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Directors Guild of America President Taylor Hackford today announced the five nominees for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2009.

“The DGA Award is especially meaningful to directors because it is decided solely by their peers – the men and women who have been in the same trenches and know exactly what goes into the crafting of a unique motion picture,” said Hackford. “The five nominees for this year have each expressed an indelible vision that transported audiences to vivid vistas of cinematic art. My heartiest congratulations to all of the nominees.”

The winner will be named at the 62nd Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

The nominees are (in alphabetical order):

KATHRYN BIGELOW

“The Hurt Locker”

(Summit Entertainment)

Ms. Bigelow’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Tony Mark

• First Assistant Director: David Ticotin

• First Assistant Director (Canadian Unit): Lee Cleary

JAMES CAMERON

“Avatar”

(Twentieth Century Fox)

Mr. Cameron’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Colin Wilson

• First Assistant Director: Josh McLaglen

• Second Assistant Director/Additional Unit First Assistant Director: Maria Battle Campbell

LEE DANIELS

“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

(Lionsgate)

Mr. Daniels’ Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Tony Hernandez

• First Assistant Director: Chip Signore

• Second Assistant Director: Tracey Hinds

• Second Second Assistant Director: Michael “Boogie” Pinckney

• Additional Unit Production Manager: Patrick D. Gibbons

• Additional First Assistant Director: Tom Fatone

• Additional Second Assistant Directors: Kim Thompson, Mirashyam Blakeslee

• Location Manager: Gregory Routt

JASON REITMAN

“Up In The Air”

(Paramount Pictures)

Mr. Reitman’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Michael Beugg

• First Assistant Director: Jason Blumenfeld

• Second Assistant Director: Sonia Bhalla

• Assistant Unit Production Manager: Samson Mucke

• Second Second Assistant Director: Joseph Payton

• Additional Second Assistant Director: Heather L. Hogan

QUENTIN TARANTINO

“Inglourious Basterds”

(The Weinstein Company and Universal Pictures)

Mr. Tarantino’s Directorial Team:

• Unit Production Manager: Gregor Wilson

• Unit Production Manager (Germany): Michael Scheel

• First Assistant Director: Carlos Fidel

• Second Assistant Director: Miguel Angelo Pa

• Second Second Assistant Directors: Jill Moriarty, Tanja Däberitz

A Na’vi warrior races into battle on a thanator, a fearsome panther-like creature native to Pandora; courtesy WETA and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. In the far future, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a wounded and paralyzed former U.S. Marine, travels to Pandora, a lush, jungle-covered extraterrestrial moon and home to a sentient humanoid race, the Na’vi. Approximately 10-feet tall with tails and sparkling blue skin, the Na’vi fight when a human corporation, backed by battalions of Marines, attempts to remove the indigenous people from their native lands. Unable to breathe the air on Pandora, human scientists create genetically-bred human-Na’vi hybrids known as Avatars. Jake participates in the Avatar program, which enables him to walk again though a new body. Sent deep into Pandora’s jungles as a scout, Jake encounters many of Pandora’s varied beauties and dangers.

Worthington: Jake (Sam Worthington) meets his avatar, a genetically engineered hybrid of human DNA mixed with DNA from the natives of Pandora; photo by Mark Fellman and WETA, courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. Complete with contrived dialogue and a telegraphed plot, the hackneyed tale derives, almost fully-formed, via the 1950s and the far more compelling fiction of Jack Vance and Robert Heinlein. Offering little in character originality, Cameron borrows heavily from his previous sci-fi endeavors. Even one of his former stars, Sigourney Weaver, returns as the head scientist for the Avatar project. The adequate acting rarely excels and at times even devolves into stereotype. The world of the Na’vi, while intriguing, offers little that hasn’t been portrayed before. To his credit, the excellent combat scenes serve to remind filmgoers that Cameron belongs among the top tier of all-time action directors. None of this matters though. The true essence of “Avatar” rests with the impressive visual effects. No stranger to special effects, Cameron created new advancements in that arena with several of his previous films, including both “Terminators,” “The Abyss” and “Titanic.” The 3-D and visual effects of “Avatar” far exceed anything previously seen. The extensive trailers fail to properly showcase the extent of the dazzling imagery, and offer only a glimpse of why this feature needs to be seen in the theater. Even with the lengthy running time, due primarily to the visuals, the movie doesn’t feel overly long.

