2014 Osacar Nomination Predictions

The Oscar Nominations will be announced this Thursday morning, so here are my predictions on who will score a nomination for the Big 6.

Best Director

·         -Alfonso Cuaron

·          -Steve McQueen

·         -Martin Scorsese

·         -David O. Russell

·         -Alexander Payne

Best Actor

·          -Chiwetel Ejiofor

·         -Matthew McConauhey

·         -Tom Hanks

·          -Leonardo DiCaprio

·         -Bruce Dern

Best Actress

·         -Amy Adams

·          -Cate Blanchett

·         -Meryl Streep

·         -Emma Thompson

·         -Sandra Bullock

Best Supporting Actor

·         -Jared Leto

·         -Bradley Cooper

·         -Michael Fassbender

·         -Barkhad Abdi

·         -?!?! (I honestly have no clue. Daniel Bruhl was nominated for a GG, but I'm not convinced.)

Best Supporting Actress

·         -Jennifer Lawrence

·         -Lupita Nyong'o

·         -Sally Hawkins

·         -June Squibb

·         -Julia Roberts

Best Picture

·         -American Hustle

·         -12 Years A Slave

·         -Nebraska

·         -The Wolf of Wall Street

·         -Dallas Buyers Club

·         -Gravity

·         -Captain Phillips

Fall and Winter 2013 Must-See List

Holy lack of blog posts, Batman!

Hopefully I'll have more time to see movies this fall, let alone review them.

In the meantime, here's the list of films I'm looking forward to seeing through the end of this year.

1. American Hustle (December 25th)
2. Dallas Buyers Club (November 1st)
3. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (November 22nd)
4. August: Osage County (December 26th)
5. The Counselor (October 25th)
6. Ender's Game (November 1st)
7. Saving Mr. Banks (December 13th)
8. The Wolf of Wall Street (November 25th) 
9. Don Jon (September 27th)
10. Runner Runner (October 4th)
11. Frozen (Novemeber 27th)
12. Anchorman 2: The Legend of Ron Burgandy (December 20th)

Oscar Predictions 2013

Oscar Predictions 2013

What a year in film! I didn't go to the movies as much as I would have liked this year, thus I haven't seen some of the nominated films. But that surely won't stop me from making my predictions!

Best Actor: I think Daniel Day-Lewis has this category on lock. There's no way any other nominee has the clout or performance to beat his this year. If for whatever reason he didn't win, my money would be on Bradley Cooper.

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence. I've heard great things about each of the other nominees' performances, but Lawrence's has the most buzz (plus she was FANTASTIC in the film). Each other nominee has issues with their film: Chastain's film is currently clouded in controversy and the film hasn't even been fully released; Emmanuelle Riva's "Amour" is a foreign language film, which the Academy doesn't usually honor with the top categories; Quvenzhané Wallis is too young, and "Beast of the Southern Wild" was released too long ago for it to be a powerful contender; Naomi Watts is the nominee I think has the power to take the award away from Lawrence.
SNUB: Possibly Marion Cotillard. I haven't seen her film "Rust and Bone," so I can't fairly judge. But I think the Academy couldn't possibly nominate two actresses in foreign films in the same year.

Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin. I haven't had a chance to see "Argo" (I KNOW) but based off the buzz he's getting, I'd say he has this category won. Robert De Niro would be a close second.

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway. I don't think this needs to be explained.

Best Director: This is going to be a tough one, but I think Steven Spielberg will take home Oscar Gold. David O. Russell could sneak in there, but ultimately I think this is Spielberg's year.

Best Picture: 9 nominees this year-WOW! This will also be a really tough category, and only time will tell who the frontrunner is. I think Les Miz is out solely because it's a musical. Its director not being nominated is also a telling sign. I think the Oscar will go to Silver Linings Playbook or Lincoln.

Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook
Release Date: December 25, 2012
Directed By: David O. Russell
Based off the book "Silver Linings Playbook" by Matthew Quick

Synopsis: Pat returns to his parents' Philadelphia home after spending eight months in a court-ordered psychiatric facility as a result of assaulting his wife's lover. Pat's timid mother and OCD father strive to get their son back on his feet, but his obsession with reuniting with his wife and his noncompliance with his medication has everyone on edge. Pat is introduced to Tiffany, the sister of a friend's wife and a young widow who has issues of her own. After spending some time together, they realize some "crazy" in their lives might be just what each of them needs.

