I wasn't sure what to expect of Academy Award hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway, but they did okay with the opening montage. Using "Inception" as the concept for the montage made it really easy for the two to seamlessly mention every movie in the best picture category. Alec Baldwin and Morgan Freeman's cameos were very amusing. The best spoof was that of "The Fighter," in which Anne Hathaway channeled here inner Massachusetts rough girl and then socked James Franco.
Anne Hathaway's play on "On My Own," seemed only to be a way to lead into a joke with James Franco in a dress with a Marilyn Monroe wig on. It might have been worth it for his jab at Charlie Sheen who has lately been off his rocker more than normal.
Overall, the skits with Anne Hathaway and James Franco weren't all that funny. About 7:30 p.m., I was really ready for it to be over, but I stuck it out to see the top awards.
Now a bit about the winners in some categories:
Art direction
Alice in Wonderland takes home for the best art direction. Though I didn't like the movie all that much, it did look pretty cool.
Cinematography
"Inception" won and it is deserving for the crazy, upside down dream world the cinematographer caught on camera.
Supporting Actress
So it seems that the Academy does like to honor women who make themselves look awful on screen for the sake of their art. Melissa Leo wins for her turn in "The Fighter," as mother/manager of boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg). For the movie she looks 20 years older with frosted blond hair and a trashy '80s wardrobe. She did a good job since there wasn't much likeable about her character.
Animated feature
The other films in this category never really had a chance. "Toy Story 3" has a history with it as the final chapter in a franchise that many film goers grew up with. It has a feeling of nostalgia that appeals to adults while the Buzz Lightyear and Woody characters certainly appeal to kids. Any movie - especially if its animated - that can make grown men cry deserves an award.
Adapted screenplay
No surprise that Aaron Sorkin won for best adapted screenplay for "The Social Network." The screenplay is based on a book about Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. I'll give him credit for turning a movie that is essentially about lawsuits into a tense movie that was interesting to watch. Who knew computer geeks could have such intense lives?
Best original screenplay
I would have guessed "Inception" would take the win with its crazy dreamscape, but "The King's Speech," actually won. It is great to see David Seidler win for his screenplay since he waited so long to make the movie. He joked that he might be the oldest person to win the award. He had the idea for a film about Kind George, and his struggled with stammering, decades ago. But he held off until the King's wife passed away because she said it was too painful to relive the memories in her life time. The movie is a great watch, and my favorite of the year.
Supporting Actor
I said a couple months ago that if Christian Bale is nominated for an Oscar, the other actors should just bow out. Bale deserves the win for his turn as Dickie Ecklund, a former boxer who became a drug addict before getting clean. While the movie is focused on Micky Ward, Dickie's half brother, Bale really made it. It was great to see Bale get joked up as he accepted his award since he is such a great actor - it was a just to see him as himself. A testament to what a great actor he is - when he started speaking in his natural British accent, my mom said, "He's English? I didn't know that."
Visual effects
"Inception" takes home the prize over such movies as "Alice in Wonderland," "Harry Potter," and "Iron Man 2." It's not a surprise since the movie includes plenty of effects, what with the multiple layers of dreams in it. They deserve the award for the slow-motion fighting scene in the hotel hallway.
Directing
Tom Hopper takes home the award for "The King's Speech." He drew out some great performances from all of the actors with whom he worked. During his speech he talked about how his mother was actually the one to discover the movie and recommended it as his next film.
Best actress
I only saw two of the five performances in the best actress category, but Natalie Portman got my vote. Even though I didn't really enjoy Darren Aronofsky's take on Swan Lake, I though Portman did a great job in "Black Swan." She stretched herself for the role, losing tons of weight and practicing ballet moves for months. She balanced the vulnerable role of Nina with a dark decent into madness.
Best actor
First off, Sandra Bullock was the best presenter of the night as she introduces the nominees for best actor. She had a natural way with the usually canned banter that the presenters read off the teleprompter. Her jokes her funnier than anything else on the show and better delivered than anything the hosts had to say all night.
Now for the winner, Colin Firth won for "The King's Speech." He was nominated last year for "A Single Man," and while his performance was good in that movie, he was even better as the king with the stutter. He showed the restraint that is required of a royal, but had enough depth to play through the occasional outbursts. He made a movie about a man with a stutter exciting to watch.
Best motion picture
Of the 10 movies nominated, I saw eight of them. I had my own personal favorites, which I have blogged about before. "The King's Speech" was at the top of my list. I wasn't sure what to expect of it since I knew it was a movie about a king with a stuttering problem. But the movie is really about much more than that. Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth portray two men who become unlikely friends, forming a bond that last the rest of their lifetimes. The movie was my favorite of the year and I've been recommending it to everyone who asks about it. I was glad to see a movie I personally enjoyed win for best picture.
Showing posts with label Academy Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Academy Awards. Show all posts
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Academy Awards noms get some right, some wrong
I see a lot of movies, but most years I don’t see a lot of Oscar nominated movies until after the awards ceremony or when they come out on DVD. But this year I managed to see eight of the 10 movies nominated for best picture.
Now first, I have to say that I still don’t really like that the Academy decided to open up the field from five nominations to 10. I understand the reasoning of doing it so that more popular movies have a shot so that it’s not just all about high-brow art movies that no one ever sees. But the truth is most years there aren’t even 10 good movies, let alone 10 that deserve to win a best picture award. So in some ways the increased number of movies nominated kinda dilutes what it means to be Oscar-nominated. Of course, we all know some of the movies don’t really have a chance.
