Please discuss June baits here.

Whoa! First to post! I'll try to get up my reviews ASAP!


PLEASE REVIEW AND FYC:

NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE!


great month guys hopefully!

FYC:
NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE

Coming soon:
PIRATE BONES
ON THE TEQUILA
CONNOLLEY WATER SCI-FI
EVEN THE DEVIL WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU
UNTITLED CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH PROJECT

Sorry.

In my bait, NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE, Queen Latifah, Mark Wahlberg and Morgan Freeman are CAMEOS! NOT PRINCIPAL CAST!

I marked this on the bait that I sent in but must have got messed up on how they formatted it on the website.

Just wanted to put this out there. Thanks!

OK, here are some reviews scale of 0-****. since I am reviewing yours, review mine, NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE. Let's roll.

FYC-NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE

-Acoustic-***-It is certainly a good bait but lacks some energy to it to make it stand out against some of the contests recent music bios. It is a strong bait for you Evan and wouldn't be surprised if it gains some traction at the GGs. This is a vastly different bait from what I remembered when I read it and for the better. Good job. It is ALMOST ***1/2 but not quite there so don't be discouraged.

-AU H20-**-I don't know what it was but i found it very jumpy and confusing on to what happened. The title is VERY gimmicky, ESPICALLY for a drama. The cast is good though.

-Break Before the Bend-**1/2-This REALLY had so much potential but went in the opposite direction I wanted it to go. The end kind of went a little too over the top for me. The cat and mouse game idea is good but the set-up doesn't feel right for it. I also don't care for the casting of Gyllenhaal in this particular part. I felt like the role should have been played by someone a bit older and gruff. It's a good idea and entertaining but not perfect. Really close to ***.

-Challenge-**-Its just average to me and a little ridiculous too the casting. Ron Howard and Meryl Streep? I know that the sky is the limit but it is kind of silly. This idea has been hashed over so many times and "offers something different, with unique plot twists and an ending so unexpected that it will have everybody talking!" HOW?!?!?! It's one of you first baits and it is a helluva lot better than mine so keep it up!

-Dear Micky, Love Melinda-****-This is a reluctant **** but I will still give it to you. I really enjoyed this and like your press section, this bait truly was "intriguing, interesting, passionate, and griping." The casting is good and I like the directing choice and writing choice. But Milo and Adrian? I think someone is a HEROES fan . (If Ali Larter was in this I would have REALLY enjoyed it ).

Ok, I am planning on doing a batch or so a day. (It is finals til Wed. so I may be a little overwhelmed). Anyway I was flipping ahead a bit, just skimming and Micky/Melinda may have some comp. it looks like form MILES AWAY and MISS SAIGON is cracking me up because all that I am thinking of is the MISS. GUIDED episode where she plays MISS SAIGON and kisses the student .

Acoustic - Preachy, self-aware and oversimplified, with bad casting of Maggie Gyllenhaal and an uninspired director choice of John Carney. Pretty good press section, though. C

AU H2O - Perhaps the worst title ever. The Ed Harris casting is decent enough, but nothing to really get excited about, but good use of Tommy Lee Jones. The synopsis is written like an essay for 6th grade history class, and the press section pretty much says what the film is about and that it's good, but doesn't go into enough detail. Just not a good bait. C

Break Before Bend - This was the big festival champ, and for good reason. The subject matter is very tricky to master, but you pulled it off very nicely. Terrific casting of Jake Gyllenhaal, Sarah Polley, Vincent D'Onofrio and Tabu, and just a great story. Very good. A-

Challenge - A typical, aren't-I-so-inspiring sports movie. Bad director choice and generic synopsis and press section. C

Dear Micky, Love Melinda - Annoying writing style with the letters, and the story, while baity, is just not all that interesting. Good try, though. C+

Death of a Salesman - I honestly cannot believe that you gave this the title you did when it's not even based on the play. The writing style made it seem kind of interesting, but in fact, there's nothing that original about the story at all. C

The House on Mango Street - Moving and well-handled, this is definitely one of the better baits this month. Good job on all fronts, and Ivana Baquero will probably score a nomination. A-

The Juke - Like the above bait, this is very well-handled and it's clear that you met your intentions. However, your intentions were just not that good. The bait was as good as it could have been, no doubt, but the story itself just wasn't that interesting. But nonetheless a good try. B

Miles Away - I thought that here, the letter format DID work, but you were a little short on story. It needs more substance to fully work. B-

Miss Saigon - Well written and very interesting, but the cast and crew are simply awful. It kills me to not give this an A- or A, but these are just uber generic choices. B+

Nothing of Importance Happened Here - Terrible title. The bait started off strong, but went in the wrong direction with the reenactments. If this were really made into a film, I really don't think it would be that interesting at all. C+

The People vs. Robert Wheeler - Well-written and great casting of Brad Pitt. The only real drawback is that I was a little unsure about what made this case so important. But it is, nonetheless, good. B

The Poisonwood Bible - My bait. N/A

Pride of Baghdad - At first it seems too weird to work, but by the end, I really appreciated the risk and allegory to it all. I would have preferred if it went more into depth, but good. B

Prometheus - There's no emotion to the story, awful casting all around (Martin Sheen?) and it expects that you know about Roman mythology. I suppose the plot itself is moderately interesting, but the execution was just not good. C-

Public Enemy - Interesting story and the writing style is very fun and hip. But this is not a good Spielberg vehicle and I genuinely do not understand why he's getting so much praise. But the bait itself is good. B+

Realize - Unbelievably melodramatic and has literally nothing original to bring to the table. The writing is incoherent and the story is dismal and anything but attention-grabbing. D+

Release the Stars - Innovative and outlandish with nice characters, but it's short on development. But it's good and Baz Luhrmann is a terrific choice. B

Relentless - It's great to see Tony go out of his comfort zone, and it's even better when it's a great bait like this. Paul Giamatti is wonderful casting and the story is funny and the kind of movie I would definitely pay to see. A-

Spring Awakening - SAM MENDES??? C'mon...a little more creative, please. I'm seeing this show in July, and if it's like the bait, then I'll be moderately satisfied but disappointed. The writing is generic and feels like a short story written for English class, only with naked people. Stop doing musicals for a while, Michael. It feels like you're on auto pilot. B-

The Time Machine - Good casting of Paul Bettany and an interesting story, and it'd be good as a MOVIE, probably, but as a bait, I just didn't feel like the characters played a big enough role. Not bad, though. B

The Wishbones - YES! High energy, hip, great combination of comedy and drama. This bait is a great mixture of a good story and competent writing, as well as perfect cast and crew choices. Great job here. The only thing I would change is I would add a little bit about the plot as it continues throughout the film. A-

Acoustic- I’m not really sure I like it. The story is odd, and I don’t feel the emotion that you tried to convey. The casting is off in my opinion, and the director choice is off. Nice try though. C-

Au H2O- The basis story is great, but I think your writing is poor, and there are grammar errors that should have been fixed. The execution probably not as strong as it could have been, and the cast is just so-so. C-

Break Before Bend- There’s no doubt that its interesting, and well written, up to the end. I understand the need to wrap up the story, but it seemed a bit to abrupt. Tabu definitely makes my shortlist for Supporting Actress though, that’s a great role. Jake seems a bit miscast, but the rest of the cast is good. Not bad. I’ll give you a B to go with your title.

Challenge- I don’t ever see this film getting made. I just don’t particularly like it, the writing isn’t terrible, but Dick Wolf as a writer? With Ron Howard? Just a little too much to get over. D

Dear Micky, Love Melinda- I really enjoyed this. By far my favorite of your baits and the best I’ve read so far. You kept all my attention, and while it reminded me of Atonement, it felt completely different. A compelling story, with a great cast/crew A-

Death of a Salesman- First off, terrible title. You do realize that there is a classic play that has the same name…It totally gives the wrong impression of the story you are going to tell. The cast is okay, but Paul Dano…come on, could we not have someone else. I like Ethan Hawke in his role as well as Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but overall, it was poorly executed. C-

The House on Mango Street- I didn’t really feel her conflict, honestly. I felt there needed to be a bit more of story in order for me to really like it. It’s well written, but I don’t understand why you don’t campaign any of your other cast members, or cast roles that you talk about in the synopsis. It’s just a bit odd, and poorly constructed in my opinion. C+

The Juke- Way to long, and the length wouldn’t be a problem if the story were interesting, but it felt like I was reading it for hours. The casting isn’t that great, and the only really entertaining part would be Alan Arkin, but you spelled out his relationship with Gosling like it was a Spelling Bee. C-

Miles Away- Apparently writing in letter form is in this month… Anyway, the story is kind of boring and I wasn’t interested. I like the Soderbergh choice, but not enough to save it. Phoenix is off as is the rest of your cast. Just not the best. C-

Miss Saigon- I am really jealous of your synopsis. It’s well written and great, although a tad too long. The story is great, but your cast/crew needed help. B

Nothing of Importance Happened Here- While the story is entertaining and interesting, I don’t quite think its something the Academy would enjoy enough to call the Best Picture of the Year, it’s just more of a summer blockbuster, turned classic film. It’s nice, just not for the Oscars. B

The People vs. Robert Wheeler- I really like Brad Pitt in the role, but I don’t get what the big deal. Don’t get me wrong, I love it and definitely one of your best, but why does this have such an importance. I love Jeff Goldblum in the role too; both of them make my shortlist. Great Job. B+

The Poisonwood Bible- This had the potential to be AMAZING! Although, I think you went wrong with some of your casting choices. While I love Toni Collette’s role and she’ll still get a nomination in my book, I feel someone like Nicole Kidman would have been more effective in the role. Also with Russell Crowe, someone like Edward Norton would have been better, given what you state in your synopsis. I don’t know, those were just the people in mind the entire time. I love the rest of it though, it’s a gripping story, an otherwise great cast and crew. B+ (Almost an A-)

Prince of Baghdad- Honestly, I really liked this bait. The casting is great, and you took a risk which I really think paid off. Although, I don’t understand why you have a bloated crew (which wasn’t really needed since you had an animated film) but still, I really love these lions. Great Job. A-

I'll have the rest up soon.