Review: I really enjoyed the film's representation of mental illness. Each character takes responsibility for their respective disorders, and they don't apologize for it. Bradley Cooper's intense mood swings were hard to watch, which for me was a testament to his acting. I managed to neither feel sorry for him nor dislike him. Jennifer Lawrence gave a powerhouse performance as a damaged young woman just looking for someone to truly love her. Pat and Tiffany pose as perfect foils and lovers for one another. Because of what each of them has been through, they're able to understand one another in a way no one else has before.

Every scene flowed smoothly and each character arc was satisfying. Robert DeNiro's portrayal as a flawed, OCD yet loving father was exceptional. You could tell he really loved his son despite no really understanding him. Jackie Weaver as Pat's meek mother was just the ounce of sweetness this movie needed.

What I really enjoyed was kind of a bizarre plot development. Pat is desperate to see or speak to his wife, but the restraining order puts the kibosh on that. Tiffany agrees to give PAt's letter to his wife, but only if he competes in a dance competition with her after Christmas. The time spent together practicing for the competition helps foster their growing love for one another. I liked that the filmmakers didn't make the dancing the central plot point, but a device to lighten up the film a bit.

I'd highly recommend this film!

I'm a terrible person/blogger

I still have seven (yes, SEVEN!) movies to upload. but have not found the time. Hopefully this weekend, I can tackle the movies which I have yet to review (all of which are now out on video . . . sad).

Until that time comes, I'd like to post my most anticipated movies for fall.

1) The Muppets (So darn cute!)

2) Breaking Dawn: Part 1 (Campy, but awesome)

3) Drive

4) The Ides Of March (BORING)

5) 50/50 (I was laughing and bawling simultaneously. So good.)

6) J. Edgar

7) We Bought A Zoo (Heartfelt and sweet.)

8) Warrior (The acting was good, but it was kind of boring.)

9) Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

10) Like Crazy

11) War Horse

12) In Time

13) Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

14) The Adventures of Tin-Tin: Secret of the Unicorn

I'm going to have a busy fall and winter . . .

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/08/fall_movies_slideshow.html#

Water For Elephants

1.) Water For Elephants
Released: April 22, 2011
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Based off the novel "Water For Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Synopsis: An old man in a nursing home escapes the confines of his elderly prison and sneaks across the street to a circus. He is found by the owner of the circus, and the old man begins to tell his story Jacob Jankowski is about to take his Veterinary Boards when he finds out both of his parents have died in a car accident. He comes to find that his parents have left him nothing, all in the name of sending him to Vet school. This devastating blow causes Jacob to re-evaluate his next step, and instead of heading back to school, he heads to the open road. Along the way he jumps a train, which turns out to be for the Circus that's passing through town. He's brought to the Ringleader, August, and comes aboard as the circus vet. After the circus buys an elephant named Rosie from a bankrupt show, it becomes Jacob's responsibility to care for her. He soon finds that the beautiful horse woman, Marlena (who happens to be August's wife) will be the one performing with Rosie. Jacob, Marlena, and Rosie form a special bond, which changes the circus, and their lives, forever.

Review: I saw this movie opening weekend, and I have NO idea why I'm not posting my review until now. I want to start of by saying that this book is in my top ten favorites of all time. So not only was I elated that they were making this into a film, I was also a bit apprehensive, as many are when cherished novels transition to the silver screen. Every new development in casting excited me, and when I saw the preview for the first time, I cried (and two more viewing after that. I'm a sucker, what can I say).

I LOVED this film. It was so true to the book, that it kind of blew my mind. Even my dad liked it (totally not his kind of movie, he gave it an eight out of ten). The costumes and make up were absolutely beautiful, the scenery and sets were perfectly selected and crafted, and i thought the casting was spot-on for each character. It's hard for me not to like Reese Witherspoon, and her take on Marlena, the enchanting "horse woman" only endeared me to her more. I haven't seen much of Christoph Watlz, but he was perfect for the role of the hot-headed and abusive August. As for Robert Pattinson's performance, I was pleasantly surprised. Is he the next greatest actor of our time? No. Was he enjoyable to watch? Absolutely.

What really added to the magic of this film was Rosie, the elephant. Her presence alone while reading the book would make me smile, laugh, and cry. Luckily she did the same thing for me in the film. Each of my favorite scenes involving her in the novel translated incredibly well to the screen (her only responding to commands in Polish, stealing the lemonade, and mostly the ending).

