Nothing out this week for me to go ga-ga over, but there are still several discs worthy of your attention. Chief of which is a Spielberg flick that manages to feel old school Raiders despite it's use of state-of-the-art technology. And yeah, let's not forget about the latest Paul W.S. Anderson new-classic, The Three Musketeers.
Buy!
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: Released just a couple weeks before Spielberg's maudlin War Horse, this mo-cap adventure film brought back a sense of adventure that I haven't felt since the early days of The Beard's career. Films like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And, yeah, the animation is stunning. The Pirate Ship Battle, was there anything close to being that cool in those Johnny Depp Pirates movies? I like those flicks, but the answer is no. I didn't know what to expect from this film going into the theater, but what I got was a Real Action Movie with Real Threat and Real Excitement that still managed to be perfectly suitable for the younger members of the crowd.
THE DESCENDANTS: This film definitely has its haters, but I'm most certainly not one of them. George Clooney gives one of his finest performances as the grieving husband struggling to understand his relationship with his coma wife and run amuck daughters. Manipulative as all hell, but in a good way. I left the film a puddle and liked it.
YOUNG ADULT: Damn funny and Damn sad. Young Adult is ten times better than Juno, the last film to team up director Jason Reitman with writer Diablo Cody. Charlize Theron is a monster (pun intended) as the YA author trying to score with her family man ex. And Patton Osswalt is her perfect foil as the crippled nerd of yore. Their final bit of intimacy is one of the saddest moments caught on film last year. And I laughed my butt off during the whole miserable experience.
Rent!
THE THREE MUSKETEERS: Glutton for punishment? You know it. But I really enjoyed the last Resident Evil film and I'm in the mood for another crappy take on the classic Three Musketeers. And c'mon, Christoph Waltz and Mads Mikkelsen as the two big bads. I gotta check that out.
WIZARDS (BLU): I haven't seen this film since High School when I was devouring Ralph Bakshi flicks like Fritz the Cat and Heavy Traffic. They were never as good as I wanted them to be, but they were also just good enough. Released the same year as Star Wars, Wizards is a post-apocalyptic horror mining plenty of Tolkien, hippie-dippie, and WWII imagery and I'm sure it will look pretty in blu.
COONSKIN: Now here's a Baskshi cartoon I've never seen. I wonder why? Bakshi turns his aggressively politically incorrect eye towards the Blaxploitation genre and I'm sure it's about as subtle as the crows in Fritz the Cat. Still, gotta check it out.
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN: I need another Marilyn Monroe film in my life about as much as I need a new Three Musketeers flick. That being said, people seem to be really enamored with Michelle Williams' performance even if they're not crazy about the actual film. I'll throw this on my Netflix queue, but it's not gonna be near the top. I'm guessing this will be okay at best.
BAG OF BONES: Having just recently watched Seraphim Falls and a batch of Matador clips, I'm kinda enamored with Pierce Brosnan right now. But Bag of Bones is not one of my favorite King novels. It's okay at best. But I've enjoyed every one of Mick Garris' Kingly adaptations (yes, even his Shining) and I'm sure I'll find something to like here.
Avoid!
MELANCHOLIA: I really hated this movie. It's pretty looking and all that, but I found Kirsten Dunst unlikable to the point of detrimental. I have no idea how she got to her wedding day in the first place, what was Skarsgard's groom thinking!?!?!
Okay, I probably found this more funny than I should have but there ya go. Cope and Dalton point their special blend of creepy at this year's 84th Academy Awards and they're depiction of Sad George Clooney had me full on belly laughing. Matt was near by and he just looked at me like I was crazy. And then Ryan Gosling has his final word and I lost my mind.
Am I seriously still posting new Drive art?!?!? Why, yes I am! The BAFTAs are this Sunday and they've hired Eda Akaltun & StudioSmall to design their brochure covers based on their Best Picture nominees. The Drive one is obviously my favorite, but that Artist image is also quite cool. Thanks to Slash Film for the heads up.
The Nominations for the 84th Academy Awards came in early this morning and they are pretty much what everyone expected with a few exceptions here and there. I am very happy to see Hugo get so much love with 11 Nominations, but the buzz right now is that The Artist is the film to beat. Both films are excellent and they both sorta feed into the same sorta Nostalgia porn that's so popular of late.
Okay, so if Harry Knowles can blather on about this stuff, so can I.
