Sunday, March 07, 2010

2010 Oscar Picks

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

While I didn't see "Crazy Heart" "A Single Man" or "Invictus" it isn't hard to see the writing on the wall with this one. Everyone is raving about Jeff Bridges performance in Crazy Heart, and from what I've seen they should be. Though personally I loved Clooney in "Up In the Air."







Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

I'm in a strange position here. I haven't seen any of the competition but I cannot in a million years imagine any of the other performances matching the greatness that Christoph Waltz achieved. I would gladly throw any and all awards at him I could at this point. My deepest regret is that he isn't up for "Best Actor"







Best Actress
Carey Mulligan, An Education

I decided to be a little different here. I kind of think that the Academy is going to really like Sandra Bullock, but honesty she has done much better in the past. And I have no read on the performances from "Precious" since I missed it. Carey Mulligan on the other hand impressed me quite a bit. ..Plus as a Doctor Who fan it would be nice to see Sally Sparrow get some gold.






Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, Precious

Another category where I've only seen one movie, and though I loved "Up in the Air" to pieces, it is hard to deny the attention that is being heaped on Mo'Nique right now. Were I choosing from "Up in the Air" though I would have picked Anna Kendrick.







Best Picture
A Serious Man

The big one. 10 choices, only 8 or 9 of them deserving. My fear is that "Avatar" is going to steal this one and piss all over what little credibility that gold statue has left. Barring that though there is a good race here. "The Hurt Locker" was my choice up until the e-mail debacle, but that shook me. My personal choice would be "Inglourious Basterds" followed closely by "Up In the Air" but I am having a tough time envisioning them going over "A Serious Man" (which I also very much enjoyed).


Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

This was another tough one. I gave the nod to Bigelow because she did a fantastic job with "The Hurt Locker." I would love to say that Quentin was going to take this, but again I just can't see that happening. And again I fear that James Cameron is going to steal this one, which would be an absolute travesty, and a farce.





Best Animated Film
Up

Ok, full disclosure. "Up" is the only one I saw. But I was so surprised at how excellent it was I can't help but feel it is a real contender. I don't think I've talked to anyone who has seen it who didn't like it. ...SQUIRREL!







Art Direction
Avatar

Cinematography
Inglourious Basterds

This isn't really an area where I am an excellent judge (as opposed to my other wild guesses?) and again "Avatar" seems like a natural win here, but I really liked the look and feel of "Inglourious" so I'm kind of. At least I didn't have to wear special glasses to get sucked into the world of the "Basterds"

Film Editing
Inglourious Basterds

I was close to going with "District 9" because it was the 'unique' one out with the handheld look, but again my gut just pushes me to "Inglourious Basterds."

Makeup
Star Trek

I just wanted to say "Star Trek" I have no honest idea on this one.

Best Original Score
Up

I've seen "Avatar," "The Hurt Locker," and "Up." This isn't a visual category so "Avatar" flies right out the window, and while "The Hurt Locker" may have an excellent score I don't remember it so much. "Up" to me really seemed to use the score in a memorable way.

Best Animated Short
French Roast

This one for me was very very close between "The Lady and the Reaper" and "French Roast" ultimately I went with "Roast" because "Reaper" felt like it was a minute or two too long for what it was. As a side note, I really loved "A Matter of Loaf and Death," but it wasn't anything new, it was just more awesome Wallace and Gromit action.

Sound Editing
The Hurt Locker

Sound Mixing
Star Trek

Best Visual Effects
Avatar

Just a quick note on this one. Even I wouldn't deny "Avatar" this award.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Up In The Air

Best Original Screenplay
Inglourious Basterds

Monday, February 15, 2010

10 Isn't Enough, So I Bring you 15 Movie From the Aughts!

Here it is, my list of the 00's. Just remember, it is mostly arbitrary and dependent on both my mood at any given time, and my piss poor memory. So if something was omitted that is why. These don't necessarily represent the "Best made" of the aughts, they represent the ones that I got the most enjoyment/value out of personally. I did try to mix up the genres a bit and make sure things like animated and documentaries got some attention.

01. Shaun of the Dead

02. Inglourious Basterds

03. LOTR Trilogy

04. O Brother, Where Art Thou?

05. [rec]

06. Once

07. War Dance

08. Black Snake Moan

09. No Country for Old Men

10. Punch-Drunk Love

11. Brick

12. 4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days

13. The Incredibles

14. The Wrestler

15. Garden State



So now of course it is time for the list of honorable mentions, because bloating my list from 10 to 15 just wasn't indecisive enough of me! (in no particular order) American Psycho, Mulholland Drive, Iron Man (the last movie removed from the main list, at great pain), The Devil's Backbone, Star Trek, Ang Lee's HULK, and of course, the best movie EVER created Shark Attack 3: Megalodon!