2011 Oscar Predictions

It’s that time of year again for my fearless Oscar predictions. This year’s fight is between King’s Speech and Social Network. They are both great films. Even though I love Social Network more, I think King’s Speech will take the biggest haul. Remember that I’m not predicting who I want to win but who I think the Academy will vote for. From smaller to bigger, here we go:

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
GOD OF LOVE
(It has something to do with darts. I don’t know.)

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
LET’S POLLUTE!
(Funny environmental infomercial. Going the Logorama route.)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
KILLING IN THE NAME
(Middle Eastern conflict gets awards)

SOUND EDITING
INCEPTION
(This deserving film will get all the tech stuff)

SOUND MIXING
INCEPTION
(see above)

ORIGINAL SCORE
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(Trent Reznor is the cool choice for this award)

ORIGINAL SONG
IF I RISE [127 HOURS]
(The more original music choice)

VISUAL EFFECTS
INCEPTION
(The whole movie is a visual effect. It’s in the bag.)

MAKE-UP
THE WOLFMAN
(Lots of make-up usually wins. It’s also Rick Baker.)

COSTUME DESIGN
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
(Vibrant and whimsical. Bigger is better here.)

ART DIRECTION
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
(Always give it to the one who creates an imaginative world)

FILM EDITING
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(Fantastic job of cutting back and forth in time)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE KING’S SPEECH
(The flow works very well, some uncomfortable angles too)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
RESTREPO
(Afghanistan War doc? Sure.)

ANIMATED FEATURE
TOY STORY 3
(No justification needed)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
IN A BETTER WORLD
(Bullying is in the news. Also won the Globe.)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(Best written script in a long time. You go Sorkin!)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE KING’S SPEECH
(It’s touching and makes you feel good.)

BEST DIRECTOR
DAVID FINCHER [THE SOCIAL NETWORK]
(He is so meticulous it’s kind of scary)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
HAILEE STEINFELD [TRUE GRIT]
(I think Melissa Leo’s self-promotion cost her)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTIAN BALE [THE FIGHTER]
(He deserves it and The Fighter’s got to get something)

BEST ACTRESS
NATALIE PORTMAN [BLACK SWAN]
(She went above and beyond for this intense role)

BEST ACTOR
COLIN FIRTH [THE KING’S SPEECH]
(It’s a slamdunk. He better not look shocked.)

BEST PICTURE
THE KING’S SPEECH
(It’s more uplifting than Social Network. Whatcha gonna do?)

Let’s see how I do on Oscar night this Sunday.

Film: True Grit

GENRE: Western
RATING: PG-13 for western violence
RUNTIME: 1hour and 50 minutes
STARRING: Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) Hailee Steinfeld (newcomer), Matt Damon (Good Shepherd)
DIRECTORS: Joel & Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men)
WRITERS: Joel & Ethan Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski)
PLOT: Rooser, a gruff US Marshal, helps an independent young woman track down her father’s murderer.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:
1 I am not a big fan of westerns. The only ones I’ve liked are Tombstone, High Noon and the remake of 3:10 to Yuma. True Grit is not on this list, but comes close thanks to Bridges and the Coen brothers use of cinematography.
2 As many critics have said, Rooster is basically The Dude from The Big Lebowski just a bit rougher and in western gear. Bridges is fun to watch and definitely makes the film somewhat enjoyable.
3 Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is another reason True Grit is better than some westerns. Her determination and grit is fun to watch. She plays well with Bridges.
4 The plot was boring. And the dialogue was not much better. There are a couple fun scenes and a clever line here and there but it’s nothing compared to the rest of the Coen brothers’ filmography.
5 I can’t believe Josh Brolin gets third credit in the movie and is barely on screen. A little disappointing. Not that I’m a huge Brolin fan or anything.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD
UPCOMING REVIEWS: The Fighter, Oscar Predictionns

Superbowl Ads 2011

So I meant to post this on Monday but never got around to it. But better late than never. Here are my favourite Superbowl ads from last week. Of course, being in Canada we again got royally screwed by CTV who insisted on showing ads for Blue Bloods and Flashpoint every chance they got. Thank goodness for the internet. Here are my top five.

1. BUD LIGHT: PRODUCT PLACEMENT
Love the truck at the end.


2. VOLKSWAGEN: THE FORCE
The kids face at the end is priceless even behind a mask.



3. DORITOS: HOUSE SITTING
Love the ashes that come off grandpa.



4. BRIDGESTONE: REPLY ALL
Love the frantic-ness.



5. AUDI: RELEASE THE HOUNDS
Very fun concept. Love the punishment of Kenny G.



HONORABLE MENTION
DORITOS: FINGER LICKING
Funny yet disturbing. Or is it the other way around?