Though I loved “Toy Story 3,” and I am happy to admit it tugged at my heart strings in a way that most movies don’t manage to do, I don’t really think it deserves a best picture nomination. As an animated film, its unfair to compare it to movies that have to deal with actually actors. Sure, the voices are great in “Toy Story,” but it’s really not acting in the same sense as say, Natalie Portman in “Black Swan,” or Jeff Bridges in “True Grit.
The two movies on the list that I haven’t seen yet include “127 Hours,” which is now in general release, and “Winter’s Bone.”
Of the best picture movies I have seen, my vote still goes to the one I thought should have won the Golden Globe. “The King’s Speech” was the best 2010 movie I saw, and perhaps I am biased because I’ve always loved Colin Firth in anything, but the movie was the one that seemed to tie everything together – acting, directing, screenplay – and so I think it deserves the win.
The one movie I did see that I really don’t think deserves the nomination is “The Kids Are Alright.” I know the critics loved it and all the reviews talk about how it was a movie that broke down the barriers of what it means to be a family or a married couple – but my big gripe with it remains that at its center I find it hard to believe that a lesbian woman (Julianne Moore) would just fall into bed with the first donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) that comes along. Really?
As for “Black Swan,” I have mixed feelings about it. I think Natalie Portman did a great
job as a driven ballerina, and she deserves the nod for best actress. But overall, I just didn’t really enjoy the movie. Maybe Darren Aronofsky’s deeper meaning was lost on me, or maybe I’m looking for a deeper meaning where there is none.
“The Fighter” is another movie that deserves the supporting actor nods for Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, but overall the movie isn’t strong enough to win the best picture nod. It feels like a story that’s been told before.
“Inception” is a story that feels completely new, even though its heart it really is a story about a man trying to get over his heartache. This movie should win for best original screenplay and art direction, but it’s not as strong a contender as some of the other films. In a field of five, this more mainstream movie probably would not have been nominated.
“The Social Network” won the Golden Globe for best dramatic movie so it’s likely to make a showing at the Oscars. The movie was good, given that it was basically about two lawsuits filed against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin took something everyone is familiar with and gave sort of an insider’s view of how it started. I think people – and critics – like the movie because of the juxtaposition that one of the biggest ways people stay connected with friends was founded by a guy who allegedly screwed over his friends. Personally, I think Facebook is overhyped enough without the movie winning a best picture Oscar.
“True Grit” was the last movie I saw in 2010, on New Year’s Eve, and it was one of my favorites. I guess I just like Jeff Bridges as a grizzly old man. I did enjoy newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross. I don’t like westerns, and I enjoyed this movie, so maybe that’s why I think of it as a favorite. But Bridges character might have been a little too close to his turn as the alcoholic country singer in “Crazy Heart” last year to edge this into the best picture win.
For best picture, my pick is “The King’s Speech,” though I think the Academy will go with “The Social Network.”
Some thoughts on other categories:
Lead Actor – I saw three of the two movies in which people are nominated. Colin Firth is the clear lead for his turn as a stutterer in “The King’s Speech.” Not only was his stuttering superbly painful to watch, but he also showed the way in which royalty can stunt one’s emotional growth.
Supporting actor – I saw four of the five movies nominated and I think if ever Christian Bale is nominated, the Academy should just cross out all the other nominees. I’ve never seen Bale turn in a bad performance and he changes not only his appearance, but all his mannerisms when he becomes a character. According to magazine reports, residents of Lowell mistook Bale for Dickie Ecklund, the jittery boxer turned drug addict he plays in the movie. I believe it.
Lead actress – I saw only two of the five movies in this category so it’s kind of hard for me to make an informed comment on this category. I didn’t really like “The Kids Are Alright” or “Black Swan,” the movies I did see. I give the edge to Natalie Portman over Annette Bening, though Bening won the Golden Globe and is probably a shoo-in for the Oscar.
Supporting actress – I saw four of the five movies and my vote goes to Helena Bonham Carter, in “The King’s Speech.” She proved that she can play a role that is not outlandish (as she often plays in Tim Burton films) and still be phenomenal. I like Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit,” but I just don’t like that studios can campaign to have an actor in the supporting actress role instead of lead so they have a better shot at it. Steinfeld was clearly a lead actress in “True Grit,” as a main character, but the studio campaigned for her to be in the supporting character because of her age. She is still unlikely to win.
Animated feature film – I didn’t see “The Illusionist,” and I probably never will since I tried once to watch “The Triplets of Belleville” from the same creator and I just didn’t like it. “How to Train Your Dragon” is a fun film, but it’s “Toy Story 3” that really has heart.
Art direction – I don’t really know what the academy members think about when they choose best art direction, but I think “Inception” was pretty damn artful in creating dreamscapes that feel real, but are just off enough to feel like an alternate reality. The thing that makes me vote for “Inception” is that it created so many different realities, including the heartbreaking world that Cobb longs for with his wife and children.
The winners in these categories, and all the rest, will be announced Feb. 27, at 5 p.m.
Now first, I have to say that I still don’t really like that the Academy decided to open up the field from five nominations to 10. I understand the reasoning of doing it so that more popular movies have a shot so that it’s not just all about high-brow art movies that no one ever sees. But the truth is most years there aren’t even 10 good movies, let alone 10 that deserve to win a best picture award. So in some ways the increased number of movies nominated kinda dilutes what it means to be Oscar-nominated. Of course, we all know some of the movies don’t really have a chance.
Though I loved “Toy Story 3,” and I am happy to admit it tugged at my heart strings in a way that most movies don’t manage to do, I don’t really think it deserves a best picture nomination. As an animated film, its unfair to compare it to movies that have to deal with actually actors. Sure, the voices are great in “Toy Story,” but it’s really not acting in the same sense as say, Natalie Portman in “Black Swan,” or Jeff Bridges in “True Grit.
The two movies on the list that I haven’t seen yet include “127 Hours,” which is now in general release, and “Winter’s Bone.”
Of the best picture movies I have seen, my vote still goes to the one I thought should have won the Golden Globe. “The King’s Speech” was the best 2010 movie I saw, and perhaps I am biased because I’ve always loved Colin Firth in anything, but the movie was the one that seemed to tie everything together – acting, directing, screenplay – and so I think it deserves the win.
The one movie I did see that I really don’t think deserves the nomination is “The Kids Are Alright.” I know the critics loved it and all the reviews talk about how it was a movie that broke down the barriers of what it means to be a family or a married couple – but my big gripe with it remains that at its center I find it hard to believe that a lesbian woman (Julianne Moore) would just fall into bed with the first donor dad (Mark Ruffalo) that comes along. Really?
As for “Black Swan,” I have mixed feelings about it. I think Natalie Portman did a great
job as a driven ballerina, and she deserves the nod for best actress. But overall, I just didn’t really enjoy the movie. Maybe Darren Aronofsky’s deeper meaning was lost on me, or maybe I’m looking for a deeper meaning where there is none.
“The Fighter” is another movie that deserves the supporting actor nods for Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, but overall the movie isn’t strong enough to win the best picture nod. It feels like a story that’s been told before.
“Inception” is a story that feels completely new, even though its heart it really is a story about a man trying to get over his heartache. This movie should win for best original screenplay and art direction, but it’s not as strong a contender as some of the other films. In a field of five, this more mainstream movie probably would not have been nominated.
“The Social Network” won the Golden Globe for best dramatic movie so it’s likely to make a showing at the Oscars. The movie was good, given that it was basically about two lawsuits filed against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Director David Fincher and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin took something everyone is familiar with and gave sort of an insider’s view of how it started. I think people – and critics – like the movie because of the juxtaposition that one of the biggest ways people stay connected with friends was founded by a guy who allegedly screwed over his friends. Personally, I think Facebook is overhyped enough without the movie winning a best picture Oscar.
“True Grit” was the last movie I saw in 2010, on New Year’s Eve, and it was one of my favorites. I guess I just like Jeff Bridges as a grizzly old man. I did enjoy newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross. I don’t like westerns, and I enjoyed this movie, so maybe that’s why I think of it as a favorite. But Bridges character might have been a little too close to his turn as the alcoholic country singer in “Crazy Heart” last year to edge this into the best picture win.
For best picture, my pick is “The King’s Speech,” though I think the Academy will go with “The Social Network.”
Some thoughts on other categories:
Lead Actor – I saw three of the two movies in which people are nominated. Colin Firth is the clear lead for his turn as a stutterer in “The King’s Speech.” Not only was his stuttering superbly painful to watch, but he also showed the way in which royalty can stunt one’s emotional growth.
Supporting actor – I saw four of the five movies nominated and I think if ever Christian Bale is nominated, the Academy should just cross out all the other nominees. I’ve never seen Bale turn in a bad performance and he changes not only his appearance, but all his mannerisms when he becomes a character. According to magazine reports, residents of Lowell mistook Bale for Dickie Ecklund, the jittery boxer turned drug addict he plays in the movie. I believe it.
Lead actress – I saw only two of the five movies in this category so it’s kind of hard for me to make an informed comment on this category. I didn’t really like “The Kids Are Alright” or “Black Swan,” the movies I did see. I give the edge to Natalie Portman over Annette Bening, though Bening won the Golden Globe and is probably a shoo-in for the Oscar.
Supporting actress – I saw four of the five movies and my vote goes to Helena Bonham Carter, in “The King’s Speech.” She proved that she can play a role that is not outlandish (as she often plays in Tim Burton films) and still be phenomenal. I like Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit,” but I just don’t like that studios can campaign to have an actor in the supporting actress role instead of lead so they have a better shot at it. Steinfeld was clearly a lead actress in “True Grit,” as a main character, but the studio campaigned for her to be in the supporting character because of her age. She is still unlikely to win.
Animated feature film – I didn’t see “The Illusionist,” and I probably never will since I tried once to watch “The Triplets of Belleville” from the same creator and I just didn’t like it. “How to Train Your Dragon” is a fun film, but it’s “Toy Story 3” that really has heart.
Art direction – I don’t really know what the academy members think about when they choose best art direction, but I think “Inception” was pretty damn artful in creating dreamscapes that feel real, but are just off enough to feel like an alternate reality. The thing that makes me vote for “Inception” is that it created so many different realities, including the heartbreaking world that Cobb longs for with his wife and children.