This June...
Spring Awakening

BEST DIRECTOR

Baz Luhrmann for Release the Stars
Terrence Malick for The Time Machine
Fernando Meirelles for The Poisonwood Bible
Sam Mendes for Spring Awakening
Shari Spinger Berman & Robert Pulcini for Relentless

and the Oscar goes to....
Shari Spinger Berman & Robert Pulcini for Relentless!!!!!!

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Tom Hanks for Nothing of Importance Happened Here
Viggo Mortensen for Prometheus
Jonathan Pryce for Miss Saigon
Anthony Raneri for Acoustic
Kevin Zegers for Challenge

and the Oscar goes to...
Kevin Zegers for Challenge!!!!!

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Toni Colette for The Poisonwood Bible
Kelly Macdonald for Dear Micky, Love Melinda
Lea Salonge for Miss Saigon
Bahar Soomekh for Miles Away
Meg Tilly for Nothing of Importance Happened Here

And the Oscar goes to....
Toni Colette for The Poisonwood Bible!!!!!

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

James Franco for Acoustic
Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Death of a Salesman
Shia Labeouf for Public Enemy
John Lloyd Young for Miss Saigon
Adrian Pasdar for Dear Micky, Love Melinda

And the Oscar goes to...
Shia Labeouf for Public Enemy!!!!!

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Laurie Cadevida for Miss Saigon
Maggie Gyllenhaal for Acoustic
Julianne Moore for Death of a Salesman
Sarah Polley for Break Before End
Meryl Streep for Challenge

And the Oscar goes to....
Maggie Gyllenhaal for Acoustic!!!!!

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Stephen Gaghan & Susannah Grant for Miles Away
Kelly Masterson for Death of a Salesman
Robert Rodat for Dear Micky, Love Melinda
Jim Taylor for Relentless
Dick Wolf for Challenge

And the Oscar goes to....
Jim Taylor for Relentless!!!!!

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Sandra Cisneros & Alfonso Cuaron for The House on Mango Street
Bill Condon for Miss Saigon
Matt Greenhalgh for Acoustic
Hayao Miyazaki & Brian K. Vaughan for Pride of Baghdad
Aaron Sorkin for AU H20

And the Oscar goes to....
Hayao Miyazaki & Brian K. Vaughan for Pride of Baghdad!!!!!!


TOP 10

10.The Time Machine
9.Pride of Baghdad
8.Public Enemy
7.The Poisonwood Bible
6.Nothing of Importance Happened Here


5.Dear Micky, Love Melinda


4.Miss Saigon


3.Relentless


2.Acoustic


and my personal pivk for Best Picture this June is....


CHALLENGE!!!!!!!

OK, here are some reviews scale of 0-****. since I am reviewing yours, review mine, NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE.

FYC-NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE

-Death of a Salesman-*1/2-First off the title should have been the first thing changed. Second I like the idea but how you executed it was pretty bad and the casting was just alright for me. Its like you picked the last few Oscar contenders in the past decade and just casted them.

-The House on Mango Street-***-I liked it but I never felt that big emotional punch that it should have had. Its a good effort that lacks.

-The Juke-*-It is like you wrote a book and not a very interesting one at that. The casting is too generic and it just seems lazy because you put so much energy into the lengthy and overly-detailed synopsis. The object is to give a gist. I am sure there is an award winner somewhere but it needs a serious trimming.

-Miles Away-**1/2-Micky had the plot, this had the better format. You two should have teamed up because each bait is lacking what the other one has. I enjoyed Micky better though but I feel that these two similarly written baits will steal each others thunder come awards time.

-Miss. Saigon-***-Its lengthy but interesting enough to get through. It is focused and I like how it is executed but the cast and crew I would have overhauled.


PLEASE REVIEW/MY BAIT/FYC:
-NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


-The People Vs. Robert Wheeler-***1/2-The actors are excellently cast and I won't be surprised if a nomination if not win comes out. However, the ending gets a little lackluster and would have liked it to end differently. Its a good bait and so far one fo the best. Good job.

-The Poisonwood Bride-***1/2-I love everything about this except the cast. THe only person I liked was Collette but I was able to think of some better choices for her. The cast hindered the **** rating from me but otherwise I really enjoyed it. Very good work plot wise, not your best for casting though.

-Pride of Baghdad-****-Risky, simple, sweet, loved it.

-Prometheus-1/2 a *-This had me laughing the whole LONG time it took me to read this. Martin Sheen as Zeus? The directing choice is terrible as well as the length and writing of the bait. I can go for some Roman Mythology bait anyday but this was just B-A-D. I don't want to discourage you because there might be something there but be careful next time.

OK! Nothing this month so far has been particularly great but not much has been too bad either. Everything is entertaining for the most part. Its like the movies out now. Nothing has been amazing really but its all been etertaining. A weak month in terms of greatness but a pretty strong one in my opinion of reading all of them and being entertained. And PLEASE! ONLY USE LENGTH IF THE STORY IS INTRESTING! WE CAN LEAVE SOME THINGS TO THE IMAGINATION! IT IS A GIST!

Yep, there is no bait from me this month (This is the first time I haven't sent one, ever). I just needed the month off. However, that doesn't mean I'm not going to support the baits up this month. I should have reviews up as soon as I finish reading them, which should be today I hope.

Let's Have Some Fun This Summer

Hey guys, i feel bad about the way my bait looks. there must have been some miscommunication or something with when i sent in my bait, and it doesnt look the same as it did on my computer. i just wanna apologize on how cofusing it is.

Where is everyone's reviews? Thsi board is DEAD!

FYC: NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE

Coming soon:
PIRATE BONES
UNTITLED JENNIFER CONNOLLEY WATER SCI-FI
EVEN THE DEVIL WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU
UNTITLED CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH PROJECT
ON THE TEQUILA
HOW I COULD JUST KILL A MAN or MR. & MRS. or CRY BABY CRY or MARRIAGE

My reviews will be up either tonight or tomorrow. I'm only about half way done right now.

Well someone had to get their reviews up at some point. Here they are:

Acoustic- The writing was alright, but the uninspired director pick, cast and preachy topic don’t help it much at all. It just had more potential to be something different. C

AU H20- The topic is a bit irrelevant in terms of current politics and it seems like you were just trying to do a Charlie Wilson’s War kind of bait. The cast is alright, but the director is not suited for this kind of storytelling. C

Break Before Bend- Very unnerving, which is a good thing. The writing is superb and the story does a good job introducing characters and events. A few actors are underused in my opinion (Tabu) and the story kind of winds down a little too quickly at the end, but the cast is well picked, the director and writer are inspired choices and the press section rocks. D.W., you are just a force to be reckoned with. B+

Challenge- I could see Howard being involved in this, but this still probably wouldn’t be a great movie. It’s just a bit too safe of a story to be considered Oscar worthy. The cast is hit or miss, especially Zegers since I think he may be too old to play high school. C

Dear Mickey, Love Melinda- Long enough? It wouldn’t be so bad that it was so long if the writing wasn’t so overly redundant and exposition heavy. The cast is ok and the director could do some good stuff with the film, but it is just annoying to reading sentence after sentence of details we already read. C+

Death of a Salesman- What the heck happened to your synopsis? I know we’re encouraged to be creative with our work, but this is just too hard to read. The title is definitely misleading, since there already is a classic play by that name. I would say this is a so-so bait. C

The House on Mango Street- Hmm…the story seems to kind of end when we reach the final paragraph. There’s no lasting impact to grasp on. It’s a unique concept and lots of unknown actors help, but it just lacks true depth. C-

The Juke- I like the overall idea you were getting at and it kind of started ok, but then the overlength came. I actually thought the casting of Gosling here was pretty good and his character was enjoyable for a while, but it just really drags on until the end. I understand that you are trying to do something different with Jenkins as the director, but it still feels a little out of sync with her style of filmmaking. What was the point of having Alan Arkin in this? Anyways, it’s good but plagued by little gripes. B-

