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Showing posts with label Years in Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Years in Review. Show all posts
Monday, 19 October 2009
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.
Monday, 28 September 2009
Well here they are. The top six categories of the year and where my votes would have gone. Take a gander...Continued from here...
NOTE: Letters From Iwo Jima - I did not watch this out, so it's not on the list. An Inconvenient Truth...oversight that it's not here. I give a B+, Venus - I did not see this one. A big O'Toole fan...but [gasp] it's not in this country. And yes, it does suck here. The Lives of Others - did not see this either. Hence no inclusion here.
NOTE: Letters From Iwo Jima - I did not watch this out, so it's not on the list. An Inconvenient Truth...oversight that it's not here. I give a B+, Venus - I did not see this one. A big O'Toole fan...but [gasp] it's not in this country. And yes, it does suck here. The Lives of Others - did not see this either. Hence no inclusion here.
Best Supporting Actress
Adriana Barraza in Babel
Cate Blanchett in Notes on A Scandal
Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada
Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine
Angelina Jolie in The Good Shepherd
Frances McDormand in Friends With Money
Anika Noni Rose in Dreamgirls
Sharon Stone in Bobby
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
Emma Thompson in Stranger in Fiction
This was a tough category to break down. So many women gave good performances in middling films, some tried their best to elevate their trite material, but at the end of the day these ten women were at the top. McDormand’s nomination is somewhat representative of her, Joan Cusack and Catherine Keener who did superb work in the horrible Friends With Money. It was such a wasted effort. Three great actors wasted. At the end of the day Adriana Barraza came out on top for her illegal immigrant. Those few solitary moments in the desert and positively haunting, she plays her role well. Cate Blanchett and Sharon Stone come next. Cate’s Sheba is a pathetic woman who is consumed with narcissism but yet she is able to find the [fine] light within, and we don’t end up hating the character. I always feel bad for Sharon Stone. She gives probably my favourite performance of hers, and few saw it and the other just didn’t care. And it wasn’t as if the film was bad. Meryl Streep and Anika Noni Rose both give best in show performances, and both play for comedy albeit in different ways. They round out the top 5.
Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine
Steve Carrell in Little Miss Sunshine
Paul Dano in Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley in Little Children
Djimon Honsou in Blood Diamond
Gael Garcia Bernal in Babel
Jack Nicholson in The Departed
Brad Pitt in Babel
Martin Sheen in The Departed
Mark Wahlberg in The Departed
Oddly, this turned out to be the hardest category to compile. In addition to many of the films having a host of supporting actors present, there was also no clear winner. All the men were more or less equal. Finally, I decided on Paul Dano. An unlikely choice, no? Why didn’t anyone take notice of this performance? What is wrong with Hollywood? Those young untalented idiots from Transformers, Twilight, GI Joe get all the attention and Dano gets nothing. Even Michael Cera gets notice, so it’s not like it’s an aesthetic thing. I really can’t stress how much this performance impressed me. That scene where he finally speaks it’s just all really good. This was the best performance in the ensemble. Steve Carrell is close behind him, though. All I can say is genius. Jackie Earle Haley comes third for his haunting paedophile. Scary stuff. On a recent post I wrote that Brad Pitt is underrated. And he is…as an actor. We hear Brad Pitt and we think celebrity…we never think good actor. And he is. There are some scenes in Babel, aided by the aging makeup that are just chilling. And then there’s Gael Garcia in Babel. Pitt or he could have round up this category at the Oscars and I wouldn’t have minded. Are you going WTF at Martin Sheen. The scene leading up to Queenan’s death in The Departed are some of the most tense moments in recent cinema…Martin Sheen doesn’t have any big moments but he completely sells it as Queenan.
Best Actress
Annette Bening in Running With Scissors
Toni Collette in Little Miss Sunshine
Penelope Cruz in Volver
Judi Dench in Notes on A Scandal
Kirsten Dunst in Marie Antoinette
Beyonce Knowles in Dreamgirls
Helen Mirren in The Queen
Julianne Moore in Children of Men
Julianne Moore in Freedomland
Kate Winslet in Little Children
What a good year it was for women…even if all the precursors only noticed five of them. I find it incredibly hard to single out one of them as best...and I try my best to avoid ties. In the end it goes to Judi Dench with Annette Bening nipping at their heels. Both women have tough characters to break into and they do it great alacrity. I bemoan the fact that Annette couldn’t even get a friggin’ nomination. But I’m over that. Really, I am. But we all know it’s because the film was clunky. But yet Streep gets nominated for the equally clunky The Devil Wears Prada in a supporting role. It’s a harsh world. Moving on…Kate Winslet gets the bronze medal for Sarah. She’s always great. So no surprise. Then there’s Ms. Collette who is so wonderful in Little Miss Sunshine. Words cannot describe. Ms. Cruz is fifth, but that doesn’t lessen her performance. I hate Spanish, but she made me want to learn it. The film gets a bit silly sometimes…but she plays it well. You’re probably saying…Where is Helen Mirren!!!! She’s in sixth place. I was glad she won…after that unwarranted snub for Gosford Park. Those bitches. But I just wasn’t as enthralled by The Queen. Kirsten Dunst is somewhere in the pack…I wish someone would give her a proper role – she has so much potential. Beyonce is somewhere towards the bottom of the pack …but I’d just like to note that I thought her performance was fine…and she deserved her Golden Globe nod. And yeah, Freedomland kind of sucked…a lot…but Julianne was not bad.
