah Polley (Writer/Director)- Away From Her

“Unforgiven” Award for Most Badass Movie: Hot Fuzz

Clint Eastwood Award for Most Badass Performance: Simon Pegg- Hot Fuzz

“XXX” Award for Best Over the Top Action Movie: Shoot ‘Em Up

“Idiocracy” Award for Movie Most Inexplicably Mistreated By Its Studio: The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford (Warner Bros.)

Best Internet Short: Always Crashing In the Same Car (Re-uniting the leads of my favorite movie, “Withnail and I,” Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann)

Best Trailer: Control

Worst Trailer: Alvin and the Chipmunks

Trailer So Pretentious I Almost Puked: I’m Not There

Best Movies You Probably Missed: “Fido,” “Color Me Kubrick,” “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters,” “The TV Set,” “Waiter,” “Everything’s Gone Green.”

Best Car Chase: (tie) New York City- The Bourne Ultimatum; The End of “Death Proof”- Grindhouse

Best Sequel: The Bourne Ultimatum

“Hoosiers” Award for Inspirational Movie That’s Genuinely Inspirational: Amazing Grace

Movie with the Most Positive Message: Lars and the Real Girl

Best Soundtrack: Walk Hard

Best Monologue: Ego’s review- Ratatouille

Best Use of a Classic Rock Song: Zodiac- “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Donovan

Movies That Wisely Used the Kinks- Hot Fuzz; The Darjeeling Limited; Juno; The Savages

Performer of the Year: Michael Cera- Superbad; Juno

Filmmaker of the Year: Judd Apatow- The TV Set (Producer), Knocked Up (Writer/Director), Superbad (Producer), Walk Hard (Co-Writer/Producer)

Best Ending: No Country For Old Men

Stewart AND Colbert vs. Conan

The battle continues...