I'm back!

So after a near fourth month hiatus I'm back, and with a new name to boot! I stopped writing for so long due to the fact that schedule was simply not allowing me to do so, thus, with some inspiration from Stephen Sondheim, I will aim to blog at the very least every Sunday.

Anyhow, seen a few good movies recently: of most note Public Enemies which was absolutely phenomenal. Color me astounded! It was only two posts ago that I was attempting to have a "That's So Raven" moment and see in to the critical future of Michael Mann's film. My thoughts? Just stunning. I loved nearly everything about it--Depp, Mann's direction, the cinematography, the costumes, Cotillard, Bale. The "nearly," however, comes in the form of the at times heinously intrusive score. Sorry Elliot Goldenthal, but this was just a straight failure. Like, there would be this heartbreaking scene that could've used say, a little decorative piano, and we instead get the theme from Gone with the Wind. Dreadful. But other than that, I highly recommend it.

Also saw My Sister's Keeper. It, shocker here, made me bawl my eyes out until I needed a new shirt mine was so covered in tears. I mean, it wasn't the greatest thing since sliced bread or anything like that, but it certainly did what it set out to do, which is make its audience dissolve into a mass puddle of emotions. Bravo, Nick Cassavetes! Oh and by the way color me shocked that MVP Sofia Vassilieva would go from playing Eloise with Julie Andrews in a few DTV movies for Disney to giving an award-worty performance in this that left not a dry visage in the house. See it if you want to have a part of your soul die for two some hours.

See you next Sunday!

New Pic of Jake in 'Prince of Persia'

LMAO so I now I know what my girls and I will be doing on May 28, 2010.

Official 'Public Enemies' poster

Love the "Academy Award Winner" before Marion Cotillard's name. I'm not quite sure if this is going to be the next 'Departed', 'American Gangster' or one of those films that seemed like it could but never did. Who knows? At least Johnny is looking hot as usual.

Oscars recap

What I Loved:

Sean Penn wins!
--I knew it all along. When so many people were jumping on the Mickey train, I stayed with Sean. I was a mess when he took it home: I screamed and through the pillow I was covering my face with across the room and started crying. My fellow party goers were making fun of me, but I didn't care. A hot mess, mind you, but a mess none the less.

Dustin Lance Black's speech
--Best of the night, absolutely. He was so genuine and adorable and wonderful, and of course he made me cry.

Kate Winslet and her dad
--I loved Kate already and it was great to see her win, but her dad was absolutely adorable with that little whistle he gave and his little hat he was wearing. Love him.

The acting presentations
--Such a great concept that really panned out well. I mean that's not to say that I didn't miss the clips, but the speeches that the past winners gave to the nominees were really great. Kudos to Whoopi for being especially hilarious.

Judd Apatow's comedy montage
--Hysterical. The best montage of the night, by far, if only for the 'Doubt' comments.

Queen Latifah!
--Her version of "I'll Be Seeing You" brought yet another tear to my eye. An absolutely beautiful way to accompany the In Memorium segment.

Hugh
--He was underused, but definitely gets an A for effort. And he looked especially gorgeous, so that's always a plus.

The stage
--Great set-up this year. I really loved the intimacy of the stars being literally right in front of the stage.


What I Hated:

The inevitable 'Slumdog' sweep
--I don't think I've ever rooted for a 'Crash'-redux so fervently, ever. Any year since then. But hey, good for them, they (Danny Boyle) certainly were enthusiastic. Even though they didn't deserve really any of those awards other than for Best Original Song. Whatever. I'm over it.

Overall I thought it was a really great show, certainly one of the best I've seen this decade. It flew by like nothing! Great job, Bill Condon. You actually pulled it off.

