I'M BACK!!!

Yeah I've let this blog fall by the wayside BIG time! Well, not now. Let the new entries begin!!!

REVISIONS AND UPDATES - 2/25/11

Time to start upping the posts on this thing like I said I would!

First off, I have seen more of last year's movies since posting my Best of 2010 list.  Rather than going through the trouble of revising the original blog to include those films, however, I figured I'd just rewrite it here.  So here it is, my revised list of the Best Movies of 2010:

1. Inception
2. Black Swan
3. Hereafter
4. The Fighter
5.  Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
6. The King's Speech
7. 127 Hours
8. The Social Network
9. Shutter Island
10. Easy A

REPLACE: Jeff Bridges with Colin Firth for Best Actor

 (as of 3/21. If I see more and want to change it again, I'll just come back to this post)

Also, here is a list of upcoming blogs that (hopefully) you can expect to see soon:

• REVIEW: Wallace State College's METAMORPHOSES and MYTHS AND HYMNS
  (subject to change)
• My Post-Oscar Response
• 10 Movies I Like/Love That Everyone Hates
• 10 Movies I Dislike/Hate That Everyone Loves
• Top 10 Favorite Obscure Musicals
• Top 5 Guilty Pleasure Musicals

Yes, I know it's a bunch of lists, but to be honest, those are easiest to plan ahead!

Hope you guys come back and check them out!

FYI:  In case anyone wonders, I'm NOT writing reviews of University of Montevallo productions, my reason being that I don't want to piss off my friends and professors by the possibility of criticizing their work on the Internet.  I have considered writing a couple of blogs closer to my graduation in May to highlight my favorites, but nothing of detail will be posted.  However, I will say that our recent production of Sara Ruhl's Eurydice is one of the best I've seen us do since I've been at this school.  Great job to the cast and crew, especially director Karow Wilson (whose BFA project this was).

2011 Oscar Predictions

Alright everybody! Let's find out how wrong I'll be this year!!!

Okay, this is the first time I've written this process out, so let me explain how I normally make these predictions.  I make two picks: one that I think will win, and one I think could pull an upset.  While I haven't seen every nominated movie this year, I tend to base my choices on what I have seen, the outcome of other awards ceremonies, Internet rumors, and, sometimes, basic top-of-the-head guessing.  My opinion of the movies and performances nominated is completely taken out of this (I tend to disagree with the Academy at times; if I had it my way, Up would have won Best Picture last year, and Inception would win almost everything this year!).  I also don't guess in every category, 'cause what do I know about documentaries, short films, or foreign films?  I'll analyze my choices on the categories I'm most confident in, then just list of some of the others I think I can pick.

So let's start with the big one:

Best Picture
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

This is the second year that the Academy  has nominated ten films in this category, and, once again, only five are considered serious contenders: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The King's Speech, and The Social Network, (though some might debate True Grit in place of Inception).  For me, I gotta go with the flow of the tide.  The Social Network has been the clear lead in the majority of other awards, so it's more than likely the winner here.  However, The King's Speech has slowly started building up some steam.  If any of the other movies can pull off a surprise victory, it's that one.

My pick:  The Social Network
If not, then:  The King's Speech

Best Actor
Javier Bardem, Biutiful
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King's Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours

Thankfully, three of the four acting categories have very clear winners this year.  This one has Colin Firth's name written all over it.  The only one who could possibly take it from him is Jeff Bridges, but he won the award last year, and while he was great in True Grit, his performance hasn't gotten the two-years-in-a-row praise that others have received in the past.  Firth all the way!

My pick;  Colin Firth  
If not, then:  Jeff Bridges

Best Actress
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Natalie Portman.  Hands down.  No question.  No doubt.  Natalie Portman.  What?  I have to pick a back-up? Uh, ok, um....Jennifer Lawrence.  I think she's the main reason Winter's Bone is nominated, anyway.

My pick:  Natalie Portman
If not, then:  Jennifer Lawrence

Best Supporting Actor 
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

This is a tighter, much-debated race, but I still think Christian Bale is the clear lead.  Geoffrey Rush is hot on his heels, however, and is the only one who really has a chance of taking it from him.

My pick:  Christian Bale
If not, then:  Geoffrey Rush

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Here's where I take a somewhat unconventional stance.  Melissa Leo had been the clear favorite to win this category, due to all the other awards she has won.  However, this year there was an unexpected nomination for Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit.  In most years, surprise nominees still tend to get overlooked, but this one makes me pause.  Steifeld has been a critical favorite for this performance; heck, she's basically the lead, carrying the movie more so than even Jeff Bridges.  Because she's recieved such praise, I think this nomination has given her the clear opportunity to take the prize.  Maybe the Academy will still go with the flow and give it to Leo, but I have a strong gut feeling about this one.

