I am a sucker for dragons. Have been since Smaug blocked Bilbo's way to a vast treasure in "The Hobbit". My obsession was cemented by Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonriders of Pern" series. This is a good time for us Dragon lovers. Dragons soared to new heights amongst the floating mountains of Pandora in "Avatar". So I waited with excitement and a bit of trepidation for Dreamworks animated contribution to Dragon lore,"How to Train Your Dragon". Good news. Dragons still rule.
A teenage boy lives in a seaside Scandinavian village that gets snow nine months a year and hail the other three. It's also terrorized by flying, fire-breathing dragons.
Now this is a Viking village with bulky bearded nordic types all over the place, that is except for young Hiccup. He looks like an average American teenage boy. As voiced by Jay Baruchel he's smart, funny, clumsy and misunderstood. He's just not very Viking-like. And he desperately wants the approval of his father. He wounds, then finds then befriends a shadowy dragon and realizes that the village is going about this Dragon thing all wrong. Don't fight 'em, fly 'em. Okay, that's the a plot, blah, blah, blah.
Here's the good stuff. This movie is in 3-D and the flying sequences (and there are many) are fantastic. Good story, nice characters and FANTASTIC 3-D flying equals a great time at the movies. Don't send the kids to this one, take them. Just make sure you see it in 3-D. Don't make the same mistake I did with "Avatar". 3-D may be the current fad but it's a lot of fun.
Okay, a couple of quibbles. Turns out that Vikings speak with thick Scottish brogues. There are probably a lot of Swedes who are up in arms about this. Not only that but apparently Swedish/Scottish/Viking teenagers all talk like they're from a Midwestern American suburb. No brogue for the kids. Weird. The other quibble is that again, we have an animated film with a barely-mentioned dead Mom. Man, animators really must have mother issues.
3-D may be just a fad or a diabolical excuse to raise ticket prices (3-D ticket price, $17.00) But it's a darn fun way to watch a movie. I should have seen "Avatar" that way. I'm mad at myself for not doing it. Don't make the same mistake with "How to Train Your Dragon".
Monday, March 29, 2010
Greenberg
It's been a very green spring in the multi-plex this year. Paul Greengrass brought you "Green Zone" and now Ben Stiller plays a displaced misanthrope in the hills of Los Angeles named "Greenberg". We also have "The Green Hornet" and everyones favorite green ogre Shrek due in theaters this year. The world is going green.
Writer/director Noah Baumbach is well versed in the eccentricities of people who are too smart for their own good. In "The Squid and the Whale" he took on the stuffed shirts of academia to both poignant and hilarious effect (and lots of Oscar nominations). In "Greenberg", Baumbach comes to Los Angeles to explore a city that's a boneyard of broken dreams. Chief amongst the interred is Roger Greenberg the angry and angst-ridden musician-turned-carpenter who comes to L.A. to house-sit for his well-off brother. It'll be good for him, since he's just out of mental institution and in a fragile state.
Ben Stiller plays Greenberg with a take no prisoners resolve. He hates being with people. He hates being alone. He constantly, purposely, sabotages his own happiness. He is self absorbed in a way that only really smart people can be self absorbed.
To their credit, Stiller and Baumbach illuminate Greenberg without the shtick that Stiller might have naturally gravitated toward. It's a really good performance but the character is a jackass, no getting around it. It bothers me when a protagonist is such an asshole that you just can't sympathize. It keeps me from engaging with the story. But that's me.
Now there is a character in this film that you can engage with. She's the brother's personal assistant, currently meandering through life and love in a way that would be slutty if it wasn't so sweet. She becomes Greenberg's love interest. As played by Greta Gerwig (another terrific performance) Florence is a lost soul with just enough talent to be a second rate singer and enough smarts to know how much talent she has. But holding onto the dream is everything. Her character is honestly written and beautifully played. Florence I have no trouble rooting for.
In the end, I think Baumbach wants us to believe that redemption is possible for Greenberg, through a real relationship with Florence. I doubt the premise. I know guys like that. Run, Florence, run!
Greenberg is a frank, insightful and often brutal character study, almost as flawed as it's title character.
A quick note for Los Angelenos, it's a great tour of the city. Ahhh, I remember my days drinking bad margaritas at Lucy's El Adobe.