The 81st Annual Academy Award Winners

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor: Sean Penn - Milk
Best Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Original Screenplay: Milk
Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire


Best Animated Feature: WALL-E
Best Animated Short: La Maison en Petites Cubes
Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Costume Design: The Duchess
Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Animated Short: Spielzeugland (Toyland)
Best Documentary Feature: Man on Wire
Best Documentary Short: Smile Pinki
Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight
Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Song: "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire

Last Minutes Oscar Predictions

Well here we are. It's just about 3 PM here, five or some hours away from the 81st Annual Academy Awards. I'm praying that there was a sudden 'Slumdog' backlash. And that Sean takes it home. So since I have to go get ready for my Oscar party, I'm gonna leave you with these, my last minute predictions. Have fun tonight, kiddies!

Best Picture: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (alt: Milk)

Best Director: DANNY BOYLE - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (alt: Gus Van Sant - Milk)

Best Actor: SEAN PENN - MILK (alt: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler)

Best Actress: KATE WINSLET - THE READER (alt: Meryl Streep - Doubt)

Best Supporting Actor: HEATH LEDGER - THE DARK KNIGHT (alt: Josh Brolin - Milk)

Best Supporting Actress: PENELOPE CRUZ - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (alt: Viola Davis - Doubt)

Best Original Screenplay: MILK (alt: WALL-E)

Best Adapted Screenplay: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (alt: The Reader)

Best Foreign Language Film: THE CLASS (alt: Waltz with Bashir)

Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E (alt: Kung Fu Panda)

Best Documentary Feature: MAN ON WIRE (alt: Encounters at the End of the World)

Best Original Score: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (alt: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Best Original Song: "DOWN TO EARTH" - WALL-E (alt: "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Art Direction: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (alt: The Dark Knight)

Best Costume Design: THE DUCHESS (alt: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Best Make Up: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (alt: The Dark Knight)

Best Cinematography: THE DARK KNIGHT (alt: Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Film Editing: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (alt: The Dark Knight)

Best Sound Mixing: THE DARK KNIGHT (alt: Slumdog Millionaire)

Best Sound Editing: WALL-E (alt: The Dark Knight)

Best Visual Effects: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (alt: The Dark Knight)

Best Documentary Short: THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306 (alt: Smile Pinki)

Best Short Film (Animated): LA MAISON EN PETITES CUBES (alt: Presto)

Best Short Film (Live Action): SPIELZEUGLAND (alt: The Pig)

A few words on ... 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'

So on my first night out in a little bit less than a week, I saw 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. It has been panned by most critics, and could be considered "mindless fizz". Well if this is mindless fizz then it's of the best possible caliber. The Dom Pérignon of mindless fizz, 'Shopaholic', was just what I was looking for after my seemingly never-ending bought of illness. Isla Fisher was charmingly hysterical, Hugh Dancy was adorable, and the jokes and clothes flew by like nothing. It was some of the most fun I've had at the movies recently, regardless of the fact that the plotline was a little bit of the improbable side.

Okay, a lot on the improbable side. Whatever. Go see it: it's a blast.

An incubus of viral plague

So since around I'll say Saturday I've become, as Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestley so lovingly names her first assistant Emily (Emily Blunt) in 'The Devil Wears Prada', "an incubus of viral plague". Anyways yeah I more or less died on Saturday at a friends house and because of that have done absolutely no blogging. Here I am! It's the Thursday before Oscar night and I'm scared out of my mind because of two reasons: 1) 'Slumdog Millionaire' has the possibility of winning nine total awards, and 2) Sean Penn has the possibility of losing Best Actor to Mickey Rourke. I'm hopeful though, because I know that the Academy has been a fan of surprises, and hey, maybe they'll throw us a bone and break the hearts of Danny Boyle and crew! How lovely that'd be.

So now I will rest up, watch some 'High School Musical 3' (thanks Mom) and whether or not I have to bring a doggy bag for my vomit, I'm seeing 'Frost/Nixon' before Sunday. See you guys then!

BAFTA Winners

BEST PICTURE: Slumdog Millionaire
BEST DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
BEST ACTRESS: Kate Winslet, The Reader
BEST ACTOR: Micky Rourke, The Wrestler
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
BRITISH FILM: Man on Wire
ANIMATED FILM: WALL•E
CARL FOREMAN AWARD: Steve McQueen, Hunger
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: I’ve Loved You So Long
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Martin McDonagh, In Bruges
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
VISUAL EFFECTS: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
MAKEUP and HAIR: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
PRODUCTION DESIGN: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
SCORE: AR Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
SOUND: Slumdog Millionaire
EDITING: Slumdog Millionaire
COSTUMES: The Duchess
RISING STAR: Noel Clarke
SHORT ANIMATION: Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death
ACADEMY FELLOWSHIP: Terry Gilliam

Sigh. I guess we're in for a BAFTA repeat come Oscar night. I'll be so upset if Rourke does indeed take Actor, as I'm sure you're all aware. And I still just DO NOT GET the 'Slumdog' sweep.

I can't wait to look back on this and laugh.

Variety asks "Is Milk Coming Up on the Outside?"

While reports of the inevitable Slumdog Millionaire backlash may be overstated--the hugely popular movie is still charging forward to some major Oscar wins on February 22--here's a new Oscar slant: Slumdog and its main rival, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, split the vote and Milk takes the best picture win.

I would die of sheer happiness. I'm not trying to get my hopes up too high or anything, but god...if we're celebrating a victory on February 22nd, that would make me one hell of a happy boy.

One hell of a happy boy.

More here.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

So I hadn't seen Jason Reitman's 'Juno' since probably December of 2007. I found it severely overrated but modestly charming at the same time. Gave it a B, and called it a day. Last night it was on HBO and I caught the first 30 minutes or so...really enjoyed it. Had a snow day today, so I woke up and watched the whole thing thanks to On Demand.

I completely loved it! How the hell does that happen? I found it one of the most annoying films of the decade and now I adore it? I don't know, I think it was probably that I didn't have an annoying tween-filled audience in back of me this time talking, screaming, and laughing at inappropriate parts. That coupled with the, lets face it, kind of overly hipster dialogue made for a horrendous movie going experience. It was like a totally new movie this go around. Oh and, naturally, I cried at the end (Jennifer Garner's final scene). If there is ever a movie with some sort of thematic elements that doesn't make me cry, I will be shocked.

Well, it appears that I've seen the light. I say that just a touch self-ashamedly.

Ebert endorses 'Milk'

So as usual, Roger Ebert as chosen a film to endorse through Oscar voting (usually with positive outcomes for that said film in the winning department), and this time it's...'Milk'! I'm so excited that he's done this, but is it too late? Is it the best timing possible? All I know is that I'll have died and gone to heaven February 22nd if Van Sant's masterpiece takes home the big one. No more blog posts for me, unless they have computers in heaven.

I especially love the karma that stems from that fact that if 'Milk' were to conquer over 'Slumdog,' then that would mean that it would be like Ebert correcting his mistake of backing 'Crash' over 'Brokeback' back in 2005. We all know what happened then... Just, please God let good conquer over evil (also known as Jamal Malik) this time!

Of the five nominees, "Milk" was far and away my personal leader in Elevation. I think it worked because Gus Van Sant's direction, Sean Penn's performance and Black's screenplay earned the right to that final shot. It didn't exploit it, it deserved it.

Amen.

A few words on ... 'The Wrestler'

This was amazing. Absolutely amazing. I was bawling my eyes out by the end, which seems to be happening a lot these days. Mickey Rourke was sensational. I can't even imagine this movie without him. That being said, I still don't think that he is better than Sean Penn in 'Milk,' but whatever--he's one of the closest seconds that I can recall. Marisa Tomei was great as well. Very sad. I mean the whole thing is just really depressing, which I have to say kind of surprised me. From the trailer I was expecting something much more saccharine, and thankfully it wasn't at all (minus the Evan Rachel Wood scene that was basically a repeat of the ending to 'Thirteen').

I loved this to pieces. Aronofsky's best film to date.

Oh dear.

