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Thursday, 29 October 2009
So the week has passed I’ve assessed the year 2008 more or less, and here are my winners in all the categories I felt I could assess properly with the runners up in parentheses.
Costume Design
The Other Boleyn Girl [The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Australia]
Art Direction
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Australia; Changeling]
Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Hellboy; The Reader]
Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Revolutionary Road; Burn After Reading]
Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Australia; The Dark Knight]
Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [The Reader; Australia]
Original Song
Cadillac Records “Once in a Lifetime” [The Wrestler “The Wrestler”; WALL-E “Down to Earth”]
Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [The Dark Knight; WALL-E]
Sound Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Wanted; Slumdog Millionaire]
Original Screenplay
In Bruges [Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Burn After Reading]
"My date involved two instances of
extreme violence, one instance was
her hand on my cock and my finger
up her thing which lasted all too
briefly, and then I was away..."
Adapted Screenplay
Revolutionary Road [The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Doubt]
Supporting Actress
Amy Adams in Doubt [Kate Winslet in The Reader; Rosemarie DeWitt in Rachel Getting Married]
Supporting Actor
Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading [Jason Butler Harner in Changeling; Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt]
Lead Actress
Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road [Kristin Scott Thomas in I’ve Loved You So Long; Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button]
Lead Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio in Revolutionary Road [Collin Farrell in In Bruges; Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon]
Director
David Fincher in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Sam Mendes for Revolutionary Road; Stephen Daldry for The Reader]
Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Revolutionary Road; The Reader]
Yes, I was going crazy for Benjamin B. I confess. But what can I say I really liked the movie. Fincher, Pitt, Blanchett. They know my weakness. I'm looking forward to 2007 next week. 72 films I saw that year.
So here’s the category that you’ve probably been waiting for – I’ll assume anxiously. I really don’t think that I saw enough films of 2008. I think I’ve heard more than a few persons say that 2008 was a horrible year for film. And although I don’t know how anything can combat 2005, it was pretty bleak. There were good films [in my opinion] but there weren’t many of them. So here’s a look at the forty five films I saw. Yeah, it wasn’t much at all. But here they are in ascending order.
F
Marley & Me [#45]
I don’t know what prompted me to watch this. Jennifer Aniston has not impressed me since she was surrounded by those five talented friends and Owen Wilson has impressed me since – ever. So it was not in good hands. And I didn’t like it. Hence the F.
Swing Vote [#44]
Does this film even deserve to be talked about? Just bad, bad, bad.
D-
Mad Money [#43]
When you can’t find anything to like about Diane Keaton, you know that there’s a problem. And yeah, there were problems. Many.
D
Seven Pounds [#42]
This movie just annoyed me. After all those persons I met gushing that they cried their eyes out I just wanted to slap them. Hard.
D+
The Secret Life of Bees [#41]
This movie just didn’t hit it for me. Enough said.
Mamma Mia! [#40]
It’s the first time I’ve been embarassed that I like ABBA music.
Twilight [#39]
Yeah, Univarn [among others] have all taken a metaphorical piss on this. It’ not good but oh well. Whatever the tweens want.
Definitely, Maybe [#38]
I may be alone on this, but I just despised this movie. And I have nothing against Ryan Reynolds or Derek Luke, I think Elizabeth Banks and Abigal Breslin have potential. And I love Rachel Weisz.
The Women [#37]
There were slight moments, but overall it just was abysmal and Meg Ryan didn’t help it any. If Julia Roberts and Kerry Washington had replaced her and Mendes respectively, even with the horrible script it could at least have been a C.
C-
The Other Boleyn Girl [#36]
The atrocious novel never deserved to be adapted. Scarlett tried, and Natalie tried. Kristin tried but it was not good. Not good.
Indiana Jones [#35]
It was passable, but still bad.
Sex & the City [#34]
It didn’t do the series justice. It was a trifle and it hardly had any redeeming qualities.
Meet the Browns [#33]
I do want to see Angela back on screen, but not like this. Not like this at all.
C
Hancock [#32]
Why did this make so much money?
Frozen River [#31]
I can see why it appealed to so many but I was never drawn in. Other than the valiant effort of Leo [who I hope gets more work] it was just okay.
