2009 Screening Log Movie Awards Nominations!

The nominations for the 1st annual Screening Log Movie Awards are in! I've selected the best of 2009 and narrowed them down to less than a dozen per category. Winners are announced Dec. 28, 2009.

A few notes on the process: These nominations reflect my selection of the best films I've seen this year. I've enjoyed many excellent movies this year, and I engaged in this process to honor my favorite ones of '09.

Over the course of this week, I will be looking more closely at each category and pick the ones I personally believe deserve to win. Please know these are solely my own, personal favorites of the year!

Let's get to it then! Kathryn Bigelow's "The Hurt Locker" took home four nominations, and "Up in the Air" received seven nominations. Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" earned six, and "The Road" took five.

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Movie Review: “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans”

Seen on: November 17, 2009

The players: Director: Werner Herzog, Writer: William M. Finkelstein, Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Xzibit

Facts of interest: Won the Christopher D. Smithers Award in Venice.

The plot: The film follows a corrupt New Orleans cop who's addicted to drugs and tries to solve a brutal murder.

Our thoughts: Nicolas Cage is really bad in Werner Herzog’s “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans,” and I’m so glad and relieved he is. It’s great to see him back in total control of an intriguing role after a whole bunch of recent failures, and he’s undoubtedly the main reason this film worked for me so well. In other words, Cage totally delivers the goods.

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This week's new movie releases - Nov. 20, 2009

Opening this week are "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" with Kristen Stewart; "The Blind Side" with Sandra Bullock; "Planet 51"; and Werner Herzog's "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans with Nicolas Cage.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON (with Kristen Stewart)

Synopsis: Bella Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves, ancestral enemies of the vampires, and finds her loyalties tested.

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New 'Bad Lieutenant' looks pretty good to me!

A brand-new trailer for Werner Herzog's upcoming remake "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" has debuted online, and I'm sold on it at this stage! Check it out after the jump and see for yourself.

"Bad" is a remake of Abel Ferrara’s 1992 "Bad Lieutenant" with Harvey Keitel. Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs while playing fast and loose with the law.

He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive and fearless detective.

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Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes hit Venice Red Carpet for 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans'

Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes and director Werner Herzog presented Herzog's new film "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" at the Venice Film Festival earlier this week, and after the jump (and above), you can see some photos from the event.

Below you will also find a new still from the remake. In the film, Cage will play a cop who investigates the murder of a group of illegal immigrants. In the original by Abel Ferrara, Harvey Keitel played a corrupt New York City cop investigating a young nun’s rape.

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New posters for 'Fantastic Mr. Fox;' 'Where the Wild Things Are;' 'Sorority Row' & 'Bad Lieutenant'

It's poster time as we launch into this weekend, and I've got four new one-sheets for you today. The first one you will find after the jump is for Wes Anderson's stop-motion adventure "Fantastic Mr. Fox," with George Clooney as lead voice actor. Release is set for Nov. 25, 2009.

Next up is a new, beautiful poster for Spike Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are," based on Maurice Sendak's classic tale. The film follows Max, a disobedient little boy who's sent to bed without his supper and creates his own world -- a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their ruler. Release: Oct. 16.

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'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans' photos

Werner Herzog shot a film titled "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," and it's playing at this year's Venice Film Festival. Other than that, we haven't heard much about it recently. Until now, maybe? From Ecranlarge (via Joblo) come a bunch of stills from the film, and you can check out some above and below.

"Port of Call New Orleans" is a remake of Abel Ferrara’s 1992 film "Bad Lieutenant" with Harvey Keitel. The new version stars Nicholas Cage as a cop who investigates the murder of a group of illegal immigrants. Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer and Jennifer Coolidge co-star.

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