Monte Pictures Newsletter

8/9/2019 Monte Pictures Newsletter

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MONTE

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MONTEPICTURES


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GLOBAL MUSIC DATABASE

Help build the worlds largest interactive music database


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CONTENTS

Announcement 4

Six Biggest Movies . 6

Festival de CANNES . 12

In Theater Now . 19

Movie Reviews ... 21

Post Card from Israel 26

Entertainer of the Month 27


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History

Monte Pictures was originally

founded by Javier Serrano in 2007.Monte Pictures is the subject to

the founders passion: to establish

a film company. Monte Pictures

runs independently through

monthly newsletters composed by

the founder and his editor-in-chief

Julia Wieczorek.

Copyrights 2009 Monte Pictures. We

acknowledge all photographs

images, and icons are subject to

their original owners. Monte

Pictures was created to express,

entertain and educate members of

Monte Pictures the variety of

film selections available. We do

not sell our newsletters nor accept

donations of any kind; we are

neither a corporation nor non-

profit organization.

Little

Bonobo's

Book Cafe

www.littlebonobosbookcafe.blogspot.com

This newsletter

is dedicated to

Julia, and you,

the reader.

It gives me great pleasure and a great sense of

privileged to expose the works of an aspiring

young writer Jessica Green. Jessica, a native of

California, currently resides in United

Kingdom as a freelance editor and an aspiring

writer. Recently, she obtained her Master of

Arts in Creative Writing at University of

Sussex, England and completed her

undergraduate degree from University of

California, Santa Barbara where she majored

in English. Her blog Little Bonobos Book Caf

highlights many of her accomplishments as an

aspiring writer. Through her blog, she posts

reading, writing, and other literature-related

works that indulges any reader of all ages the

understanding of critical thinking, grammar/

writing sources, group discussion interaction,

etc. Monte Pictures encourages its members

and avid readers to participate through

Jessicas blog, as you have done for us. We

wish the absolute best for Jessica as she

embarks on her unforgettable journey.

To contact Jessica Green, please email your

inquires to bonoboedit [at] gmail [dot] com

ANNOUNCEMENT


5/28

Every Movie Starts Here


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Six BiggestMovies of the Summer


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TheTwilight

Saga:

Eclipse

The

A-Team

Dir. David Slade

Starring: KristenStewart, RobertPattison, Taylor

Launter

Dir. JoeCarnahan

Starring: LiamNeeson, BradleyCooper, Patrick

Wilson

lipse is the third film in the Twilight series, based on thestselling novels by Stephanie Meyer. The series tells the story oflla Swan, a teenager who moves to the town of Forks and falls in

ve with a vampire named Edward Cullen. In continuation toNew

oon, Edward and Bella discuss the complications of becoming anmortal vampire. Bella expresses her aversion about the idea ofarrying so young, though Edward refuses to change Bella untileyre married. All the while newborn vampires attempt to reekvoc on Forks forcing the vampires and werewolves to fightgether. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Launterprise their roles in this entertaining, adrenaline inducing, anduminating special effects feature.

ne of the most anticipated films of this year, the A-Team delivers antion-packed blockbuster film. The film follows the same basic plotthe show, of course updated for current events. The A-Team is aoup of four elite soldiers with contrasting skills and personalities.urrently serving in Iraq, opposed to Vietnam in the television series,

e A-Team carry out secret missions and tasks for the United Statesvernment. Following the original television series success, thiswly adapted feature does not disappoint.


