You Don't Need Explosions to Sell a Movie
Hopefully studios will pick up on the success of The Devil Wears Prada and finally realize films aimed at adult audiences - and women in particular - can succeed at the box office. Meryl Streep's amazing performance as the boss from hell propelled the big screen version of Lauren Weisberger's novel into grossing more than $300 million worldwide. The Devil Wears Prada helped prove that audiences will turn out for quality (the key word) films without CGI, violence, or sex.
Bond Returns with a Bang
He was blonde, not the most popular actor in the world (a lot of American moviegoers didn't even recognize his name), and some doubted he could pull off the 'suave and sexy' stylings of super-spy James Bond, but casting Daniel Craig in the coveted role of Bond, James Bond, turned out to be exactly what the franchise needed. Craig earned rave reviews for his leading role in Casino Royale and the film itself won over a bunch of new fans, as well as satisfied longtime Bond followers.
High Five! Borat Brings in the Bucks
Love it or hate it, it was tough to ignore Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat. Kazakhstan alternately embraced and rejected Cohen's mockumentary film about a Jewish-hating, homophobe Kazakhstani reporter's roadtrip across America. Cohen didn't approach the subjects of racism and bigotry with velvet gloves. Instead the comedian used a mallet to slam his point home. Kudos to 20th Century Fox for allowing Cohen the freedom to bring Borat to the big screen without making him tone it down.
A Star is Born
American Idol is a thing of the past for Jennifer Hudson. She may not have won that popularity contest, but she absolutely stole the show in Dreamgirls. Hudson's performance has earned standing ovations in theaters, a feat not many have accomplished in the history of films.
