Valentine's Day

Many people who know me know that I hate the horror genre. Its predictable and the surprises are never all that surprising and unless you have teenage girls in the front row screaming at every little thing then there really is nothing scary at all besides the production value. The romantic-comedy genre is almost the exact same there are no real surprises as you know how all these movies end, you need girls with you to appreciate the movie but for some reason I like this genre. I absolutely hate brownies, but I love cookies. They're borderline the exact same thing, but one just tastes better going down.

I tried to think of an analogy to compliment cotton candy but I could not think of a dessert that was similar enough, because that's what this movie is. This movie is pink, light, fluffy and has no substance to it.

That being said the movie is enjoyable. If you don't particularly care for one of the actors or the plot lines, don't worry there will be a new one in a minute. Don't like thinking, this movie doesn't give you anything to think about. Wanna text your friend during the movie, go for it. Just pick your least favorite actor, let's say Topher Grace, and whenever he is on the screen go ahead and check the phone. Even if you miss every aspect of his story there are like 19 other stories to concern yourself.

Most of the movie for me was trying to remember who the girl was that was banging McDreamy, I knew it started with a 'Je' but so many of the other actors in the movie start with the same thing (turns out it was Jennifer Garner) that was what most of my brain power went towards.
That is the advantage to this type of movie making, you get the group rate. The actor's pick up an easy pay check as they only need to be shooting for a couple days and the audience gets a plethora of different actors so it can reach across to a variety of different fans.

Gerry Marshall does a good job getting a variety of different perspectives on how each group feel about love from the young white heterosexuals to the old white heterosexuals. And while this movie is easy to take in, one group was offended that it was not represented and advertised properly for. Reason being as it turns out to be a one of the two nice little twist later on in the movie. Needless to say there is literally no reason for anyone to be offended by this movie. I mean besides the performances, the writing, and the cliche selections in music.

While I may be bashing this movie the truth is bad rom-coms are a guilty pleasure. While they may always end the same at least it leaves you with a little smile and who knows maybe a little hope. This movie has probably already past its expiration date, but no worries there will be one just like it soon enough as these type of movies tend to go in and out of season. D-

Shutter Island

The opening 10 minutes always sets the pace for any film, it fills the audience in on tone and helps to establish the world that the viewer is entering. Martin Scorsese appears to be putting way too much thought into his opening sequence, complete with over-scoring and over-acting, but these are just a few threads to the entire tapestry. Once you pull back you are able to appreciate the entire work which sets a thrilling tone and a wonderful tribute to both Alfred Hitchcock and the fifties genre of film noir.

This is not to say that Shutter Island is a perfect film or even one of the famed director's best. This seems to just be a movie that Scorsese enjoyed doing. It is almost too difficult to describe any aspect of this movie at all, as talking about any of it feels like it may give away crucial plot points. Scorsese makes sure to value almost every frame as he explores the human psyche.

Scorsese once again uses Leonardo DiCaprio, this time as his lead detective Teddy Daniels who is investigating the disappearance of one of the patients off the facility. It may appear as DiCaprio is trying to bite off too much in the role but there is a reason Scorsese picks the accomplished actor to work with so often, DiCaprio also takes pride in his ability to provide a false sense of security.

*POSSIBLE SPOILER*

Similar to Cape Fear uses the feeling of isolation to keep the suspense building, there is no escape off the island as bad weather and an elusive ferry seems just out of reach. Scorsese once again uses water not as a symbol of cleansing as many do, but to enhance the inescapable atmosphere.

FIN

Ben Kingsley and Max von Sydow both do a chilling job as the doctor's of the asylum increasing the sense of apprehension along for the plot. There is also an amazing cast of character who increase the pulls and plot turns as we navigate the maze of the movie including Patricia Clarkson, Jack Haley, Ted Levine, and John Carrol Lynch.

Not only is the film based in the fifties but so is the cinematography, so many of the visuals used are nods to the classic genre so rarely used in Hollywood today. I won't mention all the ones i could recognize and instead just say that many are used. There is no way most movie fans would catch every reference just appreciate Scorsese's encyclopedic knowledge of the film industry.

POSSIBLE SPOILER

The film gets tangled up with a lot of dialogue as the movie progresses. So much is thrown at you as the movie progresses the audience may feel they have missed important details or more explanation was left off the screen as the movie already runs well over two hours. But in trying to explain so much (which is actually done fairly well) the most satisfying parts of the script is the ambiguity of it.