BEST PICTURE:
THE ARTIST
THE DESCENDANTS
THE HELP
HUGO
EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
WAR HORSE
THE TREE OF LIFE
MONEYBALL
As stated earlier, The Artist appears to be the film to beat. Don't listen to all the backlash rolling around out there in Internetland, it's an amazingly emotional film that deserves all the technical and emotional love that's flowing it's way. I'm still baffled by all the Moneyball love. It was a decent film, and I definitely had a good time while I was watching it, but it was an experience that left me the moment I walked out of the theater. The Descendants was excellent, and I could see this upsetting both The Artist & Hugo (since those films could easily split The Academy). Midnight in Paris is my third favorite film on this list, and it also speaks to the same kind of feelings as The Artist & Hugo except it tells us to let go of our geek love and live a real life. War Horse was okay. Typical Spielberg emotional manipulation with some stunning visuals. The Tree of Life is the bonkers film on the list and the critical darling. It was definitely a cinematic adventure and I totally respect that. Haven't seen The Help, guess I'll have to rent it before Febuary 26th. And Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is the real shock here. From all accounts it's a terrible movie, but now I'm going to have to check it out.
Prediction: THE ARTIST
Desire: HUGO
BEST DIRECTOR:
Michel Hazanavicius, THE ARTIST
Alexander Payne, THE DESCENDANTS
Martin Scorsese, HUGO
Woody Allen, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Terrence Malick, THE TREE OF LIFE
This is a bit of a tough call. I think Scorsese will take the prize over Hazanavicius cuz that's really the way I want it to play out. This just feels like one of those year's where The Academy splits the love between Picture & Director. Again Payne could steal the votes from a split Academy but I think that's less likly in the Director category. But I would totally be happy if Malick walked away (or at least one of his representatives since there's no way he's showing up for the party) with the gold.
Prediction: MARTIN SCORSESE
Desire: MARTIN SCORSESE
BEST ACTOR:
Demian Bichir, A BETTER LIFE
George Clooney, THE DESCENDANTS
Jean Dujardin, THE ARTIST
Gary Oldman, TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
Brad Pitt, MONEYBALL
Man, who would have thought in the mid 90s when George Clooney was starring in From Dusk Till Dawn and Brad Pitt was chasing serial killers in Seven that the two pretty boys would be duking it out in the same Best Actor category in 2011? I DID! The 90s is where I discovered the badassery of Clooney/Pitt and I'm so glad that the Academy has joined in the world's celebration of their ridiculous People Magazine domination. I definitely want Clooney to have this for The Descendants. Yes, it was my single favorite performance of last year and Clooney deserves the cred for choosing odd, small roles in an arena where he could be cranking out Batman & Robins over and over (well, maybe not Batman & Robins but definitely some generic Peacekeepers). Again, Pitt was decent in Moneyball but that film was just blah for me. Gary Oldman is my personal runner-up for this category cuz no one does chameleon work quite like that man. Jean Dujardin was joyous in The Artist and spawned Matt to grow a pencil thin mustache for a week so that's gotta count for something. And I haven't seen A Better Life so I've got nothing to say on Demian Bichir.
Prediction: GEORGE CLOONEY
Desire: GEORGE CLOONEY
BEST ACTRESS:
Glenn Close, ALBERT NOBBS
Viola Davis, THE HELP
Meryl Streep, THE IRON LADY
Rooney Mara, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Michelle Williams, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
Well, this is a tough category for me cuz I've only seen one film on the list: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. And I thought that was only o-kay. Mara was violently strong in her depiction of Salander but I just can't get too enthused about this movie. She wins my Desire by default. And I don't really have confidence in my prediction here. Part of me wants to say Streep gets it for The Iron Lady cuz she got the Globe and all, but word has it that The Iron Lady is a flat film. I think I'm going to go with Viola Davis cuz the world seems to be completely in love with The Help these days. Really do need to see what all the fuss is about.
Prediction: VIOLA DAVIS
Desire: ROONEY MARA
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Kenneth Branagh, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
Jonah Hill, MONEYBALL
Nick Nolte, WARRIOR
Cristopher Plummer, BEGINNERS
Max von Sydow, EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE
Oh My God! What is Jonah Hill doing on this list!?!?!? Seriously people! Moneyball was only OKAY! But there you have it, good for you kid, but I seriously doubt we'll see you here next year for 21 Jump Street. This award is owned by Christopher Plummer. He was amazing in Beginners and he's amazing in everything else. Nick Nolte was solid in Warrior but that movie was more blase than Moneyball. And again, very strange seeing Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close getting love but you have to dig Max von Sydow. Haven't seen My Week With Marilyn but good show for Branagh. The real crime here is that Albert Brooks got nothing for his scary ass turn in Drive.