Best Actor
Matt Damon in The Departed
Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd
Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed
Aaron Eckhart in Thank You For Smoking
Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction
Greg Kinnear in Little Miss Sunshine
Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson
James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland
Forrest Whittaker in The Last King of Scotland
My race comes down to Leo’s tortured gangster and Kinnear’s bathetic husband and father. Leo wins it fairly easily, but Kinnear wasn’t bad at all. Picking three to round out the top five is harder to do though. I’m going to go with Damon in The Good Shepherd, Eckhart in Thank You For Smoking and Gosling in Half Nelson. It surprises me that of these three only Gosling gained any traction and Damon got virtually no response from the awards. And Eckhart couldn’t even win the Globe. I cringed when Sacha Baron Cohen won that Golden Globe. Kinnear wasn’t nominated…but at least they could give it to Eckhart or even Ferrell. Sigh. I can't fault Whitaker's win though.
Best Director
Del Toro for Pan’s Labyrinth
Condon for Dreamgirls
Innaturu for Babel
Marber Notes on a Scandal
Scorsese for The Departed
Once again The Departed has it. The others are just basically in a tie…okay, maybe Innaturu edges out in front for those scenes in Arabic…but they’re all pretty good. Todd Field was a runner up for Little Children…but I preferred the honesty of the direction in Notes on a Scandal even if it was the weaker of the two. But for some reason I think the two pieces complement each other.
Best Picture – chronological order
The Departed [A+]
Babel [A-]
Dreamgirls [A-]
Little Miss Sunshine [B+]
Little Children [B+]
Bobby [B]
Stranger than Fiction [B]
Thank You For Smoking [B]
Notes On A Scandal [B]
Pan’s Labyrinth [B]
Children of Men [B]
Happy Feet [B]
The Good Shepherd [B]
The winner by a long shot was The Departed. Perfect combination of crime, foul language, tension, murder and even a little sex. I was screaming at my TV as Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson opened that envelope. Good times. It was the clear winner in my book and no other film came close that year. Babel was in second place. For some reason people don’t like this one. But I was a fan. It’s not one that you necessarily want to see again, what’s that phrase…once is enough. And Dreamgirls is third. This has suffered some extreme backlash and it is not a perfect film…but it is enjoyable and Condon’s direction though spasmodic was inspired in quite a few scenes. Little Miss Sunshine is close behind. I never really saw this winning Best Picture…but this was a good ride, and although I would have liked if Dreamgirls had replaced it…it deserved its nomination…and then we have Little Children…it’s an almost tie Bobby and Stranger Than Fiction…but Todd Field edges out. Thank You For Smoking is my favourite Reiteman. It’s a flawed film, but I found it entertaining. The other films in the top thirteen are all good.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
I’m working on another year in review. The year in question 2006. I’m keeping the list of my top thirteen films that year and the acting categories for later…as in tomorrow. But this is dedicated to the other films…ranked in chronological order…and other miscellaneous rantings.
Films Ranked B-
The Prestige
The Queen
Hoodwinked
Volver
Akeelah & the Bee
Marie Antoinette
Running With Scissors
United 93
Blood Diamond
The Devil Wears Prada
The Last King of Scotland
Scoop
Half Nelson
A Good Woman
Borat
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
Monster House
I wouldn’t go as far as to say Marie Antoinette is a masterpiece as some, but the film was fine…and in such a weak year it’s surprising that there wasn’t more traction. Oh well. They’ll always have Paris…and the Revolution. I like Stephen Frears but I just could not get into The Queen. I tried...but I couldn't. And ummm, I happened to like Hoodwinked. It was an enjoyable animated flick? Am I alone on this? Scoop was not Woody's best...obviously...but it had charm.
Films Ranked C+
Nanny McPhee
The Holiday
Something New
Casino Royale
The Pursuit of Happyness
Miss Potter
Charlotte’s Web
Barnyard
Cars
X-Men: The Last Stand
I thought Cars was a travesty. That's all.