C+
The Family that Preys [#30]
It was the better of the two films he released that year and Alfre Woodard tried hard but the characters were generally so one note. And that dialogue!
Body of Lies [#29]
Ridley. Leo. Russell. And this is what they make? THIS?
Happy-Go-Lucky [#28]
Believe it or not, it was only on a second viewing it moved up to C+. I really didn’t respond well to this film. I expected so much more from Leigh.
Wanted [#27]
It’s a jolly good romp even as ridiculous as it is. But it’s not really that good a movie if you look closer. Hopefully the sequel tightens the loose ends.
Cadillac Records [#26]
It was a valiant first attempt, but there was too much going on.
Be Kind, Rewind [#25]
It’s worth a watch, and for the most part they do sell the ridiculous premise.
Tropic Thunder [#24]
Just okay for me.
Pineapple Express [#23]
I enjoyed the short film at the Oscars more than the movie.
B-
Defiance [#22]
It’s not a perfect film, and we’ve seen war done better. But I at least appreciated Craig and really the movie deserved better. But that release date. Tsk. Tsk.
Kung Fu Panda [#21]
It’s such a silly movie, but yet there’s something appealing about it. The voice work is fine and in a silly way it’s quite endearing.
The Duchess [#20]
Sometime it worked, and sometimes it didn’t. Keira tried as did the cast but it just seemed a bit too tame at the end of the day.
Rachel Getting Married [#19]
Like Rachel Getting Married it was only until multiple viewings that this reached its current grade. If this was not done by Jonathan Demme I don’t think that there would have been such a love for it.
Australia [#18]
The movie was definitely a bit schizophrenic and it seemed to be going on forever. But at the end of it all I found it oddly – charming.
The Wrestler [#17]
The sum of parts are better than the whole. The script is fine, the directing is good, the acting is goof but when you add it all up something is missing. What is it? A beating heart, perhaps?
Last Chance Harvey [#16]
This should have been released in the summer – it could have done fairly well at the boxoffice. It’s cliched, but it’s also quite enjoyable. And though Emma and Dustin are phoning it in, it’s still better work than many of the actors today.
B
WALL-E [#15]
I don’t worship at Pixar’s feet. I thought it was fine. Even good, but I thought the deafening praise was a bit unnerving. But it’s all subjective.
Milk [#14]
This ended up feeling a bit too sunny for me.
The Dark Knight [#13]
Well this shouldn’t come as a surprise or anything. You probably know that I didn’t love this. It was a good movie, and at the end of the day, that’s all it was for me. Good. Ish.
Slumdog Millionaire [#12]
It was fine. That's all I'll say.
Iron Man [#11]
Come on. This was good!
Frost/Nixon [#10]
I reckon most thought that it was the worst of the Best Picture nominees, but I actually don’t hold any malice towards it.
Doubt [#9]
Looking at Doubt it’s a bit faulty, and imagine only a B and it’s my number nine. It’s not a bad movie though. It’s tight, most of the time and the cast was top notch.
B+
I’ve Loved You So Long [#8]
I have my own love affair with the French, and then Kristin Scott Thomas. I won’t even pretend to understand the politics of the Oscars’ foreign language submissions, but it’s sad so few have seen or know of this.
In Bruges [#7]
Certainly the first part of this subtle comedy, but it’s the fact that the first part is so good that we can let any idiosyncrasies of the second part go. Gleason and Farrell are two actors who’ve never taken off as they should have, and they weren’t regarded enough because no one really saw this. But it’s a good film nevertheless.
Burn After Reading [#6]
As someone who has never been a big fan of the Coen Brothers, this is my favourite comedy of theirs. Not Fargo, not O Brother Where Art Thou; this. It’s outlandish, but still subtly true but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s just fun and funny all at the same time.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona [#5]
Woody’s best of the decade has been Matchpoint. I don’t think any of his recent films has reached that level of sensibility for me. But Vicky Cristina Barcelona was a good film. The cast does a good job, and certainly the machinations of Marie Elena and Juan Antonio is a bit more interesting than our tourists, but it’s still a good film.
A-
Changeling [#4]
Well, click on the link to the right and you’ll see my review. I know not many liked this. But that’s how it goes.
