Heretical Jargon: Me Vs. The Oscars

I've decided to go out on a limb a name my Oscar winners here on my blog.  I no way do I think my decisions are better than the Oscar winners, however I do think there are some films that deserve an Oscar when they received none.  So, here we are, my Heretically Awesome Oscar Winners are.....

Best Visual Affects: Avatar
Actual Winner: Avatar
I mean c'mon, who isn't going to put Avatar in for the win?  It took the Oscar by a landslide, no one could touch it.  It was astounding how much work it took to bring this animated phenomenon to life.  CG films will now be based on what Avatar accomplished.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Precious 
Actual Winner: Precious
Seriously, this might be one of the best adapted films from a book I've ever seen.  Such a wonderfully handpicked cast is what made this film so good.  I'm so glad the academy recognized this film as the best for the year.

Best Original Screenplay: Up In The Air
Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker
Up In The Air was a spectacular film, I was very surprised to see the Hurt Locker beat it out.  I loved how everything tied together about the nature of meaningful relationships and the disconnect we try to put on them.

Best Sound Mixing: Nine
Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker
It's a matter of taste I guess.  I was astounded by how well balanced the entire film was.  I never felt anything was so loud it became out of context, and vice versa with the low volume sections.

Best Original Score: Up!
Actual Winner: Up!
The emotional impact the music had in relationship to the story was perfect.  But of course, Pixar is perfect so all is well!

Best Film Editing: Inglorious Basterds
Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker
Both were edited well, but Inglorious Basterds had something a little different...that Quentin Tarantino touch.  Again, this becomes a matter of taste, but I honestly feel Inglorious Basterds should have taken it.

Best Cinematography: The White Ribbon
Actual Winner: Avatar
I'm sorry, but I have trouble figuring out why a completely animated film won best cinematography.  I think with the White Ribbon, what did it for me was the incredible use of cameras and light.  A good cameraman can take the ugliest and most fowl landscape and turn it into a gorgeous piece of earth.  The White Ribbon, hands down!

Best Art Direction: Nine
Actual Winner: Avatar
I don't know about you, but I think I was impacted more so with Nine's blazingly awesome musical numbers than I was with Avatar's scenery.  I think Avatar was amazing in this aspect, but Nine really got me.  Nine was truly an inspirational and moving visual masterpiece.

Best Animated Feature: Up!
Actual Winner: Up!
I was going between two films, Up! and Coraline.  Claymation typically gets overshadowed by the animated films, but in the end I do think Up! deserved the Oscar.

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique
Actual Winner: Mo'Nique
I wish she had been in a leading role, she might have actually taken best actress!  But Best Supporting Actress is just as good.

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
Actual Winner: Christoph Waltz
Eh, to each his own.  I'm a huge fan of Plummer and think his performance was more deserving.

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges
Actual Winner: Jeff Bridges
Nuff said!  Best role I've seen him in, period!  It was a nice redemption from that awful role he was given in Iron Man.

Best Actress: Meryl Streep
Actual Winner: Sandra Bullock
Good God people, what the hell are you thinking?  Meryl Streep is beaten by a second rate actress?  Please help me Lord!  The only woman who could have beaten her in pure acting ability was Mo'Nique.  Ugh, how disappointing.  I'm probably more disappointed with this decision than anything else.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Actual Winner: Kathryn Bigelow
She did a great job, no more needs to be said.  She deserves it.

Best Picture: Precious 
Actual Winner: The Hurt Locker
I thought Precious was the best film of the year by a LONG SHOT.  The performances were top notch and the storyline was an emotional train wreck that left an impact on me more than any of the other films nominated.  I like it when a film is produced that isn't set on making you feel good about life.  It dares to take a risk, and I think it paid off.  Not negating the quality of the Hurt Locker, I just feel Precious was a better film.

2010 Oscar Winners

The Oscars are done and I'm in agreement with almost everything.  However, I can't speak for the Hurt Locker as I haven't seen it yet.  Netflix is queued up though!  I am happy to see Avatar only receive the awards that it deserved, and that James Cameron did not receive Best Director.  I was a little disappointed that Up In The Air did not receive an award, but it's not a big deal.  I do wonder how close Up! got in receiving the Best Picture award or if Nine was closer.  In any case, this was a good year!  Below are the results....


Best Visual Affects - Avatar
Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones


Best Adapted Screenplay - Precious
Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher 


Best Original Screenplay Writing - The Hurt Locker
Written By Mark Boal


Best Sound Mixing - The Hurt Locker
Paul N.J. Ottosson


Best Live Action Short Film - The New Tenants
 Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson


Best Animated Short Film - Logorama 
Nicolas Schmerkin


Best Original Song - Crazy Heart
The Weary Kind
Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett


Best Original Score - Up!
Michael Giacchino


Best Makeup - Star Trek
Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow


Best Foreign Film - The Secret In Their Eyes
Directed by Juan José Campanella


Best Film Editing - The Hurt Locker
Bob Murawski and Chris Innis


Best Short Documentary - Music By Prudence
Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett


Best Documentary Feature - The Cove
Louie Psihoyos and Fisher Stevens


Best Costume Design - The Young Victoria
Sandy Powell


Best Cinematography - Avatar
Mauro Fiore


Best Art Direction - Avatar
Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg (Art Direction); Kim Sinclair (Set Decoration)


Best Animated Feature - Up!
Pete Docter


Best Supporting Actress - Mo'Nique
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire


Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz
Inglourious Basterds


Best Actor - Jeff Bridges
Crazy Heart


Best Actress - Sandra Bullock
The Blind Side


Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow
The Hurt Locker


Best Picture - The Hurt Locker
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

2010 Golden Globes: The Awards

Here are the results from the Golden Globes which aired last night...

