Supporting Actor 2011

I'm not exactly thrilled by any of these choices by name alone. I actually would have loved to see Albert Brooks nominated and win for his role in Drive, which was fantastic. I have only seen 2 of these prior to my reviewing and both were kinda average. Plummer's nomination is intriguing because he is the clear cut favorite and will most likely win the Oscar, so it'll be interesting to see if it is actually worthy. 2011 is shaping up to be the year of the mediocre nominees in every category.

2011 Best Supporting Actor

Christopher Plummer - Beginners

We don't get to see enough of Hal (Plummer's character) in my opinion, as we are force fed these endearing moments in his later life as he embraces his homosexuality with a zeal and vigor of a much younger man. You can't help but like Hal as he is far from flamboyant, taking a more earnest approach as if coming to terms with his new found out-ness is like finding he really enjoys making pottery or playing the tuba. We are immediately aware that Hal has passed away since the story is told in flashbacks and we are told he is gay in the very beginning, which unfortunately doesn't allow the audience to organically form their own opinion of Hal. Plummer is a man in complete control of his craft and embodies the role perfectly. His portrayal of Hal is honest and believable, if lacking in true originality, and he plays the character with a sweet sincerity. Unfortunately, we never get past the face value of Hal, never dive into his soul to see who he really he is and why he is that way. This keeps the performance from being truly well-rounded and makes it feel a little one-note at times.

Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn

I can't say that I know all that much about Laurence Olivier and what he looked like but I do know Kenneth Branagh from all his Shakespeare productions and I can't envision him as one of the most beloved British actors of all time. He plays the character like another Shakespeare creation and really goes full earnest. What it really reminded me of is Kenneth Branagh playing whoever and being perturbed that Monroe dares to screw up her lines and get the scene wrong. This grew to a hot indignation at her diva-like behavior that he ultimately wasn't able to do anything about. He would let Monroe take as much time as she wanted before she galloped out to do her thing while the rest of the cast and crew scrambled to get in place. Branagh is an amazing talent to be sure and does a requisite  job for getting his character of Laurence Olivier across but it never delved into depth or nuance and never asked anymore of Branagh, especially when his character demanded it of Monroe. It's painfully obvious, too, that Branagh wants so very much to be the acting royalty Olivier is and while he may be inspired, his performance is not inspiring to us the viewer.

Jonah Hill - Moneyball

Hill's role as Peter Brand is used essentially as a character for which Pitt to act against and bounce his snappy dialogue back and forth with. That's not to say that Hill's superbly understated role as the geeky, nervousy, computer whiz is underutilized. The character does a great job of balancing Pitt's hyper and somewhat manic-y Beane and acts as the comic foil to what could be some of the more serious, yet boring, moments. Hill understands when to hold back and let Pitt do his thing and when to turn up the acting volume and hold his own. There's times when Hill (and his character) come off timid when going up against Pitt, but Hill is able to nicely settle into his role, and eventually by the end of the film -- own it. Hill allows the character to dictate how things go and his decision to not ham it up when the opportunities present themselves (which must be hard for a comedic actor) speaks to his acting ability. The subtlety of his character and his actions helps buoy this performance into another level.

Nick Nolte - Warrior

I've read in various places that this is the quintessential Nolte role and while I haven't seen enough of his stuff to say so otherwise, I know of his issues and reputation. It would seem Nolte is playing a version of his actual self with this role and that it's not exactly much of a stretch. Where does one draw the line for acting and reality? And should the fact that we can't tell the difference mean it is good or bad? I tend to side with it's good because I assume most actors act from experience or at least by studying someone like their character. To say Nolte is believable in Warrior would be an understatement, as he is effective as the recovering alcoholic father who once physically abused his two sons before they left him. While it's clearly a good performance, it's not exactly as powerful as it should be - especially given the subject it's dealing with. It should have been a chance to really wow the audience and steal scenes but that doesn't really happen. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh because I actually did like Nolte in this film (which is a lot better than I thought it would be), I just would have liked a little bit more from him.

Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

An interesting year for silent performances. Max (because it's shorter than typing out von Sydow) does an admirable job in this 9-11 weepy about a boy coming to grips with the loss of his father. He plays an old mute who travels with Oskar as he tries to find where a key he found in his father's closet belongs. Max has a very tired and weathered face that is extremely expressive and it helps add to his charm throughout the film. Max becomes a pseudo father figure for Oskar during their time together and plays his character with a genuine aloofness that can be somewhat endearing. But his emoting begins to lose its luster after a while and the scenes begin to feel a little repetitive. And even though this is Oskar's story, we never get a chance to delve into Max's character and why exactly he turned mute besides an all too brief scene in a bar that only scratches the surface. There's way more to this character than is presented here and for that reason this performance only satisfies a tiny bit of my hunger for a role that could be more fulfilling.

Overall, these nominations are pretty underwhelming. Nothing stands head and shoulders above the others and it really seems to be the theme for this year. I'm not sure what that says about film in 2011 or the Academy, but I think they may have made more than a few mistakes in their nominations. Which just gives more fuel to the fire that the Academy is out of touch with what the current public and critics love. If and when Plummer wins, he will be the oldest Oscar winner ever at 82. Neither Nolte nor Branagh did all that much for me and both von Sydow and Plummer gave performances that were about equal in my estimation. They didn't exactly wow me, especially Plummer who will probably win, which I was really hoping one them would. Hill is my favorite just due to me liking the character and the subtle performance he gave. I don't really understand the derision Hill has received for being nominated and how badly he has been put down in some blogs and prognostications sites. I can only think that his comedy background is the reason anyone would hate on him because his role really speaks for itself. Maybe it has to do with others wanting von Sydow or Plummer to get their first Oscars as nods to their careers. If I had my way, Albert Brooks from Drive would have been nominated and would have been my winner. Sadly, I have no Academy vote.

Oscar Winner: Christopher Plummer - Beginners
My Winner: Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Christopher Plummer
Max von Sydow
Nick Nolte
Kenneth Branagh

Supporting Actress 2011

This is my first time doing my reviews in the midst of the Oscar race and it's really been a lot of fun. Seeing the race develop from the very beginning has been eye opening. And reading all the many different blogs and articles about which person or movie would and/or should be nominated was interesting to see just how wrong our predictions can be. I love knowing how the race shaped up and knowing that when I look back on this year that I'll have a more in-depth, personal knowledge of it instead of relying on Oscar history books and wikipedia! Normally I might have already seen 1 or 2 performances and would need to see the rest to make up my mind, but of course all of them were new so this has been refreshing and let's me know what it'll be like when I get deeper into this.

2011 Best Supporting Actress

Octavia Spencer - The Help

The presumed front runner, it is all but assured that Spencer will win. But does she deserve to? I'm inclined to think otherwise, but her performance is by no means bad. Her character, Minny, is very broadly written and comes off very much like a stereotype at times. Minny is the strong black woman who takes no shit when it comes to her daughter, her work, her friends but suffers violent abuse at the hands of her (presumed) husband. Spencer does act with an earnestness that is refreshing at times but during others, you half expect her to snap her fingers in the air three times and say "Mmhmm" and a laugh track to start playing. A lot of the issues stem from the actual story which is far from being Best Picture worthy, but Spencer does her best to give Minny the depth the character deserves. However, for what should have been a fully fleshed out role, it falls victim to the kid gloves treatment the whole movie is subjected to and that's a shame for Spencer.

Berenice Bejo - The Artist

It is no small feat to be able to steal scenes from the uber charming Jean Dujardin and uber cute Uggie the Dog, but steal scenes Bejo did. She plays the role with pitch perfect simplicity. From the first time we see her getting her picture taken with Dujardin's character and parlaying that into working on silent films as an extra, she deftly conveys the shy, young, demure girl trying to break into Hollywood. As her roles increase and she becomes a major star with the advent of the talkies, we see her remain gracious and pure from the stain of Hollywood's brutality. She even shows concern for her former inspiration, George Valentin, as he fails to adapt to a movie business with sound drowning out the silent era he reigned over. Bejo does this all very convincingly, keeping up with her charismatic co-stars with equally expressive faces and movements that really show off her acting abilities. However, it becomes obvious through the movie that Bejo is merely a character for Dujardin to interact with as we experience his ups and downs. There's not a whole lot of depth to the character of Peppy (who lives up to her name) though Bejo does a marvelous job with what she is given. She's a sweet, caring, loveable woman who avoids any real conflict that could challenge her and push her performance from good to great.

Jessica Chastain - The Help

I feel this nomination is due more to Chastain bursting onto the scene with 7 different movies in 2011, 6 of which were critical and/or commercial successes, rather than on the merit of this role itself. Chastain's character, Celia, is a dopey, newly married, white trash southern woman who is in over her head as she tries to fit in with the other society women in town. She is an outsider who has married into wealth and the other women can't stand her uncouth behavior. So she takes on Spencer's character as a maid and treats her as a sort of equal and confidant. Chastain is essentially used as a character to show that not all of the white society women are evil racists and that they can somewhat coexist with "the help." Chastain does a convincing enough job in her role, one that is sincere in her innocent personality, which further shows how The Help treats its subject with kid gloves.

Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids

I'm still a bit unsure if this performance deserves its nomination here or if it just rode the popularity of the movie into one. That's not to say I dislike McCarthy in this movie. She is actually the flat out funniest thing about Bridesmaids, which says a lot about her comedic chops that she can come out on top in a movie featuring many other funny women. But how much of it is people overreacting to there finally being a raunchy, all-girl, gross out movie that rivals some of the many similar movies that feature mostly men? I could see a Jack Black or Zach Galifianakis filling the same type of role and getting no Oscar love though they might be equally as funny. It seems odd to me that this would get nominated as if a woman playing this type of comedic role is more worthy because it is so rarely done. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it because I'm definitely for more comedy roles and movies being included in these awards, male or female! McCarthy does steal almost every scene she is in, though I do feel she is given some of the best writing (although I'm sure some is improvised) and best situations with which to act in. I'd say that her character makes this movie worth watching on her own and helps elevate it to a level where awards talk isn't totally unwarranted.

Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs

Janet McTeer is the only good thing about this movie, so I can understand why she was nominated here. When her character first appeared onscreen, it took me a good while to tell that she wasn't actually a man (obviously I had never seen McTeer before to be able to tell differently). The make-up and effects were obviously very good, but the mannerisms and voice of McTeer really helped to convince me she was a man for the first part of the film. What really impressed me was that in every scene she is in, even with Glenn Close, she acts circles around everyone else. She completely owns this otherwise dreadful movie and is its only saving grace. She gives a decent and believable performance that is sabotaged by a weak script and an awful role by Glenn Close that would make me look like an accomplished actor.


This group was really underwhelming and it feels like I say that about almost every Supporting Actress category so I don't want to come off as some sexist guy that hates women actors. I think the Supporting category lends itself to having some performances get nominated that aren't exactly worthy and we all know the Academy indulges itself in whatever suits their whims. So you might get lifetime achievements, make up nominees, or ones that make the Academy seem hip or not the stuffy club it really is. But with all that said, all I want is good performances that blow me away more than leave me wanting more, men or women. None of these 5 performances really wow me. In fact, they all are about the same in that you could mix em all up and randomly rank them and I'd probably be ok with all the different iterations. I like things about all of them just as I dislike different things about all of them. I don't think I can definitively give the win to any of these (though I think I like Bejo's performance the best so far) and I feel I may need to give these a little distance in time to better judge their impact on me.

Oscar Winner: Octavia Spencer - The Help
My Winner: Berenice Bejo - The Artist
Octavia Spencer
Jessica Chastain
Melissa McCarthy
Janet McTeer

Best Picture 2008

The last of the 5 Best Picture nominee years ever and it is plainly obvious while watching all these films so far that this category definitely deserved and needed to be expanded. So many films that should have been nominated like Doubt, The Dark Knight and Wall-E were never given the chance to be a Best Picture nominee even though they deserved it. This also finally ends 2008 for me and I can't be any happier! I feel like I've spent years on these couple of categories and I am absolutely ready to move on to 2007. However, before I do that I am going to review the 2011 nominees while they are still fresh in my mind from their initial viewings so as to better capture the zeitgeist. Hopefully I can have at least one category done before the actual Oscar ceremony later this month. Fingers crossed, although I'm terrible at getting this done in a timely manner!

2008 Best Picture

Slumdog Millionaire

This film rightfully won Best Cinematography as it is simply gorgeous to look at. The story follows young Jamal as he answers questions on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with flashbacks explaining how he was able to answer the questions. It's a simple structure that has been used before but is used here to great effect.It's a wonder how Dev Patel wasn't able to secure a Best Actor nod because I would have easily put him ahead of Brad Pitt. I don't understand the backlash for this film after it won, besides Milk what other nominated film could have been deemed the best? When Jamal and Latika meet again after many years apart, it's a very emotional moment and you can't help but root for Jamal to get his girl. It's not done in a cheesy, forced, or overly cliche way. It's a simple, universal love story that can be understood by anyone. It's a solid movie and one that I can keep coming back to and watching without ever getting sick of it, it only grows in how much I like it and dare I say that it is an instant classic that will only multiply in stature.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Right from the start, let's just get the fact that this is a very long and mostly dull movie out of the way. With that said, why does an obvious Oscar bait film with many distinguished actors fail to deliver on a simple premise? Probably because the premise was so simple to begin with and the idea of this film was left to be filled in with details later. Brad Pitt's character is born old and progresses through the early Twentieth Century while getting younger. This happens in a kind of vignette style with a young girl named Daisy who grows older in the normal way. The two connect almost immediately but their situations prevent them from interacting like they want and their lives weave in and out essentially saying that no matter what age you are, life will still have its problems. Benjamin Button doesn't say much more than that in its 3 hours and thus makes for a very tedious watch. The tone of the film is rather cold and ultimately uninteresting when the meaning rings hollow and could have been summed up in a much shorter time frame and a less self important way. The movie looks amazing and the technical aspects deserve a lot of praise, unfortunately these things outshine the story and characters.

Frost/Nixon

This film is at it's absolute best when Michael Sheen and Frank Langella's characters are facing off with each other, just talking for the interviews. You can see that the story came from the stage during these times and that they probably did really well, too. One can't look away during the rapport the two characters have established and continued to build from stage to big screen. Watching these two giants play off one another is a real treat for the viewer. I do feel the faux documentary parts cheapen an otherwise strong movie and takes away from the very real tension that builds throughout the interviews. There is some fine acting from the supporting cast but the two leads far and away make this movie work. If it had been just the two main characters, the whole premise still would have hit with the intensity that Frost/Nixon sometimes captures. The idea that the two are putting their reputations on the line in order to gain further acceptance by the public and others who doubt their sincerity makes for a film that can really hit home for the general public. Even on re-watch, this film remains as powerful as it is watching it for the first time, a remarkable accomplishment.

Milk

Milk is a movie that made me feel good as a person after watching it. And those movies are truly rare these days. However, the majority of this film really played out like a very well done sports movie. It had all the uplifting moments and the occasional overacting that plagues those types of films. The characters in Milk are definitely the shining moments. Penn and Brolin, and to a lesser degree, Hirsch and Franco, really set the tone of the film through their acting and really engage the viewer into investing their time to get to know the characters presented. What I personally liked about Milk was that the director made sure to let characters grow organically and let the audience make their own connections before he gently tugged on the heartstrings. Even though the pacing was a bit slow, the director let the audience feel what they wanted by the end of the film and didn't force any agenda which is key for socially and politically divisive films such as Milk.

The Reader

The first half of this film is mostly a film more into being a German sex film so to speak that it really hampers it from sticking out on it's own merits. We see way too much of Kate Winslet in the nude to take whatever it says about German guilt from then on into a real serious consideration. Once the first third of the film passes, we finally get what makes The Reader truly special as a film. We see the Michael character years later confronting his former mistress as she testifies on the Holocaust witness stand. He is devastated and this affects his personal relationships which is hinted throughout the film when Ralph Fiennes character (Michael when he is older) has an inability to connect with those around him including his daughter. So what should be an incredible treatise on German guilt because of WWII and how it influenced subsequent generations, turns into how one man was unable to cope with how his past indiscretions shaped his life. I can't say I'm a fan of how Stephen Daldry wants the audience to accept Hanna Schmitz's character as something more than a Nazi SS leader. It's a very middle-serious film that wants to be more important than it really is.

I am really glad that the Academy expanded the amount of nominees for Best Picture after this year. Both Benjamin Button and The Reader were lacking in real Best Picture qualities that I went over in my opening. So many other movies this year probably should have supplanted these two because they were so underwhelming. However, Milk and Slumdog Millionaire were definite highlights of this year and were rightfully rewarded. I contend that Slumdog is an instant classic that should be loved for all time. It's interesting to note that the buzz for Slumdog really started at the Toronto Film Festival and picked up steam when it started winning the Guild awards. It's interesting to me that a film that premiered at a festival that is so soon after the Academy Awards was able to take home the top prize nearly a year later. Anyway, 2008 was a year where I didn't exactly despise all the nominees but I know that there were more deserving films that could have taken their places.

Oscar Winner: Slumdog Millionaire
My Winner:  Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Frost/Nixon
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Reader

Leading Actor 2008

I recently listened to a very interesting podcast about film criticism, where a critic was talking about how many of today's "critics" pretend that they are the authority on film and film criticism and don't allow for any type of discourse. Effectively saying that these writers tend to think that their opinion's are the end-all-be-all word for that particular movie or performance and won't listen to differing opinions or, worse, will attack those that don't agree with them. All of this made me think about my own little project and I wanted to say that I in no way feel I am an authority on anything even remotely having to do with film. I feel that this is more of a journey for myself to discover the history of mostly the Oscars but also a little bit of film in general while going backwards in time. Now going backwards probably puts me at a disadvantage for really feeling the full effects of the Academy's choices since I don't see how things have truly evolved, but I do feel it will still broaden my knowledge and allow me to have a deeper appreciation for more than just the mainstream. And I really hope that if I ever finish this that I can begin a more detailed look at film in general and try my best to become a snobby film guy that only likes art house pics, foreign films, and movies of yesteryear!

As for the actors, again I've only not seen one of the performances so I pretty much know how my rankings will go. And by the time I am finished with 2008 I will have seen most of these films many, many times and I'll be glad to move on! I'm interested in how Richard Jenkins managed to sneak in and if it was a nod to his previous work or on the strength of an amazing performance. I guess I'll see soon.

2008 Best Actor

Sean Penn - Milk

Penn really gives his all, heart and soul, to this performance and makes it look easy. It helps that Penn looks eerily similar to Harvey Milk and seems to share his activist spirit. The best thing about Penn's portrayal of the somewhat selfish but well-meaning Milk is that he makes the character accessible to everyone, regardless of your political or moral leanings. If anyone has seen the great Oscar winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk you would have seen the amazingly effervescent personality come to life and Penn really brings that palpable energy to the screen. Even though the audience is dropped right in the middle of Harvey's life, we don't feel as if we've missed anything and are fully engaged in Penn's characterization. Milk's death is chilling and we feel a sadness of having lost a friend we made in only 2 hours.

