June 14th discussion : Brokeback Mountain & TransAmerica

Register for this discussion starting June 1st.

Pick up your copies of the DVDs starting June 7th.

Brokeback Mountain
Director: Ang Lee

Screenplay: Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana; based on the short story by Annie Proulx

Stars: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid

Plot: “An epic love story set against the sweeping vistas of Alberta's Rocky Mountains, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young men - a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy - who meet in the summer of 1963, and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.” Focus Features plot summary via imdb.com

Review links:

Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

David Edelstein Slate

Lisa Anne Cockrel Christianity Today

Read more reviews:

IMDB

Metacritic

Transamerica
Director: Duncan Tucker

Screenplay: Duncan Tucker

Stars: Felicity Huffman, Kevin Zegars, Fionnula Flanagan, Burt Young, Graham Greene

Plot: “Huffman plays Bree Osbourne, a conservative transsexual woman, who learns she is the parent of a long-lost 17-year-old son (Kevin Zegers). The wheels of fortune take Bree and son on a cross-country adventure, including a memorable visit with Bree’s parents, that will change both of their lives. A funny, touching, completely original look at the modern American family” Product description via amazon.com

Review links:

Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

David Edelstein Slate

Read more reviews:
IMDB
Metacritic

Hustle & Flow

Register for this discussion starting 2/2
Director : Craig Brewer
Screenplay : Craig Brewer
Stars : Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Taraji P. Henson, DJ Qualls, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges
Plot : DJay (Terrence Howard) is a Memphis hustler who spends most days in a parked Chevy philosophizing about life while Nola (Taryn Manning) turns tricks in the backseat. He's not very good at pimping, but he can hustle almost anything or anyone and makes enough to keep himself and three girls satisfied and housed in his shotgun home. DJay however is in the midst of a midlife crisis; he quietly harbors dreams of becoming a respected rapper. When he learns from a local club owner, Arnel (Isaac Hayes), that rap mogul Skinny Black (Ludacris) is rolling through town, DJay decides to record his flow with the hopes of slipping his demo to Skinny. With little help from his friends and "family" DJay sets in motion the hustle of his life, and galvanizes the lives of those around him as they learn that "Everybody's gotta have a dream."

And the nominees are...

Nominations for the 79th Academy Awards were announced this morning; check them out here.

The winners for the 64th Annual Golden Globes can be found here.

Golden Globes Tonight!

The Golden Globe Awards air tonight at 8 pm on NBC. Nominees include Forrest Whitaker for his role as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, Will Smith for The Pursuit of Happyness, Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson for their roles in Dreamgirls, and British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor for Kinky Boots.