Let me just explain the ending (for those who don't want to know, skip this part). Jacob and Marlena decide to escape the circus and run away together, away from August. during a show, many of the animals are let loose, causing an immediate evacuation of the tent, as well as utter chaos (what else could it be with wild animals running amok). In the midst of the insanity, August sees Marlena and Jacob trying to escape. He runs over to the lovers, takes Marlena and begins to choke her. Upon the brink of Marlena's last breath, Rosie appears, takes a stake out of the ground, and slits August's throat. The ENTIRE theater erupted in cheers and clapping. Now in the book, Rosie steps on August's head and smashes it like a watermelon (which would have been oh so satisfying had Sean Penn not have dropped out of filming). For cinematic purposes, I'm glad I didn't see a head blown to smithereens. Marlena, Jacob, and Rosie all end up happily ever after.

I can't even describe how glad I am that the filmmakers were loyal to the novel. It was a bit slow at parts, but so was the book I suppose. All in all, I highly recommend this movie, to all of have read the book or not.

Up next: Horrible Bosses; X-Men: First Class; Bridesmaids; Crazy, Stupid, Love; Captain America: The First Avenger; and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (eeeek!)

The Brief Catch Up

Alright, it's been about three months since my last complete post, and I have six movies on the docket to be reviewed. However, I saw some of these movies closer to my final complete post than in the past couple weeks, so I'll give these films brief and ridiculously short reviews (recent life events have clouded my head, making it virtually impossible for me to remember everything about them).

1) The Lincoln Lawyer: I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I'm not the biggest McConaughey
fan (I think he's kind of an arrogant a-hole), but this is the role he was born to play. Long story short: he plays a stereotypical- sleazeball public defender. He is specifically requested for a high profile trial, and immediately thinks he'll win the case, no problem. He soon comes to realize that a past case has a bigger influence over his current client's charges than he could have imagined, and his character begins to rethink the differences between guilt and innocence. It was action-packed yet not over done, and well written. Not to mention there was a bit of a peanut gallery sitting in front of us (which usually I hate), but their commentary provided quite the comic relief from the intensity of the story ("Oh shit, that fool better run! Bitch be crazy!"). I definitely recommend this film!

2) The Hangover 2: Now I did see this movie relatively recently, but I disliked it so much that I don't think it's worthy of a full review. I am a HUGE fan of the first movie, and some of the elements that worked in the first film translated well into the second installment, However, this strength also proved to be the film's biggest detriment. It was THE SAME MOVIE, except they went more for shock and awe rather than smart yet perverted humor. I must say I was extremely disappointed. Zach Galifinakis was predictably hilarious, and this movie would have tanked without him in it.

3) Thor: I went to the movies with my parents, and it was Dad's turn to choose the film of the day. I had no desire to see it, other than the draw of the ridiculously hot Chris Hemsworth (that smile . . . swoon!), but was game for checking it out. Man, was that a fun movie! We accidentally saw it in 3D, but we were all delighted it ended up that way. The special effects were fantastic (95% of Thor's home planet was CGI); you felt like you were watching it all go down in real time. The greatest part about this movie was that it was SO cheesy, but the filmmakers totally embraced it. They didn't try to make this uber-serious film from a ridiculous premise and predictable (yet thoroughly enjoyable) acting. I'll definitely buy this movie when it comes out. Not to mention that when anything shocking happens, I have been inspired to say, "By the hammer of Thor!" For example: "By the hammer of Thor! That lightening storm was insane!" Good thing Tina Fey keeps me updated on sayings like these. Golden.

In the coming week(s), I'll upload full reviews of Water For Elephants, Bridesmaids, and X-Men First Class, and Horrible Bosses. I know you are waiting with baited breath for their reveal. ;) (here's a sneak peek, THEY ALL ROCKED).

I'll catch up soon . . . I promise!

I am such a slacker when ti comes to this blog in recent months. I have about six movies to review, and I swear I will do so soon! Life has gotten the best of me as of late (which is definitely not a bad thing), but you'll hear my pearls of wisdom soon. Since I know the five of you that actually read this are DYING to hear my thoughts. ;-)

The King's Speech

Release Date: December 24, 2010

Directed By: Tom Hooper

Synopsis: This story revolves around King George VI, after his older brother abdicates the throne and thrusts George into the spotlight during WWII. George suffers from an uncontrollable stammer that heightens when placed in situations requiring him to speak publicly. His wife seeks out aid from multiple speech therapists, only to be referred to an unorthodox therapist named Lionel Logue. King George is hesitant at first, but an unlikely friendship blossom between the two men allowing George to let go of his fears and find his voice.

