Oscar Ramblings 2013 Edition

LETS GET TO IT. 

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Let me explain. I'm starting with this for TWO reasons.

1. I'm a Tolkien fan and this is more or less a lock for The Hobbit(2012).

2 The only real contender for this category is missing. Licoln(2012) There is some awesome facial hair going on, that would make Dwarves proud.

Nominees:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

(See previous notes) And its maybe just a numbers game. 13 Dwarves gusy! What other achievement is there this year?

Hitchcock

This has to be the welcome news to the make up crew, not so much to Anthony Hopkins. 

Les Misérables

Oh yeah, Why isn't Anna Karenina in this category? But this is a deserved nomination. It might win because the play will be so beloved.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Brave
Pixar has a good track record. But this has not been as resonant as the previous films. I still loved it.

Frankenweenie
This is Tim Burton coming back in to my heart by making an stop-motion-animated monster movie in Black-and-White.

ParaNorman
A breath of fresh-air. Something you would never say about a zombie. Stop motion again.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits
My pick to win. Did you notice that there are 3 stop-motion-animated-features nominated this year. And this was the most fun to watch.

Wreck-It Ralph
I fell in love with the movie from start to end. This is my runner up, a very close runner-up.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams
I had the biggest crush on Amy Adams. But after watching this movie. Whoah. She scares me now.
I'm going to need to see Man of Steel soon!

Sally Field
Amazing performance as always. She and Martine Sheen almost saved The Amazing Spider-Man. And in this movie she shines. A total equal to the man.

Anne Hathaway
I may just be biased with this one. She is MY PICK to win it.

Helen Hunt
The dairing to play this role may have been the reason this movie is in the oscars at all. But she really is more of a lead in most of her scenes. Which leads to a possibility of her winning and upsetting any of your oscar pools.

Jacki Weaver
Love this lady, looking forward to anything she does. This there was a great cast for Silver Linings Playbook.   But for most of the time she gets shoved to the side and your quite happy when she pops up again in scenes.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Wow. This category is just fille with fresh faces.
But seriously this is a tough call, not only are they all past winners as Leading Roles but they are really great actors with years of experience than anyone would be envious of.


Alan Arkin
Mr Arkin (see previous paragraph about Jacki Weaver)

Robert De Niro
So good to see Mr. De Niro at the party again. He has been doing good work and now finally hes going to back the big show. Not that he's never invited. It's just not the oscars without Bobby!

Philip Seymour Hoffman
Past winner, should have won for any past nominations. May be the winner for The Master.

Tommy Lee Jones
This is one of the performances in the movie that clearly stands-out in the movie that isn't Sally Field or Daniel Day Lewis.

Christoph Waltz
Christoph Waltz should star in his own Tarantino Movie. And int the first 2/3rds of this movie he did. Seriously it should have been split into two movies like Kill Bill.


BEST LEADING ACTRESS


Jessica Chastain
Is she the lead? I think the story is the lead. But I guess watching I got the feeling that I was her just hell-bent on this one goal.

Jennifer Lawrence
Man oh man. I love Jennifer Lawrence. And when she's dark Jennifer Lawrence, wait, whats more than "love"? She would have had this in the bag if it were not for...

Emmanuelle Riva
Just saw Amour tonight. Showing the deterioration of a person. Great performance, but I'm never watching this movie again.

Quvenzhané Wallis
What a revelation she is I look forward to seeing her future work.

Naomi Watts
Great performance, in such a harrowing movie. Her scenes compelling but I think this spot should switch with Helen Hunt. But then we'd be sure that she'd never really win.


BEST LEADING ACTOR


Bradley Cooper
Oh Bradley, man I so want you to win. But it weren't for "The DDL" you may have it. Who knows it might be like Tom Hanks winning for Philadelphia. Total surprise.

Daniel Day-Lewis
Might actually be the greates living actor of his generation. And might actually pick up his 3rd Best Actor oscar tonight.

Hugh Jackman
Amazing actor, can play a multitude of roles easily. Superhero, singer, performer. He may be the only actor that could challenge Daniel Day-Lewis. There is nothing you cannot do. And former host of the oscars, so you might stand a chance. Thats how it works right?

Joaquin Phoenix
This turn as a disturbed persone might not have been a stretch for Juaquin. Who knows these days.