Writer/director Noah Baumbach is well versed in the eccentricities of people who are too smart for their own good. In "The Squid and the Whale" he took on the stuffed shirts of academia to both poignant and hilarious effect (and lots of Oscar nominations). In "Greenberg", Baumbach comes to Los Angeles to explore a city that's a boneyard of broken dreams. Chief amongst the interred is Roger Greenberg the angry and angst-ridden musician-turned-carpenter who comes to L.A. to house-sit for his well-off brother. It'll be good for him, since he's just out of mental institution and in a fragile state.
Ben Stiller plays Greenberg with a take no prisoners resolve. He hates being with people. He hates being alone. He constantly, purposely, sabotages his own happiness. He is self absorbed in a way that only really smart people can be self absorbed.
To their credit, Stiller and Baumbach illuminate Greenberg without the shtick that Stiller might have naturally gravitated toward. It's a really good performance but the character is a jackass, no getting around it. It bothers me when a protagonist is such an asshole that you just can't sympathize. It keeps me from engaging with the story. But that's me.
Now there is a character in this film that you can engage with. She's the brother's personal assistant, currently meandering through life and love in a way that would be slutty if it wasn't so sweet. She becomes Greenberg's love interest. As played by Greta Gerwig (another terrific performance) Florence is a lost soul with just enough talent to be a second rate singer and enough smarts to know how much talent she has. But holding onto the dream is everything. Her character is honestly written and beautifully played. Florence I have no trouble rooting for.
In the end, I think Baumbach wants us to believe that redemption is possible for Greenberg, through a real relationship with Florence. I doubt the premise. I know guys like that. Run, Florence, run!
Greenberg is a frank, insightful and often brutal character study, almost as flawed as it's title character.
A quick note for Los Angelenos, it's a great tour of the city. Ahhh, I remember my days drinking bad margaritas at Lucy's El Adobe.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
More Up and Coming Films
Well, that last post was fun. Lots of response about what's in store for the NEXT awards season. So here are a few more appetizers:
THE SOCIAL NETWORK- Directed by David Fincher (Seven, Benjamin Button) from a script by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) This is the story of the founders of Facebook. Maybe I'll find out how my FB page got hacked.
LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS- Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai) directs a story set in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical salesman engaged in the pedaling of the little blue pill that makes old men happy. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.
THE RUM DIARY- Based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp is a journalist at a crossroads at a small Caribbean newspaper. Also, Aaron Eckhart and Giovanni Ribisi.
WINTER'S BONE- This was the Jury Prize winner at Sundance this year. Great buzz. Set in the Ozark Mountains, a girl puts herself and her family in danger when she tries to track down her drug-dealing father. No big names in the cast.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- I thought THE WHO were involved here but I guess not. Two kids conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their lives. Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland), Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore star.
THE BEAVER- Jodi Foster directs and stars in "The Beaver", (insert your own joke here). Mel Gibson treats a hand puppet of a beaver like it was a living creature. Bet your inserted joke wasn't nearly as weird as the truth.
ALL GOOD THINGS- Based on a real unsolved murder case in New York, with a love interest subplot. Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Jeffrey Dean Morgan star.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK- Directed by David Fincher (Seven, Benjamin Button) from a script by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) This is the story of the founders of Facebook. Maybe I'll find out how my FB page got hacked.
LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS- Edward Zwick (Glory, The Last Samurai) directs a story set in the cutthroat world of pharmaceutical salesman engaged in the pedaling of the little blue pill that makes old men happy. Stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.
THE RUM DIARY- Based on a novel by Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Depp is a journalist at a crossroads at a small Caribbean newspaper. Also, Aaron Eckhart and Giovanni Ribisi.
WINTER'S BONE- This was the Jury Prize winner at Sundance this year. Great buzz. Set in the Ozark Mountains, a girl puts herself and her family in danger when she tries to track down her drug-dealing father. No big names in the cast.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT- I thought THE WHO were involved here but I guess not. Two kids conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their lives. Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland), Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore star.
THE BEAVER- Jodi Foster directs and stars in "The Beaver", (insert your own joke here). Mel Gibson treats a hand puppet of a beaver like it was a living creature. Bet your inserted joke wasn't nearly as weird as the truth.
ALL GOOD THINGS- Based on a real unsolved murder case in New York, with a love interest subplot. Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Jeffrey Dean Morgan star.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Oscar 2011- A Very Preliminary Look
I thought it might be fun to see what the buzz is for NEXT YEAR'S Oscar race. It really doesn't mean much since these might just as well be the worst of next year as easily as the best, but it's always fun to see just beyond the horizon.
