During the final days of communism in Romania, two college roommates Otilia (Anamaria Marinca) and Gabita (Laura Vasiliu) are busy preparing for a night away. But rather than planning for a holiday, they are making arrangements for Gabita's illegal abortion and unwittingly, both find themselves burrowing deep down a rabbit hole of unexpected revelations. Transpiring over the course of a single day, Mungiu's film is a masterwork of modern filmmaking, by parts poignant and shocking. Nominated for 4 European Film Awards including Best Picture and one of the standout hits of the Telluride, Toronto and New York Film Festivals, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS is a modern classic that will stay with you long after you've left the theater.

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I can probably accept the fact that Joe Wright failed to make the final cut in the Best Director list. Same goes for not seeing Brad Pitt as finalist in the Best Actor category for The Assassination of Jesse James, but the most glaring, most unkind cut of them all is not seeing 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days getting the nomination it deserves.

I'm not going to argue about the merits of this movie nor will I compare it to other films that made it in the Best Picture list. But it seems the major issue why it was not included is that America ( and the Academy) still cannot make up it's mind about Abortion.

I find the work of David Gordon Green to be profound, unique and powerful. I simply love Undertow and who can forget George Washington? SNOW ANGELS, one of his newest feature is just his 4th movie to date. Says Green:

The action in SNOW ANGELS, particularly in the film’s second half, is dark by any measure. Most of the adult characters are flawed and, by conventional movie standards, unsympathetic. My strategy for dealing with the darkness: cast actors who understand comedy, so that some degree of humor could leaven the narrative.

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What's the Movie About: A story of love lost and found in a small town, SNOW ANGELS is a heartrending portrayal of three couples in various stages of life orbiting around each other in search of connection and meaning. An unexpected act of violence disrupts the lives of these intertwined couples revealing the profound moments in which they each realize how precarious and remarkable life can be.

When I read the script of “The Yellow Handkerchief,” I immediately fell in love with the humanity of the piece and in particular the way Erin Dignam had drawn these wonderful, complex characters whom I felt I could reach out and touch. Here was a movie that went into the very depths of the souls of these characters. I also loved the fact that they behaved in turns stupid, impetuous, wise, ridiculous, but always with a generosity of spirit and a sense of adventure that I think surprised even them. Life hadn’t been kind to them; nevertheless, they had gained a wisdom few of us achieve. says director Udayan Prasad.

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Academy Award® winner William Hurt, Maria Bello, Kristen Stewart and Eddie
Redmayne star in this provocative and penetrating look into the motives of the human heart. The film, written by Erin Dignam and shot by Academy Award® winning cinematographer Chris Menges, was directed by Udayan Prasad (My Son The Fanatic) and produced by the multiple Academy Award® winner Arthur Cohn.

Michael Angarano: Making His Own Luck
tMF profiles the talented & charming young actor, New Yorker Michael Angarano
By Jed Medina

Not many people are blessed with the opportunity to enter a deeply rewarding and exciting career. In the case of Michael Angarano, it has been like that since he was 5 years old. As a young model, he was exposed early to the hustle and bustle of a glam job. Not surprisingly, he began his successful transition into acting a couple of years later.

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Considered as one of the most sought-after young actors today, Angarano is in the same league as Jamie Bell, Emile Hirsch and Paul Dano. With the reputation as no-nonsense actors, these guys belong to the A-list of young performers many of today’s most innovative filmmakers sought after. While many of their contemporaries settle for the usual no-brainer teen movies, these guys collaborate with award-winning filmmakers & portray a wide range of characters that challenge their acting skills. They are not afraid to tackle controversial roles either.

Ever since the first time I saw Natalie Portman in Leon (The Professional), I've been a big fan. I think she's one amazing actress and her choice of roles is nothing short of superb - V for Vendetta, Closer, Anywhere but Here, and Goya's Ghost, among others. I also find Scarlett Johansson a fascinating and talented actress. Miss Johanson has amassed an impressive acting resume herself: The Horse Whisperer, Lost in Translation, Matchpoint, The Nanny Diaries.

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To see them together is....dynamite! In The Other Boleyn Girl, the opportunity for the two actress to perform together is fulfilled. Add Eddie Redmayne to the cast and you have one of our most anticipated films this year.

So when news of a feud between the actress reached us @tMF, we only had one thing to say: LEAVE THEM ALONE!

Says co-star Eric Bana:

"Why is it that people in the media hate the idea that actors working together is possibly true? I hate to break it to you but actors really do love each other. It's a crazy job and we put ourselves in vulnerable positions. I don't care if it sounds corny but it's true: you're part of a brotherhood, and protect each other."

"And they indeed do get along really well."

He was like a lifeless doll in Murder by Numbers. While co-star Ryan Gosling made waves onscreen and off, Pitt remained in the pit (literally). One of his more recent films, Silk, did not even register.... and he's been saying some rather nasty things of late.

In an interview with Giant Magazine, Pitt said: "I don’t even know what Saw or Hostel are. Are they like Texas Chainsaw Massacre? I guess I’m drawn to things like Lawrence of Arabia."

The actor had harsh words for those who may not like his new film.

"[Audiences that don’t like Funny Games] can kiss my ass. I hope they do [get angry with] Funny Games. It challenges you. If you’re not up to the challenge, go see Saw."

If he were Jamie Bell or Jake Gyllenhaal or Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who are all known to be vocal about their views and opinions, then we might listen and ponder. But he's not. If he's seeking publicity, then he's getting it. He obviously needs it.

Filming has begun on director Niki Caro's new movie project, the highly anticipated film adaptation of The Vintner's Luck.

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New Zealand actress and Oscar-nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes, who came to worldwide attention in Niki Caro's Whale Rider, is re-uniting with Caro for the project. The film is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by NZ author Elizabeth Knox. Niki Caro, whose two features Whale Rider and North Country have both earned Oscar nominations, teamed up with Joan Scheckel to write the screenplay.

The Vintner's Luck is a story of love, wine and angels. It tells the tale of Sobran, a peasant winemaker in 19th Century France and his life-long relationship with an angel.

"It's really exciting to get the project underway," said Caro. "It's a scary kind
of honour to bring Elizabeth's book to the screen," she added.

"It is my first adult role and I was initially quite nervous," said Castle-Hughes. "But now I'm really looking forward to it. It is going to be a challenge, but I love challenges," said the 18-year-old.

French actor Gaspard Ulliel plays the role of angel Xas, a curious creature who
appears more human than divine. Ulliel has more than 20 productions behind him including A Very Long Engagement and Hannibal Rising.

Since last year, we knew this movie would be awesome! In a few days, you'll be able to see the movie for yourself and you'll agree!

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"The other day a girl came to tell me how she was freaking out about colleges. This story is less about her and more about the fact that while I was talking with her, there was a sticker on her bag that said CLASS OF 2008 IS GOING TO SAVE THE WORLD. I guess what it got me thinking about is how different our attitude is from the boomers and the xers. We've grown up being told that the world is in trouble. That it needs saving. And that we're the generation people are looking to to save it. I can't be sure, but I feel like our attitude is so much more optimistic when it comes to what we think we can achieve, and we actually feel like making a positive impact on the world before we leave it is important. What I am now wondering, and people should write in with their thoughts, is do other people out there feel like we are more optimistic than our parents? Do we have more pressure on us? Or am I wrong? Do you guys think we're the ones that are going to make a difference, or are we all about to graduate into the real world and find out we can't even make a dent? I await your thoughts.