Best Supporting film/mini-series Actor for TV: John Lithgow - Dexter (Showtime)
Best Supporting film/mini-series Actress for TV: Chloe Sevigny - Big Love (HBO)
Best film/miniseries Actor for TV: Kevin Bacon - Taking Chance (HBO)
Best film/mini-series Actress For TV: Drew Barrymore - Grey Gardens (HBO)
Best TV film/mini-series: Grey Gardens (HBO)
Best Actor for a TV Series (comedy or musical): Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock (NBC)
Best Actress for a TV Series (comedy or musical): Toni Colette - United States of Tara (Showtime)
Best TV Series: Glee (Fox)
Best Actor for TV Series (drama): Michael C. Hall - Dexter
Best Actress for TV Series (drama): Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife (CBS)

Best TV Series (drama): Mad Men (ABC)
Best Original Song: The Weary Kind - Crazy Heart
Best Original Score: Michael Giacchino - Up!
Best Original Screenplay: Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner - Up In The Air
Best Film Director: James Cameron - Avatar
Best Foreign Language Film: Das Weisse Band (German)
Best Animated Film: Up! (Pixar Animation Studios; Disney Motion Picture Studios)
Best Supporting Film Actor: Christopher Waltz - Inglorious Bastards
Best Supporting Film Actress: Mo'Nique - Precious
Best Comedy or Musical Film Actor: Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes
Best Comedy or Musical Film Actress: Meryl Streep - Julia & Julia

Best Comedy or Musical Film: The Hangover (Warner Bros.)
Best Drama Film Actor: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
Best Drama Film Actress: Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Best Drama Film: Avatar (Fox)


As I don't necessarily agree with a lot of the picks, I do always have to remind myself that this is the olden Globes and really doesn't reflect the truth.  But I am glad to see that the evil Twentieth Century Fox Network only received two awards, even if one of those awards was the BIG prize.

I am happy to see Mo'Nique take the Best Supporting Actress award as she undoubtedly deserved it, as well as Meryl Streep in her superb interpretation of Julia Styles.  However, I don't agree with the decision of giving Sandra Bullock an award when the other nominated actresses were superbly better with exception of Gabourey Sidibe.

All in all, the Golden Globes are more for the people who feel the Academy awards are wrong 90% of the time.  The Golden Globes are fun, but geez, they really aren't worth much except to hand out awards to those who probably wont win anything in the academy awards.  The Golden Globes only focus one the obvious like music, acting, and the actual film.  No awards go out to the film editors, art directors, and other talents that are hidden behind the screen.  The exceptions are the truly phenomenal ones like Mo'Nique, Up!, and other great films and performances.

2010 Golden Globes: Does Avatar Deserve A Golden Globe?

It's a shame I don't get cable where I can watch the Golden Globes at the comfort of my own home.  However, I am keeping the website up to help keep track of the awards as they come out.  And while it's fun to see Up!, Inglorious Bastards and other great films get some awesome awards, I can't get away from the best picture nominations.

As I'm sure you all know, the nominated films are as follows...


1. Avatar
2. The Hurt Locker
3. Inglorious Bastards
4. Precious
5. Up in the Air

Having not seen two of these films nominated films, The Hurt Locker & Inglorious Bastards, I can't really speak for them.  However, the other three nominations I have had the pleasure of seeing.  While Precious and Up in the Air are completely deserving of this highly acclaimed award, Avatar truly disappoints me in making the nominations.  A film such as Avatar truly does redefine the art of movie making as far as the special effects are concerned, but to put in the category one of the best films of 2009, I tilt my head in wonder.

There are many things that make a good movie, effects, music, editing, scenery, art direction, script, direction, acting, and so on and so forth.  However, the script and story are what make the movie what it is.  Precious and Up in the Air are truly great films in the fact that they create truly original story lines in an innovative way.  Along with top notch acting performances, those two film are very "human" stories written in an intelligent way.  In my opinion, the two said films are both very deserving of best picture.

Avatar, on the other hand, finds a new way of being one of the most unoriginal films I've ever seen when it comes to the story.  Every single event that takes place in the film is predictable and contains no originality.  Along with it's blatant racist undertones when dealing with American Indians and English colonists, the film's script and story are equal to that of Fern Gully, Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai, Pocahontas, Aladdin, and other like stories.   If it hadn't of been for the films amazing special effects, it would have been another cheesy Disney "feel-good" movie, not worthy of Best Picture Award.