The Reader [#3]
Yes I liked this. Another film that’s been somewhat maligned. Although I had predicted a nod for it I was still shocked when it got nominated. Well deserved in my humble opinion. I think this is quite a good film. Hence the A-.
A
Revolutionary Road [#2]
I was very impressed with this divisive film. For a film with such a striking theme and premise the ending is so irreverent and shows that it's almost as if doesn't take itself as gospel. It's a smart move.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [#1]
Maybe I’ll post my initial review of this film someday. But yeah...ummm...I LOVED IT!
So there you have it. Are you surprised? What's your list look like? Did you see many 2008 films? Was it the worst year of the decade?
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Sometimes I can see some films that just had that air of being directed really well, and then some times I’m just wholly stumped and end up mirroring my best picture line. Oh well, here’s the list.
The Finalists
Woody Allen for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
For some reason I rarely think that Woody Allen films are palpably well directed. It’s a complex I suppose. I mean you know that he pours it all into the scripts so I don’t really see any big direction.
Clint Eastwood for Changeling
I liked this movie more than I liked Clint directing it, it did meander a little and I think he could have done a better job of reconciling all the elements. Over all though, I though it came of god despite him.
Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon
Very tautly directed. I wouldn’t fault his nomination, he gave a valiant effort.
He did the best he could but a middling script prevented him from doing anything truly outstanding. Still, he has lots of potential. I'll see what happens with Inception.
Martin McDonagh for In Bruges
What an underrated piece. It was just a wicked romp and though the last bit does get a bit clichéd he pulls it off well.
The Nominees
Darren Aronofsky for The Wrestler
The sum of the parts didn’t make a good movie, but his direction was good. It’s not hard to see why he didn’t pick up traction, but he would have been ideal for the lone director spot. But then he’d have had to knock out Van Sant or Boyle, and that wasn’t going to happen.
Coen Brothers for Burn After Reading
Every shot of this hilarious romp is crisp. It’s done so directly which only adds to the hilarity and ludicrousness of the whole.
Stephen Daldry for The Reader
I suppose I’m biased towards him, and yeah I was glad to have predicted his film making it all the way but the middle section of the film particularly comes to mind as being well directed.
David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
He’s a diverse director, that much is obvious; and more power to him. All the ostensibly incongruent parts of the story blend together to create a beautiful picture. It seems so effortless.
Sam Mendes for Revolutionary Road
Mendes is smart enough to avoid cheap tricks. It’s arguably the most economically edited and directed film of the year. There’s never a superfluous moment or shot, it’s just always precise. Underrated.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Maybe it’s just me; but haven’t you ever heard the name of movie, then imagined what it’s about and then get thrown for a loop when you actually sit down and see it? I suppose I have more energetic imagination than most since not only do I assume what it’s about but I imagine beginning, middle and ending. And then some. Here are some of the prospective films that turned out to be quite different than I envisioned.
The Big Chill
My misunderstanding hinged on the word chill. I always assumed the word chill was used as in chilling as in horror. Thus, I was convinced that this was a horror movie. In addition the inclusion of Glenn Close in the cast [at the time I knew her from 101 Dalmatians and Fatal Attraction] only incensed the feeling. So I was essentially telling myself that I was in for a big scare. Well there was no scare. Great movie, just not very chilling.
Million Dollar Baby
Two words – human trafficking. You know those movies where a baby gets stolen and then gets sold on the black market? That’s what I was expecting. Of course my imagination was curbed by the clips from the Oscars and other awards and I realised it was not a movie about human trafficking of any sorts. It was about boxing. I still do not get the significance of the title. But I don’t care enough to go check it out.
The African Queen
Mr. Allnut. Whom exactly is this African Queen that the title refers to?
I know this had Bogart and Hepburn and I know the film was up for a number of Oscars. Silly me, I took the title literally and figures it was about a real African Queen. I was thinking something along the lines of a female Tarzan or something. I mean, you know that Kate would have been up for it. All that physicality would be right up her alley. I’m sure I’m not the only one who was misled by this title. Was I?