Review: I saw this movie MONTHS ago, but unfortunately I’ve been to busy to write consistently. But, here we go.

I loved this film. I had heard so many wonderful things about it from family and friends, and decided to head to the theater by myself one Sunday afternoon to check it out. This film was impeccably cast, and I can honestly say I loved every character in it. From Guy Pearce’s portrayal of the emotionally stunted and cowardly brother to George, to Helena Bonham Carter’s unexpected performance as the Queen Mother, to Geoffrey Rush’s insanely likeable portrayal as the brazen speech therapist, to the Oscar-winning performance from Colin Firth as the frightened but loveable king, it was hard to not love the characters.

I haven’t seen Geoffrey Rush in anything besides the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, so I was looking forward to seeing him in a different light (obviously, I need to further my movie education and queue up some of his films on Netflix). What I loved so much about his portrayal of Lionel was that he was seemingly unfazed by the enormity of the situation he was pulled into, and he simply didn’t care that his client was the future King of Britain; he was treated the same as any other client walking in from the street. He never judged George, but h was unafraid in telling him exactly what he thought about his progress or George’s unwillingness to cooperate. It was the kind of performance that made you wish you had a friend like him in your own life; one that you can rely on not only to tell you the truth, but help you achieve your goals no matter what it takes.

I love pretty much anything I’ve seen Colin Firth in, so it wasn’t hard for me to like his character in this film. His Oscar win for this role was well deserved for two main reasons: you could feel his character’s pain and sympathize it, and you truly loved him and what he stood for by the film’s end. With every tick of stutter, I gained more sympathy and oddly more understanding for George. He was riddled with fear and anxiety about not bring worthy for the title he was unexpectedly given, and frankly I think that’s something we all can relate to.

The relationship between the two men was obviously the most important part of the story, and what truly made this film so wonderful. They aren’t fast friends by any means, but you can tell when they begin to develop a level of respect and ultimately trust for one another. George is incredibly stubborn about Lionel’s methods starting out, but as his stammering lessened even just a little, it was obvious to the audience when George started to let his guard down. There were two scenes I was particularly fond of. The first was when the Queen Mother attends a session with her husband, and participates in various exercises the two men perform. They are doing ridiculous things (George and Lionel lying on the floor while the Queen Mother sits on top of her husband. The second scene, and perhaps one of the most talked about for ratings reasons, was the scene in which George is encouraged to say “fuck” as many times as he can. This turns into Firth screaming and stammering his way through the F-word while Rush stands there and watches unfazed. Hilarious.

I think in times like these, ones filled with political unrest and heartbreak everywhere we turn, its encouraging and uplifting to watch a story like this unfold. Who would have thought that a film about and old school “bromance” would be the best film of the year? The inspirational undertone of the film really came to a head when Lionel and George are arguing about one thing or another, and Lionel is asking him why he deserves to be heard on the day of his coronation (or something along those lines). To which George exclaims, “Because I have a VOICE!” The look on Lionel’s face perfectly exemplified the “a-ha” moment of the story for both men. They both knew that was the turning point not only in their friendship, but perhaps more importantly in their therapy.

Another thing I loved about this film was the use of color. In the beginning, it’s pouring rain and quite dreary (typical England), but even the interiors were dark and pretty drab (very 1940s). By the end of the film, everything was sunny and the filmmakers really played off of bright colors to evoke emotions in their audience. I think this was a relatively subtle but extremely important detail utilized to make an unconscious impact on the viewers.

All in all, you need to go out and see this movie right now, if you haven’t already. It’s the perfect movie to watch on a lazy day with your buds or family. 

Oscar Nominations Part 2

This clip perfectly explains why Wayne's World is my favorite movie of ALL time.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/213307/saturday-night-live-waynes-world-cold-open


:-)

Oscar Nominations

The Academy Awards are quickly approaching (eeeeeeeek!), and it’s that time to post my predictions, along with snubs in some of the major categories. No stealing my answers!

Best Actor: Colin Firth. He blew competition out of the water with his inspired performance in “The King’s Speech.” To be honest, no other nominee has a fighting chance. But I was impressed with the other nominations in this category (Jesse Eisenberg was an odd but fitting choice).

