82nd Academy Awards... Sunday, March 7, 2010

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cindidindi76		#301	[-]
Posts: 14406 (01/06/09 6:29 PM) Registered User Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	I haven't seen The Duchess, and most likely won't, but I hate Kiera Knightley with a passion, so I hope she doesn't get a nom. But I won't be at all surprised if she does.
Mr X819		#302	[-]
Posts: 123 (01/06/09 6:33 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	For the Benjamin Butthole argument, I personally don't believe it's a "real life with one fantastical element thing". As mentioned before, a lot of things seemed extremely convenient and blatantly written to happen (How would his biological father know it was him leaving the brothel? Wouldn't he have assumed that the baby died?). Not to mention WHY WASN'T ANYONE WEIRDED OUT THAT HE WAS AGING BACKWARDS. For something that was supposed to be "real" I couldn't get past that. They could have cut a lot out of the movie in my opinion. They seemed to really emphasize the Daisy/Benjamin relationship, so they could've possibly done away with: the war storyline, the biological father storyline (or at least written it better), and a lot of the random character moments (the adopted father reciting Shakespeare, Buttons' Buttons, etc.). Plus the Katrina setting was badly contrived and not necessary whatsoever. I was waiting for a whole "eye of the hurricane" symbolism, but that never happened. I saw Doubt last week, and I have to admit I liked it a lot. I'm a theatre nerd, so I already came in with high expectations, though a little cautious because some plays just don't translate well to the screen. I agree with previous assessments in this thread; it basically is written and directed as a play with a camera. While taking it outside and to different locations was nice, it really didn't bring that much. What really stood out were the performances. Hoffman was the best in my opinion, though Streep was fantastic as well. Adams was better than I expected, though she seemed to be overshadowed heavily by Hoffman and Streep. Davis has a smaller part than I thought she would, but she was great nevertheless. Very powerful. So in general, I thought great performances + ok cinematography and directing = good movie. My rank of the movies I've seen so far is: 1. The Dark Knight 2. The Wrestler 3. Doubt 4. Benjamin Butthole Hope to see more before the movie season really picks up. Edited to add The Dark Knight, which I really thought was flawless. Fantastic cinematography, performances, writing, themes, etc. Last Edited By: Mr X819 01/06/09 6:36 PM. Edited 1 times.
cginspace		#303	[-]
Posts: 7524 (01/06/09 7:56 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	As for chronology in Slumdog - someone mentioned this: Spoiler [+] I think that was the point. The "It was written" choice in the beginning was an admittedly cheap way to ask the audience to push aside contrivances. Bollywood movies, in fact South Asian movies and filmmakers in general, tend to rely on the idea of fate and destiny. While crazy and impossible in reality, and I agree annoying, I think perhaps we were supposed to leave thinking that much like finding the girl, the impossible way Jamal was able to answer those questions in the way he did and have them easily relate back to his life was fated - written by a higher being. Spoiler [+] I got the same idea, and it just didn't work for me. It was TOO linear, even for that kind of movie, IMO. It kind of made the narrative device less powerful.
QJaz		#304	[-]
Posts: 1096 (01/06/09 10:37 PM) Registered User Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	"In the end, I found it worth watching, but I was underwhelmed really. There is a particular device in the film, that I somewhat liked at first... but after a while I just found it pretentious and annoying. You'll know what I mean." Agreeance here! I enjoyed "Man on Wire" but have seen many better documentaries. The National Society of Film Critics announced their winners: Best Film: "Waltz With Bashir" Best Actor: Sean Penn in "Milk" Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Marsan in "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Supporting Actress: Hannah Schygulla in "The Edge of Heaven" Best Director: Mike Leigh for "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Screenplay: Mike Leigh for "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Cinematography: "Slumdog Millionaire" Best Documentary: "Man on Wire"
Matt310		#305	[-]
Posts: 324 (01/06/09 11:23 PM) Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	cindidindi76 wrote: I haven't seen The Duchess, and most likely won't, but I hate Kiera Knightley with a passion, so I hope she doesn't get a nom. But I won't be at all surprised if she does. She won't. She hasn't showed up at one precursor.
Willy2Fun		#306	[-]
Posts: 2023 (01/06/09 11:42 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	I just came back from Frost/Nixon and was 'very impressed'. I wouldn't be surprised if this movie was nominated for best film along with best actor. Compelling stuff.
iismepeter		#307	[-]
Posts: 3027 (01/07/09 12:06 AM) Registered User Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Muahaha the ending credits of Slumdog were great.
GnarlsInCharge		#308	[-]
Posts: 3007 (01/07/09 12:12 AM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Matt310 wrote: cindidindi76 wrote: I haven't seen The Duchess, and most likely won't, but I hate Kiera Knightley with a passion, so I hope she doesn't get a nom. But I won't be at all surprised if she does. She won't. She hasn't showed up at one precursor. Laura Linney (The Savages) had almost 0 traction with the precursors last year and still pulled out a nomination. Most years 1 or 2 performances seem to pull off the feat . The impossible trick is always figuring who and what catergory. Agreed though about Knightley not being nominated even if it's her best performance to date .Jolie has gotten all the precursors and will be the token OTT bad performance nominee people whine about snubbing superior work in a year with so many great female leads. The critics/indie/arthouse crowd are behind Hawkins/Leo . Streep would get nominated for reading a phonebook. Hathaway is the "it" ingenue gone bad, and Winslet is considered "due" an Oscar. Then their is always the slight chance Blanchett who is already well liked by The Academy could ride the coatails of a highly nominated BP nominee to a percursorless acting nomination the way Clint Eastwood did for Million Dollar Baby a few years ago.
SardonicallyIrrelevant		#309	[-]
Posts: 19085 (01/07/09 1:49 AM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	QJaz wrote: "In the end, I found it worth watching, but I was underwhelmed really. There is a particular device in the film, that I somewhat liked at first... but after a while I just found it pretentious and annoying. You'll know what I mean." Agreeance here! I enjoyed "Man on Wire" but have seen many better documentaries. The National Society of Film Critics announced their winners: Best Film: "Waltz With Bashir" Best Actor: Sean Penn in "Milk" Best Actress: Sally Hawkins in "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Marsan in "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Supporting Actress: Hannah Schygulla in "The Edge of Heaven" Best Director: Mike Leigh for "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Screenplay: Mike Leigh for "Happy-Go-Lucky" Best Cinematography: "Slumdog Millionaire" Best Documentary: "Man on Wire" Lots of love for Happy Go Lucky. Interesting. I watched it this weekend. It's cute. It's a grower. One of those you kind of watch and go, okay, that was alright. But then you keep thinking about it and smiling a bit. So, I still haven't seen Benjamin Button and it's already ruining my life. The premise reminds me of 'Golden Years' that Stephen King miniseries that Fitzgerald totally ripped off. So, I find out it's on DVD but it's some shitty edited version. I want the original 6-hour crapfest because I was obsessed with it as a kid and now I can't find it. Damn you Benjamin Button. I can't even find a bootleg of it.
extra tasty		#310	[-]
Posts: 2189 (01/07/09 2:38 AM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Happy-Go-Lucky is really one of my favorite films of the year and Sally Hawkins's performance is one of my favorites since Amy Adams in Junebug. I get that people take issue with it because her character can be kind of "annoying" because she's so cheerful all the time, but then that completely misses the point of why she behaves that way. I feel like there's definitely more to it than what people will immediately take away at the end of the film. It does surprise me, though, that it pretty much swept the NSFC awards aside from Best Picture (there's no real male lead in the film that could have had any shot against Sean Penn).
cginspace		#311	[-]
Posts: 7526 (01/07/09 2:52 AM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	I have also heard people complain that it is all about being a Pollyanna or being unrealistically happy. I believe that misses the whole point of the film, as well. She is NOT a mindless ditz who is too stupid to be depressed. The movie makes it clear it is a deliberate, at times dogged choice. LOVE Happy-Go-Lucky.
Carboys Desire		#312	[-]
Posts: 4182 (01/07/09 5:20 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Today I'll see Doubt. I really have no idea what it is about, but I know it was a play, right? I've been skimming all the posts about it so as not to ruin it. I really loathe Meryl Streep so I'm not really excited. But, it's on the list... ~~Milk~~ Frost/Nixon The Duchess The Changeling Dark Knight Doubt The Reader Gran Torino Slumdog Millionaire Ben Bottom Revolutionary Road The Wrestler I think those are the must-sees, and then some. Am I missing any?
midnightproblay		#313	[-]
Posts: 151 (01/07/09 5:36 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Might want to add Wall-E to that list, although I suspect its chances are only a result of a few delusional people.