Good Will Hunting
So embarrassing. It was a while before I saw this in print and realised it was Good Will Hunting and not Goodwill Hunting. So yeah I thought this a movie about hunting, hunting in goodwill. You know, one of those seemingly oxymoronic or paradoxical movie titles. Come on, you have to admit that it’s a pretty good name. Right? Anyone...?
The Cider House Rules
I was convinced that this was a college movie. Tobey Maguire was a college student and Michael Caine was the headmaster, and there was a boisterous and potentially controversial fraternity called the Cider House. And the Cider House Ruled! This is even more embarrassing than The African Queen, but as you can see my little brain just flits about.
Expect more instalments subsequently.
What titles have you misunderstood?
Being a fool or something akin, I accidentally deleted this post...so here it is again with some alterations. I was mixed on quite a few of the critical darlings, but let’s take a look. [alphabetical order]
The Semi Finalists
Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married
Yes readers, I was unimpressed with this performance. It’s not just because there’s no love lost between the two of us, but she wasn’t given enough to work with and she couldn’t rise above the material.
Scarlett Johansson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Scarlett Johansson is not the greatest actress of her age or whatever but I think this performance was vastly underrated. It’s an atypical role for her, she doesn’t wear her sexuality like a flag, but there are some moments that are quite good and some line readings are particularly profound.
Emma Thompson in Last Chance Harvey
Sure it’s a pretty lightweight role, especially for someone of her talent. But it’s not unsatisfying and she is charming as per usual.
The Finalists
Rebecca Hall in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Incidentally she was the most rounded character, so she was much luckier than her co-stars. I realised I had seen her popping up in lots of films, but it’s the first time I really focused on her. She could go far.
Sally Hawkins in Happy Go Lucky
Poppy grew on me and I ended up appreciate her performance. Sure I didn’t mind her not getting an Oscar nomination, but it’d be nice to see what else she can do.
Nicole Kidman in Australia
Sue me; I enjoyed her in this movie. Sure it was a bit too schizophrenic for its own good, but she went with the flow of the film and the development of the character despite being ludicrous seemed realistic in its own twisted way.
Melissa Leo in Frozen River
She stood out from the middling film. She was not my favourite, but I was pleased to see her nomination. I hope that even though it's late in the game that her career can build some sort of momentum.
Meryl Streep in Doubt
Her role was tailor made for awards attention so at some point you have to wonder if she was really that good. But I didn’t hate the performance like some of her detractors and after getting past the accent there were some really good scenes. The characterisation was a bit too bizarre at times but oh well, it’s her style.
The Nominees
Cate Blanchett in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I don’t believe anyone else could have done this role. Cate was just marvellous; sure it wasn’t anything I didn’t know, but reaffirmation is always nice.
Angelina Jolie in Changeling
It wasn’t as good as her excellent turn in A Mighty Heart, but still. And sure, most persons seemed to hate it and it did get a bit generic at times, but I was impressed.
Frances McDormand in Burn After Reading
She has some wicked comedy timing in this and she manages to sell even the most outrageous parts of the story.
Kristin Scott Thomas in I’ve Loved You So Long
Damn those American awards. Why couldn’t she get some recognition? It sucks that the Globes were the only ones to show her any love.
Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road
It’s not exactly a stretch for her, but she captures April so wonderfully and we are able to understand and even empathise wit her. Dare I say it…? The best of her generation?
Friday, 23 October 2009
I wasn’t too on point with the Oscar nominations in this category as per usual. But here’s a looksee at who were turning up at precursors and who should have been. It was quite a strong year for men. I didn't see The Visitor, so no word on Jenkins.
The Semi Finalists
Adrien Brodey in Cadillac Records
The movie kind of sunk him, and he’s not the most talented actor; but at least he’s doing work and broadening his range.
Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
He was something special here, and I’m anxiously awaiting the sequel and Sherlock Holmes.
Brendan Gleason in In Bruges
I’m sure I’ve seen him more, but the last potent memory I have of him was as Renee Zellweger’s father in Cold Mountain, where he was not half bad. I can’t see him becoming a big thing, his time is already gone. But he was good in this.
Dustin Hoffman in Last Chance Harvey
Generally he was upstaged by Emma but it was a nice and easy performance, showing that he still has a modicum of talent left. It would have been nice to see him win the Golden Globe, even if it would not have been deserved.