Best Actress: Natalie Portman.  I may have thoroughly disliked “Black Swan,” but I’d be a complete fool not to admit she was fantastic in it. Annette Bening is her main competition in this race, but I didn’t really like her all that much in “The Kids Are Alright.”

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale. Seriously, they might as well just hand him the Oscar now. Geoffrey Rush was great in “King’s Speech,” but Bale truly blew him out of the water. He really became his character, and that shined through his performance.

            SNUB: Andrew Garfield. The poor guy didn’t get nominated for a single thing for his performance in “The Social Network.” He was the much needed lightness and sometimes comic relief next to Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg.

Best Supporting Actress: This is going to be a battle between “The Fighter” girls, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. In the end though, I don’t think Adams’ departure from cutesy romantic comedies will be enough to overshadow Leo’s performance. She’s already one a Golden Globe and SAG award for this role, and it’s likely the trend will continue on.

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Social Network. Sorkin is known for his witty dialogue, and this is his chance to be recognized for it. Some might say True Grit is the main competitor, but since this is a remake of a movie, I doubt it will hold as much weight with the Academy.

            SNUB: The Town. Unfortunately, I wasn’t expecting too many nominations for this film, since it is being touted as a strong “genre piece.” However, I’ve read the novel it was based off of, and I must say that Affleck did a fantastic job brining it to the big screen. We all know he is a gifted screen writer (aka his Oscar-winning piece “Good Will Hunting”), and I’m a bit shocked that the academy hasn’t recognized his efforts as of late (both films he has directed have garnered nominations in the “supporting actor/actress categories: Amy Ryan for “Gone Baby, Gone” and Jeremy Renner for “The Town”). I’m confused as to why “Toy Story 3” got nominated in this category. Sure, I loved it, but I’m not so sure it belongs with the other heavy-hitters in this category.

Best Original Screenplay: Inception. This category has stiff competition this year, with films like “The Fighter” and “The King’s Speech,” but this truly was the most inspired screenplay of the year. Plus, Nolan has paid his dues in this industry, and frankly deserves something after all these years.

Best Animated Film: Toy Story 3. I loved “How To Train Your Dragon,” but based off the support Toy Story has gotten, frankly I’d be shocked if it didn’t win.

Best Director: This is another competitive category this year, with nominees Aronofsky, the Coen Brothers, David Fincher, and Tom Hooper. Ultimately, I don’t think the Coen Brothers will strike gold again, but picking between the other three might be difficult. Aronofsky hasn’t received many (if any) awards this season for his directing, so based on that he’s out. Hooper and Fincher have been neck and neck for the entire awards season, but ultimately I think the award will go to Hooper for “The King’s Speech.”

            SNUB: Christopher Nolan. How the HELL did he not get nominated for “Inception?” I haven’t seen “True Grit” yet, but I’m a bit confused as to why the Coen Brothers are nominated in this category. Congrats, you remade a classic western and switched up the dialogue a bit. Let’s award some creativity here!

Best Picture: Again, very tight race. However, I think The Social Network will walk away with this one. It’s an edgy pick for the academy, and it’s been doing well in this category for other awards. But I could see “The King’s Speech” taking this one as well.

The Fighter

Release Date: December 17, 2010
Directed By: David O. Russell
Based on a True Story

Synopsis: A small, industrial town in the heart of Massachusetts isn't known for much, except for "the pride of Lowell", Dickie Ecklund, a young and scrappy boxer famous for knocking down Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978. Now in his forties, Dickie is helping his younger brother, Mickey Ward, jump start his own boxing career, along with their mother as his manager. Dickie's crack addiction threatens to derail their training schedule yet Mickey can't imagine going forward without his brother's guidance. Mickey then meet Charlene, a young bartender, who helps him find the confidence and inner strength to go on without his overly involved family in order to go on to the biggest fight of his life. Along the way, he realizes that he needs each and every one of them in his corner in order to become one of the greatest boxers of all time.

