Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Early Oscar Nomination Predictions Because Why Not?



Best Picture:  
  • 12 Years a Slave   
  • Gravity 
  • Captain Phillips 
  • Saving Mr. Banks 
  • The Wolf of Wall Street 
  • Nebraska 
  • Lee Daniels’ The Butler 
  • Inside Llewyn Davis American Hustle
  • Her 
  • Fruitvale Station
Alternates: Inside Llewyn Davis, August: Osage County, Blue Jasmine
Sleepers: Before Midnight, Philomena
Dark Horse: The Place Beyond the Pines Frozen

Monday, November 4, 2013

Should have just released a slideshow

I know Bryan Singer has said that this is supposed to be a character trailer, and that the lack of action in this trailer is because of the unfinished visual effects, but several things:

1.  The first minute of this trailer is almost entirely made up of characters standing still and either looking at the camera or looking at other characters.
       a. This is similar to the terrible Ender's Game teaser trailer.

2. How can it be a character trailer when we learn almost nothing about a lot of the characters shown on screen?
       a. Does the marketing team really thing people are going to get SUPER EXCITED over a two second shot of Bishop looking at the camera while walking foward?

3. If you can't put in a lot of action in your superhero movie trailer, why not make the trailer shorter? Shaving off thirty seconds would have been an improvement.

4.  Hey, who wants to see a SUPER SERIOUS and DARK superhero movie?
    (not me)

5. I know why Wolverine keeps being the main character of these movies ($$$$$$$$$$) but ugggggghhhhhh.

6. When will trailer makers stop using Journey to the Line as trailer music?

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Oscar Predictions (major categories with commentary)



Best Picture

Argo

  • In January, I predicted that Argo looked like it was going to be the likely winner. Why? Well first, Argo is consistent with the trend of last year’s ceremony theme of the power of movies. Also, you may have noticed this, but Hollywood reeeeeally likes to pat itself on the back during awards season. While Argo mocks the Hollywood process, it also is about Hollywood in some way, which should impress those in Hollywood. Second, in a crowded field, Argo is, in the eyes of many people, the most entertaining film, the most feel good film, and the least “controversial” movie. While Argo has had some controversies come out late in the running (historical inaccuracy and racebending) it’s still the most “likeable” (see The King’s Speech and The Artist) film in the field. Lincoln? Too talky and boring. Zero Dark Thirty? Too historical inaccurate and torture promoting. Les Les Misérables ? Too sentimental and poorly directed. Life of Pi? Too imbalanced. Silver Linings Playbook? Not special enough, and so forth (Amour and Beasts of the Southern Wild are the, “lucky to be nominated” movies). Factor in its recent dominance on the guild awards circuit, and it seems inevitable that Ben Affleck will end the night holding the biggest prize of the show. I suppose Lincoln or Silver Linings Playbook are the most likely films to pull off the upset (also, don’t underestimate Life of Pi), but Argo’s momentum just does not seem like it’s going to slow down anytime soon.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Oscar Predictions (no commentary)

Best Picture
  • Argo
Best Director
  •  Steven Spielberg: Lincoln
Best Actress in a Leading Role
  • Emmanuelle Riva: Amour
Best Actor in a Leading Role
  • Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
  • Anne Hathaway: Les Misérables 
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  •  Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
Best Original Screenplay
  • Mark Boal: Zero Dark Thirty
Best Adapted Screenplay
  • Chris Terrio: Argo
Best Documentary (feature)
  • Searching for Sugarman
Best Animated Feature Film
  • Wreck-It Ralph
Best Foreign Language Film
  • Amour
Best Film Editing
  • Argo
Best Production Design
  •  Les Misérables
Best Cinematography
  • Claudio Miranda: Life of Pi
Best Costume
  • Anna Karenina
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
  • Les Misérables
Best Visual Effects
  • Life of Pi
Best Original Score
  • Mychael Danna: Life of Pi
Best Original Song
  • Skyfall: Skyfall (Adele)
Best Sound Mixing
  • Les Misérables
Best Sound Editing
  • Skyfall
Best Short Film (live action)
  •  Curfew
Best Documentary (short)
  • Open Heart
Best Short Film (animated)
  • Paperman

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

YEEEEAAAAHHHHH

Yes Virginia, that is The Rock and Vin Diesel hitting someone with the Doomsday Device.