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor

Jenkins' character in this film is a professor who comes back to his apartment in NYC to find an illegal couple squatting in his place who he eventually befriends. His performance is quiet, understated, not flashy, and done in a matter of fact style. It's essentially a character study for Jenkins to flex his acting muscles without being overpowering. Sometimes you want Jenkins to break out of his shell and deliver something powerful and when it finally does happen it hits hard. Though through the entire film it's like you're waiting for the anger to finally boil over but it never really does, it just gives way to sadness. I guess that has to do with this film eschewing the usual Hollywood tropes and instead of getting a comfortable, happy ending we get something that leaves us wanting more but is probably the closest thing to reality. You can tell he feels his life is unfulfilling since his wife passed and he wears it on his face quite noticeably. It's a very restrained performance that doesn't feel out of place and helps this film avoid being a cliche.

Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon

The Academy definitely likes when actors imitate famous people. Langella actually performed this same role on stage before it was adapted for the big screen and he does at times bear a resemblance to Nixon. His accent is most effective and helps the viewer fully accept that they are watching Richard Nixon in action. Langella is engrossing and powerful as he draws you into the narrative. The performance really shines during his tete a tete with Michael Sheen as the two match wits and verbally spar to save their reputations. You can see just how vulnerable Nixon truly was and that's due to the believability of of the performance, especially in the expressiveness of Langella's eyes and face. It's obvious that both Langella and Sheen are extremely comfortable in these roles and it shows in how easily they embody their characters. It's a strong performance worthy of a nomination.

Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

How much of the make up and digital wizardry helped secure this nomination for Brad Pitt? I would say the novelty of the character had more to do it rather than Pitt's actual performance or the substance the character brought to the film. Pitt really didn't have all that much to work with as far as the story and script went so it is a testament to his acting abilities that he was able to garner a nomination. However, the character of Benjamin Button is very passive as he grows up and interacts with the world around, more like a passenger than anything. And this leads to an overall dull character that's hard to connect with. A lot of that is because Pitt's head/face is tacked on to another person's body when he's in his young and old states, so how much real acting is actually being done by Pitt? He does a decent job with what he has to work with but I can't help but think this is a classic case of style over substance.

Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Even though Nic Cage was initially slated for this role, I can't imagine anyone else taking on the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson. No one. Rourke completely owns this character and imbues a lifetime of glories and failures into the soul of The Ram that the audience gets glimpses of from time to time throughout the film. It really feels like Rourke is exorcising some demons and using this performance as his own form of catharsis. The Ram's self destructive qualities clash with his need for emotional connections with anyone, including his estranged daughter and the stripper he "loves" but who only is fulfilling her job requirement in talking and listening to him. If The Wrestler had instead been a biopic on Rourke's demise in Hollywood and eventual resurrection, it might have looked eerily similar to this film. Rourke is powerful, magnetic, compelling, and warm all at the same time as he is emotionally distant, stubborn, scared, and vulnerable. This was definitely a role that was destined for greatness that only Rourke himself could have given it. Simply a masterful performance.


Another strong group for the Best Actor category. It seems this one has been the most consistent category since I've started doing this and that's really great to see. Especially when the other have some pretty terrible or weak roles nominated, this one delivers every year so far and I hope that continues. I'd say that Penn and Rourke are far and away the cream of this crop and I have had a hard time deciding which I would have wanted to win. I like both for different reasons and they are both incredibly strong actors. I think Rourke gets the nod because it's his once in a lifetime role that really defines him. But it's only a hair above Penn. As for Langella and Jenkins, they would be just a notch below the first two and I'm surprised (again!) at how good Jenkins was in his film. And then below them you have Pitt, which isn't a terrible performance just one where the technical aspects of putting his face on other people's bodies detracts from the overall work. You can still see he his talented just not as talented in this role as the others.

Oscar Winner: Sean Penn - Milk
My Winner:  Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Sean Penn
Frank Langella
Richard Jenkins
Brad Pitt

Leading Actress 2008

It's been taking a bit longer for me to watch and review movies than I initially thought, but some of that is due to being busy. Once I watch a few and get in the groove I start knocking out the categories pretty quickly. Bear with me. Part of doing the most recent years first allows me to automatically know which movies/performances I think are going to be tough to make it through. I'm excited for when I start getting into years I don't exactly know much about the movies/performances so I keep a fresh perspective. I really think this is the reason for the lack of consistent posts and the slow nature of my writing stuff out and posting them. The first time I watched Changeling I had to slog through it because it never really captivated me or made me want to keep watching let alone finish it. And that was back before the idea for this blog even came about, back when I was only trying to watch them all and not write about them. Now with trying to objectively watch without instantly saying a film is terrible or not fully paying attention becomes a chore for the ones I have already seen and not enjoyed. So definitely when I finally get into films I haven't seen or heard much about I think the pace will pick up (hopefully) since everything will be fresh. Of course, I'll eventually run into the problem of having to find ways to watch movies that doesn't take forever due to waiting on rentals to come in the mail or hard to find copies. Anyway, enough rambling and on to the Actresses! (forgive the terrible writing, also!)

2008 Best Actress

Kate Winslet - The Reader

Let's start with the fact that the first half of this film is mostly an adolescent German skin flick. Winslet is naked for most of the first third of the film and there is really no character development besides that she's a bossy, illiterate, Nazi. And that is the big revelation for the movie. Winslet and her boy toy have a tumultuous love affair that ends abruptly and then we see how Michael deals with it in the subsequent years. However, he never fully heals and eventually witnesses his lover on trial for war crimes and then can't function normally as a man. For Winslet, she succeeds in the beginning of the film when she is able to portray a woman who wants to be loved but is unable to give love in return. When they boy wants to love her she rebels and comes up with excuses that allows her to remain aloof and disconnected. Eventually she is put on trial and turns into an old lady. However, I hate her expression of surprise and shock. Her breathy gasps and wide eyed look is quite annoying and that may be superficial but Winslet's character never seems to get past that superficial phase for me, especially towards the end of the film. She plays the serious part a little too serious.

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

This film felt like a coming out party for Hathaway. After years of toiling in Disney movies, the role of Kym gave her a performance she could sink her teeth into. And sink her teeth into she did. Playing Kym, a recovering addict who has spent the last 9 months in rehab who has come home to be there for her sister's wedding, the character almost allows for Hathaway to indulge in a bit of overacting. There are definite times where her neurotic, chain smoking, talkative, sarcastic yet sincere look-at-me persona should be toned down and becomes more grating than adding anything to story. The film itself tackles how dysfunctional a family can be while still remaining a close family. Kym can't stand that her sister Rachel is getting all of the attention and so there are a lot of moments where Hathaway whines, pouts, acts inappropriately, and generally causes chaos. What makes Hathaway's performance compelling and worthy of attention is that she is able to not get caught up in the moment and chew the scenery every time she's on camera. You can really see the transition to becoming a serious actress for Hathaway in this strong performance.

Angelina Jolie - Changeling

No subtlety, no depth, it's a superficial portrayal that does nothing to rescue a sub par script and it becomes very evident that Jolie's performance is wholly a one-note thing betrayed by Eastwood's directing ability. It's a supremely average take on a woman whose son was taken from her only to have a boy thrust on her by the LAPD who wasn't her son. It's a performance that offers little nuance, little believability. Some of the more compelling parts of the film are when Jolie isn't even in them, not to say this film is in anyway good, however. Amy Ryan actually outshines Jolie as a psychiatric patient in my opinion and I can't help but think that if this film focused on the murder portion of Jolie's son and the serial killer angle that maybe, just maybe, the film would have worked far better and Jolie's effort would have been rewarded in the Supporting Actress category instead. Focusing on her makes me wonder why the Academy sought to reward such a mediocre performance with a nomination until one looks at the 2008 class as a whole....not much there unfortunately.

Melissa Leo - Frozen River

This is a very gritty, non-glamorous role that Leo gives her all in. She brings a humanistic quality to Ray Eddy, a mother of two that is doing everything she can to provide for her kids and survive on the border with Canada. The performance is very real and authentic and I can easily see Leo as this mother who eventually finds herself smuggling humans into the US as one of her last options of maintaining a somewhat normal life. She's a good person deep down and even throws out a Pakistani's duffel bag because she thinks it could have poison gas (not realizing what was actually inside) and she stands up for herself and her Native American partner when they are being short changed. However, there are a few scenes where the writing and directing don't allow Leo to give her best and it ultimately keeps this film from becoming anything more than the low budget, first time directing piece it really is. When Leo is able to showcase her talents, she is really something to see but unfortunately through no fault of her own, the viewer isn't able to witness this from start to finish.

Meryl Streep - Doubt

Another year, another solid Streep performance. I'd be annoyed if her 16 nominations and counting were mostly based off reputation, but she turns in fantastic performances with regularity and maybe that expectation keeps her from actually winning more than 2 awards. As if the Academy and the voters acknowledge her ability without really looking at her performances as anything more than just another Streep nomination before handing the award to someone else. In saying that, her performance in Doubt as a headmaster at a Catholic school is a really solid and fantastic turn. I really can believe Streep could be an old crotchety, nun/principal that is a stickler for the rules. This quality is highlighted with Streep's subdued acting while trying to find out about Hoffman's possible indiscretions with a young boy. She adheres to the rules and would never accuse someone of anything without being absolutely sure. The main theme of Doubt can be seen in Streep's inner turmoil as she struggles with believing the priest could do such a thing and then how she can help the church/get rid of Hoffman. Her doubt and eventual realization are a real treat to watch her explore on screen and makes for a very nuanced and great performance.