Films Ranked C
Take the Lead
Freedomland
Inside Man
The Black Dahlia
The Davinci Code
You, Me & Dupree
The Break-up
Films Ranked C-
Friends With Money
Just My Luck
Last Holiday
ATL
American Dreamz
Click
She’s The Man
Step Up
My Super Ex-Girlfriend
Films Ranked D+
The Pink Panther
Phat Girlz
The Lake House
Films Ranked D
Firewall
Eight Below
Films Ranked D-
The Santa Clause 3
John Tucker Must Die
The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift
Films Ranked F
Big Momma’s House 2
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties
Material Girls
If they were real I would take these three films, vomit on them and then stuff them down the throats of the Duffs, Martin Lawrence, Jennifer Love Hewitt and everyone else involved. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
What do you think is topping my list? Any film here that should have been in the top 13?
VOTE...VOTE...VOTE...
Contribute
Monday, 7 September 2009
After Danny gave a review of American Beauty it got me thinking about what a year 1999 was. Hence, the following.
The Films
American Beauty wins this by a few inches. An exceptionally well made film, featuring some of the best performances, score, writing, and direction in recent cinema. Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley is so unsettling which might explain the lack of love at certain ceremonies. But this is a near flawless film and terrific adaptation of the novel. Fight Club is a film that exists on so many levels – from the ostensibly hedonistic to the psychological and back. Sleepy Hollow and Election round out the top 5. Both genre films, both ignored by the major awards. The End of the Affair and The Insider come next. Both are good films that have been maligned to some degree by audiences, but both are worth your time. Being John Malkovich, The Sixth Sense and Toy Story II round out the top 10.The Auteurs
The three-horse race consisted of Sam Mendes, Anthony Minghella and David Fincher. All three manned their films ending up with great results. I don’t believe in ties so I won’t lump them all together. So it would be Minghella, Mendes, Fincher. They’re all pretty close though. P. T. Anderson comes next for Magnolia. A good film I was not all for, but his direction was underrated in this one. Tim Burton did his second best live action feature with Sleepy Hollow. An unorthodox adaptation of the original, definitely. But the reinvention worked on film. This was easily one of the most visually appealing films of the 90s. Spike Jonze rounds out the top 5 for his work controlling Being John Malkovich. It would have been easy to lose control of this unconventional piece. But Jonze manages well, directing the cast members [especially Keener and Diaz] to greatness. The top ten includes Mann who went slightly low-key directing The Insider, M. Nyght Shyamalam for keeping the suspense palpable in The Sixth Sense and even managing to sell off the potentially dodgy ending. Alexander Payne’s work is highly effective in the underrated Election and although Neil Jordan’s work in The End of the Affair, it’s more forceful if you look closer. Animated films are often ignored when it comes to direction but I feel John Lasster deserves recognition.
The Leading Men
This was quite a year for the leading men. I had a tough time narrowing it down to ten even…and the male categories are usually the weak ones. So let’s take a look.
Kevin Spacey was the clear winner for me. His exceptionally smooth portrayal of the role was spot on. You could not NOT be enthralled by his performance. He was followed by Matt Damon in a startling and off putting characterisation as the eponymous Ripley. This is the best thing that he has ever done. Those last few minutes of the film are extremely poignant and chilling at the same all because of him. Ed Norton rounds out the Trinity with his deliciously macabre performance in Fight Club. Completely overlooked, I was fascinated with his performance. Ralph Fiennes [The End of the Affair] and Johnny Depp [Sleepy Hollow] were both good and underrated that year, although their performances never picked up. Rounding out my top ten were Russel Crow [The Insider], Haley Joel Osment [The Sixth Sense], Matthew Broderick [Election], Ryan Phillipe [Cruel Intentions] and Denzel Washington [The Hurricane]. Each of these gentlemen truly commanded the attention of the audience although some were brasher about it than others. The Wonderful Women
The women were unusually weak this year. Annette Bening stood head and shoulders above the rest in her mesmerising performance. Below her Hilary Swank and Julianne Moore in Boys Don’t Cry and The End of the Affair stand. Both give very capable performances finding the light in their somewhat troubled characters. Reese Witherspoon was a true delight in Election playing the character just right. And despite her meanness I was rooting for her all the way. But that’s just me. Janet McTeer comes next in Tumbleweeds. A flawed film but a fine performance nevertheless. Meryl Streep is a runner up for her able but unexceptional work in Music of the Heart. Julia Roberts is also a runner up for Notting Hill. She can do this role in her sleep. But she’s still pleasant.Featured Men
