Well, I have not had the time to research and study as I normally do. I have seen 9 of the 10 Best Picture Nominations, which I consider fairly impressive. In order to post prior to the ceremony, I am only picking some of the major categories, and will be doing so without a lot of explanation.
Best Supporting Actress - Hailee Stanfield. The Academy normally awards this as their rogue category, and while Leo was the favorite early, she hasn't helped her cause with the "suggestive" self promoting. Great way to honor a really quality film. I would be happy if this prediction is reality.
Best Supporting Actor - Christian Bale will win, and should win. His performance is reminiscent of Deniro and Pacino in the 70s. Truly talented and respected (even though a few years ago his verbal tirade turned off many) for his craft.
Best Actress - Natalie Portman deserves this, and rightfully so. Her performance stands above her peers this year and she has racked up the awards. Expect an emotional speech, tinged with a bit of puppy love for her current companion (and father of her child, who coincidentally worked on the film).
Best Actor - Colin Firth will win. I consider this category weak this year overall (not seeing Franco's performance just yet). While this isn't my favorite Firth performance, it is his to lose. I wonder how awkward this is for Franco due to his hosting gig?
Best Director - David Fincher. The Social Network is HIS film, and the Academy will most likely honor this film here, rather than as Best Picture. There is a part of me that would love for Aronofsky to steal this prize, but it is highly unlikely.
Best Picture - The King's Speech seems to be the front-runner. This will be disappointing for me (it barely made my Top Ten of the year). Formulaic, and not exquisitely shot, it is a heart-warming story. In my opinion, this award should go to The Social Network for it's relevance and beauty (from score, to screenplay, to performances -- a great film).
Animated Feature - Toy Story ... the true n0-brainer of the night. (Although I wasn't as impressed as many were. However, I hadn't truly seen the first run in their entirety, so maybe I wasn't invested enough in Woody and Buzz -- although that is changing as my son ages).
Adapted Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin ... another no-brainer. Can he please be a co-writer for every other Hollywood film?
Original Screenplay - While I would vote for Inception, I think The King's Speech has too much momentum.
Cinematography - I am looking for True Grit to squeak by with a win. A beautifully shot film in a classic genre will sway voters.
Hopefully I can post my minor category picks later. If not, I will complete a post-Oscar post within a day or so of the show (hopefully!).
I can't wait for my Oscar Omelet this evening ... celebrating with what may be a new Wilson tradition!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
My Top Ten Films of 2010
I haven't blogged in quite some time. The novelty and practicality of blogging do not coexist due to time constraints of parenting and working. However, the Oscars are less than a week away, and my loyal followers have demanded my opinion.
First, let me say I do not agree with the Academy's decision to nominate ten films for Best Picture. However, I do agree with many more of their nominations this year. Below is my list of the films I would have chosen for this category (ranked in order of preference just for those keeping score).
10. The King's Speech - I liked this movie, I really did. I just didn't love it. While no one will argue the three lead performances are anything less than stellar, I found the plot rather formulaic and predictable. I also probably have been swayed to rank this slightly lower than when I initially viewed the film because of the current love for the film.
9. True Grit - I saw this just a few weeks ago, and while it doesn't necessarily seem extremely Cohenish, it was a great western. The dialogue was superb (I want to read the novel). I particularly enjoyed newcomer Steinfield's performance, along with Damon's (he never gets the respect he deserves ... see The Informant, The Good Shepherd, and any Bourne film if you doubt his range). I actually enjoyed Daniel's interpretation of Cogburn more than I did of his Oscar winning role last year as a washed-up country singer.
8. The Kids are All Right - I wouldn't recommend this to either of my parents or my in-laws, but I would say that it is a must-see for anyone serious about great film. It is original, funny, and extremely heartfelt. It is the only romantic comedy I would truly want to see. While Bening has received most of the award show love, Moore and Ruffalo more than hold their own.
7. The Town - Once again, an action film doesn't get enough credit for being a great film. Affleck may be this generation's Eastwood. He actually can craft an immensely entertaining, provocative, well crafted film. His acting doesn't equal Renner's great performance though (or the city of Boston, which seemed to be a true character in the film). I do look forward to his next film.