I (sadly) saw 'My Bloody Valentine 3-D' instead of 'The Wrestler' today. It was, without a doubt, one of the most poorly acted, scripted...anything movies I've seen it quite some time. With that said, it was also one of the most hysterical and endlessly quotable. I'm assuming that the filmmakers didn't have that in mind, but whatever. Kerr Smith fortunately is still really cute and Jensen Ackles isn't so bad either, so at least there was eye candy for moi.

All I'm going to say is that if you want to see it, you might as well just see it now. It'll more likely than not lose some, or rather all, of its "wonder" when on the small screen. The gimmick, added to the comicality of it all, overall made it a fun time out.

SAG Winners + Reactions

Best Ensemble: Slumdog Millionaire
Best Male Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn - Milk
Best Female Actor in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep - Doubt
Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Kate Winslet - The Reader

I'm thrilled, tickled pink really that Penn won. Hopefully this will just cement his name on that Oscar statuette. The fact, though, that 'Slumdog' did indeed take Ensemble is absolutely revolting. I'm really starting to feel the backlash.

I'm really starting to feel it.

SAG Predictions

Best Ensemble: Milk
Alt: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn - Milk
Alt: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep - Doubt
Alt: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Alt: Josh Brolin - Milk

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Alt: Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I swear, if 'Slumdog Millionaire' wins Best ENSEMBLE over 'Milk,' I'll die.

Quick Reactions

WHAT I LOVED

-- Got 'Milk'
Like some, I was terrified, terrified, terrified that 'Milk,' the true best picture of the year, was going to be left out of the BP/BD categories. Fear not! Its 8 nominations were like music to my ears.

-- Heath
If they had snubbed him like they so disgustingly did the rest of 'TDK' I would have flipped. Luckily, they didn't make that mistake.

-- 'Button' sweep
13 nominations! 13! The eleventh film ever to receive 13 or more. I adored it, so I was pleased to see that it pulled through, just like I thought it would. I especially love the Pitt mention.

-- Kate showed up somewhere
I'm thrilled that Winslet was nominated, though I'm pretty shocked that it was 1.) only in leading and 2.) for 'The Reader'. At least she wasn't yet another victim of category fraud. I am, still, a little bit bitter over the fact that her marvelous performance from 'Revolutionary Road' was looked over. Oh well.

-- 'In Bruges' gets recognized
Martin McDonagh's brilliant script showed up! Fantastic choice by the Academy, even though they should have found some room for Colin Farrell.

-- The state of the Supporting Actress race
So with no Winslet to challenge her, does Cruz have it sewn up? I'm hoping it'll be more exciting than that, but who knows as of now.

-- No Dev Patel!
Look I loved 'Slummy,' and Dev was cute and all, but the most he deserved was an honorable mention.

WHAT I HATED

-- 'The Dark Knight' is...where now?
'The Reader'. Great movie. One of the best of the year, surely. Better than 'TDK'? Absolutely not. Sure, it picked up 8 nominations, Heath thankfully being one of them, but...no Nolan? No Picture? Well you win some, you lose some. However, if they give Supporting Actor to anyone other than Ledger, I will kill someone. Kill someone.


-- Sally Hawkins's snub
Unforgivable. Angelina was good and all, but I could just as easily cried and thrown plates around my house. Would I get an Oscar nomination? I mean I'd hope, but I'm betting on "no" as the correct answer. She should have been rewarded with a nom last year for her vastly superior portrayal of Marianne Pearl in 'A Mighty Heart'. Sorry Sally! You still have your Globe!

-- James Franco's snub
My personal pick for the best supporting player in a sea of fabulousness (Van Sant's ensemble), and even though I wasn't really expecting him to be nominated, it was still a disappointment.

-- Bruce Springsteen's snub
I haven't seen 'The Wrestler' yet, but "The Wrestler" by Bruce Springsteen was one of, if not the best song written for a motion picture this year. Shameless. And what the hell is so bad about 5 nominees? Why sink to 3 this year? As long as M.I.A. performs "O Saya" with A.R. Rahman, I won't be as mad. Kind of.

