Movies - Feb. 26, 2007
The Academy Award show wrap-up
The 79th Annual Academy Awards was a subdued affair with nothing too memorable, no real stand outs. The entire show seemed to blend together, plenty of beautiful people and speeches, but not much else.
Tags: movies, oscar, academy awards, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Hudson, The Departed, Forest Whitaker

Movies - Feb. 19, 2007
Oscar's shorts: Big pictures in little packages
The short films aren't a big part of the Academy Awards, nor are they large pieces of entertainment. Whether or not it's easier or harder to shoot a feature length or a short film depends on the filmmaker, but nonetheless, this year's group of shorts and features each have a story to tell.
Tags: Oscar, Academy Awards, short films, The Danish Poet, Binta and the Great Idea

Movies - Jan. 10, 2007
"Golden Flower" blooms with secrets and lies
Zhang Yimou's last two movies that made an impression on the United States box office introducing a cinematic style that can be defined in part by over-the-top drama, vibrant colors and in-your-face action.
Tags: curse of the golden flower, zhang yimou, gong li, chow yun-fat, foreign films, academy awards, oscar

Movies - Jan. 28, 2005
"Million Dollar Baby" packs powerful emotional punch
Well scripted, well photographed and brilliantly performed, "Million Dollar Baby" is certainly the best film to emerge from Hollywood in 2004. But if you're expecting mindless entertainment and dry eyes, you'll have to look elsewhere.
Tags: Swank, Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby, boxing, Morgan Freeman, Oscar

Movies - June 12, 2004
"Lord of the Rings" effects spell O-s-c-a-r for area native
If you ever wondered how they did some of the visual effects for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, ask Jim Rygiel. The Kenosha native and UWM grad created them and nabbed three Academy Awards, too.
Tags: Rygiel, Oscar, effects, technology, UWM, Zealand