Review: I have been really looking forward to seeing this film, mostly because I like everyone that's in it. Beyond that, I really didn't know too much about it. I was relatively surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

The acting in it was superb all around, from the main characters through the more supporting roles. Mark Wahlberg is always delicious to watch, but I feel like he hasn't been able to showcase his acting chops much besides maybe Boogie Nights and The Departed. I think he played Mickey with the perfect balance of vulnerability and intensity required for such a gritty role (not to mention he was half named for a good portion of the movie, which will always be looked highly upon by me). The movie was pitched in 2005, and wasn't filmed until 2009, meaning Wahlberg had to stay in prime shape for four years in order to be able to start shooting at the drop of a hat (Which I and probably many other woman are truly thankful for). The role of Charlene was quite the departure for Amy Adams' usual Rom-Com girls, but she really sunk her teeth into this character and pulled it off flawlessly. Charlene is a no-nonsense kind of woman, and quite obviously doesn't take crap from anyone; even Mickey's overbearing family. It's inspiring to see such a tough woman be able to be able to help boost up her man while also growing within herself. Melissa Leo was pretty hard to watch as the mother/manager, but I guess that's how you know she did such a wonderful job. She plays the quintessential stage mom, and half the time you want to reach through the screen and shake some sense into her. She turns a blind eye to Dickie's addiction, and shows blatant favoritism towards her troubled son.

I make it no secret that I think Christian Bale is a pompous windbag, but DAMN is he a good actor. He lost a bunch of weight to make the crack addiction believable, and it's safe to say I believed it from the moment he opened his mouth. His character was by far the hardest but most rewarding to watch. His mannerisms, speech patterns, and appearance were so authentic and real, I almost forgot I was merely watching a movie. At the end of the film, there is a brief clip of the real Mickey and Dickie, and it was absolutely uncanny how much Bale sounded and acted like the real Dickie. It was truly shocking to see. I can't say enough good things about his performance.

Mickey and Dickie have I think six sisters, all of them as trashy and gritty as you can imagine. Their performance as a whole was hilarious to watch; they have absolutely no filter and are the epitome of white trash. Their interactions with Charlene were always entertaining and filled with raunchy expletives.

What I appreciated about the film was that there wasn't much musical accompaniment. I know that sounds bizarre, but if there were distinct musical pieces at certain points, I truly feel it would have taken away from the story. After all, this is a sports film- we want to see action and results. That being said, the fight sequences were painful to watch because they were filmed so well. HBO filmed these scenes, since they have so much experience filming pay-per-view fights. I was watching an interview with Mark Wahlberg on Conan (whose sister played one of the sisters in the film), and he said that those shots were filmed in a matter of days, and were completely real. No contact was added in later; it was pure, unedited boxing. I respected the film (even before seeing it) on that fact alone- these actors really became their characters.

If you haven't seen The Fighter yet, go right now. Seriously. I'm dying to see it again, actually. And not just because Mark Wahlberg has his shirt off. Although that does help. :)

Top Ten of 2010

This is in no particular order, because I'm indecisive.

1. The Town
2. Inception
3. Shutter Island
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
5. How To Train Your Dragon
6. Toy Story 3
7. Date Night (I Laughed SO hard)
8. The Fighter

Black Swan

Release Date: December 3, 2010

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Synopsis: A tightly wound ballerina named Nina is chosen to play the iconic role of the Swan Queen in “Swan Lake.” This task proves to be more daunting than she first imagined, for she must also play the role of the Black Swan, the white swan’s sinister sister who convinces her prince not to love her innocent sister. Nina is constantly under the care of her controlling, wannabe ballerina mother and an egotistical ballet director who exploits her innocence for his gain. The role soon consumes Nina’s entire existence; allowing her to explore her newfound sexuality and ultimately descends into madness.

Review: I want to first put out there that I respect what Aronofsky was trying to do here. He took a darker screenplay loosely based off an iconic ballet, assembled an all-star cast, and provided a thought-provoking thriller. It’s just too bad that all of my thoughts provoked from this film were what time dinner was and when I could get the hell out of the theater. I don’t know why critics are raving about this film. Maybe they saw a different version than I did, or maybe I’m just a simple Colorado girl not sophisticated enough to understand the powerful message that Black Swan conveyed, but I really, REALLY, did not like this film.   

            I knew it was a psycho-sexual-thriller going into it, but I guess I wasn’t ready for just how psycho it was. I felt that if Aronofsky would have stuck to just one or two elements of Nina’s psycho mania rather than throwing 20 different things in my face, I would have enjoyed it. The first 45 minutes of the film were weird, but I did enjoy it. After that, it was all downhill. As a fellow, albeit inexperienced dancer, I understand at least some of the rigor that goes into dance training. I was never a ballet dancer, so I don’t even know a quarter of how hard serious ballerinas work. Showing the scars all over Nina’s feet or hearing her bones crack were chilling, but extremely realistic. Ballet is a cut throat world, and Aronofsky also portrayed that aspect well.