Denzel Washington
is Flight. The crash and his performance in that crash was worth the price of admission.


BEST DIRECTING


Amour
Michael Haneke
For taking those two actors to deliver the subject of the movie. Well deserved nomination sir.

Beasts of the Southern Wild
Benh Zeitlin
I look forward to seeing him again in this category. Seriously.

Life of Pi
Ang Lee
I've read the book long before any news of a movie. People said this movie was unfilmable. Just give him the oscar now.

Lincoln
Steven Spielberg
He already has two. We know he's good. He made a movie about people in a room talking. He made that great. Making a movie that lives on forever may be enough of an accomplishment.

Silver Linings Playbook
David O. Russell 
Much like Mr. Haneke he took great actors and delivered a great movie. But it would be a surprise if he took home the oscar tonight.

BEST PICTURE


Amour
It's nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, Original Screenplay, and Director. If it wins one of those. It's not going to get best picture. Its is a good movie, but best picture?

Argo
Now this is a movie about Hollywood essentially. Big chance this might win since its been getting top prize at most of the other award shows.

Beasts of the Southern Wild
The little movie that could. Never had a smaller movie bag the biggest prize.

Django Unchained
The second in a series of revenge flicks from Tarantino gets a nomination. As it should. But I still like Basterds better.

Les Misérables
This should be here because the finally made a popular  opera into a popular movie.

Life of Pi
I really hope this wins. A double win for Ang Lee!
That would be GREEEEEEEEEEEEEAAT!

Lincoln
Everything about this movie is right event the timing. But I still wish Life of Pi would win.

Silver Linings Playbook
Certainly a movie that will be on repeat on my player when I get the Blu-Ray! You don't really need this award.

Zero Dark Thirty
I'd pick Lincoln before this, for importance to the american history.

UPDATE:
I have never been so happy to be so wrong.

I fell too when I heard Jennifer Lawrence won! #Oscars twitter.com/GLsolo/status/…

— Solo Galura (@GLsolo) February 25, 2013

Catwoman just beat out Lois Lane and Aunt May for an #Oscar.

— The Mary Sue (@TheMarySue) February 25, 2013

Oscar Ramblings 2012: Best Animated Feature

The Biggest Awards for Cinematic Arts is showing on February 26 est/pst and I thought I'd shout out my ideas about it on to the internet. 

Best Animated Feature is always an interesting mix for the Oscars. It usually puts together the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed pieces with the more obscure -mostly not American, not Pixar- productions. It has  among the past winners is Hayao Miyazaki for Spirited Away.

This years nominees are:
Rango

Upon hearing the details of the production I was interested to at least give this movie the benifit of the doubt. Johnny Depp teaming up with another director that was not his usual collaborator to work on an animated movie. I enjoyed this film upon viewing. It is nowhere near what most people are used to expect from animated feature. Visually, it stands apart from all the animated films. The choice for the lead himself is designed to go against the grain of the cuddly colourful cartoon character. It took the realism and highlighted the grim and soot.  And it has an amazing action sequence choreographed that left me glue to the action and would have had me applauding in the cinema if  I did not think that was weird.  It is darker in look, tone, humour, I am happy that this got a nomination.

Puss in Boots

Now this movie I like though it did slow down a lot in between the movie. It took the everything the lead character had in the Shrek movie and surrounded him with other characters to interact with. While the idea I agree with the execution, not so much. I would have love to see more of Puss doing more in the movie because most of the side characters did not interest me at all. I am quite surprised that this got a nomination. 

Kung Fu Panda 2

People loved the first but seamed mixed on this instalment. I had the opposite reaction. I loved the visuals of this movie. I thought I could have done without the 3D honestly because some of it was lost on me. I probably didn't notice it or it wasn't that good to begin with. The artwork immediately hooked me. The character design and the colours the were used to ton full effect, to give mood to this movie is amazing. The design of the main villain Shen is beautiful and brought to life with the animation and Gary Oldman's voice work. The patterns of his colours and the way he moves shows great care in execution especially in the fight scenes. I just wish there was more of it.  

Chico and Rita

It is amazing what music does to a person, it had me loving this movie from beginning to end. The music actually is only a back drop to the story of the two title characters, a story we have heard many times before. The story its self is very grown-up for what most are used to in animation. It is sexual, violent and real. The animation moves to the music with organic camera movements and a very realistic movement for animation. I hope more poeple would see movies like this to show them animation is a medium not a genre only for children. 

