Poster - Mildred Pierce

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Natalie Portman Wins Oscar for Black Swan

Reel Artsy favorite, Natalie Portman, got the trophy that we were all hoping (and expecting) she would. Her body of work is impressive, from indies to blockbusters, drama to romantic comedies and her future in cinema looks bright. Be sure to bookmark our Natalie Portman category where we'll keep you updated with her latest projects. And if you haven't done so already stop by Portman's own entertainment website MakingOf.com that features loads of behind-the-scenes interviews.

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2011 Oscar Picks

My picks for who I think should win this year.

Best Picture: The Social Network
Best Actor: Colin Firth
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Best Director: David Fincher
Best Documentary Feature: Exit Through The Gift Shop
Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Language Film: Biutiful
Best Original Screenplay: Inception
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network
Best Film Editing: The Social Network
Best Cinematography: True Grit
Best Art Direction: Inception
Best Animated Short: Day & Night
Best Visual Effects: Inception
Best Sound Mixing: Inception
Best Sound Editing: Inception
Best Costume Design: Alice In Wonderland
Best Makeup: The Wolfman
Best Original Score: The Social Network
Best Original Song: "We Belong Together" (Toy Story 3)

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Trailer - Heartbeats

Writer/director Xavier Dolan's film tells the story of a very common French theme, the love triangle. In case you're wondering, the delightful song from the trailer is Dalida's cover of Cher's 'Bang Bang'. Opens in limited release today.

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Music Spotlight: Brooke Fraser

Light and fun, Brooke Fraser's "Something in The Water" is a pleasant addition to the music landscape. The New Zealand native is continuing to make her mark in the States, she'll be performing at SXSW and touring over 30 cities on a Spring/Summer tour. I'm relatively new to her catalog but catching up is yielding good results. "Something in The Water" and "Betty" are my favorites so far.

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GUEST POST: 5 Favorites by Ava DuVernay

AFI Fest 2010

Hi my name is Ava DuVernay.  I make and market films.  A good sister named Karen who runs this very cool site, ReelArtsy.com, asked me to name 5 things that excite me in black film at the moment.  What a cool concept.  Just like Karen. And her site. Cool. So… here goes…

5) Matthew A. Cherry

I like this brother's style. He shoots. And shoots. And shoots. Music videos. Shorts.  And coming soon - his first feature. He works with open arms. Embracing fellow filmmakers. Embracing social media. Embracing the energy currently brewing around the black indie film aesthetic. Here's his latest video which just dropped this week for Foreign Exchange. The guy makes, like, a video a week, I swear. I love it. Work! 

4) Black Swan Theory

This is a short film that I dig a lot for a couple of reasons.  First: because this fierce black woman filmmaker smashed it.  Her name is Nikyatu Jusu and she is a bad, bad sister - in the best way.  Can't wait to see more from her and loved her previous short.  Second reason I love this small film is that it was made with funds from a guy who puts his money where his mouth is: Tambay Obenson of ShadowandAct.com.  I appreciate people who mean what they say and say what they mean. And by funding Nikyatu's film through the Shadow and Act Filmmaker Challenge, Tambay did just that. This film represents everything we should be doing as black filmmakers and black film advocates. Creating vibrant, self-determined images and moving them forward with our passion and elbow grease.

3) Remigration

The latest from Barry Jenkins via the FutureStates series. What else needs to be said? The brother is not for the children. He's for grown-ups. Love his work. Love FutureStates.  If you're not aware of either, please get to Googlin'.  I met Barry for the first time at Sundance during our AFFRM dinners just a few weeks ago.  I liked his vibe and really can't wait to see 'Remigration,' when it debuts on March 21.  Plus it stars Russell Hornsby who is a ridiculously talented actor.  I had the pleasure of working with him as a publicist both on stage and on our dearly departed TV series, "Lincoln Heights."  Keep an eye out for all involved with this piece, especially Barry.

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Poster - One Day

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Point of View

Point of View is a German short film about two people who cross paths in Berlin. Quiet in tone, subtle, Nils Struven crafts a story that feels longer than its 11 minutes, but in a good way. The short offers pleasing cinematography including bicycles rides, views of the city and lingering shots on the two leads (who are fascinating enough to make me want more of their backstory). The filmmakers label it as a "no budget film project" but if this what they can do with next to nothing, I can only imagine how they'd impress with a sizable starting pot.

Strandgut Film is officially on my radar...

Official Site: www.strandgut-film-berlin.de

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Trailer - Hesher

A match made in Reel Artsy Heaven: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman star in Hesher. The film will play at SXSW and the trailer looks wildly good. Co-staring Rainn Wilson (The Office).

Official Site: www.hesherthemovie.com

[HT FilmStage]

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Trailer - Blacktino

Blacktino will be playing opening night at SXSW this year. The movie is about "an overweight half-black, half-latino nerd named Stefan Daily." It's a dark comedy so you can expect some push-button scenes. The trailer offers a nice slice of quirky.

Official Site: www.blacktinomovie.com

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Poster - Black Death

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Music Spotlight: Emily Wells

This is the kind of performance I'd like to see. Emily Wells plays a bunch of instruments, but mostly the violin. In the following video she crafts a song through live sampling and looping with bits of glockenspiel and synths. It's quirky and cool...

Official Site: www.emilywellsmusic.com

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42nd NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon [PHOTOS]

Our photo contributor, Wilki Tom, snapped some pics from the 42nd NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon. Salli Richardson (Eureka), Tia & Tamera Mowry, Holly Robinson-Peete (The Talk) and Debra Martin Chase (Just Wright).

More photos after the jump...