My pick:  Hailee Steinfeld
If not, then:  Melissa Leo

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David O. Russell, The Fighter
Tom Hooper, The King's Speech
David Fincher, The Social Network
Joel and Ethan Cohen, True Grit

I have to go on a rant real quick about what I feel is the biggest snub of the nominations this year: why on EARTH is Christopher Nolan not nominated for Inception?!?  It's the most brilliant work of his career, one of the best films nominated, and was one of the biggest hits among critics AND audiences.  This is one of the best directors working in the film industry today, and it seems as though he was passed over so that the Academy could nominate the Cohen Brothers again, who seem to find some way of getting nominated for alomost all of their movies.  Now, I am a Cohen Brothers fan, and I thought True Grit was great, but it wasn't as great as the other serious contenders, and the Cohens have done better work.  What movie is Christopher Nolan going to have to make in order to get the recognition he deserves?

Okay, now that that's out of my system:

I gotta go with the age-old method with this category: go with the Best Picture winner.  So my guess is that David Fincher will win for The Social Network.  As for my back-up pick, though, it could go one of two ways.  On the one hand, Tom Hooper won the Director's Guild Award for The King's Speech, and could pull off a repeat victory here.  On the other hand, there have been whisperings of Darren Arronosky pulling an upset.  Looks like this is the one category where I'm gonna cheat (Hey! My blog!) and pick more than one back-up.

My pick:  David Fincher
If not, then:  Tom Hooper or Darren Arronofsky

Best Original Screenplay
Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech

This is Inception's strongest chance at winning a major category and would be its most deserved.  It has the most thought and depth put into its story and concept than any of the other nominees.  It could still go to nominated darling The King's Speech, but I'm really pulling for Nolan here.

My pick:  Inception
If not, then:  The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

I think The Social Network has clear victory here; Aaron Sorkin is a master of dialogue, and it showed in his screenplay.  However, the Cohens have shown their skills as writers time and time again, so if there's one nominee that could pull an upset, it's True Grit.  Also, could someone for the life of me explain how Toy Story 3 is an adapted screenplay?

My pick:  The Social Network
If not, then:  True Grit

Best Animated Feature
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3: It's Pixar, and it's nominated in Best Picture and Adapted (wtf?) Screenplay.  Those are pretty clear indicators.  How to Train Your Dragon is an incredibly worthy back-up, though.

My pick:  Toy Story 3
If not, then:  How to Train Your Dragon

Best Original Score
John Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
Hans Zimmer, Inception
Alexandre Desplat, The King's Speech
A.R. Rahman, 127 Hours
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network

The fun thing about the music categories is that you don't really have to have seen the movies; you can just get on iTunes and listen to samplings of the nominees!  That's how I went about making my picks for these next two categories.

But first, I have another snub rant: Daft Punk for TRON: Legacy, anyone?  It was a terrific blend of techno and traditional orchestrations.  At first I didn't understand why it was left out...then I listened to The Social Network's score.  It kind of takes the same approach to a more intimate story, but in my opinion, Daft Punk did it better.  In fact, if they were nominated, I think they might stand a pretty good chance of winning.

But major kudos to the Academy for nominating How to Train Your Dragon, which I think will win.  John Powell's celtic-influenced fantasy score has the most spirit of all the nominees, breathing life into its story as well as setting the tone.  Recognition could also be given to Hans Zimmer for Inception, some of his best work which has become just as memorable as it's movie (BRRRRAAAMMMM!!!), but ultimately it's Powell's score that leaves more of an impression

My pick:  How to Train Your Dragon
If not, then:  Inception

Best Original Song
"Coming Home" from Country Strong
"I See the Light" from Tangled
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours
"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3

This one's pretty tough.  Ultimately, I have a gut feeling that "Coming Home" will win.  I know the Academy picked a country song last year ("The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart), but it seems like the strongest possible candidate.  Plus, this is the songwriting team's (Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey) first nomination, whereas all of the other nominees (Alan Menken, A.R. Rahman, Randy Newman) have already won the category in the past for (honestly) better work (not saying these songs aren't good, but they're no "A Whole New World," "Jai Ho," or "If I Didn't Have You.").  However, when trying to chose a back-up, Randy Newman's always a safe bet.

