This year was the first year they had 10 movies nominated since sometime in the 1940s. Ugh! Thankfully they split it up between 2 days. The first day was Avatar (in 3D), Up in the Air, Precious, The Blind Side, and Inglorious Basterds. Before I review the movies, I would like to point out that in my opinion, I think that the movie that wins Best Picture should focus mostly on story line. It needs to be original, thought-provoking, and take you through an array of emotions. It should leave you guessing about how it will end and leave you content once you get there. With that being said, here is my review of this past weekend's movie adventure.
Avatar - best to be seen in 3D and I was glad they offered that. The story is overdone. If you just combine Pocahontas, Dances with Wolves, and Ferngully (plus another handful of movies like that) and then sprinkle in a little Matrix, you get the idea. But the visual effects in this movie were phenomenal. The story shouldn't detract from the effects. Yes, it was a BIG budget movie, but it made me happy to see what they were able to create. I do not think it should win for Best Picture. The story was pedestrian. But please, if you haven't seen it, do. Immediately. And preferably in 3D. My movie friend CR and I were joking before we saw it the first time that every movie was coming out in 3D and it was ridiculous. Then after the movie we began questioning why every movie wasn't in 3D. So, that's a big No for Best Picture win, but a big huge Yes for visual effects awards.
Up in the Air - George Clooney doing what he does best. I have to say that I was pretty nervous about this movie. George has had a bad run of movies and I have since become skeptical about anything with his name attached. However, this movie was much different. It was a simple movie about loneliness and work and the tradeoff we make between life and work. There were some other things thrown in there, but think about a business man whose goal in life is to collect as many frequent-flier points as possible. It wasn't romantic-comedy cheesy. I liked the 20-something-need-to-be-married-to-be-happy Anna Kendrick playing the antagonist to the (hot!) 30-something-I've-learned-there's-more-to-life-than-settling-on-what-society-thinks-I-need Vera Farmiga. I also enjoyed George's character's inability to comfort a man who has cold feet on his wedding day because he himself has no idea why you would want to get married. Overall, a very endearing story. Don't expect a sweeping scene where someone is running through the airport to catch the love of their life that they almost let slip by and you won't be disappointed. I think this movie should be a strong contender for the Oscar.
Precious - made me want to cry almost 100 times. This movie is about the abuse one girl suffered at the hands of her parents and how she moved on with her life. Mo'Nique is heart-wrenching and brilliant in this movie. Although I think Gabourey did an amazing job. This story line is not one that most of us can relate to. At least I hope not. Precious is raped and consequently becomes pregnant twice by her father, and she is physically and verbally abused by her mother. She is teased at school and on the streets. Yet, you feel more than just sorry for her. She makes you like her for who she is and who she wants to be, not just for how you want to fix her. This movie was great, but I would have to put in one vote lower than Up in the Air in my Oscar vote. (Still above Avatar though.)
The Blind Side - the comedy of the bunch. This movie was based on a true story. In fact, the story just ended a couple years ago. That's a little weird. Sandra Bullock is nominated for her role in this movie, but it really isn't Oscar quality material. She donned a believable accent, but she's played this strong role before, so... The movie was funny. "Who knew we would ever have a Black son before we met a Democrat." Best line in any movie for a long time. The movie is sweet and it doesn't paint the White people always save the Black people type story we've seen too many times. But I don't think it is really Oscar-worthy. So I am putting this behind Precious, and probably tied with Avatar.
Inglorious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino's latest abomination. Well that should give you an idea of how I feel about this movie. With Quentin I expect bloodshed, which he gave me. I expect ridiculous situations, which he gave me. I expect stupid humor that is hard to not laugh at, not matter how stodgy you are, and he gave me that as well. He also gave me a weak story with WAY too much talking. I am not a fan of his work, which could be attributed to all the buildup around the movies and then the let down when I do finally see them. But this movie was just plain bad. This movie is last on my list of what I think should win.
So the line-up looks something like this (in order of what I think should win):
Up in the Air
Precious
The Blind Side / Avatar
Inglorious Basterds
Next week we will do this all over again, except we will see: Up, The Hurt Locker, A Serious Man, District 9 (which I am boycotting), and An Education. I've already seen Up and An Education. I am looking forward to seeing The Hurt Locker. I am dreading A Serious Man since it's a Cohen brothers movie and they have a worse reputation in my book than Quentin Tarantino. I am boycotting District 9 because, well, to be honest, the previews made my heart ache. I can't watch them abuse the aliens. Maybe that makes me sound stupid, but it hurt my heart to watch. It was like watching someone kick a baby seal. So I refuse to subject myself to the movie and therefore, I will not be rating it next week.
So, for all 0 of my followers actually reading this, look forward to my follow-up next week.