 Sold.



Sunday, February 3, 2013

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Watch it. Love it.

Paperman is now online. If you haven't seen this yet, fix that. Seriously, this was easily one of the best things I saw in theaters last year. #creatvity


Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Top 12 films of 2012: The Honorable Mentions

            So, we are well into 2013, and almost everyone has given their top films of 2012. So, I might as well get to it. Now, because 2012 was quite a good year for movies (and because I’m a cheater), I’m going to have my list be the top twelve films of 2012.
            Some films that I did not see, and therefore, cannot be on any list are Silver Linings Playbook, Safety not Guaranteed, Prometheus, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Sessions, Rise of the Guardians, The Master, Armour, Moonrise Kingdom, Jack and Jill, John Carter, and The Oogieloves in Big Balloon Adventure.

Spoilers ahead. Obviously.
 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Quickie SAG Awards predictions

Movies

Best Lead Actor
     Daniel Day-Lewis: Lincoln

Best Lead Actress
     Jennifer Lawrence: Silver Linings Playbook

Best Supporting Actor
     Alan Arkin: Argo

Best Supporting Actress
     Anne Hathaway: Les Misérables

Outstanding Performance by a Cast
     Silver Linings Playbook

TV 
 
Best Lead Actor: TV movie or miniseries
     Kevin Costner: Hatfield & McCoys

Best Lead Actress: TV movie or miniseries
     Julianne Moore: Game Change

Best Lead Actor: Drama Series
     Damian Lewis: Homeland

Best Lead Actress: Drama Series
     Claire Danes: Homeland

Best Lead Actor: Comedy
     Louis C.K.: Louis

Best Lead Actress: Comedy
     Sofia Vergara: Modern Family

Best Ensemble: Drama
     Homeland

Best Ensemble: Comedy
     Modern Family    

 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Oscar Live-Blogging Dress Rehersal

aka the Golden Globes. Been almost a year since I live blogged anything, so might as well get some practice.

5:10 - Came in late, missed the opening monologue. Am reading that Tina/Amy did great. Not suprised. Also, Waltz wins best supporting actor, and gives a shout out to Neil deGrasse Tyson (more or less) by referencing "astronomy aficionados."

5:12 -  Maggie Smith wins, because Maggie Smith bitches.

5:13 - Also, take a drink every time someone thanks Harvey Weinstein.

5:16 - Here comes one of the stars of Foodfight! and War Machine v2.0 to present the next award. Of course Game Change wins, because I'm pretty sure Game Change is required by law to win all of the TV movie awards.

5:21 - Julianne Moore wins for Game Change. See above.

5:22 - Arnold is sitting there looking bored (just like the audience! Oh ho ho ho)

5:23 - This Les Miserables video tribute should have been tilted at an angle.

5:28 - It's the president of the association. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - And suddenly random joke at Katzenberg joke, because the general public will SURELY find that funny!

5:35 - Homeland continues to dominate the TV awards circuit as if it were Colin Kaepernick running through the Packers defense.

5:43 - So, these video packages. Are they just playing parts of the trailers? Because that's kind of lazy.

5:44 - When you think of film scores, you think of JASON STATHAM, right? Life of Pi wins, and that's a solid choice. I still think STATHAM should have beat up that microphone.

5:47 - Just remembered there's a TNA/Impact Wrestling PPV going on. Maybe I should watch that instead...

5:48 - Best song goes to Adele. And her plan to capture every golden trophy continues to succeed. Adele pretends to not know how to react to winning an award. Still, I have no problem her winning.

5:55 - Costner beat Cumberbatch and Jones? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Also, I am disappoint that Costner didn't thank his boat.