As I await the results of Best Picture, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the more deserving films beat out the average Avatar.  My top 5 best films (In no specific order) of 2009 would be these...


1. Up In The Air
2. Precious
3. Up!
4. Nine
5. Coraline

Of course keep in mind I haven't seen EVERY film that's come out last, including the two nominees Inglorious Bastards and The Hurt Locker.  But Expect they could replace a few films that I have in my five, as well as the Road.  Their are so many good films out there, and Avatar, a second rate story line makes the nominations.  I certainly hope America grows up a little and figures out that Avatar, while being a visual masterpiece, is nothing compared to truly amazing films.

Movie Review: Precious

Directed by Lee Daniels

Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire

Plot

This film is based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire.

Born in Harlem, Claireece “Precious” Jones’ life is filled with neglect, sexually abusive parents, and misery beyond compare.  Carrying her second child by an absent father, Precious must live and care for her mother Mo’Nique, a violently angry woman who verbally, physically, mentally and sexually abuses her.  Living off of welfare, Precious is under constant pressure to do everything for her mother, and nothing for herself.

However, under the guidance of her new found special education teacher, Precious continues to live life under the impression that there are endless possibilities for her.  And now, with a second child on the way, she must make a decision to push forward and discover a life she could have her and her children, or continue in an abusive and unloving home.

My Thoughts

This is probably one of the harder films I’ve ever sat through in my life as a movie goer.  Hardly anything in this film made me feel good, happy, or even positive about the reality of life for families on the poverty end of the scale.  It’s hard to imagine anyone with the ability to handle the harsh and terrible conditions that Precious had to live with.  I walked out of this movie feeling dirty and unable to fathom this world of abuse and neglect.

The film begins with the disturbing scene of Precious’ father throwing her on a bed, raping her, unbuckling his belt and thrusting himself on the constrained body of the middle school girl.  If that visual is not vulgar enough, we have the father whispering grotesque things into her ear.

“Daddy loves you.”

“You’re so much better than you’re mother.”

But of course her dad leaves, with Precious living her days waiting hand and foot on her mother Mary who does nothing except lounge around in her recliner barking orders and insults at Precious in addition to physically abusing her.  Mary is a prime example of those who abuse the welfare system.  When Precious was kicked out of school, Mary would tell her only child, “If you ain’t going to school, you better get your ass to the welfare office and start bringing home a check.”  This and much more describe the life of Precious.  Even after Precious has her second child, Mary shows her disgust by dropping a TV from the top floor of the apartment stairwell with Precious (and her baby) just below. 

The film is spectacular at setting up the character of Precious played by Gabourney Sidibe in her film debut.  As an audience, we learn very early on that this is a girl unlike most people.  She has experienced the most traumatizing aspects of life before she’s moved on to high school.  She’s on the verge of giving birth to a second child by her father, has a mother who hates her, uneducated, obese and lives in the dangerous streets of Harlem.  Her life is, needless to say, difficult.  But what I found the most interesting is how well Precious dealt with everything that was thrown at her.  Thank God she was introduced to Ms. Rain, her new special education teacher, who helped Precious realize how special she truly was and gave her confidence to transcend beyond the life she grew up in.  And when she finally realized that no one could grasp the life she has had the misfortune of experiencing, she finally decided to break away from all that was holding her back and venture out on her own to provide the best possible life for her children.  While this story was inspiring and moving, it was all at the same time depressing and hard to watch.

Mary, played by Mo’Nique, delivered one of the most powerful performances by an actress I have seen all year.  The only one I can see rivaling Mo’Nique would be Meryl Streep with her performance of sister Aloysius Beauvier in “Doubt.”  How anyone can even play a part of a heartless, unloving mother who beats and sexually abuses her child is beyond me, but Mo’Nique delivers a performance unlike any I’ve seen in 2009.  It’s in the last scene where Mo’Nique delivers her Oscar worthy bit of oratory; love and hate is what caused Mary to hate her only daughter.  And it makes sense when she has a boyfriend who sexually wants their daughter more than he wants her.  It’s a powerful statement that makes you both hate and sympathize with Mary.  Mo’Nique will be busy come time for the Oscars.

Sidibe, this being her very first film role, delivers a realistic and satisfying portrayal of poverty children living in run down section of cities.  Along with her sweet and quiet nature, Precious showed signs of feisty and defensive attitudes which she undoubtedly developed in her early stages of life.  Sidibe is living proof that experience is not necessarily what makes an actress great.

Conclusion

A very hard film to watch.  As much as I enjoyed the film, I don’t think I’ll ever be seeing it again, it is too depressing and angry.  However, with that being said, it’s one of the better films of 2009.  I have no idea if the Oscar nominations were cut off when this film came out in early November, but if they weren’t, I would be very disappointed if I didn’t see this film in the running for best motion picture.  And in the same respect, I would be even more disappointed and probably angry to not see Mo’Nique nominated for best supporting actress.  It was also really nice to see a quite literally all female cast in truly remarkable film.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars.