To predict the outcome of the Oscars at a time when I've only seen half of the nominated films is a guaranteed way to end up looking stupid come February 27th. So here goes...
Best Picture
'The Social Network'
It seems like it's just me who didn't get this film. An average cast playing horrible characters in a film that people only went to see because it had the word ' Facebook' associated with it.
*The award should go to 'Inception', obviously the best film last year. It redefined the 'blockbuster' and proved that studios have no excuse for churning out the same old special effects focused action films to make their money back.
Best Actor
Colin Firth for 'The King's Speech'
I reviewed this a week ago or so, and Firth is absoulutely brilliant.
Best Actress
Natalie Portman for 'Black Swan'
Haven't seen it yet, but I will. I'm only saying Portman because she's currently winning best actress awards left, right and centre.
*Again, I haven't seen it yet, but I hear good things about Michelle Williams in 'Blue Valentine'. Expect a review at some point.
Supporting Actor
Geoffrey Rush for 'The King's Speech'
Another fantastic performance in a film that relys on it.
*It would be great to see Christian Bale get the award for 'The Fighter'. With the back cataogue he has, he's been grossly overlooked in the past. He only got his first Golden Globe for this performance the other week.
Supporting Actress
Melissa Leo for 'The Fighter'
It might help if the films the best supporting actress nominations came from had been released yet, so I could go on something other than the fact Melissa Leo won the Golden Globe for this role.
Best Director
David Fincher for 'The Social Network'
I believe I've already made my opinion clear about this film.
*Not nominated, but Christopher Nolan for 'Inception'. I can't believe he isn't even nominated. He expertly handled two storylines, four or more levels of a dream sequence and some of the best fight sequences you will ever see.
Not long to go now to see if I'm right. Please use the comment section below to let me know what you think of my picks, let me know yours and if you want me to, I'll explain why your all wrong about The Social Network.
Sunday 30 January 2011
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Fantastic Firth - The K-King's Speech
I saw this a while ago. It was the night Firth won his Golden Globe. And now finally the Oscar nominations have been announced, I'm writing my review. Honestly, it's completely coincidental.
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating: EEEEe (not a typo!)
This is one of the big awards contenders this year, up for Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Oscars in all the major categories it's eligible for.
A very brief plot summary:
The true story of how Prince Albert, 'Bertie', had to overcome his crippling stammer and reluctantly take the position of King of the United Kingdom at a time when the country was once again, preparing for war against Germany.
The reason I've taken so long to write up a review is because I don't really have a lot to say about The King's Speech. I was just so engrossed in the story. I can't criticise anything. I can't tell you specifically what I liked because I liked everything.
Firth and Rush are simply brilliant together. The awkward royal asking a commoner for help. The commoner in the private company of a Royal. The developing professional relationship. The developing friendship. It just drew me in.
And then there's the implications of Bertie's position. Stepping up to become King even though he probably spent all his life thankful that it was his older brother that was to carry that burden. A wartime King with a stammer, against Hitler, who's speeches rallied the Nazi's into a frenzy. An extremely introverted character who suddenly must speak for a nation and become a figurehead of hope.
Rush as Lionel Logue, Bertie's therapist. An Australian who set up a practice in the UK after the first world war. The common man who must break down the barriers and formallity of royal etiquette to become the Prince's first real friend.
There's also a fantastic supporting cast, with Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi and Timothy Spall all putting in terrific preformances.
Directoraly, it's done very classically, but there are a nice amount of arty shots to keep those looking for them pleased, without drawing you out of the captivating dialogue.
It's no wonder it's been nominated for almost every award there is. The critics loved it. The public loved it. I loved it. And it is so close to being given 5E's from me that it hurts me not to. But to get that accolade a film really has to blow me away.
Please comment below. Tell me what you think of the film. Tell me what you think of my review. Spread the word about my blog, and check back soon to find out what I think of this years Oscars.
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating: EEEEe (not a typo!)
This is one of the big awards contenders this year, up for Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Oscars in all the major categories it's eligible for.
A very brief plot summary:
The true story of how Prince Albert, 'Bertie', had to overcome his crippling stammer and reluctantly take the position of King of the United Kingdom at a time when the country was once again, preparing for war against Germany.
The reason I've taken so long to write up a review is because I don't really have a lot to say about The King's Speech. I was just so engrossed in the story. I can't criticise anything. I can't tell you specifically what I liked because I liked everything.
Firth and Rush are simply brilliant together. The awkward royal asking a commoner for help. The commoner in the private company of a Royal. The developing professional relationship. The developing friendship. It just drew me in.
