Oscar nominations are a huge day for me. Last year I skipped school to watch them, this uear I just stayed home. The announcement this morning had some snubs, some great surprises, and a few stupid surprises. First off, I'm so unbeleivably happy that In Bruges got a writing nomination. I'm angry at that same category for nominating WALL-E. Instead I wish it went to the Coen brothers for Burn After Reading.
Best Picture- Big surprise here! I never would've thought that The Reader would even be considered. I haven't seen it so I can't pass judgement, but other than Kate Winslet's performance, I haven't heard great things about it. I have seen Benjamin Button though, an no way did that movie deserve a nomination. I knew it would get one, but I thought Doubt would be nominated instead of The Reader, or at least hoped. Maybe The Reader is great and deserved it, but Button did not and the slot should've went to Doubt. Of course my favorite movie of the year got nominated, Slumdog Millionaire, and is likely to win! Frost/Nixon was also a candidate for my favorite movie of the year, and I love it almost as much as Slumdog. Very happy that Milk got a Best Picture nod.
Best Leading Actor- I don't know what it is with everyone and Richard Jenkins' performance. It was a satisfactory and average performance, that's all! Take him out and put in Leonardo DiCaprio for Body of Lies. Thankfully Clint Eastwood did not get a nomination. Of course that favorites are Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn followed by Frank Langella. I loved Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler but I really think Sean Penn deserves it. Yes, Rourke's performance is very powerful, but Penn's role was harder to act, and he executed it flawlessly.
Best Supporting Actor- Wonderful surprise! Michael Shannon got a nomination for Revolutionary Road! He won't in, it'll most likely go to Heath Ledger, but there were many similarities between the two performances. Shannon had Ledger's voice down and many of his expressions. I thought he would be left out on his ass but he got the nomination and deserved it. Whether it's a sympathy vote or it's genuine, Ledger's going to win for his terrifying and darkly funny performance as The Joker.
Best Leading Actress- I'm surprised that Kate Winslet was nominated for The Reader as a lead, which kinda sucks because that means Angelina Jolie and Meryl Streep don't stand a chance. It also sucks because that means Winslet won't be recognized for her brilliant work in Revolutionary Road. I think it was expected that Melissa Leo would get a nomination for her performance in Frozen River. I haven't seen it but I've heard the performance is amazing. Thankfully, Jolie was not snubbed like last year for A Mighty Heart. She won't win, because it'll go to Winslet, but at least she was recongized.
Best Supporting Actress- With something bad comes something good. Even though Jolie and Streep don't stand a chance against Winslet (that's strange to say because it usually goes like this: Winslet and Jolie don't stand a chance against Streep) At least Taraji P. Henson got a nomination for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Now that Winslet isn't in that category, it can go to Viola Davis for Doubt.
Best Score- Why can't someone point out Carter Burwell for In Bruges. It's the best score of 2008, followed by A.R. Rahman's score for Slumdog Millionaire.
WE'LL SEE WHO WINS ON FEBRUARY 22, 2009!
The 2008 movie year started out slow but the Summer season picked it up with films like The Dark Knight and the past few months have given us some great ones like Frost/Nixon and Synecdoche, New York among others.
Most Overhyped Film of the Year: Most Underrated Film of the Year:
Happy-Go-Lucky Miracle at St. Anna
Quirkiest Film of the Year: Unfunniest Comedy of the Year:
Choke Four Christmases (or Yes Man)
Funniest Comedy of the Year: Most Politically Incorrect Film of the Year:
Zack and Miri Make a Porno Pineapple Express
Most Ambitious Film of the Year: Bravest Performance of the Year:
Synecdoche, New York Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Silly but Fun: Performance of the Year:
Wanted Sean Penn- Milk
Most Uncomfortable time at the movies: Most Surprising Film of the Year:
Finding Amanda Definitely, Maybe
Most Disappointing Film of the Year: Best Sequel of the Year:
The Fall The Dark Knight
Worst Sequel of the Year: Best Action Sequence of the Year:
Rambo Edward Norton vs. Tim Roth (The Incredible Hulk)
Cheesiest Film of the Year: Worst Performance of the Year:
Twilight Mike Meyers- The Love Guru
blog #4: Feb. 9, 2009
WHY THE BEST IS THE BEST
Unlike some critics, I haven't made a yop 10 list with commentary on why I picked that movie.