Brooke276		#314	[-]
Posts: 410 (01/07/09 5:46 PM) Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	midnightproblay wrote: Might want to add Wall-E to that list, although I suspect its chances are only a result of a few delusional people. Don't be so sure......With Revolutionary Road (*my personal pick for worst film of the year) and The Reader fizzling out buzz wise (except the Globes, inexplicably put them both on for Best Pic....Buzz could absolutely shift to Wall-E. However, i think the 5 will be: Frost/Nixon Slumdog Millionaire Benjamin Button Milk The Dark Knight If anything gets knocked out by Wall-E, it will be The Dark Knight.
Survivor2345andbeyond		#315	[-]
Posts: 3524 (01/07/09 5:48 PM) Registered User Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	I'm hoping Benjamin Button gets Cold Mountained or Dreamgirled Milk Frost/Nixon The Dark Knight WALL-E Slumdog Millionaire would be perfect.
Willy2Fun		#316	[-]
Posts: 2029 (01/07/09 5:56 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	I'm also hoping that B.B. is forgotten, but I doubt it..speaking (my 5 so far) 1. Doubt 2. Slumdog Millionaire 3. Frost/Nixon 4. Milk 5. The Reader NO particular order..just my choices. I know the Reader won't get in, but I can dream...I thought it was excellent. I haven't seen 'The Wrestler' and it could be in there too.
cindidindi76		#317	[-]
Posts: 14421 (01/07/09 6:28 PM) Registered User Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	With Revolutionary Road (*my personal pick for worst film of the year) Worse than Beverly Hills Chihuahua? And High School Musical 3? And Prom Night? Really? 'Cause that's really bad.
Carboys Desire		#318	[-]
Posts: 4183 (01/07/09 7:53 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Thanks, midnight, but there is no way in hell I am adding Wall-E to my viewing list. I don't do animation, much less cutesy animation. ~~Milk~~ Frost/Nixon The Duchess The Changeling Valkyrie Dark Knight ~~Doubt~~ The Reader Gran Torino Slumdog Millionaire Ben Bottom Revolutionary Road The Wrestler OK, so Doubt was pretty good. All 3 actors were great, even Meryl Streep. I must say I don't get all the hype about Viola Davis' small role. She did what she was hired to do, IMO. I feel like I've seen sooo many movies lately yet I'm only halfway down the list. If I have to cut one out it will be Slumdog. I can't stand the hype on that one. I'd rather see MILK again, I think. I saw my first preview for The Wrestler before Doubt started and that made me want to see it. They also previewed Revolutionary Road and I gotta say...if it weren't for all the praise here I wouldn't be going. I've seen the preview before but today I was reminded what a "Oh woe is me, my life sucks cuz it didn't turn out like I dreamed, blah blah blah" tale it appears to be. BLEH! For sure, the next one up is Gran Torino. CLINT FUCKING RULES!!!
GnarlsInCharge		#319	[-]
Posts: 3009 (01/07/09 9:00 PM) Registered user Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	midnightproblay wrote: Might want to add Wall-E to that list, although I suspect its chances are only a result of a few delusional people. Unlike past Pixar contenders it has picked up a few high profile critics awards in which the winners have gone on to Best Picture nominations in past years. This film also has an expensive Best Picture campaign behind it that Pixar never shelled out for Finding Nemo or The Incredibles. If anything knocks off 1 of the 5 frontrunners this film is the likeliest.
Nods		#320	[-]
Posts: 3186 (01/07/09 9:08 PM) Registered User Reply Quote More Recent Posts Message Connection Block Invite	Carboys Desire wrote: Thanks, midnight, but there is no way in hell I am adding Wall-E to my viewing list. I don't do animation, much less cutesy animation. ~~Milk~~ Frost/Nixon The Duchess The Changeling Valkyrie Dark Knight ~~Doubt~~ The Reader Gran Torino Slumdog Millionaire Ben Bottom Revolutionary Road The Wrestler Vicky Christina Barcelona which will be released on video in January Frozen River which will be released on video in Febuary Let the Right One in which will be released on video in March

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82nd Academy Awards... Sunday, March 7, 2010

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