Film: Contagion

GENRE: Drama/Thriller
RATING: PG13 for disturbing content and language
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 46 minutes
STARRING: Kate Winslet (The Reader, Titanic, Mildred Pierce) Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), Matt Damon (The Adjustment Bureau)
DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven)
WRITER: Scott Z Burns (The Informant!, Bourne Ultimatum)
PLOT: An outbreak of a deadly disease spreads as the CDC tries to find a cure.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 Watching the spread of a virus is quite eerie. Soderbergh does a good job of showing the global impact and all the lives at stake. It’s a lot of info in the beginning but it sets the scene for what is to come.
2 Lots of TV and film actors in this film. I think almost every network and basic cable channel is represented. It’s like a Poseidon Adventure with all the inevitable deaths. Fun to see everyone involved though.
3 I don’t know what it is but I just don’t like Laurence Fishburne. I stopped watching CSI when he joined (watching again with Ted Danson in charge). He’s a good actor and picks some great roles (The Matrix), but there’s just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. I’m just sayin’.
4 With a virus epidemic and shortage of medicine, rioting ensues. After the Vancouver riots and London riots, I’m pretty tired of riots. I always get disgusted with humanity when I see that crap happen.
5 Its hard not to leave the theatre slightly affected. You start watching people coughing and praying they don’t touch something like a door with their infected hand. I’m not too germ conscious but I admit that I put some Purell on my hands once I got to the car. I guess it was an effective movie.

RECOMMENDATION: Watch the DVD
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Moneyball

TV: Emmy Results 2011

So here’s my quick recap of this year’s Emmy Awards. I did pretty awesome this year. Only four of the sixteen categories I chose weren’t ones I predicted or wanted to win. Some great surprises this year.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 The balls on Amy Poehler for walking on stage when her name was listed for nominations and forcing the others nominees to join her. Funniest thing ever! (Didn’t even matter that she didn’t win.) Second funniest thing was the wrestling of the two late night Jimmys. Great first presenters. Oh, Jane Lynch was a descent host too.
2 The Friday Night Lights wins actually brought a tear to my eye. Finally some well deserved recognition for this fantastic show. Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t Lose.
3 Felt bad for Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert yet again. These Daily Show alums just can’t catch a break.
4 Loved that they showed the nominated material for each category and I loved the announcer filling time while the winner got to the stage. Example: I hear he’s a big fan of the Marx brothers; I like Richard.
5 Was Charlie Sheen [a last minute presenter] really being sincere, or just trying to get back into the game? Kind of funny that the next two winners were from the other leads from Chuck Lorre shows.

THE WINNERS:
Drama Series: Mad Men
Comedy Series: Modern Family (Predicted)
Variety Series: The Daily Show (Predicted)
Reality Series: The Amazing Race (Predicted & Wanted)
Lead Actor [Drama]: Kyle Chandler(Wanted)
Lead Actress [Drama]: Julianna Marguilies
Lead Actor [Comedy]: Jim Parsons
Lead Actress [Comedy]: Melissa McCarthy (Predicted)
Supp. Actor [Drama]: Peter Dinklage (Predicted & Wanted)
Supp. Actress [Drama]: Margo Martindale (Predicted)
Supp. Actor [Comedy]: Ty Burrell (Wanted)
Supp. Actress [Comedy]: Julie Bowen
Writing [Drama]: Friday Night Lights – Always (Wanted)
Writing [Comedy]: Modern Family – Caught in Act (Predicted & Wanted)
Directing [Drama]: Boardwalk Empire – Pilot (Wanted)
Directing [Comedy]: Modern Family – Halloween (Predicted & Wanted)

Now . . . let the fall season begin!

TV: Emmy Predictions 2011

The Emmys are a couple of days away. The Creative Arts Emmys were last Saturday. Happy to see that Justin Timberlake won a couple for his hosting of SNL (always a highlight). His monologue song of “Not Gonna Sing Tonight” was pretty funny. Also happy that Game of Thrones’ ultra-cool opening titles won as well. For the Primetime Emmys predictions it’s same as past years: I play to win but am happy if the one I want to win takes the statue. Also, I don’t predict miniseries or made-for-TV movies but if you’re a gambler go with Mildred Pierce. Here now are the fearless predictions:

Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire | Dexter | Friday Night Lights | Game of Thrones | The Good Wife | Mad Men
WILL WIN: Boardwalk Empire (time for something new)
WANT TO WIN: Friday Night Lights (an awesome series)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: The Good Wife (not as epic)

Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory | Glee | Modern Family | The Office | Parks & Recreation | 30 Rock
WILL WIN: Modern Family (still top of its game)
WANT TO WIN: Parks & Recreation (so funny)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Glee (pretty bad second season)

Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Colbert Report | Conan | The Daily Show | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Real Time with Bill Maher | SNL
WILL WIN: The Daily Show (it’s a non-stop streak)
WANT TO WIN: Colbert Report (c’mon)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Bill Maher (don’t like him)

Reality – Competition Program
Amazing Race | American Idol | Dancing with the Stars | Project Runway | So You Think You Can Dance | Top Chef
WILL WIN: Amazing Race (still awesome)
WANT TO WIN: Amazing Race (love it)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: So You Think You Can Dance (‘cuz)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire: Steve Buscemi | Dexter: Michael C. Hall | Friday Night Lights: Kyle Chandler | House: Hugh Laurie | Justified: Timothy Olyphant | Mad Men: Jon Hamm
WILL WIN: Steve Buscemi (on a roll)
WANT TO WIN: Kyle Chandler (most deserving)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Timothy Olyphant (don’t watch it)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Friday Night Lights: Connie Britton | The Good Wife: Julianna Margulies | Harry’s Law: Kathy Bates | The Killing: Mireille Enos | Law & Order: SVU: Mariska Hargitay | Mad Men: Elisabeth Moss
WILL WIN: Mireille Enos (strong first season)
WANT TO WIN: Mireille Enos (great acting)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Mariska Hargitay (leaving anyway)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory: Jim Parsons | The Big Bang Theory: Johnny Galecki | Episodes: Matt LeBlanc | Louie: Louie CK | The Office: Steve Carell | 30 Rock: Alec Baldwin
WILL WIN: Louie CK (pretty funny guy)
WANT TO WIN: Steve Carell (so deserving)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Alec Baldwin (won too often)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
The Big C: Laura Linney | Mike & Molly: Melissa McCarthy | Nurse Jackie: Edie Falco | Parks &Recreation: Amy Poehler | Raising Hope: Martha Plimpton | 30 Rock: Tina Fey
WILL WIN: Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids helped)
WANT TO WIN: Amy Poehler (more deserving)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Edie Falco (not funny)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Game of Thrones: Peter Dinklage | The Good Wife: Josh Charles | The Good Wife: Alan Cumming | Justified: Walton Goggins | Mad Men: John Slattery | Men Of A Certain Age: Andre Braugher
WILL WIN: Peter Dinklage (wonderfully dark)
WANT TO WIN: Peter Dinklage (makes the show)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Andre Braugher (don’t watch)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire: Kelly Macdonald | The Good Wife: Archie Panjabi | The Good Wife: Christine Baranski | Justified: Margo Martindale | The Killing: Michelle Forbes | Mad Men: Christina Hendricks
WILL WIN: Margo Martindale (supposed good)
WANT TO WIN: Kelly Macdonald (great stuff)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Christine Baranski (too annoying)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Glee: Chris Colfer | Modern Family: Jesse Tyler Ferguson | Modern Family: Ed O’Neil | Modern Family: Eric Stonestreet | Modern Family: Ty Burrell | Two And A Half Men: Jon Cryer
WILL WIN: Chris Colfer (bullying storyline)
WANT TO WIN: Ty Burrell (so cluelessly funny)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Jon Cryer (hardly acted)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Glee: Jane Lynch |Hot in Cleveland: Betty White | Modern Family: Julie Bowen | Modern Family: Sofia Vergara | SNL: Kristen Wiig | 30 Rock: Jane Krakowski
WILL WIN: Betty White (sentimental)
WANT TO WIN: Kristen Wiig (best of SNL)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: Betty White (too obvious)

Writing for a Drama Series
Friday Night Lights • Always | Game of Thrones • Baelor | The Killing • Pilot | Mad Men • The Suitcase | Mad Men • Blowing Smoke
WILL WIN: Mad Men • The Suitcase (contained episode)
WANT TO WIN: Friday Night Lights (great ending)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: I like all of them

Writing for a Comedy Series
Episodes • Episode Seven | Louie • Poker/Divorce | Modern Family • Caught in the Act | The Office • Goodbye Michael | 30 Rock • Reaganing
WILL WIN: Modern Family (so very funny)
WANT TO WIN: Modern Family (laughed my head off)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: I like them all

Directing for a Drama Series
Boardwalk Empire • Pilot | Boardwalk Empire • Anastasia | The Borgias • The Poisoned Chalice | Game of Thrones • Winter is Coming | The Killing • Pilot
WILL WIN: Game of Thrones (pretty epic)
WANT TO WIN: Boardwalk Empire • Pilot (beautiful)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: The Borgias (didn’t see)

Directing for a Comedy Series
How I Met Your Mother • Subway Wars | Modern Family • Halloween | Modern Family • Slow Down Your Neighbors | Modern Family • See You Next Fall | 30 Rock • Live Show
WILL WIN: Modern Family (one of them)
WANT TO WIN: Modern Family (one of them)
DON’T WANT TO WIN: I like them all

Let’s see how I do. I’ll post after the Emmys with the results and commentary.