Miles Away- Trite antiwar mush. The letter format doesn’t really do anything to tell a story and the overly preachy message is annoying. A shame, because the crew and cast led to so much potential. C-

Miss Saigon- Overlong, bizarre director/cast picks but very well written. I liked it more than I disliked it, but those faults are still very prevalent. B-

Nothing of Importance Happened Here- This would more likely be a fun box office film than an Oscar winner, but it is entertaining nonetheless. A few needless characters and plot points aside, it is a fun idea and I like Tom Hanks in the lead. B-

The People vs. Robert Wheeler- Jeff Goldblum as a charismatic attorney? Yeah, not likely. Other than that and some so-so writing, it’s a good bait. I think it needed a little more polish in terms of casting and proofreading before you sent it though. B-

The Poisonwood Bible- Surprisingly enjoyable despite the somewhat anti-religion theme. It’s well written, has a great director behind it and moves at a good pace. My only complaints lie in some iffy casting and some redundant writing. Overall, one of the better baits of the month. B+

The Pride of Baghdad- The synopsis was a little weak initially, but your press section gave the story its legs. It’s actually quite touching and I could see Miyazaki doing this as a transition to a more American-friendly anime. I’d definitely see it. It’s not really an Oscar film, but it is good. B+

Prometheus- As a fan of mythology, I should like this. But as a fan of film, this is just terrible. Long, horribly cast and a horrible director choice are just some of its problems. Only redeemed a little because I actually know what’s going on. D+

Public Enemy- I like how it’s written in kind of a stream of consciousness form and Spielberg could make a good movie out of this. The cast is a little bloated for a film like this (though Spielberg could probably afford them all) and it kind of walks on familiar territory. This is definitely a step up for your writing though. It’s entertaining, well written and, as I believe Brian said, hip. B+

Realize- Ugg…Sean Penn. Erasing that thought from my head, this is kind of average…no, very average. It’s just not fun to read thanks to the long synopsis and too short press section. Along with that, it’s boring, unoriginal and overly indulgent. The cast is decent though. D+

Release the Star- I could see this being one of those trippy Baz Lurhman films, so it gets points for unique director pick. The story is unique and the cast is entertaining, but like most Luhrman films it seems to lack cohesion. It kind of wanders about now and then as if lost as to how the stories connect. Other than that, this was a nice surprise. B+

Relentless- Wow, that was fun. Seriously, Tony wrote this? Ok seriously, this is a great bait. It’s oozing with style, creativity and quality. I’ve never heard of Bill Hicks, but now I want to. The cast is superb and the director choice is top notch. If it wasn’t for the terrible punctuation and sentence structure, this would be an even higher score. Still, one of the month’s best. A-

Spring Awakening- Hm…more musicals from Michael. At least you said this would be one of your last ones for a while because it’s really getting old. I like the cast and the overall writing is ok, but the story is ho-hum and the source musical is not my favorite. Seriously, do something else next time because it’s not bad, but it lacks novelty value. B-

The Time Machine- I’m a little torn here. I like the source and the writing is crisp and proper, but the bait is slow and really takes its time to get anywhere (kind of like a Malick film usually is like). Funny enough, I could see Malick doing this. Love the Bettany casting though. B-

The Wishbones- Whoa, big enough cast? It’s a little star power heavy but given the star power of the director, it balances itself out. Other than that, this is a very well done film. Some little details don’t connect as well in the press section, but the characters are entertaining and the combination of everything feels right. Jack Black has to be my favorite part of the story since his character is funny and well suited for him. Another nice surprise this month and just a great bait from a great author. A-

Top 10
10. Nothing of Importance Happened Here
9. The Time Machine
8. The Juke
7. Public Enemy
6. The Poisonwood Bible
5. Break Before Bend
4. Release the Star
3. The Pride of Baghdad
2. The Wishbones
1. Relentless

This actually turned out to be a pretty good month. We had some superb comedies come out (which is incredibly rare) and there were very few horrible baits (always good). Can't wait to see how the results turns out.

Let's Have Some Fun This Summer

I figure it wouldn't take long for someone to point out the sentence structure. I honestly have no idea why my bait is spaced out in some parts like it is. What happens is I write my baits out on notepad, then copy and paste it to wordpad to send to Johnny. I just looked at my notepad version and there are no spaces like that. But on the wordpad there are spaces like that, it's very odd.

By the way, I am extremely surprised and completely thankful for the reviews on Relentless, the one thing that worried me is that people who didn't know who Bill Hicks was wouldn't find the bait as interesting.

No problem dude. Those things happen. It's still a very good bait and I can still understand what you meant to say even in the broken sentences. If you need any help with sending a format that won't do that, just ask me. I have word so I can convert notepad if you'd like.

Let's Have Some Fun This Summer

Acoustic - This should be a documentary, and not a film. And to cast Anthony Renari as himself, up for Oscar contention is beyond ridiculous. As much as you try to sell that on paper, that paper plane ain't flying. I like your director choice. But to do this band biopic, it's a little too soon. You're better off writing your own story and to base that off of some of the events that happened to the band in real life. Straight biopics don't always work, but that doesn't mean you can't take aspects from it. Sometimes it's ok to be original. I understand you wanna pay tribute but this could only hurt the band, especially since this event happened not too long ago. C+

AU H20 - What were you thinking with this title? Unless this was a comedy, I'd be all for it, cos it's really a joke and hinders your bait's chances at being taken seriously. Never before has a bait been so effected by a mere bad title. Otherwise I like Sorkin as the writer, but I dislike Peter Berg as director. He's talented, but this is not his film. Also, the subject matter is important for history class but doesn't really translate well into entertaining cinema. The cast isn't that bad, but a bit uninspired seeing as you just picked and choose a stack of wrinkly faced actors to play the main politicians. C-

Challenge - This would better suit an episode of 90210 or The O.C. than a film directed by Ron Howard. And you're not gonna get far shooting for nominations with Matthew Fox and Kevin Zegers. Good writer choice though and your press section is actually very good. B-

Dear Mickey, Love Melinda - I like the title and a great tagline. Synopsis could use some editing. A very well-crafted bait from top to bottom, though. Your cast is something to be desired, unfortunately. An ambitious bait with a nice upside. B

Death of a Salesman - No tagline for one. And this contest reached a new low in bad titles with two of the worst in one month. Also you lose points for not even giving Arthur Miller an adaptation credit. You're going for what P.T. Anderson did to Oil with There Will Be Blood, but unfortunately his story is far more original and at least he gives credit where credit is due, regardless of how much you took from the play. Your press section is only hindered by your whole set-up of the bait, otherwise it's written very well. Those minor adjustments would have garnered a "B" but there's just too much reworking that needs to be done here. C

The House on Mango Street - Baity adaptation with bold casting. Your delivery leaves me hanging though. You kind of just spit out occurrences rather than lead your characters with action. It's all a bit abrupt but otherwise, it's a great choice of material. B-

The Juke - Your first few paragraphs are stellar. You offer up a great setting for just about any story. Very comforting and real. But you let it all drag on more than it should. This is a film I can easily picture in my head but one that needs work because it's more delivered as a short story than a bait. I do like the casting of Gosling, surprisingly, but not of Arkin. B-

Miles Away - Corny tagline and title, but at least ya tried. Yet another "letter bait". But your synopsis doesn't live up to your Awards Campaign and I don't understand where you were trying to engage your reader? Style is one thing but without substance, it's forgettable, in other words...deliver the goods. Casting is ok, but the story lacks intrigue. C+

Miss Saigon - You would have faired better with a more modern cast. Aging the original actors and giving us a rundown of the musical left me disappointed. This is a tricky bait the more I think about it, but you get points for going full steam ahead and committing to your vision. Well written and a decent effort. B-

Nothing of Importance Happened Here - Your casting of a comedy stands out, apart from Latifah and Whalberg who are completely miscast. Tom Hanks scores a decent role for a change. Nice to see someone trying to bait him, with a comedy no less. Your title is hit or miss really, but you incorporated it smartly into your synopsis so it's growing on me. Solid comedy though that is sure to score GG nods. B

The People vs. Robert Wheeler - Would have liked to see you cast the victim. Your director choice is uninspired but I like Pitt in his role and Pinkett Smith in hers. I like the tone and subject is better than expected. Decent court drama. B

The Poisonwood Bible - Baity subject matter with very good casting. I like this adaptation a lot because it's a summary that doesn't try to be anything it's not. The only quip I have is the character of Nathan. I understand the anti-religious commentary and what could happen with someone under such influence but I was searching for a redeeming quality in your synopsis of your character and there really wasn't any. It's like I'm hoping he gets speared by a native or a lion eats him, as the family make it back home. Heh! I'm not sure how it all ends in the novel or what happens with the character and that is what I think was missing. Not an ending but a lean towards possible actions other than being a stubborn religious fool. I think your directing choice is safe, but your writer choice is terrific. Definite frontrunner for adapted screenplay and best pic nomination. B+