Jude Law steals the show – by a mile. Despite leaving the film around the half way mark the impression he makes is indelible. Dickie is a cad, but he’s a charming cad and despite his arrogance we like him, we want to be his friend. It’s easy to understand why everyone finds him so interesting. Brad Pitt comes in second playing a character that’s somewhat similar. His Tyler Durder is a nice slice of horror and comedy. His chemistry with Helena Bonham Carter is scorching and every line reading from him is as deliberate as necessary. Chris Cooper comes next for his flawed character in American Beauty. He freaked the hell out of me the first time I saw this. This was a way better performance than his Oscar winning performance in Adaptation. Philip Seymour Hoffman in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Wes Bentley in American Beauty round out the top 5. Both men are rarely thought of…but they were perfect in their portrayals. Runners up include Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules, Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Room, Tom Cruise in Magnolia and Chris Klein in Election.Featured Women
Helena Bonham Carter couldn’t even get a nomination for her performance in Fight Club. But she has my vote. Dirty, smart, sexy, repulsive, trashy, intelligent – it’s all their in her performance. Who the hell is Marla Singer? That’s a good question. But whoever she is Helena nails it. Angelina barely misses the crown for her wonderful turn in Girl, Interrupted. Although some are not fans – I was hooked. Lisa does it all, and more. After that it gets tougher because no one else is as obviously outstanding…but they’re good. So I’ll go with Cate Blanchett. Yes her role is short, and I do mean short, but I just want to give Meredith a hug. Okay, maybe more than a hug, but she’s the only truly likeable character in the movie. Julianne is all sorts of brilliant in Magnolia and then there are the ladies from Being John Malkovich. Catherine and Cameron are both awesome and cringe worthy at the same time. Not only for the acting – the movie itself. Toni Collette [The Sixth Sense] was a millimetre away from making the cut. She really does well in this film. Gwyneth Palthrow and Chloe Seveigny are also soft yet strong women in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Boys Don't Cry. Lisa Kudrow shows off her comic chops in Analyze This and goes toe to toe with DeNiro like nobody’s business. Thora Birch did well with her role in American Beauty. I would have liked to see a little more depth. But it is well done, all in all. And Miranda Richardson’s cameo in Sleepy Hollow stills makes my skin crawl.The Scripts – Originals
Looking at this category effectively may probably require repeated viewings. But as it stands these piqued by imagination. American Beauty and Being John Malkovich, though so different, were both so similar in their originality. Both scripts were taut and fluid and featured realistic and interesting characters. Magnolia is a film I think I should see again, I haven’t seen it since 2001. But I do remember the goodness of its script. Analyze This was a favourite of mine with some insane dialogue. To some extent I felt The Sixth Sense screenplay was too in love with itself, but it had some really good moments.
The Scripts – Adaptations
The Talented Mr. Ripley deserved this award with so much fervour. One of those big mistakes on the part of The Academy. Election seems extra light, but it is deceptively so. As the climax of the film meets the screenplay gives us the shining moments. Fight Club may have gotten indulgent at times, but it never got too visceral. And even when it wasn’t 100% it was still gripping. The End of the Affair was unfairly treated. The screenplay did as much as it could not to be heavy handed and The Insider was a well written drama.
Music
This is going to be flawed since I haven’t seen many of these films in years…but in descending order here are the outstanding film scores as memory serves.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The End of the Affair
American Beauty
The Insider
Sleepy Hollow
Set Design and Art Decoration
Sleepy Hollow
he Talented Mr. Ripley
The Cider House Rules
Anna & the King of Siam
The Mummy
Costumes
Sleepy Hollow
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Anna & the King of Siam
The End of the Affair
The Mummy Cinematography
The Talented Mr. Ripley
American Beauty
Being John Malkovich
Sleepy Hollow
The Matrix
Visual Effects
Sleepy Hollow
The Matrix
The Mummy
These were the films I saw in descending order American Beauty [A], The Talented Mr. Ripley [A], Fight Club [A], Sleepy Hollow [A-], Election [B+], The End of the Affair [B+], The Insider [B+], Being John Malkovich [B], The Sixth Sense [B], Toy Story II [B], Magnolia [B], The Matrix [B-], Analyze This [B-], The Cider House Rules [B-], Notting Hill [B-], Cruel Intentions [B-], Tarzan [B-], South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut [B-], Girl, Interrupted [B-], The Hurricane [B-], Tumbleweeds [B-], The Virgin Suicides [B-], The Story of Us [C+], She’s All That [C+], The Mummy [C+], The Best Man [C+], Boys Don’t Cry [C+], Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me [C+], Anna & the King [C], Runaway Bride [C], Eyes Wide Shut [C], American Pie [C], Entrapment [C], Music of the Heart [C], The Wood [C-], 10 Things I Hate About You [C-], Jawbreaker [C-], Double Jeopardy [D+], The World Is Not Enough [D+], Dogma [D], Teaching Miss Tingle [D-], Message In A Bottle [D-], Big Daddy [D-], Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo [D-], Wild Wild West [D-]
But dear reader. What were your thoughts on 1999? Which of these films have I underrated? Overrated?
Thursday, 20 August 2009
And here's my rundown of the major categories.