James McAvoy in Wanted
As a non American I will say that his accent convinced me. Sure, Wanted was not exactly an actors’ flick but he did a good job holding his own and he was especially believable as an average joe. Kind of.
The Finalists
Javier Bardem in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
This was probably more of a strong supporting, but oh well. Yeah he does have some wicked chemistry with Penelope Cruz, but he’s pretty good throughout the movie and seeing that Woody’s male roles are usually underwritten he does a good job.
George Clooney in Burn After Reading
This is my favourite George Clooney performance. As someone who cannot stand this guy, the Coen’s did something special making me believe him in this ridiculous role.
Sean Penn in Milk
Love him or hate him, the man can act. I didn’t mind the win. In fact I was happy, I pretended it was comeuppance for Dead Man Walking. But I don’t feel it was anything particularly special. He could have done this role in his sleep.
Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I wouldn’t have nominated him either, but I was glad to see him there. He’ll never get nominated for stuff like Fight Club, Se7en or Burn After Reading or even more baity stuff like Babel, so let him take the nods wherever he gets them. And it’s not like he was bad or anything; at least I didn’t think so. Competition was just tough.
Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler
It was gut wrenching and heart wrenching. It’s like watching a horrible smash up or a train wreck…but oh what a train wreak!
The Nominees
Forget him being overdue and all that. What matters is that one of the best male performances was ignored by the majority of award ceremonies. I get it, Oscar gets it wrong but SAG, BAFTA, NBR, Satellite, FFC, Critics Circle…what the f***?
Collin Farrell in In Bruges
Confession: I like Phone Booth, and I thought Collin Farrell was excellent in it. Moving on, the Golden Globe win made me particularly happy; especially since I knew it was the only place he’d ever get any recognition. I hope this marks the end of him doing crap like SWAT and Daredevil [vomit].
David Kross in The Reader
I hope he becomes the next big thing or whatever you call it, because this guy can act. Maybe hatred of The Reader blinded everyone to it, or maybe me liking the reader disillusioned me but I sincerely believed he deserved a much more substantial amount of attention than he received.
Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon
I thought, or rather I was hoping that he’d pull an upset. Look where that got me. Sure I’ll always be a little partial to Hopkins’ Nixon [flaws and all] but this was exceptional.
Michael Sheen in Frost/Nixon
Did they even try to campaign for this guy? Even if they had put him in supporting or something. If I hadn’t seen the movie I’d have thought that Frost/Nixon was just one long monologue from Langella because there was no buzz for anyone else in the cast. Even for this good performance.
With all the recent [and deafening] buzz surrounding the prospective chances of Precious taking home a crap load of prizes at next year’s Oscars I couldn’t help but assess the cultural implications of a potential win for the film. There are two things I’ve been hearing about for ages since I’ve been taking notice of that guy called Oscar. One is that Oscar is homophobic. Two, Oscar is racist. I'm not gay, so I can’t fairly assess the former. But as a black person I’ll look at the latter.
It is a fact that the number of black persons who have been Oscar winners and nominees is a small fraction of the white winners and nominees but I don’t see how this is proof of the Academy’s racism. I’ve heard the fact that losses of Eddie Murphy, Whoopi Goldberg, Cicely Tyson, Viola Davis, Angela Bassett and countless others are all proof that Oscar hates the blacks. But as a black person myself, I really don’t see how this claim can be substantiated. The number of black actors (directors, writers etc) is much smaller than the number of whites. There is a reason that black people are regarded as a minority in America. And notwithstanding, if it comes down to two performances of equal merit, should Oscar reward the black person just because they’re black?
Writing this, the topic of Denzel Washington came to mind. I don’t like him much. The guy has two Oscars, he’s a good box office draw and he’s well liked and famous. When I told this to a classmate of mine that I didn’t like him [but liked Pitt, Depp, etc] she said I was a racist – yes I’m black. But my dislike of Washington has nothing to do with his race. If for some inexplicable reason I was contestant on Jeopardy and for some reason Alex Trebeck’s clue was “The white Denzel Washington” I’d promptly answer Tom Hanks. I don’t like him either. The two actors are different sides of the same coin for me. Both are popular, two Oscars each, and bland as far as I’m concerned. But at least Washington stars in good films. Most of the time, at least. Which I can't really say for many black actors.
