NL West
San Francisco Giants (93-69)
All of the big media outlets are knocking the Giants. Yeah the have the staff, arguably the best in the league, certainly in the division. Sure they play defense but how are they going to score. So tell me how the Red Sox in the AL are going to win 90 games but the Giants can’t in an inferior league? Rookie catcher Buster Posey should be up by late May even if he needs to play 1st. His bat could provide the spark to lead the Giants on a pennant run.
Colorado Rockies (92-70)
Who said they wouldn’t be able to compete in that stadium? Their infield rivals the Phillies as the best in the game and could become the first since the ‘08 Marlins to have the entire infield hit over 25 home runs. Anyone who plays fantasy baseball knows about their ace Ubaldo Jimenez and Jorge De La Rosa gives them a 1-2 punch good enough for 35 wins. The bullpen could use another late inning addition, I do not like Rafael Betancourt in that stadium at all.
Las Angles Dodgers (84-78)
The Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce is crippling a team that should have won a World Series two years ago. McCourt has already said he will need to cut payroll and the off-season reflects that. Manny will be traded at the deadline for the 2nd time in 3 years.
Arizona Diamondbacks (79-85)
I wish I liked this team more. Justin Upton is going to win me a fantasy baseball championship in my 8 team league but that will be his only crown until he gets some help. Brandon Webb returns from Tommy John surgery he can’t be counted on for 200+ innings. Mark Reynolds already has 10 strikeouts this season.
San Diego Padres (20-142)
Those 20 wins will occur only on Kevin Correia’s starts. Jon Garland is a bargain at 5 million for one year but a contender will pick up on that and pick him up by the deadline. Couldn’t they have done something to help Adrian Gonzalez?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"Where did you learn to climb like that?" "The Pacific Northwest!"
Ah March in Florida. Everyday is between 75 and 80 degrees, the Canadians are heading back north where they belong, and Opening Day is just around the corner. It’s almost here! For the last four and a half weeks we Sunshine Staters have been swept up in Spring Training frenzy. Just the other day I saw a group of teenagers wearing t-shirts that read “SPRING FEVER” and the 2010 Marlins batting practice caps. Yes, in a dozen days our passion for exhibition ball is rewarded with meaningful games for the next six (and hopefully seven) months.
Ok. Nobody down here gives a rip about Spring Training. Those games are full of snowbirds, tourists who plan their vacations around their favorite teams, and... um... the stadiums aren’t full people. But if there was ever a year for Florida fans to be looking forward to the regular season, shouldn’t it be 2010? When have the Marlins AND the Rays both been considered preseason contenders? At that, fans of the states two favorite teams have to be feeling good too. For those who may not know, Florida has more Yankees and Braves fans than those of the home teams. Those were the teams who played on television and radio before Bud Selig wrongly assumed professional baseball would work here. I have been meaning to provide the Flop Faithful with my insights and predictions on all things MLB, so here it is. The humbled return of pReedictions.
Part 1. AL West
1. Mariners 92-70
No East Coast bias here! From a fans perspective, can a team have
a better off-season than Seattle just did? Trading for the most dominant left handed pitcher of the last two seasons, signing your division rival’s speedy 2nd baseman (providing the quickest 1-2 punch in all of baseball), and Ryan Garko! Yes it should be a fun summer in the Pacific Northwest. When this team does make the playoffs, which other team can say with a straight face they want to face King Felix and Cliff Lee back-to-back in a five or seven game series?
2. Rangers 87-75
The Rangers have quietly put together a great young pitching staff to compliment their always dangerous offense. I watched personally last year as Tommy Hunter shut down the Indians with his off speed pitches. Where else but BallFlop do you get the West Coast analysis first and Tommy Hunter praise!? Rich Harden joins Hunter, Scott Feldman, and Brandon McCarthy on a pitching staff that will keep the Rangers bats from having to score in the double digits to earn a W. Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler could be talked about as the best middle infield in the game by seasons end. Ron Washington has been said to have been giving some fiery, overly energitic, pre-game speeches of late, that has to be good for something.
3. Angels 78-84
How many years in a row do we need to see this pitching staff fall just short and the front office do nothing to address it over the winter? Now Lackey’s gone and Joel Pineiro comes from the National League to take his place. Hideki Matsui replaces Vladi Guererro which is like me crashing my Grand Marquis in high school, taking the insurance check and buying another Grand Marquis, but with less results. If Kendri Morales is unable to repeat his ‘09 performance this team will struggle to put many runs on the board.
4. Athletics 68-94
A fall from grace from the once great Billie Bean. I’m not going to pretend to know much about the A’s. But when your major off-season additions are Coco Crisp and Ben Sheets I know times are tough. 68 wins. 94 loses.
Ok. Nobody down here gives a rip about Spring Training. Those games are full of snowbirds, tourists who plan their vacations around their favorite teams, and... um... the stadiums aren’t full people. But if there was ever a year for Florida fans to be looking forward to the regular season, shouldn’t it be 2010? When have the Marlins AND the Rays both been considered preseason contenders? At that, fans of the states two favorite teams have to be feeling good too. For those who may not know, Florida has more Yankees and Braves fans than those of the home teams. Those were the teams who played on television and radio before Bud Selig wrongly assumed professional baseball would work here. I have been meaning to provide the Flop Faithful with my insights and predictions on all things MLB, so here it is. The humbled return of pReedictions.
Part 1. AL West
1. Mariners 92-70
No East Coast bias here! From a fans perspective, can a team have
a better off-season than Seattle just did? Trading for the most dominant left handed pitcher of the last two seasons, signing your division rival’s speedy 2nd baseman (providing the quickest 1-2 punch in all of baseball), and Ryan Garko! Yes it should be a fun summer in the Pacific Northwest. When this team does make the playoffs, which other team can say with a straight face they want to face King Felix and Cliff Lee back-to-back in a five or seven game series?
2. Rangers 87-75
The Rangers have quietly put together a great young pitching staff to compliment their always dangerous offense. I watched personally last year as Tommy Hunter shut down the Indians with his off speed pitches. Where else but BallFlop do you get the West Coast analysis first and Tommy Hunter praise!? Rich Harden joins Hunter, Scott Feldman, and Brandon McCarthy on a pitching staff that will keep the Rangers bats from having to score in the double digits to earn a W. Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler could be talked about as the best middle infield in the game by seasons end. Ron Washington has been said to have been giving some fiery, overly energitic, pre-game speeches of late, that has to be good for something.
3. Angels 78-84
How many years in a row do we need to see this pitching staff fall just short and the front office do nothing to address it over the winter? Now Lackey’s gone and Joel Pineiro comes from the National League to take his place. Hideki Matsui replaces Vladi Guererro which is like me crashing my Grand Marquis in high school, taking the insurance check and buying another Grand Marquis, but with less results. If Kendri Morales is unable to repeat his ‘09 performance this team will struggle to put many runs on the board.
4. Athletics 68-94
A fall from grace from the once great Billie Bean. I’m not going to pretend to know much about the A’s. But when your major off-season additions are Coco Crisp and Ben Sheets I know times are tough. 68 wins. 94 loses.