Pride of Baghdad - Very surprised and impressed with the direction you took with this bait and your execution. You didn't pander once and you stuck to your guns and created an animated bait I can see being nominated for Best Picture. Ballsy, baity, brilliant. Another tricky bait that has only one flaw and that it's animated, but I hope others realize that it needs to be animated to work right. A-

Prometheus - First off, Terence Malick wouldn't go down the straight and arrow path of a mythological story. He would adapt it and make it his own and probably make it modern. So right off the bat, your execution is off. Your cast seems uneven. There seemed to be a lack of effort in your awards campaign as well. To speak frankly, I was bored reading the synopsis which is unfortunate cos it IS an interesting story. Points though for knowing to keep Malick on as the sole writer as well, at least. C

Public Enemy - You loaded up this classic story with some actors that are sure to bring audiences into the theaters. For once, that's the a good thing and the right direction to take. Remember "Newton Boys"...of course not. I think you could have gotten a little more creative with the casting of Ma Barker but Bates works just fine. Your language is engaging and a fine written bait. The length is not a deterrent either. Great job, top contender and it's nice to see you out of your "comfort zone". A-

Realize - I just have to mention that saying Penn's "Into the Wild" was a somewhat failure, is ridiculous. I know you meant in terms of Oscar nods (i hope), but otherwise, it's a fine film that was a success compared to say The Crossing Guard. And Penn's not gonna garner any nominations following Into the Wild with this story about people and nothing else. No real theme, no real character development. Just happenings full of meandering characters that are just there. The writing is sub-par, ex. "On his way down the steps he grabs the 25 pound weight he has been using to work out his arms." --- Really? Does the reader need to know that he uses it to work out his arms? Editing can work wonders but this bait needs much more than just that. It needs a relatable story with people to care about and I didn't find myself relating or caring at all to anybody. Grab a central theme and run with it. Be more concise and indulge your readers in something that will surprise and entertain, otherwise, who's gonna care? D+

Release the Stars - Where you story lacks interest, it remains original and the way you sell the look of the film is sure to entice an audience and get people noticing. Decent casting apart from a few where you could have gotten bigger names instead of B-listers and you would have probably faired better. Overall, a solid bait. B-

Relentless - Interesting approach to a definite biopic of a very interesting man. I can see it being controversial and received better than expected by the academy. After all, they loved "Lenny". Honest cast and crew choices overall and one of the better baits this month. B+

Spring Awakening - A fair to decent adaptation but one that is far more baity and has more of a potential to be nominated than previous musical bait attempts. Unfortunately you don't really push Gary Oldman who is loved by everyone, rightfully so and who people love to honor. B-

The Time Machine - Two Malick films this month? He's working overtime. Anyways, I doubt Malick would go for this material. He'd be more inclined to choose 1984 as a project. This is more of a Spielberg picture than Malick. I like your approach, though, I think you were on the right track in how you adapted the story. Your casting is way off. I like Sewell, I like Bettany but they're not gonna carry a film of this magnitude. B-

The Wishbones - Your casting is impeccable. I haven't read the book but this bait has ensured it's place on my summer reading list. And I think that is exactly what you want out of a film adaptation. I think the Zwigoff/Perrota pairing is as close to perfect as one would hope to get when producing this film. Your synopsis structure is well executed; by introducing the characters you enlist all the aspects the story and makes the reader's imagination grow as to how they would picture it happening. If the book is as easy to read as the synopsis, then I look forward to reading the whole story, but this time with faces to go with the names, making that much more enjoyable. My only quip is that I didn't do this adaptation first. Stand out roles are sure to go to Laurie, Ruffalo and Jack Black who would be hilarious in the role. One of the better comedies to come out in the contest. Very refreshing. A-

Throughout Barry Goldwater's life he had the license plate "AU H2O" also his campaign slogan in 1964 was "Au H2O" which to chemistry people means Gold Water but I think you all knew that.

That's why I picked the title not because it was fun because it was a center point of Goldwater's campaign. There I'm done talking about the title I am almost finished reading all the baits my reviews should be up here in the next couple of days.

Not to sound like an ass, but I think you hit the nail on the head on why the title is so bad, and probably a reason some or many didn't vote for him in the election. lol. It's a bit hokey and campy. "Mr. Conservative" would have been much more sufficient. Example, my math teacher gave me the the nickname "D-Squared" cos my first and last name start with a "d". Pretty lame, right? I think so. Sorry.

Well, I think we all know that AU is gold and H20 means water but no one knew that it was used in the campaign. It just seemed like a cheap joke. I think you were going for a CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR thing but it never really came across that way.

FYC: NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE

COMING SOON:
PIRATE BONES
ON THE TEQUILA
EVEN THE DEV i L WOUL d N'T REC o GNIZE YOU
HOW I COULD JUST KILL A MAN or KILL A MAN or MARRIAGE or CRY BABY CRY
UNTITLED JENNIFER CONOLLEY WATER SCI-FI
UNTITLED CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH PROJECT

BEST PICTURE-
The Poisonwood Bible
Pride of Baghdad***
Public Enemy
Relentless
The Wishbones

BEST DIRECTOR-
Baz Luhrmann- Release the Stars
Terrence Malick- The Time Machine
Fernando Meirelles- The Poisonwood Bible
Hayao Miyazaki- Pride of Baghdad***
Steven Spielberg- Public Enemy

BEST ACTOR-
Eric Bana- Public Enemy
Paul Bettany- The Time Machine
Russell Crowe- The Poisonwood Bible
Paul Giamatti- Relentless***
Tom Hanks- Nothing of Importance Happened Here

BEST ACTRESS-
Toni Collette- The Poisonwood Bible***
Jena Malone- The Juke
Kelly McDonald- Dear Mickey, Love Melinda
Lea Salogna- Miss Saigon
Meg Tilly- Nothing of Importance Happened Here

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR-
Vincent D'Onofrio- Break Before Bend
Philip Seymour Hoffman- Public Enemy***
Tommy Lee Jones- Au H20
Hugh Laurie- The Wishbones
Adrian Pasdar- Dear Mickey, Love Melinda

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS-
Kathy Bates- Public Enemy***
Heather Graham- Death of a Salesman
Julianne Moore- Death of a Salesman
Mary Louise Parker- The Wishbones
Marisa Tomei- The Wishbones

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY-
Break Before Bend- Kevin Jerre
The Juke- Robert Dillon
Nothing of Importance Happened Here- Ivan Reitman
Public Enemy- Eric Roth***
Relentless- Jim Taylor

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY-
Au H2O- Aaron Sorkin
The Poisonwood Bible- Eric Roth
Pride of Baghdad- Hayao Miyazaki and Brian K. Vaughan
The Time Machine- Terrence Malick
The Wishbones- Tom Perrotta***

TOP 15

15. The People vs. Robert Wheeler
14. Release the Stars
13. Death of a Salesman
12. Miss Siagon
11. Dear Mickey, Love Melinda
10. Break Before Bend
09. Au H20
08. Nothing of Importance Happened Here
07. The Time Machinr
06. The Juke
05. The Poisonwood Bible
04. Public Enemy
03. The Wishbones
02. Relentless
01. Pride of Baghdad



Coming Soon-
The House on Mango Street
Winner of the Igloo Festival Award for
Future Best Actress- Ivana Baquero

Acoustic - It's a little jumpy and a pretty unoriginal directing choice, but it is well casted. The story doesn't really jump out like it should and the casting of Raneri as himself doesn't seem like a wise descision. C+

AU H2O - Could have been a pretty good Charlie Wilsnon's War-esque bait, but neverreally goes the extra mile that it needs too. The title is pretty strange and without hearing about it, could sound like a sci-fi flick. Harris is well casted, but I don't see Cooper as Ragen. C+

Break Before Bend - Another politically charged war/horribly sad movie that creates shows many problems but never comes up with ways to solve them. Reminds me of the unfortunate RENDITION (this bait even includes Gyllenhaal) but is pretty emotional for a relativley short synopsis. C+

Challenge - Is unfortunatley in between a inspirational movie and a scandal movie. I don't think that this would compete for any major awards, but I really like the casting of Fox and the press section isn't bad either. B-

Dear Micky, Love Melinda - Probably could have been a good shorty story or novella, but as a movie I don't think it has the edge to become a true competitor. I don't know how the movie would start and the WWII subplot come in too late. You read the entire bait just to see if they ever doo meet again, and instead of ending it with great love, it ends with probably false hope. B-

AU H20 would have been better as a tagline.

I am such a slow reader. I have only read 4 baits so far. I liked all 4 of them. Believe me, I fell embarassed when I say this. Anyways, I will take some time putting my reviews up. I am respectful towards everyone's vision and concept of life. I don't want to read something fast and give a general review were I point out that it was boring. I am a very distracted person, so I need to pay enough attention while reading every bait. I have to at least understand other's strong work. I expect to submit my Oscar ballot on time though.