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OCTOBER22


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ToyStory 3

Salt

Dir. Lee Unkrich

Starring: TomHanks, Tim Allen,Joan Cusack, and

Ned Beatty

Dir. PhilipNoyce

Starring:Angelina Jolie,

LiveSchreiber,Chiwetwel

Ejiofer

Toy Story 3joins the series as one of the most successful

animations of all time. Andy, now 17 years old, has outgrownhis toys and is preparing to move to college. He decides totake Woody with him and packs the other toys in a garbagebag, intending to store them in the attic, but Andys motherputs the bag on the curb believing this is just a bag of trash.This adventurous and fun-loving animation will definitelywin the audience. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise theirroles as Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

Salt is an American action thriller film starring Angelina Jolieas Evelyn Salt. Wrongly accused of being a sleeper agent, Saltis on the run to clear her name as the CIA believe she isplotting to assassinate the President of the United States.Angelina Jolies performance as Salt rivals against Lara Croftin Tomb Raider.


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IronMan 2

Inception

Dir. ChristopherNolan

Starring:Leonardo

DiCaprio, Ken

Watanabe, EllenPage, JosephGordon-Levitt

Dir. Jon Favreau

Starring: RobertDowney Jr.,

Gwyneth Paltrow,Scarlett

Johansson, DonCheadle

It seems director Christopher Nolan is becoming a muchbetter writer/director as he progresses. Have you seen TheDark knight?Of course, you have. Inception is utterly brilliant,mesmerizing, and has all the qualities of a summerblockbuster film. Leonardo DiCaprio is Dom Cobb, a manwho specializes in the subconscious by stealing his clientsideas while trying to also implant new ones. Dont besurprised ifInception receives an Oscar nomination or two.

There are some sequels that are good and there some sequelsyou tell yourself, why? Iron Man 2 falls under the category of

good sequels. Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as TonyStark. The story unfolds: Stark has revealed his identity asIron Man and declines to hand over the technology to theU.S. Government. Meanwhile, Ivan Vanko, portrayed byMickey Rourke, has duplicated the technology and built newweapons that are superior to Starks.


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CANNESFESTIVAL DE


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The 63rd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 12 to May 23,2010, in Cannes, France. The Festival de Cannes, known as the mostrecognized film festivals worldwide, was founded in 1946. This yearsjury president for the international competition, American film directorTim Burton, and other members of the jury were composed of actors,directors, screenwriters, and composers. They included Kate Beckinsale,Emmanuel Carrre, Benicio de Toro, and Alexandre Desplat.

The Palm dOr award, the most prestigious award in the festival, hasacknowledged films across the globe from South Korea to the UnitedState and France to Southeast Asia. This year the award was won byUncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, a Thai film directed byApichatpong Weerasethakul, it is the first Asian film to win the PalmdOr since 1997. French film Of Gods and Menwas the runner up as it

won the Grand Prix award.


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Apichatpong Weerasethakuls Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Liveswasthe worthy winner of the most prestigious international award: the Palm dOr(Best Film) at the Cannes Film Festival. The President of the Jury Tim Burton andthe Jury selections chose wisely on a film that deals with emotions, life experience,and past lives. Weerasethakuls visionary film has all the characteristic styles:quiet, mysterious, and magical that makes this movie-going experienceimpeccable. Perhaps its the wordless opening that allures the audience into the

nature of film, the performances and the colors that captivate brilliantly onscreen. Boonmee is a middle-aged man, in need of a kidney transplant, who hasrelocated to a remote forest to end his days as he recalls many past lives throughmystical flashbacks. Through his revealing flashbacks, we are encountered by hisdead wife and lost son. Boonmee searches for meaningful answers throughreincarnation and past experiences that leaves the audience to sympathize withBoonmee, but feel no regret towards his character. Uncle Boonmee Who CanRecall His Past Lives offers heartbreaks, and elements of life that are unpredictable

in nature.


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Certified CopyDir. Abbas Kiarostami

Starring: Juliette Binoche, WilliamShimell

Best ActressOne of Frances greatest actresses of alltime, Academy Award winner JulietteBinoche (The English Patient; Supp.

Actress) is unforgettable. The story is sein Tuscany, Italy and focuses on a Frencart gallery owner, played by Juliette, wh

together with a man she just metpretends to be her long-marriedhusband.

