OSCAR PICKS 2011

I'll put a # next to what I think WILL win, and a * next to what I think SHOULD win.


Best Motion Picture of the Year
*Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids are All Right
#The King's Speech
The Social Network
127 Hours
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening (The Kids are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
#*Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
#Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
*James Franco (127 Hours)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
#*Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
#*Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
#*Toy Story 3

Best Documentary Short Subject
Killing in the Name
#*Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang

Best Short Film (Animated)
*Day & Night Teddy Newton
#The Gruffalo Jakob Schuh and Max Lang
Let's Pollute Geefwee Boedoe
The Lost Thing Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Madagascar, carnet de voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary) Bastien Dubois

Best Short Film (Live Action)
The Confession Tanel Toom
The Crush Michael Creagh
God of Love Luke Matheny
Na Wewe Ivan Goldschmidt
#*Wish 143 Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite

Achievement in Art Direction
#Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
Inception
*The King's Speech
True Grit

Achievement in Cinematography
*Black Swan (Matthew Libatique)
Inception (Wally Pfister)
The King's Speech (Danny Cohen)
The Social Network (Jeff Cronenweth)
#True Grit (Roger Deakins)

Achievement in Costume Design
#Alice in Wonderland (Colleen Atwood)
*I Am Love (Antonella Cannarozzi)
The King's Speech (Jenny Beaven)
The Tempest (Sandy Powell)
True Grit (Mary Zophres)

Achievement in Directing
*Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O. Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
#David Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit)

Best Documentary Feature
*Exit through the Gift Shop Banksy, director (Paranoid Pictures)
Gasland Josh Fox, director (Gasland Productions, LLC)
#Inside Job Charles Ferguson, director (Representational Pictures)
Restrepo Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger, directors (Outpost Films)
Waste Land Lucy Walker, director (Almega Projects)

Achievement in Makeup
Barney's Version
The Way Back
#*The Wolfman

Achievement in Film Editing
*Black Swan (Andrew Weisblum)
The Fighter (Pamela Martin)
The King's Speech (Tariq Anwar)
127 Hours (Jon Harris)
#The Social Network (Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall)

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
#Biutiful (Mexico)
Dogtooth (Greece)
In a Better World (Denmark)
*Incendies (Canada)
Hors la Loi (Algeria)
(note: "I Am Love" should have been nominated and should've won, IMHO)

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
How to Train Your Dragon (John Powell)
Inception (Hans Zimmer)
The King's Speech (Alexandre Desplat)
127 Hours (A.R. Rahman)
#*The Social Network (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
"Coming Home" from Country Strong Music and Lyric by Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey
"I See the Light" from Tangled Music and Lyric by Alan Menken Lyric by Glenn Slater
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
#*"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3 Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

Achievement in Sound Editing
#*Inception
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable

Achievement in Sound Mixing
#*Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Network
True Grit

Achievement in Visual Effects
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Hereafter
#*Inception
Iron Man 2

Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours (Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle)
#*The Social Network (Aaron Sorkin)
Toy Story 3 (Michael Arndt, story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich)
True Grit (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen)
Winter's Bone (Debra Granik and Anne Rossellini)

Original Screenplay
Another Year (Mike Leigh)
The Fighter (Paul Attanasio, Lewis Colich, Eric Johnson, Scott Silverand Paul Tamasy)
*Inception (Christopher Nolan)
The Kids are All Right (Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko)
#The King's Speech (David Seidler)

SIXTEEN CANDLES!!!!!

So just found out that AMC is showing "Sixteen Candles" on Sunday.  It's my Birthday on Saturday, and I just might go and celebrate 25 years of the John Hughes's classic.  Anyone want to come with?

3 POEMS

So this'll be a first for me.  I'm going to share some poetry with you, Filmland readers.  Over the years I've only let a few people see things I've written, so this is scary and new. And without further delay, here we go:

                                     
                                
                                              Written Life

                                      The novel, the writing of life,
                          Speaks in first-person.
                          The characters that help you along,
                          Write the chapters.

                          Theirs is a novel too, and I,
                          But a small character.
                          You see, we all have our own,                      
                          Books to write.

                          Don't forget that sometimes,
                          A character will be written-out,
                         Only to be filled with another,
                         One that will help write the next.

                         If we, by we, I mean me, could float
                         Above, and inside the head of many,
                         O' what wonders would be seen?
                         Would I find we're all the same?