LET ME IN- I'll start with this one since this is either my most anticipated upcoming release or my most dreaded. "Let Me In" is based on the great Norwegian Vampire movie, "Let the Right One In" discovered on this side of the pond by my buddy Charlie. Well, kinda. This is such a fresh and interesting take on the overdone Vampire genre that it will be almost impossible for an American remake not to screw it up. Ah well, hope springs eternal. Kodi Smit-McPhee from "The Road" stars.
INCEPTION- Here ya go Christopher Nolan fans. The director of "Momento" and "The Dark Knight" teams with Leonardo DiCaprio for a story about technology and dream invasion. It's an Imax thing. Can you hear that? It's the sound of money flowing.
HEREAFTER- Normally I'd be more excited about a Clint Eastwood movie but I saw "Invictus". This is a supernatural thriller about three people, interconnected by their recent association with death. Not the usual Eastwood turf, so maybe. Matt Damon and Bryce Dallas Howard star.
THE FIGHTER- Director David O. Russel hasn't done a film since "I Heart Huckabees". Based on a true story of 1980's boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and his trainer/brother on the dark road to success. Stars Mark Wahlberg (who can't be worse than he was in The Lovely Bones), Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.
BLUE VALENTINE- Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star in a relationship movie that skips around the timeline of their love. Early festival buzz is that they are both terrific.
BLACK SWAN- Darren Aronofsky's last effort was "The Wrestler". His next takes place (where else?) in the world of Ballet. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis are in their competition leg warmers as rivals on point in "Black Swan".
THE AMERICAN- It was just a matter of time before George Clooney played an assassin. Clooney's a hit man who wants to give up the game and finds himself in Italy on his last assignment in "The American".
GET LOW- Great notices at Toronto film festival for both Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. Duvall is a hermit in Tennessee who plans his own funeral celebration in "Get Low". It did get a delayed release date which usually indicates trouble. Still, Toronto said thumbs up.
TOY STORY III- Pixar. 'Nuff said.
LET ME IN- I'll start with this one since this is either my most anticipated upcoming release or my most dreaded. "Let Me In" is based on the great Norwegian Vampire movie, "Let the Right One In" discovered on this side of the pond by my buddy Charlie. Well, kinda. This is such a fresh and interesting take on the overdone Vampire genre that it will be almost impossible for an American remake not to screw it up. Ah well, hope springs eternal. Kodi Smit-McPhee from "The Road" stars.
INCEPTION- Here ya go Christopher Nolan fans. The director of "Momento" and "The Dark Knight" teams with Leonardo DiCaprio for a story about technology and dream invasion. It's an Imax thing. Can you hear that? It's the sound of money flowing.
HEREAFTER- Normally I'd be more excited about a Clint Eastwood movie but I saw "Invictus". This is a supernatural thriller about three people, interconnected by their recent association with death. Not the usual Eastwood turf, so maybe. Matt Damon and Bryce Dallas Howard star.
THE FIGHTER- Director David O. Russel hasn't done a film since "I Heart Huckabees". Based on a true story of 1980's boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and his trainer/brother on the dark road to success. Stars Mark Wahlberg (who can't be worse than he was in The Lovely Bones), Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.
BLUE VALENTINE- Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams star in a relationship movie that skips around the timeline of their love. Early festival buzz is that they are both terrific.
BLACK SWAN- Darren Aronofsky's last effort was "The Wrestler". His next takes place (where else?) in the world of Ballet. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis are in their competition leg warmers as rivals on point in "Black Swan".
THE AMERICAN- It was just a matter of time before George Clooney played an assassin. Clooney's a hit man who wants to give up the game and finds himself in Italy on his last assignment in "The American".
GET LOW- Great notices at Toronto film festival for both Robert Duvall and Bill Murray. Duvall is a hermit in Tennessee who plans his own funeral celebration in "Get Low". It did get a delayed release date which usually indicates trouble. Still, Toronto said thumbs up.
TOY STORY III- Pixar. 'Nuff said.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Green Zone
The climactic chase in "Green Zone" takes place in an urban maze of buildings, rooftops and alleyways. It involves Matt Damon (let's call him America 1), some American soldiers with a different agenda from Damon (America 2), an Iraqi General and his Republican Gaurds (Iraq 1) and an Iraqi translator with a different agenda (Iraq 2). That's four separate human elements in a massive chase through an urban landscape (rooms, hallways, alleys, rooftops). Oh, and I almost forgot the helicopters. Yet there is not one solitary second where it isn't crystal clear who is chasing whom, where they are and what their relationship to the other chasers or chasees is. That's big time skill. That's Paul Greengrass. He is a master of action underpinned by clarity and logic. It shouldn't be surprising. His recent credits include United 93 (a masterwork) and the last two Bourne films.
