84th Oscar Predictions and Picks

PICTURE: Midnight in Paris

Honestly what I ~think will win is The Artist. But this is by far my favorite movie of the year.

DIRECTOR: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris

As an avid Woody Allen fan, I really do think this is one of his best works. 

ACTOR: George Clooney - The Descendants

If I will it to happen, it will happen. I want him to beat Dujardin so bad.

ACTRESS: Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady

Go for 3! Go for 3!

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christopher Plummer - Beginners

A quaint, quirky movie with a good performance

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Octavia Spencer - The Help

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Midnight in Paris

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Moneyball

ANIMATED - Rango

FOREIGN - A Separation

DOCUMENTARY - Hell and Back Again

DOCUMENTARY SHORT - God is the Bigger Elvis

LIVE SHORT - The Shore

ANIMATED SHORT - Wild Life

SCORE - The Artist

SONG - "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets

SOUND EDITING - Hugo

SOUND MIXING - Hugo

ART DIRECTION - Hugo

CINEMATOGRAPHY - Hugo

FILM EDITING - Hugo

VISUAL EFFECTS - Hugo

The Blind Side (2009)

Folks, I finally saw The Blind Side. To cut to the chase, I enjoyed it. I really did. But it’s not my favorite movie.6/10 possibly. I even watched it twice. So here’s the quick facts.

LIKE:

• They used real-life coaches. Although I’m terribly under-educated on the goings-on of college football, my mom kept me informed so that was fun.
• Sandra Bullock was, indeed, good in the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy. She knows how to chew someone out.
• Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher was (surprisingly) pretty good.
• All of his rugby striped shirts. Especially the only that looked like Gryffindor.
• It gave me that warm fuzzy feeling. The world had a beautiful pink Mary Richards bow around it. (Don’t worry if you don’t get it).
• It was fast-paced, there were funny moments, a moving story, kept my attention etc.

DISLIKE:

• It’s a freaking Hallmark movie. I can’t believe people are buying into its simplistic and superficial plot. Do you honestly believe that the ENTIRE Tuohy family just welcomed Michael in with open arms including a teenage DAUGHTER? And no one was even pissed that Michael nearly killed their son in a car accident? Who taught him to drive anyway?
• To go along with being too simplistic, they could have delved into soooo many interesting facets of Michael’s story including his challenges and struggles, his character growth, his background, how he dealt with becoming a charity project… etc.
• Instead, Michael is pushed to a supporting character IN HIS OWN STORY! The movie tells us about what a saint Leigh Anne is, how wonderfully Christian Leigh Anne is, how kind and charitable she was to save this poor good-for-nothing black boy and teach him to be something out of the goodness of her heart. Wtf.
• I’m sorry, but, it was pretty racist too.
• This may seem paradoxical, since I did say that Sandra Bullock was good but I honestly thought she was over-the-top. The whole don’t-mess-with-sexy-mommy attitude taken so far that a gang of young, fit black kids are actually scared? Not buying it. She’s bossy. To everyone.

If we’re talking sports movies, give me Hoosiers or Remember the Titans any day. But on the whole it was enjoyable. (Sure, what I dislike outweighs what I like, but there is something to be said for enjoyability). It may have been a little too perfect, but I liked it. I have my issues with it, but I would recommend it to someone.

Is it anywhere NEAR Oscar material? Heck no! Not everyone may have liked Julie & Julia, but I honestly find it to be a far superior movie to Blind Side – and Meryl Streep SHOULD have won. (I can honestly say that with NO reservations now). I mean, it wasn’t even like they were nominating her just because she’s elite and she’s “Meryl Streep.” She was good in that role, just watch footage of the real Julia Child and you’ll see what I mean. Count your blessings, Sandra, that America loves you so much.

Ten years down the road? People will look back at this and say “What WAS the Academy thinking!” You heard it here first.

82nd Oscar Picks and Predictions

Welcome to the 2010 Let’s-See-How-Predictable-We-Can-Be-Movie-Awards. AKA the Oscars. It’s not even fun anymore! You walk in and EVERYONE knows EXACTLY what is going to win. There is zero fun in that. Zero. Okay, maybe a little for the ones who win. But what’s life without a little surprise, huh? Not only is that totally messed up… but this year they eliminated song performances, they ALREADY presented the honorary awards, and don’t get me STARTED on ten nominees for Best Picture.. They’re messing with sacred stuff, here.

Here is what I would REALLY like to happen Sunday night…

1. Meryl Streep wins. Definitely number 1. She’s been nominated SIXTEEN times. For real. And she’s only won twice? That’s ridiculous. She should have won last year. She should have won for Out of Africa or Silkwood. She should win THIS YEAR! Sandra? Why the heck are you even nominated? You’re cool and all but… get out.

2. Up… wins Best Picture. Out of the blue. Up rocked. It should just win best picture. Beating Avatar… and Up in the Air… and all those others. Realistically? I’m pulling Up in the Air.

3. Kathryn Bigelow wins Best Director. This one actually could happen. She is the favorite lately. First woman director to win, that’d be the shiz.

4. Best Actor? Okay, so Jeff Bridges is going to win. Which is cool. He’s cool. Morgan Freeman rocks. And we all know that I love George Clooney… But honestly? I’m pulling for Colin Firth! It’s his first nomination. He’s incredibly underrated.

5. Harry Potter wins Best Cinematography. For kicks and giggles.

6. Stanley Tucci wins. Because he’s awesome, and I hope he wins someday, and I really liked him in Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia.

I’m sure Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will be hilarious. I like hilarious people. Too bad I can’t watch it huh?

For the record though. Here are my official (and not very original) predictions.

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

Best Actress: Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia (I have FAITH!)

Okay. Maybe Sandra Bullock.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique - Precious

Best Animated – Up
Best Adapted Screenplay – Up in the Air
Best Original Screenplay – The Hurt Locker
Best Score – Up
Best Original Song – The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)
Best Makeup – Star Trek
Best Visual Effects – Avatar
Best Art Direction – Avatar
Best Sound Editing – Avatar
Best Sound Mixing – Avatar