2011 Oscars!
Here's my take on the ten films up for Best Picture and some of my picks for the awards.
Black Swan - this movie is physically stunning. The cinematography and the choreography and everything centered around dance is beautiful. The concept that wanting to be so good that it literally drives someone mad - what a great storyline. A movie from Aronofsky though, I was mildly disappointed with the lack of surprise. I was expecting to have my mind blown and I was only kind of surprised - everything was pretty much predictable. I was really surprised with the projection of Mila Kunis' character. Natalie Portman was amazing in this role, so fragile and beautiful.
The Fighter - two words: Christian Bale. HOLY SHIT. Christian played an amazing role, one which I am most certain deserves an award. I cannot believe the mother f'in BATMAN was Dicky Ward. I can't even get over it. I seriously could not have better pictured a strung out, washed up crack-head boxer. PERFECT. The movie overall was slow moving for me in the beginning but I got really into it. Melissa Leo, Amy Adams, gosh they all played such amazing roles and the story developed really well.
Inception - the first nominee and the last movie I saw. I put this one off for a long time because I am very easily affected by hype and did not want the immense amount of "Inception Love" to affect how I felt about the movie (because let's face it - I am a fangirl first and foremost). This movie is great - the story is so complicated and interesting and it held my attention which honestly has been a problem with me and most of the nominees. I was really impressed with the effects and the plot line.
The Kids Are All Right - Annette Benning and Julianne Moore were phenomenal in this! The story background was really cute and interesting and I loved the kids! I think this movie was important in the sense that I've never seen a movie centered around a gay couple and their kids and I think this really portrays a beautiful, normal, family dynamic. I HATE that there was an affair - I hate that affairs have become so prominent in movies. However, I will say Mark Ruffalo is a fox. Always and Forever.
The King's Speech - it took me four tries to finish this movie. I think that it is visually stunning (as it seems that most of these movies are!) and the acting, omg the acting is superb. Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, and Colin Firth were all absolutely stupendous. The story was very meh to me though, possibly because of my age and my disconnect from the subject matter.
127 Hours - James Franco played such an amazing role in this movie and I sincerely loved this film. You would think watching a guy stuck under a rock for days would be boring, but this movie was so interesting and it developed beautifully, mostly because Franco is an amazing actor. The graphic parts were so real and intense and this movie gave me so many nerves and I loved it.
The Social Network - to be quite honest this is the only one of the nominees that I actively sought out to watch. As much as I am into pop culture and internet and social networking - this movie was bound to be for me. And boy was I right. Everything about this movie is perfect. The cinematography, the music, the acting - oh god the acting. Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield are flawless in this movie. Its so bad I can't even decide which one I'd rather marry. Let's just say I'd take the offer from either (and honestly, Armie Hammer too). The plot is flawless and interesting and everything about this movie (sans Justin Timberlake being cast as Sean Parker but even then he played a great role) is wonderfully entertaining. "Excuse me, my Prada's at the cleaners along with my hoodie and my fuck you flip-flops you pretentious douchebags."
Toy Story 3 - cute movie, made me cry. Spanish Buzz Lightyear stole my heart. I think that the Toy Story crew always get this one right - the one Disney series that gets better as the movies progress
True Grit - I seriously thought I would hate this movie because it's a western and westerns are boring, but it was so good! All of the acting was really great and the characters were really interesting and compelling. The storyline was great and I was really into this movie. Standout performances by Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld.
Winter's Bone - this movie didn't get that much hype and I don't really think it should be nominated. The plot was kind of blah, but Jennifer Lawrence played a great role. I was disappointed in the ending.
Overall I'm really impressed because I actually really liked a lot of the nominees this year and I am so so excited for the actual awards - prepare for a twitter storm! This is the second year I've done this and I think it's going to be a new tradition for me. :)
Here's my picks:
Actor in a Leading Role
* Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
* Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
* Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
* Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
* James Franco in “127 Hours”
This one is hard for me because I LOVE Jeff Bridges and Jesse Eisenberg and I know Colin Firth deserves the award, but James Franco really stood out to me in 127 Hours.
Actor in a Supporting Role
* Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
* John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
* Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
* Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”
No brainer.
Actress in a Leading Role
* Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
* Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
* Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
* Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”
Nicole Kidman was really great in Rabbit Hole but I feel like I've seen that role from her before and I know Natalie Portman is the favorite for this and I love her but Blue Valentine was so uncomfortably sad and I think for Michelle Williams to be able to portray that means she deserves this award.
Actress in a Supporting Role
* Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
* Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
* Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
* Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
* Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”
Helena Bonham Carter and Melissa Leo gave flawless performances but I'm pulling for Hailee Steinfeld because she's adorable and played an amazing role!
Cinematography
* “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique
* “Inception” Wally Pfister
* “The King's Speech” Danny Cohen
* “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth
* “True Grit” Roger Deakins
Really, really tough choice but aesthetically speaking, Black Swan takes the cake.
Directing
* “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
* “The Fighter” David O. Russell
* “The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
* “The Social Network” David Fincher
* “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
I just really love the movie.
Best Picture
* “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
* “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
* “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
* “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
* “The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
* “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
* “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
* “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
* “Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
What can I say? It blew me away. TSN is my favorite film out of all the nominees
Black Swan - this movie is physically stunning. The cinematography and the choreography and everything centered around dance is beautiful. The concept that wanting to be so good that it literally drives someone mad - what a great storyline. A movie from Aronofsky though, I was mildly disappointed with the lack of surprise. I was expecting to have my mind blown and I was only kind of surprised - everything was pretty much predictable. I was really surprised with the projection of Mila Kunis' character. Natalie Portman was amazing in this role, so fragile and beautiful.
The Fighter - two words: Christian Bale. HOLY SHIT. Christian played an amazing role, one which I am most certain deserves an award. I cannot believe the mother f'in BATMAN was Dicky Ward. I can't even get over it. I seriously could not have better pictured a strung out, washed up crack-head boxer. PERFECT. The movie overall was slow moving for me in the beginning but I got really into it. Melissa Leo, Amy Adams, gosh they all played such amazing roles and the story developed really well.
Inception - the first nominee and the last movie I saw. I put this one off for a long time because I am very easily affected by hype and did not want the immense amount of "Inception Love" to affect how I felt about the movie (because let's face it - I am a fangirl first and foremost). This movie is great - the story is so complicated and interesting and it held my attention which honestly has been a problem with me and most of the nominees. I was really impressed with the effects and the plot line.
The Kids Are All Right - Annette Benning and Julianne Moore were phenomenal in this! The story background was really cute and interesting and I loved the kids! I think this movie was important in the sense that I've never seen a movie centered around a gay couple and their kids and I think this really portrays a beautiful, normal, family dynamic. I HATE that there was an affair - I hate that affairs have become so prominent in movies. However, I will say Mark Ruffalo is a fox. Always and Forever.
The King's Speech - it took me four tries to finish this movie. I think that it is visually stunning (as it seems that most of these movies are!) and the acting, omg the acting is superb. Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush, and Colin Firth were all absolutely stupendous. The story was very meh to me though, possibly because of my age and my disconnect from the subject matter.
127 Hours - James Franco played such an amazing role in this movie and I sincerely loved this film. You would think watching a guy stuck under a rock for days would be boring, but this movie was so interesting and it developed beautifully, mostly because Franco is an amazing actor. The graphic parts were so real and intense and this movie gave me so many nerves and I loved it.
The Social Network - to be quite honest this is the only one of the nominees that I actively sought out to watch. As much as I am into pop culture and internet and social networking - this movie was bound to be for me. And boy was I right. Everything about this movie is perfect. The cinematography, the music, the acting - oh god the acting. Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield are flawless in this movie. Its so bad I can't even decide which one I'd rather marry. Let's just say I'd take the offer from either (and honestly, Armie Hammer too). The plot is flawless and interesting and everything about this movie (sans Justin Timberlake being cast as Sean Parker but even then he played a great role) is wonderfully entertaining. "Excuse me, my Prada's at the cleaners along with my hoodie and my fuck you flip-flops you pretentious douchebags."
Toy Story 3 - cute movie, made me cry. Spanish Buzz Lightyear stole my heart. I think that the Toy Story crew always get this one right - the one Disney series that gets better as the movies progress
True Grit - I seriously thought I would hate this movie because it's a western and westerns are boring, but it was so good! All of the acting was really great and the characters were really interesting and compelling. The storyline was great and I was really into this movie. Standout performances by Jeff Bridges and Hailee Steinfeld.
Winter's Bone - this movie didn't get that much hype and I don't really think it should be nominated. The plot was kind of blah, but Jennifer Lawrence played a great role. I was disappointed in the ending.
Overall I'm really impressed because I actually really liked a lot of the nominees this year and I am so so excited for the actual awards - prepare for a twitter storm! This is the second year I've done this and I think it's going to be a new tradition for me. :)
Here's my picks:
Actor in a Leading Role
* Javier Bardem in “Biutiful”
* Jeff Bridges in “True Grit”
* Jesse Eisenberg in “The Social Network”
* Colin Firth in “The King's Speech”
* James Franco in “127 Hours”
This one is hard for me because I LOVE Jeff Bridges and Jesse Eisenberg and I know Colin Firth deserves the award, but James Franco really stood out to me in 127 Hours.
Actor in a Supporting Role
* Christian Bale in “The Fighter”
* John Hawkes in “Winter's Bone”
* Jeremy Renner in “The Town”
* Mark Ruffalo in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Geoffrey Rush in “The King's Speech”
No brainer.
Actress in a Leading Role
* Annette Bening in “The Kids Are All Right”
* Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole”
* Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter's Bone”
* Natalie Portman in “Black Swan”
* Michelle Williams in “Blue Valentine”
Nicole Kidman was really great in Rabbit Hole but I feel like I've seen that role from her before and I know Natalie Portman is the favorite for this and I love her but Blue Valentine was so uncomfortably sad and I think for Michelle Williams to be able to portray that means she deserves this award.
Actress in a Supporting Role
* Amy Adams in “The Fighter”
* Helena Bonham Carter in “The King's Speech”
* Melissa Leo in “The Fighter”
* Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit”
* Jacki Weaver in “Animal Kingdom”
Helena Bonham Carter and Melissa Leo gave flawless performances but I'm pulling for Hailee Steinfeld because she's adorable and played an amazing role!
Cinematography
* “Black Swan” Matthew Libatique
* “Inception” Wally Pfister
* “The King's Speech” Danny Cohen
* “The Social Network” Jeff Cronenweth
* “True Grit” Roger Deakins
Really, really tough choice but aesthetically speaking, Black Swan takes the cake.
Directing
* “Black Swan” Darren Aronofsky
* “The Fighter” David O. Russell
* “The King's Speech” Tom Hooper
* “The Social Network” David Fincher
* “True Grit” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
I just really love the movie.
Best Picture
* “Black Swan” Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
* “The Fighter” David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
* “Inception” Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
* “The Kids Are All Right” Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
* “The King's Speech” Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
* “127 Hours” Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
* “The Social Network” Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Toy Story 3” Darla K. Anderson, Producer
* “True Grit” Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
* “Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, Producers
What can I say? It blew me away. TSN is my favorite film out of all the nominees