The winners in these categories, and all the rest, will be announced Feb. 27, at 5 p.m.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Oscar surprises and predictability
I watched the Academy Awards last night - sort of. My version of watching the Academy Awards is setting the DVR to record it, letting it record for at least an hour and then watching it. That gives me the ability to fast forward through all the speeches by people I've never heard of before. It really speeds up the three-and-a-half hour show.
I found the hosts this year, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, funny enough most of the time. I have to give the edge to Alec for the funnier lines. The show was produced by Alan Shankman, who is a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" and has been involved in dance movies such as "Step Up," "Step Up 2: The Streets" and "Hairspray." Knowing that, I wasn't at all surprised when a dance troupe took the stage for the presentation of the award for best score. But a lot of other viewers may have wondered about it.
The presentation of the best actor and actress awards also was a surprise. This year, five people took the stage and paid homage to each of the nominees - most often a costar, sometimes a director and in one case a producer. It was a little too much of a pat on the back for me. Yeah, we all know the Academy thinks these people are great. Do we really need an awkward tribute as the camera switches back and forth between the nominee and the person talking about how awesome they are? Of course, it was nice to see Jeff Bridges get a little weepy-eyed as Michelle Pfeiffer talked about him. The only tribute that was truly worth listening to, however, was Stanley Tucci's to Meryl Streep. He was funny and clever in a way that paid respect to the great actress without feeling overly earnest.
As always there were some surprises among the winners and some that were totally predictable. This year I'd seen more of the best picture nominees than I usually see - partly since I see a lot more movies since I've started writing a movie column for the Weekend Pinnacle and partly because there were 10 movies nominated. Of the nominees I saw "Up in the Air," "District 9," "Blind Side," "Avatar," and "Up." Back when I wrote up my predictions in February, I was rooting for "Up in the Air" to win though I thought the honor might go to "Avatar" for James Cameron's awesome new technology.
In the end, the best picture award went to "The Hurt Locker," which has long been on my list of movies to see since a few people I know said it was really good. I will be sure to see it now since one of my resolutions is to see all the Best Picture winners.
When I wrote my predictions back in February, I wanted George Clooney to win for his performance in "Up in the Air." But then I saw "Crazy Heart" and Jeff Bridges blew me away as Bad Blake, a country singing who is more than just a little down and out. Bridges just encompassed the role so much I forgot it was him on the screen. Bridges turn is heartbreaking and moving, and he does his own singing on screen. He won and he deserves it.
One of the big surprises for me was the winner for best actress. Though I had not seen the movie, I thought Helen Mirren had the best shot at the award. But the Oscar went to Sandra Bullock for her turn in "The Blind Side." It was a great performance.
The one category I was certain about was best animation. If there was ever a cartoon that deserved an Oscar it is "Up." The movie somehow condensed a life worth of loving someone into a four-minute interlude. When they showed the clips during the Award, I almost got weepy again just thinking about it.
Avatar, surprisingly, did not get wins for Best Picture or Best Directing. It did get Oscars in two deserving categories, including Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. The art direction award was deserved for the creation of Pandora, with its lush forests, wild creatures and the way it looked. Of course, a great cinematography was needed to make it all look great.
See the complete list of winners here.
I found the hosts this year, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, funny enough most of the time. I have to give the edge to Alec for the funnier lines. The show was produced by Alan Shankman, who is a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" and has been involved in dance movies such as "Step Up," "Step Up 2: The Streets" and "Hairspray." Knowing that, I wasn't at all surprised when a dance troupe took the stage for the presentation of the award for best score. But a lot of other viewers may have wondered about it.
The presentation of the best actor and actress awards also was a surprise. This year, five people took the stage and paid homage to each of the nominees - most often a costar, sometimes a director and in one case a producer. It was a little too much of a pat on the back for me. Yeah, we all know the Academy thinks these people are great. Do we really need an awkward tribute as the camera switches back and forth between the nominee and the person talking about how awesome they are? Of course, it was nice to see Jeff Bridges get a little weepy-eyed as Michelle Pfeiffer talked about him. The only tribute that was truly worth listening to, however, was Stanley Tucci's to Meryl Streep. He was funny and clever in a way that paid respect to the great actress without feeling overly earnest.
As always there were some surprises among the winners and some that were totally predictable. This year I'd seen more of the best picture nominees than I usually see - partly since I see a lot more movies since I've started writing a movie column for the Weekend Pinnacle and partly because there were 10 movies nominated. Of the nominees I saw "Up in the Air," "District 9," "Blind Side," "Avatar," and "Up." Back when I wrote up my predictions in February, I was rooting for "Up in the Air" to win though I thought the honor might go to "Avatar" for James Cameron's awesome new technology.
In the end, the best picture award went to "The Hurt Locker," which has long been on my list of movies to see since a few people I know said it was really good. I will be sure to see it now since one of my resolutions is to see all the Best Picture winners.
When I wrote my predictions back in February, I wanted George Clooney to win for his performance in "Up in the Air." But then I saw "Crazy Heart" and Jeff Bridges blew me away as Bad Blake, a country singing who is more than just a little down and out. Bridges just encompassed the role so much I forgot it was him on the screen. Bridges turn is heartbreaking and moving, and he does his own singing on screen. He won and he deserves it.
One of the big surprises for me was the winner for best actress. Though I had not seen the movie, I thought Helen Mirren had the best shot at the award. But the Oscar went to Sandra Bullock for her turn in "The Blind Side." It was a great performance.
