You are My Sunshine

Many critics will probably proclaim Sunshine Cleaning "this season's Little Miss Sunshine." Yes, the similarities abound: a cranky grandfather played by Alan Arkin? Check. An adorable child that's wiser than their years? Check. A broken down van that helps bring a down-on-their-luck family together? Check. While there is a lot in common with 2006's Oscar darling, Sunshine Cleaning is a heartwarming dramedy that stands on its own.

The film follows Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams), a struggling single mother, who's life is a mess. She's having an affair with a married cop (Steve Zahn), she's pretending to take real estate classes, and she can barely make ends meet working as a maid. However, she catches a break when she starts her own crime-scene cleanup company. In her quest to become the queen of biohazard disposal she enlists the help of her younger, angry-at-the-world sister Nora (Emily Blunt). The two cheerfully (and hilariously) begin cleaning up after Albuquerque's recently departed while Rose's illegitimate son, Oscar (Jason Spevack) -- there's an amusing subplot involving the b-word-- and father (Alan Arkin) spend quality time together since Oscar "is too smart" for public school.

Sunshine Cleaning is not a perfect film. A subplot involving 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub as the daughter of one of Rose and Nora's "clients" feels forced and unnecessary. Arkin's character also seems underutilized -- he's mainly there for quick one-liners that act as a diversion. However, Adams shines as the films heroine while Blunt does her best to steal the show.

While Little Miss Sunshine was hailed as a terrific ensemble, Sunshine Cleaning is the Amy Adams show. Since her Oscar-nominated debut in Junebug, Adams has done an excellent job of choosing roles that showcase different sides of the trademark innocence. In fact, Sunshine Cleaning may be her best performance on screen. She infuses Rose with vulnerability and warmth, which make her impossible to root against. Blunt also continues to impress as Nora, but it's impossible to overlook Adams each time she's on screen.

Sunshine Cleaning may not be groundbreaking or original, but two fantastic performances by two of Hollywood's fastest rising stars, make it memorable.

Grade: B+

I am Julia, Hear Me Roar

Duplicity, writer-director Tony Gilroy's followup to 2007's Michael Clayton, is a generic yet romantic spy movie. Basically, it's Ocean's 11 -- except with slightly less testosterone and a lot more Julia Roberts.

The film follows Claire (Julia Roberts), a former CIA agent, and Ray (Clive Owen), a retired MI6 operative, as they attempt to swindle two large U.S. corporations out of millions of dollars. As the film begins, Claire and Ray have an awkward run-in in Dubai, which sets the stage for much of the film's conflict. For the next 125 minutes, Claire and Ray can't seem to trust one another. Through a series of flashbacks they kiss, undress, fight, and repeat -- all while planning to outsmart two competing organizations.

While the lover's quarrels are slightly repetitive, the film does have a secret weapon -- Julia Roberts. Hollywood has desperately been searching for a replacement for Roberts for years (see: Jennifer Garner, Rachel McAdams, Katherine Heigl, etc.). While each of those actresses are fine ingenues, none can fill Roberts' enormous shoes. At 41, Roberts continues to light up the screen with her gaping smile and her quiet self-confidence. Her work is effortless, and she even tones down her custom "cuteness" (you only hear her trademark guffaw once) -- much to the benefit of the film.

As great as Roberts is, Owen does his best to keep up. He doesn't have Roberts' star quality, but the pair's chemistry is undeniable. They screamed at each other with raw emotion in 2004's Closer, but their fights in Duplicity steam with sexiness. In fact, their sex appeal is what keeps the film afloat.

Duplicity is too long and Gilroy's script is often unfocused. The back-and-forth between the two corporations can get tiresome, and the confrontations between Claire and Ray don't show much depth. However, without Roberts, the film would probably be entirely forgettable. And because of that, go see Duplicity, because after a five-year break from leading roles, it's just nice to have Julia back.

Grade: B

All She Ever Wanted

Kelly Clarkson's new album, All I Ever Wanted, should probably be titled The Great Compromise. After 2004's multi-platinum, Grammy-winning album Breakaway, Clarkson fell flat on her face in 2007 with a highly-publicized spat with RCA head honcho Clive Davis and a much maligned (and extremely underrated) album, My December. Fast forward to 2009, and the original American Idol is back, now (supposedly) getting along with Davis and ready to reclaim her title as the reigning Queen of Pop.

