Trashing "Lincoln" on NBC. Hey, Somebody Had to Do It.

Movie Reviews: Skyfall and Lincoln

The Trailer for Cary Fukunaga's "Jane Eyre" Debuts...This Calls for Spicy Tuna Tartar!

At the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, Cary Fukunaga made a triumphant debut with his first feature, "Sin Nombre," winning both the Directing Award and Excellence in Cinematography Award. Written and directed by Fukunaga, every frame was stunning, haunting filmmaking. Focus Features quickly snatched up the film and the young--and, it must be mentioned, very handsome—director, smartly signing him to a three picture deal.

His next film, "Jane Eyre" bows in theaters on March 11, 2011, and, having just watched the trailer, what I can't figure out is why it isn't being released in time for Oscar consideration.

Starring Alice in Wonderland and The Kids Are All Right’s Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, a governess whose life is fraught with romance and tragedy, the diabolically sexy Michael Fassbender ("Inglorious Basterds," "Fish Tank") as Jane's employer, Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax, Jamie Bell as St. John and Sally Hawkins as Mrs. Reed, the film is a new adaptation of Emily Bronte's classic novel that's much darker and more gothic than audiences may expect.

In a 2009 interview, Fukunaga said, "I've spent a lot of time rereading the book and trying to feel out what Charlotte Bronte was feeling when she was writing it. That sort of spookiness that plagues the entire story... there's been something like 24 adaptations, and it's very rare that you see those sorts of darker sides. They treat it like it's just a period romance, and I think it's much more than that. It's all about tension and creating that sense of horror underneath."

Sinister and seductive, I can't wait to see what Fukunaga's second offering and career goes next. He's definitely a talent to keep your eyes on.

Speaking of eyes, sorry if it's pervy, but can I just say again how easy on the eyes Mr. Fukunaga is? He shares a magical Keanu Reeves/Joseph Gordon-Levitt Eurasian quality.

In honor of his Japanese heritage (on his father's side) and his overall caliente-ness, how's about some...

Spicy Tuna Tartar on Cucumber Rounds

1/2 lb Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna, finely chopped
1/4 cup good quality mayonnaise, the full fat kind (the low fat versions are far too sweet for this recipe)
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon (or more to taste) chili garlic paste (usually found in the Asian food aisle of most major supermarkets, Red Rooster is a great brand to look for, Sriracha tends to be too sweet)
1 bunch chives (approx 5-6 tablespoons), finely snipped or chopped
2 tablespoons black sesame seed
2 Japanese cucumbers
Additional chives and sesame seeds for garnish

Finely chop tuna. This can be done either with some patience and good knife work or by pulsing the fish in a food processor. But be careful not to make tuna paste, you want the tuna to retain its texture.

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except cucumbers.

Mix well, cover and refrigerate while prepping cucumbers.

Wash cucumbers and slice into ½ inch rounds, thick enough to support a small mound of tuna.

Remove tuna from fridge.

Now, you can either go the Lazy Man’s Route (which I’m a big fan of) and put tuna in a decorative bowl surrounded by cucumber slices (think of it as Nouveau Riche Chips and Dip) and garnish, or you can go the extra mile and top each cucumber round with a small helping of spicy tuna and top with snipped chives and sesame seeds.

For the experts, tuna can be topped with cucumbers (cut in long, thin strips rather than rounds), daikon sprouts and avocado, wrapped in seaweed and sushi rice, and rolled to make maki or handrolls.

Hollywood Bites Reviews "Inception"

As Inception arrives in theaters this Friday, little is publically known about the film other than what writer-director Christopher Nolan told the LA Times in January; that the enigmatic thriller revolves around “corporate espionage by way of dream invasion.” Think of it as The Matrix meets James Bond with a side of Freud, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy (in a star-making turn) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Got it? Good. Because that’s as much of a spoiler as your gonna get.

If you’re hungry for a spoiler, you’ve come to the wrong place because elaborating on Inception’s plot will do nothing to enhance the rapturous experience of settling into a darkened movie theater to witness one of the best films of the year courtesy of perhaps the greatest director working in Hollywood today. This is a movie best viewed with a blank slate and an open mind; just sit back, relax and let it blow you away. And then dash back into the theater for a second showing.

