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Pursue the Possibilities

CanDarkKnightout grossTitanicto becomeBox-Officechamp?

Can Dark

Knight out

gross

Titanic to

become

box-officechamp?

INSIDE

Ledger OscarPossibilities

Rachel Weisz:Gorgeous, Smart,

and Oscar, Too

MovieReviews:The Best of

the Best

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MONTE

PICTURESMonte Pictures was

founded by Javier Abraham

Serrano in San Diego,

California in the year 2007.

In his quest to pursue a

career in filmmaking, Mr.

Serrano composed a

monthly newsletter to

express visually his passion

for cinema to all variety of

-

August is here. I simply cannot believe howthe time is just passing by so quickly. Firstthings first, I must give my appreciation anddedication of this months newsletter to mysister Elaine Serrano Vasquez, who turnedtwenty two on the tenth of August; to mydearest colleague Toni Laree Washington,

.

published autobiography,What a Life, he writes, if

I could achieve this dream

and goal of mine to open a

film production Monte

Pictures, then it is

obviously possible for

anyone to achieve theirdreams.

Contact info: Javier Serrano

Phone: (619) 450 3638

Email: info@montepictures.com

www.montepictures.com

a so er r ay, on e e g een o

August. Lastly, to Ronald Johnson a lovingindividual and a great step-grandfather.

I just wrapped up my summer courses at SanDiego City College, and I am very exhausted,but I am living a dream of pursuing aneducation. In this issue, there will bechanges. In these changes I plan to composemy newsletter into a publication-likemagazine. I have so much charisma,

ambitions, and expansion for Monte Picturesand if all goes well, which I know it will,then expect to see Monte Pictures on theForbes list of most powerful motionpictures studios in North America. I wishyou and your family great health.

- Javier

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James Camerons Titanic not only garnered fourteenAcademy Awards nomination and walked away witheleven Oscars, tied with William Wylers 1959, Ben-Hur and Peter Jacksons 2004, The Lord of the Rings:The Return of the King, but it is currently the all time

ox-office champ with a mere $600 milliondomestically in the United States. The Batman sequel:

The Dark Knight was intentionally not to break anyrecords said the director Christopher Nolan (notablydirected 2006, Batman Begins and 2001, Memento).

ith a production budget of (US$) 185 million dollarsDiCaprio and Winslet run through icy watersin the $200 million production of Titanic.

and nearly becoming the all time box-office champ, The Dark knight has built its successfrom the mesmerizing performance from Heath Ledger as The Joker in the film, winningthe role from numerous well-known actors like Oscar winners Adrien Brody, Robin

illiams, and Steve Carell, even Jack Nicholson expressed interest in reprising the rolewhich he helped established the Batman franchise as The Joker in Tim Burtons 1989,

Batman.

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Oscar Winor justsympathy?

I simply can not argue that Heath Ledgerperformance brilliantly as The Joker in the 2008, TheDark Knight. Few film critics assumed Ledger waswrongfully robbed an Oscar for his mesmerizingperformance as Ennis Del Mar in the ill-fated 2005Academy Award winning film Brokeback Mountain,which Ledger won his first Oscar nomination in theBest Actor category. No one expected Ledger to come

off with an Oscar nomination, and, of course, not win,to star in one of Hollywoods greatest box-office hits inChristopher Nolans The Dark Knight.

Unfortunately, we will never know what potential lied in Ledgers future because his careerwas just launching with successful commercial films. A decade ago, Ledger was known inseveral teen films, including: the 1999 film 10 things I hate about you, co- starring with JuliaStiles, and the 2002, Knights Tale, which garnered rave reviews and launched him into thepublic eye. But, can Ledger actually win the Oscar for his performance as The Joker.Hollywood loves villains, but can the Academy members acknowledge Ledger performance?Or Box-office Champ is enough?

Jack Nicholson in 1989, Batmanand Heath Ledger in 2008, TheDark Knight, both portrayed The

Joker

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DOWN

Exquisitely brilliant and a greatensemble cast. 2005, Downfall wasdirected by German acclaimed directorOliver Hirschbiegel. The film is basedon the accounts of the last days of AdolfHitler through the eyes of his privatesecretary Traudl Junge, portrayedsuperbly by German actress AlexandraMaria Lara, which is loosely based onher memoir Until the Final Hour. Thefilm, like I said is great, but the filmreceived harsh criticisms around theworld because the film shows theaccounts of Adolf Hitler sensitivityunder the events of World War II, andassumingly, film critics and audienceswere demanding the film to explain onemajor subject that was simply left out:the Holocaust.

Film critic Richard Nilsen of theArizona Republic, wrote, "Don't

other voting. Just give the Oscarto Marion Cotillard now. And Imust agree with Richard Nilsen

ecause Marion Cotillardsperformance as the French singerEdith Piaf was captivating and,y far, the greatest film

performance to date, and I meanthat literally.