                         That we are one of many, transcends,
                          Reveals the abundant layers of pages.
                                            


                                                     To Judge

                      Listening to judgements by others.
             When the bird tweets, is it a song of judgement
                       Passed?
             Should one create/make their own, when told?
                       Or pass it only from your physical moment of
                            introduction on?

             I'd like to follow the latter, for peace.
             Within me I will find the way I'll
                       look and see.
             Nothing is "forbidden" you, or shouldn't, by
                       a friend.
             Lest the judgement be turned back around
                       on them.
                                     

                                                                  My Box

         Explaining, or attempting to , my envisaged
            world,
     Takes patience, and timing of those exact beliefs.
          Through empathy and sympathy
                     a symphony of acceptance--
         
           Will finally be formed by that
             mountain of discarded intolerance--

                              Fear



That's all folks! Until next time

Friday Night Lights

I know I'm late to the party, but "Friday Night Lights" never seemed to be something I'd really enjoy watching.  I was very wrong.  Thanks to Netflix streaming for having this great show.  If you haven't been able to catch it on any of the stations its played on over the years(NBC, DirectTV, ABCFamily, and NBC again), try and watch it.  I think you'll like it.

MOVIE REVIEW

"Blue Valentine"--AI finally got a chance to see this film, which I'd been wanting to see since I'd heard about it.  It's a unique film.  It's a history of everything within this one relationship, yet also a sobering, in-depth look at what could be a history of many relationship's.  Life happens, we all know that.  When first meeting someone, life becomes rose-tinted. Time passes, and life happens.  I took a lot of things from this film, identifying of course, with Dean(Ryan Gosling).  The idea of a Prince Charming, is a disservice to men, as well as women.  There's no such thing, and as life happens, it will tell you this.  There are too many societal pressures upon a relationship that are antequated, and are due an update.  Oh, on some levels, we've come out of the middle ages, but I think there is something so ingrained in us, that we're soon taken back, no matter what.  "What does it mean to be a man?"  A line uttered with such frustration and confusion, by someone, who thinks that love is enough.  Life happens.  This is a portrait of a relationship, the beginning and the end, at the same time.  The performances and direction put you there in that moment.  And if you've had similar experiences, those memories will surface, and in my opinon, that's a good thing.  So, the destruction of Oz. What is Oz anyway? Just a fictional emerald city where all your problems are solved.  Life happens. 

Until next time, dear movie-goers!  Life is happening right now!

MOVIE REVIEW

"Kisses"--Grade A

A little film.  A giant journey.  2 kids about 11, bad family lives, live next door to each other outside of Dublin, Ireland.  Starting in wonderfully gritty Black and White.  A fitting backdrop for the bleak existence these children endure.  Introduced to Dylan(Shane Curry), playing a handheld video game trying to block out the toaster rage of his violent father being thrown outside to "play", and we then meet  Kylie (Kelly O'Neill), so sweetly telling a story about the "Sack Man" that kills children. Kylie being called inside because her uncle is there, and the dread plays across her face, and we know something has probably occurred between her and her uncle.  Dylan's mom returns home, he  goes inside, listens to his parents argue, his father hits his mother, and Dylan intervenes. 

And that's the beginning of what turns into a whimsical, scary, cute, realistic, journey of two kids escaping, at least for a night, their home life.  Once they are starting out of their "kip", color starts to seep into the frame, and we see these morose, cynical kids, come to life.  Their little escape, this fabulous journey we get to take with them, is steeped in truth, yet is bound by magic.  As their journey ends, we go back to black and white, but I believe they'll be able to bring that color back to each others lives any time they need or want to now.  That's something, more than something, that's hope.  And we all need a little of that. 

The performances by these new actors is nothing short of spectacular.  Especially Kelly O'Neill, who I hope, is able to act far into the future, she is truly transcendent. I can't wait to see what  Writer/Director Lance Daly has in store for us next. 

Until next time movie watchers!  Remember to breathe.

Movie Review

"World's Greatest Dad"(2009)--B+

I had no intention of writing up a review for this movie, but it just kind of snuck up on me, and I wanted to share it.  Bobcat Goldthwaite has a made a dark dark, almost subversive film, that really has a lot to say about the way we  idealize death in our society.  It holds a mirror to our hypocrisy, using someone's life as a blank canvas, creating someone completely different, from the brush strokes that had already been painted for that life.  This isn't a movie for everyone.  What movie is?  But if you're looking to think, and be entertained (in a weird/funny way), then check it out.  This movie sat on my queue for quite a while.  I'm so glad I got around to it.

