Thursday, January 29, 2015
Let's talk about movies: Expectations and Oscar talk
Let's talk about movies: Expectations and Oscar talk: It's that time of the year again, a time I both love and get frustrated with and you may wonder what I'm talking about, well it'...
Expectations and Oscar talk
It's that time of the year again, a time I both love and get frustrated with and you may wonder what I'm talking about, well it's academy awards I'm referring to. Every year you get the nominations and if you're like me you agree with most but scratch your head at a few. I guess I have certain expectations when it comes to either the film being nominated or actor, actress nominated.
I just saw Into the Woods because I had to see if Meryl Streep deserved her nomination and it's what I thought, she gets nominated because of who she is and not because of how great her performance was.
I give the actors and actresses credit who do musicals because not only do they have to act but they have to be able to sing as well. It's a slap in the face to the other participants of the movie that only Meryl gets nominated because I think Emily Blunt and Anna Kendrick are equally as good if not better than Mrs. Streep.
Another nomination I don't agree with is Laura Dern in Wild, I get she's the catalyst for the character but her performance didn't add anything to the movie such as Renee Russo in Nightcrawler whose smarmy news director is a great performance that was overlooked.
Ethan Hawke is another one whom I've begun to think plays the same character, another wasted nomination that should have gone to Tom Wilkinson or Tim Roth in Selma, two great performances that shouldn't be missed. Unfortunately I have to include Robert Duvall in this as well because that nomination is all about his age and how he may never get another shot at an academy award nomination.
The other night I was leaving work and I was asked if I had seen American Snipper yet and at the time I hadn't, so this individual commented that it was going to win the best picture Oscar because it was the best movie they had seen. Well I'm going to strongly disagree because it's a good movie but it is not the best picture of the year. If I got to pick, it would be Guardians of the Galaxy hands down but that is never going to happen. Now back to reality. If I had to pick with what's nominated, it'd be between Birdman and Imitation Game and I might lean towards Imitation Game, I can't say enough how good that movie was.
This brings me to Bradley Cooper's nomination and I know a lot of people will disagree but I'm only telling you what's true. No he doesn't deserve the nomination because I've seen better work from him, in fact last year in American Hustle or the year before with Silver Linings Playbook. Personally Jake Gyllenhaal is great in Nightcrawler and should have been nominated, it's not an easy character to watch but without that performance you don't have that movie. I'd even say Ralph Finnes in Grand Budapest Hotel but comedies never get their just desserts.
Julianne Moore is going to win the Oscar for Still Alice and it's a fine performance but it isn't the best of the year. Rosamund Pike's performance in Gone Girl is the one I'd pick, I mean wow I could choose some choice words for her character but she played that character well. Felicity Jones is the other one I'd pick instead of Julianne Moore, her character had so much depth to it.
Well as it is every year I enjoy watching the Oscar telecast and some years have been better than others it's the one thing I look forward to. So until next time, keep watching movies because you know I will.
I just saw Into the Woods because I had to see if Meryl Streep deserved her nomination and it's what I thought, she gets nominated because of who she is and not because of how great her performance was.
I give the actors and actresses credit who do musicals because not only do they have to act but they have to be able to sing as well. It's a slap in the face to the other participants of the movie that only Meryl gets nominated because I think Emily Blunt and Anna Kendrick are equally as good if not better than Mrs. Streep.
Another nomination I don't agree with is Laura Dern in Wild, I get she's the catalyst for the character but her performance didn't add anything to the movie such as Renee Russo in Nightcrawler whose smarmy news director is a great performance that was overlooked.
Ethan Hawke is another one whom I've begun to think plays the same character, another wasted nomination that should have gone to Tom Wilkinson or Tim Roth in Selma, two great performances that shouldn't be missed. Unfortunately I have to include Robert Duvall in this as well because that nomination is all about his age and how he may never get another shot at an academy award nomination.
The other night I was leaving work and I was asked if I had seen American Snipper yet and at the time I hadn't, so this individual commented that it was going to win the best picture Oscar because it was the best movie they had seen. Well I'm going to strongly disagree because it's a good movie but it is not the best picture of the year. If I got to pick, it would be Guardians of the Galaxy hands down but that is never going to happen. Now back to reality. If I had to pick with what's nominated, it'd be between Birdman and Imitation Game and I might lean towards Imitation Game, I can't say enough how good that movie was.
This brings me to Bradley Cooper's nomination and I know a lot of people will disagree but I'm only telling you what's true. No he doesn't deserve the nomination because I've seen better work from him, in fact last year in American Hustle or the year before with Silver Linings Playbook. Personally Jake Gyllenhaal is great in Nightcrawler and should have been nominated, it's not an easy character to watch but without that performance you don't have that movie. I'd even say Ralph Finnes in Grand Budapest Hotel but comedies never get their just desserts.