I wouldn't exactly say this is a strong group, at least in my opinion. Streep delivers yet another great performance and would have been my winner. However, as far as Streep performances go, I don't think this one is as strong as she has shown in the past. I think Leo's performance was hampered by a script and director that never found their voice. Hathaway gave a strong performance that really didn't get me all that excited for her to be included, but at least it seems the Academy was able to take some chances on the two actresses. Which I think is key for years like this where no one really stands out as the best and there is no sure thing front runner. I also can't help but think that Jolie's nomination and Winslet's win were due to producers or studio heads who campaigned for them. Jolie's inclusion has me scratching my head because I didn't think there was anything noteworthy about it and I feel Winslet's win may be because of the Weinstein effect and possibly her having 2 performances that could have made the Best Actress list and was thus a win for the 2 combined. Really it was a less than stellar group that I'm glad to be finally done with!

Oscar Winner: Kate Winslet - The Reader
My Winner: Meryl Streep - Doubt
Melissa Leo
Anne Hathaway
Kate Winslet

Angelina Jolie

Supporting Actor 2008

I actually had written a very long and very awesome post here already that I was very proud of, but like an idiot I accidentally deleted the whole thing right before I finished it. Suffice to say I was beyond pissed at myself. And it unfortunately cooled my zeal to write again for awhile since I knew it would be really difficult to re-write everything I had already spent a good deal of time on and capture exactly what I was thinking after watching these movies. So in saying all that, I don't think this post will be my best unfortunately and I do apologize for that.

When I did finally come to this group, I was beyond excited since I had already seen 4 of the 5 films and loved them all. Knowing I'd get to watch them all over again and write good things instead of criticism really had me pumped to do this one. Micheal Shannon's inclusion was the wild card for me. I wasn't sure what to expect out of his performance but was hoping he would make it a perfect 5 for 5 in great nominations. I definitely already know that Ledger's performance will be my favorite, though. I think I will try a more direct approach that's less flowery than I how normally write since I don't want to try to re-write word for word what I already wrote.

2008 Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

I just want to say, this is the quintessential Joker ever for me, in any medium. I've read in some places that people feel this was a sympathy award for Ledger, but I frankly feel that is pretty insulting to the performance he made. It's an instant classic and is nothing short of brilliant, captivating, gripping, memorable, and downright mesmerizing. When the Joker is on screen, you can't look away because you don't want to miss a second of his twisted and demented actions, even if you've seen the film 20 times. That's how great Ledger's performance is. It goes way beyond just a comic book character and even further beyond being just another caricature of a zany, kooky Joker. It's real, it's gritty, it's powerful. He's an amoral psychopath that seems like he has a plan to plague Gotham and hound the Batman but you soon realize he really has no plan and essentially makes things up as he goes along. He is not concerned about money or power per se, more about just causing mayhem and chaos in a world that is there for the Joker to bend to his will. The Joker comes off in a very controlled crazy way and there's many scenes where Ledger expertly teeters on the edge of sanity/insanity. In one scene the Joker can play either side of this line and it never feels too over-the-top or uncontrolled. Even the movements of the Joker factor into how creepy and psychotic he can be. The way Ledger moves quickly when he walks, smacks his lips when he's annoyed, the sometimes rhythmic cadence of his speech, the intensity of someone determined to bring the Batman to his level...all make for one of the greatest performances of all time.

Josh Brolin - Milk

Brolin does a great job in working under the confines of his character. From the beginning when we first meet Brolin's character, we instantly get the feeling we won't like him as the film progresses. The audience is able to see through his thinly veiled good guy persona and see the bubbling animosity underneath. He's a fearful individual who feels he's being demeaned which really sets him off and pushes him towards the edge and possibly over. Brolin has very few scenes in which to transform from family man to cold blooded killer but he does a great job in selling us the abrupt change in personality. The viewer never feels comfortable with Dan White on screen which is a testament to the script and Brolin's acting ability. It's an arresting performance of a chilling character.

Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder

Good for the Academy in recognizing a comedic role in having more than just the ability to make us laugh. This is what is at the heart of Downey's portrayal of an Australian method actor who churns out Oscars that actually undergoes a skin pigmentation to play the role of a black Vietnam War soldier. There is no doubt that Downey can easily make us laugh in this movie with his great one-liners and over-the-top accent. But he also succeeds in making this role more than just a caricature of blacks and gives is some pretty remarkable depth. He lampoons not only those actors who submerge themselves into the roles they get in hopes of awards but also the hypocrisy of non-minorities receiving roles meant for minorities. Downey also treats the racial aspect of the role with some very deft handling by having Kirk Lazarus come off very sincere in playing a black man and trying to avoid stereotyping himself too much. Of course, we also laugh hard when he sometimes fails to realize how far he has or hasn't gone in his method acting, too. What was so great about this performance for me was that Downey really avoided making the role offensive or even come off like a white guy trying to be black and it totally worked.

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt

I'm amazed that this film was able to garner 4 acting nominations while not being nominated for Best Picture. A great reason why I love the decision to increase the nominees for that category. Hoffman plays this role of a Catholic priest perfectly. It's such a joy to watch him match wits against Streep in this film that lives up to it's name. As much as we doubt Hoffman's innocence every time Streep's character seems to think he is guilty of corrupting the only black kid in the school and acting inappropriately, possibly sexually, with him, we also doubt whether or not we believe Streep when Hoffman and the two cross paths multiple times. Hoffman is able to portray his character as the beloved priest that is only helping a disturbed young boy and mentoring him after hours. We never really know which side to believe, the loved priest who is looking to modernize his parish or the smarmy, quick tempered, power monger who preys on the young boys. This is all due to how effortlessly Hoffman can change from one persona to the next which leaves the audience unsure of what is truly going on in this church. The believability of Hoffman in this role speaks to his acting prowess.

Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

I had no idea what to expect from Shannon in this role as I didn't know much about him or what he was capable of besides his awesome work in Boardwalk Empire. I'll admit I was sorta expecting to be letdown but am glad to state that wasn't the case. This is a powerful performance that blew me away because Shannon steals the two short scenes he's in (maybe 10 minutes total in the film) and really saves the movie from itself. And this is pretty incredible since DiCaprio, Winslet, and Kathy Bates were all in the scenes with Shannon. I loved this role because it really grounds the two main characters in reality as Shannon's just released from a psychiatric hospital character delivers the caustic truth and is able to sense all the lies and BS that's floating around and call it all out without caring about pretenses or decorum. He's a kind of controlled crazy that is very refreshing. You can tell he's still somewhat normal but is able to use his "illness" as a way to say whatever he wants, which in turn makes everyone else seem crazy for trying to lead normal lives while hiding all their demons. A masterful performance that kept this move from caving in under it's own self importance.

I am really surprised that the Academy got this group so damn right. Every performance is amazing and Ledger absolutely earned his posthumous win. It was actually only the second posthumous award ever presented and the first in the Supporting Actor category. It was also fantastic to see the Academy reward a comedic performance since I know those have been few and far between in the later years of the Oscars. I would have been happy to see Downey win if Ledger's Joker hadn't been such an instant classic. Shannon's performance really surprised the hell out of me in how much I actually liked it. I thought it would easily be 5th out of the 5 but felt it was powerful enough to be right in the middle of them. Brolin and Hoffman could have easily won this award if they had been nominated in any other year, which says a lot about how strong this group really was. This is the reason I decided to start this blog; to find these amazing groups and see how often the Academy really got things right.

Oscar Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
My Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Robert Downey, Jr.
Michael Shannon
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Josh Brolin

Supporting Actress 2008

I am back! And hopefully writing these reviews with some regularity now. Playoff hockey is gone (but a new season has arrived) and my infatuation with Netflix has since waned. This year's crop of supporting actresses only gave me one movie to watch that I haven't seen which means I pretty much know what my order of liking these roles will be (and that is somewhat anti-climactic for me). Hopefully I don't have too much rust to knock off while writing these. Enjoy!

2008 Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I must say I expected a lot more out of this performance. It was decent, sure, but I'm not sold on it being Oscar worthy. Cruz's character does breathe some life into this incredibly cliche and stale movie but I also felt her character suffered from being built from a very worn out mold. She was the only thing that actually felt real and authentic about this film due to the fiery passion she exudes while onscreen. But like every other character in this movie, she is a cookie cutter representation of what Allen thinks of, in this case, a Spanish woman is. Meaning she is loud, emotional, violent, fiery, and irrational. This does help break up the monotony of the movie at times and Cruz deftly portrays her character without it seeming too much like a cliche. I just don't think even Cruz's best can elevate this role to anything more than a decent portrayal of a terrible character.

Amy Adams - Doubt

This is the type of role that suits Adams perfectly and I feel she is at her best in these innocent, almost precocious, performances. In Doubt, she does a great job of doing what is required of her character. Her role is essentially to be the go-between for Streep and Hoffman's characters. It is almost like Adams' character is just like the audience: being preyed on and plied by the other two characters so that she'll believe their version of events surrounding the boy and his troubles. For this reason, I feel Adams becomes mostly a blank canvas on which anyone to paint what they want (including the director) and getting the audience to feel a certain way thus making her performance hit without any real effect. Adams does well with what she is given but ultimately cannot elevate it into something other than a vessel to move scenes along.