10. Body of Lies- In October, I said this was the best movie of 2008. Now I think I may have overreacted. Still a great movie though. Leonardo DiCaprio got snubbed this year for his powerful performance as a CIA operative. Ridley Scott shot this movie wonderfully, especially with the overhead shots, but really it all comes down to the performances. DiCaprio is terrific here and Crowe was the guy you love to hate. Mark Strong gives an underrated performance and one that may cause some debate over his character because of his charming yet violent portrayal.
9. The Dark Knight- Heath Ledger's darkly funny and strangely charismatic performance makes him one of the most memorable villains on the screen. Nolan's stylized vision of Chicago puts this film in an epic scope. Even though my appreciation for the film has gone down, mostly because of ignorant fans, I still love this film.
8. Synecdoche, New York- Some hate it, but I abslolutely love it. Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut is a nearly perfect peice of art. The metaphors and symbolism force the viewer to think deeper than a normal movie would call for. The surrealism is both heartbreaking, quirky, and brilliant. The performances are spectecular across the map. This is a unique and weird movie that I just want to see again and again.
7. Miracle at St. Anna- I don't care what anybody says, "Miracle at St. Anna" is one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. Spike Lee is a genius with the camera. This is a dark, violent, powerful, and important movie. Wonderfully acted and directed.
6. In Bruges- This is the best buddy hitmen movie since "Pulp Fiction". Colin Farrell gives the best performance of his career as the ignorant and cynical Ray. Though Brendan Gleeson is truly terrific, Ralph Fiennes gave the strongest supporting performance. I don't remember a character since Mark Whalberg's Sgt. Dignam in "The Departed", that can drop the f-bomb every two seconds and not sound contrived. One of the best screenplays of the year perfectly mixes dark humor and human tragedy. What add to the pleasent and wonderful experience of "In Bruges" is the best score of 2008 by Carter Burwell, which was overlooked by every awards show.
5. Milk- It is almost impossible to choose between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke, but I think Penn's role was a little harder to get into. His breezy and charismatic take on the first openly gay politician, Harvey Milk, is nothing short of genius. It's not just the make up. Penn becomes Milk. He doesn't mimic this character, he embraces him. Gus Van Sant's recreation of Castro Street is gorgeous and the vintage campaign logos make this an artsy biopic for the Converse gang. Strong supporting performances from Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, and Diego Luna, but Sean Penn stole the show and ran with it.
4. Frost/Nixon- Close to being my #1 movie of the year. "Frost/Nixon" is a deep human drama of two people in a power struggle. Ron Howard found the perfect lighting, especially for the final showdown which is sure to go down as one of the most iconic scenes in cinema. The performances are outstanding from Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, with strong support from Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, and Oliver Platt.
3. The Wrestler- If not for Mickey Rourke's performance and Darren Aronofsky's direction, this could've really just been a melodramatic sobfest for fans of "The Notebook". But this movie is much more than that and has no traces of sentimentality. This is a painful and raw drama that dives into a person's life and shows them as a human. Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke are amost equally as wonderful. A great film and I don't need to make it #1 to show how much I love it.
2. Doubt- Another movie that I was considering for my 3! spot. The performances are extrordinary. Meryl Streep never stops, Amy Adams delivers her best, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is probably the best A-lister right now, and Viola Davis makes the viewer question their logic and ideals. I loved the dark and gothic feel to the film. I couldn't stop thinking about this movie hours after it was over.
1. Slumdog Millionaire- I was considering "Doubt", "Frost/Nixon", "Miracle at St. Anna", "The Wrestler", and "Milk" for this spot, but ultimately it had to go to "Slumdog Millionaire". Very rarely have I felt pulled from one universe and thrown into another as I did in this film. I forgot my name, my address, my birthday, my age...everything. I was a bystander, a fly on the wall, on the streets of Mumbai and on the roof of that train, watching Jamal and Salim make it through life. When it was over, I just wanted to see it again. Danny Boyle dieserves without a doubt this year's Oscar for Best Director. The cinematography is gorgeous and A.R. Rahman's score is beautiful. Just the fact that I felt like I was actually some where else already makes "Slumdog Millionaire" the most memorable film of 2008 for me.
blog #3: Dec. 30, 2008
Golden Globe nominations foreshadow Oscars
WOW!!!!!