Here are some more ( I've got to catch up!)

Death of a Salesman - A very misleading title and avery jumpy bait. Too much in the BTDKYD vibe, and the Wahlberg isn't very well casted. The press section gives the bait a little more energy, but can't save it from the hole its already made for itself. C

The House on Mango Street - I really don't understand the point of this bait. Is there one? Extremely sad for no real reason except to be sad for the Oscars. This is more Almodovar stuff than Cuaron material anyway. Pretty dissapointing. D

The Juke - The first really good bait I've read so far. Gosling would actually be really good in this role. The press section is good, although the bait could be a little more consice. A very good payoff at the end of a pretty long bait. B+

Miles Away - A good title and very good cast. The letters give it a very personal touch, but limits the views of what I think the bait should hold. Politically gut-wrenching and a great choice of Soderbergh save it from just being another anti-war rant film. B

Miss Saigon - Although Ang lee is at his best when he does his chick flicks, he is a very poor choice for this adaptation. Condon is good and also could have been great as director also. The bait is extremley long and there is no payoff at the end for reading it (unless you're into those kinds of endings). Good, but could have been better. B-

I'll do some more later (probably tomorrow). Thanks for reviews of The Time Machine, they're greatly appreciated!

I just wanna make something clear about my bait, Death of a Salesman. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the classic play, which i knew about when writing it. But i just took the title. Its NOT AND ADAPTATION. its an original story that simply took the name of a popular play. Sorry for all the confusion.

Alex S. and I have been working on a new project: a blog that will hopefully be different and exciting, and promises to be constantly updated... The new blog is in the works, maybe this month, the latest July. If the blog isnt up, i'll post reviews on the forum.

Best of luck this month

- Chris M

For Your Consideration this JUNE
THE WISHBONES
Best Picture (Comedy / Musical)
Best Director – Terry Zwigoff
Best Actor – Mark Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actor – Jack Black
Best Supporting Actor – Hugh Laurie
Best Supporting Actress – Mary Louise Parker
Best Supporting Actress – Marisa Tomei
Best Adapted Screenplay – Tom Perrotta

Batch 3:

Nothing of Importance Happened Here - I went in ready to bash this bait, but I was really suprised! Funny and original enough to stand out against other comedies and the casting of Tom Hanks is great. The last few casting choices are a little odd, but the the overall tone of the bait forgives that. Job well done!! A-

The People Vs. Robert Wheeler - The bait reads more like a report or a news article than a bait that should grab you and intruige you. Besides that and the bait's lackluster ending, every thing else is in ship shape. I actually liked the casting of Goldblum, and the rest isn't bad either. The press section adds a little more, but can't make this bait as great as it could be. B-

The Poisonwood Bible - The anti-religion theme should have been the central theme of the bait, but the cast and director choice is very good. The character of Nathan is just a relentless bad guy and fits in the "horrible domineering man" stereotype. It is subtley controversial, but if it had more of that it could have been a really good bait. I'll give a B- instead of a C+ for the good effort. B-

Pride of Baghdad - This is NOT the type of film that would have Best Picture consideration, and I am not an anime fan. Nevertheless, it still holds some pretty good emotion and the voices are well casted. It could have been a lot worse, but you turned it into an emotional and probably very successful late summer/early fall animated flick. Good job. B

Prometheus - This seems more like a CGI film or a novel than a live action film. It looks like you saw Malick's orignal Q storyline and made your own but with different mythological characters. The casting isn't that great, and it's always hard to have a really good big cast. Somewhat dissapointing. C

I'll put batch 4 out in a little while. Thanks for reviews of The Time Machine, they are greatly appreciated!

Just out of curiousity, why would you choose that title? You had to know there was going to be a backlash that came with it. It's like me writing a bait about a killer dentist and calling it "Jaws".

Batch 4:

Public Enemy - A very interesting approach to a been done story that is a little odd. The synopsis makes it seem like there would be an ongoing voiceover in the movie, but it is very original and I give you high marks for choosing Spielberg and Bana. The title could have been better (it makes me think of the rap group and Flavor Flav) but other than that it is very intuiging and the cast is superb. A-

Realize - A really weird thing for Penn to do right after Into the Wild, and I don't think that was a "somewhat failure". The bait is too long and doesn't work most of the time. The press scetion is too short and doesn't cover all the bases of a real film. Not a very good effort. D+

Release the Stars - I don't think Luhrmann would do another musical after MR!, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't want to go back to his old ways. Other than that, it is very very well written and the press section is good also. Roth is also a good choice. B

Relentless - A great beginning, and Giamatti is weel casted, but it gets a little too ridiculous towards the end. It is really fun no doubt, but could have had a more satisfying ending that could have wraped it up nicely. That said, it really is fun and one of the better baits this month. Really nice job. A-

Spring Awakening - There are a couple things that really bother me about this bait. First off, Mendes is just a downright bad choice for this. He has not done that many films really, let alone a big budget musical. Second, Irglova is not well casted. Her and Hansard basically said that ONCE was a one time thing and that both wanted to go back to music. And lastly, the ending is pretty mean to the reader. Reading all that just to see her die at the end? Talk about dissapointing. That's what this bait ended up being. Dissapointing. C-

JUNE SELECTION PART 1:

Acoustic
Acoustic is the rock infused musical biography of Rock band “Bayside” and follows the events after a horrific accident that kills band members and scars the survivors physically and emotionally. While the story is overall interesting, the way it was executed did not live up to the potential of this story. This was not the best follow up project for John Carney to make because it will be compared (unfairly) to his brilliant debut, Once. The cast is uneven, and as talented as Anthony Reneri is as a musician, he isn’t as capable as an actor; he can carry a tune but not a film. This film felt rushed, the characters, their development, the story, etc…Acoustic has good qualities, such as James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who would both do strong work in these parts. This is not a bad film; it’s just not the best of the month.
Grade: C+
“Thumbs Down ”

_AU H20_
A biography on “Mr. Conservative” that fails to capture the true essence of the man. As a historian, I learned a great deal about Barry Goldwater, the man many credit to establishing the conservatism that influenced Nixon, Reagan, and Bush Sr. Yet instead of focusing on his great achievement of laying the groundwork for whats to come you focused on the most obscure aspects of his career. A successful bio on Goldwater in my opinion would be done looking back on different aspects of his life, not just on his unsuccessful campaign in 1964. The writer / director combination for this project is all wrong, and the cast is off balance as well. Ed Harris was miscast as Goldwater, Chris Cooper would be the stronger candidate (no pun intended). Tommy Lee Jones is a nice addition, happy he wasn’t cast a police office for once. Overall this film would work better as a Television movie and not a film.
Grade: C –
“Thumbs Down”

Break Before Bend
A thought provoking film that raises questions about torture and far reaching governmental programs that seem all to familiar in the current state of the world. Break Before Bend is an interesting story by Kevin Jarre, directed effectively by Philip Kaufman. The film benefits from its well developed characters and a strong cast, my personal favorite being the suspected terrorist’s wife, Sanjana Raj, played by Tabu. My only complaint is the casting of Gyllenhaal so soon after he did a role about interrogation and torture, Rendition. I don’t question the talent of D’Onofrio, but I question the role of him as Vietnam veteran, how old is he, he couldn’t have been more than child during that war; it would have been more interesting if he was in Desert Storm. Overall this is a strong film that looks to be a contender at the Oscars, specifically in the supporting actress and original screenplay category.
Grade: B+
“Thumbs Up”

Challenge
Challenge is the story of a Jewish teen in 1950s in a southern town and a young mans encouragement to join a wrestling team. It’s a nice story, but a bit cliché in the sports genre. An outsider (race, ethnicity, gender, other) faces adversity - think Remember the Titans, Chariots of Fire, and White Man Can’t Jump…But unlike those classics, this film doesn’t add anything new to this genre. Its apparent Dick Wolf wrote this, its reads like an episode of Law & Order, and it makes it more Movie of the Week on TV, than something you would see in the theaters, let alone Oscars. Ron Howard is the wrong choice for this project. Kevin Zegers is a strong choice for the role, but the rest of the cast is wrong – I wouldn’t use such a big name as Meryl Streep, I could see Marcia Gay Harden in this role. I could see this winning an Emmy, not an Oscar.
Grade: C
“Thumbs Down”

_Dear Micky, Love Melinda_
The latest film from James Mangold is a harrowing World War II story about long lost lovers. Can you say definition of “Oscar Bait”. The synopsis is strong, it incorporates the usually tired “letter” with a more traditional synopsis and it worked. The film is well executed – written by Robert Rodat, features many memorable characters, including Melinda Eckhard played by Kelly MacDonald, and Hans Diederick, played by Adrian Pasdar. My one fault with this picture is the casting of Milo Ventimiglia as Micky Donald. Milo is a good actor, but this is the role that a more proven actor would be cast in, I could see Jake Gyllenhaal, or surprise surprise, Ryan Gosling. This is that little movie that could be a big surprise come nomination time; watch out for this film.
Grade: B+
“Thumbs Up”