As an action thrill ride this film ranks right up there with his last three. But this film has another element that Greengrass had to deal with. Here he tackles the politics of the Iraq War. In "United 93" he scrupulously avoided it. The Bourne films existed in their own world where politics was personal and the agendas weren't plucked from the headlines. Here it deals with the reality of America's choice to go to war. It has to chose sides. Now for most Americans, I think, the folly of manufacturing reasons to go to war is apparent. The issue is decided. And the few pro-Bush hangers-on are too busy organizing Tea Parties to go to the movies. But that's just where the trouble lurks. The politics of this film are very black and white. The complexity of the deftly handled action sequences aren't matched by an equally complicated political story. No complexity, no conflict. No conflict, no drama.
Still very few of the Iraq stories we have seen to date (actually none that I can think of) have even touched on the politics. They favor the personal stories of soldiers over the left or the right. We got some good films that way (witness "The Hurt Locker") But now that the debate is started, I say bring it on. The neo-cons be damned.
As an action film "Green Zone" is a ten, as a political thriller maybe a six or a seven. That averages out to about an 8, 81/2. That's worth the price of admission.
As an action thrill ride this film ranks right up there with his last three. But this film has another element that Greengrass had to deal with. Here he tackles the politics of the Iraq War. In "United 93" he scrupulously avoided it. The Bourne films existed in their own world where politics was personal and the agendas weren't plucked from the headlines. Here it deals with the reality of America's choice to go to war. It has to chose sides. Now for most Americans, I think, the folly of manufacturing reasons to go to war is apparent. The issue is decided. And the few pro-Bush hangers-on are too busy organizing Tea Parties to go to the movies. But that's just where the trouble lurks. The politics of this film are very black and white. The complexity of the deftly handled action sequences aren't matched by an equally complicated political story. No complexity, no conflict. No conflict, no drama.
Still very few of the Iraq stories we have seen to date (actually none that I can think of) have even touched on the politics. They favor the personal stories of soldiers over the left or the right. We got some good films that way (witness "The Hurt Locker") But now that the debate is started, I say bring it on. The neo-cons be damned.
As an action film "Green Zone" is a ten, as a political thriller maybe a six or a seven. That averages out to about an 8, 81/2. That's worth the price of admission.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
I Stand Corrected
Did I say that the Animated Shorts were the most depressing group of Oscar nominees ever? I stand corrected. I just saw the nominees for Live Action Short. Oh my God. It's like Frederick Nietzsche taught a class in short filmmaking. After this bunch, you might want to sit in that Sicilian bath with a cup of Hemlock, just to speed up the process.
The New Tenants- This was the winner. I hated it. Its subject matter is so dark, ugly, violent and silly that it's almost a parody of the category. A disagreeable gay couple move into an apartment on the heels of a triple homicide. Four more murders occur. In fifteen minutes. The couple ends the film by waltzing (literally) out of the apartment building. That's supposed to mean something. What it really means is that the Academy voters were idiots.
Kavi- A tale of child slavery in India. A young boy dreams of a cricket game while he is beaten and chained in a brick factory. This was the cheery film of the lot.
Miracle Fish- Sounds like an uplifting title. A young boy finds himself alone in a school building with a homicidal crazy person who is summarily shot in the head by a police sniper in front of the boy. I'm not kidding.
The Door-A Russian family must leave their apartment after the Chernobyl disaster. The Dad sneaks back to steal the door from his radioactive apartment so he can place the corpse of his dead daughter (radiation poisoning) on the door for the funeral. I'm not kidding. At least this one is well made and evocative. Could you hand me the Hemlock?
Instead of Abracadabra- This one THANK GOD is a comedy. A 25 year old Scandinavian loser, living with his parents, fancies himself a great magician. He's not. This one is kind of funny, but an Oscar nominee?
If these are the best in short film, I have a slew of friends who can do better. They should get off their collective butts and shoot something.
The New Tenants- This was the winner. I hated it. Its subject matter is so dark, ugly, violent and silly that it's almost a parody of the category. A disagreeable gay couple move into an apartment on the heels of a triple homicide. Four more murders occur. In fifteen minutes. The couple ends the film by waltzing (literally) out of the apartment building. That's supposed to mean something. What it really means is that the Academy voters were idiots.
