As we’re a site covering the movies, it would probably be a disservice not to put up something about the Oscar (aka Academy Award) nominations which were announced this morning by Seth MacFarlane and Emma Stone. So yes, the nominations are here and as always there’s a few surprises, a few “snubs” and the rest is rather predictable.

Here’s the nominations for your reading pleasure. Look for the actual ceremony, featuring host Seth MacFarlane, to air on Sunday, February 24th on ABC.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Bradley Cooper in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln”
Hugh Jackman in “Les Misérables”
Joaquin Phoenix in “The Master”
Denzel Washington in “Flight”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Alan Arkin in “Argo”
Robert De Niro in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “The Master”
Tommy Lee Jones in “Lincoln”
Christoph Waltz in “Django Unchained”

At numerous points in the watching of Lincoln, Steven Spielburg’s new ode to America and Americana, I was reminded of Tableau Vivant, a kind of staged group charades that was a popular entertainment of the 19th century. In Tableau Vivant, costumed enactors wordlessly enact a story, freezing in a series of familiar scenes or attitudes.

And so is the same in Lincoln, in which actors, led by an astonishingly physically like Daniel Day Lewis, enact the last several months of Abraham Lincoln’s life, frequently freezing in scenes or postures that seem designed to recall all the many paintings, daguerrotypes, statuary and coinage with which we are all so familiar and that pay homage to the man whom most agree is our country’s greatest president.

Despite the dramatic build-up around the central accomplishment of Lincoln’s severely truncated second term—the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery—and the political sausage-making this necessitates, the film feels less story than hagiography. Spielberg seems determined to convince us that Lincoln was a great president, and I buy it, but was it ever in question? Is this biopic or is it a nearly 3-hour Franklin Mint commercial? There’s been a lot of press about Lewis’s voice in this movie, but to me his entire performance, voice included, is problematic.

As we showed you a few days ago, the full trailer for Spielberg’s Lincoln is now out there for all to see. So, see it below. . . and enjoy. And yes, we realize it actually dropped yesterday. . . but so what, it’s still pretty amazing.

This is what its come to folks. Now, instead of trailers and teasers we have sneak peeks at teasers and trailers. Of course, as we are wont to do, we bring you what we can.

In this case it’s a preview of the first trailer for Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film Abraham Lincoln. As you most likely know, the film stars Daniel Day Lewis as Lincoln and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Robert Todd Lincoln.

In addition, Tommy Lee Jones, James Spader, Jared Harris, John Hawkes, Sally Field and David Strathairn also star. It was written by Tony Kushner, based on the novel Push by Safire. No, not really. That’s a little joke.

It’s actually based on the book book Team Of Rivals by Doris Kerns Goodwin. The actual trailer is set to drop on September 13. The film is set to open on November 9.

For now, check out what we’ve got after the break.

As we’re constantly bombarded with all sorts of new movies, TV shows and the like it’s sometimes hard to muster enthusiasm for what seems like just another reboot, remake, retread or sequel. We’re worried, of course, that the makers of said project are just in it to cash in and make as much money as possible without really worrying too much about things like characters, story or doing a good job.

Fortunately, there’s a few times where after looking at a trailer for an upcoming reboot, remake or sequel, it seems just the opposite is true and the people involved do care and have made something good. Men In Black 3 seems to be one of those cases.

There was a teaser for the film last December and now the first theatrical trailer for it is out and we have to say it looks pretty darn good. Back in action are Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as the eponymous J and K as well as a new twist, Josh Brolin as the 1969 version of Tommy Lee Jones’s character after Smith’s J goes back in time to prevent an alien invasion that could destroy the planet.

Take a look at the trailer after the break and judge for yourself. We think this is going to be big. Look for Men In Black 3 to hit theaters on May 25.

In what is probably the least surprising news ever, Men in Black III was all Will Smith’s idea. Men in Black III director Barry Sonnenfeld was recently interviewed by UK entertainment magazine Contactmusic, in which he confirmed that the story and plot of Men in Black III was completely thought up by Will Smith.

”Will calls me Baz.  When we were shooting ‘Men In Black II’ [in 2002], one night he said ‘Hey Baz, I think I have an idea for number three’. The basic idea was that Will’s character, Agent J, would have to go back into the past to save his partner,” said Sonnenfeld.”It allowed the movie to take place in another era, and us to learn more about Tommy Lee Jones’ character. But it turned out to be a very long process of development, mainly because of the knotting issues of time travel, the time travel thing was really hard”

The Men In Black franchise is much like the Transformers franchise. The first films were sci-fi, popcorn cinema classics that struck a perfect blend of action, heart and humor, then the sequels came out and were cinematic abominations. While the giant robot movies kept chugging forward, the Men in Black series seemed like it couldn’t survive the blight that was Men In Black 2.

Thankfully, the franchise received a pardon and the third Men In Black film is fast approaching. The first teaser for next summer’s blockbuster-to-be has just hit the web and it actually looks pretty great. In case you are unaware of what the next Men in Black film is about here is a synopsis:

In Men in Black 3, Agents J (Will Smith) and K (Tommy Lee Jones) are back… in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him — secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.

Check out the teaser after the jump.

Daniel Day Lewis is a badass. The There Will Be Blood star is infamous for never breaking character during a film’s production, and it seems that his latest portrayal of the iconic American president in Steven Speilberg’s Lincoln is no exception.

Spotted at a local cafe in Richmond, Virginia by Michael Phillips, this image has been making the rounds as the first glimpse of what this film could look like.  Even though he’s enjoying his meal in jeans and a turtleneck, his hair an makeup certainly make a spot-on Abraham Lincoln.

Take a look at the candid image in full after the jump.

Sometimes the anticipation and enthusiasm for a movie can be enhanced by a series of great trailers. Unfortunately, anticipation and enthusiasm an also be killed by bad trailers or ones that just don’t resonate with the audience. Green Lantern is a recent example of this.

Fortunately, we don’t have that problem with the latest trailer for Marvel’s upcoming Summer action blockbuster Captain America: The First Avenger. In it we get a better look at the man who is to become Cap and we also get some wise, sage advise from Stanley Tucci’s Dr. Erskine as he tells our hero that “Whatever happens, stay who you are.”

Good advice and a great trailer. This movie continues to look amazing and I can’t wait for it to be released. I’ll be in line before day one if possible.

Check out the trailer after the break. Captain America: The First Avenger hits theaters on July 22nd.

The Company Men is a corporate drama by first time writer, producer, and director John Wells that first premiered at Sundance in 2010.  Starring Ben Affleck (The Town, Good Will Hunting), Tommy Lee Jones (Men in Black, No Country for Old Men), and Chris Cooper (American Beauty, Adaptation), this film obviously has a strong cast of seasoned actors that together couldn’t make a bad film if they tried.  With it’s high production value, timely script, and strong cast, the question isn’t whether this is bad film, but rather if it is as relatable or socially relevant as the filmmakers want it to be.

Personally, this film is just not my usual genre.  I understand that there definitely could be a sizable market for this film, but what some people might find to be a relevant story about the hardships of today’s economy, I find to be lacking in realism and slightly melodramatic.  It is one of those films where every few lines the audience is suppose to be nodding in agreement thinking, “Yes, I feel your pain.”  Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand the need for films to comment on the troubles of society, but this just seemed forced and exaggerated.

The film is about the effects of corporate downsizing, how it ultimately effects people the same way regardless of job title or salary, and what is really important to treasure in your life.  Affleck plays Bobby Walker, a white-colar corporate employee who gets laid off in the first round of downsizing at corporate giant GTX.