5:58 - OH SNAP! CLINTON IS IN THE HOUSE! Crowd delivers standing ovation. Surprised there was no "CLINTON" chant there. Can Clinton host next years' Oscars?

6"01 - Amy with a decent joke there. Ferrell rocking a slightly awesome mustache. Oh right, Salmon Fishing got nominated for something. Never change Golden Globes. This joke is ok, but running long now. I imagine I would find this funnier if I was drunk. Or if I was really rich.

6:06 - And Lawrence wins, of course. (I still haven't seen Playbook, so I can't make any judgements). I am disappoint that Lawrence's dress is not on bad CG fire. OH MY GOD! Someone finished their speech before getting played off the stage!

6:15 - Hathaway wins, of course. I hope she sings her acceptance speech.

6:17 - BOOO! She's not singing. But a Princess Diaries reference is nice, I guess(?)

6:23 - Screenplay time! Mark Boal's name gets only mild applause. Tarantino wins! Hooray for self-indulgence (I kid, I kid). Nice shout out to Sam Jackson. Tarantino must have had a TON of coffee (or some other beverage *snicker*) before the ceremony, as he can't stop moving around. He really does seem surprised by his win, as am I.

6:26 - JEREMY IRONS. GIVE ME ALL YOUR RAGE!

6:28 - Don Cheadle wins. I have no opinion about this.

6:27 - Tarantino's speech needed more swearing.

6:34 - Hey, it's my former governor. Arnold looked so happy announcing that the Austrian film (Amour) had won.

6:36 - Oh hai Mal Reynolds. Of course Daines wins again, because see above.

6:45 - HA! It's funny because Crowe's singing wasn't that good. Cohen apparently thinks being LOUD is funny. That's the second time I can remember Cohen not being funny at the Globes.

6:46 - Pixar wins again. I'm sure the internet is going to be thrilled about this.

6:49 - You know, it's been a long time since Amy/Tina has shown up. Can we fix this?

6:50 - Well that joke bombed. Amy/Clooney pairing got the first chuckle out of me in hours.

6:59 - Tina/Amy are still being funny. Props to Glenn Close for rolling with that joke. And here's Tony Stark.

I don't have the endurance to keep going. In lieu of more live blogging, here's something fun.




Well, the show's over. Argo, Les Mis, DDL, Chastain, and Affleck won. These are all fine choices, and I'm glad to see the love for Argo. Overall, the show felt like any other awards show. Tina/Amy were good, but the show kept them off camera for long stretches of time. Really not much else to say.

And now, to celebrate Argo's win, let's remember the time when making fun of Ben Affleck was common.


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Oscar Nom Nom Nom Predictions



Best Picture:
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • Argo
  • Lincoln
  • Silver Linings Playbook
  • Life of Pi
  • Les Misérables
  • Moonrise Kingdom
  • Beasts of the Southern Wild
  • Amour
  • Django
    • Alternate: Skyfall, The Master, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel/The Perks of Being a Wallflower
    • If I had a pick: Looper/Chronicle

Best Director
  • Steven Spielberg  Lincoln
  • Ben Affleck – Argo
  • Kathryn Bigelow – Zero Dark Thirty
  • David Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
  • Ang Lee – Life of Pi
    • Alternate: Paul Thomas Anderson – The Master
    • If I had a pick: Benh Zeitlin – Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Actress
  • Jessica Chastain – Zero Dark Thirty
  • Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
  • Naomi Watts – The Impossible
  • Emmanuelle Riva– Amour
  • Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild   
    • Alternate: Marion Cottillard – Rust and Bone
    • If I had a pick: Mary Elizabeth Winstead - Smashed

Best Actor
  • Daniel Day-Lewis – Lincoln
  • Denzel Washington – Flight
  • John Hawkes – The Sessions
  • Hugh Jackman – Les Misérables
  • Joaquin Phoenix – The Master
    • Alternate: Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook
    • If I had a pick: Liam Neeson – The Grey

