My 2011 Golden Globe Predictions, Vol. 1

This is my first post in a while (many months, in fact), so here it goes:

Note: I have not seen all of the films/performances, so my predictions shouldn't be taken too seriously. Also, I may be changing these as the awards get closer.

Best Motion Picture -- Drama
The Social Network (WINNER)
The King's Speech
Inception
Black Swan
The Fighter

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Drama
Natalie Portman, Black Swan (WINNER)
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Drama
Colin Firth, The King's Speech (WINNER)
James Franco, 127 Hours
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Best Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy
The Kids Are All Right (WINNER)
Red
Burlesque
Alice in Wonderland
The Tourist

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right (WINNER)
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone, Easy A
Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Musical or Comedy
Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version(WINNER)
Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack
Johnny Depp, The Tourist

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo, The Fighter (WINNER)
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom
Mila Kunis, Black Swan

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale, The Fighter (WINNER)
Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3 (WINNER)
How to Train Your Dragon
Despicable Me
The Illusionist
Tangled

Best Director -- Motion Picture
David Fincher, The Social Network (WINNER)
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Christopher Nolan, Inception
Tom Hooper, The King's Speech
David O. Russell, The Fighter

Best Screenplay -- Motion Picture
The Social Network (WINNER)
Inception
The King's Speech
The Kids Are All Right
127 Hours

Best Original Score -- Motion Picture
Inception (WINNER)
The Social Network
The King's Speech
127 Hours
Alice in Wonderland

Academy Award Predictions, 2nd Edition

Here's my final set of predictions for the upcoming Academy Awards:

Best Picture
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"The Hurt Locker"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"Inglorious Basterds"
"Up in the Air"
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
"Up"
"A Serious Man"
"An Education"

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart" (WINNER)
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
George Clooney - "Up in the Air"
Jeremy Renner - "The Hurt Locker"

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan - "An Education"
Meryl Streep - "Julie & Julia" (WINNER)
Gabourey Sidibe - "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren - "The Last Station"

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer - "The Last Station"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"
Christoph Waltz - "Inglorious Basterds" (WINNER)
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Matt Damon - "Invictus"

Best Supporting Actress
Vera Farmiga - "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal - "Crazy Heart"
Penelope Cruz - "Nine"
Mo'Nique - "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" (WINNER)

Best Director
James Cameron - "Avatar"
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglorious Basterds"
Jason Reitman - "Up in the Air"
Lee Daniels - "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"

Best Original Screenplay
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglorious Basterds" (WINNER)
"Up"
"A Serious Man"
"The Messenger"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
"Up in the Air" (WINNER)
"In the Loop"
"District 9"
"An Education"

Best Cinematography
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)
"Inglorious Basterds"
"The White Ribbon"
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Best Editing
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)
"District 9"
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
"Avatar"
"Inglorious Basterds"

Best Sound Mixing
"Star Trek"
"Avatar"
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
"Inglorious Basterds"
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)

Best Sound Editing
"The Hurt Locker"
"Up"
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"Star Trek"
"Inglorious Basterds"

Best Animated Film
"Up" (WINNER)
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"Coraline"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"

Best Art Direction
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"

Best Costume Design
"The Young Victoria" (WINNER)
"Nine"
"Bright Star"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Coco avant Chanel"

Best Visual Effects
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"Star Trek"
"District 9"

Best Makeup
"Star Trek" (WINNER)
"The Young Victoria"
"Il divo"

Best Original Score
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"Up" (WINNER)
"The Hurt Locker"
"Avatar"

Movie Review - Milk

There are few actors that have the abilities of Sean Penn. There are also few that are as polarizing. While many may be turned off by his political views, there is no doubt that Penn is one of the premier actors working in Hollywood today, and as Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant's "Milk" he delivers the best performance of his storied career. The film, nominated for 8 Oscars in 2008, is a stirring and uplifting look at the life of a man who did so much for his community and gays across the nation.