81st Annual Oscar Nominations

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Original Screenplay
Frozen River
Happy-G0-Lucky
In Bruges
Milk
WALL-E

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Best Cinematography
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Costume Design
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Best Original Song
"Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"O... Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire
"Down to Earth" - WALL-E

Best Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Best Animated Feature
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

Best Foreign Language Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
Waltz with Bashir

Best Documentary Feature
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

Best Documentary Short Subject
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Best Animated Short Film
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory - Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto
This Way Up

Best Live Action Short Film
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Final Oscar Nom Predictions!

With the 81st Annual Academy Award Nominations being announced tomorrow morning, I'm gonna take a stab at predicting them, finally. Here goes nothing!

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Alt 1: WALL-E
Alt 2: The Reader

Best Director
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Alt 1: Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Alt 2: Andrew Stanton - WALL-E

Best Actor
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Alt 1: Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Alt 2: Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Alt 1: Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Alt 2: Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire

Alt 1: James Franco - Milk
Alt 2: Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Alt 1: Amy Adams - Doubt
Alt 2: Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married

Best Original Screenplay
Happy-Go-Lucky
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
WALL-E

Alt 1: Frozen River
Alt 2: In Bruges

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire

Alt 1: The Reader
Alt 2: Revolutionary Road

Best Animated Feature Film
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir

Alt 1: Bolt
Alt 2: Horton Hears a Who!

Best Foreign Language Film
The Class (Germany)
Departures (Japan)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Alt 1: Tear This Heart Out (Mexico)
Alt 2: Revanche (Austria)

Best Documentary Feature
Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire
Standard Operating Procedure
Trouble the Water

Alt 1: At the Death Door House
Alt 2: Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Best Original Score
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Alt 1: Defiance
Alt 2: Revolutionary Road

Best Original Song
"I Thought I Lost You" - Bolt
"Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"O... Saya" - Slumdog Millionaire
"Down to Earth " - WALL-E
"The Wrestler" - The Wrestler

Alt 1: "Gran Torino" - Gran Torino
Alt 2: "Once in a Lifetime" - Cadillac Records

Best Art Direction
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Alt 1: The Duchess
Alt 2: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Best Costume Design
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Sex and the City

Alt 1: Revolutionary Road
Alt 2: Changeling

Best Makeup
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Alt 1: The Reader
Alt 2: Synecdoche, New York

Best Cinematography
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Alt 1: Defiance
Alt 2: Australia

Best Film Editing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

Alt 1: The Wrestler
Alt 2: Defiance

Best Sound Mixing
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Alt 1: Wanted
Alt 2: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Best Sound Editing
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Quantum of Solace
WALL-E

Alt 1: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Alt 2: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Best Visual Effects
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Alt 1: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Alt 2: Wanted

So. I finally saw it.

Saw big ol' 'Slumdog Millionaire,' like on...Tuesday? Yeah. I loved it, sadly. I'm ashamed, just a little bit, because I know a healthy 80% of you hated it. I found that the energetic sequences, in the beginning particularly, really sucked me in. When "O... Saya" was playing with those stunning visuals going on at the same time I was literally going insane. Granted, that's probably due to my M.I.A. love...anyways. I particularly loved Dev Patel. I mean he wasn't revelatory or anything, but he carried his parts well enough for at least an honorable mention, if not a nomination, in Supporting. Freida Pinto, honestly, I couldn't think of anything watching her other than that she is so unbelievably beautiful! So lovely. So yeah. I really liked it, but honestly it should not be winning BP over 'Benjamin Button,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Milk' (especially) or 'WALL-E'. It's a solid, solid, piece, in my humble opinion though. I really dug the cinematography and editing, even though that is part of the reason a lot of people don't like it. I just thought it worked with the story here. And of course the music was to die for.

But that part with the shit was almost inexcusable. Disgusting.

But then I think of the musical sequence at the end. And I love it again.

