Film: Zero Dark Thirty

GENRE: Drama/Thriller
RATING: R for language, strong violence and torture
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 37 minutes
STARRING: Jessica Chastain (The Help, Tree of Life)
Jason Clarke (Public Enemies); Joel Edgerton (Great Gatsby)
DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt Locker, Point Break)
WRITER: Mark Boal (Hurt Locker, In the Valley of Elah)
PLOT: The decade-long search for Osama bin Laden is dramatized from the Sept 11 attach to his death in May 2011.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I found this film to be interesting but not fascinating. I thought I would be more riveted by the tracking down of Osama bin Laden but it unfolded like a very slow episode of Homeland. But don’t get me wrong, it still worked well as a movie.
2 Despite what I’ve already said, the last thirty minutes was nail-biting suspenseful. The takedown of bin Laden’s compound was extremely well done and riveting.
3 Bigelow does a classy job of reliving the horror that is September 11. Instead of replaying images we have seen a thousand times, all we see is black and hear audio samples from that devastating day.
4 Chastain does a stellar job as the lead agent on this manhunt. Her character arc which spans the decade is well deserving of her Oscar nod. I really enjoyed her writing on the windows.
5 It was funny seeing Chris Pratt (Andy on Parks & Recreation) as a Navy SEAL. Sure he brings some lightness, but he is deadly during the compound raid.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD
UPCOMING REVIEWS: Identity Theft

Golden Globe Recap

I think I did pretty good  this year at The Golden Globes. I got 72% (I count the ones ‘I wanted to win’ as wins) I was pretty happy that Argo got Ben Affleck some trophy love after his outrageous snubbing from the Oscars. Fey & Poehler were funny but Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig had me in tears. Anyway here’s how it went down:

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Argo (wanted)
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jessica Chastain
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) (predicted & wanted)
Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Les Miserables (predicted)
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) (wanted)
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables) (predicted & wanted)
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) (predicted & wanted)
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained) (wanted)
Best Animated Feature Film
Brave (predicted)
Best Foreign Language Film
Amour (Austria) (predicted & wanted)
Best Director – Motion Picture
Ben Affleck (Argo) (wanted)
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) (wanted)
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Life of Pi
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Skyfall” (Skyfall – Adele) (predicted)
Best Television Series – Drama
Homeland (predicted & wanted) 

Best Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Claire Danes (Homeland) (predicted & wanted)
Best Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Damian Lewis (Homeland)
Best Television Series – Comedy
Girls
Best Actress In A Television Series – Comedy
Lena Dunham (Girls)
Best Actor In A Television Series – Comedy
Don Cheadle (House of Lies)
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie
Game Change (predicted & wanted)
Best Actress In A Mini-series or TV Movie
Julianne Moore (Game Change) (predicted & wanted)
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys) (predicted)
Best Supporting Actress in a Series or TV Movie
Maggie Smith (Downton Abbet) (predicted & wanted)
Best Supporting Actor in a Series or TV Movie
Ed Harris (Game Change)

Upcoming Review: Zero Dark Thirty

Golden Globe Predictions

 
The Golden Globes are this Sunday and this year it’ll be Tina Fey and Amy Poehler bringing the laughs. Again the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is made up of less than 100 people who just want to mingle with celebrities so take the awards with a grain a salt. The highlight is that the celebrities are a little tipsy and may make some entertaining speeches. Here are my predictions for this year:

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Argo | Django Unchained | Life of Pi | Lincoln | Zero Dark Thirty
Who I Think Will Win: Zero Dark Thirty
Who I Want To Win: Argo

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) | Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone) | Helen Mirren (Hitchcock) | Naomi Watts (The Impossible) | Rachel Weisz (The Deep Blue Sea)
Who I Think Will Win: Naomi Watts (The Impossible)
Who I Want To Win: Naomi Watts (The Impossible)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) | Richard Gere (Arbitrage) | John Hawkes (The Sessions) | Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) | Denzel Washington (Flight)
Who I Think Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)
Who I Want To Win: Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | Les Miserables | Moonrise Kingdom | Salmon Fishing in the Yemen | Silver Linings Playboook
Who I Think Will Win: Les Miserables
Who I Want To Win: Moonrise Kingdom

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Emily Blunt (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) | Judi Dench (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) | Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) | Maggie Smith (Quartet) | Meryl Streep (Hope Springs)
Who I Think Will Win: Judi Dench (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)
Who I Want To Win: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)

Best Actor in Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Jack Black (Bernie) | Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) | Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables) | Ewan McGregor (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) | Bill Murray (Hyde Park on Hudson)
Who I Think Will Win: Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)
Who I Want To Win: Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Amy Adams (The Master) | Sally Field (Lincoln) | Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) | Helen Hunt (The Sessions) | Nicole Kidman (The Paperboy)
Who I Think Will Win: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)
Who I Want To Win: Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables)