"Milk" charts the rise of Harvey Milk as the first openly gay man elected to political office. Milk realizes that, at age 40, he has done nothing special so, with the help of his lover Scott Smith (James Franco) he begins to campaign. As he tries over and over to gain the support of the public he is met with stiff resistance from the non-gay community. Even after he succeeds in being elected to public office he faces new challenges from the inside as he continues to put his life at risk to stand up for homosexuals across the country.

Van Sant has had an up and down career, with highlights such as "Good Will Hunting" and some lows like the ill-advised shot-for-shot "Psycho" remake. However, "Milk" finds him in top form. In what is the most mature film of his career, Van Sant's guiding hand not only lets Penn do what he does best but makes sure the movie doesn't stray too far in any direction. Some may see this film as a pro-gay rights film, and while it certainly sets Harvey Milk as a sort of hero it speaks more to the freedoms that all men have and the need to stand up for what we believe in. Benefiting greatly from a personal screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, meticulous editing that blends real footage with what's being played out on screen, and an operatic score by Danny Elfman the film soars in its vision and engages the audience while keeping bias out of the picture.

The film is riddled with excellent performances, but none as great as the lead. Sean Penn fully embodies Harvey Milk: his strength, his doubts, his passion, his playfulness. In a terrifically nuanced performance Penn creates a completely sympathetic character, one the audience finds themselves cheering for and believing in as he gives his all for a cause that is at the core of his being. His Oscar win was well deserved. The support Penn recieves is excellent, starting with Emile Hirsch as the fiesty, determined Cleve Jones and trickling on down to Diego Luna and Franco. However, the best support comes from Oscar-nominated Josh Brolin as Dan White, a man who does not know how to deal with Milk and his homosexuality and in the end lets ignorance get the best of him. His work is at the same time depressing, tragic, and at times even sympathetic.

While it was unable to win Best Picture (that honor went to the Cinderella story that was "Slumdog Millionaire"), "Milk" is one of the best films of 2008 and may have taken the top prize had it not been for "Slumdog" (which deserved its win). Anchored by one of the best performances of the decade as well as top notch production from all involved "Milk" is a triumph of the human spirit and deserves to be seen for its message of how to persevere in the face of persecution.

Academy Award Predictions, 1st Edition

Here's my first set of predictions for the upcoming Academy Awards:

Best Picture
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"The Hurt Locker"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"Inglorious Basterds"
"Up in the Air"
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
"Up"
"A Serious Man"
"An Education"

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart" (WINNER)
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
George Clooney - "Up in the Air"
Jeremy Renner - "The Hurt Locker"

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan - "An Education"
Meryl Streep - "Julie & Julia" (WINNER)
Gabourey Sidibe - "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren - "The Last Station"

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer - "The Last Station"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"
Christoph Waltz - "Inglorious Basterds" (WINNER)
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Matt Damon - "Invictus"

Best Supporting Actress
Vera Farmiga - "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal - "Crazy Heart"
Penelope Cruz - "Nine"
Mo'Nique - "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire" (WINNER)

Best Director
James Cameron - "Avatar" (WINNER)
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglorious Basterds"
Jason Reitman - "Up in the Air"
Lee Daniels - "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"

Best Original Screenplay
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)
"Inglorious Basterds"
"Up"
"A Serious Man"
"The Messenger"

Best Adapted Screenplay
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
"Up in the Air" (WINNER)
"In the Loop"
"District 9"
"An Education"

Best Cinematography
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)
"Inglorious Basterds"
"The White Ribbon"
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

Best Editing
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)
"District 9"
"Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire"
"Avatar"
"Inglorious Basterds"

Best Sound Mixing
"Star Trek"
"Avatar"
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"
"Inglorious Basterds"
"The Hurt Locker" (WINNER)

Best Sound Editing
"The Hurt Locker"
"Up"
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"Star Trek"
"Inglorious Basterds"

Best Animated Film
"Up" (WINNER)
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"Coraline"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"

Best Art Direction
"Avatar"
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Sherlock Holmes" (WINNER)
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"

Best Costume Design
"The Young Victoria"
"Nine"
"Bright Star" (WINNER)
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Coco avant Chanel"

Best Visual Effects
"Avatar" (WINNER)
"Star Trek"
"District 9"