Oh and I saw 'Milk' for the second time, that same day. It's the best god damn movie of the year. Changed my mind again! Now all I need to see for the major contenders is 'The Wrestler' and 'Frost/Nixon'. Thoughts as soon as possible.

Quick thoughts on 'The Reader'

I really loved this one. Stephen Daldry seems never to be one to disappoint, and he certainly kept up with his past efforts 'Billy Elliot' and 'The Hours' here. The star of this, non-surprisingly, is Kate Winslet. Kate fucking Winslet can't seem to do wrong these days, can she? After this and 'Revolutionary Road' it doesn't seem like she can go anywhere---she's already at the top. Phenomenal, phenomenal performance from her, and she is completely deserving of that Supporting Actress Oscar that she'll be taking home February 22nd. Sorry, Penelope. So yeah, the techs were fabulous, David Hare's adaptation was great, David Kross was sensantional, Kate was mesmerizing. Definitely one of my favorites this year. It stays with you.

Golden Globe Reactions

Loved:

-- COLIN FARRELL. Thank god at least the HFPA awarded what I can now see is the most underrated performance of the year. Will Oscars follow suit with a surprise nomination? I'm praying.

-- Kate Winslet x 2. If you had told me that Kate Winslet was going to win Best Actress in both Leading and Supporting roles, I wouldn't have believed you. My money was on one win, sure, but not both. She pulled it off! With flying colors! OMFG and when she forgot Angelina? To die for.

-- Heath Ledger. I mean obviously. It wasn't a surprise or anything, but I'm still loving the fact that he's sweeping.

-- Sally Hawkins. And I thought Meryl was going to walk away with this for her passable performance in the horrendous/amazing 'Mamma Mia!'. Thankfully, I was wrong, and the right girl won! She was so adorable up there all nervous, even though it she kind of morphed into a train wreck by the end of it all. Whatever.

Hated:

-- Whatever the hell Renée Zellweger was wearing.

-- Whatever the hell Drew Barrymore was wearing.

Overall it was a really good night. Practically everyone is bitching and moaning about the 'Slumdog' sweep, but I can't really say much. I need to see that damn movie, just so I can finally voice my opinion. Anyways, good job Globes. Welcome back.

Golden Globe Winners

Best Motion Picture (Drama): Slumdog Millionaire
Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Actor (Drama): Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Best Actor (Musical or Comedy): Colin Farrell - In Bruges (!!!)
Best Actress (Drama): Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road


Best Actress (Musical or Comedy): Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Score: A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire
Best Original Song: "The Wrestler" - The Wrestler

Globe Predix

So the Globes are tonight, and I'm just realizing now how...I don't know, unusual this race is. I had a moderately hard time predicting these, and honestly I have no idea how the nominations are going to pan out for the Oscars later on this month. Anyways my family and I, every awards season, play this game where we all put $5 in a pot and whoever gets the most winners correct takes the money. Here's hoping:

Best Motion Picture (Drama): The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
alternate: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy): Vicky Cristina Barcelona
alternate: Mamma Mia!

Best Actor (Drama): Sean Penn - Milk
alternate: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Actor (Musical or Comedy): Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey
alternate: Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Actress (Drama): Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
alternate: Meryl Streep - Doubt

Best Actress (Musical or Comedy): Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia!
alternate: Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
alternate: Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder

Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet - The Reader
alternate: Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Animated Feature Film: WALL-E
alternate: Bolt

Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir
alternate: Gomorrah

Best Director: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
alternate: David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
alternate: Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
alternate: A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song: "The Wrestler" - The Wrestler
alternate: "Down to Earth" - WALL-E

I'm especially torn on the Actress categories, in film at least. Like Meryl will win something. 'Doubt'? Maybe. I see Anne Hathaway, the starlet taking Drama though. 'Mamma'? I could see that easily. But then I think about Kate Winslet. I'm betting on a Supporting Actress win, even amidst Cruz.

Nobody knows anything...except for Heath.

A little catching up...

You know what I hate? I hate when servers go down. Hate it. It's a nuisance to both the owner of the site and the server. You know what else I hate? When after a period of non-blogging rest I go back onto my blog to write and the server's down.