A Cat in Paris

The last and by no means the least. Far from it, this is my pick to win the Award. The art is again something that most would not be easy to warm to. It has a hard edge, which most would compare to expressionist art. It's a film inhabited by humans but starring a Cat. The characters though drawn two dimensional are well rounded, except maybe for the antagonist who seems to have only one setting. The story never goes where you would expect, and then throw in a sequence in the dark. The movie is equal parts fun, suspenseful, funny and heart warming. I do hope this is a win, if not I have already been treated to a fun movie and will certainly  be watching this again.

All the other catigories in this years Oscars cab be seen here.

Oscar Talk/Ramblings

Its february again an the Nominees for this years Oscars are in. Some of these films ive seen, most i've not, many im pretty sure ill only get to see after the Oscars most probably on DVD, and not my prefered theaters.

My problems aside the list this year, is quite a unique. in that is is a collection of the usuall suspects, on-again-off-again nominees and a few sprinkling of "newcomers"

one of my favorites this year has to be the category for Best Perfomance by an Actress in a Leading Role. Mighty among them is the great Meryl Streep. Again breaking the record for most nominations, with 16, in a role that is as fun to watch as it was probably for her to play. As Meryl's performance is amazing, the supporting cast was no throw away. Which sad since none of the other actors/actresses got nods from the Academy. Even the writing of this fun little feel good movie must have been on the voting bodies radar. But sadly no, thankfully Meryl's nomination is rightly there.

Most of these other films i have not seen yet, but i was to base it on popualrity, Sadra Bullock, in The Blind side seams a shoe in to take best Actress.Helen Mirren is in the running for her role as Tolstoy's wife in The last station. Helen recently won the Leading Actress Oscar for her portrayl of Queen Elizabeth, a few years back, is like Meryl an is established name in the History of cinema. Even though she might be a long shot at winning this year, she has had an illustrious career that would stand the test of time. So dont cry for her when she doesnt win. And i wouldnt bet on her either if you have an oscar pool at the office or with friends. Gabourey Sidibe in Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Saphire would be to most synics "Oscar-bate", it certainly looked that way, a young female in a minority, abused, overweight, and single mom, living in public housing, to some thats worthy of award, to most thats life. Bringing to life those qualities in the faculties of a relatively young actress -based on what ive seen in previous- certainly is worthy of all the merits she has been bestowed on her.

Carey Mulligan and An Education, are two things i had never heared of, until the BAFTAS. But i look forward to seeing it soon.

Moving on to Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, it seems a winner is a harder one to pin down. Firstly "Up in the Air" nabbs two nominations with Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. Now this is a hard one, both of these roles were actually more interesting to me atleast in the movie, but having them both vying for the same award is a a bit of a problem. Yes you might say that they probably might win because they have double the power, but in most cases they would most probably cancel each other out. Love seen these two nominated for the first time, especially Anna Kendrick, why in only a few years after Rocket Science and more recently Twilight and New Moon, has landed a nomination for a role that was writen specifically for her. I cant wait to see waht she does next, and i cant wait to get a copy of the lastes issue of Vanity Fair. Last years winner Penelope Cruz is back in Nine, a musical filled with todays best collection of thespians. Why is she the only one nominated? I dont know, my guesse is as good as yours, i havent even seen this movie yet. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays inspertion in Crazy Heart, yet another movie ive not seen. No worries there i actually like American Country Music so ive been scouring for a copy of this movie for a while. Mo'Nique in Precious may be the best bet to win in this year.

She took the Golden Globe this year, so shes got the prerequisite award, now lets see if the academy agrees.