Monday, March 8, 2010
OSCARS Ain't-Cool-News THIS YEAR
I've got to address some points people are making about last night's Academy Awards telecast. I did a running blog during the show, just a little exercise in sillyness that made me happy and nobody read anyway. But, of course, I'm not the only one. Anyone who scours the web looking for inside movie information concerning upcoming films, newly released trailors, casting information, and movie reviews has probably stumbled across Harry Knowles' AintItCoolNews.com. Needless to say, he's a film lover who's probably seen 90% of the movies in existence. His knowledge of film is vast and impressive, as it spans through every decade and genre imaginable. But, given this information, sometimes his opinions are flat-out absurd.
In reading his running blog during the Oscars last night, I noticed a shade of sheer bitterness being spewed in the general direction of eventual Best Picture winner, "The Hurt Locker". Seemingly, he would have preferred to see "Avatar" steal the big award away from the front-runner, though I'm still struggling to see why. People, especially some heated talk-backers on his website, are making the case that "The Hurt Locker" isn't militarily accurate and "Avatar" deserved to win because it made a gaggle of money and changed the way films can be made for the future.
To address the first issue I'm simply going to state some facts: "The Hurt Locker" is about a bomb squad in Iraq, led by a rogue cowboy who's laugh-in-the-face-of-death attitude and screw-the-rules mentality is a constant thorn in his compatriots side, especially considering their tense, life-and-death profession. Is it believable? Maybe. Would the military allow for such a loose-canon to be running amok during a highly-tense war? Probably not. The sniper scene? Maybe a little too neat and tidy, but there's more going on in that scene than just unrivaled accuracy with a rifle. In all fairness, these things are slightly possible.
Now, for "Avatar": a group of scientists set-up a base on a distant planet with the plan of using fake versions of the blue, cat-like indigenous people, the Na'vi, controlled by the scientists in order to study their world and their species. I'm going to stop there because there's all kinds of weird, fantastical stuff going on throughout the movie, far too much to comment on. But, for those of you concerned with getting the facts right and hell-bent on movies being completely accurate, I just have to say: REALLY? You're willing to suspend disbelief and take that gargantuan leap of faith in "Avatar" but a not cut some slack for a couple of minor details in "The Hurt Locker"? And, as for the money issue, when did box-office receipts add up to quality films? Does everyone remember when "Titanic" won Best Picture in 1998? It beat out "L.A. Confidential" and "Good Will Hunting" for the top award that year, and everyone has been bitching about it ever since. It's humorous to point out the parallel points between "Avatar" and "Titanic": both directed by James Cameron, both were the most financially successful films of all time during the Oscar telecast, both lacked screenplay nominations (concurrently, both were written by James Cameron, himself), and both cost more money to produce than any other film in history at their respective times. If "Avatar" won we would have been subjected to the same crap 5 years from now: it was another plainly scripted special-effects blockbuster that's really little more than summer fare that didn't deserve to win Best Picture. "Avatar" was a peg lower, even, considering it had zero acting nominations and "Titanic" had 2. No acting and no screenplay? How does that equal a good film, nevermind the best film of the year?
Harry, how could you possibly tout a big-budget, predictable, brainless, only-pretty-on-the-surface movie like "Avatar" over the likes of truly well-told, well-written, layered stories like "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" or "The Hurt Locker"? I just don't get it. For someone who loves and knows that much about film, I have a hard time believing you actually got swept up in the "Avatar" hype so much that you were angry when "The Hurt Locker" won. Did you think it deserved to win based on artistic merit? What are you seeing there that I don't?
It's pretty depressing. Here was a guy who's opinions I trusted when I was first getting interested in film, just based on his knowledge and experience, and now he's let me down. I suppose I'll still look at his site for breaking news and tidbits about upcoming films, but I don't think I'll be paying too much attention to his reviews from now on. Oh well.
In reading his running blog during the Oscars last night, I noticed a shade of sheer bitterness being spewed in the general direction of eventual Best Picture winner, "The Hurt Locker". Seemingly, he would have preferred to see "Avatar" steal the big award away from the front-runner, though I'm still struggling to see why. People, especially some heated talk-backers on his website, are making the case that "The Hurt Locker" isn't militarily accurate and "Avatar" deserved to win because it made a gaggle of money and changed the way films can be made for the future.
To address the first issue I'm simply going to state some facts: "The Hurt Locker" is about a bomb squad in Iraq, led by a rogue cowboy who's laugh-in-the-face-of-death attitude and screw-the-rules mentality is a constant thorn in his compatriots side, especially considering their tense, life-and-death profession. Is it believable? Maybe. Would the military allow for such a loose-canon to be running amok during a highly-tense war? Probably not. The sniper scene? Maybe a little too neat and tidy, but there's more going on in that scene than just unrivaled accuracy with a rifle. In all fairness, these things are slightly possible.
Now, for "Avatar": a group of scientists set-up a base on a distant planet with the plan of using fake versions of the blue, cat-like indigenous people, the Na'vi, controlled by the scientists in order to study their world and their species. I'm going to stop there because there's all kinds of weird, fantastical stuff going on throughout the movie, far too much to comment on. But, for those of you concerned with getting the facts right and hell-bent on movies being completely accurate, I just have to say: REALLY? You're willing to suspend disbelief and take that gargantuan leap of faith in "Avatar" but a not cut some slack for a couple of minor details in "The Hurt Locker"? And, as for the money issue, when did box-office receipts add up to quality films? Does everyone remember when "Titanic" won Best Picture in 1998? It beat out "L.A. Confidential" and "Good Will Hunting" for the top award that year, and everyone has been bitching about it ever since. It's humorous to point out the parallel points between "Avatar" and "Titanic": both directed by James Cameron, both were the most financially successful films of all time during the Oscar telecast, both lacked screenplay nominations (concurrently, both were written by James Cameron, himself), and both cost more money to produce than any other film in history at their respective times. If "Avatar" won we would have been subjected to the same crap 5 years from now: it was another plainly scripted special-effects blockbuster that's really little more than summer fare that didn't deserve to win Best Picture. "Avatar" was a peg lower, even, considering it had zero acting nominations and "Titanic" had 2. No acting and no screenplay? How does that equal a good film, nevermind the best film of the year?
Harry, how could you possibly tout a big-budget, predictable, brainless, only-pretty-on-the-surface movie like "Avatar" over the likes of truly well-told, well-written, layered stories like "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" or "The Hurt Locker"? I just don't get it. For someone who loves and knows that much about film, I have a hard time believing you actually got swept up in the "Avatar" hype so much that you were angry when "The Hurt Locker" won. Did you think it deserved to win based on artistic merit? What are you seeing there that I don't?
It's pretty depressing. Here was a guy who's opinions I trusted when I was first getting interested in film, just based on his knowledge and experience, and now he's let me down. I suppose I'll still look at his site for breaking news and tidbits about upcoming films, but I don't think I'll be paying too much attention to his reviews from now on. Oh well.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
LIVE Oscar Show!