For Your Consideration this JUNE
THE WISHBONES
Best Picture (Comedy / Musical)
Best Director – Terry Zwigoff
Best Actor – Mark Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actor – Jack Black
Best Supporting Actor – Hugh Laurie
Best Supporting Actress – Mary Louise Parker
Best Supporting Actress – Marisa Tomei
Best Adapted Screenplay – Tom Perrotta

JUNE SELECTION PART II

Death of a Salesman
If you can get past the title, there is an interesting little story to this bait. I read this before it was posted and saw what the synopsis was supposed to look like, before it got all jumbled together. It’s a nice crime drama that features strong performances from Hoffman, Moore, and Wahlberg. I like the writer and director choices, Masterson and Lumet – they would both work on this project. Paul Dano is completely wrong for his role, I would have gone in a different direction, cast an unknown. Overall, I liked the tight story and strong ensemble. It moved.
Grade: B
“Thumbs Up”

The House on Mango Street
I was familiar with this story, like so many others because it’s usually required reading in high school. I thought it was a nice adaptation with a great performance from Ivana Baquero. What I look for in an adaptation is something different, that adds a bit more to the story, makes it its own work and not just the author’s original piece. You somewhat succeed with this with the inclusion of Alfonso Cuaron who has proven to put his twist on an adaptation, think Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I see this film receiving attention in two categories as the Oscars, Best Actress – Ivana Baquero, and Best Adapted Screenplay - Sandra Cisneros and Alfonso Cuaron. Overall I thought this was a nice adapatation, but wasn’t blown away.
Grade: B-
“Thumbs Up”

The Juke
The Juke is an interesting, really dark comedy or dramedy, from Tamara Jenkins and Robert Dillon. It refreshing, a story not about spoiled twenty somethings in the OC or NYC, but real blue collar characters that struggle, that live paycheck to paycheck. Through Douglas’ s passionate writing, this point is driven home in his synopsis. Ryan Gosling, Jena Malone, and Alan Arkin are cast well in this tight nit ensemble and all are believable in their roles. Jena Malone is the stand out here, finally getting a role that demonstrates all her talents, and she deserves everyone’s attention this month. This bait may be a bit rough around the edges, but it makes up for that with its passion. This is a bait I expect to be overlooked by some, but hopefully will receive attention at the Oscars, specifically for Malone.
Grade: B
“Thumbs Up”

Miles Away
The synopsis, written as letters was used, but not as effectively as past baits. The Director / Writing choices were off for me – either one of the writers you chose could work sufficiently on their own, but as a duo, they are such different writers, I don’t think it would work. I don’t like the fact that you incorporated the Traffic and Erin Brockovich teams…that was the wrong choice. You should have chosen an original. I do like your cast – Joaquin Phoenix is a great actor and he would do well in the role you cast him in. Unfortunately this was not a bait I could get behind and support, it feels so polarizing and incomplete.
Grade: C
“Thumbs Down”


Miss Saigon
This was a musical I haven’t heard of, and the story was captivating. The cast was very strong with stand outs: Jonathan Pryce and Lea Salonga, who I believe could both receive nominations. I wish I could be more positive with your crew – but Ang Lee? He was the wrong choice for this project. I would have gone in another direction. This was a small issue, the writing was wonderful and you explain the story of the characters so well that I was always interested. My only suggestion would have been to possibly shorten this a bit. Overall I really enjoyed this bait.
Grade: B+
“Thumbs Up”


For Your Consideration this JUNE
THE WISHBONES
Best Picture (Comedy / Musical)
Best Director – Terry Zwigoff
Best Actor – Mark Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actor – Jack Black
Best Supporting Actor – Hugh Laurie
Best Supporting Actress – Mary Louise Parker
Best Supporting Actress – Marisa Tomei
Best Adapted Screenplay – Tom Perrotta

i'll try to find time to get actual reviews up, but here are my top 10 and letter grades.

10. Break Before Bend B+
9. The House On Mango Street B+
8. Public Enemy B+
7. The Poisonwood Bible B+
6. Relentless - A-
5. Nothing Of Importance Happened Here A-
4. Release The Stars A
3. The Wishbones A+
2. The Juke A+
1. Pride Of Baghdad A+ (possibly my favorite bait ever...)

"Dirty Little Secret"
everyone has a secret, what's yours?

Batch 5:

The Wishbones - By far the best bait this month. Somewhat funny, but also emotionally involving this bait thrives on the dreams and realities of regular people in a very convincing way. Your characters are well thought out and excellently placed although I did want to see more of the interactions between them. Hugh laurie definitley is the one you should be considering for an Oscar this month (and Schwartzman if you wanted). Great bait and great directing/writing choice. Very suprised. A

Well that's all of em! Thanks for reviews of The Time Machine, they're greatly appreciated.

OK, here are some more reviews scale of 0-****. since I am reviewing yours, review mine, NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE.

FYC-NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE

-Public Enemy-****-What can I say? I really loved this bait. The story has been done but your intresting way of writting it was so much fun and the cast was ace. Just really don't see Speilberg doing this though but I'll let it slide. Also I don't care much for the title. It's good but reminds me a lot of the rap group.

-Realize-ZERO STARS-Where to begin? The writing is slap-dash and FULL of errors. The plot is so cheesy and the casting is just ridiculous. The press section is as short as can be and refering us to "WHY DID I GET MARRIED?" as her best performance, that is pretty bad. The ending is somewhat illogical and how you mention Howard takes "the backseat" seems like you are saying he was bad compared to the rest! Bad, bad, bad. And would you have REALLY cast Jenkins if it wasn't for THE VISITOR?

-Release the Stars-**-It is an original idea but when you say it is a musical a red flag went up. It really doesn't seem as if it wuld work and that it should have been a straight-up Sci-fi/Drama. The casting is good and Lurhmann would do a good job but I don't think he would do another musical so soon (though I won't hold that against you). Just seems like you put a good idea into overkill.

-Relentless-***-Sorry, it is good but just not my cup of tea. The ending was ridiculous but the beginning was smart and it was fun. Nice to see something different from you. Press section was good and liked how you mentioned MR. BROOKS to help explain it a bit better. However, I just don't get the real feel-good vibe from this. Good effort though, just never really connected with it and I reread it like three, four times.

-Spring Awakening-**1/2-Sam Mendes? No. But Michael, really? Another musical? I know it's your thing but this one is REALLY lackluster. The casting seems to be all over the place for me and the plot it a little boring. I am not really familiar with this because even though I like musicals, I really don't keep on top of them. Its ok but definitley NOT your best.

-The Time Machine-**1/2-Its good and seems better then the last adaptation of this that was in theaters. However, it was pretty slow and Malick doesn't seem right. The casting is good though I would have liked to see a little more. It's a good bait but I am not sure if it is right for this competition. I wouldn't mind seeing Betanny though get a nom. Nicely written as well, just a little slow.

-The Wishbones-****-BEST OF THE MONTH! 1000 TIMES BETTER THAN THE VERSION I READ! I feel like what I said wasn't right was fixed this time around to make a killer bait. There isn't much to say but kudos!

This month was a good one guys. not particularly strong but nothing was that bad either. Good job.

COMING SOON:
PIRATE BONES
ON THE TEQUILA
EVEN THE DEV i L WOUL d N'T REC o GNIZE YOU
HOW I COULD JUST KILL A MAN or KILL A MAN or CRY BABY CRY or MARRIAGE
UNTITLED JENNIFER CONNOLLEY WATER SCI-FI
UNTITLED CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH PROJECT

Nothing of Importance Happened Here
Nothing of Importance tells the story of a couple who are desperate to sell their home and come up with a clever scheme, creating false documents to make it a “historic” site. This was one of the funnier comedies of the month and I would go see this at the theatres if it was a real film. Tom Hanks was well cast, and the inclusion of Reitman as writer / director is great, he needs to make more films. The story is believable especially in these troubled times and is relevant, with the housing market being as bad as it is. This is your greatest bait yet and I wouldn’t be surprised if you received nominations in Best Actor – Tom Hanks, Supporting Actress – Alfre Woodard and Original Screenplay – Reitman. Well done, keep more of these baits coming.
Grade: B+
“Thumbs Up”

The People vs Robert Wheeler
Robert Wheeler is a nicely written courtroom drama with a great lead vehicle for one of the worlds more recognizable stars, Brad Pitt. Pitt plays Robert Wheeler who may, or may not have committed a crime. He is stuck, how can he prove his innocence when everyone else thinks he’s guilty. This is a strong bait and features a solid cast. My one problem with the bait is the director choice, I wouldn’t see Jim Sheridan doing this piece, he is more of a writer / director, and more focused on themes that pertain to him and his homeland, (My Left Foot, The Boxer, In America etc.) I also like that you left the bait open, not giving away the ending, it would have lessened it if we knew what happened. Overall it’s a nice bait and a strong contender for Best Actor.
Grade: B
“Thumbs Up”