Prediction: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER
Desire: CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Berenice Bejo, THE ARTIST
Jessica Chastain, THE HELP
Melissa McCarthy, BRIDESMAIDS
Janet McTeer, ALBERT NOBBS
Octavia Spencer, THE HELP
Here's another category that I have no clue about. I've only seen The Artist, and I thought Bejo was absolutely charming in the film. Was I knocked outta my seat by her performance? No. I'm guessing the award is going to Spencer based on the Globe win. But McCarthy could surprise everyone and take it for Bridesmaids, another film I have absolutely no desire to see but critics & fans seem to think it's the bee's knees. Personally, I'm just sick and tired of gross out humor whatever the gender.
Prediction: OCTAVIA SPENCER
Desire: BERENICE JEJO
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, THE DESCENDANTS
John Logan, HUGO
George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, THE IDES OF MARCH
Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (story by Stan Chervin) MONEYBALL
Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan, TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY
I've never been good with my screenplay predictions, but I'm betting on The Descendants. HUGO could get the Best Picture prize and will most likely snag Best Director, but I don't think Logan has a chance here. But having read the children's book he should totally get it cuz he brought a lot of much-needed character to that film. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy though was an absolutely amazing film and deserves to be on the Best Picture list (especially if Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and Moneyball snuck their way in, so I want O'Connor & Straughan to walk away happy.
Prediction: THE DESCENDANTS
Desire: TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Michel Hazanavicius, THE ARTIST
Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo, BRIDESMAIDS
J.C. Chandor, MARGIN CALL
Woody Allen, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Asghar Farhadi, A SEPARATION
Another tough call. Could Bridesmaids take it? Don't think so. Again, populace choice. The Artist seems to all be about directions, style, and performance. Margin Call is your Glengary Glen Ross wannabe. And I haven't seen A Separation and I don't think a lot of others have yet either, so good luck. No, I think Woody Allen takes it for Midnight in Paris and I am shocked to say that I think that's the right choice. Midnight in Paris is a charming film, and a great geek film! And a film that I should probably pay close attention to, but really don't want to walk away with the message...
Prediction: MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
Desire: MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
A CAT IN PARIS
CHICO AND RITA
KUNG FU PANDA 2
PUSS IN BOOTS
RANGO
I guess the surprise here is that The Adventures of TinTin didn't find it's way onto the list, but I have a feeling that's because The Academy doesn't know what to make of Motion Capture quite yet. Hence, Andy Serkis not winding up on the Best Supporting Actor list for Rise of the Planet of the Apes. But I think they can get behind what Gore Verbinski tried to do with E-Motion Capture and Rango. That's my prediction and my desire. In fact, if I made up these lists Rango would be on the Best Picture list as well. It's a stunning film, with even more amazing visuals. ILM's first animated film will be a tough one to beat. Puss in Boots was fun though, much more so than those god awful Shrek pictures. And Kung Fu Panda 2 was as well. But I don't remember a single thing about it. As goes for A Cat In Paris & Chico and Rita...but that's because I've never even heard of those films.
Prediction: RANGO
Desire: RANGO
Okay, that's all the energy I have for the day. Don't know how Knowles gets through all these awards every year. Fingers crossed that I'm somewhat accurate with my predictions, but who really knows. Not me. Check back here on 2/26/12 I'm gonna try and do a live-broadcast kinda thing. We'll see.
I'm a big fan of Alexander Payne's Sideways and About Schmidt. I think they just contain two of the most fantastic character performances from Paul Giamatti and Jack Nicholson. And I think George Clooney and Payne are the perfect pair and I just love this mopey dad on display. Plus, Robert Forster clockin' a punk. I'm there.
Second:
And now for something completely different. I love dumb, violent, exploitative movies. Even the modern brand a la Piranha 3D and Snakes on a Plane. And speaking of the delightful idiocy of Snakes on a Plane, Shark Night 3D is directed by SoaP's David Ellis, who also brought us the fun of Final Destination 2 and Cellular. Can't wait.
