Thoughts on the Oscars

1. Sandra Bullock looked awesome, and her acceptance speech was the best

2. I'm ecstatic that Katheryn Bigelow won and that Hurt Locker won best picture. Does this make her "Queen of the World"?

3. I'm not happy that White Ribbon didn't win best Foreign Film although this now means I get to watch a new Argentinian film. yay

4. Many of the Best-Dressed List like Cameron Diaz, were not Best-Dressed.

5. The Oscars forgot Bea Arthur and Farah Fawcett in the in Memoriam...WTF!?

6. The hosts were mostly boring

7. Neal Patrick Harris' opener was good!

8. Can someone please tell the Academy to start this show at 7pm?

That is all

Movie Review: The White Ribbon

If you're expecting huge foreign-film score and lots of visual cues, lower your expectations on that front. And UP the expectations to read beyond just what's on the screen.

The White Ribbon is a German-made film that explores the intricacies inside a small village pre-World War I. Anyone who's ever lived in a small town will both laugh and be horrified by how far circumstances and malice, taken in small doses over time, can lead to huge and dangerous problems.

Feeling a little like the Village of the Damned just stumbled into the Last Picture Show, White Ribbon is intriguing in it's story lines mostly following a small-town school teacher, his strange and mysterious pack of students, his adorable love for the Governess of the local Baron's Estate, and the myriad of funny, sad, and sometimes disturbing small-town folk populating this village.

I'm sure a lot of people will end this movie saying..."What just happened!? What did I just see!?". The devil is in the details my friends. Watch this one slowly and pay attention to the dots that are drawn for you just offscreen. Can you put them together?

Don't miss this sure-to-win Best Foreign Film Oscar Nominee for 2009.

Movie Review: Shutter Island

Shutter Island
It's a solid noir suspense movie. Visually it really draws you in and you will be constantly questioning yourself - Is he, isn't he, is she isn't she? Crazy! of course.

Leo does a good job in the lead, he and Director Scorsese definitely have a good working relationship. The supporting cast of Mark Ruffalo, Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow and the always cool Ben Kingsley do a solid job.

There are of course the typical groans from the audience where you KNOW no sane person would go into the dark room, etc., but still a good, visual movie any way you cut it.

Updated: Oscar Buzz Continuing

*Update - so the noms are out. I would put a little more stock in Sandra Bullock for Best Actress now that Blind Side is also nominated for Best Picture (woah, didn't see that one coming)
*Katheryn Bigelow has more cred for the Best Director spot since she picked up the DGA award
*You can now officially switch George Clooney & Jeff Bridges, with Bridges as Will Win and George Clooney as underdog, thanks to the noms for Crazy Heart.
*Broken Embraces didn't make the noms for Best Foreign Film...um what-ever...sigh, anyway...
*A Single Man didn't make Best Orig Score...grrrrrr...I have no idea who's the underdog there, maybe Hans Zimmer for Sherlock Holmes?...um...yeah....
*And don't even get me started on Best Orig Song, i think this has been rigged to make sure Weary Kind wins b/c the other noms pretty much suck.

*Update: Best Orig Screenplay
Should Win: Inglorious Basterds
Will Win: Inglorious Basterds
Underdog: The Hurt Locker

*Update: Best Adapted Screenplay
Should Win: Up In The Air
Will Win: Precious
Underdog: An Education

Original post is below:

So i had some highs hopes that are skyrocketing (Sandra Bullock) and some that are not (Invictus & Hurt Locker) but oh well, here's my current WIll Win/Should Win predictions for the Oscars coming up.

Best Picture:
Should Win: Inglorious Basterds
Will WIn: Avatar
Underdog: Up In The Air

Best Director:
Should Win: Katheryn Bigelow
Will Win: James Cameron
Underdog: Quentin Tarentino

Best Actor:
Should Win: Colin Firth, A Single Man
Will Win: George Clooney, Up In The Air
Underdog: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress:
Should Win: Sandra Bulloch, The Blind Side
Will Win: Sandra Bulloch, The Blind Side
Underdog: Emily Blunt, Young Victoria

Best Supporting Actor:
Should Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Will Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Underdog: Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones

Best Supporting Actress:
Should Win: Mo'Nique, Precious
Will Win: Mo'Nique, Precious
Underdog: Penelope Cruz, Nine

Best Animated Film:
Should Win: Fantastic Mister Fox
Will Win: Up
Underdog: Princess & The Frog

Best Foreign Language Film:
Should Win: The White Ribbon
Will Win: The White Ribbon
Underdog: Broken Embraces

Best Orig Score
Should Win: Avatar
Will Win: Avatar
Underdog: A Single Man

Best Orig Song
Should Win: Cinema Italiano (Nine)
Will Win: Weary Kind (Crazy Heart)
Underdog: Winter (Brothers)

*I'll update more when the final nominees are announced next week*

Movie Review: The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria is the story of England's longest reigning queen (to date) and he initial rise to the throne and the love that took her through it.

Emily Blunt is a delight as Victoria, she carries the role, the clothes, the covered emotion, all of it really really well. Rupert Friend is dutiful as her young suitor, vying for the affections of the world's most powerful monarch, and he grows on you throughout the movie.

As with any period / monarchy piece there's a big supporting cast - Paul Bettany, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent just to name a few - and they all turn in great performances here.

What I appreciate most about Young Victoria is that unlike a lot of period pieces, it didn't overthink itself or make the usual mistake - take forever to tell the story! Coming in at 105 minutes, it tells the story just like the Queen herself - small, strong, and to the point, and always faithful.