The one category I was certain about was best animation. If there was ever a cartoon that deserved an Oscar it is "Up." The movie somehow condensed a life worth of loving someone into a four-minute interlude. When they showed the clips during the Award, I almost got weepy again just thinking about it.
Avatar, surprisingly, did not get wins for Best Picture or Best Directing. It did get Oscars in two deserving categories, including Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. The art direction award was deserved for the creation of Pandora, with its lush forests, wild creatures and the way it looked. Of course, a great cinematography was needed to make it all look great.
See the complete list of winners here.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Oscar nods announced
For the first time ever, I saw the announcement of the nominations for the Academy Awards while it was happening - at 5:30 a.m. pst. It happened to be on while I was at the gym this morning, on CNN, and I couldn't keep from watching.
Lucky for me, they made the experience very visual so I didn't need the volume. The biggest surprise to me was the nomination of not five, but 10 movies for the best picture category. It seems a little bit like cheating for the Academy to include 10 movies instead of narrowing it down more. But at the same time, I guess the longer list gives an opportunity for more movies to claim an Oscar nod. After all, Disney Pixar's "Up" is nominated and animated movies rarely ever make make it into the best picture category. I have seen four of the nominated movies - "Up," "Up in the Air," "Avatar" and "The Blind Side." Three other of the movies are on my list of movies to see soon, "District 9," "Hurt Locker" and "An Education." The only one on the list I don't want to see is "Precious" since I've read some reviews that mention the graphic and disturbing content in it.
I thought "Invictus" would get a nod, especially since there were 10 pictures instead of 5. But it didn't get one, even though Morgan Freeman was nominated for a best actor and Matt Damon was nominated for best supporting actor for their performances in it.
With so many nominees in the category, it's hard to say what movie will win. Of the movies I've seen, my guess is "Avatar" for the groundbreaking technology or "Up in the Air" for its timely storyline about unemployment and the human connection.
As for the other categories, my votes are as follows:
Best actor - George Clooney, "Up in the Air." It was the best performance I've ever seen from Clooney.
Best actress - Helen Mirren, "The Last Station." She's just amazing in everything I've ever seen her in so I am sure she is great in this, though I haven't seen it yet.
Best supporting actress - I am torn between Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, but I think Farmiga gets the edge for her performance in "Up in the Air" for her monologue about what she wants in a man.
Best animated feature film - "Up" is the best cartoon I've seen in years. It made men I know cry when they saw it. Enough said.
Best art direction - It's got to go to "Avatar" which created a whole new world of cinema.
Best cinematography -This will probably also go to "Avatar" since it's shot amazingly.
Best directing - Though I am partial to Jason Reitman, of "Up in the Air," I think James Cameron will get the win for "Avatar."
Of course, we won't know the results until March. But for now, check out the other categories and nominations at the Oscar Web site.
Lucky for me, they made the experience very visual so I didn't need the volume. The biggest surprise to me was the nomination of not five, but 10 movies for the best picture category. It seems a little bit like cheating for the Academy to include 10 movies instead of narrowing it down more. But at the same time, I guess the longer list gives an opportunity for more movies to claim an Oscar nod. After all, Disney Pixar's "Up" is nominated and animated movies rarely ever make make it into the best picture category. I have seen four of the nominated movies - "Up," "Up in the Air," "Avatar" and "The Blind Side." Three other of the movies are on my list of movies to see soon, "District 9," "Hurt Locker" and "An Education." The only one on the list I don't want to see is "Precious" since I've read some reviews that mention the graphic and disturbing content in it.
I thought "Invictus" would get a nod, especially since there were 10 pictures instead of 5. But it didn't get one, even though Morgan Freeman was nominated for a best actor and Matt Damon was nominated for best supporting actor for their performances in it.
With so many nominees in the category, it's hard to say what movie will win. Of the movies I've seen, my guess is "Avatar" for the groundbreaking technology or "Up in the Air" for its timely storyline about unemployment and the human connection.
As for the other categories, my votes are as follows:
Best actor - George Clooney, "Up in the Air." It was the best performance I've ever seen from Clooney.
Best actress - Helen Mirren, "The Last Station." She's just amazing in everything I've ever seen her in so I am sure she is great in this, though I haven't seen it yet.
Best supporting actress - I am torn between Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick, but I think Farmiga gets the edge for her performance in "Up in the Air" for her monologue about what she wants in a man.
Best animated feature film - "Up" is the best cartoon I've seen in years. It made men I know cry when they saw it. Enough said.
Best art direction - It's got to go to "Avatar" which created a whole new world of cinema.
Best cinematography -This will probably also go to "Avatar" since it's shot amazingly.
Best directing - Though I am partial to Jason Reitman, of "Up in the Air," I think James Cameron will get the win for "Avatar."
Of course, we won't know the results until March. But for now, check out the other categories and nominations at the Oscar Web site.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Eight decades of best pictures
So I figured the first step in starting on my resolution to see all the Academy Award best picture winners for the last 80 years is getting the list together. I've seen some of the movies before, so I have a little bit of a head start on it.
The oldest picture winner I've seen is 1943's "Casablanca," with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, a classic love story that seems even more classic compared with all the bad romantic comedies I saw last year. The most recent movie I saw on the list is 2008's "Slumdog Millionaire." I thought the movie was well-done despite the penchant director Danny Boyle has for gross bathroom scenes. And the music was excellent. I've seen quite a few other movies (italicized below) from the musicals of the '60s such as "My Fair Lady" and "Sound of Music," to the serious fare of "Terms of Endearment" and "Schindler's List."