Til next time Filmland readers!  Smiling is half the battle.

Flipped

"Flipped"--B+

What an enjoyable little film from Rob Reiner.   It's a shame that a movie with such heart, hasn't been seen by a lot of people.  I say put it on your queue, or rent it, or stream it, or however you watch movies nowadays, just see it.  It'll put a smile on your face. Go ahead do it.  What are you waiting for?

Until next time folks


Coming soon----"Kisses" review

Top Ten of 2010

So, full disclosure, of the 615 films released in 2010, I've only seen 87 of them.  So my top ten is from those 87, of course.  You may say this discounts me from being able to do a thourough list.  I'd agree with you. ;)So here it is:

10) The King's Speech:  My biggest props go to Tom Hooper, while I loved your HBO miniseries, "John Adams", I didn't think that I would see "The King's Speech" as anything other than a film that would have been great for TV(which isn't a bad thing).  I was completely drawn into this film with its beautiful cinematography, impeccable acting, a fab script, and an incredible director, with a special mention for the editing(especially the speech scene).

9) The Ghost Writer:  Say what you will about Roman Polanski's morals and legal woe's, he can still direct!  I was happily surprised by this film, Ewan McGregor takes the viewer along with him on his noir-ish journey.

8)  True Grit:  The Coen Brothers do it again.  I loved this film, but felt a little emotionally removed from it.  The performances were great all around.  Stand out for me was Matt Damon.  I'd really like to see the Coen Brothers take on Science Fiction, or Fantasy.  I think they would have a genuine chance of creating something new, and special.

7)  Inception:  Christopher Nolan is the man.  Glad someone out there realizes audiences aren't stupid.  We like to think along with our popcorn flicks.

6)  Cairo Time:  You're all like, What?  Yeah, little seen film, but right up my alley.  It never goes where you think it will.  Every corner, has something new, and you won't be dissapointed.  I already wanted to go to Egypt, this makes me want to just a little bit more.

5) The Fighter:  If Christian Bale doesn't win a boat load of awards, then something is seriously wrong.  For an actor to have been so good in the past, and then pull this spectacular performance from his soul, well it makes me giddy.  Wish Michael Keaton would have had this career trajectory after "Batman."  David O. Russell made this oft-told "boxing" movie, his own, and made us care.

4)  The Social Network:  So, as you all saw from my earlier post, I had to watch this a second time.  And I'm so glad I did.  I don't rewatch films that often, when I do it's because I love them.  David Fincher has really outdone himself here.  Aaron Sorkin's script is flawless.  Only complaint I have, as I've heard this described as "Citizen Kane" by way of John Hughes, is that John Hughes would have probably pushed for an R rating.  Small thing, but well, just my opinion.

3)  127 Hours:  James Franco, this is your year.  Danny Boyle, I prefer this to your "Slumdog Millionaire".  I was enthralled the whole time, "on the edge of my seat" as they say.

2)  I Am Love:  I was thrown for a loop when I watched this film.  It so methodically builds these characters from, a fly on the wall perspective, until you feel a part of this wonderful/screwed up family.  The fact that Tilda Swinton learned Italian WITH a Russian accent for this film is astounding.  But above and beyond the language, is a performance of sheer brilliance.  I could watch this film just for the visuals, and come away extremely fulfilled.

1)  Black Swan:  You all saw this coming right?  What can I say?  I found this movie to be, to me, emotinally resonant, in a way that films so rarely are.  I dreamt about this film, I discussed it, I thought about it, and then I dreamt about it again.  Natalie Portman is radiant, and gives a perfomance that will be remembered for years to come.  Mark my words, this film is destined to be a classic, and talked about as a "masterpiece." 

I know big words right?  Especially when everyone is talking about "The Social Network" as being the best thing since "Citizen Kane."  I can see it, and it's probably true.  "Black Swan" just spoke to me on so many levels.

That's all folks.  I hope you enjoyed this little list.  My wish is that it introduces you to at least one film you wouldn't have checked out before now.

Until next time, dear readers.  Have fun, and do everything with a smile.

The Social Network

So last night I watched "The Social Network" with my good friend nancels.  My initial reaction upon my first viewing was that of , uh (shoulder shrug).  I thought it was intelligent, but, well i don't know, i just didn't really connect with it.  So, I'm currently in the middle of my second viewing, I felt that I had to be missing something, and so far, I think I did.  I'm loving it this time, so I'll leave you now to continue watching.