Isn’t the lack of blacks at the Oscars a reflection of lack of substantial good performances? Sure, Oscar isn’t omniscient and we don’t always agree with some of the choices that they make but I can’t remember when a film or actor has been snubbed completely for being black – I can’t remember it seeming like that either. And no, Dreamgirls cannot be an example. Yes Condon and Company [mainly white] were snubbed in the main categories, but Hudson [who was less deserving that Condon and Co. would have been] was nominated and went on to win. And if we’re going to talk about Dreamgirls being snubbed despite a mass of nods what of They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? or The Poseidon Adventure or even The Dark Knight. They each earned multiple nods with no correlating best picture nod. Nothing to do with being black.
Precious isn’t at the top of my list as far as the possible Oscar contenders I’m yet to see goes but I wouldn’t grudge it if it wins. But I hope it doesn’t win it doesn’t turn into a march against Oscar’s racism. Who knows? Maybe, I’ll see it and think it’s perfect but perfection doesn’t always win. So I wouldn’t throw the race factor into it. To be honest though, all the recent buzz for it has made me hope it doesn’t win the Oscar. This reminds of last year when in the thunderous rise of Obama I was hoping that Hillary Clinton would pull an upset. Not only because she turned into the underdog, but I just liked her more. I remember people saying I was a bad black person. Obama's black, a win for him would be historic etc, etc, so I should like him. But I’ve never been one to defend something based on race. But the whole issue has become somewhat exacerbated by the comment I read where someone said that you should like Precious because it’s excellent and if you don’t you’re a racist.
I mean, WTF? But who knows? Maybe I’m racist. What do you think?
Thursday, 22 October 2009
I realise that my posting of The Office has turned into a fortnightly thing. I’ll try to abate that next week. Anyhow, tonight saw the return of Pam and Jim to The Office and what ensued was one of my favourite episodes. Ever. The follow-up to Niagara [Mafia] was enjoyable but not outstanding but this episode really was good. It focused on Pam finding out that her mother and Michael are a couple.
I’ve noticed that the cold openings have become more and more integrated with the plot. This opening concerned the newlyweds returning and their reception. I love when Meredith has her one liners. This time she can’t beehive that all Pam and Jim brought back was Puerto Rican candy. Before I get to the meat of the episode, I have to address the ridiculously wonderful subplot. In an attempt to undermine Jim, Dwight gives him a wooden mallard [a duck] with a listening device on it. Don’t ask what Dwight expects to hear Jim saying, but of course Jim finds it and what he does to Dwight is quite funny.
But back to the main plot. Jim finds out first about the relationship and I’m a bit nonplussed about his reaction. He immediately flies off the handling warning Michael not to tell her. Due to Erin [the new receptionist’s] all around dumbness Michael is pushed to tell Pam and she freaks out. Let me just say that Jenna Fischer has to submit this episode for her Emmy reel next year and she must be nominated. It’s Pam like we’ve never seen her. She calls her mother in a rage and it all culminates in a board room meeting that pits Michael against Pam. It’s funny with hints of sadness and it’s all handled so well. It’s just perfect.
At the end you can’t help feeling bad for Michael but we don’t know what will happen since it’s more or less left open. And the sadness of the episode is dimmed by Dwight’s last few seconds. Apparently the mallard was a decoy, the real listening device is in a pen on Jim’s desk. The look of intent as Dwight listens to his six hours of tape is both ludicrous, funny and oddly scary.
You think I’d put my real recorder in a wooden mallard. I’m not crazy.
Of course you’re not, Dwight. Of course, you’re not.
A+
The episode really was a success Krasinski, Wilson, Carell and especially Fsicher shone brightly. And B.J. Novak even had a substantial one liner, two actually, so I was verry happy. I miss Ryan.
Tom is an aspiring architect, but circumstances have cast him into his current position as a greeting card writer. Tom belongs to that ostensibly elusive group of men who believe that their life is incomplete unless they find that perfect someone. For all intents and purposes he meets that one perfect someone one day at work – Summer. And thus, our story begins.