I can see why many of the winners took the best picture honor, but some just confuse me such as "Crash" in 2005 and "No Country For Old Men" in 2007.
As I check the movies off my list (which I am sure will take more than a year), I will report back here with thoughts.
For now here is the very long list I have left.
Wings (1928)
The Broadway Melody (1929)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Cimarron (1931)
Grand Hotel (1932)
Cavalcade (1933)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
You Can't Take It With You (1938)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Rebecca (1940)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Casablanca (1943)
Going My Way (1944)
The Lost Weekend (1945)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Hamlet (1948)
All the King's Men (1949)
All About Eve (1950)
An American in Paris (1951)
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
On the Waterfront (1954)
Marty (1955)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Gigi (1958)
Ben-Hur (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
West Side Story (1961)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Tom Jones (1963)
My Fair Lady (1964)
The Sound of Music (1965)
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Oliver! (1968)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Patton (1970)
The French Connection (1971)
The Godfather (1972)
The Sting (1973)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Rocky (1976)
Annie Hall (1977)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Ordinary People (1980)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Gandhi (1982)
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Amadeus (1984)
Out of Africa (1985)
Platoon (1986)
The Last Emperor (1987)
Rain Man (1988)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Dances with Wolves (1990)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Unforgiven (1992)
Schindler's List (1993)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Braveheart (1995)
The English Patient (1996)
Titanic (1997)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
American Beauty (1999)
Gladiator (2000)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Chicago (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Crash (2005)
The Departed (2006)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Best picture of 2009?
The oldest picture winner I've seen is 1943's "Casablanca," with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, a classic love story that seems even more classic compared with all the bad romantic comedies I saw last year. The most recent movie I saw on the list is 2008's "Slumdog Millionaire." I thought the movie was well-done despite the penchant director Danny Boyle has for gross bathroom scenes. And the music was excellent. I've seen quite a few other movies (italicized below) from the musicals of the '60s such as "My Fair Lady" and "Sound of Music," to the serious fare of "Terms of Endearment" and "Schindler's List."
I can see why many of the winners took the best picture honor, but some just confuse me such as "Crash" in 2005 and "No Country For Old Men" in 2007.
As I check the movies off my list (which I am sure will take more than a year), I will report back here with thoughts.
For now here is the very long list I have left.
Wings (1928)
The Broadway Melody (1929)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Cimarron (1931)
Grand Hotel (1932)
Cavalcade (1933)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
The Life of Emile Zola (1937)
You Can't Take It With You (1938)
Gone with the Wind (1939)
Rebecca (1940)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
Casablanca (1943)
Going My Way (1944)
The Lost Weekend (1945)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Hamlet (1948)
All the King's Men (1949)
All About Eve (1950)
An American in Paris (1951)
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
On the Waterfront (1954)
Marty (1955)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Gigi (1958)
Ben-Hur (1959)
The Apartment (1960)
West Side Story (1961)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Tom Jones (1963)
My Fair Lady (1964)
The Sound of Music (1965)
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Oliver! (1968)
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Patton (1970)
The French Connection (1971)
The Godfather (1972)
The Sting (1973)
The Godfather Part II (1974)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Rocky (1976)
Annie Hall (1977)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Ordinary People (1980)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Gandhi (1982)
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Amadeus (1984)
Out of Africa (1985)
Platoon (1986)
The Last Emperor (1987)
Rain Man (1988)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Dances with Wolves (1990)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Unforgiven (1992)
Schindler's List (1993)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Braveheart (1995)
The English Patient (1996)
Titanic (1997)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
American Beauty (1999)
Gladiator (2000)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Chicago (2002)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Crash (2005)
The Departed (2006)
No Country for Old Men (2007)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Best picture of 2009?
Friday, January 1, 2010
With great resolve
In this week's edition of the Weekend Pinnacle, we reviewed the happenings of San Benito County in 2009. My co-worker went through our online archive month by month to pick out the top stories of the year - and based on his news judgement there were a lot of them. A review of the year revealed a lot of budget cuts, a lot of furloughs and a lot of unemployment. But it also revealed some progress, such as the opening of the Hwy. 25 bypass, which has been a decade in the making, the first condors nesting in San Benito in 70 years and plenty of people who are doing good deeds.
On a personal level, 2009 had its rough spots, but I'd like to look at things with a glass half full attitude. I took a pay cut, but I still have a job in the news industry, something that seems to be more and more rare. I was healthy all year except for a little cold and allergies, as were most of my friends and family. Work got really hard when people were laid off, but I learned new skills and was able to adapt. All in all, I had a decent year.
Now that 2010 is started, I thought it was time to think about what I want from the next year. I don't usually make resolutions, but I was inspired by a blog I discovered a couple months ago where a woman posted her own bucket list and writes about accomplishing the items. Most of the things on her list are things that would never make my list, but it got me thinking about how to change things up in my life a little. So here is my list of things I'd like to do in 2009 - or at least start on. Feel free to offer input and anyone who wants to help is welcome to.
1.) Read at least 10 books
This might seem like an easy one since I am an avid reader, but I have a bad habit of reading "The New Yorker" cover to cover. It's not like reading "People" magazine, with all the pictures and such. I have a stack of "New Yorkers" on my nightstand about a foot deep and they keep piling up every time I take a break to read something else.
