HOLLYWOOD SPY'S SPOTLIGHT ON OSCAR SEASON FILMS: "FLOWERS OF WAR" WITH CHRISTIAN BALE AND "ALBERT NOBBS" WITH GLENN CLOSE

The season of Golden Globes, Oscars and other movie awards is just ahead of us, bringing us many great dramas with terrific performances, and today you can check out a spotlight on two

of the films which might score big at these ceremonies.

THE FLOWERS OF WAR

A movie adaptation of Geling Yan's book 13 FLOWERS OF NANJING, China's candidate for 2012 Oscars THE FLOWERS OF WAR is set in 1937, when Nanking stands at the forefront of a war between China and Japan. As the invading Japanese Imperial Army overruns China’s capital city, desperate civilians seek refuge behind the nominally protective walls of a western cathedral. Here, John Miller (CHRISTIAN BALE), an American trapped amidst the chaos of battle and the ensuing occupation takes shelter, joined

by a group of innocent schoolgirls and thirteen courtesans, equally determined to escape the horrors taking place outside the church walls. Struggling to survive the violence and persecution wrought

by the Japanese army, it is an act of heroism which eventually leads the seemingly disparate group to fight back, risking their lives for the sake of everyone. Through treacherous surroundings and facing unimaginable evil, THE FLOWERS OF WAR, inspired by true life events, manages to tell a genuine story of hope, love and sacrifice. With nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, fate always has a way of bringing the most unlikely heroes together.

 FLOWERS TIDBITS

The film is currently in US cinemas! With the budget of $90 million it is one of China's most expensive films ever. It is directed by famous genius Zhang Yimou best known for his amazing epics HERO, HOUSE OF  FLYING DAGGERS and my personal favourite CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER. It took 164 days, 18 hours a day, to shoot this epic.

ALBERT NOBBS

One of the films which amazed us all with Glenn Close's stunning transformation, is certainly ALBERT NOBBS which might bring the great actress an Oscar she has never, believe it or not,

gotten so far (she was nominated five times, though)! Hitting cinemas next January, this period drama will have legendary Glenn Close in the role of a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men's clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Quite a stunning cast also includes young Aaron Johnson, the new count Vronski in ANNA KARENINA, amazing Maria Doyle Kennedy, whose magnificent portrayal of queen Catherine of Aragon in THE TUDORS we still remember, and two ultra talented Irish thespians Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

ALBERT NOBBS TIDBITS

The film hits cinemas January 27th. It is interesting that the first two actors to be offered the role in the film were Amanda Seyfried and Orlando Bloom, but after they've backed out, the roles were given to much weaker Aaron Johnson and extremely cold Mia Wasikowska.

HOLLYWOOD SPY'S GUIDE THROUGH SUMMER 2011 ROMANTIC FILMS: EWAN MCGREGOR, CHRIS O'DONNELL, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, MILA KUNIS, HUGH JACKMAN, ANNE HATHAWAY ...

I thought that in this summer filled with superhero action movies and sf blockbusters, my ladies could feel a bit left out, so I decided to bring you HOLLYWOOD SPY's GUIDE THROUGH SUMMER 2011 ROMANTIC FILMS! :) Hope my girls, and

some of the romantic boys, will enjoy the list:

MANDY MOORE & KELLAN LUTZ IN "LOVE, WEDDING, MARRIAGE"

Directorial debut of Dermot Mulroney, LOVE, WEDDING, MARRIAGE premieres June 3rd following Ava (Mandy Moore), a marriage counselor whose life as a newlywed to her husband Charlie (Kellan Lutz) is turned upside down when she discovers her parents’ marriage (James Brolin & Jane Seymour) is headed for divorce. Determined to have them reconcile before a planned 30th anniversary surprise party, Ava unleashes a campaign to get them back together. But as the date looms and her parents relationship continues to spiral to its end, her own newlywed bliss starts to fade when she’s caught up in saving their marriage, possibly at the risk of her own. Click for the trailer.

EWAN MCGREGOR IN HEARTWARMING "BEGGINERS"

Also coming out June 3rd is charming romantic comedy BEGINNERS, about Oliver (Ewan McGregor) who meets the

irreverent and unpredictable Anna only months after his father Hal (Christopher Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who, following 44 years of marriage, came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hal's new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than they'd ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him. Click for the trailer.

JENNA FISCHER NEEDS "A LITTLE HELP"

On June 24th, we shall watch A LITTLE HELP,  about Laura (Jenna Fischer) whose life has begun to take some dark and difficult turns. Her marriage to a real estate agent (Chris O’Donnell) has become tense and loveless, she even suspects that

he’s cheating, and her relationship with her 12 year-old son Dennis has become strained as well, his emerging adolescence having turned him typically sullen and hostile. And she is not dealing well with it - she’s drinking and smoking too much, her self-esteem and confidence are in free fall. When her husband suddenly dies  she gets surrounded by her intrusive mother and sister who bring even more problems to her life. In that mess, she finds comfort in her sister's husband and they become drawn to each other in difficult circumstances despite the obvious complications and dangers that this implies. Click for the trailer.

JUSTIN & MILA ARE "FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS"

July 22nd will bring us probably the biggest romantic film this summer FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS. Directed by talented and

super charming Will Gluck (Easy-A) this adorable film revolves around Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) who think it's going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon discover, however, that getting physical really does always lead to complications. The film also stars Emma Stone, Patricia Clarkson and Woody Harrelson. Click for the trailer.

SELENA & LEIGHTON GO TO "MONTE CARLO"

July 1st brings two popular teen stars to cinemas in a romantic comedy MONTE CARLO in which young TV stars Selena Gomez and  Leighton Meester are joined by Andie MacDowell and GLEE's Cory Monteith. The film is actually an adaptation of the hit novel "Headhunters" by Jules Bass about about three Midwestern school teachers who ditch a disappointing no-frills holiday in Paris and pose as wealthy women vacationing in Monaco. Click for the trailer.

EPIC DRAMA IN "SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN"

On July 15th we shall finally watch opulent epic drama on romance, love and deep friendship in long awaited Asian set film SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN by acclaimed director Wayne Wang with Hugh Jackman in the cast.  The movie adaptation of the bestselling novel by Lisa See is set in 19th century remote China, and it revolves around the lifelong friendship of Lily and Snow Flower and their imprisonment by rigid cultural codes of conduct for women. Click for the trailer.

ANNE HATHAWAY'S LOVE IN "ONE DAY"

August will bring us lovely romantic story in ONE DAY, again an adaptation of a hit novel, in which Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess play two people who meet on the night of their college

graduation – July 15th, 1988. She is a working-class girl of principle and ambition who dreams of making the world a better place. He is a wealthy charmer who dreams that the world will be his playground. For the next two decades, every July 15th they meet again as their friendship ebbs and flows with the passing of the years. Through love and loss, heartbreak and success, hopes fulfilled and dreams shattered, they experience the grandeur of life. Somewhere along their journey, these two people realize that what they are searching and hoping for has been there for them all along. Click for the trailer.