FIN

By the end of the film you are experiencing everything DiCaprio is. Scorsese has taken such care that not only does his lead character no longer know who he can trust but he has the audience doubting their senses as well. B

The Oscar goes to...

The day is nearing as the Academy will unveil their winners. We'll preview the biggest categories as the date draws near. For now lets get into the acting categories.

Best Actor:
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

I have put a lot of importance on the guild awards in past post and that may be due to the fact that 19 of the 20 nominees are from the SAG awards, so apparently the Academy does as well. Morgan Freeman may be on this list because he has been prepping for the roll since birth (I imagine his parents having sex and imaging their future son will look similar to a historic political figure). But his accent blows it immediately, he may have phoned in some of the effort he usually puts in because he thought Nelson Mendela gets the award easy. Meanwhile, Clooney wasn't so much acting as he was playing himself, which is why he was so comfortable in the role. A suave sexy man with confidence and charm who doesn't like to be tied down. This award should go to Jeff Bridges as the down and out performer, making a comeback (sounds eerily familiar to a wrestling movie with Mickey Rourke). The only performance that could play upset is Jeremy Renner who seamlessly flowed throughout the movie from heroic soldier to psychotic junkie looking for an action fix.


Best Supporting Actor:
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Bastards

A lot of great performances in this group. Woody Harrelson does outstanding in The Messenger and Stanley Tucci certainly has paid his dues but this race was over in August when Quentin Tarantino introduced us to the Jew Hunter. Once the first chapter was over you knew Waltz would be nominated. By the end of the movie he had the award well in his grasps. This is the biggest lock of the 4 acting categories.


Best Supporting Actress:
Pelelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious

This is the only category that does not sync up with the SAGs as Maggie Gyllenhaal was able to sneak in and take away Diane Kruger's nomination for Inglorious Basterds. Kruger churns out a much better performance in Basterds. It appears Gyllenhaal has Bridges to thank, his performance was so strong it made her look better. Many writers wanted to see Julianne Moore get her fifth career nomination for A Single Man but it didn't pan out for her. Vera Famiga and Anna Kendrick both did amazing jobs in Up in the Air but their shared appearance in this role will split the voters so they're out. Mo'Nique will come out the winner here but not before learning quickly to adapt to the acting circuit. Many of the older members of the Academy tried to keep her from being nominated for not showing up to some of the pre-Oscar events, stating she needed to be paid for her appearances. She has since apologized and been rubbing elbows where elbows need rubbing. In her defense she probably didn't know the importance of showing up to these events and assumed the award was based solely on the performance, silly comedienne.


Best Actress:
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Sine
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

This is the closest race in the four categories. For a while many predicted it would be Maryl Spreep vs. Carey Mulligan but Bullock and those who worked on The Blind Side campaigned hard for her during the nomination selections. That has dropped Mulligan from real contention. Bullock has the edge as her movie is also nominated in the best picture category. Streep is charming as Jilia Child and has been nominated for an Oscar for a record 16 times. But she has not won since 1983 in Sophie's Choice. It would be real nice to see her win for this cute little comedy. Bullock has never been nominated and her campaign for the Oscar has been praising Meryl Streep. Bullock has stated that she believes Streep will win which is brilliant on Sandra's part. Humility is something rarely seen in Hollywood and by praising a legend like Streep she is charming many of the Oscar voters. This is also the first time someone has been nominated for an Oscar and a Razzie in the same year as she sports a similar wig/hair-doo in All About Steve. I want to see Streep with her third Oscar but I think Sandra wins.

For an in-depth look at the Best Actress category check out Kiel Servideo's My Roarin Twenties as we will team up to discuss the Oscar season. Let me hear what you think as well.

Hurt Locker / A formidable opponent

Much like the rest of the country I did not see The Hurt Locker, but now with all the Oscar buzz how could you avoid it. So I made a trip to the local blockbuster and popped it in the DVD player.

The movie is every bit as good as the critics have been telling you it is. Kathryn Bigelow once again does a fantastic job delving into the psyche of men. This movie isn't trying to make a statement about war, it's not even important that the war takes place in Iraq, this is a search into the mind of a soldier.