Viola Davis - Doubt

I think Davis' performance really encapsulates what Doubt is all about. In her very brief role, she is able to further make the audience doubt not only whether or not her son is being abused by the priest, but if it is even a good thing to try and punish the priest which would surely bring to light the boy's actions in a negative way. It makes one wonder if Davis is a good mother protecting her son or a careless mother more concerned about not getting involved in any kind of drama at the school. At first, I wasn't exactly wowed by this performance but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to capture the movie's point. Davis conveys a lot of different emotions in her very short scene and all of them while remaining very collected and deliberate in her words. It's a powerful performance that really takes the movie to another level.

Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This nomination felt like it rode the Benjamin Button wave in making its way on this list, since that movie had the most nominations this year. When I was trying to remember anything interesting or memorable about this role before I re-watched it, I honestly could not remember anything about it besides she was the one who raised Brad Pitt's character. Henson does a decent enough job of portraying the caring mother figure, but it just never stood out past the supporting role it is. She makes the relationship between Pitt and herself seem very genuine but I feel that any other actress could have produced the same result. And I'm not so sure one of the other supporting actresses in this movie (Swinton, Blanchett, etc.) couldn't have easily taken her place here.

Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

One thing is obvious about this film from the start, Mickey Rourke gives an amazing and powerful performance as an aging pro wrestler. Marisa Tomei's character, however, really helps to humanize the larger-than-life Randy "The Ram" Robinson persona. Her character is somewhat vulnerable herself as an aging stripper and Randy mistakes her trying to make a buck for actual friendliness. Tomei displays such a depth to this character when she agrees to help him buy a gift for his estranged daughter and they end up having a good time together. When Tomei's character realizes she is letting a client get close to her and that she is letting her own personal guard down, she takes off. The next meeting is tempestuous at best and it is clear she is conflicted inside about being a stripper and a friend to Randy. Tomei really balances playing Rourke's emotional outlet with maintaining her need to make money very delicately and is what makes this a strong performance.


This was a very interesting group to me. The performances all seemed to be of the same sort of caliber, so to speak, as nothing really stood head and shoulders above the rest. Viola Davis' performance really shocked me because on my first watch, I was really perturbed to find out such a short role was nominated and thought it had to be one of those Oscar token nominations given to someone for their past body of work. So I think re-watching these films and doing this blog has really helped me to see things a different way than I'm used to and it's pretty awesome to be able to say that. I like to think I don't pretend to get things or not get things just because it's the trendy thing to do and I definitely don't try to be "deep" with my choices in hopes of someone somewhere thinking I'm really smart or hip. I just really enjoyed her performance as much as that surprised me. Honestly, the other four nominations could easily be arranged in any order and I wouldn't fight too hard for a performance to go either way. I knew what to expect already from Tomei, Adams, and Henson and was somewhat annoyed that Cruz wasn't as amazing as I thought (and was led to believe by many Woody Allen lovers that that hide as film critics) she was going to be in a Woody Allen movie, which was my first by the way. Another one of the things I can continue to look forward to as I work backwards is finally seeing movies and directors I've heard about for ages but have never seen. Anyway, that was way longer than I intended but I'm definitely glad to be back writing and excited for such a great Supporting Actor group to come!

Oscar Winner: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
My Winner: Viola Davis - Doubt
Marisa Tomei
Amy Adams
Penelope Cruz
Taraji P. Henson

Best Picture 2009

Playoff hockey has been keeping me from watching and writing as often as I should so bear with me for a bit, I definitely get back on track here soon. Sadly, this is the last of the 10 Best Picture nominee groups I'll do for a very long time. I am glad they opened up this category to allow for other films that wouldn't ordinarily get nominated because there are some really good ones lately. Now on to the movies!

2009 Best Picture

The Hurt Locker

I like this movie for an Oscar win. This movie is almost like a TV show or play with its different episodes/acts. I think that kind of vignette format works really well here. It captures the different things that the EOD unit can go through and deal with, without getting bogged down in telling a story with one or two events. It allows everything about the movie to stay fresh and you don't get worn down by the constant tension. The movie is a thriller and the edge-of-your-seat tension is heavy but done in such a way that you can almost feel the sand fly by you when a bomb goes off - it's that real. My issue with this film is the plausibility of some of the events that go on. For a civilian that hasn't experienced the military life, I'm sure the movie comes off as a strong one and wholly believable, but I've been there and experienced the craziness firsthand and the believability has to be suspended for me to really enjoy it. When the main guys turn into expert snipers or Renner's character goes off base alone to find any info about a little boy's murderers, it's just too ludicrous for me to even try to get past. It dampens what is otherwise a very good movie.

Avatar

I can't believe that there were people that were very vocal about this movie actually winning Best Picture, let alone being nominated. It deservedly won some technical awards and is a landmark film for special effects, but it's a borderline terrible movie when you get past the aesthetic. And to be honest, the big blue Na'vi still look a bit stupid and out of place in a live action movie. The story borrows heavily from many other movies and I'd compare it as an updated, better looking version of Fern Gully. The story itself is nothing new or compelling, the characters are all of the stock variety, there's no tension because everything is spelled out for you, you're never in doubt of what's going to happen next, and the political messages throughout the movie are grating to anyone with half a brain. Good special effects does not forgive bad characters and storytelling.

The Blind Side

I think this would have been better served as a movie of the week or a Lifetime movie because that's about as much substance as this movie has. While the actual inspiration for the story is compelling, The Blind Side manages to botch it by pandering to a white, suburban, middle-class audience. How this was even nominated is beyond my comprehension. It praises Bullock's character as saving the young, virtually homeless, large black kid all the while ignoring and treating him like a second-class citizen in a movie that's supposed to showcase his overcoming a rough life. The movie teeters on the brink of devolving into a sappy, cloyingly saccharine pap fest and Bullock's performance is a big reason why. It's just not a movie I can ever see myself watching again even if it's on whatever station I left my TV on.

District 9

This is one of the best recent sci-fi movies in a long time. It's certainly way better than Avatar and signals an independent sci-fi movement with movies such as Moon and Monsters. I love how the movie is built around the faux-documentary style which gives it a realism that serves the movie so well. The effects are real looking and the story is one that can and should resonate with the regular viewer. It's one of discrimination and the parallels to the apartheid are obvious and though some critics felt this part of the story was heavy handed, I think they are wrong because it really let the viewer bring their own thoughts and feelings into the movie. Wikus is portrayed brilliantly as the innocent man that turns into an alien and we can identify with him which engrosses us entirely in the film. And his growing relationship with the aliens as he begins to change is incredibly compelling, especially with the xenophobia as the backdrop to the film. An outstanding piece of science fiction cinema.

An Education

What I didn't like about this movie was the way all the adults acted completely unlike adults seemingly to make Carey Mulligan's character Jenny look way more mature and grown up than she really was. I think it severely hurt the movie because the viewer is unable to fully give themselves to the story presented. Jenny does well in school and is trying to get into Oxford and her dad keeps pushing her to study for the entrance tests but then when she meets a much older man and he visits the home and charms the family, the dad easily okays that she give up school and marry him. Many times I wanted the adults to be more than empty characters for Jenny to interact with but was routinely letdown. The movie really lacked drama where there should have been some and undercut the drama that was there by too neatly wrapping up the ending and basically saying she did a foolish thing but that in the end it was no big deal. Mulligan's performance was good but the rest of the movie left me wanting, no, begging for more.

Inglourious Basterds

Tarantino can't really do much wrong in making his movies and this one is no exception. It's phenomenal and such a wild, fun experience to watch. I love that the foreign speaking parts all go to foreign actors because it gives the film some authenticity and makes for some much stronger scenes and acting. The story is fantastic in each sense of the word and the alternate history idea is one that's fresh and rarely done. The characters are memorable and excellent, although I question casting his buddy Eli Roth as the Bear Jew since it was easily the weakest character and performance in the movie. There's not much else to say besides this is a really cool movie that everyone should see.

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

The acting from the two main characters really helped push this movie to a higher level, no pun intended. I think without those two, it wouldn't have received as much attention and praise as it did. The story is your basic sort of empowerment story: girl is constantly put down by her own mother and made to do everything for her and the mom resents her when she starts doing well in school and eventually breaks free of her tyrannical reign and becomes her own person. There are times when the movie underwhelms as during the school scenes when we feel as if we've already seen this done a million times before. The real compelling story is between Precious and her mother and the movie is fun to watch at these times. There is also these weird daydream scenes that Precious imagines that really feel out of place in the movie with the way they are shot and look. I can understand what the director was going for but I think it fails and detracts from the overall pace of the movie.

A Serious Man

On the first watch, I hated it. I felt the movie really had no point, suffered from any real drama, and was overall pretty boring to watch. On my second viewing for this blog, I loved it! This movie is a total grower and probably does need multiple viewings to "get it" unfortunately. Obviously, I don't think this is a movie for everyone. The Coen Brothers have crafted an incredibly subtle movie. I love subtle humor a lot and for whatever reason I must not have been paying as close attention as I should on my first viewing. But with the second, I thought it was hilarious in such a reserved and understated way. Nothing hits you over the head and says laugh; it's bleak, dark, weird humor. The movie is ultimately about a Jewish man from Minnesota's life crumbling around him leading him to question his faith. Most of the other characters seem very one-sided but it works for me because the movie is about how the main character reacts and deals with the issues these characters present. This is a wonderful movie that I don't think everyone will like.

