Video Detective's Blog

Emmy and Golden Globe award winner Danny DeVito was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after more than 40 years in show business as an actor, director and producer.  His start was off-Broadway as Martini in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”  - a role he would reprise in the Academy Award-winning film adaptation.  His breakout role was as Louie DePalma on TV’s “Taxi” and in  his latest work on the TV series  “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” DeVito has created larger than life comic personas.  Video Detective would like to congratulate Danny and share a few of our favorite DeVito performances, including his turns as a criminal mastermind, a crooked used-car salesman and our favorite:  Arnold Schwarzenegger’s twin brother.   Enjoy!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Twins

The War of the Roses

Batman Returns

Matilda

Elisabeth Taylor died this morning of congestive heart failure at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.  She was 79 years old.  She left behind a remarkable body of work, including two films for which she won Oscars for Best Actress.  Here are links to some of her top film trailers including Butterfield 8, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cleopatra, Giant, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.   We’ll miss you Ms. Taylor.

Lassie Come Home 1943 Elisabeth Taylor, Roddie McDowell

When the faithful collie is sold by her struggling family, she travels hundreds of miles to find her way home.   Ms. Taylor’s first film.  You’ll get just a glimpse of her on a bike at the end of this trailer.

National Velvet 1944  Elisabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, Angela Lansbury, Arthur Treacher

An English girl wins a horse and trains him to compete in the Grand National race.  Taylor was just 12 years old when she landed this debut starring role with a very young Mickey Rooney as her co-star.

Conspirator 1949  Elisabeth Taylor  Robert Taylor

This was Ms Taylor’s first adult role, even though she was only 16 at the time of the filming.  She plays a debutante who marries a Communist spy (Robert Taylor) unwittingly.

Father of The Bride 1950  Elisabeth Taylor, Spencer Tracy, Billy Burke, Russ Tamblyn

Vicente Minelli directed Taylor in this charming comedy in which she played Spencer Tracy’s daughter.

A Place in The Sun 1951  Elisabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Shelley Winters, Fred Clark

Taylor plays Angela Vickers, a spoiled rich girl who falls for George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) and ruins his relationship with his poor girlfriend,  Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) who is pregnant.

Giant 1956 Elisabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Dennis Hopper, Carole Baker

Ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture for this story of ..read more

The nominees for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards are out! 2010 was a year that saw the return of familiar faces (Jeff Bridges, Danny Boyle),  the reunion of star powered teams (David O. Russell and Mark Wahlberg, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen),  and bold performances from young talent  (the Social Network’s Jesse Eisenberg, True Grit’s Hailie Steinfeld).  The nominees include offerings from iconic directors who have fed our imaginations with stunning visuals and richly developed stories.  Congratulations to everyone who worked hard to produce these excellent films and invites everyone to relive some of their best moments!

Black Swan Darren Aronofsky directs Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel in a psychological thriller that explores a young woman’s devotion to her art and the darkness that consumes her as she pursues perfection.

The Fighter David O. Russell and Mark Wahlberg team up for their third time (Three Kings, I <3 Huckabees) to deliver the underdog story of a working class boxer coached to prominence by trouble his half-brother, played by Christian Bale.

Inception Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight) takes us on a reality bending journey into a world of dreams and deception.  Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy, Ellen Page, Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy (widely rumored to be appearing in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises) the film grossed $21 million on its opening day and went on to take over $800 million at the box office.

The King’s Speech Tom Hooper chronicles the painstaking process by which King George VI (Colin Firth) and unorthodox speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush) overcame the monarch’s stammer and inspired a nation in an era of crisis.  Helena Bonham-Carter stars as the King’s devoted wife Elizabeth, who supports his efforts to rehabilitate his speech impediment.

Toy Story 3 Tom Hanks and ..read more

The 68th annual Golden Globe Awards took place at the Beverly Hilton hotel in LA Sunday night.

Congrats to Sony Pictures whose Social Network won four awards out of their six nominations.  The Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award went to Robert DeNiro.  Winners at the top!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Christian Bale,  The Fighter Jeremy Renner,  The Town Andrew Garfield, The Social Network’ Geoffrey Rush,  The King’s Speech Michael Douglas,  Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Melissa Leo,  The Fighter Amy Adams, The Fighter Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech Mila Kunis,  Black Swan Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Best Performance by an Actor in a  Motion Picture – Drama

Colin Firth, The King’s Speech Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network James Franco, 127 Hours Ryan Goslin, Blue Valentine Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

Natalie Portman, Black Swan Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole Halle Berry, Frankie & Alice Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone

Best Motion Picture - Drama

The Social Network Inception The Fighter The King’s Speech Black Swan

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version Johnny Depp, The Tourist Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland

Best Performance by an Actress  in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

Annette Benning, The Kids Are All Right Angelina Jolie, The Tourist Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right Emma Stone, Easy A Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

The Kids Are All Right Burlesque Red Alice in Wonderland The Tourist

Best Animated Feature Film

Toy Story 3 How To Train Your Dragon The Illusionist Tangled Despicable Me

The holidays are here and we’ve picked a few movies to keep your holiday spirit going. If you’re going to be traveling, we wish you a ride on the Polar Express where you might  find Love Actually. Try to avoid anyone who looks like a psychotic Elf so that you end up with your family knowing that It’s A Wonderful Life. Whatever your holiday plans, we hope you don’t end up Home Alone.

Home Alone (1993)  Macaulay Culkin stars as troublemaker Kevin McCallister, a precocious 8 year old who wishes his family would disappear and voila! they accidentally leave for the Christmas holiday without him. Kevin proves to be amazingly inventive in defending his home against a pair of inept burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern). Film legend John Hughes delivers a classic with a cast that includes Catherine O’Hara, John Heard and a cameo by John Candy. Elf (2003)  John Favreau directs this 2003 tale of a human named Buddy who sets out to find his father after being raised by elves at the north pole. Will Ferrell gives a hilarious portrayal of the would-be elf’s attempts to connect with a greedy publisher (James Caan) and a shy songstress (Zooey Deschanel) reminds some cynical New Yorkers what the Christmas spirit is all about. The Polar Express (2004)  Special effects maestro Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Beowulf, Forest Gump) reunites with Tom Hanks to produce this adaptation of the classic work of children’s literature. The result is a masterful execution that combines rich characters and storytelling with high tech visual flair. ..read more