Jeremy Renner does a fantastic job in the movie, while he may play the lead in the movie he is by no means a hero. He instead is a reckless action-junkie forcing Sgt. JT Sanborn and Spc. Owen Eldridge (Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty respectively) to follow. It is more about getting his fix than saving lives because, as the movie states in the beginning: War is a drug, and Renner does a great job flirting with his addiction.

Some great cameo's in the movie include Guy Pierce, Ralph Fiennes, and David Morse which helps to grab the viewer's attention and adds to the tension which the movie is already full of. In fact the first half-hour of the movie is nothing but. Anyone can set off a bomb and make it look cool (read: Michael Bay), but Bigelow gives viewers intense feelings of heart-pounding exhilaration by praying that the bomb doesn't go off. That is what makes the movie the best of the year.

While there may be 10 movie fighting for the honor of Best Picture of the Year, it really only comes down to two movies The Hurt Locker and Avatar. And while there are some writers predicting Avatar to win, the inside track belongs to The Hurt Locker.

It was shocking to think that both movies received nine nominations as it was predicted that Avatar would have more and The Hurt Locker would get less. One award it was never considered for was Best Animated Movie of the Year and with so much of the movie done with CGI, including some of the main characters, could this movie have been nominated or am I just grasping for straws?

Visually Avatar has most likely set the bar for movies for the next decade, possibly further, which is why the movie received so many nominations. But its lack of nomination in acting and screenplay are glaring and important categories into what really makes a movie the best picture of the year.

The Hurt Locker has already won 53 different awards, including Best Picture from the Producer's Guild of America and Best Director from the Director's Guild of America. Meanwhile Avatar has not won any of the awards from the guilds and was not even nominated for the Screen Actor's Guild Awards. With only the Writer's Guild Awards left (Avatar will not win an award for it's script) that will make it 0 for 4. Why so much focus on the Guild's awards? No movie has ever won best picture without winning at least one of the major awards from one of these four ceremonies.

Kathryn Bigelow is the front-runner to receive the award for best director of the year, making her the first woman to ever win the award. More importantly looking at past trends 5 of the past 6 recipients of this award also had their movie win best picture.

If The Hurt Locker were to win it would become the lowest grossing winner ever. For the other side of the argument click here. But there is no argument, The Hurt Locker is the Best Picture of the Year, now we'll just have to wait to see if it actually gets the Oscar to back it up. A

Oscar Snubs

With the return of Lost I have recently been geeking out a lot trying to wrap my head around the idea of fate vs. free will. While I would love nothing more than to do a post discussing the show, there are entire blogs devoted to just the show so that would be a disservice. This obsession has taken my eye off a huge movie moment: the Oscar nominations.

This year they moved the field from five nominations for Best Picture to ten nominations. This was probably the wrong year to do it. Not only have the movies been sub par this year due to the economy but the biggest movie since Titanic came out this year. That movie alone is enough to bolster the ratings for the sagging awards show.

While it is tough to find snubs and you may not want to hear my opinion I enjoy writing these posts so lets see if we can make an argument for some that the Academy looked past.

1) (500) Days of Summer: This is without a doubt the first movie that comes to mind. It certainly deserves to be there with the expanded field. The ending may be kind of shabby but the movie on a whole does things rarely seen in movies. It has a great music track and the acting is fantastic. The writing is smart and sharp and the non-linear style of story telling is a difficult thing to pull off and this movie pulls it off brilliantly. So many chances for a nomination here and its blown off in so many categories.

2) The Hangover: This was one of the movies that I thought would benefit from the expanded field especially with a Golden Globe to its name. But alas the Academy has never thought too highly about comedies. How about Zach Galifianakis as a best supporting actor (even if the award already has the name Christopher Waltz on it). Or how about Stu's Song over Randy Newman. If Blame Canada can get a nomination with an outstanding rendition done by Robin Williams than certainly Ed Helms deserves one.

3) Where the Wild Things Are and Public Enemies: For the 3's and 5's of dedicated readers I have you will know I didn't really like these movies but you can hand out a nomination for best costume design at the very least.

4) Best Animation: Give me Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Ponyo over Coraline and The Secret of Kells. I'll one up that and say that Ponyo could have beat Up! had it been nominated.

5) Not Really Snubs: These are roles where some people may think the Oscars got it wrong but I agree with being looked over.
a) Clint Eastwood for Best Director
b) Sharlito Copley for Best Actor
c) Robert Downey Jr. for Best Actor
d) Star Trek for Best Picture
e) Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans for Best Picture (Or maybe I just hate Nick Cage that much


Feel Free to comment and let me know your thoughts.