BEST PICTURE
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Corpse Bride
A History of Violence
Pride & Prejudice
That’s my top 5 – in alphabetical order. As much as I liked Brokeback Mountain, I didn’t like it near as much as most the world – blogging and otherwise. But I did believe that it was the best of the Oscar nominated best pictures. My favourite film of the year was Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride barely edging out Joe Wright’s debut Pride & Prejudice, of which I am an unabashed fan of. The Constant Gardener was in third with A History of Violence the fourth. Other than this five, I was impressed with King Kong and Matchpoint, both of which were great if not underrated films of that year. Walk the Line was in the running, too, close but no cigar…
BEST DIRECTOR
Woody Allen, Matchpoint
David Cronerberg, A History of Violence
Peter Jackson, King Kong
Fernando Mereilles, The Constant Gardener
Joe Wright, Pride & Prejudice
I’m never too certain of the relation between direction and animated, so Tim Burton came in sixth for me. My winner was Cronerberg for A History of Violence, which just barely superseded Mereilles for The Constant Gardener. Woody Allen’s work in Matchpoint [third] was unjustly ignored by all except the Globes as far as I can remember. Ang Lee and James Mangold were runner ups.
BEST CAST ENSEMBLE
Corpse Bride
The Constant Gardener
Matchpoint
Pride & Pride
Walk the Line
Pride & Prejudice won this hands down. Corpse Bride was second. Although this was an animated flick, the work of the cast was really important. Matchpoint collects third, although it’s not the typical Woody cast. Walk the Line really had some superb performance by the cast members especially Waylon Payne who was superb as Jerry Lee. I’m tempted to say he was the best in show with his five minutes of screen time.
BEST ACTOR
Ralph Fiennes, The Constant Gardener
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Viggo Mortensen, A History of Violence
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
If 2005 was noted for anything in terms of film, it was the large number of oversights on behalf of the AMPAS and their nominees. Viggo Mortensen gave the best performance of his career in A History of Violence and after a somewhat a spotty precursor showing he failed to gain an Oscar nomination. Still, he was my pick for best actor followed by eventual Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman who finally got that plum role to make everybody stand up and take notice. I was also quite impressed with Phoenix’s take on Johnny Cash. It was a good year for the actors though. In addition to my top Jeff Bridges, Russel Crow, Jonathan Rhys Myers and Terrence Howard were all outstanding somewhat in their respective leading roles that year.
BEST ACTRESS
Joan Allen, The Upside of Anger
Judi Dench, Mrs Henderson Presents
Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Renee Zellweger, Cinderella Man
No one could outdo Joan Allen for me. Her performance in The Upside of Anger was one of my favourite leading performance of this century and she was unjustly ignored at almost every major award. This is probably the best thing she’s ever done and even manages to sell the iffy ending. Keira Knightley is someone else who gave her best that year with her take on Elizabeth Bennett. She was a delight to look at. Reese Witherspoon has not aged nicely in terms of esteem, but I still was a fan of this performance. It worked so well with her, because in many ways it was a romantic quasi comedy performance, which she has always excelled. Judi Dench rarely goes wrong as far as I’m concerned and although Zellweger got no notice I was impressed by her work in Cinderella Man, although she could get hammy at times. Laura Linney and Naomi Watts did good work in The Squid & the Whale and King Kong respectively. But Felicity Huffman and Charlize Theron who played the deglam card in Transamerica and North Country were not terribly moving as far as I was concerned.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man
Jake Gyellenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
Ed Harris, A History of Violence
William Hurt, A History of Violence
Donald Sutherland, Pride & Prejudice
Oh why couldn’t AMPAS give Paul Giamatti the Oscar he so deserved for Cinderella Man? I honestly thought he was the best of the year, but alas he was shut out. At least the SAG awarded him. They couldn’t even pass the baton to Gyellenhaal who was just as impressive. It’s strange how he never became a contender, though. Hurt and Harris were both impressive in A History of Violence and Sutherland was the perfect paternal figure in Pride & Prejudice. Kevin Costner in The Upside of Anger and Terrence Howard in Crash were both impressive too.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Junebug
Maria Bello, A History of Violence
Scarlett Johansson, Matchpoint
Catherine Keener, Capote
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
I didn’t have any problem with Rachel Weisz winning for The Constant Gardener. I was rooting for her all the way. Johansson and Bello were both wonderful in their, in some ways upstaging their male counterparts. Yet, both failed to gain notable awards traction and did not receive Oscar nominations. Catherine Keener did give a cameo on Capote, but it was still well done and Amy Adams was a delight in Junebug. No one else really did it for me in this category. Brenda Blethyn was fine in Pride & Prejudice, but she was overshadowed by her [many costars].
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Pride & Prejudice
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Cinderella Man
Crash
Matchpoint
The Squid & the Whale
Walk the Line
What was rocking your boat back in 2005? Any of these? None? Can you even remember? If you can, head over to Awards Circuit and place your vote. There’s not time like the present.