Up

Sometimes I wish Pixar would reign in the sappy moments in its movies a bit. The sappy scene in the beginning where Karl and his wife grow old seems very forced and sudden and as I said in my Toy Story 3 review, I don't like being told to feel a certain way especially right from the start! I understand that it sets up the basic premise of the movie since his wife wanted to go on a trip to South America but I feel it could have been done in a different manner that didn't yank on the heartstrings so hard and still remain poignant. There are plenty of times they do it right as the story progresses. Otherwise, it's a fantastical story that is quite funny at times and visually fun to watch. The relationship between Karl and the boy is fun to watch develop as they teach each other about life, which is really something when Karl is pretty old. Up has a great mix of adventure, humor, drama, and mystery.

Up in the Air

This movie had some great acting, good characters, and a decent story. Clooney again charms the pants off the viewer but the movie feels both like it's missing something and trying too hard at the same time. It's able to capture the zeitgeist of the economic collapse and the massive job loss that happened really well. But as we follow the unlikely likable Clooney through the movie, we get hit over the head with these out of place documentary like interviews with real people that totally kills the flow and feel of the movie. And as we start to root on the romance between Clooney and Farmiga, we get THAT ripped out from under us in a way that made me angry. It was clearly done to get Clooney's character to "change" his outlook on life, but it felt so contrived and preyed on the audience's feelings that it brought the movie down with it. I wish the movie would have stuck to either being a comedy or drama because the mixing of the two at times didn't quite work and undercut the movie. With all my griping, though, it's still a decent movie worth a watch.


I love that this year was a pretty historic year for Best Picture nominees. First winning female director, first black director nominated, animated feature, sci-fi nominated again, and a Tarantino film. The expansion to 10 nominees was the best thing the Academy could have done for the sagging Oscar ceremonies. It gets people to watch movies they may not have initially seen and gets them tuning in to see movies they are rooting for. It's brilliant and I'm glad they decided to expand. I'm sad that I have to go back to just 5 nominees in 2008 knowing that movies such as The Dark Knight missed out on what would have been easy nominations. I like the choice of The Hurt Locker for the win and I'm especially glad they didn't reward that huge mess Avatar. I chose District 9 because it's an instant classic sci-fi movie to me and it blew me away in theaters and was still amazing on subsequent watches. I'm glad this year is finally ending because school and NHL playoffs has severely disrupted my reviewing process. But fear not, as I will get back into my groove soon enough. Also....please leave comments!

Oscar Winner: The Hurt Locker
My Winner:  District 9
Inglourious Basterds
The Hurt Locker
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
An Education
Avatar
The Blind Side

Leading Actor 2009

By name alone, this is a really strong group. I have a feeling I'm not going to dislike any of the performances. The Wild Card in the group is Colin Firth since I don't really know too much about that movie. Very interested in reviewing these performances.

2009 Best Actor

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

Some might just go ahead and write this win off as the Academy doing what they do best and rewarding a lifetime of work rather than the single performance. But, honestly, I can see why Bridges received his first Oscar for this role. He is completely believable as Bad Blake and if someone told me he actually was a country singer, it wouldn't be much of a shock. He can sing (and from what I've read has a CD coming out or is out) and has that weathered look of someone who has spent his life on the road with too much smoke, booze, and women. He desperately wants a family before his time is up but only when it's convenient for him, which makes it a rollercoaster ride of emotion. Bridges smoothly operates the ride without causing us to want to vomit. It's not overdone and you can really feel for him as he tries to figure out his mix match of emotions and problems. Watching him sort them all out is where we can see why he won. Interesting to note that Robert Duvall (who is great in this film) plays a friend of Bridges, won his only Oscar for a 1983 movie, Tender Mercies, that has essentially the same exact premise.

George Clooney - Up in the Air

How can you not like Clooney? This is a perfect George Clooney role and he definitely excels in it and drives this movie. He plays Ryan Bingham, a man who travels the country firing people for bosses who don't want to and who enjoys his almost 300 days a year spent traveling and living in hotels. He meets his match at work when a young woman comes up with a way to fire people over the Internet meaning less travel and in his love life when a woman challenges his ideas on no commitment. This role really becomes an extension of Clooney in the slick, suave, and sophisticated ways his character goes about his job and daily life. The character and Clooney are extremely charming and you really buy into the idea that he is content living his life sheltered from regular relationships and start to believe that way of life might not be so bad. But when the two women enter his life, you see his aversion to change and facing a life where he is grown up and settled down. The audience's attitude shifts with Clooney's and is a testament to his charm and acting ability that even though we're supposed to kinda not like his character we end up fully behind whatever decisions he makes. It does work against him at the end, however, when his transformation into a better person isn't much of a transformation at all. He's still doing many of the same things he was before, so his becoming a nicer, better person rings a bit hollow.

Colin Firth - A Single Man

There wasn't a whole lot in this role that really grabbed my attention. The movie overall is kinda boring and I don't think Firth's character does all that much to make it any more compelling. The director relies way too much on close-ups of Firth looking sad or melancholy, and while I understand that is part of the theme of the film, it comes off as a bit much. And while Firth may be a good actor, it takes more than seeing him glum for me to like his performance. Firth's character is a gay, British professor in Southern California whose partner has died recently and he is now putting in motion plans for suicide but throughout the day he meets random people and remembers random memories that make life seem better. On paper it's a great idea but the execution of the character leaves a lot to be desired for me. It's an alright performance but there just needs to be something more to it, it needs a soul to come alive and endear itself to the viewer. I think what holds it back is that it remains on the same level throughout the film and it's nothing that memorable to begin with.

Morgan Freeman - Invictus

I think Freeman does a good job in playing the part of Nelson Mandela. Much like Meryl Streep's Julia Child character, this role isn't just imitation. Yes, Freeman has the look down, has the slow vocal delivery down, the way Mandela walks and waves down, everything about the look and feel of Mandela down. But like Streep, Freeman is able to insert parts of himself into the role so that it becomes a combination of Morgan Freeman and Nelson Mandela and not just a flat out imitation. Unfortunately, the script leaves a lot to be desired from the character and some of the blame can be shifted to Freeman. Every time Mandela speaks, it's as if it were written specifically to be played as an introduction to Freeman at the Oscars and nothing more. It's all too important every time and the speaking in soundbites really detracts from the overall power of the performance and the film. Maybe Freeman saw this as his chance at an Oscar and decided to forgo subtlety in favor of the grandiose approach. The character is nonetheless believable and likable even if the world and problems within that world are too easily solved with no real tension.

Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

As a character, Renner is pretty fantastic in this film. When we first meet him, we wonder if we're actually going to like him as he seems like an ass. But he commands our respect and attention every time he's on screen after his introduction. He's disarmingly calm when it comes to his dangerous job and this imbues in him a badass quality which serves Renner well. You realize his dedication and attention to detail allow him to be a little more reckless but you also start to wonder if Renner wasn't in the Army would he maybe be a sociopath in the real world. It's a very fine line and the mix of compassion and rage he shows makes for a very compelling performance. As the movie progresses, we get to experience his private moments of pain that seemingly shape his persona when out doing his job. It's a good performance that does more than the usual stereotyping of soldiers, which is a nice breath of fresh air.


This is a very strong group. The one that doesn't really do much for me is Colin Firth's role, but all the others are worthy of their nominations. The win for Bridges is probably overdue at this point if you look at his body of work, but I think it was well deserved. I had trouble choosing between Bridges and Renner for my winner since both created very memorable characters. I chose Renner because I'm a little biased for good Iraq/Afghanistan movies but really you could call it a tie. Glad to see a strong group after the mediocre Actress one.

Oscar Winner: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
My Winner:  Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
Jeff Bridges
George Clooney
Morgan Freeman
Colin Firth

Leading Actress 2009

It's been taking a bit longer for me to watch and review movies than I initially thought, but some of that is due to being busy. Once I watch a few and get in the groove I start knocking out the categories pretty quickly. Bear with me. Part of doing the most recent years first allows me to automatically know which movies/performances I think are going to be tough to make it through. I'm excited for when I start getting into years I don't exactly know much about the movies/performances so I keep a fresh perspective.

2009 Best Actress

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Ugh, how did Sandra Bullock win an Oscar? Seriously. I honestly do not understand the love and accolades she got for this role. Her southern accent is terrible, the acting is better suited for a TV movie, and her character is too perfect and can seemingly do no wrong. The performance suffers in that it feels like Bullock merely played dress up and acted in cliches. When she's interacting with her high society friends, she doesn't even pretend that she likes them and it's hard to imagine they are actually friends. It's as if there's a big neon sign over her head that says "Hate these ladies!" There's no subtlety (and by now you should know I LOVE subtlety in my acting haha) and Bullock just lumbers through the movie and we're only left with the impression that her character is so badass, strong, and independent that there's no room for anything else. Which is why this win boggles my mind. It teeters on the brink of being a Lifetime movie performance and a caricature of sorts, truly a misstep for the Academy.

Helen Mirren - The Last Station

"I don't understand why this performance was nominated. Again, all I can think of is that the Academy is rewarding her past (this is her 4th nomination)..." I wrote this about Annette Bening in the following year's Best Actress category and it could honestly be said of Mirren in this performance as well. In the beginning of this film, Mirren's character was feisty and boisterously voicing her unfavorable opinion of her husband's (Leo Tolstoy) political movement/ideology. I really thought she was going to continue being the voice of reason and the opposing force in this movie but sadly her character fell victim to a terrible script and lost its way. Mirren eventually lacks any direction and becomes a farce as Tolstoy's wife. She cries a lot, rolls around on the ground, and basically becomes such a melodramatic and unlikable character that the movie overall loses any impact it possibly could have had. The fact that Mirren felt no need to take the character in the obvious direction of the strong, matronly way she initially was going in solidifies this as an undeserved nomination.