The Tooth Fairy

There is absolutely no reason any of my normal readers will see this movie, unless I've picked up a few soccer moms I did not know about (by the way mini vans don't break a deal, leave your number in the comments section). I still have an obligation to grade this movie fairly, and for what this movie is, a family flick, it's not too bad.

Dwayne Johnson stars as a brawny hockey player which gets the nickname tooth fairy by knocking out molars. After a shoulder injury he is dumped to the minor leagues where he is content enough to spend his days as an enforcer.

Johnson has seemed to have found his niche in family comedies. He has a winning smile, decent comedic timing, and is fine with making fun of himself. He was the same way in the WWF and the skills and fan interactions he learned there seemed to have helped in his development in family friendly films.

Billy Crystal, who takes an uncredited role, and Seth MacFarlane each have bit part supplying Johnson with the supplies he needs. I have always been a big fan of Billy Crystal and will continue to be till my dieing days. His comedic timing is still great and he more or less reprises one of his best cameos of all time with Miracle Max. MacFarlane obviously just went on a huge bender so needed a little extra pocket change, one days work not too bad and hes enjoyable.

Julie Andrews is truly a great talent and I don't think I have it in me to say anything mean about the woman. She is charming in the role.

But one of the best talents in the film is relatively unrecognized talents of Stephen Merchant. This tall, British talent is one of Ricky Gervais' best kept secrets. He has a very charming goofy attitude about him and some of his physical comedy stuff is the most laughable points in the movie. As Gervais gains momentum I think Merchant will too. If you've never seen the show 'Extras' check the it out, especially the one with Kate Winslet.

The film is sincere. It has a nice little message to it. But its best moments are when Johnson has one of the aforementioned names to bounce off of. The kids will like this one and that's who the movie is for. D+

Extraordinary Measures

The debut movie for CBS Films probably belonged on their network or even more likely on a sister network but this got the big screen bump instead. Brendan Fraser plays John Crowley a man who risks it all to bet on a brilliant but misunderstood scientist played by Harrison Ford. I even feel cheesy writing it. It has all the tools for an uplifting story but nothing seems to be executed right.

It could be the acting. There is no argument that Fraser's star has dwindled a bit since the beginning of the 2000's (by the way, what do we call last decade or this decade for that manner) so maybe he has to take what is given to him. Recently that's been softer scripts meant for family viewing but he is really not a correct fit in this role. He interacts well with the kids but he doesn't expresses grief or suffering well. When the film shifts themes midway through he does a much better job.

Rumor has it that right before every single take in the movie Ford was given a slight ball tap which explains why he seemed annoyed and angry during most of the movie. The character is given a softer side at some point showing that he is doing this for the right reasons but it all seems forced. For his efforts Harrison Ford got an EP credit for the film and for the first time since Return of the Jedi his name was not at the top of the credits.

Maybe its the writing. The story is there and we know the actors can be better. Keri Russel has certainly played characters in the past with a lot of emotional baggage that are forced to put on a brave face (read: Felicity) and certainly the two leads can be better. The writing buries itself in legal battles and shows the business behind the curing of disease instead of seeing parents on the edge. All the characters seem to be one dimensional and the interactions with others are the same throughout. The dialogues aren't poignant they're formulaic.

Maybe it's the music selection. They spent most of the time focusing on the choices of what Ford needed to listen to while he was pissing people off. And if you didn't buy this Lifetime movie of the week feel they include Clapton's "Change the World." While I like Clapton, could they pick a more cliche song? The more emotional points in the movie could have hit harder had the soundtrack of the movie played a little stronger. The best soundtracks seem to be the ones you don't know happened but can't get out of your head. With this movie it was noticeable that the soundtrack was lacking and after the movie I was still humming the soundtrack to "Next to Normal."

Even the editing was off. The cuts in the movie were jarring, and when the cut is noticeable you know something is wrong. While none of the words are cut off, it seems like they make their shot changes by cutting off the last exhale of the words which is usually done in newscasts when the rest of the shot is unusable.

But the blame needs to be put on the director Tom Vaughan. He was asked to pull it all together and instead came out with a movie where everything seemed a little off. The movie had all the potential to be something decent, but when it came down to crunch time the effort all around seemed kind of phoned in. D-/F+