I can't even begin describe how happy I am that In Bruges was recognized this year. I was sure that it wouldn't even be considered but I'm very glad that it did and it also spreads good word of mouth about it. There were also some big surprises like Tom Cruise being nominated for Tropic Thunder and James Franco being nominated for Pineapple Express.
I was hoping that Leonardo DiCaprio would be recognized for his work in Body of Lies but instead he got a nomination for Revolutionary Road which was a good film but I think DiCaprio definitely was more effective in Body of Lies .
Doubt didn't get a nomination for Best Drama which was very disappointing. I think that movie deserves it much more than The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
In Bruges has the best score of the year and didn't even get a nomination. And In Bruges has one of the best screenplays of the year but instead the slot went to The Curious Case of Banjamin Button. Synecdoche, New York is a massive acheivment in cinema but even if you don't like the movie you can't not appreciate the original song by Jon Brion called "Little Person". Synecdoche was just completely ingored this year and Phillip Seymour Hoffman definitely deserved a nomination as well as Charlie Kaufman for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
If The Hollywood Foreign Press has any influence on The Oscars, hopefull the Academy will be smarter and nominate In Bruges for its score and screenplay.
blog #2: Dec. 6, 2008
GREAT MOVIES THAT WON'T BE NOMINATED THIS YEAR
Miracle at St. Anna- Probably the best movie of 2008 for its astounding direction, the acting, and simply the soul of the movie.
Body of Lies- A powerhouse performance from DiCaprio in a movie of morals and concionce.
Synecdoche, New York- A movie that has the power to change someone. Phillip Seymour Hoffman gives an Oscar-worthy performance and Charlie Kaufman deserves a Best Director nomination as well as his screenplay.
Choke- Not a great movie, but Anjelica Houston will be overlooked for a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Burn After Reading- This has the best screenplay of the year and great performances from Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, and Frances McDormand, but it will never even be considered.
The Fall- I was greatly disappointed by this film and I don't even really like it, but Tarsem has to receive some recognition for the direction.
Henry Poole Is Here- Wonderful performances from Luke Wilson and Adriana Barrazzo but this movie will just be forgotten.
In Bruges- If it were to come out now, the Academy would love it, but since it came out in the beginning of 2008, everyone will ignore the performances from Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes as well as the screenplay and the Oscar-worthy score from Carter Burwell.
Quantum of Solace- A mediocre movie that I didn't really like, but Marc Foster deserves a nomination for his direction.
Snow Angels- An amazing and heartbreaking movie that came out in early 2008 and was probably too small to fall under the Academy's radar.
Transsiberian- Oscar-worthy cinematography
The Academy is sometimes cruel.
blog #1: Nov. 27, 2008
BIGGEST OSCAR SNUBS
Over the years there have been some really big snubs. 1990 and 1994 were some of the worst ones. And the 2007 Oscars didn't even nominate the year's best movie.
1. GoodFellas vs. Dancing With Wolves
GoodFellas is probably my favorite movie of all time. It is superbly acted and written. Dancing With Wolves is a forgettable movie directed by Kevin Costner
2. 1994 Best Picture Winner
The nominees were:
-Forrest Gump
-Pulp Fiction
-Four Weddings and a Funeral
-Shawshank Redemption
Guess what won. FORREST GUMP?!
OBVIOUSLY SHOULD'VE BEEN PULP FICTION!
3. 1996 Best Picture
-Fargo
-The English Patient*
-Shine
-Jerry Maguire
-Secrets & Lies
The English Patient is actually a great movie, but does it measure up to Fargo? NO!
4. 2003 Best Picture
-Mystic River
-Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
-Seabiscut
-Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
-Lost in Translation
I have nothing against LOTR, but Mystic River was a heartwrenching drama and Return of the King was a movie about an evil ring.
5. 2007 Oscars
They nominated No Country For Old Men despite it being an emotionally numb drama but forgot to nominate Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. BTDKYD was a morally changing film, while No Country had a guy runing around with an air gun.
Other dissapointments include Marion Colltiard beating Ellen Paige, Jamie Foxx beating Leonardo DiCaprio in 2004, Taxi Driver not winning Best Picture, and Scorsese's numerous losses.