            Although I loathed this film, it was well made and the acting was superb. Natalie Portman never disappoints, and her physical transformation is astounding. She’s probably about as tall as I am and I would guess weighs about 120 soaking wet. She lost 20 pounds for this role, and you could see every bone in her body (which added to the realism this film provided). I did sympathize with her character while at the same time not understanding her at all. Mila Kunis also did a great job, but I don’t really understand why she was necessary to the film. The only real reason I saw her to be in Black Swan was to go down on Natalie Portman, which I also found ridiculously unnecessary. My cousin made the point that it was a little self-indulgent on Aronofsky’s part, and I can’t help but agree with her. I mean, I get she’s discovering her sexuality and sensuality, possibly even lesbianism, but it didn’t add to the film. It served as a draw to get men to come to the movie.

            There were a ridiculous amount of creepy parts to this film, and it was just a mental overload. In one scene, Nina is obsessively pulling at her bleeding cuticles, and she starts to pull of the skin so it can heal. But no, it gets taken to a whole new level in which she literally rips a strip of skin from her cuticle to the middle of her hand. WHY?!?!? We come to find out it didn’t actually happen, which is all the more reason why it should have been left out. It added nothing but disgust for the film, in my opinion. The same disdain grew out of another scene in which Nina visits her aging and injured protégé Beth in the hospital (played by Winona Ryder who bothers me to no end). Nina gives back a nail file she had stolen from Beth, so Beth proceeds to start flipping out and stabbing herself in the face with the nail file. I was expecting some wrist cutting or even stabbing herself in the chest. But her face?!?! Turns out that was a hallucination too. So I ask you Aronofsky, WHAT THE HELL?

            The cool/creepy part was a recurring theme throughout the film, and honestly could have stood well on its own. Nina keeps scratching her back to the point of bleeding, and no one can figure out why . . . only the scratching is in the place where a wing could be (the creativity blows my mind . . . so much so that I figured it out the first time it was showed on screen. Bravo). Right before her big debut on stage, Nina is having a mental breakdown in her room and starts to scratch. Only something is there this time . . . and she pulls out a black feather. She starts pulling out more, and is obviously traumatized. It should have stopped there, but then it proceeds to show Portman’s legs turn into swan legs. Then the scene cuts and she’s sans swan legs. Even though the feather theme was a bit obvious, I felt that enhanced the story and exemplified her mania. Those silly swan legs took it way too far.

            When it came to the dancing, Natalie Portman did an excellent job. She trained for a year before principal filming began, and truly transformed herself into a ballet dancer. The principal male partner was also great (he’s a principal dancer for the NYC Ballet Company, and Portman’s husband/baby daddy), but aside from that the dancing sucked. Like I said before, I’m no expert, but it shouldn’t look like these dancers are working when they dance. It should look effortless. Well, it seemed as though they were exerting every ounce of energy they had into their dancing, and not in a good way.           

I would not recommend this film, but at the same time I’m glad I saw it. It’s safe to say I feel MUCH  better about my neuroses after seeing it.

Most Anticipated Movies of 2011

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
2. Water For Elephants
3. Limitless
4. The Adjustment Bureau
5. Red Riding Hood
6. The Hangover 2
7. Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Inception

Release Date: July 16, 2010

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Synopsis: In a world where dreams are equally, if not more important than reality, a thief has a chance at redemption when he is offered the task of completing Inception: the process of planting an idea into one’s mind in order to create a desired outcome. Cobb (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his band of highly intelligent and skilled thieves (Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Tom Hardy) attempt Inception upon a young billionare (Cillian Murphy) in order for the head of a rival company to rise to power (Ken Watanabe). Will Cobb and his crew achieve Inception, or will the memories of Cobb’s wife (Marion Cotillard) threaten to derail the ultimate heist?

Review: Let me start off by saying that for the most part, I will see just about everything Christopher Nolan directs or writes and anything that Leonardo DiCaprio stars in. Nolan has this insane ability to somehow make deeply psychologically twisted marketable to the masses. From what I’ve read, this particular script took him nearly ten years to complete, and he only had DiCaprio in mind for the role of Cobb. That being said, I am a huge fan of this film.