The Poisonwood Bible
Adapting a book is one of the most difficult ways to bait an Oscar, because not only is their the chance that others have read the book, but what if they feel as passionately about it as you, plus you have to present characters that readers have formed in their minds already. Rarely do adaptations come out that satisfy all these concerns, and I must say that The Poisonwood Bible has truly done that, reshaping an interesting novel and turning it into a great film. The crew is spot on, and the lead casting is perfect, Crowe and Colette would devour these roles. I had issue with some of the minor roles, Ronan in particular, but the powerful story that was well written makes up for everything else. This is what “Bait an Oscar” is about. As for the “Anti-Religious” talk, it’s a film all about faith, faith in God, Faith in the people we love, and what happens when we challenge it, does it make us stronger, etc… I don’t find it negative. If I were a betting man I would put my money on this, because when the nominations come out I wouldn’t be surprised to see it be nominated for the big 5, Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay. Well done Brian.
Grade: A-
“Thumbs Up”

Pride of Baghdad
This has to be one of the great surprises of the June contest. I hadn’t heard of this story, and was fascinated by it. Reading this bait makes me want to go out and get the graphic novel. This would be an incredible movie. I love the cast and crew, very solid choices. Hayao Miyazaki is the perfect choice to direct this film. Spirited Away is one of the great animated films, and he would do wonders with this material. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this get nominated for BP, Director, and Adapted Screenplay. This is one of the best baits you have written, and I hope there is more like this to come. Great Job Alfredo.
Grade: A-
“Thumbs Up”

Prometheus
This was an uneven bait. The story, while it could be interesting if put in the right hands was off to a terrible start with the director choice. Malick wouldn’t make this film. He is very selective of his projects and this is not something that he would do, just look at his past projects and you can see for yourself. The cast is a bit off, Viggo Mortensen has done sci – fi, Action films with Lord of the Rings, I don’t think he would be jumping back on that horse so soon. I feel like this would be impossible to film, so expensive, etc – it would be like Clash of the Titans, good actors, bad film. This would work better as a animated film, or have the people that made 300 make this, otherwise I don’t see this working. Its not terrible, but its just not the strongest this month. Good luck with your next project.
Grade: D
“Thumbs Down”







For Your Consideration this JUNE
THE WISHBONES
Best Picture (Comedy / Musical)
Best Director – Terry Zwigoff
Best Actor – Mark Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actor – Jack Black
Best Supporting Actor – Hugh Laurie
Best Supporting Actress – Mary Louise Parker
Best Supporting Actress – Marisa Tomei
Best Adapted Screenplay – Tom Perrotta

Public Enemy
This was a bait that I was well aware of for about a month because of the master of promotion and hype, James Somerton. I, like everyone else knew one thing, this was to be the bait that won James the elusive Best Director award, and I was expecting a bait just centered around the director and his achievements. Well I was wrong; here comes a fully structured, interesting drama about a crime family. It was well cast, well written, and one of James’s best baits. While the Spielberg casting as director works, I don’t think this was the greatest choice, other directors may have been stronger, Ridley Scott perhaps? But you present your case very well for why Spielberg would work, and I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. I loved the casting of Kathy Bates, she is a frontrunner for sure in the supporting actress category. You produced a memorable gangster film, and I could see you getting nominations in Picture, Director (possibly win), Supporting Actress – Bates, and Original Screenplay – Roth. You achieved a bait that wasn’t as polarizing as some of your recent baits, you were successful in making an all around crowd pleaser. Nice Job.
Grade: A-
“Thumbs Up”

Realize
This is a difficult bait, the cast, the crew all seem off. You bait has been reviewd accurately by everyone else so I’m going to say something else, and offer advice instead. I try to understand what you are attempting to get at in these baits. The story, or plot, is just blah. Why should I care about these characters? Why should I care what happens. It’s as if you write this in a sloppy stream of consciousness and don’t proofread at all. As someone in the forums has stated, when your writing the bait, do you ask yourself, Is this Oscar material, would this actor win or be nominated for this role? As a veteran most hold you to a higher standard since you have been in the contest for as long as you have, but their isn’t development. I appreciate your passion for the contest, and last month you received some praise for your casting, which should be acknowledged. I don’t want this review to sound hurtful or overly critical; I want to offer you advice that will help you become the author that we all know you have the potential to become. So in the future, feel free to send me an advance of your bait, I love to proof; I help other authors all the time, as they help me. This is a truly supportive community, so embrace that. Best of luck in your future projects.
Grade: D
“Thumbs Down”

Release the Stars
This was one of the great surprises of the month. I loved how original it was and the casting was great, particularly Gillian Anderson, a terrific actress who is underrated. The cast and crew work well with this film. I enjoyed the direction you went in with your story. I could see this doing really well with the creativity awards and could see you receiving Big 8 attention in Director – Lurhman, Supporting Actress – Anderson, and Original Screenplay. This was a bait that stood out to me this month. Nice Job.
Grade: B+
“Thumbs Up”

Relentless
A man is sick because he smokes to much, he ponders life – he then meets a man named Bill Hick, only problem, he’s been dead for over a decade. This is how the most original comedy of the year opens. I was drawn to this story after I read that. The casting of Giamatti is perfection, not only will he receive a nomination for his portrayal of the deceased comic, but he will surely win. The supporting cast is wonderful as well, especially the character played by Jonathan Tucker. I loved how you incorporated the people behind American Splendor into this project; they would do wonders with this. Jim Taylor is an excellent choice for the writer and I could see him winning the Oscar for this script. This is the bait we have all been waiting for; this is your complete return to form. Not only is this your strongest bait, but its one of the best of the year. Well Done Tony. This is the best of the month in my opinion.
Grade: A
“Thumbs Up”

Spring Awakening
This was a musical that I wasn’t familiar with before I read the bait. Its an interesting concept but I don’t know how well it would transfer from stage to screen. I think it would be more Phantom of the Opera, than Chicago. Not bad, but not incredible. The casting is strong, and you have a nice lead actress and supporting actor in Marketa Irgolva, and John Gallagher Jr. Sam Mendes seems like a safe choice for this project, he would do a good job no doubt. The bait is a bit long, but its well written. Its been said that you need to get out of your comfort zone of Musicals and expand. Look at Tony this month; he went from his darker material to a inventive comedy. I suggest you do the same.
Grade: B-
“Thumbs Up”

The Time Machine
Another remake of the Time Machine- no not again… This is what I was thinking when I saw the lineup. After the mess that came out a few years ago I went into this with low expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to see what a nice, solid bait this was. The writer / director are off in my opinion, as I said earlier; Malick is such a selective person he probably wouldn’t tackle something that has been remade a few times already. The casting of Bettany makes up for it. He is a good choice; I think he would do well in this role. The bait is a nice straightforward adaptation that reads well. I wouldn’t be surprised if you got a nomination for Adapted Screenplay and Actor for Bettany.
Grade: B-
“Thumbs Up”


For Your Consideration this JUNE
THE WISHBONES
Best Picture (Comedy / Musical)
Best Director – Terry Zwigoff
Best Actor – Mark Ruffalo
Best Supporting Actor – Jack Black
Best Supporting Actor – Hugh Laurie
Best Supporting Actress – Mary Louise Parker
Best Supporting Actress – Marisa Tomei
Best Adapted Screenplay – Tom Perrotta

Acoustic: First off, the uninspired John Carney directing choice doesn't sell me. Does Carney work? Yes, but that would be like writing a gangster bait and having Marty Scorsese direct rather than a more original choice, like Christopher Nolan (I'm not suggesting you should have used Nolan for this bait...). I highly disagree with a band member playing himself. If you ever saw that awful Lifetime movie (...don't ask why I saw it) called "Life is Not a Fairy Tale", it is evident that a real person cannot play their counterpart in film like this. It works in "Being John Malkovich", but these are two completely different films. Overall, this actually is a nice idea but I thought it was poorly executed and it was a bit stale. But, yes, it is a nice idea. C+

AU H20: I think DW said that this title would have worked better as a tagline and I have to agree. I really liked the Ed Harris casting, he would work well here, I think. As far as the synopsis goes, you have flashes of greatness but the whole thing is too long and if you are going to do a chapter format (which I highly endorse if done correctly) then you should have shortened the content in the chapters. Even though he's playing the role on Broadway right now and it would be a minor part in the film, I think you should have run Laurence Fishburne in Supporting and described him in your awards campaign as a Judi Dench type role in "Shakespeare in Love"; a role that has limited screen time but the actor tears through the role excellently. I think this could have been a really great "Nixon"ish project but at the end of the day, it just doesn't do it for me. C+

Break Before Bend: Excellent job in your casting, especially Vincent D'Onofrio. He is for sure a major contender in Supporting Actor. This is one of those amazingly cast ensembles that gives you shivers while you read the bait and discover their characters and see how unbelievably well you cast these parts. Amazing effort there. As for the synopsis, it's just as brilliant. The only complaint that I have is that I wish you had talked about Tabu more in your awards campaign. Besides that, this is one of the best baits of the year. A