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Alan Arkin (Argo) | Leonardo diCaprio (Django Unchained) | Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master) | Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) | Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
Who I Think Will Win: Leonardo diCaprio (Django Unchained)
Who I Want To Win: Anyone but Philip Seymour Hoffman

Best Animated Feature Film
Brave | Frankenweenie | Hotel Transylvania | Rise of the Guardians | Wreck-It Ralph
Who I Think Will Win: Brave
Who I Want To Win: Wreck-It Ralph

Best Foreign Language Film
Amour (Austria) | A Royal Affair (Denmark) | The Intouchables (France) | Kon-Tiki (Norway) | Rust and Bone (France)
Who I Think Will Win: Amour (Austria))
Who I Want To Win: Amour (Austria)  

Best Director – Motion Picture
Ben Affleck (Argo) | Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) | Ang Lee (Life of Pi) | Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) | Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained)
Who I Think Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty)
Who I Want To Win: Ben Affleck (Argo)  

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty) | Tony Kushner (Lincoln) | David O Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) | Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained) | Chris Terrio (Argo)
Who I Think Will Win: Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty)
Who I Want To Win: Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Mychael Danna (Life of Pi) | Alexandre Desplat (Argo) | Dario Marianelli (Anna Karenina) | Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas) | John Williams (Lincoln)
Who I Think Will Win: Dario Marianelli (Anna Karenina)
Who I Want To Win: John Williams (Lincoln)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“For You” (Act of Valor – Keith Urban) | “Not Running Anymore” (Stand Up Guys – Jon Bon Jovi) | “Safe & Sound” (The Hunger Games – Taylor Swift) | “Skyfall” (Skyfall – Adele) | “Suddenly” (Les Miserables)
Who I Think Will Win: “Skyfall” (Skyfall – Adele)
Who I Want To Win: “Safe & Sound” (The Hunger Games – Taylor Swift)

Best Television Series – Drama
Breaking Bad | Boardwalk Empire | Downton Abbey | Homeland | The Newsroom
Who I Think Will Win: Homeland
Who I Want To Win: Homeland

Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama
Connie Britton (Nashville) | Glenn Close (Damages) | Claire Danes (Homeland) | Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) | Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Who I Think Will Win: Claire Danes (Homeland)
Who I Want To Win: Claire Danes (Homeland)  

Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) | Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) | Jeff Daniels (The Newsroom) | Jon Hamm (Mad Men) | Damian Lewis (Homeland)
Who I Think Will Win: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Who I Want To Win: Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

Best Television Series – Comedy
The Big Bang Theory | Episodes | Girls | Modern Family | Smash
Who I Think Will Win: Modern Family
ho I Want To Win: Modern Family

Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy
Zooey Deshanel (New Girl) | Julia Louis-Dryfus (Veep) | Lena Dunham (Girls) | Tina Fey (30 Rock); Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Who I Think Will Win: Julia Louis-Dryfus (Veep)
Who I Want To Win: Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

Best Actor in a Television Series – Comedy
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) | Don Cheadle (House of Lies) | Louis CK (Louie) | Matt LeBlanc (Episodes) | Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Who I Think Will Win: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Who I Want To Win: Louis CK (Louie)

Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series
Hayden Panettiere (Nashville) | Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) | Sarah Pauson (Game Change) | Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) | Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Who I Think Will Win: Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)
Who I Want To Win: Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series
Max Greenfield (New Girl) | Ed Harris (Game Change) | Danny Huston (Magic City) | Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) | Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Who I Think Will Win: Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Who I Want To Win: Max Greenfield (New Girl)

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie
Game Change | The Girl | Hatfields & McCoys | The Hour | Political Animals
Who I Think Will Win: Game Change
Who I Want To Win: Game Change

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Nicole Kidman (Hemingway & Gellhorn) | Jessica Lange (American Horror Story: Asylum) | Sienna Miller (The Girl) | Julianne Moore (Game Change) | Sigourney Weaver (Political Animals)
Who I Think Will Win: Julianne Moore (Game Change)
Who I Want To Win: Julianne Moore (Game Change)  

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys) | Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) | Woody Harrelson (Game Change) | Toby Jones (The Girl) | Clive Owen (Hemingway & Gelhorn)
Who I Think Will Win: Kevin Costner (Hatfields & McCoys)
Who I Want To Win: Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock)

Let’s see how I do this year.

Oscar Nomination Predictions

This year the Oscars are revealing their nominations early so as to avoid Golden Globe influence. The nominations will be revealed really early this Thursday morning (Jan 10). Here is who I think will get the nominations this year and who I wish would get nominated (based on what I’ve seen). At this stage, I do not predict the shorts (live, animated or documentary).