On TourDir. Mathieu Amalric

Starring: Mathieu Amalric

Best DirectorIn the year of the French, On Touris aFrench comedy directed, written, andstarred by Mathieu Amalric. The storyunfolds as Amalric a producer who bringsan American Neo-Burlesque (NewBurlesque) cast to France. Amalric,

internationally known for starring in 2007,The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, capturesthe Best Director award for On Tour.


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La Nostra VitaDir. Daniele Luchetti

(Italy)Starring: Raoul Bova

Best Actor

Even though La Nostra Vita lost thePalm dOr to Uncle Boonmee Who

Can Recall His Past Lives, its starRaoul Bova won a Best Actor award,sharing the prize with JavierBardem. In this unconditionalfeature film, La Nostra Vita (OurLife) is about a construction workerwith two kids, who after the suddendeath of his wife tries to provide forhis family by setting himself up as ashady building contractor.

BiutifulDir. Alejandro Gonzles Irritu

(Mexico)Starring: Javier Bardem, Blanca Portillo

Best Actor

The collaboration of director AlejandroGonzles Irritu, producers Alfonso

Guarn and Guilermo del Toro andactor Javier Bardem provides a uniqueuniversal of Mexican and Spanishcultures in a single film. In Biutiful,Javier Bardem portrays a man who isinvolved in illegal activity and isconfronted by an old childhood, who isnow a police officer. In response toJaviers mesmerizing performance, heshared a Best Actor award at CannesFilm Festival alongside with Raoul Bova.


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festival de Cannes


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19/28

Robin HoodDir. Ridley Scott

Starring: Russell Crowe, CateBlanchett

Forget about Disneys animation

version of a fox portraying RobinHood or Kevin Costner in RobinHood: Prince of Thieves. In thisnewly updated version, directorRidley Scott teams up with RussellCrowe (Gladiator) in this highlyanticipated action film. In thisversion, Robin Hood and his menreturn to their homeland to restore

order from the vicious and ruthlessSir Godfrey. Grade: B -

Sex and the City 2Dir. Michael Patrick King

Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, KimCattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

Who would have expected a Sex and theCity 2? Set two years later from the firstfilm, Carrie (Parker) and the girls meetup which turns out to be a flashback tohow Carrie first meets Samantha(Cattrall), Charlotte (Davis) and Miranda

(Nixon) in 1986 in New York City. Ifyoure a fan of the original televisionseries, then you wont be disappointedfrom the perhaps last installment ofSex

and the City series. Grade: C

Prince of Persia: The Sands of TimeDir. Mike Newell

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Sir Ben Kingsley

We've watched Jake Gyllenhaal progress as agood actor over the years. There's no doubt thaJake is capable of starring in a lead role, but for

some reason this film lacks his acting abilitiesand focuses more on physicality. When it cometo blockbuster films, acting is less required asexplosions, violence and sex are characters of itvery own. In Prince of Persia, based upon thesame title, these qualities reflect the outcome o

the film. Grade: C


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Movie Reviews


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onnie Darkorected by Richard Kelly; 2001

arring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone,

ew Barrymore

a world of unimaginative chaos, the surrealism and

taphysics in Donnie Darko captivates a genre of its veryn. We learn the beginning of the film that Donnie is

icted with a mental illness. Like many psychological

illers, the premise of the film suggests that Donnie is

dicting the end of the world, though the plot leads to

ny possibilities, including time travel, and the

rvelous use of special effects that illuminates perfectly

screen. The core in the film is the encounter between

nnie and his imaginary and demonic-looking rabbit,

ich delicately whispers to Donnie and prompts him to

mmit crimes in the neighborhood. The audiences areowed to consider Donnie as your average and ordinary

ung man, possessed with deception, troubled by

mplexities of philosophy, fear and loneliness.