So here I am, five or so posts lighter and with a multitude of movies to review. Instead of doing that, here are some short little snippets of what I've seen this past Christmas break:

'A Christmas Tale' (Arnaud Desplechin, 2008)

Now here is one of the first Christmas movies I have come across in recent years that is almost alarmingly hard to sit through. However that by no means makes it an awful one. On the contrary, it's a stirring piece of film making. Watching the Vuillard family, helmed by monster matron Junon (a spectacular Catherine Deneuve), simultaneously tear each other apart and then love each other ferociously is quite the experience.


Mathieu Amalric is the stand out as Henri, the son banished by his sister Elizabeth (Anne Consigny), who ironically is one out of two possible donors of bone marrow for the dying Junon. Amalric seems to be on a roll, fresh off of his heart-shattering portrayal of Jean-Dominique Bauby in my favorite movie of last year, 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly'. Desplechin succeeds in making this 'Tale' one of distinct reality even though it is also injected with subtle flights of fantasy. You're a fly on the wall at this unsettling, acid-tinged Christmas extravaganza and it's completely worth the ride. B+

'Doubt' (John Patrick Shanley, 2008)
When I first heard that John Patrick Shanley was adapting his own stage play for the screen I was thrilled. Even more so was I when I found out that Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams and were cast in the three pivotal roles of Sister Aloysious Beauvier, Father Brendan Flynn and Sister James, respectively. There, oddly, have been tons of negative reviews floating around from my fellow bloggers and top critics alike of the film, I just don't get it. I ate every bit of this up. Every bit. Every melodramatic, screaming at the top of your lungs that you like 'Frosty the Snowman' bit. I thought Meryl was sensational, non-surprisingly, as Sister Aloysious. She ignited the screen every time she was on it and is a shoo-in as a nominee on my Actress ballot.


Completely. Hoffman and Adams were wonderful with what they had, also non-surprisingly. Viola Davis worked wonders with her twelve minute or so scene, wonders. She made a deep impression on myself and I'd assume the rest of my audience, though I really wanted to give her a tissue. Like, there has never been a problem with wiping your nose while crying before has there? Anyways I particularly enjoyed the cinematography here by Deakins, even though some of the side-angle shots got to be a little bit too high school student experimental for my tastes. A riotously dramatic treat. A

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' (David Fincher, 2008)
Just to add to the "hate list" that I started at the beginning of this post, another thing I hate is when I proclaim that a movie is the best of the year without seeing everything. I named 'Milk' just that when I saw it back in November. And then 'Benjamin Button' came around. On all counts, David Fincher's 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' is the best film of 2008. Now, I might be saying that again after seeing 'Slumdog Millionaire,' 'The Wrestler,' or 'The Reader' when I see those in the coming weeks, but...I highly doubt it. I mean, this movie, god, is just a technical masterwork.


It has absolutely mesmerizing performances from Brad Pitt, from Cate Blanchett, from Taraji P. Henson, from Tilda Swinton, and has the most wholeheartedly seamless visual effects probably since 'Titanic'. Some have been saying it left them feeling cold, and I just have to scoff. This is one of the most equally heartwarming and breaking films of the decade, let alone the year. I feel a little guilty calling it #1 over something so equally fantastic as 'Milk,' but I just have to. It's got everything. Oh and it made me sob like a small child, which is always good. An absolutely spell bounding piece of work. A

'Happy Go-Lucky' (Mike Leigh, 2008)
What a joyous, delightful little film this is! I adored every bit of this (well, I mean the hobo thing could've been scrapped but whatever), especially the phenomenal Sally Hawkins. It's funny, my friend Shannon and I were recently arguing over her performance. Shannon thought it was just "cute," whereas I found that there was something more to it. Yet, I sit here, and can't really pinpoint what that "something" is. Regardless though, she is just the embodiment of what we all should be: kind, good people--more over, optimists. I was getting angry at something, who knows what, a few days ago and I actually thought to myself "What would Poppy do?"