All I Ever Wanted is an obvious truce between Davis and Clarkson, and it's a win-win for everyone. It's almost obvious which tracks Clarkson picked for the album and which were Davis' favorites. Several songs are heavily-influenced by 2008 Top 40 artists like Colbie Caillat ("I Want You"), Katy Perry ("Long Shot"), and Sara Bareilles ("Ready"), but in every instance Clarkson proves that her vocal ability is something those artists can only dream of. Despite the record label's heavy-handed touch, Wanted's most radio-friendly anthems ("My Life Would Suck Without You" and "I Do Not Hook Up") are undoubtedly Clarkson. Even with all of the bubble gum pop, Clarkson still manages to showcase her introspective side on self-penned ballads like "Impossible" and "Already Gone."

Ultimately, if All I Ever Wanted proves one thing, it's that all Clarkson ever wanted was to be a singing superstar, and the album leaves no doubt that, yeah, our life would probably suck without her.

Grade: A-

If I Were an Academy...

As I attempt a new foray into the blogosphere, I couldn't think of a better first post than my annual "If I Were an Academy." Overall 2008 was a weak year for film, but with the Oscars this Sunday here are my thoughts on who will win, who should win, and who should've been nominated in all of the major categories.

Best Picture
Nominees:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Who should & will win: An incredible film about fate, hope, and love -- Slumdog Millionaire should take home the trophy. It has won every precursor award imaginable, so it'd be a HUGE upset (bigger than Crash v. Brokeback Mountain) if any other film wins.

Who should have been nominated: (tie) Revolutionary Road and The Dark Knight. Road's brilliance, much like Closer's a few years ago, was completely underestimated because it was too "depressing." Knight, on the other hand, is the best comic book film ever made -- it should have been recognized.

Best Director
Nominees:
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk

Who should & will win: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire. He made the best film of the year, it's as simple as that. Plus, Slumdog has too much momentum for anyone to surpass Boyle.

Who should have been nominated: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight. He made a film that will be talked about for decades. His snub is almost unforgivable.

Best Actor
Nominees:
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Who should win: Sean Penn, Milk. He's often called one of our generation's greatest living actors. However he often plays dark and brooding, but his characterization of Harvey Milk is joyful, inspiring, and commanding.

Who will win: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler. There's always a surprise at the Oscars and I think it will be here. Comeback stories are hard to top and Rourke's is remarkable. His performance is physical, gritty, and truly moving.

Who should have been nominated: Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road. He gave his most emotive performance ever. Why he can be nominated for Blood Diamond and not for Revolutionary Road is beyond me.

Best Actress
Nominees:
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Who should win: Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road. Oh wait, she's nominated for the wrong film. As a result, the greatest living actress of our time, Meryl Streep should take home her third statue for Doubt.

Who will win: Kate Winslet, The Reader. Her work is great here -- it's just not as superb as what she accomplished in Revolutionary Road.

Who should have been nominated: Of course Kate should have been nominated for Road. But the other "Great Cate," this time Blanchett, should have been nominated for her underrated work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Best Supporting Actor
Nominees
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Who should & will win: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight. This isn't even a competition.

Who should have been nominated: Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire. It was the best film of the year. Why not throw it an acting nomination?

Best Supporting Actress
Nominees
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Who should & will win: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She steals every scene she's in and gives the rest of the cast a lesson in acting.

Who should have been nominated: Rosemarie Dewitt, Rachel Getting Married. In a role far more complex than Anne Hathaway's, Dewitt grounds the film.

Best Original Screenplay
Nominees
Frozen River, written by Courtney Hunt
Happy-Go-Lucky, written by Mike Leigh
In Bruges, written by Martin McDonagh
Milk, written by Dustin Lance Black
WALL-E, screenplay by Andrew Stanton & Jim Reardon, original story by Andrew Stanton and Pete Docter

Who should & will win: Wall-E. A film as good as Wall-E with as little dialogue must have an awesome screenplay.

Who should have been nominated: Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Woody Allen's best film since Match Point.

Jason's Top 10 of 2008
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. The Dark Knight
3. Milk
4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5. Revolutionary Road
6. The Wrestler
7. Doubt
8. The Reader
9. Iron Man
10. Wall-E