Now lets veer away from acting now to acutal features, specifically animated features. the formation of the Best Animated Feature Film of the Year award to me is the academy saying that they would never think of placing another Cartoon in the Best Picture category. But this year they did place UP directed by Pete Docter in the running for Best Picture, so im eating my words now. But honestly I feel that Wall*E was a superior film. UP pretty much had it in the bag were it not for other equally if not better movies in the running. Coraline directed by Henry Selick. Adapeted from the book by the same title, written by Neil Gaiman, the movie can be seen as one of the most literal translations of a book to a film. With all of the charactes coming to life, in what looks like a Burton-esq world. It would have been great to see it here in the theaters in the Philippines, probably there are no fans of Neil Gaiman working in the theaters, which seams ludicris since Neil Gaiman since Neil has a large readership in the country, and he has already traveled here twice. Realy? Nobody was able to connect the dots for that? Fantastic Mr. Fox is the brought to us by Wes Anderson, in slightly gittery stopmotion. But this retelling of a Dahl classic has the mark of Anderson all over it, and the final product is exquisit. Yes the animation appeals to kids, but the story and the protagonist may have something for adults aswel. Lets not forget in the first few years, shrek won over Monsters Inc. because of the mixing elements for kids and adults. Now on to Disynes second nomination this year, and Disneys return to hand drawn animation, The Pricess and the Frog, still have not seen it, though its playing in cinemas right now, but something about it just doesent seem to catch me as much as teh previously mentioned front runners. The Secret of Kells seems like a gem, this i have to watch this story in nature soon aswell. over all its a great mix of traditional hand drawn, digital media, and stop motion.

Acting, but now on the fellows. There is anything but a sure thing in the nominees this year. George Clooney in "Up in the Air" is this years most promessing newcomer. Just kidding. This has to be probably George Clooneys most beloved role. For me its still Batman. Not kidding. Even in the trailer you knew there was something special to this. This might be his year, and he didnt even have to put weight on. If he does win that would be another great opening line from him when he accepts the award. The person most possible to take home the little golden man this year Jeremy Renner. Not the most dialouge compared to the other nominees but still a very strong preformance, a character that only unfolds near the end of this not so common, low budget war movie. First time film maker Tom Ford gave the lead in A Single man to Colin Firth. Good move, finally giving us a Colin Firth performance with a lot of meat. And if youve seen the pool scene in the movie, you know what meat im talking about. But in all seriousness the Colin Firth playing a man coping is a must see. Jeff Bridges says that the story for Crazy Heart started years ago when he did a jam session with top Country music star friends. So i dont know if this role is just Jeff living out the dream. MOrgan Freeman now takes the role he was born to play. In actuallity, Nelson Mandela chose Morgan to play him. The voice is spot on, the accent undoubtibly Mandela, but we will see if Morgan Freemans transormation is enough to give him his LEADING Actor Award.

I could probably see a sure thing in the categy for best Actor Supporting Role. Ill start with two that i have no idea to tackle. The Messenger is another feather in the cap for Woody Harrelson. Seening him recently in Zombieland, and him getting an oscar nomination a month later is great news. If you would see this mans CV, you would see one of the most divers list of projects under one name. Matt Damon plays South African Rugby, bleaches his hair and speaks in a very cool South African Accent. Learning Rugby to play a role in no small feat. And like his costar. Plays a real person. So anyone can actually gauge his performance to the real South african Captain. Lovely Bones' Stanley Tucci plays, Mr. Creepy pedophile neighboor, and plays him well. Thankfully he isnt actually any of those so the cast must have been very at ease working with Stanley. I can see why, this was chosen over Paul Child in Julie and Julia. But i still can argue -in cooking terms- that: the few dabbes of stanleys performance in Julie and Julia was a great accent to the flavor of the movie. Stanly for me has the best chance of taking the Oscar from the two Chris'. Lets begin with Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Bastards. I have to agree with Adam Carolla's ass kissing on this one. Every second he is on screan, you are totally transfixed on his pressence. From the very fist scene in the farm house to the last scene in the forest, your gave is locked on him and what he may do. He plays the calm vicious 'Jew Hunter'. He speaks 3 languages in the opening scene alone. And with equal depth of his partner in the scene, they diliver great performances filling you with enough tension that you feel week right after the scene is over. He was menacing, withing only saying very little and you knew if he was looking for you, he would find you, like the Terminator or Anton Chigur in No Country for Old Men, which gave Javier Bardem the Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role. And last but not the least Christopher Plummer, after having seen him recenty play Parnassus, it was a revelation to see Christopher Playing Tosltoy. Classing him as a supporting role category seems wrong to me. The Last Station, i may not have seen yet but, i understand that this movie is more of a duet, Hellen and Christopher make this movie. But i guess that gives Christopher the edge over the other nominees.

Well thats my two cents. whats yours?