BEST PICTURE
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Corpse Bride
A History of Violence
Pride & Prejudice
That’s my top 5 – in alphabetical order. As much as I liked Brokeback Mountain, I didn’t like it near as much as most the world – blogging and otherwise. But I did believe that it was the best of the Oscar nominated best pictures. My favourite film of the year was Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride barely edging out Joe Wright’s debut Pride & Prejudice, of which I am an unabashed fan of. The Constant Gardener was in third with A History of Violence the fourth. Other than this five, I was impressed with King Kong and Matchpoint, both of which were great if not underrated films of that year. Walk the Line was in the running, too, close but no cigar…BEST DIRECTOR
Woody Allen, Matchpoint
David Cronerberg, A History of Violence
Peter Jackson, King Kong
Fernando Mereilles, The Constant Gardener
Joe Wright, Pride & Prejudice
I’m never too certain of the relation between direction and animated, so Tim Burton came in sixth for me. My winner was Cronerberg for A History of Violence, which just barely superseded Mereilles for The Constant Gardener. Woody Allen’s work in Matchpoint [third] was unjustly ignored by all except the Globes as far as I can remember. Ang Lee and James Mangold were runner ups.BEST CAST ENSEMBLE
Corpse Bride
The Constant Gardener
Matchpoint
Pride & Pride
Walk the Line
BEST ACTOR
Ralph Fiennes, The Constant Gardener
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Viggo Mortensen, A History of Violence
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
If 2005 was noted for anything in terms of film, it was the large number of oversights on behalf of the AMPAS and their nominees. Viggo Mortensen gave the best performance of his career in A History of Violence and after a somewhat a spotty precursor showing he failed to gain an Oscar nomination. Still, he was my pick for best actor followed by eventual Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman who finally got that plum role to make everybody stand up and take notice. I was also quite impressed with Phoenix’s take on Johnny Cash. It was a good year for the actors though. In addition to my top Jeff Bridges, Russel Crow, Jonathan Rhys Myers and Terrence Howard were all outstanding somewhat in their respective leading roles that year.
BEST ACTRESS
Joan Allen, The Upside of Anger
Judi Dench, Mrs Henderson Presents
Keira Knightley, Pride & Prejudice
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Renee Zellweger, Cinderella Man
No one could outdo Joan Allen for me. Her performance in The Upside of Anger was one of my favourite leading performance of this century and she was unjustly ignored at almost every major award. This is probably the best thing she’s ever done and even manages to sell the iffy ending. Keira Knightley is someone else who gave her best that year with her take on Elizabeth Bennett. She was a delight to look at. Reese Witherspoon has not aged nicely in terms of esteem, but I still was a fan of this performance. It worked so well with her, because in many ways it was a romantic quasi comedy performance, which she has always excelled. Judi Dench rarely goes wrong as far as I’m concerned and although Zellweger got no notice I was impressed by her work in Cinderella Man, although she could get hammy at times. Laura Linney and Naomi Watts did good work in The Squid & the Whale and King Kong respectively. But Felicity Huffman and Charlize Theron who played the deglam card in Transamerica and North Country were not terribly moving as far as I was concerned.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Paul Giamatti, Cinderella Man
Jake Gyellenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
Ed Harris, A History of Violence
William Hurt, A History of Violence
Donald Sutherland, Pride & Prejudice
Oh why couldn’t AMPAS give Paul Giamatti the Oscar he so deserved for Cinderella Man? I honestly thought he was the best of the year, but alas he was shut out. At least the SAG awarded him. They couldn’t even pass the baton to Gyellenhaal who was just as impressive. It’s strange how he never became a contender, though. Hurt and Harris were both impressive in A History of Violence and Sutherland was the perfect paternal figure in Pride & Prejudice. Kevin Costner in The Upside of Anger and Terrence Howard in Crash were both impressive too.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Junebug
Maria Bello, A History of Violence
Scarlett Johansson, Matchpoint
Catherine Keener, Capote
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
I didn’t have any problem with Rachel Weisz winning for The Constant Gardener. I was rooting for her all the way. Johansson and Bello were both wonderful in their, in some ways upstaging their male counterparts. Yet, both failed to gain notable awards traction and did not receive Oscar nominations. Catherine Keener did give a cameo on Capote, but it was still well done and Amy Adams was a delight in Junebug. No one else really did it for me in this category. Brenda Blethyn was fine in Pride & Prejudice, but she was overshadowed by her [many costars].
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
Pride & Prejudice
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Cinderella Man
Crash
Matchpoint
The Squid & the Whale
Walk the Line
What was rocking your boat back in 2005? Any of these? None? Can you even remember? If you can, head over to Awards Circuit and place your vote. There’s not time like the present.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Over at the Awards Circuit, they’re doing their yearly review of the Oscars and they’re at 2005. So, head over their and vote for your favourites. Although some of your favourites may not even be nominated.