e film explores the relationship between reality and

sion, as Donnie continues to be haunted by this sinister

aginary rabbit. The essential conflict in the film would

doubtedly spark a discussion about the difference

ween reality and illusion, and the complexities of fear.

nnie challenges the school on its renewed philosophyt, in its superficial presentation, fear should be

nfronted and avoided, and is suspended from the

hool. We learn that everyone in the town is actually

ribly afraid, and the ideology of fear philosophy

comes meaningless. But thats for us to decide. We

rn at the end of the film that Donnie in fact was not

lucinating, and no one in the film has thought his

ilosophy was adequate. Though the film does have a

nse of originality in its plot, and the shots of Donnies

niacal eyes are enough to frighten the viewer, thenclusion of the film was not as monumental one would

pe for.

Million Dollar BabyDirected by Clint Eastwood; 2004

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank,

Morgan Freeman

Million Dollar Baby may appear to be a movie about

boxing, however this deeply intimate story prevails

personal triumph, choices, and the courage and

discipline to fulfill ambitions. The legendary Clint

Eastwood not only stars in Million Dollar Baby, but

produces and directs with such brilliance. Frankie

(Eastwood) and Eddie (Morgan Freeman), trainers well

past their prime, have a history of collaboration filled

with melancholy and past glory. When newcomer Magg

(Hilary Swank) appears in their gym, Frankie immediate

refuses to train her because shes a girl. At first, we

assume and accuse Frankie to be sexist, but we come tolearn he is afraid to take responsibility for a woman

getting hurt. Eventually, Maggie persuades and convinc

Frankie to take her under his wing and she becomes a

dominating force in womens boxing.

The acting in the film is superbly crafted. Perhaps this i

the reason why the film garnered four Academy Award

including Best Picture, Director (Eastwood), Actress

(Swank), and Supporting Actor (Freeman). Eastwood,

Swank and Freemans performances are possibly theirbest roles to date, creating classic character drama. The

beauty ofMillion Dollar Baby is that it doesnt need to

educate the audience about boxing. Instead, the storylin

and excellent dramatization absorb the emotions of the

performances to the audience. Thanks to delicate

direction by Eastwood, a fantastic script (Paul Haggis;

who also directed Crash) and excellent acting all around

Million Dollar Baby takes its rightful place among the

greatest boxing movies ever.


23/28

The Great DebatersDirected by Denzel Washington; 2007

Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker

In recent history, there have been films that truly

inspired moviegoers across the globe. One example, is

1989, Dead Poet Society. Fortunately, in todays market,

there are independent films that still maintain its

reputation. Denzel Washington stars and direct (his

second feature) in this superbly acted, witty dialogue,

meaningful historical event, and powerful ethical

messages in The Great Debaters. While this may not be a

classic feature, it does stand strong with audiences andcritics alike. Racism and radicals are the central themes

in The Great Debaters; fortunately, were not expected to

feel pity nor sorrow for the characters, but the hope for

equality, as the film is set in 1930s Texas.

Melvin Tolson (Washington) is a professor at Wiley

College in Texas. As he attempts to unify the local

sharecroppers with his strong public speaking abilities

and radical political views, he also coaches the debate

team at the college, hand-picked by him each year. The

team consists of Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett), the

first woman ever to make the team, Henry Lowe (Nate

Parker), a rebellious and outspoken student who spends

most of his time on the isolated lake, and James Farmer

Jr. (Forest Whitaker), a 14 year-old student who worries

about the inequality he constantly witnesses. The Wiley

team sets out to become the first colored debate team to

debate against white colored schools. Going undefeated

during their first nine debates, the team is invited byHarvard to challenge their prestigious group.

The ongoing anticipation, violence and

racism that The Great Debaters examines is

its greatest development, one that almost

overshadows the students goals of

debating with Harvard elites. Witnessing

the many injustices of 1930s Texas toward

colored people fuels Henry, Samantha and

Farmer Jr. to challenge the esteemed

Harvard team, but it affects each character

differently: Farmer struggles over

misinterpreting acceptable actions of

upholding peace, Henry pretends to

accept the viewing of a burning lynched

body, but cracks under the tormenting

imagery, and Samantha battles her feelings

for Henry and his mistakes with liquor.

