I love me some Oscars, and its one of my favorite nights of the year (yes - even better than the holidays), but this year the Academy Awards SUCKED. Last year so amazing, they had a cool opening act, a fantastic host, the pacing was great, the awards were beautifully presented by past winners and it was an entertaining night to remember. This year Neil Patrick Harris was surprisingly average, Baldwin and Martin were barely there (with very dry jokes), the awards were given in the most random and fucked up order I've ever seen and IT SUCKED!
I officially declare that this was probably the worst (and most predictable) Academy Awards in the last 10 years.
My post with the Academy predictions and my choices was screwy - so I decided to compile a list of my top 10 movies of the past year.Oh yea - spoiler alert - Avatar didn't make the list..... so suck it.
Number 10 - Everybody's Fine
Don't be fooled by the cheerful poster or the Christmas tree behind it. This is more of drama than anything else that manages to hit some emotional chords along the way. This movie is quite depressing and its somewhat happy ending doesn't quite feel right after what we've learned from it. It deals with family dynamics, father-children relationship, death and forgiveness. Also, one of the best performances of the year (completely snubbed by the awards season), Robert De Niro kills it with an amazing role that does justice to the movies motifs.
The heavy (and very well thought of) marketing this movie got certainly only added to the overall appeal of the movie. No sci-fi movie had been nominated for best feature during the Oscars since E.T. so being nominated was quite an accomplishment. It was very realistic with the portrayal of this unlikely scenario and at the same time managed to send a subliminal message to people about our own population and what its like to live oppressed and secluded.
Number 8 - Triangle
I'm a big horror fan and I can say with certainty that this is a genre that lacks effort in all departments from every studio. However, once in a while I'll come upon a hidden gem in the genre that nobody has probably ever heard of, and although being brilliant goes unnoticed by most (like last year's Let The Right One In). Triangle is a masterfully done horror movie with the latest of one of the most underrated actress Melissa George. Its definitely worth a few watches before completely grasping its story.
I didn't read the graphic novel, so I can honestly say that without ever having touched the source material that Watchmen was beautifully crafted and well written. Its characters, the scenarios, the plot twist and the intriguing relationships between all of them really makes it worth watching. Its political message also adds on to the value of the movie and the brilliant conclusion definitely leaves the viewer hungry for more. If none of these reasons convince you canadian actress Malin Akerman is in it. If not enough still, Matthew Goode should be enough. or Zack Snyder (but 300 sucked).
This flick has a bad timing case until it finally hit theaters. Mostly filled with strong performances, an award winning cast and an absurd - yet lovable plot, the Brothers Bloom really rises up amongst heist movies. The chemistry between the actors is great and very noticeable. Rachel Weisz also gives one of her most AWESOMEST performances ever.
The thing with The Brothers Bloom is that it'll trick you into thinking the movie is over a few times, before leaving you with a somewhat happy ending.
Kathryn Bigelow and this movie both deserved best director and best picture - respectively, over Avatar. The Hurt Locker was tense and played a lot with human emotional in the war time, along with an unbelievably tense score that only added more intensity to the movie. Its honest portrayal of these soldiers (who thank god, don't have super powers or always manage to deactivate the bomb one second prior to it exploding) and a memorable performance by Jeremy Renner makes this alone, worth watching. Suck on it James Cameron.
Pixar is undeniably one of the most intelligent animation studio (or just studio, for that matter). If they ever decided to write scripts for live-action movies, we would probably finally reach a second era of the Golden Years in cinema. Up may seem for kids, but like every other Pixar movie, it contains subtle hints to many adult scenarios that usually kids can just brush through. Its dark at times, and often very sad, but it was beautifully crafted and very deep in its premise (despise the silliness that is the whole balloon scenario)
I'm not to usually one to acclaim George Clooney (because let's be honest, majority of the time he just plays himself), but he is worthy of the Oscar nomination for his work in Up in the Air. This was an excellent movie that dealt a lot with what home is, and what it truly means to be home. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga were excellent supporting actresses and its unfortunate they went home empty handed last night. Here's to hoping Farmiga continues doing great movies, and to Kendrick, whose new found success will allow her to keep acting in great movies.
Largely snubbed and a great start turn by Carey Mulligan, this coming-of-age movie distinguishes itself from other movies of the same genre by being brutally honest and by showing how choices we make when we're young (and when we think were all so mighty) really do affect us. Mostly, however, is that the movie also shows the parents side, and they aren't always right. Its basically a movie that shows that everyone makes bad decisions in their life, regardless of their age. Peter Sarsgaard gives a truly spectacular performance.
Inglourious Basterds was unbelievable in every way possible. Like every other Tarantino movie, it relied heavenly on dialogue and over the top violence, but it remained entertaining the whole way through. In its dialogue-oriented parts it was very captivating and in its action scenes, you were really awed. This dark comedy certainly deserves more than it gets. This was a Tarantino year.
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