My pick:  "Coming Home"
If not, then:  "We Belong Together"

Technical Awards
To wrap this up, here's a run-down of my guesses for these categories:

Best Art Direction
My pick:  Alice in Wonderland
If not, then:  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Best Cinematography
My pick:  Black Swan
If not, then:  True Grit

Best Costume Design
My pick:  Alice in Wonderland
If not, then:  The Tempest
Best Film Editing
My pick:  The Social Network
If not, then:  Black Swan

Best Makeup
My pick:  The Wolfman
If not, then:  Barney's Version

Best Sound Editing
My pick:  TRON: Legacy
If not, then:  Inception
Best Sound Mixing
My pick:  Inception
If not, then:  True Grit

Best Visual Effects
My pick:  Inception
If not, then:  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
(I was wondering at first why TRON: Legacy wasn't nominated, but then I remembered: Creepy CG Young Jeff Bridges....didn't really help 'em, did he?)

So those are my thoughts.  Am I an Oscar expert?  By no means.  Am I right?  We'll see, won't we?

Agree? Disagree? Comment!

My Top 10 Movies of 2010, and Other Recognitions

I can't believe how bad I've been at posting on this blog!  The only review I've written was back when I saw Kick-Ass on DVD back in the beginning of the fall.  One New Year's resolution I can see to is to try to write my reviews more.

Until then, it's time to look back on 2010.  I keep pretty busy, so I didn't get to see EVERY movie I wanted to, but the ones I did see were memorable and most were definitely recommendable.  This is definitely subject to updates as I catch the ones I missed, but until then see these when you can!

My Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2010

10.    TRON: Legacy

   Pure fun, plain and simple. While I also enjoyed the story and the performances, THAT is the reason why I loved this long-awaited sequel to the cult classic. This is sheer good-time viewing at its best. Yes, it does suffer from occasional confusing techno-jargon and an unsettlingly creepy CGI Jeff Bridges as the villian, but none of that is enough to keep you from enjoying it. I was still at the edge of my seat by the end of it! Absolutely absorbing and 100% entertaining!

P.S. The score by Daft Punk is exceptionally good as well!

9.    True Grit

    I must make a confession: I have never seen the John Wayne original, something I always try to do before seeing a remake (hence why I still haven't seen the American Death at a Funeral yet). But this was still very entertaining, maybe even more so for that reason. The Coen Brothers give us the goods straightforward; a good old-fashioned Western that stays faithful to the traditions of the genre. Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld give performances true to the title; their chemistry is the best part of the whole movie. While a bit slow and points, the payoff is definitely worth it.

7.    How to Train Your Dragon



     Heads up, Disney; your competition's catching up. I'm really impressed by Dreamworks Animation's progress; ever since they struck gold with Kung Fu Panda, they've learned that a great animated movie isn't defined by pop-culture references with expiration dates or having big name actors in your voice cast (like I said, it isn't DEFINED by it)...it's by having a strong story and characters you care about. That's definitely what this one has, along with amazing animation and thrilling fantasy action sequences. This was almost a tie with my next pick; that's how good it is. 

7.    Toy Story 3

    While not quite the best of the Toy Story movies (that title goes to Toy Story 2), this is the one with the biggest emotional punch. A great way to send off the franchise, showing that it has grown up with the audience that's been with it since 1995. And that's what the story is essentially about; growing up and moving on, knowing when one stage of life is over and finding what your purpose is in the next stage. This also had not one, but TWO of Pixar's signature "moments;" y'know, the ones that make you feel like you're watching a great movie and forget that it's animated. They're getting good at those.

6.    Easy A

    Two words: Emma Stone. I will now see this girl in anything. I had always enjoyed her past performances in Superbad, The Rocker, and Zombieland, but her performance here shows how much of a star she can really be. While it is her performance that drives this movie, it's also the supporting cast and the poignant and hilarious screenplay that makes things really enjoyable. This is one of the best teen movies in years, one with just as much heart as laughs. And that's it......fine, and Emma Stone's insanely hot. There! Happy? 

5.    Shutter Island

    The most un-Scorsese movie Martin Scorsese has made. A great mystery with great pyscological depth; even those who saw the ending coming didn't see all the twists and turns it would take to get there. Chilling visuals and a manic overall style add to the tension as you eagerly sit at the edge of your seat.