I've started out with the smaller categories.
ORIGINAL SCORE
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Corpse Bride
Memoirs of A Geisha
Pride & Prejudice
ART DIRECTION
Cinderella Man
A History of Violence
King Kong
Memoirs of A Geisha
Pride & Prejudice
COSTUME DESIGN
Cinderella Man
Memoirs of A Geisha
Mrs Henderson Presents
Pride & Prejudice
Walk the Line
VISUAL EFFECTS
Corpse Bride
King Kong
SOUND EDITING
Cinderella Man
The Constant Gardener
Corpse Bride
King Kong
Walk the Line
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Brokeback Mountain
The Constant Gardener
Matchpoint
Munich
Pride & Prejudice
FILM EDITING
Brokeback Mountain
Cinderella Man
The Constant Gardener
A History of Violence
King Kong
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
So I decided that today is the year of 2004. I was just looking at The Aviator, a really good film so I dubbed this day this. This is not my retrospective view of that year, but I actually have data. I did not have a blog then, but I used to type these things up nevertheless. I know, I was a strange child. This was the first year that I started predicting Oscars – I still remember the ceremony (Chris Rock and his theatrics).
Here is my top ten of the year
- The Aviator (Martin Scorsese)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michael Gondry)
- Finding Neverland (Marc Forster)
- Closer (Mike Nichols)
- Hotel Rwanda (Terry George)
- Mean Girls (Mark Waters)
- Birth (Jonathan Glazer)
- Vera Drake (Mike Leigh)
- Sideways (Alexander Payne)
- Being Julia (Istvan Szabo)
The top ten films are in three categories. Number one and two are in a category decidedly of their own, and then #3 and #4; then #5, #6 and #7 and then number #9 and #10. There were some films that in retrospect I would have considered entering into the ten, but I was (and still am) not enamoured with them like these ten here – Kill Bill II – I didn’t like it enough, I’ve never been a die hard fan of Tarantino; Million Dollar Baby – compared to how good Mystic River was this just paled in comparison Oscar win or not; Ray – in terms of a straight biopic Kinsey was head and shoulders above it but I didn't have space for either; Collateral – a good film, but I don’t love it.
Best Scenes
- Meeting Katharine Hepburn – The Aviator
- Young Joel with Clementine - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- The Play – Being Julia
- Opening – Closer
- Meeting Her ‘Husband’ – Birth
- Going Crazy - The Aviator
- Killing Bill – Kill Bill II
- The Trip to Montauk –Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Meeting the Plastics Mean Girls
- The Arrest – Vera Drake
The Directors
- Scorsese for The Aviator
- Gondry for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Leigh for Vera Drake
- Glazer for Birth
- Alexander Payne for Sideways
Runners Up
- Nichols for Closer
- Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby
- George for Hotel Rwanda
Finalists
- Forster for Finding Neverland
- Mann for Collateral
All the things I liked about Finding Neverland and Closer (to a lesser extent) were not particularly about their direction. I still think Scorsese’s snub was a major Oscar crime
The Men
- Leonardo DiCaprio The Aviator
- Don Cheadle Hotel Rwanda
- Jude Law Closer
- Jim Carrey Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Johnny Depp Finding Neverland
- Paul Giamati Sideways
- Javier Toro The Sea Inside
Finalists
- Jamie Foxx Ray
- Liam Neeson Kinsey
Leo and Don were obviously the two best of the nominees that year, I remember this was the year where many of the contenders were playing the biopic card. I never did get into the hype for Jamie Foxx but what he had that DiCaprio, Depp and Cheadle didn’t was that his character was well known, well loved and recently died. The cards were in his favour. If they didn’t give Carey a nod for Man on the Moon or The Truman Show, I couldn’t really expect it to be forthcoming for this polarising film. It’s unfortunate that Giamati (who was getting a lot of buzz) got shafted for Eastwood – of all people. Neeson and Law were the two English men who went more or less unnoticed that season. Toro is actually a recent inclusion since I didn’t see the movie until 2006.
