Film: Veronica Mars

GENRE: Crime/Drama

RATING: PG for some violence, sexuality and language
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 47 minutes

STARRING: Kristen Bell (Frozen, Forgetting Sarah Marshall )

Jason Dohring (series), Enrico Colantoni (Flashpoint, Remedy)

DIRECTOR: Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars series)

WRITERS: Thomas & Diane Ruggiero (series)

PLOT: Veronica reluctantly returns to Neptune to help out Logan Echolls who is accused of murdering a pop star.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 This was basically a glorified two part episode of Veronica Mars and that was fine with me. I think I would have been disappointed if it didn’t look like a classic Veronica Mars episode. All the elements were present which made me happy.

2 I loved that everyone returned for the movie. While some got more screen time than others, I enjoyed that all the characters had some great moments.

3 Dick Casablancas (Ryan Hansen) stole every single scene he was in. I hear they are making a web series for him. Awesome.

4 Martin Starr (Freaks & Geeks, Party Down) used to look extremely nerdy and now was hardly recognizable as Cobb.

5 Enjoyed the James Franco cameo. Very funny.

RECOMMENDATION: See in theatres marshmallows.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Grand Budapest Hotel

Oscar Results

So this was my best year of predicting ever. I got 21 out of 24. Someday I’ll get them all right. Ellen did a fine job as host; she was pretty casual. I enjoyed her pizza order and selfies. I thought Jared Leto went on quite long, in fact, I don’t recall anyone getting played off this year. I was very happy that despite the overtime, they showed the clips of the best actor/actress instead of just their faces. While Ellen was funny, the presenter banter was sorely lacking this year; more comedians are needed for these things. Oh and I was disappointed that 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture. With the amount of hardware that Gravity won, they should have nabbed Best Picture as well. Maybe Ellen was right and it was just white guilt that got them the big prize. Oh well, let’s see who won:

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

HELIUM

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

MR. HUBLOT (predicted)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

THE LADY IN NUMBER 6 (predicted)

SOUND EDITING

GRAVITY (predicted)

SOUND MIXING

GRAVITY (predicted)

ORIGINAL SCORE

GRAVITY (predicted)

ORIGINAL SONG

LET IT GO [FROZEN] (predicted)

VISUAL EFFECTS

GRAVITY (predicted)

MAKE-UP

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (predicted)

COSTUME DESIGN

THE GREAT GATSBY

PRODUCTION DESIGN

THE GREAT GATSBY (predicted)

FILM EDITING

GRAVITY (predicted)

CINEMATOGRAPHY

GRAVITY (predicted)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

20 FEET FROM STARDOM (predicted)

ANIMATED FEATURE

FROZEN (predicted)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

THE GREAT BEUTY (predicted)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

12 YEARS A SLAVE (predicted)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

HER (predicted)

BEST DIRECTOR

ALFONSO CUARON [GRAVITY] (predicted)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

LUPITA NYONG’O [12 YEARS A SLAVE] (predicted)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

JARED LETO [DALLAS BUYERS CLUB] (predicted)

BEST ACTRESS

CATE BLANCHETT [BLUE JASMINE] (predicted)

BEST ACTOR

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY [DALLAS BUYERS CLUB] (predicted)

BEST PICTURE

12 YEARS A SLAVE

How did you do?

Oscar Predictions

It’s that time of year again for my fearless Oscar predictions. The best picture race is a nail-biter this time around. My fingers are crossed. Just as a reminder, 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

THE VOORMAN PROBLEM

(Intense and stars Bilbo Baggins)

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

MR. HUBLOT

(The character looks funny)

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

THE LADY IN NUMBER 6   

(She entertained Nazis)

SOUND EDITING

GRAVITY

(Lots of technical stuff in this film)

SOUND MIXING

GRAVITY

(Even if no can hear you scream)

ORIGINAL SCORE

GRAVITY

(Seeing a trend?)

ORIGINAL SONG

LET IT GO [FROZEN]

(Sorry U2, this one is more sing-able)

VISUAL EFFECTS

GRAVITY

(It’s space and better than 2001)

MAKE-UP & HAIRSTYLING

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

(Can’t justify Lone Ranger or Jackass)

COSTUME DESIGN

AMERICAN HUSTLE

(The seventies at its groovy grossness)

PRODUCTION DESIGN

THE GREAT GATSBY

(Typical Baz Luhrnman stylishness)

FILM EDITING

GRAVITY

(Usually accompanies the Best Picture winner)

CINEMATOGRAPHY

GRAVITY

(Beautifully shot in space)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

20 FEET FROM STARDOM

(Let’s hear it for the backup singers)

ANIMATED FEATURE

FROZEN

(Would prefer Despicable Me 2 though)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

THE GREAT BEAUTY

(A beautiful look at Rome’s night life)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

12 YEARS A SLAVE

(They gotta win a couple awards)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

HER

(Spike Jonze always has an original take)

BEST DIRECTOR

ALFONSO CUARON [GRAVITY]

(This took a very long time to pull off)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

LUPITA NYONGO [12 YEARS A SLAVE]

(She’s a pretty sympathetic character)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

JARED LETO [DALLAS BUYERS CLUB]

(Apparently amazing in drag)

BEST ACTRESS

CATE BLANCHETT [BLUE JASMINE]

(She’s been getting buzz since last summer)

BEST ACTOR

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY [DALLAS BUYERS CLUB]

(Alright, alright, alright. It’s a McConaughey renaissance)

BEST PICTURE

GRAVITY

(12 Years is depressing. Gravity was an experience.)

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