500 Days of Summer is a romantic comedy told in what is essentially a non-linear form akin to Annie Hall. I hate to mention Annie Hall because a blogger whose name eludes me at the moment compared 500 Days of Summer to Annie Hall in a rather negative review of the former. Certainly, 500 Days of Summer is no Annie Hall; but in its defence I don’t think it aims to be.
I feel a bit like I’m beating a dead horse here writing this review. Is there anyone who hasn’t seen this yet? But I digress. Whereas Tom is a somewhat hopeless and hapless romantic Summer is not. She’s quite steadfast in her hopes that their relationship remains casual. Even as she and Tom constantly bump uglies or tongue in the copy room. But whatever. Actually, one of my favourite scenes centres on this issue. After getting into a punching match with a guy at bar, Tom is nonplussed when he and Summer go home and she seems pissed. Eventually she tells him that she doesn’t need him to defend her – they’re just friends. Tom storms out angrily, and it’s a great acting moment for Gordon-Levitt. It’s also quite realistic and a smart move on the film’s part. But the sad poignancy of the moment becomes diluted when Summer goes over and apologises to him.
This portion is a perfect example of my issue with the entire film. I wish that instead of making Summer’s character unnaturally softer they’d just let her be the bitch. The final appearance of Summer and her ensuing conversation with Tom left me feeling quite cold. It just felt forced. It’s as if by the end of the film the writer has been caught up with making both leads nice characters. But life isn’t like that. I don’t think Summer would have been like that either.
Certainly, the pithy final line with the beginning of Autumn is a nice, tongue-in-cheek ending and it does assuage my slight annoyance. But I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated. I’d even have bargained. If they wanted Summer’s character to come full circle as character why not have the same happen for Tom’s character. It would have been oddly satisfying to see his character turn into a complete cad because of his 500 days with Summer. But even though he vows that there is no such thing as fate, you can’t help but feel that he really still is that same romantic guy we met at the start. But, maybe, the film is trying to send a message to us agnostics. Maybe we’re supposed to believe in fate and love and all that stuff. Whatever.
I was aching for it to be just a little bit better but maybe I was just being a little selfish. Because it was still fine at the end of the day.
B+
Monday, 19 October 2009
Once again it's quite random.
The Supporting Men were considerably weaker than the Supporting Women. Actually it was the weakest category of the year. There just was not much for the men to do and when there was anything to do, it just wasn’t outstanding. But here’s a look at those who tried. [alphabetical order]
The Semi Finalists
Josh Brolin in Milk
I was glad he got nominated, he wasn’t my favourite supporting player of the film but it’s good to see him getting recognition.
Mos Def in Cadillac Records
Wright was not bad in his role, but I was quite impressed with Mos Def take on hischaracter. He smashes the stereotype of rappers being bad actors and he was also commendable in Be Kind, Rewind.
Emile Hirsch in Milk
I was not backing him for Into the Wild, but shouldn’t his career have taken off by now? What’s keeping him from joining the ranks of the sought after young Hollywood actors?
The Finalists
Ralph Fiennes in The Duchess
Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley are not a couple that I’d expect and this movie is a bit too like a period piece by numbers; but Fiennes does his best in the role. And I must say it felt a bit nice seeing the Globes recognise him.
James Franco in Milk
Oscar loves their men manly and aggressive especially in this category, so there was really no chance of him getting in. But maybe the role will be a stepping stone for him.
John Malkovich in Burn After Reading
Is there any one that can swear like this man? He is just a million types of awesome in this role, and his line readings are just amazing.
Eddie Marsan in Happy Go Lucky
He did the best he could while not having that much to do. And you do feel a bit of something for him, though I’m not quite sure it’s sympathy.
Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder
It was a toughie leaving him off the top 5, but either way he was good. We all know he wasn’t going to be nominated any otherway and going over the top and begging for it seemed to be the just the right way.
The Nominees
Jason Butler Harner in Changeling
It’s one thing when only a few precursors give you recognition, but when not one person takes a look at your work it’s got to hurt. I want to know where he’s been hiding and I do think this one of the best of the year. I stand by my choice.
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt
This is easily my favourite performance of the entire film. Other than Along Came Polly, which I have chosen to strike from my memory, I can recall a bad performance from this guy. He just seems to be consistently on fire.