And then there's the implications of Bertie's position. Stepping up to become King even though he probably spent all his life thankful that it was his older brother that was to carry that burden. A wartime King with a stammer, against Hitler, who's speeches rallied the Nazi's into a frenzy. An extremely introverted character who suddenly must speak for a nation and become a figurehead of hope.
Rush as Lionel Logue, Bertie's therapist. An Australian who set up a practice in the UK after the first world war. The common man who must break down the barriers and formallity of royal etiquette to become the Prince's first real friend.
There's also a fantastic supporting cast, with Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi and Timothy Spall all putting in terrific preformances.
Directoraly, it's done very classically, but there are a nice amount of arty shots to keep those looking for them pleased, without drawing you out of the captivating dialogue.
It's no wonder it's been nominated for almost every award there is. The critics loved it. The public loved it. I loved it. And it is so close to being given 5E's from me that it hurts me not to. But to get that accolade a film really has to blow me away.
Please comment below. Tell me what you think of the film. Tell me what you think of my review. Spread the word about my blog, and check back soon to find out what I think of this years Oscars.
Friday 21 January 2011
Danny Boyle, hmm? - 127 Hours
Fresh from celebrating his 2008 Best Director Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle finally gets to make the big Hollywood film he wants to.
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Franco
Rating: EE
I have my problems with Danny Boyle. I find his films very hit or miss. And I'm afraid to say, this one's a miss.
A brief plot summary:
Adrenaline junkie, Aron Ralston travels out to the back of beyond and gets himself trapped under a rock. Despite the obvious problems, to make matters worse, he hasn't told anybody where he was going, and it'll be at least 5 days before anyone thinks he might be missing. All thanks to the fact he's quite self centred, doesn't return his mother's phone calls, and people expect him to just dissapear for long periods of time when he does his own thing. The film follows Ralston's thoughts on his life in between his unsucessful attempts to free himself.
So it's the standard life affirming tale of one mans struggle against the elements as he also battles with his emotional baggage. Which is fine, we've seen this sort of story before, but it's a good story, so why not see it again? James Franco does the James Franco performance which works brilliantly here. He holds your attention throughout the film. A difficult task, considering for the majority of it, he's the only person on screen. And the Oscar nomination he's likely to get is well deserved.
But I left the cinema unimpressed by the film, and if the fault wasn't with the one man cast, it must lie with the director.
Despite what the Academy thinks, I still see Boyle as a TV director. Or more specifically, a MTV director. Style over substance. If you have great source material like: Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, or Slumdog, then the bizarre angles and flashy camera work make it a visual feast. But with a project like 127 Hours which should have been a slow, quite, emotional journey of a man contemplating life while facing death, Boyle's directorial style doesn't work. The whole film is too fast, you don't feel like it's set over 5 days, you don't feel Ralston's hunger or thirst. Every moment of doubt is followed by a joke, and Boyle signiture sequences of knife on bone, or the flood remove any sense of connection with the real life scenario.
However, there is one nerve tingling scene which is handled expertly. People were squirming, hiding their eyes and looking away. My only complaint would be it didn't last long enough. I wanted to see more. And I think that's what dissapointed me most. At that point Boyle proved to me that he was the man for the job. That he can direct cinema. He just doesn't do it very often.
127 Hours: as a film, far too short. As a music video, far too long.
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Franco
Rating: EE
I have my problems with Danny Boyle. I find his films very hit or miss. And I'm afraid to say, this one's a miss.
A brief plot summary:
Adrenaline junkie, Aron Ralston travels out to the back of beyond and gets himself trapped under a rock. Despite the obvious problems, to make matters worse, he hasn't told anybody where he was going, and it'll be at least 5 days before anyone thinks he might be missing. All thanks to the fact he's quite self centred, doesn't return his mother's phone calls, and people expect him to just dissapear for long periods of time when he does his own thing. The film follows Ralston's thoughts on his life in between his unsucessful attempts to free himself.
So it's the standard life affirming tale of one mans struggle against the elements as he also battles with his emotional baggage. Which is fine, we've seen this sort of story before, but it's a good story, so why not see it again? James Franco does the James Franco performance which works brilliantly here. He holds your attention throughout the film. A difficult task, considering for the majority of it, he's the only person on screen. And the Oscar nomination he's likely to get is well deserved.
But I left the cinema unimpressed by the film, and if the fault wasn't with the one man cast, it must lie with the director.
Despite what the Academy thinks, I still see Boyle as a TV director. Or more specifically, a MTV director. Style over substance. If you have great source material like: Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, or Slumdog, then the bizarre angles and flashy camera work make it a visual feast. But with a project like 127 Hours which should have been a slow, quite, emotional journey of a man contemplating life while facing death, Boyle's directorial style doesn't work. The whole film is too fast, you don't feel like it's set over 5 days, you don't feel Ralston's hunger or thirst. Every moment of doubt is followed by a joke, and Boyle signiture sequences of knife on bone, or the flood remove any sense of connection with the real life scenario.