The names that are in the film may escape

your notice initially, but a slight

smattering of history should have your

memory jogged. The names are notable in

history, and this delightful film captured

the spirit of the times remarkably well.

While his methods for teaching them may

have been questioned, the students always

knew where they stood with Tolson, and

with each other. Smollett and Parker

exude confidence, and tacit calm, with a

hint of ire beneath their composed

outward appearances. Forest Whitaker,

who plays James Farmer, Jr., is excellent in

a breakthrough performance. His

character undergoes a lot of troubling

circumstances, but they all end up shaping

him into the person he was.


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Funny GamesDirected by Michael Haneke; 2007

Starring: Naomi Watts, Tim Roth,

Michael Pitt

Funny Games, an English-language

remake of the 1997 film of the same

name and director, is a psycho-thriller game initiated by Paul and Peter

(Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) against

vacationing upper class family. With th

overlay music cutting from a peaceful

classical song to a heavy-metal rock song

itonly explains the disturbance from the familys normal vocation. The movie begins intensively as Ann,

George and Georgie (Naomi Watts, Tim Roth and Devon Gearhart) are just settling in at their cabin

when Peter drops by to borrow several eggs. We are expected that he is under the ruse that they are

staying next door with mutual friends. Ann is at first pleased to help then quickly gets irritated as Peter

drops the first batch of eggs and knocks her cell phone into a sink of dishwater. He finally leaves with

more eggs than expected only to have Paul return to demand more eggs since the family dog made Peter

drop the second batch. Anns patience becomes rattled by the fact that they refuse to leave. Up until

that moment the scenes are normal and tranquil, then with one fell swoop of a golf club the movie

turns into an uncomfortable game that Peter and Paul play out with horrific friendliness, always

polite and courteous. The director (Michael Haneke) weaves a tale of panic, helplessness, desperation

and hope that audience will find uncomfortable.

Match PointDirected by Woody Allen; 2005

Starring: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers,

Scarlett Johansson

Woody Allen returns to his imperative

themes of relationships, infidelity, and life

choices. Fortunately, Allens direction and

mastery writing-style combined both thrilland romantic elements to indulge the

audience in a modern version of 1987s

Fatal Attraction. However, Match Point is noAnnie Hall but Allen manages to create originality, suspense,

and eroticism between the characters that creates a state of frenzy. The story revolves around tennis pro

Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) who decides to give up his ambitions to become a championship-

level player. For his day job Chris instructs at a high-end luxury club near London where is introduced to

Tom (Mathew Goode), son of a wealthy business executive (Brian Cox), Toms intelligent, yet

dumbfounded sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer), and Toms irresistible and sexy girlfriend Nola (Scarlett

Johansson). Chris persuades Chloe into marrying him, thus creating a possible financial stability and clato live a luxurious lifestyle that he so desperately wants. However, intimacies arise when his one night flin

with Nola becomes obsessive and neurotic leaving the audience in astonishment.


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Citizen KaneDirected by Orson Welles; 1941

Starring: Orson Welles, Joseph Cotton, DorothyComingore

Have you ever wondered what is the greatest

movie ever made? Majority of film critics, film

historians and moviegoers alike would agree that

Orson Welles Citizen Kane is perhaps the greatest

film ever made. Citizen Kane is presented with

Kanes obituary newsreel, which expresses to the

audience his upbringings, purchase of anewspaper, first marriage, political defeat, second

marriage, betrayal, and the infamous Xanadu. Of

course, the chronic life of a fictionalized Charles

Kane is based on the real life newspaper tycoon

William Randolph Hearst. However, what makes

Citizen Kane enthralling in terms of filmmaking?

