For Your Consideration: Kirk Lazarus for Best Supporting Actor

This is both real and fake. Obviously Kirk Lazarus can't be nominated for an Oscar--he isn't real. Plus, hasn't he won FIVE already? Give someone else a shot.
No, this is Dreamworks' clever campaign to get Robert Downey Jr. an Oscar Nod for his role in Tropic Thunder. He's hands down the best part of that movie, and though he won't win (fingers crossed for Heath Ledger) but I think it would be awesome if two summer blockbusters got acting nominations--in the same category. You usually see them get nominated for Sound awards at best (See: The Bourne Ultimatum, which took home 3 of those last year). Says something about the movies this summer, which I think have been the gems of the entire year. Sad, but true.

Video: Tropic Thunder promo

This has been out for a long, long time. But I'm so hot on Tropic Thunder right now, I just had to put this up:

Review: Tropic Thunder (2008)

In hindsight, I would've reviewed this as soon as I saw it, more than a week ago.

Let's see what I remember. I wasn't looking forward to this like I was, say, Pineapple Express. That's usually a good thing, because *generally*, you are pleasantly surprised. With Pineapple, I was a tad disappointed. With Thunder, I was mightily impressed.

I think the story was good, but the cast is the biggest part. Seriously. You have a fantastic, fantastic cameo from Matthew McCounaghey, great supporting acting from the likes of Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Bill Hader, and Jay Baruchel. Then you have your main actors; Ben Stiller (doing Ben Stiller), Jack Black (doing Jack Black) and Robert Downey Jr., who goes above and beyond as an over-the-top method actor (I don't need to explain this, do I?) You sometimes forget it's really him under that makeup. They all basically act as themselves, which is exactly the key. They are all brilliant actors.

I won't say much about Tom Cruise. He was, just, well, eh. He really seemed to be trying too hard.

Worth while summer movie? Hands down. If for nothing else, see it for Robert Downey Jr. (Who, incidentally, also has the best of the fake trailers. Make sure you catch Satan's Alley!)

Grade: A-

Something Funny: Tropic Thunder Viral Marketing

I found this a couple days ago. To promote the forthcoming "Tropic Thunder" (there's no way you will have ignored this by now), there are whole sites put together for the fake movies that are trailered in the actual film, starring each of the three main actors, natch. I've heard that this one, Satan's Alley, is absolutely hysterical, and I can tell just by the website that I'll be doubling over in the theater. This is starring Robert Downey Jr.'s Kick Lazarus as a beachy-looking priest, and co-starring Toby Maguire.

Enjoy.