Julianne Moore is going to win the Oscar for Still Alice and it's a fine performance but it isn't the best of the year. Rosamund Pike's performance in Gone Girl is the one I'd pick, I mean wow I could choose some choice words for her character but she played that character well. Felicity Jones is the other one I'd pick instead of Julianne Moore, her character had so much depth to it.
Well as it is every year I enjoy watching the Oscar telecast and some years have been better than others it's the one thing I look forward to. So until next time, keep watching movies because you know I will.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Let's talk about movies: My yearly top movies
Let's talk about movies: My yearly top movies: I was asked recently how long it takes me to comprise my list of top movies for the year, this person commented that it took me what 10 - 15...
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Let's talk about movies: My yearly top movies
Let's talk about movies: My yearly top movies: I was asked recently how long it takes me to comprise my list of top movies for the year, this person commented that it took me what 10 - 15...
My yearly top movies
I was asked recently how long it takes me to comprise my list of top movies for the year, this person commented that it took me what 10 - 15 minutes. Wow, if only they knew me a little better they'd realize it takes me the whole year to come up with that list, when I see a great movie I'm thinking where it's going to on the list. Another aspect I have to deal with is people who ask me why I didn't include a favorite movie of there's, well let's be honest because it's my list and I didn't think your movie deserved to be on my list. I know that sounds arrogant and that's not my intention but movies are a big deal to me. When I go to the movies it's the one place I can truly say that I'm hoping that I'm going to be totally mesmerized and blown away by the movie I'm watching. That is where the list comes from, those few movies that blew me away, made me feel something because of how well the story was told. I always place a disclaimer at the end of my list telling people that I'm sure not everyone is going to agree with my list but I'm always open to a discussion and I'm hoping that some of the movies on my list will inspire people to watch some of these movies and discover a truly great film.
I have to admit I recently watched The Imitation Game and if I could change my list this would be in my top ten because this is a great film that I think people should see. Benedict Cumberbatch is a great actor along with the ensemble that make this film unforgettable.
I guess you could say the movies on my top films of the year are recommendations, the reason I bring this up is that people are always recommending movies to me and some I'll definitely see and the others well I think you'll understand when I say I have no intention of ever watching. I know I once said I'd watch any movie so you wouldn't have to, well I can honestly say I can no longer do that, there comes a point where even I can't watch something that is going waste my time. As You know time is a commodity and I can't waste it on crap anymore plus when a lot of that crap has no substance it's a waste for me. I'm not some elitist who doesn't enjoy a good popcorn film or the summer blockbuster anymore, it's just that Hollywood keeps producing more crap these days and I've reached that point where I've become more selective with both my time and the movies I'm willing to sit through.
Here are my top 20 films for 2014:
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Birdman
4. The Lunchbox
5. Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier
6. The Skeleton Twins
7. Snowpiercer / The Raid 2
8. Pride
9. Chef
10. Whiplash
11. Begin Again
12. Boyhood
13. Foxcatcher
14.Interstellar
15.Nightcrawler
16. How To Train Your Dragon 2
17. Edge of Tomorrow
18. St. Vincent
19. X-Men: Days of Future Past
20. Dawn of The Planet of the Apes
I have to admit I recently watched The Imitation Game and if I could change my list this would be in my top ten because this is a great film that I think people should see. Benedict Cumberbatch is a great actor along with the ensemble that make this film unforgettable.
I guess you could say the movies on my top films of the year are recommendations, the reason I bring this up is that people are always recommending movies to me and some I'll definitely see and the others well I think you'll understand when I say I have no intention of ever watching. I know I once said I'd watch any movie so you wouldn't have to, well I can honestly say I can no longer do that, there comes a point where even I can't watch something that is going waste my time. As You know time is a commodity and I can't waste it on crap anymore plus when a lot of that crap has no substance it's a waste for me. I'm not some elitist who doesn't enjoy a good popcorn film or the summer blockbuster anymore, it's just that Hollywood keeps producing more crap these days and I've reached that point where I've become more selective with both my time and the movies I'm willing to sit through.
Here are my top 20 films for 2014:
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Birdman
4. The Lunchbox
5. Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier
6. The Skeleton Twins
7. Snowpiercer / The Raid 2
8. Pride
9. Chef
10. Whiplash
11. Begin Again
12. Boyhood
13. Foxcatcher
14.Interstellar
15.Nightcrawler
16. How To Train Your Dragon 2
17. Edge of Tomorrow
18. St. Vincent
19. X-Men: Days of Future Past
20. Dawn of The Planet of the Apes
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