Carey Mulligan - An Education

Mulligan is clearly a good actress and I hope to see her in better movies down the line. In An Education, she plays a young, naive schoolgirl who thinks she's smarter and more mature than she really is. She becomes enamored with and seduced by an older man before realizing that life isn't quite that easy. I left out some of the details so as not to ruin the film, but the actual plot is pretty preposterous and certainly doesn't allow Mulligan to give as good of a performance as she could. Her character is one of the saving graces of the film, however, with her layered and compelling performance. Throughout the film, you believe that Mulligan is actually 16 (she was 22) and you become emotionally involved in her character when you see the moments she remains a giggling schoolgirl followed by trying to remain the worldly mature adult she thinks she is. These different sides of hers would be hard to balance and remain believable on both levels but Mulligan is able to transition between the two without losing any sort of grasp on her character. It's unfortunate that the other characters in the movie are more or less one-sided so that Mulligan appears more mature, because it would have been much more compelling if Mulligan faced her anxieties of the future instead of being coddled by the supposed grown ups around her. Despite all of this, Mulligan is able to pull off a good performance in an otherwise disappointing movie.

Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

At first, I was worried about where this performance would go and if it would go anywhere. The character of Precious initially comes off as one without any real emotion or seemingly any real personality. Everything is delivered deadpan and her demeanor is one of pure moroseness. Part of me wondered if there was any actual acting going on because I could easily see Sidibe being this downtrodden, depressed, gloomy girl (even though that's not the case at all since she has a bubbly personality in real life) and it certainly didn't seem like any real acting was taking place. But as the film went on, it was quite evident that there was a lot more to Precious and Sidibe was giving us glimpses of the true character hidden beneath that stony exterior. When she finally stands up to her mother or when she's opening up to her teacher and classmates about her life, we really get to see why Sidibe was nominated and it's fun to watch.

Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

There's an old debate about whether imitation is acting or not. To me, it is because whether it's good or bad that just means it's good or bad acting. Streep is the darling of the Academy (this being her 16th! nomination) but unlike some others, most of her roles are deservedly nominated. In this film, Streep offers more than just an imitation, she embodies Julia and infuses the character with her own soul to create a mix that is distinctly her own version of the culinary icon. She nails the look, the voice, the body movements and even the flippant, buoyant personality. She plays the few serious moments well without being too serious, which is how you'd think Julia Child would react. The character of Julia Child is something that would be easy to overdo and I think if the character were in the hands of someone else that's probably what we would have seen, but Streep is able to effectively balance the inherent loudness and ebullience of the character with relative ease. That's what makes this performance so much fun to watch.


I can't really say that this is a strong group by any means, especially with Bullock winning. I think that the Academy got it wrong again and this will be one of those performances we look back on in a few years and wonder why it won. Streep was Streep and you can't say much about her besides that. She's consistently good. Sidibe and Mulligan gave good performances, although I don't think we'll see Sidibe challenge for another award again. Mirren and Bullock were in some terrible movies and gave some very lackluster performances on top of it. Makes 2010 look even better, in my opinion.

Oscar Winner: Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
My Winner: Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia
Carey Mulligan
Gabourey Sidibe
Helen Mirren
Sandra Bullock

Supporting Actor 2009

I'll keep an open mind when watching the three movies I haven't already seen but I am pretty sure I already know what my favorite is going to be. (Yes, I write this intro before I review the movies to keep it interesting!) The thing with reviewing the performances is that while I can totally hate a movie the one redeeming factor could be a stellar performance in it. I think that keeps reviewing these performances to be rewarding since it's like finding diamonds in the rough.

2009 Best Supporting Actor

Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Right from the beginning you can see why this performance won the Oscar. It's absolutely brilliant and will be one of the most highly regarded characters in film for decades to come. And that's not some hyperbolic bullshit either. Waltz plays the character of Colonel Hans Landa with a gleeful evil, he's an astute detective that revels in toying with his victims. His face and mannerisms and the way he delivers his lines are so expressive and so memorable that he completely owns the character and is easily the best part of this movie. And it's another great movie from Tarantino with many memorable characters of which Waltz is in a league of his own. There's a mixture of disgust and awe and complete, intense interest at what Waltz is going to do next. In the beginning he's slick and conniving and witty and gains our respect. The next time he's a purely evil Nazi that turns on the charm to get his information. And then he is intuitive and hilarious and evil all at the same time. Waltz does a magnificent job balancing all the different nuances expected of him.

Matt Damon - Invictus

This is a Matt Damon role: a quiet, unassuming guy that becomes a leader/winner/better person. He excels at these roles and does a good job as the captain of the South African rugby team here. Even if the film is a bit too straightforward and neat in showing the nation coming together, Damon plays the role with an intense sense of duty to his country and it comes off as being very genuine. It just doesn't come off as anything extraordinary or special. Inspirational, yes, but it follows the long line of cliche sports movie heroes we've seen many times before.

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger

Even if Harrelson's character doesn't wear his beret correctly, he does a good job as the Casualty Notification Officer delivering bad news in The Messenger. I liked this performance because the character seems completely human, faults and all, much like regular Army officers that I've known. There's no superhuman, Army robot, killing machine here, just a man who values his job and what it entails. There's no bravado, no loud overdone performance. You really believe in the character and can identify Harrelson with someone you know/knew in the military. That's why the performance works for me because Harrelson comes off as human and not someone's idea of what a soldier is which hurts another movie from this year that I'll get into later.

Christopher Plummer - The Last Station

Let's just say this movie was not very good and go from there. The script does no one any favors in this movie and the story suffers dramatically from it. So in saying that, I don't know what Plummer could have done to make this a memorable performance. I really don't know how he and Helen Mirren were nominated for this poor film. There's just not much going on for Plummer's Tolstoy other than walking around looking content or dying. I guess you can say he does both well, but that's about all he does in this film. There's no subtleties or nuances, no layers, no emotional depth. Everything is superficial and, well, frankly boring. It's as if he put on some Russian-y clothes and was filmed doing so. Much of the fault for such a boring character (and movie) goes to the director, but a veteran actor like Plummer should be able to do something more than this.

Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones

Surprisingly, Tucci's first nomination comes in this terribly directed movie. Tucci does a superb job as the creepy serial killer, which is a testament to his acting ability. I've seen him in too many Meryl Streep movies and seeing him play something that goes against those types brings a little fresh air to my overall view of him. There's not much else to say about this performance besides it's completely believable. You can imagine this man living next door to you and never thinking anything of it and certainly not thinking he's a little girl serial killer. He plays the character with such an understated, quiet, repressed evil that it adds an extra layer of creepiness and really adds to the character, making him difficult to stomach. An interesting nomination on the Academy's part.

This was an alright group buoyed by Waltz's amazing performance. The rest of the men all gave some pretty average to good performances and it surprises me that some of these were in fact nominated. I again agree with the Academy and I'm not sure how anyone could not agree with them. I'm also wondering if I should lower my standards for these supporting awards since I've been wanting to be wowed by not just the winners but the other nominees as well and have so far been wholly underwhelmed. I have a feeling that will continue as I go back in time. Not saying I don't enjoy watching these films, though, because I definitely do. Even the bad ones. Really you can flip Damon and Tucci and Harrelson and I'd have no problem.

Oscar Winner: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds
My Winner: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds
Woody Harrelson
Stanley Tucci
Matt Damon
Christopher Plummer

Supporting Actress 2009

Feels good to finally be done with 2010 (well, besides Javier Bardem's movie I can't find) since I've been watching those movies since Jan/Feb and thinking about what to write for the blog entries since then, too. On to new movies I haven't seen yet which will hopefully be a nice breath of fresh air.

2009 Best Supporting Actress

Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

Mo'Nique is an evil, terrible person in this movie. She owns the character of Mary Lee Johnston and delivers a completely unlikeable performance which is far from a bad thing. She is seething with contempt and hostility at her daughter Precious for seemingly just being born. Any time she puts on a demeanor of niceness, it's only to keep her welfare checks coming or the social workers at bay, and that demeanor looks like it's ready to fall off at any moment. She lashes out at her daughter to deflect away any sense of vulnerability and we witness a mother who is unwilling to change because she blames her daughter for everything wrong in her life. My one complaint is that the performance feels too one-note. Mo'Nique plays evil well but there's not much depth to the character. We get a small peak at the end of the movie when she begins to let down her guard a bit, but then we realize it's not a breakthrough so much as it is another ploy to get her money.

Penelope Cruz - Nine

Not gonna lie, I saw this movie in theaters and enjoyed its aesthetic and some of the songs but will admit it's not that good of a movie. I wonder if Cruz's win the previous year and the Weinstein factor in an otherwise weak group led to this nomination. Cruz is basically eye candy as the woman Daniel Day-Lewis is having an affair with. The character seems more like a caricature than anything else and doesn't do anything to help the movie from looking and feeling like one big joke. The movie seems made to win Oscars and not much else and Cruz's role reflects this idea perfectly. All style, with no substance.

Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

This performance isn't all that exceptional or powerful, it's sort of basic and run-of-the-mill. Farmiga produces a decent enough performance as George Clooney's love interest but ultimately she lacks any real oomph. I think a lot of that is due in part to the director/writer of the movie. As the viewer, we enjoy her character as a fit for Clooney and root on their blossoming romance only to have all of that interest in the character suddenly and unceremoniously pulled out from under us when we find out she isn't who she says she is. That scene really seems like it's there to provide some jarring, serious moment to get Clooney's character to change but it comes off utterly ridiculous and the movie suffers from that point on. There's just nothing really special about Farmiga's role here, though she does try to match Clooney's charm and almost comes close. Being able to keep up with Clooney doesn't really make the performance any more compelling than it already isn't.