How the hell often does that happen after seeing a movie? I don't know, I might be crazy, but this movie was just so good. Eddie Marsan was brilliant as Scott, the pessimist to Poppy's happy-go-lucky character, but one of my favorite parts of this was Karina Fernandez who played the Flamenco instructor. Dear god, she was a riot if I were saw one. Loved her, loved this, see it whenever you can. A

'Revolutionary Road' (Sam Mendes, 2008)
It took me a while to figure this beauty out. A while. Honestly I still am not quite sure where I stand on this, but let me see if I can explain for you readers how I feel. I adore both Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, so I was in heavy anticipation of this adaptation of the Richard Yates's novel of the same title. So my friends and I sit down in the nearly sold out showing and for the ensuing two hours I was treated with one of the worst audiences I have ever experienced the displeasure of being in. There were numerous times in this where, as usual, I would have delighted in crying, yet that's a moderately hard task to do when the people around you are chuckling like little hyenas in the background. Almost every scene in this where one should have been able to hear a pin drop, there was laughing. I just didn't get that, so right off the cuff I was a bit peeved overall.


Anyways, Winslet was to die for. She gave a heartwrenching, powerful and terrifying performance as April Wheeler, a woman trapped by the suburban life being formed around her. DiCaprio too did quite well, keeping moderately up to pace with Winslet, yet at some turns he was a bit too over the top--even for my tastes. That sounds kind of ridiculous when both have to go "over the top," but if you see it I think you'll understand what I mean. Michael Shannon deserves some praise, but all I could think of when he was on screen was Michael Shannon doing his best Joker impersonation. Meh, he was effective. One thing I enjoyed in particular was the way Mendes really made you feel what the Wheeler's were feeling: claustrophobic. The audience is trapped in the same emotional spaces that the two were themselves, and because of that, the piece is moderately miserable. But hey, I suppose that was the point of it all, no? A second viewing is mandatory before I make my final decision. B+/B

'Wendy and Lucy' (Kelly Reichardt, 2008)
The true joy of this film is its ability to say so much about the more often than not harsh realities one can face in this day and age without really saying anything. Thank god for Michelle Williams. This movie belongs to her, completely. Like, her performance is outstandingly good. She, very much like Winslet in 'Revolutionary Road,' can do even more with her eyes, with her mannerisms than when she is speaking.


I have to go back to what I said before, though: it just astounds me that screenwriters Jonathan Raymond and Kelly Reichardt (also the director) could weave such an engrossing tale about a wandering woman and her dog, her car broken down in a small town just trying to get to where she was hoping to go--Alaska, in Wendy's case. One scene in particular at the end, was revelatory. I'm not going to give it away or anything, but oh my lord it was amazing, and it's all thanks to Williams. Who knew that Jen Lindley from 'Dawson's Creek' would evolve throughout her cinematic career thus far into such a brilliant actress. Bravo. A-

'Man on Wire' (James Marsh, 2008)
I've, admittedly, never really been the biggest fan of the documentary. I mean I've watched my Michael Moore and...yeah. That's about it, sadly. Until this baby came along. How wholeheartedly inspiring this whole story was! The way Marsh weaved the whole story into being a crime-caper/beautiful portrait of mad man/genius Philippe Petit was enthralling, completely.


When you really see all of the painstaking planning that went into his illegal, amazing feat tight-rope walking across the World Trade Center's twin towers, it's just mind blowing. And oh, when he finally does do it after all of the road blocks that he and his crew encounter along the way, you're overwhelmed with emotion. When Annie, his ex who was there for many of his rope walking acts, recounts for us the moment that he lays down on the wire, it brings a tear to your eye. A beautiful story. A

And there we have it. Expect reviews for 'In Bruges' and 'The Other Boleyn Girl' (ugh) in the coming days. And whenever I finally see 'Slumdog,' 'The Wrestler,' 'The Reader,' 'Frost/Nixon,' and 'Gran Torino,' those as well.