Kavi- A tale of child slavery in India. A young boy dreams of a cricket game while he is beaten and chained in a brick factory. This was the cheery film of the lot.
Miracle Fish- Sounds like an uplifting title. A young boy finds himself alone in a school building with a homicidal crazy person who is summarily shot in the head by a police sniper in front of the boy. I'm not kidding.
The Door-A Russian family must leave their apartment after the Chernobyl disaster. The Dad sneaks back to steal the door from his radioactive apartment so he can place the corpse of his dead daughter (radiation poisoning) on the door for the funeral. I'm not kidding. At least this one is well made and evocative. Could you hand me the Hemlock?
Instead of Abracadabra- This one THANK GOD is a comedy. A 25 year old Scandinavian loser, living with his parents, fancies himself a great magician. He's not. This one is kind of funny, but an Oscar nominee?
If these are the best in short film, I have a slew of friends who can do better. They should get off their collective butts and shoot something.
I Miss Bugs Bunny
I don't think I have ever seen a group of Oscar nominees that were so dark, depressing and disturbing as this years group of-wait for it-animated shorts. That's right, the cartoons. I'm not kidding. I got to see the animated shorts at a local theater (they're also on pay-per-view so you too can see them)and I have to tell you I left the theater ready to sit in a hot bath and slit my wrists Sicilian style. Come on cartoon makers, lighten up! Not that there wasn't some great animation (there was) but the common thread was anger and death. They are worth seeing, totally, but keep your expectations away from fluffy puppy dogs and charming whimsy. Here they are.
Logorama- The winner of this years Oscar. Really quite brilliant. The entire world is made up of American (mostly) corporate logos and advertising icons. The bad guy is a gun wielding, hostage-taking Ronald McDonald chased by two foul-mouthed cop Michelin men through a world where the streets are paved (literally) with thousands of logos. The chase ends up with the destruction of the world. Point- American consumerism and corporate greed will destroy us all. Made by (who else?) the French.
Still great and clever animation. Worth the $4.95 pay per view just for this one.
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty- An Irish nightmare as an angry Granny tells her terrified grandaughter a night-night story from hell. Pretty dark.
The Lady and the Reaper- This was the most charming of the lot. An old lady on death's doorstep is fought over by an unctuous doctor and the grim reaper. Dark but cute.
French Roast-A business man at lunch forgets his wallet and thievery abounds. Interesting but not great.
A Matter of Loaf and Death- Old pals Wallace and Grommit run afoul of a serial killing lady who targets bakers. At 30 minutes by far the longest film. Cute as usual but we've seen it before. Still, Nick Park knows his stuff.
There were some other shorts shown in the program that were under Oscar consideration including a Canadian film (Runaway) about a train run amok.(wasn't crazy about this one) and a Polish film (Kinemascope, I think) that featured an inventor working on moving pictures, a dead wife and bloody handkerchiefs. Depressing is not strong enough. It also had Pixar's terrific short Partly Cloudy about a fluffy cloudy heaven and stork baby-deliverers. Pixar gets it right as usual.
Where have you gone Yosemite Sam, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you....
Logorama- The winner of this years Oscar. Really quite brilliant. The entire world is made up of American (mostly) corporate logos and advertising icons. The bad guy is a gun wielding, hostage-taking Ronald McDonald chased by two foul-mouthed cop Michelin men through a world where the streets are paved (literally) with thousands of logos. The chase ends up with the destruction of the world. Point- American consumerism and corporate greed will destroy us all. Made by (who else?) the French.
Still great and clever animation. Worth the $4.95 pay per view just for this one.
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty- An Irish nightmare as an angry Granny tells her terrified grandaughter a night-night story from hell. Pretty dark.
The Lady and the Reaper- This was the most charming of the lot. An old lady on death's doorstep is fought over by an unctuous doctor and the grim reaper. Dark but cute.
French Roast-A business man at lunch forgets his wallet and thievery abounds. Interesting but not great.
A Matter of Loaf and Death- Old pals Wallace and Grommit run afoul of a serial killing lady who targets bakers. At 30 minutes by far the longest film. Cute as usual but we've seen it before. Still, Nick Park knows his stuff.