There you have it. What were your favourites?

UPCOMING REVIEWS: True Grit, The Fighter, Oscar Predictions

Oscar Nomination Predictions

Here are my predictions as to who will be getting an Oscar nomination this year. Oh, and I don’t predict the shorts (live, animated or documentary). The official announcement is on Tuesday, January 25.

BEST PICTURE
Black Swan
Blue Valentine
The Fighter Inception
The Kids are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
The Town
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Robert Duvall (Get Low)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)

BEST ACTRESS
Annettte Bening (The Kids are All Right)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone)
Julianne Moore (The Kids are All Right)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Bill Murray (Get Low)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech)
Mila Kunis (Black Swan)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)

BEST DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
Danny Boyle (127 Hours)
Joel & Ethan Coen (True Grit)
David Fincher (The Social Network)
Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours
Social Network
The Town
Toy Story 3
True Grit

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids are All Right
The King’s Speech

BEST FOREIGN FILM
Biutiful
Dogtooth
In a Better World
Incendies
Life above All

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer
Exit through the Gift Shop
Inside Job
The Lottery
Waiting for Superman

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The King’s Speech
True Grit

BEST FILM EDITING
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

BEST ART DIRECTION
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Inception
The King’s Speech
Shutter Island

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Burlesque
The King’s Speech
True Grit 

BEST MAKEUP
Alice in Wonderland
Jonah Hex
The Wolfman

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
127 Hours
Alice in Wonderland
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

BEST SONG
Coming Home (Country Strong)
If I Rise (127 Hours)
There’s a Place for Us (Voyage of the Dawn Treader)
We Belong Together (Toy Story 3)
You Haven’t See the Last of Me (Burlesque)

BEST SOUND EDITING
127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The Social Network
True Grit

BEST SOUND
Inception
Iron Man 2
Tron: Legacy

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I
Inception
Iron Man 2
Tron: Legacy

UPCOMING REVIEWS: True Grit

Film Club: Film Noir

I was at my desk straining for the last drops of the bottle while poring over my snapshots of out corrupt commissioner taking a bribe, when she walked in. Her silhouette slinked through the doorway. She had more curves than a rollercoaster ride. I knew then and there I would do anything she asked. She opened her perfectly shaped lips. “What are your top ten film noir movies?” Here they are with a montage to boot.

TOP TEN FILM NOIR
1 The Maltese Falcon
2 Brick
3 Double Indemnity
4 Chinatown
5 Sin City
6 Out of the Past
7 Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
8 LA Confidential
9 The Big Sleep
10 Memento

Golden Globes 2011 Recap

Wow, that must have been one of my worst showings yet for an awards show. Only 40%, 10 out of 25 categories correct. At least I got most of the major film ones correct. I am happy that Social Network for Best Picture and Boardwalk Empire won for Best Television show. Kinda shocked at all the Glee love not that it’s a bad show. Carlos for best miniseries or made for TV movie? Really? Over The Pacific? Or even Temple Grandin? I wish I could have read lips to see what Tom Hanks’ response to losing to Carlos was? I thought Ricky Gervais was awesome. Wonder if they’ll invite him back. He seemed to be a bit more edgy this year. Fun to watch. Here are the results. (I hope I do a lot better for the Oscars.)

Best Motion Picture – Drama
The Social Network
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Natalie Portman (Black Swan) (predicted)
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) (predicted)
Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
The Kids Are All Right (predicted)
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right) (predicted)
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Paul Giamatti (Barney’s Version) (predicted)
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Language Film
In A Better World
Best Director – Motion Picture
David Fincher (The Social Network) (predicted)
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) (predicted)
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network)
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me" (Burlesque)
Best Television Series – Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Best Actress In A Television Series – Drama
Katey Sagal (Sons Of Anarchy)
Best Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Best Television Series – Comedy
Glee
Best Actress In A Television Series – Comedy
Laura Linney (The Big C)
Best Actor In A Television Series – Comedy
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) (predicted)
Best Mini-Series or TV Movie
Carlos
Best Actress In A Mini-series or TV Movie
Claire Danes (Temple Grandin) (predicted)
Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie
Al Pacino (You Don’t Know Jack) (predicted)
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Jane Lynch (Glee) (predicted)
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie
Chris Colfer (Glee)

Coming Soon: My predictions for the Oscar Nominees