But I do enjoy reading a book once in a while - and I have a box full from Christmas, my birthday last July and possibly from the Christmas before that I'd like to tackle this year.
2.) Eat at five new restaurants
I am a creature of habit, and a picky eater, so when I do eat out I almost always go with the same, old stuff I know. My favorite restaurants tend to be hole-in-the-wall places in Hollister and Gilroy, or chain restaurants I know well.
So this year, I'd like to try a few new places and get out of my comfort zone - though that doesn't mean I will be trying any fish dishes or anything else too exotic. Anyone with restaurant suggestions around the Bay Area, please let me know and friends are welcome to dine out with me.
3.) Make homemade ravioli
I made egg pasta from scratch for the first time two years ago when I took a cooking class. I was surprised at how easy it was, but I've never tackled anything more than fettuccine or spaghetti. I bought my sister a pasta maker for her birthday last year and it has been used once. I'd like to put it to use more often and come up with a tasty ravioli filling sometime this year.
4.) Learn my aunt's gnocchi recipe
For anyone who doesn't know, gnocchi are a kind of Italian potato dumplings. My aunt and her daughter are the only ones in the family who know the recipe so I think it's time someone else learned, to carry on the family tradition.
5.) Take a trip somewhere other than Indiana
No offense to my very good friend from the Midwest, but the only vacation I've taken in the last two years has been to visit Indianapolis for some face time with her. I have another trip planned for May when she gets married, but I'd like to get out of town and somewhere else.
I'm not thinking a long tour of Europe or anything, even just a weekend trip out of town would be nice.
6.) Cook recipes with five ingredients I haven't used before
For the weekly food column I write, I am always trying out new recipes and last summer I challenged myself to find meals that used some of the ingredients at a local farmers' market. That's how I discovered leeks, fennel and bok choy, all delicious vegetables. I'd like to expand the family favorites with a few new ingredients.
7.) Watch all the Academy Award best picture winners
I've probably seen about a quarter of the movies already, including most of the winners for the last decade but I'd like to see some of the older films, too.
This is probably one goal I will not be able to achieve in one year, given there are more than 80 movies on the list.
8.) Write a short story
I've been kicking around the idea of writing a novel for a couple years now, but with work responsibilities I just never have to time to get down in word the ideas that are in my head. I thought a good way to kick start it might be to try writing a short story first and see where things go from there.
9.) Go on a date
This also might seem like an easy one but I'm not sure I've been on a real bonafide date in years. When I mentioned to my friends I hadn't dated in a while and I'd like to start I got two responses - the first was that they'd love to fix me up with someone but all the single men they know are single for a reason and the second was that they'd tried online dating and I should, too, because they met a lot of...interesting people. I'm not quite sure how I'll tackle this one, but perhaps I will ask my friends for some more advice.
10.) Apply for a fellowship
I've got a journalism fellowship already selected - the application is due Feb. 1. I printed the application requirements in October. Now to actually start working on it. My actually getting accepted to the fellowship program might be a long shot, but as my coworker keeps reminding me I really have nothing to lose.
11.) Quit farmville
I only started playing farmville because a couple of my friends were playing it. I nearly stopped playing it a while ago when I realized my farm was so big it was taking me 20 minutes to harvest, plow and plant my fields every time I logged in. But then a bunch more friends signed on and I felt kind of bad if I quite I would be helping them along with their farms. Perhaps I could just scale back on the times a week I log into farmville and slowly wean myself off it.
12.) Take a class
I don't really have a class in mind, but I'd like to use a class as a way to learn something new. I always look at the community classes offered at Gavilan College, but never actually since up for them. And there are weekend cooking classes offered through sources such as Sur La Table.
13.) Scan old photos of family and friends
I've got photo albums from college and high school, as well as the old family photos that are just sitting in the garage. I'd like to start scanning them and burning them onto cds where we will have copies in case anything ever happens to the albums. It would also be great to share the photos of family with my younger cousins who haven't seen them.
14.) Keep up the gym routine
I was going to the gym regularly for nearly a year when I got a little overwhelmed with work and honestly was just a bit too tired to get up and go. But I've gotten back to the gym for the last six weeks with a commitment of going four days a week. It means getting up at 6:30 a.m. on weekends and earlier on the weekdays I go. But it means I feel less stressed out at work, I eat better and I feel better so its worth it.
15.) Decide on what kind of car I want
I have plans to get a new care in 2010, but I am torn about what I want. I once said I would never get an SUV, but I really kind of like the Honda CR-V. The idealist in my thinks I should get a hybrid, but those are all expensive. In the end, I'll probably just buy whatever is the most affordable and gets decent gas mileage.
So here are a few things to start off the New Year. I may add more as time goes on, and I will certainly post updates on how things are going, especially when I complete one of the goals. As I said before, input, advice and dinner company are welcome.
On a personal level, 2009 had its rough spots, but I'd like to look at things with a glass half full attitude. I took a pay cut, but I still have a job in the news industry, something that seems to be more and more rare. I was healthy all year except for a little cold and allergies, as were most of my friends and family. Work got really hard when people were laid off, but I learned new skills and was able to adapt. All in all, I had a decent year.
