Bank Robber + Pretty Lady + Seedy Criminal Underworld = Drama!
Nominated for:
Best Supporting Actor - Jeremy Renner
A criminal with a heart of gold falls for a pretty lady, but can't shake his criminal past, mostly due to a borderline psychotic best friend and an FBI agent (played by a surprisingly vulgar Jon Hamm) out for blood. We've all seen this before. This film could have been either a really great heist movie, or a really poignant social drama - but, in this case, straddling the two genres just takes away from either side. Case in point - Pete Postlethwaite shows up in a small but key roll, and is awesome. But then, so does Blake Lively, who is most definitely not awesome.
I'm scratching my head as to why Jeremy Renner is getting recognized for this. Is he nominated due to residual admiration from The Hurt Locker? Or is it because he (*spoiler alert*) goes down in a hail of gunfire?
It's not terrible. It's mediocre, and thus, forgettable.
Eli
On the Eli Scale, it gets a 2 for innovation, a 3 for emotion and a 3 for coherency.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
127 Hours
You can do ANYTHING if you set your mind to it!
Nominated for:
Best Actor - James Franco
Best Picture
Adapted Screenplay - Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy
Also nominated for:
Film Editing - Jon Harris
Original Score - A.R. Rahman
Given the subject matter, this is one of the most uplifting films I've seen in a long time. By the time it gets to the point where (*spoiler alert* - as if you don't already know!) James Franco hacks off his arm, you're so elated that he is finally free, you didn't really care about the gore. Which is kinda why I'm quickly falling head over heels for Danny Boyle.
This film puts you right there in the crevice, trapped by a stupid random bolder, and you are right there with Franco when he's thirsty, when he's freezing, and most entertaining of all, when he's hallucinating. I dare you not to cheer when he finally gets free, even if you do feel a bit nauseous. Its a good nauseous.
Why Danny Boyle didn't get a directing nod, I cannot say. He is certainly deserving. This movie is tight, slick, and non-stop snazziness. Awesome soundtrack, awesome editing, awesome acting - all around worth your dollars at your local cinema.
And, if you are still feeling squeemish, hopefully this clip will set you straight.
Eli
On the Eli scale, it gets a 4 for innovation, a 5 for emotion, and a 5 for cohesiveness.
PS - It even has a Danny Boyle style cheering scene at the end! Oh joy of joys!
Nominated for:
Best Actor - James Franco
Best Picture
Adapted Screenplay - Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy
Also nominated for:
Film Editing - Jon Harris
Original Score - A.R. Rahman
Given the subject matter, this is one of the most uplifting films I've seen in a long time. By the time it gets to the point where (*spoiler alert* - as if you don't already know!) James Franco hacks off his arm, you're so elated that he is finally free, you didn't really care about the gore. Which is kinda why I'm quickly falling head over heels for Danny Boyle.
This film puts you right there in the crevice, trapped by a stupid random bolder, and you are right there with Franco when he's thirsty, when he's freezing, and most entertaining of all, when he's hallucinating. I dare you not to cheer when he finally gets free, even if you do feel a bit nauseous. Its a good nauseous.
Why Danny Boyle didn't get a directing nod, I cannot say. He is certainly deserving. This movie is tight, slick, and non-stop snazziness. Awesome soundtrack, awesome editing, awesome acting - all around worth your dollars at your local cinema.
And, if you are still feeling squeemish, hopefully this clip will set you straight.
Eli
On the Eli scale, it gets a 4 for innovation, a 5 for emotion, and a 5 for cohesiveness.
PS - It even has a Danny Boyle style cheering scene at the end! Oh joy of joys!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Kids Are All Right
Lesbians are real people too (?)...
Nominated for:
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Ruffalo
Best Actress - Annette Bening
Original Screenplay - Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
Best Picture
I'm really not sure where to start with this garbled piece of horse vomit. For a movie about a lesbian couple, there sure is a lot of explicit hetero sex scenes. Although, is it about a lesbian couple? Because the title seems to imply that the two kids are the focus of the film - but then, a good chunk of the movie is spent watching Mark Ruffalo having sex, and Annette Bening is nominated for her "lead role". It's like this movie had so much to say, the writers just packed all the "lessons" into a giant circus cannon and shot it out all over the celluloid. I found a review that hit the nail on the head by describing this movie as "overly pleased with its own progressiveness". Yup, that's pretty much it.
