Screenings for June 2008

Actor Focus: Jack Nicholson

Abandoned by his father in his childhood, he was raised believing his grandmother was his mother and his mother was his older sister. The truth was revealed to him years later when a Time magazine researcher uncovered the truth while preparing a story on the star. When Nicholson first came to Hollywood, he worked as a go-fer for animation legends Hanna-Barbera. Seeing his talent as an artist, they offered Nicholson a starting level position as an animation artist. However, citing his desire to become an actor, he declined. Nicholson started his career as an actor, writer, and producer, working for and with Roger Corman, among others. Nicholson has been nominated for an acting (lead or supporting) Academy Award in five different decades: 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. The only other actors who can say the same are Michael Caine and Paul Newman. With 12 nominations thus far (8 for Best Actor and 4 for Best Supporting Actor), Jack Nicholson is the most nominated male actor in Academy Awards history. With three Oscar wins, he also ties with Walter Brennan for the 2nd highest number of Oscar wins in acting categories (all of Brennan's wins were for Best Supporting Actor). At the 79th Academy Awards, Nicholson had fully shaved his hair for his role in The Bucket List. Those ceremonies represented the seventh time he has presented the Academy Award for Best Picture (1972, 1977, 1978, 1990, 1993, 2006, and 2007). Nicholson is an active and voting member of the Academy. He has attended every ceremony, nominated or not since 1990.

Wednesday 2, 2008

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest           

Dir: Milos Forman / 1975 / 133min

 

McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) thinks he can get out of doing work while in prison by pretending to be mad. His plan backfires when he is sent to a mental asylum. He tries to liven the place up a bit by playing card games and basketball with his fellow inmates, but the head nurse is after him at every turn.

 

Award, Best Actor: Oscar 1976, BAFTA 1977, David Di 1976, Golden Globe 1976, NBR 1975, NSFC 1975, NYFCC 1975, Sant Jordi 1977.

 

 

 

Wednesday 9, 2008

The Shining  

Dir: Stanley Kubrick / 1980 / 146min

 

Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) becomes the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel up in the secluded mountains of Colorado. Jack, being a family man, takes his wife and son to the hotel to keep him company throughout the long and isolated nights. During their stay strange things occur when Jack's son Danny sees gruesome images powered by a force called "The Shining" and Jack is heavily affected by this. Along with writer's block and the demons of the hotel haunting him Jack has a complete mental breakdown and the situation takes a sinister turn for the worse.

 

Wednesday 16, 2008

As Good As It Gets  

Dir: James L Brooks / 1997 / 139min

 

 NewYork City. Melvin Udall (Jack Nicholson), a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer, finds his life turned upside down when neighboring gay artist Simon is hospitalized and his dog is entrusted to Melvin. In addition, Carol, the only waitress who will tolerate him, must leave work to care for her sick son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast.

 

Award, Best Actor: Oscar 1998, American Comedy 1998, Film Critics 1998, Golden Globe 1998, ALFS 1999, NBR 1997, OFCS 1998, Golden Satellite 1998, Screen Actors Guild 1998

 

Wednesday 23, 2008

About Schmidt         

Dir: Alexander Payne / 2002 / 125min

 

 Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) is forced to deal with an ambiguous future as he enters retirement. Soon after, his wife passes away and he must come to terms with his daughter's marriage to a man he does not care for and the failure that his life has become.

 

Award, Best Actor: Broadcast Film Critics 2003, DFWFCA 2003, Golden Globe 2003, LAFCA 2002, WAFCA 2002

 

Nomination, Best Actor: Oscar 2003, BAFTA 2003, CFCA 2003, OFCS 2003, PFCS 2003, Golden Satellite 2003

 

 

Wednesday 30, 2008

The Bucket List        

Dir: Rob Reiner / 2007 / 97min

 

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find the joy in life.

 

 
 
 

        Site is Powered By Web Interactive Network Solutions