Now that 2010 is started, I thought it was time to think about what I want from the next year. I don't usually make resolutions, but I was inspired by a blog I discovered a couple months ago where a woman posted her own bucket list and writes about accomplishing the items. Most of the things on her list are things that would never make my list, but it got me thinking about how to change things up in my life a little. So here is my list of things I'd like to do in 2009 - or at least start on. Feel free to offer input and anyone who wants to help is welcome to.
1.) Read at least 10 books
This might seem like an easy one since I am an avid reader, but I have a bad habit of reading "The New Yorker" cover to cover. It's not like reading "People" magazine, with all the pictures and such. I have a stack of "New Yorkers" on my nightstand about a foot deep and they keep piling up every time I take a break to read something else.
But I do enjoy reading a book once in a while - and I have a box full from Christmas, my birthday last July and possibly from the Christmas before that I'd like to tackle this year.
2.) Eat at five new restaurants
I am a creature of habit, and a picky eater, so when I do eat out I almost always go with the same, old stuff I know. My favorite restaurants tend to be hole-in-the-wall places in Hollister and Gilroy, or chain restaurants I know well.
So this year, I'd like to try a few new places and get out of my comfort zone - though that doesn't mean I will be trying any fish dishes or anything else too exotic. Anyone with restaurant suggestions around the Bay Area, please let me know and friends are welcome to dine out with me.
3.) Make homemade ravioli
I made egg pasta from scratch for the first time two years ago when I took a cooking class. I was surprised at how easy it was, but I've never tackled anything more than fettuccine or spaghetti. I bought my sister a pasta maker for her birthday last year and it has been used once. I'd like to put it to use more often and come up with a tasty ravioli filling sometime this year.
4.) Learn my aunt's gnocchi recipe
For anyone who doesn't know, gnocchi are a kind of Italian potato dumplings. My aunt and her daughter are the only ones in the family who know the recipe so I think it's time someone else learned, to carry on the family tradition.
5.) Take a trip somewhere other than Indiana
No offense to my very good friend from the Midwest, but the only vacation I've taken in the last two years has been to visit Indianapolis for some face time with her. I have another trip planned for May when she gets married, but I'd like to get out of town and somewhere else.
I'm not thinking a long tour of Europe or anything, even just a weekend trip out of town would be nice.
6.) Cook recipes with five ingredients I haven't used before
For the weekly food column I write, I am always trying out new recipes and last summer I challenged myself to find meals that used some of the ingredients at a local farmers' market. That's how I discovered leeks, fennel and bok choy, all delicious vegetables. I'd like to expand the family favorites with a few new ingredients.
7.) Watch all the Academy Award best picture winners
I've probably seen about a quarter of the movies already, including most of the winners for the last decade but I'd like to see some of the older films, too.
This is probably one goal I will not be able to achieve in one year, given there are more than 80 movies on the list.
8.) Write a short story
I've been kicking around the idea of writing a novel for a couple years now, but with work responsibilities I just never have to time to get down in word the ideas that are in my head. I thought a good way to kick start it might be to try writing a short story first and see where things go from there.
9.) Go on a date
This also might seem like an easy one but I'm not sure I've been on a real bonafide date in years. When I mentioned to my friends I hadn't dated in a while and I'd like to start I got two responses - the first was that they'd love to fix me up with someone but all the single men they know are single for a reason and the second was that they'd tried online dating and I should, too, because they met a lot of...interesting people. I'm not quite sure how I'll tackle this one, but perhaps I will ask my friends for some more advice.
10.) Apply for a fellowship
I've got a journalism fellowship already selected - the application is due Feb. 1. I printed the application requirements in October. Now to actually start working on it. My actually getting accepted to the fellowship program might be a long shot, but as my coworker keeps reminding me I really have nothing to lose.
11.) Quit farmville
I only started playing farmville because a couple of my friends were playing it. I nearly stopped playing it a while ago when I realized my farm was so big it was taking me 20 minutes to harvest, plow and plant my fields every time I logged in. But then a bunch more friends signed on and I felt kind of bad if I quite I would be helping them along with their farms. Perhaps I could just scale back on the times a week I log into farmville and slowly wean myself off it.
12.) Take a class
I don't really have a class in mind, but I'd like to use a class as a way to learn something new. I always look at the community classes offered at Gavilan College, but never actually since up for them. And there are weekend cooking classes offered through sources such as Sur La Table.
13.) Scan old photos of family and friends
I've got photo albums from college and high school, as well as the old family photos that are just sitting in the garage. I'd like to start scanning them and burning them onto cds where we will have copies in case anything ever happens to the albums. It would also be great to share the photos of family with my younger cousins who haven't seen them.
14.) Keep up the gym routine
I was going to the gym regularly for nearly a year when I got a little overwhelmed with work and honestly was just a bit too tired to get up and go. But I've gotten back to the gym for the last six weeks with a commitment of going four days a week. It means getting up at 6:30 a.m. on weekends and earlier on the weekdays I go. But it means I feel less stressed out at work, I eat better and I feel better so its worth it.
15.) Decide on what kind of car I want
I have plans to get a new care in 2010, but I am torn about what I want. I once said I would never get an SUV, but I really kind of like the Honda CR-V. The idealist in my thinks I should get a hybrid, but those are all expensive. In the end, I'll probably just buy whatever is the most affordable and gets decent gas mileage.
So here are a few things to start off the New Year. I may add more as time goes on, and I will certainly post updates on how things are going, especially when I complete one of the goals. As I said before, input, advice and dinner company are welcome.
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