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart

Honestly, I had to watch his again because I could not remember a thing about her performance. Watching it a second time, I really think she was miscast. The romance between her and Bridges isn't believable and her Southern accent is pretty bad. At first, there is a wariness for Gyllenhaal's character in going for a relationship with Bad Blake and she does a good job in showing her hesitation in beginning the romance but gives in to her loneliness and need for a fatherly figure for her child. But the actual relationship part and the tribulations that come after just fall flat and seemed rushed to move the plot along. Why is this young aspiring journalist falling for an old, usually drunk, chain smoking country singer? There's no real chemistry or believability and that is due in large part to Gyllenhaal.

Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air

At first, Kendrick annoyed me a bit in this movie. Her character was just this insufferable, know it all, corporate do-gooder in the beginning and coupling that with Kendrick making the performance look like she was acting, well, I thought I was going to hate this one. But luckily her performance got better and better and added some depth which was much needed. She plays feisty yet vulnerable, self-assured yet doubting her life choices, independent yet still needing people and these can play out in the same scenes with minimal effort. I was glad I was wrong with my initial thoughts because I enjoyed whatever scenes she was in and thought she was a perfect foil to Clooney in this movie. I wish at times she acted with more power (not saying louder or overdone) and had been able to steal the movie away from Clooney, which I thought she was easily capable of doing.


Not a very strong group at all in my opinion. I'm satisfied with Mo'Nique winning because she gives such a searing performance, one that I think will be looked at fondly in years to come. I give the same performance the edge over Anna Kendrick, which I also liked. From there I feel there's a drop off into the more average to below average range and I know that there were probably more deserving actresses out there. I have a feeling this category is going to be the one I least want to watch and review. Hopefully I am proven wrong in the coming reviews.

Oscar Winner: Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
My Winner: Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Anna Kendrick
Vera Farmiga
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Penelope Cruz

Best Picture 2010

This will be a long post since I don't really want to split it up into two parts. Luckily, only the next one will be 10 movies until we get down into the 1930s, but that's a long way away.

2010 Best Picture

The King's Speech

This is Oscar bait at its finest. A movie that is overly sentimental for the sole sake of being sentimental. The movie tries hard to distance itself emotionally from the viewer only to come back at points and really hit the viewer over the head with insincere tosh. I actually enjoyed the historical aspects of the film and Firth is deserving of his Oscar but the movie is too complacent and formulaic about a royal family I'm not emotionally engineered to. The relationship between Bertie and Lionel doesn't feel realistic and we are left with a movie that plays it safe knowing it just needs to satiate the appetite of the Academy voters since that is its sole purpose. While it's not as terrible as I make it seem, it irritates me that this movie could have been so much more than a glorified puff piece on British royalty nostalgia and more of a serious film with an important message to say.

Black Swan

The movie demands more than Portman is able to give. As I said in my review of her, she is quite capable as the White Swan but suffers as the Black Swan. The movie itself is similar in that it tries to be more than it really is. There have been numerous retellings of the Swan Lake ballet in film and many try to come up with some new take on an old story. Black Swan fails at saying or showing anything different and therefore lacks the real emotional punch it's going for. The actual dancing is a treat to watch and Mila Kunis' character is perfect. And not to say this is a terrible movie or anything, I just feel like the Black Swan scenes could have been handled better and acted better and that ultimately leaves this film lacking.

The Fighter

This movie has such a compelling story and superb actors, there's really no doubt it deserves to be a Best Picture nominee. The tale of two brothers who are boxers, one washed up and the other trying to make it, offers up a great combination of drama and sports movie. The struggles between the family members and the struggle of Bale's character to overcome his addiction are riveting to watch and really cement this movie as a must watch. At times the characters can come off as being a bit over the top in their performances but I think this really adds to the realism of this outgoing and loud family we are being shown. What does annoy me is the usual boxing match trope you find in lots of boxing movies, whoever we are rooting for gets wailed on for a few rounds before finding some sort of energy to knock the other guy out. In a movie that is so good with its dramatic elements, the failure of the sports side to be truly innovative and buck cliches leaves a little to be desired. With that said it is still one of my favorites of the year.

Inception

Christopher Nolan's dream within a dream within a dream idea is dazzling if a little lacking in depth and emotion. The sights and sounds of the special effects are great fun to witness and really makes you feel immersed in the different worlds/dreams presented. There's definitely no dull parts visually and I hesitate to say there were any in the story either. A lot of critics complained that the story was confusing and complicated and while I don't exactly disagree (it wasn't hard to follow, though), its strength comes in making the viewer challenge what they see and think. It also comes across heavy-handed with lots of expository dialogue telling us what's going on and feels loaded down with its own weight of seriousness. But taking the movie at face value and realizing that it's just really a cool movie with a unique idea, one realizes that you don't need to be attached emotionally and can simply watch from afar....as if watching a dream.

The Kids Are All Right

Ugh, I don't see why this was a movie worthy of an Oscar nomination. I like that the expansion from 5 movies to 10 allows for movies that wouldn't normally be nominated to get a chance. But this shouldn't have been one of those movies. It's episodic and at times feels like a TV movie (or heck even a show). The lesbian angle can only carry it so far and the acting for the most part isn't as good as others would lead you to believe. The story, and especially the relationships, rang hollow and under served the characters badly. I did like some of the subtle humor throughout the movie as well as Mark Ruffalo's performance, even if it could have been better. But overall, this just isn't a movie I liked.

127 Hours

I think this just an OK movie. It's got a very interesting subject, but I don't think Danny Boyle (director) is able to put it all together in a way that fits the subject. The movie to me has a weird look to it, almost like it's overexposed. While I don't claim to know all that much about cinematography, the look of this film grates on me. It has a TV movie feel at times to me and while Franco does all he can to save it from becoming just that, there's not much for him to work with. I don't think the flashbacks are really compelling enough and Franco isn't able to carry the film on his own. For what should be a very inspiring and gut-wrenching tale, it lacks the tension, emotion and depth needed to be more than just an exercise in directing for Boyle.

The Social Network

The more I think about this film the more I love it. My initial reaction after watching this remarkable film was that it was good but forgettable. Except that after I dismissed it, the movie kept creeping back into my mind and I kept thinking about the characters, the music, the story, the dialogue. I love Jesse Eisenberg's condescending, anti-social portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg and the emotion (or lack thereof) and subtlety with which he acts is amazing, brilliant, and perfect. The dialogue is so rapid-fire and so very obviously of Aaron Sorkin's mind and is a perfect fit for a movie that digs into this generations cultural psyche. I love that you can see Zuckerberg's inability to connect with people essentially form the idea of Facebook as a way to connect with people on your own terms. The supporting characters are fantastic, the minimalist music sets the tone wonderfully, and the direction is so spot on I fail to see why this movie didn't win Best Picture.

Toy Story 3

I'm not sure if this was a stand alone movie, that it would get as much love and an Oscar nom like it has. It's a decent little end to the trilogy and got its obvious Best Animated Feature Oscar (over the more deserving How To Train Your Dragon). Like the other movies in the Toy Story arc, it likes to tug on the heartstrings, although I feel that's when the movie is at its worse. Pixar loves to add in the sappy moments but instead of letting things develop on their own, they often force you in to an emotion under the guise that it makes for a more touching film. That's a big pet peeve in movies for me. Let me form my own emotions and feelings towards characters and scenes and stop force feeding me what you think I should be feeling. I think TS3 is waaay better than 2, but not nearly as good as 1 and the prior movies probably make people react to this movie differently than if the others hadn't existed. Meaning, the nostalgia for the Toy Story franchise makes this movie better than it really is. I feel this nomination was more of a nod to the Toy Story franchise than to how good of a film this one really is.

True Grit

I love that the Coens are never the same from movie to movie. Their more faithful adaptation of the book has some wonderful acting, if at times a bit stilted, and beautiful cinematography. Although the landscape looks great on film, the action sequences are a bit lacking and the movie as a whole is kinda dull. There's no real sense of danger or tension or anything that might keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. And once we meet Hailee Steinfeld's father's killer, we are pretty underwhelmed and a little aggravated that we invested the time in going along with finding this weak man who was built up as someone much stronger and more intimidating. But that's probably more of a failure of the book than the movie so I give the Coens the benefit of the doubt. It's still an enjoyable film and the Coens are great at creating memorable characters as they have here.

Winter's Bone

About a 17-year-old girl trying to figure out where her father is so he can go to court so the family he's left won't get evicted in the Missouri Ozarks. It's a nice slice of life look at poor red necks essentially and there's only a few moments when the story doesn't work. As I said in my acting reviews for this movie, there are times when the script lets down Jennifer Lawrence's character but those are few and the acting in this movie is one of its better qualities. The tone and pacing of this movie are done well and there's never a time when I was wishing for the next scene to hurry up and arrive. But other than Lawrence's performance, the movie fails to really stick with you after you've finished watching it and after you've seen it once there's no real reason to come back to it. Nice to see the Academy reward an indie film that was released in the summer with a nod here.


I feel the Academy got it wrong this year. It took the Oscar bait and rewarded mediocrity instead of going with a movie that I feel will be looked at in years to come as a classic and generational movie in The Social Network. Overall, I'd say this year seems a little lacking in movies that should really be nominated for Best Picture. I hope that next year will be strong like 2009 was. And so that completes my first full year of reviews, which feels good. The writing has gotten a bit easier as I've gone along and hopefully it stops taking me hours to write these things!

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