The night has finally arrived! It's been many, many months of sitting in dark cinemas, critiquing, deliberating and speculating, and dammit, it doesn't mean a thing. Because the 6,000 members of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences cast their votes this past week, and there's only 2 people on the entire planet who know the outcome of each of the Oscar races. My only hope is the Academy isn't populated with morons.
Now, I know no one gives a flying rip, but I'm going to give you my thoughts, observations, and reactions as the show goes on. So, have an energy drink, grab some food, and stay tuned for 4 hours of a bloated, pointlessly drawn-out awards show. Hopefully this little blog will keep you partially entertained while they're handing out all the awards nobody gives a shit about in between the big ones. The show starts in about 30 minutes.....Here we go!
(8:25) Ok, I wasn't going to start the blog til the actual show started, but I'm already upset. The interviewer who referred to Taylor Lautner as playing "the most famous werewolf in history" in "New Moon" needs to be removed from ever being in front of the camera. Ever hear of Lon Chaney??? What a joke.
(8:32) Opening bits: The nominees for Best Actor and Actress lines up oddly on stage. NPH doing a musical number! Gotta love that.
(8:34) Our hosts arrive! Meryl Streep has the most nominations...and the most losses! Not bad. It's pick-on Meryl Streep night seemingly. Apparently Gabourey is pronounced similarly to Cabaret. Woody Harrelson is "so high"! Oh cripes, here comes the first bit of "Avatar" business. Floating souls...just a strange deal. Kathryn Bigelow is more than just James Cameron's ex. George Clooney doesn't look impressed by the performances of the two co-hosts. I like that about George, not the fake Hollywood laughter. Zac Efron and Taylor Lautner have no business at this show! I think there's sheer hatred spewing from George Clooney.
(8:44) 10 minutes of an opening crap-fest. Now, Penelope Cruz, nearly inaudible, presents for Best Supporting Actor. Christoph Waltz has this in the bag. These acting clips are taking forever, trying to push this show even longer?? And Christoph Waltz wins the first award!! He deserves it, he played a shit perfectly in "Inglourious Basterds". He's a rambling mess. Better than listing out all the thank-you's....well done.
(9:15) Slight delay, had to change locations to be with friends. Not a fan of the awkward reading of the the actual screenplay pages in the Original Screenplay Nominees list. The winner is...."The Hurt Locker"!!! Let's hope this is a sign of things to come.
(9:17) Molly Ringwold?? At the Oscars??? She's taller than Matthew Broderick, you know even he's surprised she's there. It's a tribute to John Hughes. Just a montage of great moments from a great filmmaker. For an entire decade, he didn't miss. He left a legacy, he'll be missed.
(9:31) Best Animated Short....haven't seen them, don't care about them. I always wondered about the people who set out to make short-animated films. But, God bless those who do undertake such things. You can win an Oscar for it.
(9:34) Documentary Short-Subject....again, I applaud them. But who actually gets to see these films? Where are they available? I'd watch them if I could. Mike, about the winner: "He looks like KRS-One".
(9:38) Ben Stiller...."Avatar" bit #2. Not a fan of Ben Stiller, but "a little Hitler heavy" was pretty good. Now, it's just dragging on too long, not everything you say is funny, Ben. Best Make-Up: "Star Trek". Good for them, they deserved a Best Picture nom, though. Nice to see them win for something.
(9:47) Best Adapted Screenplay: Jake Gyllenhall (or however you spell it!) has no business standing next to Rachel McAdams. "Precious" wins!!! Didn't see that coming in a million years. Geoffrey Fletcher is all choked up. This is amazing to see. An absolutely phenomenal film, a much deserved win. Mike on Geoffrey Fletcher: "Is that Sapphire?" Genius.
(9:57) Best Supporting Actress: Every Vera Farmiga bit makes her seem like a whore. Although, given the movie.....Mo'Nique has no chance of losing. And she wins!! "Precious" now has two major wins. The two best films are going along smoothly. Mo'Nique was fantastic, couldn't be happier for her.
(10:05) Art Direction.....Avatar (gonna win), Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Nine, Sherlock Holmes, The Young Victoria. Big shocker, "Avatar" wins. Give it all the technical and set direction crap. Here's to hoping it stays out of the big boy categories.
(10:10) Costume Design: "The Young Victorian". The British films always win these costume awards. Set up a horse and carriage, put some British women in frocks and you can win an Oscar too.
(10:13) "Coming up: Taylor Lautner". Give me a minute, I'm going to go throw-up for a while....
(10:18) Mike: "Let's see how many time Kristen Stewart bites her lip" She's up to 4. 5. Tribute to horror films..."Jaws", "Nightmare on Elm Street", "Psycho", "The Exorcist", "Misery", Rosemary's Baby", "The Shining", "Beetlejuice", "Frankenstein", "Scream", "Friday the 13th", The Sixth Sense", "Carrie", "Nosferatu", "The Blob", "Edward Scissorhands", "Sleepy Hollow"....I may have missed a few.
(10:24) Best Sound Editing: "The Hurt Locker"...let's keep the winning going! Best Sound Mixing: "The Hurt Locker"!!! YES!!
(10:35) Best Cinematography: "Avatar". Of course, keep the visual awards coming.
(10:38) The annual montage of filmmakers we've lost this past year: James Taylor singing "In My Life" with the images behind him. Pretty classy deal.
(10:47) Best Musical Score over interpretive dance......this is what's wrong this fucking show. It's 4 hours long because they have to include a dance number to the Best Musical Score numbers. I just don't get it. Pretty soon they're going to have the actors and actresses in their categories acting their scenes out during the show, pushing the show well into Monday morning. END THIS!
(10:52) After 5 minutes of that business, "Up" wins. Good stuff there.
(10:54) Outstanding Visual Effects: "Avatar" wins this, no chance it loses. HUGE SURPRISE! "Avatar" wins. Another deserved visual effect: keep these coming.
(11:01) Documentary Feature: "The Cove". I'll have to do some research on it, but congrats to them.
(11:06) Tyler Perry dying on stage. The Oscars need new writers, this is a damn shame. Best Film Editing: "The Hurt Locker". Another win for the best picture of the year. I suppose the best picture should have the best editing.
(11:15) Best Foreign Language Film: "The White Ribbon" doesn't win!! "The Secret in Their Eyes" wins. From what I've heard, the former was going to win.
(11:20) James Cameron nodding in appreciation of his own film. Let's just hope he doesn't leave his seat for the rest of the night. He can watch the better movies win.
(11:25) Best Actor: This is absurd. They're doing a two minute speech about each of the nominees. REALLY?? Mike: "They cut off the acceptance speeches, but they let this run this long." A damn fine point. As I'm writing this, they still haven't finished talking about the nominees. Announce the damn winner already! And the winner is.....Jeff Bridges! Good for him. He deserved it, always gives a great performance. Jeremy Renner was my pick, but so the world goes.
(11:40) Best Actress: More of the same drawn-out crap. I'll be back in 10 when they actually announce the award.....
(11:47) Sean Penn is wrecked! Love it. The award goes to......Sandra Bullock. While I completely disagree with this one, good for her. Gabourey Sidibe deserved it. Carey Mulligan was better, too. She was good, just not great. She put on a thick southern accent and acted tough. Big deal. There were no layers to her performance, just what you saw on the exterior. That's not a great performance. Oh well.
(11:55) Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow!!! "The Hurt Locker" wins another! I love it, she truly was the tops this year. Once again, best picture of the year, so of course she's the best director of the year. Very pleased to see her win. One more to go.....
(11:58) Best Picture: "THE HURT LOCKER"!!! Folks, that's as good as it gets. Tom Hanks delivers the winner with distinct swiftness, thank you Tom. Anyone who is reading this please go out and see the film, it's absolutely fantastic. The Academy got this one right. Good for you.
Well, that's it for 2010. The show finished just past midnight, far too long. Hope anyone who read or reads this post-show enjoyed it at least a little bit. Good night!
Now, I know no one gives a flying rip, but I'm going to give you my thoughts, observations, and reactions as the show goes on. So, have an energy drink, grab some food, and stay tuned for 4 hours of a bloated, pointlessly drawn-out awards show. Hopefully this little blog will keep you partially entertained while they're handing out all the awards nobody gives a shit about in between the big ones. The show starts in about 30 minutes.....Here we go!
(8:25) Ok, I wasn't going to start the blog til the actual show started, but I'm already upset. The interviewer who referred to Taylor Lautner as playing "the most famous werewolf in history" in "New Moon" needs to be removed from ever being in front of the camera. Ever hear of Lon Chaney??? What a joke.
(8:32) Opening bits: The nominees for Best Actor and Actress lines up oddly on stage. NPH doing a musical number! Gotta love that.
(8:34) Our hosts arrive! Meryl Streep has the most nominations...and the most losses! Not bad. It's pick-on Meryl Streep night seemingly. Apparently Gabourey is pronounced similarly to Cabaret. Woody Harrelson is "so high"! Oh cripes, here comes the first bit of "Avatar" business. Floating souls...just a strange deal. Kathryn Bigelow is more than just James Cameron's ex. George Clooney doesn't look impressed by the performances of the two co-hosts. I like that about George, not the fake Hollywood laughter. Zac Efron and Taylor Lautner have no business at this show! I think there's sheer hatred spewing from George Clooney.
(8:44) 10 minutes of an opening crap-fest. Now, Penelope Cruz, nearly inaudible, presents for Best Supporting Actor. Christoph Waltz has this in the bag. These acting clips are taking forever, trying to push this show even longer?? And Christoph Waltz wins the first award!! He deserves it, he played a shit perfectly in "Inglourious Basterds". He's a rambling mess. Better than listing out all the thank-you's....well done.
(9:15) Slight delay, had to change locations to be with friends. Not a fan of the awkward reading of the the actual screenplay pages in the Original Screenplay Nominees list. The winner is...."The Hurt Locker"!!! Let's hope this is a sign of things to come.
(9:17) Molly Ringwold?? At the Oscars??? She's taller than Matthew Broderick, you know even he's surprised she's there. It's a tribute to John Hughes. Just a montage of great moments from a great filmmaker. For an entire decade, he didn't miss. He left a legacy, he'll be missed.
(9:31) Best Animated Short....haven't seen them, don't care about them. I always wondered about the people who set out to make short-animated films. But, God bless those who do undertake such things. You can win an Oscar for it.
(9:34) Documentary Short-Subject....again, I applaud them. But who actually gets to see these films? Where are they available? I'd watch them if I could. Mike, about the winner: "He looks like KRS-One".
(9:38) Ben Stiller...."Avatar" bit #2. Not a fan of Ben Stiller, but "a little Hitler heavy" was pretty good. Now, it's just dragging on too long, not everything you say is funny, Ben. Best Make-Up: "Star Trek". Good for them, they deserved a Best Picture nom, though. Nice to see them win for something.
(9:47) Best Adapted Screenplay: Jake Gyllenhall (or however you spell it!) has no business standing next to Rachel McAdams. "Precious" wins!!! Didn't see that coming in a million years. Geoffrey Fletcher is all choked up. This is amazing to see. An absolutely phenomenal film, a much deserved win. Mike on Geoffrey Fletcher: "Is that Sapphire?" Genius.
(9:57) Best Supporting Actress: Every Vera Farmiga bit makes her seem like a whore. Although, given the movie.....Mo'Nique has no chance of losing. And she wins!! "Precious" now has two major wins. The two best films are going along smoothly. Mo'Nique was fantastic, couldn't be happier for her.
(10:05) Art Direction.....Avatar (gonna win), Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, Nine, Sherlock Holmes, The Young Victoria. Big shocker, "Avatar" wins. Give it all the technical and set direction crap. Here's to hoping it stays out of the big boy categories.
(10:10) Costume Design: "The Young Victorian". The British films always win these costume awards. Set up a horse and carriage, put some British women in frocks and you can win an Oscar too.
(10:13) "Coming up: Taylor Lautner". Give me a minute, I'm going to go throw-up for a while....
(10:18) Mike: "Let's see how many time Kristen Stewart bites her lip" She's up to 4. 5. Tribute to horror films..."Jaws", "Nightmare on Elm Street", "Psycho", "The Exorcist", "Misery", Rosemary's Baby", "The Shining", "Beetlejuice", "Frankenstein", "Scream", "Friday the 13th", The Sixth Sense", "Carrie", "Nosferatu", "The Blob", "Edward Scissorhands", "Sleepy Hollow"....I may have missed a few.
(10:24) Best Sound Editing: "The Hurt Locker"...let's keep the winning going! Best Sound Mixing: "The Hurt Locker"!!! YES!!
(10:35) Best Cinematography: "Avatar". Of course, keep the visual awards coming.
(10:38) The annual montage of filmmakers we've lost this past year: James Taylor singing "In My Life" with the images behind him. Pretty classy deal.
(10:47) Best Musical Score over interpretive dance......this is what's wrong this fucking show. It's 4 hours long because they have to include a dance number to the Best Musical Score numbers. I just don't get it. Pretty soon they're going to have the actors and actresses in their categories acting their scenes out during the show, pushing the show well into Monday morning. END THIS!
(10:52) After 5 minutes of that business, "Up" wins. Good stuff there.
(10:54) Outstanding Visual Effects: "Avatar" wins this, no chance it loses. HUGE SURPRISE! "Avatar" wins. Another deserved visual effect: keep these coming.
(11:01) Documentary Feature: "The Cove". I'll have to do some research on it, but congrats to them.
(11:06) Tyler Perry dying on stage. The Oscars need new writers, this is a damn shame. Best Film Editing: "The Hurt Locker". Another win for the best picture of the year. I suppose the best picture should have the best editing.
(11:15) Best Foreign Language Film: "The White Ribbon" doesn't win!! "The Secret in Their Eyes" wins. From what I've heard, the former was going to win.
(11:20) James Cameron nodding in appreciation of his own film. Let's just hope he doesn't leave his seat for the rest of the night. He can watch the better movies win.
(11:25) Best Actor: This is absurd. They're doing a two minute speech about each of the nominees. REALLY?? Mike: "They cut off the acceptance speeches, but they let this run this long." A damn fine point. As I'm writing this, they still haven't finished talking about the nominees. Announce the damn winner already! And the winner is.....Jeff Bridges! Good for him. He deserved it, always gives a great performance. Jeremy Renner was my pick, but so the world goes.
(11:40) Best Actress: More of the same drawn-out crap. I'll be back in 10 when they actually announce the award.....
(11:47) Sean Penn is wrecked! Love it. The award goes to......Sandra Bullock. While I completely disagree with this one, good for her. Gabourey Sidibe deserved it. Carey Mulligan was better, too. She was good, just not great. She put on a thick southern accent and acted tough. Big deal. There were no layers to her performance, just what you saw on the exterior. That's not a great performance. Oh well.
(11:55) Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow!!! "The Hurt Locker" wins another! I love it, she truly was the tops this year. Once again, best picture of the year, so of course she's the best director of the year. Very pleased to see her win. One more to go.....
(11:58) Best Picture: "THE HURT LOCKER"!!! Folks, that's as good as it gets. Tom Hanks delivers the winner with distinct swiftness, thank you Tom. Anyone who is reading this please go out and see the film, it's absolutely fantastic. The Academy got this one right. Good for you.
Well, that's it for 2010. The show finished just past midnight, far too long. Hope anyone who read or reads this post-show enjoyed it at least a little bit. Good night!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
OSCAR Preview, Opinions, and Picks
I’m a dumb-ass. As many of you may know, this year’s Academy Awards is a little different from recent telecasts. First, there are two hosts: Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Second, the list of nominees for Best Picture has been expanded to ten, a practice that hasn’t been seen since 1943. The purpose of which is, as always, money. You see, in years past the Best Picture candidates weren’t necessarily the sexiest candidates, i.e. not very popular with the majority of America based on box office figures. It’s believed that this idea was formed by last year’s Oscars, which featured Slumdog Millionaire (winner), Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Milk, and The Reader. The glaring omission being The Dark Knight, which garnered both rave reviews from critics and fans alike and record-breaking box office figures. The result was another lowly rated Oscar ceremony fueled by lack of interest in the nominees. Fast-forward to 2010 and they have now eliminated that problem. The Academy can feature little-seen, yet critically praised films alongside a few box office winners that received good reviews all around with the expansion to ten nominees. There’s no doubt if they had implemented this plan last year that The Dark Knight would have been nominated and a few more fan-boys would have tuned in hoping for an upset Best Picture win. Alas, they tuned out once Heath Ledger won Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, a pity considering it’s the first award given out.
So, why am I a dumb-ass you might ask (some of you may already know the answer, and I’m sure some of you could supply your own answer. But, this is my damn article and we’re going with my reason!) I’m a dumb-ass because up until this year I had never seen every Best Picture nominee in any single year. There were some years I had seen a few, but never all of them. So what year do I choose to reverse this trend? The friggin’ year they decide to expand to ten nominees. I’m an idiot. However, I gave myself a mountain to climb and I succeeded, with just under a week to go. Ten movies under my belt and I’m going to give you my thoughts and opinions on the nominees. I hope you enjoy.
The Movie: Avatar
The Good: It’s a special-effects, science-fiction epic that never feels it’s running time (just under 3 hours). In a year of superb science-fiction films, this one garnered the best reviews and currently stands as the highest grossing film of all time, when not adjusting for inflation. It’s James Cameron’s labor of love and his stamp is all over it: it’s broad, it’s epic, and filled with breathtaking scenery and flawless action sequences. The special-effects are seamless, that itself is a magical feat considering the majority of the movie is CG. A staggering amount of time and energy went into the making of this film, and it shows.
The Bad: Unoriginality. Acting. Dialogue. Folks, this film isn’t breaking any new ground in terms of story-telling. It’s a slap-on-your-3D-glasses-and-enjoy-the-ride assault on your senses. The plot is basically the John Smith meets Pocahontas tale, and even one of the subplots is something straight out of Cameron’s own Aliens (just flip Paul Reiser and Giovanni Ribisi. You know I’m right.) Notice the lack of Best Screenplay or a single acting nod. How good could this movie possibly be if the screenplay didn’t make the top-5 and not one actor even sniffed a nomination? Isn’t that why we go to the movies, to see good acting and a well-told story? This isn’t even the best science-fiction film of the year. I would put Moon, District 9, and Star Trek ahead of this movie in a heart-beat. But, Avatar made more money than this entire country did last year. Given its strong reviews and box office power, this one was a shoo-in.
Prediction: Unfortunately, this could walk away with the whole thing. It has won about half the critics awards it’s been nominated for and has the clout of having won the Golden Globe. It’s a slap in the face if it wins Best Picture or Best Director. But, there is a chance for a split in those categories. Load it up with special effects awards, but leave the heavy awards to the better films.
The Movie: The Blind Side
The Good: You leave the theater feeling all warm and fuzzy. It’s advertised as a feel-good sports movie, but it’s actually more than that. The film uses the sports scenes to define the characters, instead of the character moments filling in time between sports scenes. Sandra Bullock is, indeed, very good in the film as the philanthropic Southern rich woman. Despite the advertisements, the film doesn’t follow the normal cliché’s of the genre, which was refreshing considering the film could have gone down “Sappy Lane”. Got generally good reviews, mostly for Sandra Bullock, and made a splash at the box office as well.
The Bad: At no point did I feel any type of conflict or real tension in the story. There’s a back-story that’s brushed away quickly and a resolution in the third act that’s very unsatisfying. It’s a true story, so we all know how things end up, but the journey there needed to dig a little deeper and the conflict needed to be more fleshed out. I realize it’s not exactly the deepest, most thought-provoking film ever made, but I expect more of a Best Picture candidate.
Prediction: No chance for Best Picture. This one falls under The Dark Knight addendum. Its box office success and leading lady drove this film right into the mix. Bullock has a good chance for Best Actress, though I would even disagree with that.
The Movie: District 9
The Good: It’s original, epic story-telling on a shoe-string budget. The premise of this, based on writer/director Neill Blomkamp’s own upbringing in South Africa during Apartheid, is nothing short of genius. District 9 succeeds in originality where Avatar fails. Instead of throwing the special effects to the forefront, this film creates a world that is only enhanced by the effects, as stunning as they are considering the modest budget. Sharlto Copley was overlooked for his great work here. Managed to rack up some very respectable box office receipts along with a Best Adapted Screenplay nod.
The Bad: It’s the little brother to some other sci-fi film nominated in this category. There are a few scenarios that play out too predictably for a film this smart, but even those scenes are pretty well executed. The villain(s) are pretty much your standard run-of-the-mill type, complete with wicked father-in-law and evil military leader hell-bent on stopping our hero. No acting or directing nominations hurts.
Prediction: Not a winner. The Academy is too enamored with James Cameron’s blue cat-people for them to even consider this superior film. Blomkamp should have Cameron’s Best Director nomination, and sadly he probably won’t win for his terrific screenplay either. Sigh.
The Movie: An Education
The Good: Solid performances all around and a terrific script. It’s a small, character driven film that rests its success on the lead performances by Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard. Alfred Molina, as Mulligan’s father, also shines here. The young girl-older man Lolita story is nothing new, especially in today’s society, but it offers enough turns and roundabouts that it never feels stale or predictable.
The Bad: Tends to feel a bit slow at times, with little or no plot advancements occurring for many scenes at a time. The chemistry between the two, at least sexually, is a bit uncomfortable to watch at certain points, but perhaps that was the intention. It has a climax and a plot twist that could have been more satisfying, or at least a bit cleverer considering the intelligence of the rest of the story.
Prediction: Not for Best Picture, but I’d like to see Carey Mulligan walk off with the Best Actress statuette. Her work here is superior to Sandra Bullock’s turn in The Blind Side. Also has an outside chance to dethrone Up in the Air’s bid for Adapted Screenplay. I think it wins one of those two, just not sure which one.
The Movie: The Hurt Locker
The Good: The script, the acting, the plot….basically everything. There are taglines for films that call them “heart-pounding”, “intense”, “edge of your seat” and other such hyperboles. Well, this movie is all of those. There’s no filler, no montages, not a wasted moment that isn’t furthering the plot along or placing the characters in decisive situations of life-and-death. Jeremy Renner deserves a bright career after this movie. A tidal wave of nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor (aside from technical achievements).
The Bad: The case against it? It’s a war movie, and an Iraq war movie, no less. Not exactly a popular topic for the majority of people, as the lack of box office numbers will tell you. In a year loaded with fantastical and science fiction films, this one feels almost too real to be entertainment. It’ll be interesting to see how a notoriously liberal Hollywood votes on a movie set during a war they fervently oppose.
Prediction: Winner. Winner. Winner. Winner. I demand it. It’s by far the best film of the year. I still fear Avatar and its box office earnings will crash the party in one of the categories. I feel a split in the Best Picture and Best Director races in the making, though The Hurt Locker deserves the sweep.
The Movie: Inglourious Basterds
The Good: Christoph Waltz and another bravely intelligent script from Quentin Tarantino. Without a doubt, the most recklessly creative film this year, centered on a war that’s been featured in films more than any other. The fact that Tarantino brought something this original to the screen based on WWII is worth serious commendation. Another big hitter in the major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor.
The Bad: Never in my life have I watched so many back and forth scenes of garrulous dialogue, not a good thing considering it’s a war movie. It’s weighed down with words, at certain points the scenes that are supposed to be building tension manage to drag on just a bit too long. There are times when more is less, but QT loves the sound of his own dialogue to trim out too much. The graphic violence may turn some people off too.
Prediction: It’s the only movie I could see sneaking into the Best Picture race with Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Christoph Waltz wins in a landslide for Supporting Actor, and I think Tarantino wins the golden guy for his screenplay.
The Movie: Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push” by Sapphire
The Good: The acting is as good as it gets for my buck. Gabourney Sidibe (can’t wait to hear the presenter announce that name) and Mo’Nique push this film to a much higher level. The moments featuring both of them in one room are some of the most tense, nail-biting scenes you will ever watch. If that’s not good writing and good acting, then I don’t know what is. It takes quite a storyteller to bring a tear to my eye, and this film managed to do just that. Think this is too small of a film? Nominations include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. All the big ones.
The Bad: Well, how do I put this….it’s not the easiest material to absorb. There are many scenes of sheer discomfort that are very difficult to watch. Rape, incest, domestic violence, endangered children, teen pregnancy…not the most fun you’ll have at the movies this year. Not surprisingly, it’s pretty weak in the box office figures as well.
Prediction: Without question, Mo’Nique is the Best Supporting Actress of the year. Her attendance is a mere formality. The other nominees have an uphill battle. But, here’s a little secret: this is the only film that could beat The Hurt Locker for Best Picture and it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.
The Movie: A Serious Man
The Good: The best thing about a Coen Brother’s film is always the Coen Brother’s. It’s darkly comical and well written, two staples of their work. It’s two Jewish brothers making a film about growing up in a Jewish suburb in Minnesota, much like their own upbringing. The many subplots (the TV antenna never working, a lunatic brother, a bevy of not-so-helpful Rabbi’s, etc) make for a deliriously bleak and funny experience. Scored two major nominations: Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Michael Stuhlbarg deserves some credit for his frantic performance.
The Bad: Sadly, it’s not the Coen Brother’s finest work. But, the fact that even their lesser efforts snag two nominations says something about their level of talent and respect within the industry. The film? It lacks a really cohesive narrative. All those subplots jumble together to make misery for Stuhlbarg’s beaten professor, but little else. The problem is they never really add up to anything, they are just meant to pile and pile and pile, until you eventually expect him to break. This one drummed up almost no box office at all. Definitely the least financially successful of all the nominees.
Prediction: I can’t see this winning anything at all. There’s an outside chance of an Original Screenplay win, but I doubt it. This one feels more like a nod to the Coen’s. Like they’ve reached a "Martin Scorcese - Meryl Streep Zone" where they’ll get nominated even for lesser work just to acknowledge their talent, which is superior to 99% of Hollywood anyway.
The Movie: Up
The Good: It’s an animated movie about an old codger who moves his house via balloons filled with helium. Sounds crazy, but it works. There’s something about Pixar films, they just know how to tell good stories. They infused more heart into this movie than just about every nominee on this list combined. It’s the first animated film to get a Best Picture nomination since The Lion King, and I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been nominated even if there were only five candidates. The use of montage at the beginning of the film is beautiful and heartbreaking, one of the finest uses of montage you’ll ever see. It takes a certain skill to make an audience emotionally invest in an animated character, which is a testament to the writers. Scored big at the box office along with two major nods, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
The Bad: Well, there will always be a slight amount of emotional detachment with animation, given that the audience can’t see a physical actor going through the motions of the story. Humans empathize with other humans, something animation can not provide. That being said, this film does pretty well with grabbing the audience early on. But the first act felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of it. It’s a kid-friendly film that adults can enjoy as well; hence there are several points of predictability and a little sappiness in the plot. But, I’m just nitpicking on some of those points. I can’t put my finger on it, but this film just didn’t feel big enough for its premise.
Prediction: It won’t win any of the majors, but Animated Feature is a definite considering the Best Picture nomination. It’s going to take a tough nut to crack a victory in the Best Picture category in animation. This just isn’t the one.
The Movie: Up in the Air
The Good: The screenplay and a charismatic leading man are the fuel for this picture. George Clooney plays, basically, George Clooney. It’s not easy to be likable when your character is responsible for mass downsizings in large companies, but old George pulls it off pretty easily. The dialogue is snappy and hysterical throughout and delivers on an interesting premise. The female leads are to be commended as well, especially Anna Kendrick. Her and Clooney work beautifully together. Scored fairly decent box office for a non-event picture. A host of major nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and two for Best Supporting Actress.
The Bad: Leaves a bad, empty taste in your mouth. There’s a build-up of sorts for Clooney’s character that is never fully released during the third act. It’s just not satisfying. The movie drags a bit when Anna Kendrick disappears for a length of time, leaving Clooney and Vera Farmiga to play off each other. I know Farmiga got the majority of the praise between the two females, but I much preferred Anna Kendrick’s performance as the upstart young professional.
Prediction: Once considered a frontrunner for Best Picture, now its best chance is in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, where I think it will win. Also, Clooney is the only person I could see upsetting Jeff Bridges for Best Actor. But, I think maybe the Academy throws Jason Reitman a bone in the writing category to acknowledge the great script and that’s it.
Ok, if anyone actually read that whole thing you’ll be my friend forever. Undoubtedly, not many will read my closing statements. Here’s my final picks:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: James Cameron – Avatar
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Best Actress: Carey Mulligan – An Education
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner – Up in the Air
Before I go, just a few gripes: (500) Days of Summer, Star Trek, and Moon deserve some kind of recognition. They were overlooked in all major categories and it's a shame. So I commend the fine people who made these terrific films. You deserve better.
That’s all, folks! Tune in here on Sunday, March 7th at 8:00 PM for my live Academy Awards Show blog!
So, why am I a dumb-ass you might ask (some of you may already know the answer, and I’m sure some of you could supply your own answer. But, this is my damn article and we’re going with my reason!) I’m a dumb-ass because up until this year I had never seen every Best Picture nominee in any single year. There were some years I had seen a few, but never all of them. So what year do I choose to reverse this trend? The friggin’ year they decide to expand to ten nominees. I’m an idiot. However, I gave myself a mountain to climb and I succeeded, with just under a week to go. Ten movies under my belt and I’m going to give you my thoughts and opinions on the nominees. I hope you enjoy.
The Movie: Avatar
The Good: It’s a special-effects, science-fiction epic that never feels it’s running time (just under 3 hours). In a year of superb science-fiction films, this one garnered the best reviews and currently stands as the highest grossing film of all time, when not adjusting for inflation. It’s James Cameron’s labor of love and his stamp is all over it: it’s broad, it’s epic, and filled with breathtaking scenery and flawless action sequences. The special-effects are seamless, that itself is a magical feat considering the majority of the movie is CG. A staggering amount of time and energy went into the making of this film, and it shows.
The Bad: Unoriginality. Acting. Dialogue. Folks, this film isn’t breaking any new ground in terms of story-telling. It’s a slap-on-your-3D-glasses-and-enjoy-the-ride assault on your senses. The plot is basically the John Smith meets Pocahontas tale, and even one of the subplots is something straight out of Cameron’s own Aliens (just flip Paul Reiser and Giovanni Ribisi. You know I’m right.) Notice the lack of Best Screenplay or a single acting nod. How good could this movie possibly be if the screenplay didn’t make the top-5 and not one actor even sniffed a nomination? Isn’t that why we go to the movies, to see good acting and a well-told story? This isn’t even the best science-fiction film of the year. I would put Moon, District 9, and Star Trek ahead of this movie in a heart-beat. But, Avatar made more money than this entire country did last year. Given its strong reviews and box office power, this one was a shoo-in.
Prediction: Unfortunately, this could walk away with the whole thing. It has won about half the critics awards it’s been nominated for and has the clout of having won the Golden Globe. It’s a slap in the face if it wins Best Picture or Best Director. But, there is a chance for a split in those categories. Load it up with special effects awards, but leave the heavy awards to the better films.
The Movie: The Blind Side
The Good: You leave the theater feeling all warm and fuzzy. It’s advertised as a feel-good sports movie, but it’s actually more than that. The film uses the sports scenes to define the characters, instead of the character moments filling in time between sports scenes. Sandra Bullock is, indeed, very good in the film as the philanthropic Southern rich woman. Despite the advertisements, the film doesn’t follow the normal cliché’s of the genre, which was refreshing considering the film could have gone down “Sappy Lane”. Got generally good reviews, mostly for Sandra Bullock, and made a splash at the box office as well.
The Bad: At no point did I feel any type of conflict or real tension in the story. There’s a back-story that’s brushed away quickly and a resolution in the third act that’s very unsatisfying. It’s a true story, so we all know how things end up, but the journey there needed to dig a little deeper and the conflict needed to be more fleshed out. I realize it’s not exactly the deepest, most thought-provoking film ever made, but I expect more of a Best Picture candidate.
Prediction: No chance for Best Picture. This one falls under The Dark Knight addendum. Its box office success and leading lady drove this film right into the mix. Bullock has a good chance for Best Actress, though I would even disagree with that.
The Movie: District 9
The Good: It’s original, epic story-telling on a shoe-string budget. The premise of this, based on writer/director Neill Blomkamp’s own upbringing in South Africa during Apartheid, is nothing short of genius. District 9 succeeds in originality where Avatar fails. Instead of throwing the special effects to the forefront, this film creates a world that is only enhanced by the effects, as stunning as they are considering the modest budget. Sharlto Copley was overlooked for his great work here. Managed to rack up some very respectable box office receipts along with a Best Adapted Screenplay nod.
The Bad: It’s the little brother to some other sci-fi film nominated in this category. There are a few scenarios that play out too predictably for a film this smart, but even those scenes are pretty well executed. The villain(s) are pretty much your standard run-of-the-mill type, complete with wicked father-in-law and evil military leader hell-bent on stopping our hero. No acting or directing nominations hurts.
Prediction: Not a winner. The Academy is too enamored with James Cameron’s blue cat-people for them to even consider this superior film. Blomkamp should have Cameron’s Best Director nomination, and sadly he probably won’t win for his terrific screenplay either. Sigh.
The Movie: An Education
The Good: Solid performances all around and a terrific script. It’s a small, character driven film that rests its success on the lead performances by Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard. Alfred Molina, as Mulligan’s father, also shines here. The young girl-older man Lolita story is nothing new, especially in today’s society, but it offers enough turns and roundabouts that it never feels stale or predictable.
The Bad: Tends to feel a bit slow at times, with little or no plot advancements occurring for many scenes at a time. The chemistry between the two, at least sexually, is a bit uncomfortable to watch at certain points, but perhaps that was the intention. It has a climax and a plot twist that could have been more satisfying, or at least a bit cleverer considering the intelligence of the rest of the story.
Prediction: Not for Best Picture, but I’d like to see Carey Mulligan walk off with the Best Actress statuette. Her work here is superior to Sandra Bullock’s turn in The Blind Side. Also has an outside chance to dethrone Up in the Air’s bid for Adapted Screenplay. I think it wins one of those two, just not sure which one.
The Movie: The Hurt Locker
The Good: The script, the acting, the plot….basically everything. There are taglines for films that call them “heart-pounding”, “intense”, “edge of your seat” and other such hyperboles. Well, this movie is all of those. There’s no filler, no montages, not a wasted moment that isn’t furthering the plot along or placing the characters in decisive situations of life-and-death. Jeremy Renner deserves a bright career after this movie. A tidal wave of nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actor (aside from technical achievements).
The Bad: The case against it? It’s a war movie, and an Iraq war movie, no less. Not exactly a popular topic for the majority of people, as the lack of box office numbers will tell you. In a year loaded with fantastical and science fiction films, this one feels almost too real to be entertainment. It’ll be interesting to see how a notoriously liberal Hollywood votes on a movie set during a war they fervently oppose.
Prediction: Winner. Winner. Winner. Winner. I demand it. It’s by far the best film of the year. I still fear Avatar and its box office earnings will crash the party in one of the categories. I feel a split in the Best Picture and Best Director races in the making, though The Hurt Locker deserves the sweep.
The Movie: Inglourious Basterds
The Good: Christoph Waltz and another bravely intelligent script from Quentin Tarantino. Without a doubt, the most recklessly creative film this year, centered on a war that’s been featured in films more than any other. The fact that Tarantino brought something this original to the screen based on WWII is worth serious commendation. Another big hitter in the major categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor.
The Bad: Never in my life have I watched so many back and forth scenes of garrulous dialogue, not a good thing considering it’s a war movie. It’s weighed down with words, at certain points the scenes that are supposed to be building tension manage to drag on just a bit too long. There are times when more is less, but QT loves the sound of his own dialogue to trim out too much. The graphic violence may turn some people off too.
Prediction: It’s the only movie I could see sneaking into the Best Picture race with Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Christoph Waltz wins in a landslide for Supporting Actor, and I think Tarantino wins the golden guy for his screenplay.
The Movie: Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push” by Sapphire
The Good: The acting is as good as it gets for my buck. Gabourney Sidibe (can’t wait to hear the presenter announce that name) and Mo’Nique push this film to a much higher level. The moments featuring both of them in one room are some of the most tense, nail-biting scenes you will ever watch. If that’s not good writing and good acting, then I don’t know what is. It takes quite a storyteller to bring a tear to my eye, and this film managed to do just that. Think this is too small of a film? Nominations include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. All the big ones.
The Bad: Well, how do I put this….it’s not the easiest material to absorb. There are many scenes of sheer discomfort that are very difficult to watch. Rape, incest, domestic violence, endangered children, teen pregnancy…not the most fun you’ll have at the movies this year. Not surprisingly, it’s pretty weak in the box office figures as well.
Prediction: Without question, Mo’Nique is the Best Supporting Actress of the year. Her attendance is a mere formality. The other nominees have an uphill battle. But, here’s a little secret: this is the only film that could beat The Hurt Locker for Best Picture and it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest.
The Movie: A Serious Man
The Good: The best thing about a Coen Brother’s film is always the Coen Brother’s. It’s darkly comical and well written, two staples of their work. It’s two Jewish brothers making a film about growing up in a Jewish suburb in Minnesota, much like their own upbringing. The many subplots (the TV antenna never working, a lunatic brother, a bevy of not-so-helpful Rabbi’s, etc) make for a deliriously bleak and funny experience. Scored two major nominations: Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Michael Stuhlbarg deserves some credit for his frantic performance.
The Bad: Sadly, it’s not the Coen Brother’s finest work. But, the fact that even their lesser efforts snag two nominations says something about their level of talent and respect within the industry. The film? It lacks a really cohesive narrative. All those subplots jumble together to make misery for Stuhlbarg’s beaten professor, but little else. The problem is they never really add up to anything, they are just meant to pile and pile and pile, until you eventually expect him to break. This one drummed up almost no box office at all. Definitely the least financially successful of all the nominees.
Prediction: I can’t see this winning anything at all. There’s an outside chance of an Original Screenplay win, but I doubt it. This one feels more like a nod to the Coen’s. Like they’ve reached a "Martin Scorcese - Meryl Streep Zone" where they’ll get nominated even for lesser work just to acknowledge their talent, which is superior to 99% of Hollywood anyway.
The Movie: Up
The Good: It’s an animated movie about an old codger who moves his house via balloons filled with helium. Sounds crazy, but it works. There’s something about Pixar films, they just know how to tell good stories. They infused more heart into this movie than just about every nominee on this list combined. It’s the first animated film to get a Best Picture nomination since The Lion King, and I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been nominated even if there were only five candidates. The use of montage at the beginning of the film is beautiful and heartbreaking, one of the finest uses of montage you’ll ever see. It takes a certain skill to make an audience emotionally invest in an animated character, which is a testament to the writers. Scored big at the box office along with two major nods, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
The Bad: Well, there will always be a slight amount of emotional detachment with animation, given that the audience can’t see a physical actor going through the motions of the story. Humans empathize with other humans, something animation can not provide. That being said, this film does pretty well with grabbing the audience early on. But the first act felt a bit rushed compared to the rest of it. It’s a kid-friendly film that adults can enjoy as well; hence there are several points of predictability and a little sappiness in the plot. But, I’m just nitpicking on some of those points. I can’t put my finger on it, but this film just didn’t feel big enough for its premise.
Prediction: It won’t win any of the majors, but Animated Feature is a definite considering the Best Picture nomination. It’s going to take a tough nut to crack a victory in the Best Picture category in animation. This just isn’t the one.
The Movie: Up in the Air
The Good: The screenplay and a charismatic leading man are the fuel for this picture. George Clooney plays, basically, George Clooney. It’s not easy to be likable when your character is responsible for mass downsizings in large companies, but old George pulls it off pretty easily. The dialogue is snappy and hysterical throughout and delivers on an interesting premise. The female leads are to be commended as well, especially Anna Kendrick. Her and Clooney work beautifully together. Scored fairly decent box office for a non-event picture. A host of major nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and two for Best Supporting Actress.
The Bad: Leaves a bad, empty taste in your mouth. There’s a build-up of sorts for Clooney’s character that is never fully released during the third act. It’s just not satisfying. The movie drags a bit when Anna Kendrick disappears for a length of time, leaving Clooney and Vera Farmiga to play off each other. I know Farmiga got the majority of the praise between the two females, but I much preferred Anna Kendrick’s performance as the upstart young professional.
Prediction: Once considered a frontrunner for Best Picture, now its best chance is in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, where I think it will win. Also, Clooney is the only person I could see upsetting Jeff Bridges for Best Actor. But, I think maybe the Academy throws Jason Reitman a bone in the writing category to acknowledge the great script and that’s it.
Ok, if anyone actually read that whole thing you’ll be my friend forever. Undoubtedly, not many will read my closing statements. Here’s my final picks:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: James Cameron – Avatar
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart
Best Actress: Carey Mulligan – An Education
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique – Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino – Inglourious Basterds
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner – Up in the Air
Before I go, just a few gripes: (500) Days of Summer, Star Trek, and Moon deserve some kind of recognition. They were overlooked in all major categories and it's a shame. So I commend the fine people who made these terrific films. You deserve better.
That’s all, folks! Tune in here on Sunday, March 7th at 8:00 PM for my live Academy Awards Show blog!
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