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Download This - Hoodie Allen 'Pep Rally'

Hoodie Allen runs from kid robots in the new video for You Are Not A Robot, from his awesome Pep Rally mixtape. Check it out and download the mixtape HERE.

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Rashida Jones Sings in New 'Monogamy' Trailer

I've been blogging about this film since it was announced (here, here, and here) and every new tidbit continues to impress.

In the latest trailer, Rashida Jones sings an original song for the film. Let's hope that she releases an album of her own one day. Monogamy is nominated for a Spirit Award and hits theaters March 11th in NYC (with a wider release rolling out on March 18th).

For more info visit the official Facebook page. 

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Poster - Earthwork

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Trailer: Mooz-lum

Evan Ross is on the road to becoming a quietly explosive actor. Given the right material, Ross could have a shot at an Oscar or Emmy, although a Spirit award is more likely in the near future. I enjoyed him as a stuttering swimmer in Pride, an aspiring chef in According to Greta and a runaway teen in Gardens of the Night. In Mooz-lum, Ross plays a Muslim-American college freshman who faces adversity from his peers and family. I haven't seen it yet but the story looks enticing.

Now playing in select theaters.

Official Site: www.moozlumthemovie.com

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X-Men: First Class (Zoe Kravitz + James McAvoy)

The trailer for X-Men: First Class hit the web today and it's looking good. The storylines of a mutant generation remain relevant in this earlier setting and overall I'm pleased with the casting choices. I'm especially glad to see James McAvoy and Zoe Kravitz in the mix. And Kevin Bacon!

In theaters June 3rd.

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Winter Passing (2005)

Set in Michigan, Zooey Deschanel stars alongside Will Ferrell and Ed Harris in a quirky family drama. This was the first movie where I took notice of Deschanel. I'd seen her in Elf and Almost Famous (and some other films) but it wasn't until Winter Passing that I could put a name to her face, where her deadpan delivery really sunk in... and so began my search for all things Deschanel.

Another great thing about this film is Ferrell's scaled back performance. He plays a shy guy and his comedy is on the subtle side.

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Music Video - Shad 'Keep Shining'

Lovin' this track and video from Canadian rapper Shad.

"To me, the 'Keep Shining' video is an ode to the strong and often under-appreciated spirits of women. This video was designed as a candid and thought/emotion-provoking concept. My goals were to create a candid and uplifting experience that featured a wide diversity of women and girls and to also unearth what I felt lay beneath the lyrics: A call to claim one’s voice. Early on, I realized a key to this concept: Shad barely appears in the video. The ladies own the lyrics. For me, it’s as if Shad is saying take it, own it, your voice belongs to you. It was my intention to show strength, vulnerability, joy, catharsis and reclamation of the spirit of all those who appeared in these 3 minutes and 45 seconds. My hope is that it will speak to women, girls, men and boys and everything in between. Let’s all keep shining." -Sarah Michelle Brown (Director)

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Poster - I Will Follow

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Download This - Neako 'The Sinner'

Rising New Jersey MC Neako released this awesome track from his upcoming mixtape The Sinner & The Winner, dropping later this month.

DOWNLOAD MP3 (via EarMilk)

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Poster - Trust

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Trailer - Submarine

One of the most buzzed about films at Sundance this year was the British film Submarine. It was written/directed by Richard Ayoade (Moss on The IT Crowd) and features new music by Alex Turner (from Arctic Monkeys). Awesome overload! Can't wait to check it out. Opens March 18th.

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EVENT: Robotanists at SilverLake Lounge (L.A.)

I spotlighted the Robantists last year, so if you'd like to see them perform mark your calendar for Mondays in February. They'll be holding a residency at the Silverlake Lounge, courtesy of WildTonic. They'll be playing with other favorites including Twilight Sleep, Oh Darling and Kissing Cousins. The shows are free and their new album Plans in Progress hits stores on Feb. 15th. For more info visit www.robotanists.com

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Poster - Bridesmaids

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Teaser Trailer - Yelling to the Sky

Zoe Kravitz (It's Kind of a Funny Story) stars in this coming-of-age story about a biracial girl in NYC. Yelling to the Sky debuts at the Berlin International Film Fest this month and will be playing at SXSW this year.

Official Site: www.yellingtotheskymovie.com

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Trailer - Monogamy (starring Rashida Jones & Chris Messina)

The long-awaited trailer is finally online! I've talked about Monogamy here and here and the film gets more appealing  with each new development. In theaters March 11th in NYC (wide release March 18th).

The first narrative feature from Oscar-nominated director Dana Adam Shapiro (Murderball), Monogamy fuses an absorbing mystery-thriller and a taut relationship drama.

And Rashida plays the guitar:

More screencaps and the poster after the jump...

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Music Video - She & Him 'Don't Look Back'

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward invoke a world of retro sci-fi in the music video for "Don't Look Back."

Official Site: www.sheandhim.com

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Book Spotlight: My Best Friend's Girl

My Best Friend's Girl by Dorothy Koomson is a poignant tale about love, lost friendship and the depths a person will venture in search of redemption. Set in England, two girls meet in college and despite their differences (in personality and background) they become fast friends.

"Kamryn and Adele thought nothing could come between them – until Adele did the unthinkable and slept with Kamryn’s fiance. Two years later, Kamryn receives a letter from Adele asking her to visit her in hospital. Adele is dying and begs Kamryn to adopt her daughter."

My Best Friend's Girl is introspective and clever, mixing the right amount of heartfelt and heart-breaking. It's ripe with components for a character-driven drama and I'd actually like to see two adaptations: an American and British version.

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