Ricky’s Take 5

Ricky Miller
Entertainment Editor

“Still Alice” — Julianne Moore is a college professor struggling with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Grade:       B

“Seventh Son” — Jeff Bridges is Master Gregory, a knight-for-hire who has to battle Julianne Moore’s Mother Malkin, who turns into a ferocious fire-breathing dragon.   C

“Jupiter Ascending” — Channing Tatum (“21 Jump Street”) and Mila Kunis ( “Black Swan”) headline this tale in which Earth is just one of many inhabited planets in the universe.   Not necessarily an awful movie, but one that just disappoints. C-

“Kingsman: The Secret Service” — Fun, violent and engaging tale from “Kick-Ass” director Matthew Vaughn that centers on Taron Egerton’s streetwise kid who becomes a secret agent after some run ins with the law. Colin Firth, Mark Strong and Samuel L. Jackson, who speaks with a funky little lisp, all shine in this fun little ride. A-

“Fifty Shades of Grey” — This is an overblown melodrama that is almost on par with “Showgirls” for degree of awfulness. Dakota Johnson (TV’s “Ben and Kate”) is the naïve young girl who gets pulled into the world of masochist Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) C-

Oscar predictions, part 2

Ricky Miller
Entertainment Editor

This is the second part of a two-part series.

The big guns in the best actor’s race are poised for a showdown befiting a couple of titans who are well liked in Tinseltown. In one corner there is the first actor in the modern era to tackle the role of Batman, Michael Keaton, in “Birdman.” In the opposing corner is Steve Carrell as millionaire Jon DuPont, a wealthy sports enthusiast who wants to see America back on top in wrestling in “Foxcatcher.”

Also nominated are Benedict Cumberbatch for “The Imitation Game,” Eddie Redmayne for his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” and Bradley Cooper as sniper Chris Kyle in “American Sniper.”

Early predictions were in the Carrell court. I’m sticking to my guns on this one, since he will probably take home the golden statuette.

Best Actress — This is another tight race. Carrell won in the crazy court so that almost disqualifies Rosamund Pike for “Gone Girl,” as a crazy person to the Nth degree. The Oscars always relish a disease and that’s why Julianne Moore will win as the English professor suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s in “Still Alice.”

Also nominated are Felicity Jones for “The Theory of Everything,” Marion Cotillard for “Two Days, One Night” and Reese Witherspoon in the Pacific Coast Highway trek “Wild.”

Director — Best director, without question, will be Richard Linklater for “Boyhood.” Just like the unanimous decision of Alfonso Cuaron for “Gravity,” this one seems geared for a winner in Linklater.

Also nominated this year are Wes Anderson for “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” Morten Tyldum for “The Imitation Game,” Bennett Miller for “Foxcatcher” and Alejendro González Iñárritu for “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).”

Best Picture — I hate to say it, but it looks like the year of “Boyhood,” even though “American Sniper” and “Birdman” both have received nothing but accolades. Lest America forget the other works of excellence that were nominated, other contenders are “Selma,” “Whiplash,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Theory of Everything” and “The Imitation Game.”

The Oscars ceremony will be broadcast on ABC on Feb. 22.