As an epic battle approaches, Jake (Sam Worthington, left), Grace (Sigourney Weaver), Trudy (Michelle Rodriguez) and Norm (Joel David Moore) plan their next move; photo by Mark Fellman, courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

Unlike most directors, Cameron, for the most part, uses the 3-D subtly. Realistic sweat dripping of faces enhances the tension. By giving depth, a large ship interior becomes massive. The projection screens used on the ships are fully integrated and interact seamlessly with the crew. Lighter-than-air creatures have depth and mass. All these little touches breathe life into the very alien world of “Avatar.”

The attractive Na’vi, conceived using a technology similar to that which created Gollum (in “Lord of the Rings”) and Peter Jackson’s giant ape in “King Kong,” retain a human-ness while simultaneously basking in their uniqueness. The entire Pandora landscape abounds in a lushness of detail, from the tiniest creatures to the humongous floating mountains.

By fully embracing and understanding current technologies, Cameron has created a visual delight unlike any previous movie. Even with the story flaws, the drop-dead gorgeous “Avatar” provides unforgettable entertainment.

Photo (top): Neytiri (Zoë Saldana, right) teaches Jake (Sam Worthington) the skills he’ll need to survive on Pandora; courtesy WETA and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

http://www.movingpicturesmagazine.com/reviews/movies/avatar 

Thanks to Dhari Gray for this:

May this New Year be one of joy, abundance, good-will, peace and gracefulness.

May we have the courage to look for a blessing in every moment, and the audacity to celebrate it.

May compassion reign in our hearts and kindness ring through every word. May our waking dreams be filled
with joy, creativity and passionate pursuits. May our hearts and minds be joined as one; unified within, and so without.

May we remember we are all children of the Earth; kindred spirits, brothers and sisters, members of the great family of love.

May we choose love over fear; unity and harmony over separation and discord. May we have the strength to claim our authentic power; standing true in word, action and deed, and with firm resolve BE the change we wish to see in the world!

May our children see the light of love in our eyes. May our elders be honored for the wisdom each bears. May every heart trust that we are each divinely endowed with the birth-right to thrive, and wake each day celebrating the Great-Full-Ness of life.

May we remember heaven is within our hearts, opening our eyes to the sacred in all things. May we breathe thanks into each moment, and with reverence honor all of the gifts this life brings.

“Little House on the Prairie, The Musical” currently has shows running at the The Buell Theatre located in the Denver Performing Arts Complex.  The musical is the first attempt at a new way to experience the Laura Ingalls Wilder “Little House” Books.  

For the third consecutive year, Club Penguin is encouraging its players to make a difference in the lives of others by donating Coins for Change. Between December 11 and 21, players can donate coins they earn playing games on Club Penguin to support kids who are sick, kids who are poor or the environment. Each donation is a vote to decide how a $1 million cash donation will be shared by organizations working to make the world a better place.

Support Valuable ProjectsDonations to kids who are sick will help provide health care and medical treatment. By choosing kids who are poor our players support a nutrition program and a peace centre to educate children displaced by war and conflict.

Giving coins to the environment will help educate and encourage other kids to protect the world’s wildlife and the places they call home. Explore New Ways to GivePlayers can visit one of several donation stations around the island or buy one for their igloo and invite their penguin friends to a fundraising bash. Kids can also attend a special fundraising concert at the Lighthouse, and even visit the “Fun Activities” section to check out suggestions on things they can do in their own community to make a difference.

Results will be announced December 24th!

For more on the projects and organizations Coins for Change 2009 will support, click here.