This was the only performance in 2007 for which I had given it a standing ovation. I must warn you,the film is a mess, and by mess; first, the film is spoken in French, and you the French, they intend tospeak French quickly and aggressively. Secondly, every minute of screen time means years past ofEdith Piafs life which the film transition into flash back sequences, for most, a handful of people do

not enjoy. If you enjoyed Reese Witherspoon in the 2005, Walk the line, for which she won thecoveted Best Actress, then youll like La ome in French, but the American version La Vie En Rose.

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Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz

Gorgeous, Smart and Oscar, too

You may recognize Rachel Weisz in the 1999 and 2002 box-office hits The Mummy and Theummy Returns, as Evy or Evelyn OConnell. Rachel eisz was born in London, England in 1971.

It was not until her college years at the respected prestigious Cambridge University in England,where she pursued interest in acting. She had co- founded a student drama club called CambridgeTalking Tongues, which received critical acclaims for many successful theatre productions. Aftergraduating Cambridge with a degree in English, she further more pursued her acting career. Shehas appeared in many notable films, which includes: 1996, Stealing Beauty; 1999, Sunshine; 2002,About a Boy; 2002, Confidence; 2003, The Shape of Things; 2005, Constantine; 2006, The Fountain.Having all ready establishing a leading lady, she had several box-office hits to her credit, but it wasnot until 2005 when Fernando Meirelles, the director of The Constant Gardner, gave eisz the

opportunity of a lifetime to portray Tessa Quayle, a doomed activist in pursuit in alerting publicly

of the pharmaceutical industries targeting the African illness. The role brought her an AcademyAward for Best Supporting Actress.

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Frida : Seven Years in the Making

The first time Id seen

Frida

starring Salma Hayek, alsoserved as one of two Producersof the film, was when I was astudent in A.P. Art History.My professor was deeplyfascinated in the subject of artand once he took the entire class,combined students of thirteen,to the cinema and watched the

film as a class. It was anamazing experience because wewere permitted off schoolcampus and we had the privilegeof watching a film entirely onthe subject of art history and alsoThe life of Frida Kahlo. Unfortunately, Salma Hayek failed to win the

Oscar for Best Actress at the 2003, AcademyAwards; Nicole Kidman won for her

erformance in The Hours. I felt Salma Ha eksperformance was much more convincing, artistic,

and simply ravishing. Salma was Frida andwhy not? Salma embarked on a seven yearsourney to buy the rights to the publication,

funding, and the director. Salma did not want toput her entire dedication into the wrong hands;

luckily, Julie Taymor, the first woman to win theprestigious Tony award for Best Direction forher Broadway hit The Lion King, was hired asthe films director. Together, as women, they

oth collaborated brilliantly, and the films crew

was conducted by many elite and acclaimedfilmmakers in Mexico, they include: GregoryNava, directed Jennifer Lopez in Selena;Academy Award winner composer ElliotGoldenthal, notably for Neil Jordans Interviewwith the Vampire; and lastly, Director of

Photography Rodrigo Prieto, worked with AngLee in the Academy Award winning filmBrokeback Mountain. Also, many well-knownfilm stars like Alfred Molina, Antonio Banderas,Mia Maestro, Edward Rush, Ashley Judd, and

Edward Norton, all to whom are dearest friends of Salma Hayek, all agreed to work for lowwages for their performances.

Salma Hayekas Frida

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

J. K. Rowling did a magnificent job by alluring our imagination into the world of wizardry andmagical powers in her multi- illion franchise of Harry Potter. Harry Potter and the Goblet of

Fire is my absolute favorite, thus far, and honestly, I have to come clean and admit admirablythat I was not fond and early rejected the entire Harry Potter, but what changed my mindcompletely was how well the books were selling globally. This one-time welfare mother turned

illionaire writer from London, England changed the way kids read today, and one book criticraved Ms. Rowlings dedication in bringing Harry to life which has been an extraordinary journeyfor everyone alike.

This is the fourth film in the popular Harry Potter series, directed by Mike Newell. The film is

gorgeously acted, the music is haunting and inspiring and the special effects are simply perfected.From the beginning of the film to the ending credits, this film the Goblet of Fire is definitelyentertaining.

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron easley enter their fourth year at Hogwarts School.The school has been selected to host the Triwizard Tournament, a legendary event in which onewizard each from two rival schools and Hogwarts compete in three dangerous tasks.Dumbledore, head of Hogwarts, reveals The Goblet of Fire, a magical cup which acts theudgment by selecting the candidates. Three students from each school will participate under

restricted age requirement of the age of seventeen. But, when all three names are selected an

additional fourth name is thrown out of the cup of the Goblet of Fire revealing the name ofHarry Potter.

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All rights reserved. This monthly newsletter is composed by MontePictures, and the subject is owned by Javier Serrano. For no reason thisnewsletter cannot be re-produced, barrowed, and/or distributed without thepermission from Javier Serrano. All photographs used in this newsletter arereserved from Google and used responsibly for educational purposes.

Monte Pictures was inspired and is dedicated to Olivia Caballero, ElaineSerrano and Pepe Meza.