            The first time I saw Inception a friend and I went to the midnight showing, so I was absolutely exhausted. Seeing it again really made me appreciate the artistry in crafting this story. Nolan has said he is fascinated by the dreaming process, and how our minds create the bizarre scenarios, some of which are vivid and frighteningly realistic. He pays an incredibly close attention to detail, some of which goes way over my head (such as certain things characters say in passing that turn out to be of the utmost importance, different colored clothing, etc).

            Each person was cast perfectly, and most from Nolan’s “stock” of actors (Cillian Murphy, Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe). I was a bit hesitant to see Ellen Page take on a more serious role, after the likes of Juno and Whip It, but I thought she handled herself well. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an actor I really enjoy watching, so I’m glad that this film has helped him land a few more roles. He plays the suave sidekick with the necessary sophistication and intensity. I wish Tom Hardy’s character would have had a bit more screen time, but since he has been cast as the new villain in “The Dark Knight Rises”, I’m sure we’ll get to see a lot more of him.

            The visual effects in this film were stunning. Creepy and a bit bizarre, but stunning. They perfectly exemplified the vivid imagery of our dreams without being hokey or stupid; it greatly enhanced the story. I also loved how there were times where you didn’t know what was a dream and what was reality (hint according to imdb.com: In all the dream sequences, Cobb is wearing his wedding ring. In reality sequences, he is not). I didn’t find myself getting too confused, which was refreshing for a film with this subject matter and interweaving story lines.

            The ending of the story was relatively light hearted compared to the rest fo the film, but I thought it fit well. You felt relief right along with Cobb when his children turned around to see him, and it was nice to see everyone happily go their separate ways, unsure of when they would meet again.

            If you haven’t seen this movie, go rent it right now. It’s a must have for any movie collection!

Details Magazine Interview: Christian Bale

This is a branching out a bit of movie reviews, but this has at least something to do with a movie on my Holiday List, “The Fighter.” Christian Bale plays Dickie Ward, Mikcey Ward’s (played by Mark Wahlberg) younger crack head brother. I was reading an interview with Bale in Details Magazine, and I just had to voice my opinion on the content of the interview, and Bale’s demeanor throughout. .

            First of all, Bale INSISTS upon the interview being in the Q&A format. Secondly, he doesn’t let the reporter even ask questions. He had to perform a second interview just to get useable material. Bale then goes on and on about how he has such a sissy job, and basically complains about his good fortune. Poor you, one of the most sought after actors of this decade. Poor you with all of your money and fame.

            He then goes on to say he wishes he could never do another interview in his life because he thinks they are a waste of time and take away from the character. Uh, in order for your movie to be successful (you know, so you keep being famous and rich and actually cast in more projects) you have to do press junkets. Sure, reporters could come up with more creative questions sometimes, but this is your JOB. You get paid more than the President of the United States, and you are bitching about having to talk to someone who is showing an interest in your life or projects? Please.

            This is the part that bothers me the most. The reporter asks him about his role in The Machinist, in which Bale lost 65 pounds so he would be believable as a junkie on screen. He famously gained 85 pounds back immediately after this role for Batman Begins. The reporter asked how he has the stamina and will to put himself through that kind of thing, and Bale gives the most ridiculous answer. So ridiculous that it’s not even worth repeating. Bale reportedly will leave sets for hours at a time, with no one knowing where he is. He says he’s “preparing for his role.” Also known as method acting.

            Method acting is a crock of psychobabble bullshit. I think Bale is a terrific actor, but I have a feeling this “method acting” is another way of saying, “I’m a psycho who happens to be attractive.” IT reminds me of that Saturday Night Live sketch from the early 90s with John Lovtiz and Phil Hartmen. Lovitz is this snooty actor who quite obviously cannot act, but does very ridiculous things much to the delight of Hartmen. To each of these ridiculous things (such as bending your finger in half to make it as though it has disappeared), Lovitz would reveal his secret and exclaim, “ACTING!!!”

            Here’s the thing: viewers (aka people who pay for the movies you are in, Bale) want to see people they like. They want to see people who are good actors, but don’t take themselves so seriously. If you don’t stop being such a pompous windbag jerk, people will stop seeing your movies all together. So that means no yelling at people for getting a boom mic in the shot, no yelling at your mom in public places, and loosen up in your interviews. Get a life.