6. The Fighter - I struggled with where to place this film. The acting ensemble is a true tour de force. Bale, Leo, and Adams transform themselves. Wahlberg, playing the exact opposite his character in The Departed, is the glue that holds the film together though. As much as I enjoyed the film, it just missed making my top five because I felt this story has been told in numerous sports films, and it just didn't separate itself from the cliches associated with them.
5. Inception - A film that lived up to the hype. I received the film as a gift, and haven't yet re-watched it. I am afraid it won't transfer to the small screen well, but I can't wait to rewatch it nonetheless. I'll admit I didn't follow it entirely, but it was fun (seeing it opening day to a sold out crowd made it even more merry). My biggest complaints are with Leo (who is starting to bore me) and the action packed finale (after the slo-mo scene in the hallway, no ending could wow me). In short, Nolan is a genius.
4. The Social Network - Yes this film defines a generation. Yes Sorkin's screenplay is witty and intelligent. Yes Fincher was able to take a movie about a website vastly entertaining. And yes, Timberlake is pretty good in it. It doesn't matter if you have a facebook account, or even know what facebook is, you should see this film.
3. Black Swan - Last year, this possibly could have been my number one pick. This year, the quality of films is much greater, so I have to place Aronofsky's indie-horror-pulp bonanza at number three. I paid over $65 to see this film in Charleston (thanks to a cab drive to the cinema) and I wasn't disappointed. That should tell you how good it was. Portman delivered, proving her performance in Closer was no fluke. The film, though, belongs to Aronofsky, whose fingerprint on the film is reminiscent of Scorsese's touches on his masterpieces from the 1970s.
2. Winter's Bone - This film deserves an entire blog entry dedicated to it. My affection for this film borders on adultery (ok, not really, but I do love it). I literally enjoyed every frame of this film. Jennifer Lawrence said more in an expression than Jesse Eisenberg said in three minutes of 100 mile per hour dialogue in The Social Network. The landscape, the locals, the story ... true art. Do yourself a favor and watch this film. If Shakespeare wrote a story about meth addiction in the Ozarks, it wouldn't have rivaled this.
1. The Ghost Writer - Yes, you are reading this correctly. My favorite film of the year didn't earn a single Golden Globe or Oscar nomination ... and I am not sure why it didn't. Both film critics for EW placed it in their top ten, as did Ebert. Maybe Polanski (at 76 nonetheless) has alienated enough of Hollywood with the turmoil surrounding his personal life this year (although it wasn't at issue with The Pianist earlier this decade), or possibly the film was released too early (even though that didn't hurt Silence of the Lambs). The point is, the Academy totally botched it. This film is visually beautiful, and the story is simply fascinating. McGregor and Brosnan are perfectly cast, and may have played the role of both of their lifetimes (sadly, Kim Cattrall is totally miscast). Kudos to bit parts by Eli Wallach and the always enjoyable (but oft ignored) Tom Wilkinson. The conclusion of the film left me speechless ... pure cinema perfection. Do your self a favor and go rent this (and for a great double-feature rent Winter's Bone for the perfect pre-Oscar prelude), or better yet buy it for repeated viewings.
So, here is my top ten. I'll try to blog my "If I picked the winners..." later this week.
First, let me say I do not agree with the Academy's decision to nominate ten films for Best Picture. However, I do agree with many more of their nominations this year. Below is my list of the films I would have chosen for this category (ranked in order of preference just for those keeping score).
10. The King's Speech - I liked this movie, I really did. I just didn't love it. While no one will argue the three lead performances are anything less than stellar, I found the plot rather formulaic and predictable. I also probably have been swayed to rank this slightly lower than when I initially viewed the film because of the current love for the film.
9. True Grit - I saw this just a few weeks ago, and while it doesn't necessarily seem extremely Cohenish, it was a great western. The dialogue was superb (I want to read the novel). I particularly enjoyed newcomer Steinfield's performance, along with Damon's (he never gets the respect he deserves ... see The Informant, The Good Shepherd, and any Bourne film if you doubt his range). I actually enjoyed Daniel's interpretation of Cogburn more than I did of his Oscar winning role last year as a washed-up country singer.
