Hollywood Goes to War
The Oscars brought more than just good laughs, beautiful people in designer dresses and a stellar lineup of nominees. It proved that there's no required price tag to pull off a quality film - sometimes all you need is a powerful plot to move the masses.
Fresh off of it's Academy Award win for Best Picture, "The Hurt Locker," was the little film that could. The small-budget, still relatively undiscovered Iraq war film even brought sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" back down to earth.
Still, the tumultuous Iraq war theme continues to resonate with Hollywood. This time it's with the "Green Zone" and Academy Award-winner Matt Damon is first in command.
Photos: Matt Damon
Matt Damon Hits the "Green Zone"
Paul Greengrass, director of the "The Bourne Supremacy" and "The Bourne Ultimatum" once again teamed up with Damon in a political adventure that can best be described as a hybrid between the "Bourne" franchise and "The Hurt Locker."
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In the film, Damon plays Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller, charged with leading a mission to locate weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
After a series of false, booby-trapped leads, he suspects Clarke Poundstone (Greg Kinnear) a top level Pentagon official may have knowledge of a high- level military cover-up. In his quest to discover whether weapons of mass destruction actually exist, Miller finds himself in the precarious position of having to battle his own government, as well as the deadly war surrounding him.
Though the film was shot using CGI (computer-generated imagery) to showcase Iraqi landmarks, the locations look entirely realistic, CBS News' Karina Mitchell points out. The tense drama and high action you see unfolding, together with bombs exploding and shaky hand camera shots make this film both entertaining and electric to watch.
Amidst the chaos and intensity of war, the box office is also offering a little romance.
Also out this week is "Remember Me," starring Robert Pattinson. Firmly ensconced in the hearts of teenage girls everywhere - thanks to his role as Edward in the "Twilight" series - Pattinson plays to his strengths in this romantic drama about the angst of teenage love.
The "Showbuzz" recently talked to the young heartthrob during the film's red carpet premiere. Pattinson said he took the role because it seemed the most "honest" and "realistic" from all the scripts that were coming his way at the time.
After all, he does play an entirely living, breathing, warm-blooded human being in this film!
Teenage girls and their moms will have many moments to swoon over the handsome, brooding Pattinson - they should feel somewhat satiated until "Eclipse," the third installment of "Twilight" releases on June 30.
If the buzz around Hollywood is any indication of what's to come - the frenzy is already at fever pitch!