Saturday, February 12, 2011
A note of justice
Also, once again... DIDO?
127-- OMIGOD THAT ROCK JUST FELL ON HIM -- erm, spoilers ahead
Ten minutes: Someone just give this movie the best picture Oscar already? Also, there's a reason Danny Boyle is one of my two favorite directors. Since when does Amber Tamblyn still exist?
Fifty-three minutes: James Cameron is in the house
Thursday, February 10, 2011
That's why it's called acting
That movie was heartrending. In one scene, I thought a character was whimpering as something terrible happened, but as it got louder (and I thought, "This is real, this person is really, truly upset") I realized -- nope, that noise is coming from my own throat. I can't exactly tell you how gorgeously acted this movie was and as discussed with ma mere in the aftermath, it's a hard movie to recommend. Not because it isn't excellent.
It is excellent. Beyond excellent.
It's just heavy. Dark. Deadly. It's not a movie that you can say you enjoyed. (And if you did, uh, you should probably get help.) I told Mom I thought that she (Jennifer Lawrence) was going to have a long career and Mom agreed before remembering that she is, in fact, the Angel of Death.
(Jeff Buckley, Heath Ledger, Earthfest, and multiple fish--all blood on my mother's hands.)
So knock on wood for that, yeah?
Though it is interesting to me if you look at Winter's Bones and True Grit. Both about determined young women who set out to find someone (either their father or their father's killers). Sure, True Grit is about avenging her father's death and Winter's Bone is about finding proof that her father is dead, but they both feature women clinging to survival and purpose in a world run by men. One of the women in Winter's Bone asks Ree, "Don't you have any men that can do this for you?" and Ree very matter-of-factly responds, "No." In the end, it is women who step up, the men posturing endlessly and purposelessly at each other in hopes that one will back down or the other will act. It is a man's world, yes, and it is harder to make your way in the world of Winter's Bone if you are a woman, but if you can, if you don't collapse into insanity, well, it's because you've got true grit. Sorry, wrong movie.
In True Grit, we are told that it is Rooster Cogburn who is a man of true grit, but in the end, the only character who proves she has what it takes is Mattie Ross. Granted, in the end, the men save the day, but that is because Mattie Ross is a fourteen year old girl. There's only so much that grit can do against brute strength and let's be clear that a fourteen year old girl firing a gun on a grown man takes grit. A grown man taking a fourteen year old girl hostage takes... well, not that much, as a matter of fact.
I loved these movies and I loved their female leads. I'm nothing like either of them and cannot relate at all to their specific experiences of the world, but I totally appreciated seeing strong females -- and to see them be so young, and to persevere through so much was magnificent. Both of them teenaged girls, abandoned in one way or another by their fathers, seeking to rectify an unjust situation, despite the men around them proclaiming it too dangerous for a woman (let alone a young girl!) and too futile for a man -- really their own cowardice overwhelming them.
And then there was Natalie Portman, who, don't get me wrong, worked her ass off in Black Swan. But I'll get to that later.
You got a friend in me (all of you)
This year is a bit of a toss-up, between Toy Story 3 and The Illusionist. I've seen two of the three, but I've not seen The Illusionist. I'm dying to. And there's a really good reason that my old followers might know.
Most of the movie is set in the 'Burgh. I saw a still from it and I knew those spires, those cobblestones, it felt like home. And it looks sweet. That seems to be the theme this year with the animated films. All three are really, really sweet. Toy Story 3 and The Illusionist are also all about loss of something, childhood or an era.
Meanwhile, How To Train Your Dragon is funny, smart, and impeccable. I haven't seen the last one yet, but it's set in my second home, my British home. Toy Story is funny, smart, and plays on your nostalgia. It's the best job Tom Hanks has done in ages, and it's not afraid to be devastatingly tragic. (Happy ending, though!) It wasn't made for kids; it was made for my generation. "Ok, guys, you're graduating college now. Be GROWNUPS!"
I'm just so sad about having to choose a favorite eventually.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Some Notes on Rabbit Hole
- I'd have nominated Aaron Eckhart.
- I wish Nicole Kidman's face could move.
- I want to hug that kid.
Friday, January 28, 2011
True Grit, Tron, and Tuesday movies
Last year, I did this thing where I sort of tried to watch every movie nominated for an Academy Award before the ceremony. Now, I was in my last semester of college and prone to fits and starts, so I gave up when I saw how difficult The Most Dangerous Man In America would be to find. But I like the idea, so I'm coming back for round 2. And this time, I'm coming fully armed with charts, budget lists, and a supportive (if vaguely confused) boyfriend. He's even helping me with my spreadsheets.
Anyway, about Tron. I love Jeff Bridges. As anyone who knows me is aware, Crazy Heart was my favorite nominated movie last year and he was a big part of that. I think he is just swimming in talent--in the right movies. And I simply adore his voice. I, like Maggie Gyllenhaal, could find myself falling against my will for him if he showed up in my life and looked at me -- but that was all last year.
Okay, so a few weeks ago, the HomelessBoy and I were driving through a snowstorm to get groceries for the family I'm staying with and decided that we needed to stop and see a movie, since we'd set the date before the snow was ever predicted. So we stopped at the Hampshire Mall Cinemark and asked them what the next movie was. Something lame, like The Tourist (sorry, Johnny, but you're not making me want to overcome my Angelina revulsion) or Season of the Witch. So we asked what movies were starting in the next 45 minutes. And between Tron, True Grit, and The Fighter for viable options, I acquiesced because he showed up that morning with hot chocolate and a bagel at 9 AM and he'sjustsosweetomigodstopmeplease. And so we had a pretend first date (since how we met and all was not conducive to that at all) and I let him choose Tron. And that's how that mess happened.
Positives: I was pretty certain it would be nominated for at least a technical Oscar so it would help me out in my eventual quest. Also, it was my first 3D movie experience, so I thought, "Could be cool." Olivia Wilde is hot, too.
Negatives: It sucked. Not even the 3D could make it interesting and I learned something important about 3D in movies. It doesn't actually enhance my experience of the film. Anyway, the movie was boring, made very little sense to a newcomer, and when Jeff Bridges shows up as The Young Dude at the beginning and again once his son is actually inside the game, he looks like some creepy character from The Polar Express, a movie that gives me night terrors. Anyway, it was SO EPICALLY DISAPPOINTING to see Jeff Bridges on screen. And to know that because it was "first date night" HomelessBoy paid twenty whole dollars (that's almost ten hot chocolates for those keeping score at home) for that nonsense. But it was okay because seeing a movie on a weekday afternoon in the middle of a snow emergency can have its upsides. And the absolute worst part of the movie? When Tron, who had up until that point been fighting rather hard AGAINST the users (stupid concepts for a stupid film) suddenly, in the last two minutes, decides, "I fight for the users!" and saves Olivia Wilde's life and apparently the world. But what I don't understand is exactly what power the characters in the video game would actually have in the real world and why it would be such a disaster for their army of a thousand or so to get loosed on America. Explain it to me so I understand, please, geeks.
Also, Dear Jeff: JUST STOP. Lovecommaenter Ashley
On the flip side of the Jeff Bridges coin is True Grit. Have I ever told you how much I love cowboys? Cause I so do. Also loved: Tuesday Night is bargain night in almost ever city. At the Hadley Cinemark, that means every movie is the "First screening of the day" price -- a paltry $5.25. That's actually less than the price of a small popcorn. And it was FANTASTIC. I had never seen a Cohen Brothers movie before, a fact that was a proverbial thorn in my literal side for ages and this was a pretty decent way to start, I think. Even knowing it's not their typical, it makes me want to see more. Within minutes of the movie opening, I was in love with the lead actress (weirdly nominated as a supporting character, but heytherepolitics!) I can't say too much about it, but when Josh Brolin showed up on screen, I wanted to applaud. I know he was the "bad guy," but I feel an instinctive need to root for him (which will not serve me well should I ever be forced to view W.) Also, surprisingly violent and racy for a PG-13. Well done, Joel and Ethan. On that note, also much more pleasant to watch movies that involve chopping off fingers when I can hide my face in HomelessBoy's shoulder.
Dear Jeff: All is forgiven. Carry on making movies. Lovecommaenter Ashley
I think this might be a good year for the Oscars
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
I'm BAAAACK and I'm better than ever
The finalists are in! And this year, I intend to accomplish my goal, goddamnit. I will see (and blog about?) every single Oscar nominated movie before this year's ceremony. I'm sure you've all seen the list of nominees by now. How dull. No Leo. No Mahky. Very little Benny. Boston was, all in all, woefully under-represented. Not even a single mention of The Ghost Writer, which I had so been excited to watch. But now I have 33 days to see 32 movies and about 15 short films. And because of how dull the list of nominees looks (and how can you really keep track that way, anyway?) I've made my own chart. Alphabetical by film, with the nominations listed beside it and a way of keeping track of how and when I can see these movies.
Anyone know how I can get my hands on Biutiful? I've loved me some Javi since the Before Night Falls days. (In fact, that movie is the reason I'm so in love with Latin American culture, a fun fact I bet you DID NOT know about me.)
CLICK ME to see my handy-dandy chart, as of today. :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
My own personal Oscar race
Best Picture
"Avatar"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"An Education"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
"A Serious Man"
"Up in the Air"
"Up"
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Lee Daniels, "Precious"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"
Best Original Screenplay
Mark Boal, "The Hurt Locker"
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, "The Messenger"
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, "A Serious Man"
Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, "Up"
Best Adapted Screenplay
Neil Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, "District 9"
Nick Hornby, "An Education"
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, and Tony Roche, "In the Loop"
Geoffrey Fletcher, "Precious"
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, "Up in the Air"
Best Animated Feature
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"
"Up"
Best Foreign Language Film
"Ajami" (Israel)
"The Milk of Sorrow" (Peru)
"Un Prophete (A Prophet)" (France)
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret in their Eyes)" (Argentina)
"The White Ribbon (Germany)
Best Feature Documentary
"Burma VJ"
"The Cove"
"Food, Inc."
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"
"Which Way Home"
Best Art Direction
"Avatar"
"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
"Nine"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"The Young Victoria"
Best Cinematography
"Avatar"
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The White Ribbon"
Best Costume Design
"Bright Star"
"Coco Avant Chanel"
"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"
Best Editing
"Avatar"
"District 9"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Precious"
Best Make-Up
"Il Divo"
"Star Trek"
"The Young Victoria"
Best Visual Effects
"Avatar"
"District 9"
"Star Trek"
Best Original Score
"Avatar"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Up"
Best Song
"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog"
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog"
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36"
"Take It All" from "Nine"
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from "Crazy Heart"
Sound Mixing
"Avatar"
"Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
Sound Editing
"Avatar"
"Hurt Locker"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Star Trek"
"Up"
Documentary Short
"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
"Music by Prudence"
"Rabbit a la Berlin"
Animated Short
"French Roast"
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty"
"The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)"
"Logorama"
"A Matter of Loaf and Death"
Live Action Short
"The Door"
"Instead of Abracadabra"
"Kavi"
"Miracle Fish"
"The New Tenants"