However, there is one nerve tingling scene which is handled expertly. People were squirming, hiding their eyes and looking away. My only complaint would be it didn't last long enough. I wanted to see more. And I think that's what dissapointed me most. At that point Boyle proved to me that he was the man for the job. That he can direct cinema. He just doesn't do it very often.
127 Hours: as a film, far too short. As a music video, far too long.
Monday 17 January 2011
Rating System - Explaining Myself
Just so there's no confusion as to what I think about the films I'm reviewing, I'm going to explain how I rate a film.
I find it easier to mark things out of 5. It just requires less effort than, out of 10, and helps prevent me rating everything as a 7. And 6 out of 10 just seems so much harsher than 3 stars. Also, I feel that using an astericks doesn't look quite right. So for no reason other than It's my first initial, I'm using an E to represent one star. From all the characters I could have used, my inital seemed the most intuitive. So that's that.
Now, what each rating means:
E - The waste of time. And money.
EE - The almost. So much potential.
EEE - The Sunday afternoon filck. The cinematic equivalent of comfort food.
EEEE - The movie you should see. Settle yourself in for an emotional journey.
EEEEE - The absolute, must see. True cinematic perfection.
Hopefully, now a quick glance at my rating will help you understand what I was hoping to get out of the film. And you'll be able to see if your taste in movies matches my own.
Coming soon: reviews of 127 Hours and The King's Speech.
I find it easier to mark things out of 5. It just requires less effort than, out of 10, and helps prevent me rating everything as a 7. And 6 out of 10 just seems so much harsher than 3 stars. Also, I feel that using an astericks doesn't look quite right. So for no reason other than It's my first initial, I'm using an E to represent one star. From all the characters I could have used, my inital seemed the most intuitive. So that's that.
Now, what each rating means:
E - The waste of time. And money.
EE - The almost. So much potential.
EEE - The Sunday afternoon filck. The cinematic equivalent of comfort food.
EEEE - The movie you should see. Settle yourself in for an emotional journey.
EEEEE - The absolute, must see. True cinematic perfection.
Hopefully, now a quick glance at my rating will help you understand what I was hoping to get out of the film. And you'll be able to see if your taste in movies matches my own.
Coming soon: reviews of 127 Hours and The King's Speech.
Thursday 6 January 2011
First movie of the Year - TRON: Legacy
Starting with a lie, but oh well. This is actually my last movie of 2010, but as i haven't yet been to the cinema this year, i have nothing else to review.
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Strarring: Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen
Rating: EEE
From what I gather this film was generated, to some extent, by interest in a teaser trailer tested at a ComicCon type event. Might have even been ComicCon. Regardless, there was enough buzz to justify rebooting the 1982 cult classic.
A brief plot summary:
Protagonist in the first film, Kevin Flynn (Bridges) dissappears one night leaving his son Sam (Hedlund) fatherless for 20 years. It later transpires Kevin Flynn had been digitalising himself into a computer in an attempt to make the perfect world. To help with his plan he created a computer program called Clu in his own image and had his old mate Tron (Babylon 5's Bruce Boxleitner) another program, introduced in the first film. However, when Clu's idea of perfection clashes with Flynn's, Clu takes control of the digital world, trapping Flynn in the computer.
Flynn's son Sam upon recieving a page from his fathers old office, also digitises himself into the computer, or "The Grid", and before finding his father must participate in a deadly game of frisbee and challenge Clu to a lightcycle battle. Some fantastic looking set pieces.
Sam, rescued from this battle by Quorra (Wilde), the last of a race of self produced programs Clu is intent on destroying, who is helping Flynn Snr.
After father and son reunite, Sam vows to get back to the real world to delete Clu and release Flynn Snr. Flynn Snr. cannot return to the grid for fear Clu might obtain his Disc and use it to take his armies into the real world.
The structure closely follows the original: Digitise into computer, whats going on?, play some games, escape, exposition, get back home. However the graphics, as you would expect are far more advanced, except Clu's face, and the lightcycle/ lightplane sequences are truely a visual feast. Daft Punk provide an amazingly atmospheric soundtrack, suiting the cool style of the film perfectly. It would have been nice to see more of Michael Sheen's David Bowie impression and Cillian Murphey only has 5 seconds screen time, which is more than Tron, but I still enjoyed it. Yes the plots a bit ropey and you can see the twists coming a mile off, but theres enough action sequences and good preformances to see you through. Just like the original, and maybe because of it, I have a certain fondness for TRON: Legacy even if it some of it is in 3D.
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