Best Supporting Actor
  • Alan Arkin – Argo
  • Tommy Lee Jones – Lincoln
  • Robert DeNiro – Silver Linings Playbook
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master
  • Eddie Redmanye - Les Misérables
    • Alternate: Leonardo DiCaprio – Django Unchained
    • If I had a pick: Sam Rockwell/Christopher Walken – Seven Psychopaths

Best Adapted Screenplay
  • Lincoln
  • Argo
  • Silver Linings Playbook
  • Life of Pi
  • The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
    • Alternate: The Perks of being a Wallflower
    • If I had a pick: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Best Original Screenplay
  • Moonrise Kingdom
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • The Master
  • Django Unchained
  • Amour
    • Alternate: Flight
    • If I had a pick: Safety Not Guaranteed

Best Supporting Actress
  • Anne Hathaway – Les Misérables
  • Sally Field – Lincoln
  • Helen Hunt – The Sessions
  • Amy Adams – The Master
  • Maggie Smith – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
    • Alternate: Samantha Barks – Les Misérables
    • If I had a pick: Emily Blunt – Looper 

Best Film Editing
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • Argo
  • Life of Pi
  • Les Misérables
  • Lincoln
    • Alternate: The Master
    • If I had a pick: Cloud Atlas

Best Art Direction/Production Design
  • Anna Karenina
  • Les Misérables
  • Life of Pi
  • Lincoln
  • The Master
    •   Alternate: Django Unchained
    •   If I had a pick: ParaNorman

Best Cinematography
  • Life of Pi
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • Anna Karenina
  • Skyfall
  • The Master
    • Alternate: Lincoln
    • If I had a pick: Beasts of the Southern Wild/The Grey/Dredd

Best Costume Design
  • Anna Karenina
  • Les Misérables
  • Lincoln
  • Django Unchained
  • Mirror Mirror
    • Alternate: Argo
    • If I had a pick: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Best Makeup
  • Lincoln
  • Les Misérables
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    • Alternate: Hitchcock
    • If I had a pick: Snow White & the Huntsman

Best Feature Documentary
  • Searching for Sugarman
  • This is Not a Film
  • How to Survive a Plague
  • The Gatekeepers
  • The Invisible War
    • Alternate: The House I Live In
    • If I had a pick: Not qualified for this one

Best Visual Effects
  • Life of Pi
  • The Avengers
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  • Skyfall
  • Prometheus
    • Alternate: The Dark Knight Rises
    • If I had a pick: I’m fine with these choices

Best Sound Mixing
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • Skyfall
  • Life of Pi
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
  • Les Misérables
    • Alternate: The Impossible
    • If I had a pick: The Grey

Best Sound Editing
  • Zero Dark Thirty
  • Skyfall
  • The Impossible
  • The Avengers
  • The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    • Alternate: Les Misérables
    • If I had a pick: The Dark Knight Rises

Best Original Score
  • Alexandre Desplat – Argo
  • Lincoln – John Williams
  • Anna Karenina – Dario Marianelli
  • The Master – Johnny Greenwood
  • Life of Pi – Mychael Danna
    • Alternate: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – Howard Shore
    • If I had a pick: Beasts of the Southern Wild/Cloud Atlas/Rise of the Guardians (yes I’m cheating)

Best Foreign Film
  • Amour – Austria
  • The Intouchables– France
  • A Royal Affair: Denmark
  • No – Chile
  • War Witch – Canada
    • Alternate: The Deep - Iceland
    • If I had a pick: I’m not qualified for

Best Animated Film
  • Brave
  • Wreck-it-Ralph
  • Frankenweenie
  • ParaNorman
  • The Rabbi’s
    • Alternate: Rise of the Guardians 
    • If I had a pick: I’m already rooting for ParaNorman.

Best Original Song
  • “Skyfall” – Skyfall
  • “Pi’s Lullaby” – Life of Pi
  • “Learn on Me” - Brave
  • “Suddenly” – Les Misérables
  • “Still Alive” – Paul Williams Still Alive
    • Alternate: “Song of the Lonely Mountain” – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
    • If I had a pick: “Breath of Life” – Snow White & the Huntsman