There's a whole lot more I can rant about this movie, but what's the point? In six months, no one's going to remember this film even exists. Thanks, Hollywood, for reminding us that lesbians can have marital problems too, just like real couples! I'm not even going to start on how infuriating it is that gay men get Brokeback Mountain and Milk, and lesbians get this shit pile.
Eli
On the Eli scale, this movie gets a 1 for innovation, 2 for emotion, and 2 for cohesive. And that's being generous.
Nominated for:
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Ruffalo
Best Actress - Annette Bening
Original Screenplay - Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
Best Picture
I'm really not sure where to start with this garbled piece of horse vomit. For a movie about a lesbian couple, there sure is a lot of explicit hetero sex scenes. Although, is it about a lesbian couple? Because the title seems to imply that the two kids are the focus of the film - but then, a good chunk of the movie is spent watching Mark Ruffalo having sex, and Annette Bening is nominated for her "lead role". It's like this movie had so much to say, the writers just packed all the "lessons" into a giant circus cannon and shot it out all over the celluloid. I found a review that hit the nail on the head by describing this movie as "overly pleased with its own progressiveness". Yup, that's pretty much it.
There's a whole lot more I can rant about this movie, but what's the point? In six months, no one's going to remember this film even exists. Thanks, Hollywood, for reminding us that lesbians can have marital problems too, just like real couples! I'm not even going to start on how infuriating it is that gay men get Brokeback Mountain and Milk, and lesbians get this shit pile.
Eli
On the Eli scale, this movie gets a 1 for innovation, 2 for emotion, and 2 for cohesive. And that's being generous.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Inception
A gang of social misfits use their will power to change the world... IN FOUR DIMENSIONS!
Nominated for:
Cinematography - Wally Pfister
Best Picture
Original Screenplay - Christopher Nolan
Also nominated for:
Art Direction
Original Score - Hans Zimer
Sound Editing - Richard King
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects
Like most people who saw this film, I left the theater with my hands clapped over my ears to prevent my precious brain from leaking out and splashing onto the floor. "Christopher Nolan!" I yelled, shaking my foot at the sky (because my hands were holding in my brain) "Why must you confound me so? Don't you know that I need my brain to stay inside my head?!" And some people thought Memento was too complicated...
The movie is pretty solid. Gorgeous, lush sets and cinematography push the hyper-realistic atmosphere (cuz most of the movie takes place inside the inside of the inside of some dudes head...), and the awesome score and soundscapes drive the heart-rate right up there into the danger zone. Given the complexity of the narrative, I'm a little surprised Nolan didn't get a directing nomination, or that it didn't also get recognized for film editing. Nevertheless, I love almost everything about this film, except the protagonist. This is because Leonardo DiCaprio's sweaty, squinty face makes me want to hurl, no matter how slick the environment in which it's plopped.
And of course, like anything that takes itself too seriously, the film sparked some awesome satire.
Eli
On the Eli scale, Inception gets a 5 for innovation, 3 for emotional content, and a 4 for cohesiveness
Nominated for:
Cinematography - Wally Pfister
Best Picture
Original Screenplay - Christopher Nolan
Also nominated for:
Art Direction
Original Score - Hans Zimer
Sound Editing - Richard King
Sound Mixing
Visual Effects
Like most people who saw this film, I left the theater with my hands clapped over my ears to prevent my precious brain from leaking out and splashing onto the floor. "Christopher Nolan!" I yelled, shaking my foot at the sky (because my hands were holding in my brain) "Why must you confound me so? Don't you know that I need my brain to stay inside my head?!" And some people thought Memento was too complicated...
The movie is pretty solid. Gorgeous, lush sets and cinematography push the hyper-realistic atmosphere (cuz most of the movie takes place inside the inside of the inside of some dudes head...), and the awesome score and soundscapes drive the heart-rate right up there into the danger zone. Given the complexity of the narrative, I'm a little surprised Nolan didn't get a directing nomination, or that it didn't also get recognized for film editing. Nevertheless, I love almost everything about this film, except the protagonist. This is because Leonardo DiCaprio's sweaty, squinty face makes me want to hurl, no matter how slick the environment in which it's plopped.
And of course, like anything that takes itself too seriously, the film sparked some awesome satire.
Eli
On the Eli scale, Inception gets a 5 for innovation, 3 for emotional content, and a 4 for cohesiveness
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
And the nominees are... CANADA! AWESOME!
Do we really care about the rest of the movies that are nominated? Canada's pick for the Foreign Language film award is now officially in the running for an Oscar. Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Incendies has been getting rave reviews, and I'm very excited to see it. I am also very excited to see how many people muck up the pronunciation of "Incendies". Drinking game?
All in all, this year might not be so painful (See? Positive!). I've already seen about a third of the movies, which leaves 11 films to see (and 16 reviews to write) in 33 days. Some I'm actually excited to see (Blue Valentine!). Some I am not excited to see (I was very much hoping to avoid The Town). Some I haven't even heard of (Winter's Bone? Animal Jungle?). But no matter. I can handle it. Piece Of. Cake.
Here's the breakdown (links to the trailers of the lesser known films are below).
So far I've seen:
1. The Social Network (Best Actor, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
2. The King's Speech (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
3. 127 Hours (Best Actor, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
4. Black Swan (Best Actress, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture)
5. Inception (Cinematography, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
Which leaves the following to watch:
1. Biutiful (Best Actor [Jarvier Bardem!!!!!!!!!!!])
2. True Grit (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
3. The Fighter (Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress x2, Directing, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
4. Winter's Bone (Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
5. The Town (Best Supporting Actor)
6. The Kids are All Right (Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
7. Rabbit Hole (Best Actress)
8. Blue Valentine (Best Actress)
9. Animal Kingdom (Best Supporting Actress)
10. Toy Story 3 (Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
11. Another Year (Original Screenplay)
More to come.
Eli
All in all, this year might not be so painful (See? Positive!). I've already seen about a third of the movies, which leaves 11 films to see (and 16 reviews to write) in 33 days. Some I'm actually excited to see (Blue Valentine!). Some I am not excited to see (I was very much hoping to avoid The Town). Some I haven't even heard of (Winter's Bone? Animal Jungle?). But no matter. I can handle it. Piece Of. Cake.
Here's the breakdown (links to the trailers of the lesser known films are below).
So far I've seen:
1. The Social Network (Best Actor, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
2. The King's Speech (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
3. 127 Hours (Best Actor, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
4. Black Swan (Best Actress, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture)
5. Inception (Cinematography, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
Which leaves the following to watch:
1. Biutiful (Best Actor [Jarvier Bardem!!!!!!!!!!!])
2. True Grit (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Directing, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
3. The Fighter (Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress x2, Directing, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
4. Winter's Bone (Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
5. The Town (Best Supporting Actor)
6. The Kids are All Right (Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Original Screenplay)
7. Rabbit Hole (Best Actress)
8. Blue Valentine (Best Actress)
9. Animal Kingdom (Best Supporting Actress)
10. Toy Story 3 (Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay)
11. Another Year (Original Screenplay)
More to come.
Eli
Monday, January 24, 2011
And all through the house, not a creature was stirring...
Well, here we are again, kids.
Tomorrow morning, the nominations for the 2011 Academy Awards will be announced. I once again pledge to watch all the films nominated for the following awards:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor and Supporting Actor
Best Actress and Supporting Actress
Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Hopefully, this year, I am in much better shape in terms of having already viewed a good portion of the nominated films. I also hope that this year, the schlock will be kept to a minimum, and that they stick to FIVE films per category - a girl can only eat so much pop corn.
Whatever the outcome, at least this year's hosts will be beautiful to watch. Oh James, when will you finally realize that your soul needs to be possessed by me?
To be continued, dear readers.
Eli
PS - If you'd like read more on how my brain comes up with such wacky opinions (me and my brain work apart sometimes), check out the Massacre Justified! page I just added.
Tomorrow morning, the nominations for the 2011 Academy Awards will be announced. I once again pledge to watch all the films nominated for the following awards:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor and Supporting Actor
Best Actress and Supporting Actress
Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Hopefully, this year, I am in much better shape in terms of having already viewed a good portion of the nominated films. I also hope that this year, the schlock will be kept to a minimum, and that they stick to FIVE films per category - a girl can only eat so much pop corn.
Whatever the outcome, at least this year's hosts will be beautiful to watch. Oh James, when will you finally realize that your soul needs to be possessed by me?
To be continued, dear readers.
Eli
PS - If you'd like read more on how my brain comes up with such wacky opinions (me and my brain work apart sometimes), check out the Massacre Justified! page I just added.
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