BEST PICTURE
Will be nominated: Amour | Argo | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Django Unchained | Les Miserables | Life of Pi | Lincoln | Moonrise Kingdom | Silver Linings Playbook | Zero Dark Thirty
Want to be nominated: Argo | The Avengers | Django Unchained | Les Miserables | Life of Pi | Lincoln | Looper | Moonrise Kingdom | Silver Linings Playbook | Skyfall 

BEST ACTOR
Will be nominated: Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) | Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) | John Hawkes (The Sessions) | Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables) | Denzel Washington (Flight)
Want to be nominated: Ben Affleck (Argo) | Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook) | Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) | Jared Gilman (Moonrise Kingdom) | Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)

BEST ACTRESS
Will be nominated: Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) | Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) |  Emmanuelle Riva (Amour) | Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) | Naomi Watts (The Impossible)
Want to be nominated: Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks) | Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) | Leslie Mann (This is 40) | Helen Mirren (Hitchcock) | Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will be nominated: Alan Arkin (Argo) | Javier Bardem (Skyfall) | Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained) | Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) | Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)
Want to be nominated: Sacha Baron Cohen (Les Miserables) | Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained) | Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) | Ezra Miller (Perks of Being a A Wallflower) | Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Will be nominated: Amy Adams (The Master) | Sally Field (Lincoln) | Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) | Helen Hunt (The Sessions) | Maggie Smith (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)
Want to be nominated: Samantha Barks (Les Miserables) | Judi Dench (Skyfall) | Sally Field (Lincoln) | Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) | Emma Stone (The Amazing Spiderman)

BEST DIRECTOR
Will be nominated: Ben Affleck (Argo) | Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) | Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) | Ang Lee (Life of Pi) | Steven Spielberg (Lincoln)
Want to be nominated: Ben Affleck (Argo) | Wes Anderson (Moonrise Kingdom) | Tom Hooper (Les Miserables) | Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) | Joss Whedon (The Avengers)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Will be nominated: Argo | Life of Pi | Lincoln | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Silver Lining Playbook
Want to be nominated: Argo | The Hunger Games | Life of Pi | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Silver Lining Playbook

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will be nominated: Django Unchained | Flight | Looper | Moonrise Kingdom | Zero Dark Thirty
Want to be nominated: The Cabin in the Woods | Django Unchained | Looper | Moonrise Kingdom |  Skyfall

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Will be nominated: Amour, Beyond the Hills, The Intouchables, Kon-Tiki, A Royal Affair
Want to be nominated: No idea, haven’t seen any this year

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Will be nominated: Brave | Frankenweenie | Wreck-It Ralph

Want to be nominated: Brave | The Lorax | Wreck-it Ralph

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Will be nominated: Bully | The Gatekeepers | How to Survive a Plague | The Invisible War |  Searching for Sugar Man
Want to be nominated: No idea, haven’t seen any this year

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Will be nominated: Django Unchained | Life of Pi | Lincoln | Les Miserables | Zero Dark Thirty
Want to be nominated: Django Unchained | The Hobbit | Life of Pi | Les Miserables | Prometheus

BEST FILM EDITING
Will be nominated: Argo | Lincoln | Les Miserables | The Master | Zero Dark Thirty
Want to be nominated: The Avengers | Argo | The Hunger Games | Les Miserables | Moonrise Kingdom

BEST ART DIRECTION
Will be nominated: Anna Karenina | The Hobbit | Les Miserables | Lincoln | Moonrise Kingdom
Want to be nominated: Argo | The Hobbit | Les Miserables | Lincoln | Moonrise Kingdom

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Will be nominated: Anna Karenina | Cloud Atlas | Django Unchained | Les Miserables | Lincoln
Want to be nominated: The Avengers | Django Unchained | Les Miserables | Lincoln | Moonrise Kingdom

BEST MAKEUP
Will be nominated: Hitchcock | The Hobbit | Lincoln
Want to be nominated: Hitchcock | The Hobbit | Looper

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Will be nominated: The Avengers | Cloud Atlas | The Hobbit | Life of Pi | Prometheus
Want to be nominated: The Avengers | Dark Knight Rises | The Hobbit | Life of Pi | Prometheus

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Will be nominated: Argo | Anna Karenina | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Life of Pi | Lincoln
Want to be nominated: Argo | Django Unchained | Hitchcock | Lincoln | Moonrise Kingdom

BEST SONG
Will be nominated: “Learn Me Right” (Brave) | “Safe & Sound” (The Hunger Games) | “Skyfall” (Skyfall) |  “Still Alive” (Still Alive) | “Suddenly” (Les Miserables)
Want to be nominated: I don’t remember the songs that well

BEST SOUND EDITING
Will be nominated: The Avengers | The Dark Knight Rises | Life of Pi | Skyfall | Zero Dark Thirty
Want to be nominated: The Avengers | The Dark Knight Rises | The Hunger Games | Life of Pi | Skyfall

BEST SOUND
Will be nominated: The Avengers | Les Miserables | Zero Dark Thirty
Want to be nominated: The Avengers | Cabin in the Woods | The Dark Knight Rises

Last year, I only got two categories completely right and guessed 67 out of 103 nominations. Hopefully, I’ll do a bit better this year. If The Master gets a bunch of nominations, I’m screwed. Let’s see what happens.