There were some other shorts shown in the program that were under Oscar consideration including a Canadian film (Runaway) about a train run amok.(wasn't crazy about this one) and a Polish film (Kinemascope, I think) that featured an inventor working on moving pictures, a dead wife and bloody handkerchiefs. Depressing is not strong enough. It also had Pixar's terrific short Partly Cloudy about a fluffy cloudy heaven and stork baby-deliverers. Pixar gets it right as usual.
Where have you gone Yosemite Sam, a nation turns its lonely eyes to you....
Monday, March 8, 2010
Red Carpet Redux
Well, to paraphrase James Cameron, "I am the king of the Oscar Pool!" I got 20 out of 24 categories correct. A good year even for me. Actually not all that impressive because I saw EVERYTHING this year which allowed me to make pretty educated guesses. Combine this with the fact that it was a pretty easy year to call and it looks better than it is in reality. Still, 20 out of 24......
It's too bad "Up In The Air" didn't get the expected Adapted Screenplay Oscar. It means a really fine movie got shut out. And of course the Foreign Film category held true to form with a film that no one heard of and no American audience ever even had a chance to see, winning the gold. Whoever votes in that category does so after enjoying several hard tokes on a crack pipe. Happens every year.
The show itself was stodgy and not really that funny and sometimes just plain odd (witness the interpretive dance number to the nominated scores---huh?) But Bridges and Bullock and Mo'nique and The Hurt Locker, all worthy recipients.
The Bottle of cheap red wine resides in Encino for 2010-2011. (That's our Oscar trophy).
It's too bad "Up In The Air" didn't get the expected Adapted Screenplay Oscar. It means a really fine movie got shut out. And of course the Foreign Film category held true to form with a film that no one heard of and no American audience ever even had a chance to see, winning the gold. Whoever votes in that category does so after enjoying several hard tokes on a crack pipe. Happens every year.
The show itself was stodgy and not really that funny and sometimes just plain odd (witness the interpretive dance number to the nominated scores---huh?) But Bridges and Bullock and Mo'nique and The Hurt Locker, all worthy recipients.
The Bottle of cheap red wine resides in Encino for 2010-2011. (That's our Oscar trophy).
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Oscar picks
Okay, Happy High Holidays everyone. It's is once again time for me and my friends to pick basically the same movies in all the Oscar categories. Any true Oscar picker knows it's much harder to pick the nominees than it is to pick the winners but this year The Best Picture Oscar is tough to predict. First off, there are ten of 'em. Second, and most importantly, instead of picking one film, voters rank the 10 films in preferential order from one to ten and a numerical value is assigned to the order. That could bode well for Avatar. It could also bode well for a film like Up In The Air or Precious which might get consistently ranked as two and three. I'm going to stick to my guns and say.......
Best Picture-The Hurt Locker
Actor-J. Bridges
Actress-S. Bullock
Sup. Actor-C Waltz
Sup Actress-Mo'Nique
Director-K. Bigelow The Hurt Locker
Original Screenplay- The Hurt Locker
Adapted Screenplay-Up In The Air
Editing-The Hurt Locker
Cinematography-Avatar
Animated Film-Up
Foreign Film-The White Ribbon
Art Direction-Avatar
Documentary Feature-The Cove
Make-up-Star Trek
Visual FX-Avatar
Sound Editing-The Hurt Locker
Sound Mixing-The Hurt Locker
Original Score-Up
Best Song- The Weary Kind Crazy Heart
Costume Design- The Young Victoria
Short (Animated)- A Matter of Loaf and Death
Short (Live Action)- Kavi
Documentary Short-Music By Prudence
I'll check back in and Let you know how I did.
Best Picture-The Hurt Locker
Actor-J. Bridges
Actress-S. Bullock
Sup. Actor-C Waltz
Sup Actress-Mo'Nique
Director-K. Bigelow The Hurt Locker
Original Screenplay- The Hurt Locker
Adapted Screenplay-Up In The Air
Editing-The Hurt Locker
Cinematography-Avatar
Animated Film-Up
Foreign Film-The White Ribbon
Art Direction-Avatar
Documentary Feature-The Cove
Make-up-Star Trek
Visual FX-Avatar
Sound Editing-The Hurt Locker
Sound Mixing-The Hurt Locker
Original Score-Up
Best Song- The Weary Kind Crazy Heart
Costume Design- The Young Victoria
Short (Animated)- A Matter of Loaf and Death
Short (Live Action)- Kavi
Documentary Short-Music By Prudence
I'll check back in and Let you know how I did.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)