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight
He has the voice, the grimace and the mannerisms. He’s not excellent but when he’s good he’s astounding.
Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading
This was a performance and a half and the best in the film for me. It’s also a performance that didn’t catch on in terms of precursor support, undeservedly so. Not only does he look more than ten years younger he acts twenty years younger.
Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road
There isn’t much you can say about this performance. Sure it’s the stock scene stealing role, but it becomes more than a stock role when he actually pulls it off with such aplomb. I, like many, did not see this nomination coming; but it was a pleasant surprise.
See. I would have nominated Ledger. So who do you think is missing?
I’ll just bite the bullet and get it over with, I though Kate Winslet was supporting in The Reader. I’m just going to get it out of the way. Yeah, she had a substantial amount of screen time, and sure unlike David Kross/Ralph Fiennes she plays the same character for the duration of the film. Whatever, I thought she was supporting. So be warned. [alphabetical order]
The Semi Finalists
Patricia Clarkson in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
On the first viewing I was actually most impressed with her cameo, but she doesn’t have a rounded enough character to pull a Pieces of April surprise nod, but she’s still pretty good in this playing a somewhat narcissistic woman.
Viola Davis in Doubt
Obviously she was in not in my top 5. I didn’t really have a problem with her being nominated. We all saw it coming a mile away, but her cameo was not my favourite of the year and if I hadn’t been conditioned to really look for her entrance it might have passed me.
Beyonce Knowles in Cadillac Records
She’s not any where near the legendary singers transforming to screen and she has a long way to go but her performance as Etta James was inspired and had some very good moments.
Tilda Swinton in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Although I’m not a huge fan of hers even in small roles like this she has certain poignancy in her performance. I wasn’t even missing Cate in the moments she was onscreen.
Debra Winger in Rachel Getting Married
This should have been the role that she’d win her Oscar for, playing a mother to an ingénue; but Rachel Getting Married was such a mixed bag; there just wasn’t enough for her to work with it.
The Finalists
Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I really didn’t mind her winning. It was going to be either her or Davis and I preferred her. I remember the days when her acting seemed truly abysmal and Woody did create a good middle ground between her English and Spanish.
Lena Olin in The Reader
Her dual role was an effective cinch to the film. She wasn’t over the top or excessively pragmatic. Her performance[s] was just good.
Amy Ryan in Changeling
This was my favourite cameo of the year. It’s nothing close to her star turn in Gone Baby Gone or her unfairly ignored guest starring stint on The Office, but with only a few minutes she creates a real character worth remembering.
Tilda Swinton in Burn After Reading
No one plays a bitch like her. She sunk her teeth into this ridiculous over the top character and turned it into a comedic work of art. In a great ensemble she was one that stood out.
Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler
Has Marisa Tomei ever played a frigid character? She is just so congenial or accommodating from Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead to In the Bedroom and even the abysmal Anger Management. I’ll be honest, even though I was not gunning for a nod for her I was psyched when her name got called.
The Nominees
Amy Adams in Doubt
The performance was maligned and no one really expected her to make an impact on the race; but I believed her nomination was deserved. Sister James ended up seeming like the most rounded character, sure she’s played the good girl before but that doesn’t take away from the profundity of her performance.
Kathy Bates in Revolutionary Road
Last year was notorious for snubs and this was one of them. Kathy Bates deserved a nod for her unnerving Mrs. Givings and every moment from her was a moment of good acting.
Rosemarie DeWitt in Rachel Getting Married
I was very mixed on Rachel Getting Married, but if anyone from the film deserved recognition from the Academy and other award ceremonies. She deserved attention for her layered performance.
Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The consensus is not there on loving this performance, but I found her just adorable as Queenie. She has always been commendable in middling fare like Something New and Baby Boy. Hopefully this could be a stepping stone to her getting more work.
Kate Winslet in The Reader
I know some think she won the Oscar for her older scenes but it’s the young Hana that grabs me. Like that trip she takes where she tries to experience those fleeting moments of happiness that she’s never able to give into.
So those are the five I'd have nominated. Don't be shy. Tear me to shreds if you'd wish. Let's hear your opinions.
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