Seen It All Before
I just got home from the film The Reader, and I think that it is safe to say that I have now seen all the movies that may be in the consideration for the upcoming Academy Awards. Because the nominations have not been released yet, I will not speculate as to which I think are going to win, but I will briefly recap which movies I have seen recently and say what I thought of them.
Starting with tonight: The Reader
I really liked this movie. For many reasons I think this movie may do very well at the Oscars. First, its epic. Second, its sad. Third, its about the Holocaust. Fourth, Kate Winslet is in it. Its very moving and very good.
Last night I saw: The Wrestler
Overall one of the most raw movies I have ever seen, up there with Kids. I like that some of the reviews mention The Fountain, Arronofsky's last movie, because I too thought that it wasn't all that good. Mickey Rourke already won the Golden Globe for this role, which is outstanding, but I doubt he will take home the Oscar. Its a great movie, though, and could win for screenplay or something less than best film or actor. The hard core scene alone is enough to make you want to puke, but in a good way.
Last week I saw: Doubt
I think this film is a dark horse. Great acting from all three leads and some great child actors as well. Really excellent period piece, and I am going to say that at the very least there will be a supporting actress nod for either Amy Adams, which would be her second nomination, or for the woman who played the mother of the man child. Philip Seymour Hoffman was excellent as always.
Awhile ago I saw: Synecdoche, New York
I don't think this film will win anything, and I doubt that it will be nominated. I did think it was pretty good, not great though. Kaufman is still trying, though, and that's good. Also I saw Steve Nash in the bathroom of the Fox Tower after it was over, I'm not sure if I've said that before.
Before I saw that last movie I saw: Slumdog Millionaire
Really one of the better movie experiences I have ever had. I think everyone should see this movie and see it soon because it is very very good and should be seen in a theater. It could either sweep the Oscars or be shut out, but either way it is excellent.
Over winter break Chris and I watched: Gran Torino
I think this movie too could either win a lot of awards or win none. Eastwood was Eastwood, and sounded like he drank gravel before every take. Sweet car, good movie. Not my favorite, but still worth seeing. I really like that movies are branching out by saying that not only black people get to be gangsters.
Liv and I watched a pirated copy of: Revolutionary Road
This movie should have been called Titanic 2 or maybe Kate Winslet vs the Academy Awards. I saw the preview and I knew there was going to be lots of yelling and lots of heavy emotions. All things considered, it was a pretty excellent movie. Sam Mendes is great. Leo still looks 14 though, and that will make it difficult for him to ever be taken seriously.
While my parents were in town I saw: Milk
At the very least Sean Penn will be nominated for best actor. He won recently, but I feel like he could do it again. I think James Franco or Emile Hirsch or even Diego Luna could get best supporting actor nominations. Josh Brolin could also. It may be the best picture favorite, its really hard to say.
With my parents I also saw: Frost/Nixon
Really good. Michael Sheen is a sleeper pick for best actor. Frank Langella redeemed himself in my eyes for last year's awful Starting Out In The Evening. Sam Rockwell and Oliver Platt were both excellent. Any movie with Clint Howard deserves to win something.
I haven't seen: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
I'm not sure if I will, but because Brad Pitt is in it everyone knows its not really an Oscar contender. Just another Oscar pretender like College Road Trip, or My Bloody Valentine in 3D.
I know it was a long post, but I've seen a lot of movies in the last few weeks. Yesterday Matt and I watched Man On Wire. It was pretty good, but very very Le French.