Since Momento, there’s been no question of Nolan’s ability to create labyrinthine plots that are both mind-bending and heartbreaking. But Inception ups the ante to a blockbuster scale which surpasses the director’s dark Batman dreamscapes by leaps and bounds. Visually stunning, wonderfully acted and richly layered, it’s a film that deserves immeasurable praise (it will surely be heaped with accolades come award season) and multiple viewings. During the summer movie season, when audiences are too often told to switch their brain to auto-pilot, Nolan delivers a thoughtful, compelling, vividly woven film that may prove to be his opus.

The only thing you need to know about Inception is this: It’s brilliant!

Behind the Scenes of Inception

Before attending a screening of Inception, Christopher Nolan’s hotly anticipated new film, Warner Brothers issued explicit instructions to all attendees not to tweet, Facebook, blog or otherwise spread internet word about the film. Usually when a studio issues that kind of edict, it’s because they realize they have a turkey on their hands and they don’t want any advanced negative word of mouth, but in the case of Inception, the veil of secrecy is actually a service to filmgoers. In the Google Age, most films are ruined before you step foot in the theater thanks to reviews that overshare, trailers that leave nothing for later, and blogs focused on publishing every possible spoiler.

Whether out of respect or fear, Nolan has managed to pull off a coup. As Inception arrives in theaters, little is known about the film other than what the writer-director told the LA Times in January; the enigmatic thriller is about “corporate espionage by way of dream invasion.” Think of it as The Matrix meets James Bond with a side of Freud, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy (in a star-making turn) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

At the press day for the film, whose grandeur and complicated logistics made The Dark Knight look like a cake walk according to the auteur, Nolan bandied back questions about secrecy as a form of hype to promote his movie. “It’s difficult to balance marketing a film with wanting to keep it fresh for the audience,” Nolan replied. “My most enjoyable experiences as a moviegoer have always been going to [see a movie] that I don’t know everything about. You want to be surprised and entertained by the movie. I think too much is given away in movie marketing.”

Without revealing too much (trust me, you want to be surprised) the film was partially sparked ten years ago by Nolan’s fascination with dreams and their similarity to movies. His intrigue with the subject grew from childhood and he was drawn to the idea of trying to portray an imaginary realm onscreen. “I think for me, the primary interest, in dreams and making this film, is the notion that your mind, while you’re asleep, can create an entire world that you’re also experiencing without realizing you’re doing it. I think that says a lot about the potential of the human mind.” Nolan took the idea of dreamscapes and used that as a jumping off point to create a limitless “playground for action and adventure.”

DiCaprio, who admits he’s not a big dreamer, says he was drawn into the film for a number of reasons, but especially the chance to work with Nolan. “This was an extremely ambitious concept that Chris was trying to pull off and he accomplished it with flying colors,” DiCaprio offers. “There’s very few directors in this industry that could pitch to the studio an existential, high-action, high-drama, surreal film and have the opportunity to do it, and that’s a testament to his previous work in [films like] Momento and The Dark Knight.”

Everything about Inception solidifies Nolan’s reputation as one of the best directors working in Hollywood today and he will no doubt be doing major red carpet duty come awards season. One of the most stunning sequences in the film involves Gordon-Levitt in an extended fight sequence that calls to mind Fred Astaire’s anti-gravity dance in Royal Wedding, but about a hundred times cooler.

Asked about the logistics and training involved in shooting the scene, Nolan beams, “We had a stunt guy who looks exactly like Joe, made up perfectly -- and he stood there on set every day for three weeks and didn’t do a thing. Joe insisted on doing everything himself, apart from one shot. He just did the most incredible job with these bizarre sorts of torture devices.”

“Thanks!” Gordon-Levitt replies. “It was just about the most fun I’ve ever had on a movie set. It was also probably the most pain I’ve ever been in. But, you know, pain in a good way, like in the way I guess an athlete must [feel]. They have to put on the pads and wrap their ankles and they get a little beat up during the day but that’s just part of slamming yourself into walls and jumping around.” Referring back to the ode to Astaire, the actor smiles and says, “It’s sort of like how Sesame Street and Star Wars both use Jim Henson puppetry. It’s similar technique, but a very different effect.”

Inception opens July 16.