4.    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

    The biggest box office tragedy this year was the underperformance of this gem. Much like the director of my number one pick, this is Edgar Wright's Citizen Kane; a movie that perfectly defines the style of its director at the top of his game. Perfect ADD viewing, with crazy visuals and spot-on geek references. Best of all, though, is the story; taking the mundane-yet-overdramatic world of relationships among 20-somethings and taking them to the ultimate extreme without losing its heart. And for those of you who complain about Michael Cera playing the same character, it works; I give you his best performance since Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist!

3.    The Fighter

    I was incredibly surprised by how much I loved this one! Seeing the trailers made me worry I was about to watch Invincible with boxing (the fact that it wasn't was probably why my brothers and uncles didn't like it as much as me), but what I got instead was great character-driven drama, with a strong-well developed cast of characters. It's the same way I felt about Friday Night Lights; a sports movie not just about the games (or in this case, matches) that are won, but about the pressures and struggles outside of the sport. In this case, we see Mark Wahlberg's Mickey Ward struggle between the loyalty to his destructive, suffocating family, and what his heart knows he really wants. Plus, if Christian Bale doesn't win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, there's no justice.

2.    Black Swan

    Hauntingly twisted and gripping. This is a terrific psychological tale on the dark side of perfectionism with a first-rate cast. Natalie Portman definitely gets my vote for every Best Actress award she can get, creating a a character that earns both the audience's sympathy and terror. The direction of Darren Aronofsky mixed with Matthew Libatique's cinematography creates a visual style that is both beautiful and disturbing, and this highlight of the year will stick with you long after you see it.

And my favorite movie of 2010 is...

1.    Inception

     Like it was going to be anything else! This is not only my favorite movie of the year, but also one of my top 10 favorites of all-time! Brilliant on every level: story, acting, visuals, etc. Christopher Nolan has made his masterpiece; this cements his status as one of the best new directors in Hollywood. I'll quote myself and say what I tell most of my friends: Some movies get better each time you watch them. INCEPTION gets better each time you think about it.

Honorable Mentions

• Dinner for Schmucks
• Let Me In
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• The Other Guys
• Despicable Me
• Paranormal Activity 2
• Alice in Wonderland
• Predators
• Shrek Forever After
• Devil

Worst Movie of the Year

   In one aspect, I guess that I should feel lucky that when it came to bad movies, I saw very little...in fact, only two!  Unfortunately, I still saw them, and if any of you did, too, then there should be little to no argument as to which movie earned this title...

The Last Airbender

    There's good news and bad news. The good news is, in terms of M. Night Shyamalan's movies, it's not as bad as The Happening, a movie that angered me to the point of wanting to throw things. The bad news...I'm sorry, the really, really bad news: IT'S SO, SO CLOSE! This is a misfire of Battlefield Earth-sized proportions; terrible, clunky writing and horrendous acting, even from the established talents of Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionare) and Asif Mandvi (TV's The Daily Show). This is strike two, Shyamalan; I've held out faith in you because of the greatness of your past work, but I don't know how much longer I can.

Runner-up:    Grown-Ups

"Did I Miss Something?": Most Overrated

Note that this is not necessarily for a movie I hated, just for one I thought wasn't as good as my friends seem to think it is...

Kick-Ass

   Again, I did like this movie, but I gave it a 3 out of 5 where others have given it a 4 or 5. My review for this is already on the blog, but let me restate my issues with it. The violence at times can be way too brutal to be enjoyable in a comedy, and some of the characters, while well-acted (especially by Nicolas Cage and Chloe Moretz), are too depraved to root for until the final act. And while containing some funny moments and standout performances, I can't fully join the rest of my friends in singing its praises.

Runners-Up:    Salt,  Iron Man 2

"Oh, Come ON!": Most Underrated

    The reverse of the last one: not so much a movie I love, but definitely better than people are saying it is...

Devil

  Okay, I will admit, some of the acting isn't that good, and some aspects of the story are kinda goofy (namely anything involving the Hispanic security guard: the toast!). But this movie has recieved a lot of hate, whereas I thought it was a very effective and entertaining thriller. It was very unfortunate to be released the same year as The Last Airbender, another Shyamalan movie that understandably gave some negative preconceptions on this one (he wrote the story, but didn't write the screenplay or direct). My opinion: go see it and decide for yourself!

Runners-up:    Shrek Forever After,  Alice in Wonderland

My Favorite Performances

Best Actor

    Jeff Bridges, True Grit

Best Actress

    Natalie Portman,  Black Swan

Best Suporting Actor

     Christian Bale,  The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress

    Marion Cotillard,  Inception

So that's it for 2010...on to 2011!

Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment!