Oscar Predictions

Ok so I promise that I have seen both Blue Valentine and The King's Speech already,  but I haven't had the time to write a review. But they will be forthcoming. For now, with the Oscars coming up, I figured I'd get my predictions and opinions in.
Let's start at the top shall we...

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
Will Win: The King's Speech
Should Win: The Social Network

Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem-Biutiful, Jeff Bridges-True Grit, Jesse Eisenberg-The Social Network, Colin Firth-The King's Speech, James Franco-127 Hours
Will Win: Colin Firth
Should Win: Colin Firth

Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale-The Fighter, John Hawkes-Winter's Bone, Jeremy Renner-The Town, Mark Ruffalo-The Kid's Are All Right, Geoffrey Rush-The King's Speech
Will Win: Christian Bale
Should Win: Christian Bale

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
Will Win: Natalie Portman
Should Win: Michelle Williams

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
Will Win: Melissa Leo
Should Win: Hailee Steinfeld

Animated Feature Film
How to Train Your Dragon, The Illusionist, Toy Story 3
Will Win: Toy Story 3
Should Win: Toy Story 3

Directing
Darren Arnofsky-Black Swan, David O. Russell-The Fighter, Tom Hooper-The King's Speech, David Fincher-The Social Network, Joel and Ethan Coen-True Grit
Will Win: Tom Hooper
Should Win: Danny Boyle (127 Hours not nominated)

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, Winter's Bone
Will Win: The Social Network
Should Win: The Social Network

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Another Year, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech
Will Win: The King's Speech
Should Win: The King's Speech

Cinematography
Black Swan, Inception, The King's Speech, The Social Network, True Grit
Will Win: The King's Speech
Should Win: Black Swan/Inception

As for all the Art Direction costumes etc. I'd just guess the King's Speech will sweep. Music should go to Tron, but it probably won't. I don't know anything about the Shorts, Documentaries, or the Foreign Films so I'm not going to guess.
Let's see what happens. I'm actually pretty happy with the Academy's picks this year. I think 127 Hours should have gotten more love, though. It's a better film than Slumdog Millionaire, that's for sure.
Happy Watching!

Love and Other Drugs/The Illusionist

Alright so school and life have been particularly tough lately so I’m going to condense these two bad boys into one post. I’m sorry that I can’t write more about them, but I’m trying to play catch up on the blog and see everything before the Oscars.

Love And Other Drugs

                Let’s see what we can do when we take two attractive people and bang them together for two hours. It sounds like a 6 year old playing with her Barbie and Ken dolls, but it is unfortunately the plot for this “romantic comedy.” Both Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway have been in good movies before. They have acted well and they deserve all of the credit they have received. Unfortunately, this movie shows how a bad director can make even good actors look hopeless on screen. Edward Zwick is famous for his action movies (The Last Samurai, Blood Diamond, and Glory) because he can make you care about characters fighting for what they believe in. Unfortunately, I found myself caring nothing for Maggie and Jamie to the point that I had to stop the movie halfway through and finish it a few days later. I don’t want to keep ranting about this movie for too long, I think it’s just the fact that it could have been so good, the actors are awesome, the script is good, not to mention the two are naked more than they are in clothes, but the direction just ruined it for me.

                Case in point, I promise I’ll be brief. The scene that would have saved the movie for me and put it in my worth seeing if just for this…category was just awfully mishandled. Maggie’s character has Parkinson’s, and late in the movie she attends a conference for people with the disease. Everything that is being said is compelling, and I wish I could have seen who was saying it. For most of the scene the audience gets to see Maggie sitting in her chair reacting to the things being said. It cuts back and forth between the people and a reaction shot of Hathaway being happy, or sad, or laughing, or crying, etc. The whole thing feels bi-polar, and it makes even a distinguished actor like Hathaway look like she is just overacting. This film upset me. It was nice to get a rant out.

Final Verdict: 3

But wait there’s more!

The Illusionist (L'illusionniste)

                Sylvain Chomet’s newest film centers around a magician and his life in a dying business. The whole movie is absolutely stunningly crafted by Chomet and Jacques Tati. Even throwaway characters with one line or less are beautifully drawn with unique features that distinguish them so much so that they could have been a protagonist in their own film. I was “drawn” to every character and the movie both makes you laugh and moves you. All of this comes in a film that has almost no distinguishable dialogue. The characters are very emotional, and thanks to the animation style, you hang on their every action. Anyone who enjoyed The Triplets of Bellville will love this, and for anyone that loves animated film, this is one you must see. Considering that Pixar is setting us up for a letdown with Cars 2, I would say if you are looking for a compelling, fun, and smart animated film this season, check this one out. But be warned, it may not end happy like most Pixar fair. 

Final Verdict: 8


Next Up: Blue Valentine

127 Hours

     What may be the most well-made movie of the year is also probably the hardest to sit through (unless you count Never Say Never). Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours,” is based off of the true ordeal of Aron Ralston, played by James Franco. The experience that has become synonymous to both the dangers of being alone in the wilderness and a testament to human willpower had a pretty large press following, so I do not feel like I am giving anything away by relating what happens. The movie is not about a twist. Going in we know how Aron is going to get himself out, so Boyle has to, and succeeds in taking our anticipation and mining it as far as it can go without boring us.

     Similar to Ryan Reynolds in “Buried,” “127 Hours” is a movie confined to a single location and a single actor. While there are flashbacks and other forms of narrative intrusion, most of the movie is us looking at Franco and Franco looking back. Ralston has a handheld camera, and much of the film consists of the tape from this camera, or looking at Franco from the space directly behind the camera. It is a bold choice, considering the feelings of claustrophobia that arise, but it succeeds in bringing the audience close into the situation and helping us to connect with the ordeal and feel a bit of it ourselves.

     We see Ralston as he begins slipping into insanity. He is fighting against nature and himself to survive and free himself from the rock, but it is inevitable that the rock will not move. As Ralston begins to lose hope he looks back on his life, to his childhood, an old girlfriend, and we see him living his life for the moment in a carefree way. He doesn’t think ahead; he is the type of person that would embark on a mountain biking trip alone without telling anyone where he is going. It is easy to see how he got into this situation, but despite his best efforts, he cannot get himself out of it and must resort to the one thing that he has yet to try.  

     At this point the audience will probably get squirmy, but I advise you to do your best to not avert your eyes. Boyle employs a few tricks that are a testament to his ability as a filmmaker. My favorite was his way of showing pain. Instead of just allowing Franco to scream and the visual to speak for itself, he produces a high-pitched, robotic, distorted sound. It is hard to describe, but the best I can think of is that it is a similar to the feeling when playing the board game Operation when you hit one of the sides. It has the effect of making us cringe and think of the worst pain we have ever felt. Boyle gets you to use your own imagination, instead of just letting blood speak for itself.

     This is one of my favorite movies of the year, but I hesitate to recommend it. Make sure that you know what you are getting into before watching it. Franco’s performance is spectacular, and Danny Boyle shows that he is one of the best in the business right now as he weaves along a narrative with little substance and an inevitable conclusion, while still keeping us on the edge of our seat. See this movie, but maybe don’t eat a heavy meal beforehand.

Final Verdict: 8

Next Up: Love and Other Drugs