Orson Welles uses light and shadow in Citizen

Kane to enhance the mood of the film and give

the audience a constant emotion of the characters

surrounding Kane. Recognizably, deep focus

photography illuminated a ground-breaking

filmmaking technique in Citizen Kane. Its

mastermind Gregg Toland (Director of

Photography) placed the characters in frame and

created a foreground focus. Having an exceptional

ability to combine lighting, composition, and his

camera lens, Toland managed to produce the

desired effect and showcase overlapping actions.

With deep focus photography, the audience has aclear view of the space Kane controls and the

space

3

over which he has no authority. In effect, the

whole story of Kane is being told through

flashbacks. With the use of flashbacks, Welles

offers the audience the opportunity to doubt

Kanes perspective. Additionally, flashbacks act

like untrustworthy storytellers whose own

opinions and interpretations influence Kanes

accuracy because the cast doubts Kanesrecollections. With these particular innovations,

Welles leaves the audience with a lot of questions

regarding Kanes character as a complicated man

who asks for sympathy. Lastly, shadows plague the

people in Kane's life because he is truly not happy.

After one failed marriage, he marries Susan and

eventually she is surrounded by Kane's shadow at

a high angle shot when she becomes dissatisfied

with their lonely life in a mausoleum of a house(Xanadu). The audience knows early on that

Charles Kane will never measure up to the man

he proclaims for himself. Citizen Kane has

influenced generations of filmmakers with its

many technical innovations, and Welles' use of

stark, and often mysterious, symbolism to depict

the human triumphs and tragedies of the very

great, but terribly flawed life.

Deep focus photography: the visibility of

four characters in one frame


26/28

Late MarriageDir. Dover Kosashvili; 2001

Starring: Lior Ashkenazi, Ronit Elkabetz

Languages: Georgian-Hebrew

Undeniably entertaining and warm hearted,

Late Marriage tells a powerful story of family

traditions and intergenerational conflictwithin Israels Jewish-Georgian society.

Most importantly, Late Marriage proves that

the appreciation of Israeli cinema has yet to

be known worldwide due to the lack of

theatrical release. Writer/director Dover

Kosashvili conveys attributes in Late

Marriage that illuminates impeccably on-

screen by maintaining family customs,traditions and obligations that have begun

to diminish over the decades. The film

eft: Ronit Elkabetz, Lior Ashkenazi)

unfolds as Zaza (Lior Ashkenazi), a 31-

year-old Georgian-Israeli PhD student at

Tel Aviv University, family is trying to

arrange a marriage for him within the

Georgian community. When Zaza

arrives to the home of a possible match

with his mother and father he is clearly

unenthusiastic and discovers the youngwoman is still in high school.

Surprisingly, after he drops his parents

off at their apartment building, Zaza

drives to a nearest pay phone and calls

his girlfriend Judith (Ronit Elkabetz), a

34-year-old Moroccan-Israeli divorce

who he is secretly dating without hisparents knowledge. Zaza must choose

between family tradition and his love.

Greetingsfrom

Israel


27/28

Amy Adams

Entertainer of the Month

Youll find Amy Adams film performances simply irresistible. Born in Italy andraised in the states, Amy Adams has over ten years of acting experience under herbelt in the film industry. She is notably known for her versatile acting methodsfrom comedic to dramatic performances such as 1999, Drop Dead Gorgeous; 2007,Enchanted; and 2008,Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day to 2000, Cruel Intentions 2;2002, Catch Me if You Can; 2009, Sunshine Cleaning; and her most widely knownperformance in 2009,Julie & Julia. However, Amy has scored two Oscarnominations, one for her sensitive, yet perky performance in 2005,Junebug (BestSupporting Actress); and second, her mesmerizing, yet quiet and disturbedperformance, alongside Meryl Streep, in 2008, Doubt (Best Supporting Actress).


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