The Women
- Annette Bening Being Julia
- Kate Winslet Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Imelda
- Julia Roberts Closer
- Nicole Kidman Birth
Finalists
- Lindsay Lohan Mean Girls
- Hilary Swank Million Dollar Baby
- Scarlet Johansson A Love Song For Bobby Long
- Uma Thurman Kill Bill II
The fact that Bening, Winslet or Staunton
Supporting Men
- Clive Owen Closer
- Alan Alda The Aviator
- Freddy Highmore Finding Neverland
- Jamie Foxx Collateral
Runner Up
- Morgan Freeman Million Dollar Baby
Finalists
- James Garner The Notebook
- Peter Sarasgard Kinsey
- John C. Reilly The Aviator
In terms of quality of performance Owen and Haden Church
Supporting Women
- Cate Blanchett The Aviator
- Natalie Portman Closer
- Virginia Madsen Sideways
- Kate Winslet Finding Neverland
- Sophie Okenodo Hotel
Finalists
- Sandra Oh Sideways
- Laura Linney Kinsey
- Lynn Redgrave Kinsey
This was a no contest for me, Blanchett stole the show, but this was a good category. Madsen and Portman did their best as strong supporting players – both deserved their nominations and various precursors. Winslet was beautiful as the widow with the children, a double nod would have been nice – but we know AMPAS does not like her when she looks beautiful (see Quills & Revolutionary Road), okay only sometimes (Titanic, Sense & Sensibility). Okenodo thoroughly deserved the nod she got. Oh didn’t get any love, but oh well. And the Kinsey women were both capable in different ways.
Ensemble Cast
- The Aviator
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Sideways
- Finding Neverland
- Closer
- Hotel Rwanda
- Birth
- Kinsey
- Collateral
- Vera Drake
The top three films were all about their casts – the casting directors should give themselves a tap on the shoulder. Finding Neverland, Closer and Birth benefited from their cast, but some ideas were better than others.
Original Screenplay
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- The Aviator
- The Incredibles
- Hotel Rwanda
- Birth
Adapted Screenplay
- Finding Neverland
- Closer
- Sideways
- Mean Girls
- Million Dollar Baby
Editing
- The Aviator
- Hotel Rwanda
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Cinematography
- The Aviator
- Finding Neverland
- The Passion of the Christ
Costume Design
- The Aviator
- A Very Long Engagement
- Finding Neverland
- The Merchant of Venice
- Being Julia
Art Direction
- The Aviator
- The Merchant of Venice
- Finding Neverland
- A Very Long Engagement
- The Phantom of the Opera
Score
- Finding Neverland
Sound Mixing
- The Aviator
- The Passion of the Christ
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Sound Editing
- The Aviator
- Finding Neverland
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- A Very Long Engagement
- The Passion of the Christ
- The Aviator
- The Merchant of Venice
Original Song
- Look To Your Path Le Choristes
- Accidentally in Love Shrek 2
- Learn to Be Lonely The Phantom of the Opera
- Al Otro Lado Del Río The Motorcycle Diaries
Best Casted Character – Male
- Paul Giamati Sideways
- Jim Carrey Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
- Johnny Depp Finding Neverland
- Jude Law Closer
- Leonardo DiCaprio The Aviator
Paul Giamati was the perfect man for the job, he completely nailed the almost bathos life of his character. It was genius having Carrey play such an introvert. Depp, Law and DiCaprio were each doubly important to the success of their films, although Law was ignored because he played the rather trite role to perfection.
Best Casted Character – Female
- Annette Bening Being Julia
- Imelda Staunton Vera Drake
- Cate Blanchett The Aviator
- Sandra Oh Sideways
- Natalie Portman Closer
Could anyone else do what Bening did? Of course fifty years earlier it would have been a plum role for the likes of Hepburn, Davis or Dunne but in this day and age no one else could have come close – although Sigourney Weaver would have put up a valiant effort. It’s hard to believe the Oscar was not forthcoming. Finally, a leading role for Staunton
Here's what I saw this year Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Spiderman 2, The Incerdibles, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Troy, Shark Tale, Ocean's Twelve, I Robot, Van Helsing, Bourne Supremacy, The Polar Express, Bridget Jones' Diary: The Edge of Reason, The Village, Farenheit 9/11, The Terminal, Collateral, Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, 50 First Dates, Along Came Polly, Shall We Dance, Alexander, The Phantom of the Opera, Kill Bill Vol II, Mean Girls, Ray, The Forgotten, Finding Neverland, The Notebook, Closer, White Chicks, Sideways, The Stepford Wives, Christmans with the Kranks, 13 Going On 30, The Butterfly Effect, Secret Window, House of Flying Daggers, Catwoman, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Around the World in Eighty Days, A Very Long Engagement, A Cinderella Story, Taxi, Taking Lives, After the Sunset, In Good Company, Sky Captatin & the World of Tomorrow, The Motorcycle Diaries, Cellular, Spanglish, You Got Served, Wimbledon, The Sea Inside, The Prince & Me, Jersey Girl, Alfie, Hotel Rwanda, Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen, The Girl Next Door, Laws of Attraction, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Ella Enchanted, The Whole Ten Yards, Birth, Little Black Book, Mr. 3000, Wicker Park, The Merchant of Venice, Euro Trip, Kinsey, Dogville, Before Sunset, Surviving Christmas, Being Julia, Vera Drake, Maria Full of Grace, A Very Long Engagement
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