Challenge: This seemed more like a Disney Channel or Lifetime Original Movie to me rather than an Oscar winning film. I think this would fall into the category of films along with "We Are Marshall" that have inspiring stories but don't exactly translate to necessarily being a good film. I did love the casting of Meryl Streep though. C+

Dear Mickey, Love Melinda: I liked this more than I thought I would but I wasn't floored. The letter format was annoying to me, and that definitely got me off to a bad start. I did like the direction you took the story in for the most part. I didn't like bits and pieces of your writing style in the synopsis. You spelled "Schindler's List" incorrectly in your awards campaign which is a major issue to me and detracts from the professionalism of your bait. But a noble effort that definitely does deserve some praise. B-

Death of a Salesman: I didn't want to say anything, but you really should not have titled your bait this...despite if you thought it fit the bait perfectly. If I wrote a bad horror film about a cursed chemistry lab revolving around one crucible in the lab and that crucible somehow determines the fate of everyone in the world and if it isn't destroyed then mankind will suffer and the plants will turn against us...I still wouldn't name it "The Crucible". The lack of a tagline doesn't help. The format of the synopsis is interesting and you may have been criticized for it, but I do admire and like it. I really like your casting choice of Philip Seymour Hoffman. This is so generic to say...but, really, the whole thing just didn't do it for me and a lot of my problems with the bait fall in the category of professionalism (your title, no tagline), besides PSH, poor casting choices, and a not totally original idea. Good try. C

The House on Mango Street: I don't have too much to say for this one; it is what it is. I did really like it but something, and I can't quite put my finger on it and I'll tell you once I figure it out, kept me from loving it. Definitely good ideas and a nice vehicle for Baquero. B+

The Juke: Definitely a good try, but it relied too much on devices that I don't agree with, such as the whole coincidental incident with Brianna. I just have difficulty buying into it. I did think Alan Arkin was expertly cast, if not a bit uninspired though, and I give you props for that one. Overall, and Brian said this too, you succeeded in doing what you wanted to do...but what you wanted to do wasn't that amazing to begin with. B-

Miles Away: The letter format works but I think there was probably a better way to approach your story. The casting didn't totally do it for me, the whole thing seemed a bit generic. I didn't completely dislike it, but I also didn't feel anything for your characters and I didn't care about the story. C-

Miss Saigon: You shouldn't have written out the entire story, despite how well written it was! You could have given 3/4 of a paragraph beginning to introduce the story and then leave the last 1/4 to wrap it up sans plot details. Ang Lee is an interesting directing choice but I didn't love it. This is pretty middle of the road as far as casting goes. C+

Nothing of Importance Happened Here: I'm not crazy about your title. This has a nice idea, and I think that you should have ended it after Alfre Woodard's plot line. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would though. A great idea but could have been executed much better. If done correctly, this could have been that "acclaimed comedy" in the running for Best Picture. If done badly, it would end up in the trash can. This runs about in the middle, which is kind of disappointing. Your awards campaign is infuriating to me, though. I can't stand it when people use "critics' quotations" in an awards campaign. But at least you did put in some actual analysis in it. B-

The People vs. Robert Wheeler: I really like your casting choices here. Brad Pitt could really excel here, as could Jeff Goldblum (a casting choice that I am absolutely in love with). Overall, I really admire this. B+

The Poisonwood Bible: This is an excellent bait. There are, however, several large issues that I think should be addressed. One, at the end of you synopsis, the questions at the end seem a bit sophomoric and unnecessary to me. Second, making a statement like calling your film "the most tragic film" that the reviewer has ever seen seems a bit vain to me. Making a statement (which you do), like "one of the best films I have seen this decade" seems MUCH more appropriate and less overblown. Third, I think you should have run Saoirse Ronan in Supporting Actress. She coulda been a contender! I really want to give this a solid A but, for me, those three issues barely keep it from being the best bait of the month. Amazing job though and this is definitely one of your best achievements. Toni Collette and Russell Crowe should easily grab nominations and both deserve to win. A-

Pride of Baghdad: This is also an excellent bait. It's relatively simple but also extremely deep. I can easily see this winning Bait of the Month and I think it will succeed in becoming the first animated bait nominated (it would be the first, right?). A-

Prometheus: Epic? Yes. Good? Eh...? The casting isn't that great and the whole thing seems a bit overblown and ridiculous, honestly. It has some good ideas, but the bad outweighs the good here. C-

Public Enemy: Expertly written. I actually really enjoy the Steven Spielberg director choice here. Great cast too. Just a great effort and this is your best bait in a long, LONG time. A-

Realize: I don't have too much to say about this except that I really really do not like it and the whole thing is way too melodramatic. Didn't agree with the casting, the director, etc. etc. etc. I didn't like a lot of the stuff that you claimed in your awards campaign. I have to agree with DW here and just reiterate how dreadfully stupid it was of you to call "Into the Wild" a failure. It's a mess, really, and I thought it was awful. D-

Release the Stars: This screams Baz Luhrmann, so excellent directing choice. It has some great ideas, great cast members, and great crew choices...enough to merit a solid B

Relentless: I did like this, but I'm not in love with it like a lot of people are. I do really applaud you for writing something outside of your regular territory though. Paul Giamatti is an excellent casting choice. It's written very well and this deserves its acclaim, but I'm not completely on the bandwagon. But I do really really like it. B+

Spring Awakening: I think you should stop doing musicals. Not to offend you, but all of your musicals have been sub par for me and this is no different. Some of your best baits were not musicals so I don't know why you continue to write them. When you announced you were doing this, I groaned because you are pigeonholing yourself into a corner and, as a result, any musical you write seems stale and formulaic now. Please stop doing musicals for a while. Sorry to be harsh. I don't agree with your writing style here at all. It's the same issue with "Miss Saigon", I think. That issue is writing out your whole story. You should introduce your characters and set up your story and leave it at that. I would have given you a much higher grade if you had done that, and it would have made it seem more originally written. Sam Mendes is highly uninspired here. I do like your casting of Marketa Irglova here, but I'm not sure how realistic it is. She has said herself that she isn't sure if she is going to continue to act and her musical (as in playing the piano and singing, not as in Broadway musical) talents are much stronger than her acting chops. I'm really sorry for being as harsh as I am, but please take a long break from writing musicals and floor us all with a great original piece. D+

The Time Machine: Better than I thought it would be. This is very well written. As a movie, I'd probably really like this but I'm not sold on its Oscar chances. Good effort and you have delivered a quality product. B

The Wishbones: Simply put, this is a lot of fun and deserves all the acclaim of this month. I loved it, plain and simple. Great casting all around and I loved Jack Black's character. I would have casted Patrick Wilson's character differently, but that's a minor issue. Amazing job. A

Top Ten of the Month:
1. Break Before Bend
2. The Wishbones
3. The Poisonwood Bible
4. Pride of Baghdad
5. Public Enemy
6. The People vs. Robert Wheeler
7. Relentless
8. The House on Mango Street
9. The Time Machine
10. Release the Stars

I forgot to add:

Sorry for being too harsh on several of these reviews. Despite sounding really angry or something about the ones I didn't like, I am extremely supportive of all the writers. If at first you don't succeed... . I wish everyone the best of luck this month.

Great reviews, Daniel. I read every one and thanks for your support. Please tell me you're baiting next month?

A very expert analysis from an expert writer. I have to agree with most everything you said Daniel. Yeah, I really hope the best for everyone too. I think this has been one of the year's best months.

Let's Have Some Fun This Summer

GOLDEN GLOBES

Best Picture Drama
Dear Micky, Love Melinda

Best Actor Drama
Russell Crowe for The Poisonwood Bible

Best Actress Drama
Toni Colette for The Poisonwood Bible

Best Picture Comedy/Musical
Relentless

Best Actor Comedy/Musical
Jonathan Pryce for Miss Saigon

Best Actress Comedy/Musical
Lea Salogna for Miss Saigon

Best Supporting Actor
Shia LaBeouf for Public Enemy

Best Supporting Actress
Julianne Moore for Death of a Salesman

Best Director
Shori Spigar Berman and Robert Pulcini for Relentless

Best Screenplay
Jim Taylor for Relentless


SCREEN ACTORS GUILD

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY THE CAST OF A MOTION PICTURE
Public Enemy

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Paul Giamatti for Relentless

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Toni Collette for The Poisonwood Bible

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Shia LaBeouf for Public Enemy

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Catherine Zeta Jones for Miss Saigon



-WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA-

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Relentless

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Pride of Baghdad



-DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA-

OUTSTANDING DIRECTORIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MOTION PICTURE
Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini for Relentless

I'm sorry, Manos but that freakin' annoys me. You post projected winners and you don't even take the small amount of time out of your day to vote for the precursors? What the hell, man? It takes like two seconds.

Agreed.

The Bait Spot

R.I.P. Vallorie "Grandma" Perkins

Nominations will be announced in a few more minutes.