Circuit Round-Up, 07/31

* Last week, I previewed some rather interesting films opening on the last weekend of July.

* Joey Magidson recommended yet another acclaimed sci-fi thriller for his DVD Picks of the Week, and gives us his favorite Ryan Gosling performances.

* Mike Ward reported a surprising drop in the attendance for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 for last weekend.

* Joey also argued that – as a director – Ben Affleck’s star may shine brighter over time than Clint Eastwood’s.

* John H. Foote listed films from the Aughts that he feels are under-appreciated.

* Finally, the results of the ACCA 2001 are in, and I’m proud to say that the Awards Circuit community made some unexpected and delightfully idiosyncratic choices. Well done!

Circuit Round-Up, 05/19

* Last week, John H. Foote weighed in on The Tree of Life and submitted his Oscar predictions.

* Joey’s DVD Pick of the Week is a, well, terrible movie, but he didn’t have a strong release slate this week at all. On the plus side, we (specifically John) have a quote on the DVD box for True Grit!

* I didn’t fare much better in previewing the new theatrical releases.

* But I suppose I shouldn’t complain; I never gave an amazing performance that was snubbed by the Academy like Maria Bello.

* Okay, okay, no more grouchiness. On the more positive side, Anna Belickis discovers a great actress that she’s unknowingly been a fan of for a long time for this week’s Women in Cinema.

* Also on a very positive note, our online community did a great job distinguishing themselves with some interesting and quality nominees for ACCA 2001. Well done, guys!

* Finally, The Awards Circuit extends its congratulations to Clayton Davis for celebrating his first Father’s Day as a proud parent himself!

Circuit Round-Up, 04/10

* Last week, Joey Magidson gave positive reviews of Source Code, Insidious, Super and Cedar Rapids. Michael Ward’s review of Hop is…not so kind.

* Joey’s DVD Pick of the Week is a tribute to Jim Carrey’s work in I Love You Phillip Morris.

* Anna Belickis honors her first actress highlighted for Women in Cinema…and she’s one of the best working today.

* Anna also reminds us of how great Tobey Maguire can be for Under the Circuit.

* Anna gives a recap of the third week of Dancing with the Stars.

* I take a look at the new releases for the weekend. What did you end up seeing?

* Finally, on a more serious note, staff writer John Foote gives us an update on his wife’s condition. Please keep both of them in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time…

A Message from John Foote...

My wife are sitting in her oncologist's office at the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center in Toronto, one of the very hospitals in the world, with world reknowned doctors and surgeons. Sherri has had a rough week, which indluced being hospitalized after a bout of massive seizures, the reults of new cancer being found in her brain, and her body not absorbing the drug meant to keep her seizures under control. In 2008 I was awakened to her seizing (something she had never done before) and within two days we were told she had brain cancer, a tumour in the frontal libe that needing to come out. The surgeons went in and took half of it, any more would have done her harm, and she started a regime of radiation. which held the cancer at bay for  a time. She lost her beautiful red curls, but never her beauty nor her fighting spirit.
For two years we are good, no cancer appears on her MRI's and we figure we are good for a while, knowing that they could not get it all, knowing that was still a little less than half left in her brain.
March, 2011.