8. The Kids are All Right - I wouldn't recommend this to either of my parents or my in-laws, but I would say that it is a must-see for anyone serious about great film. It is original, funny, and extremely heartfelt. It is the only romantic comedy I would truly want to see. While Bening has received most of the award show love, Moore and Ruffalo more than hold their own.
7. The Town - Once again, an action film doesn't get enough credit for being a great film. Affleck may be this generation's Eastwood. He actually can craft an immensely entertaining, provocative, well crafted film. His acting doesn't equal Renner's great performance though (or the city of Boston, which seemed to be a true character in the film). I do look forward to his next film.
6. The Fighter - I struggled with where to place this film. The acting ensemble is a true tour de force. Bale, Leo, and Adams transform themselves. Wahlberg, playing the exact opposite his character in The Departed, is the glue that holds the film together though. As much as I enjoyed the film, it just missed making my top five because I felt this story has been told in numerous sports films, and it just didn't separate itself from the cliches associated with them.
5. Inception - A film that lived up to the hype. I received the film as a gift, and haven't yet re-watched it. I am afraid it won't transfer to the small screen well, but I can't wait to rewatch it nonetheless. I'll admit I didn't follow it entirely, but it was fun (seeing it opening day to a sold out crowd made it even more merry). My biggest complaints are with Leo (who is starting to bore me) and the action packed finale (after the slo-mo scene in the hallway, no ending could wow me). In short, Nolan is a genius.
4. The Social Network - Yes this film defines a generation. Yes Sorkin's screenplay is witty and intelligent. Yes Fincher was able to take a movie about a website vastly entertaining. And yes, Timberlake is pretty good in it. It doesn't matter if you have a facebook account, or even know what facebook is, you should see this film.
3. Black Swan - Last year, this possibly could have been my number one pick. This year, the quality of films is much greater, so I have to place Aronofsky's indie-horror-pulp bonanza at number three. I paid over $65 to see this film in Charleston (thanks to a cab drive to the cinema) and I wasn't disappointed. That should tell you how good it was. Portman delivered, proving her performance in Closer was no fluke. The film, though, belongs to Aronofsky, whose fingerprint on the film is reminiscent of Scorsese's touches on his masterpieces from the 1970s.
2. Winter's Bone - This film deserves an entire blog entry dedicated to it. My affection for this film borders on adultery (ok, not really, but I do love it). I literally enjoyed every frame of this film. Jennifer Lawrence said more in an expression than Jesse Eisenberg said in three minutes of 100 mile per hour dialogue in The Social Network. The landscape, the locals, the story ... true art. Do yourself a favor and watch this film. If Shakespeare wrote a story about meth addiction in the Ozarks, it wouldn't have rivaled this.
1. The Ghost Writer - Yes, you are reading this correctly. My favorite film of the year didn't earn a single Golden Globe or Oscar nomination ... and I am not sure why it didn't. Both film critics for EW placed it in their top ten, as did Ebert. Maybe Polanski (at 76 nonetheless) has alienated enough of Hollywood with the turmoil surrounding his personal life this year (although it wasn't at issue with The Pianist earlier this decade), or possibly the film was released too early (even though that didn't hurt Silence of the Lambs). The point is, the Academy totally botched it. This film is visually beautiful, and the story is simply fascinating. McGregor and Brosnan are perfectly cast, and may have played the role of both of their lifetimes (sadly, Kim Cattrall is totally miscast). Kudos to bit parts by Eli Wallach and the always enjoyable (but oft ignored) Tom Wilkinson. The conclusion of the film left me speechless ... pure cinema perfection. Do your self a favor and go rent this (and for a great double-feature rent Winter's Bone for the perfect pre-Oscar prelude), or better yet buy it for repeated viewings.
So, here is my top ten. I'll try to blog my "If I picked the winners..." later this week.
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