Best Makeup
"Star Trek"
"The Young Victoria" (WINNER)
"Il divo"

Best Original Score
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"Up" (WINNER)
"The Hurt Locker"
"Avatar"

Top Movies of 2009 (Updated)

My Top 10 Films of 2009 (so far):

1. Up In The Air
2. Avatar
3. The Hurt Locker
4. District 9
5. Up
6. (500) Days of Summer
7. Inglorious Basterds
8. An Education
9. The Messenger
10. The Road


Movies I need to see:

Invictus
Crazy Heart
A Single Man
Where the Wild Things Are
The Last Station

Golden Globes - The results

So the Golden Globes were this past Sunday. Let's take a look back on my predictions and see where I was right (and wrong):

Best Picture - Drama
"Up in the Air"
"Precious"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Inglorious Basterds"
"Avatar"

Prediction: "Up in the Air"
Winner: "Avatar"
Analysis: This pick both took me by surprise and at the same time it didn't. I was pretty sure I was going to be wrong on this one, but I thought "The Hurt Locker" might come out on top. While the story is far from original and there are plenty of cliches to be found, James Cameron's "Avatar" is a great film. I just thought it was a LITTLE too mainstream to win. But this IS the Golden Globes, so I'm not really shocked at this outcome.

Best Picture - Comedy
"The Hangover"
"Julie & Julia"
"Nine"
"It's Complicated"
"(500) Days of Summer"

Prediction: "(500) Days of Summer"
Winner: "The Hangover"
Analysis: At the beginning of the year I would have bet the house on "Nine", but Rob Marshall's film didn't live up to expectations. After that I went with my heart and picked (500) Days of Summer, a touching and brutally honest story of love that is well needed in this day of sub-par romantic comedies. In the end, however, the winner was "The Hangover", and I should have known. It is the top grossing R-rated comedy of all-time and rightfully so: it delivers the goods in a "Reservoir Dogs"-type narrative structure coupled with excellent performances all around that leave you wanting to watch it again.
Best Actor - Drama
Jeff Bridges - "Crazy Heart"
Colin Firth - "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman - "Invictus"
Tobey Maguire - "Brothers

Prediction: Jeff Bridges
Winner: Jeff Bridges
Analysis: This was an easy pick, even if I haven't seen "Crazy Heart". Bridges has long been overdue for a win and his performance has been lauded by all.

Best Actress - Drama
Carey Mulligan - "An Education"
Emily Blunt - "The Young Victoria"
Sandra Bullock - "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren - "The Last Station"
Gabourey Sidibe - "Precious"

Prediction: Carey Mulligan
Winner: Sandra Bullock
Analysis: I have admittedly not seen "The Blind Side", so I can't say for certain that Sandra Bullock's win was well deserved (though going into the Globes she had a lot of momentum so I should have known based on that that she might win). However, I have seen "An Education", and I firmly believe that Carey Mulligan's natural performance as a bright young woman who puts her Oxford dreams on hold to pursue a life with an older man is the best I will see this year from an actress.

Best Actor - Comedy or Musical
Daniel Day-Lewis - "Nine"
Michael Stuhlbarg - "A Serious Man"
Robert Downey, Jr. - "Sherlock Holmes"
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - "(500) Days of Summer"
Matt Damon - "The Informant!"

Prediction: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Winner: Robert Downey, Jr.
Analysis: This pick both does and doesn't confuse me. I'm surprised because I wouldn't call "Sherlock Holmes" a comedy (though it has more than enough comedy in it) and therefore didn't even think to pick Downey, Jr. as the winner. But the man was do for some sort of award after returning to A-list status in 2008 with his roles in "Iron Man" and "Tropic Thunder", and with this race wide open and his performance as the infamous detective fitting him to a T this isn't too shocking. Once again I went with my favorite Indie movie of the year and its star and got burned.

Best Actress - Comedy or Musical
Meryl Streep - "It's Complicated"
Meryl Streep - "Julie & Julia"
Julia Roberts - "Duplicity"
Sandra Bullock - "The Proposal"
Marion Cotiallard - "Nine"

Prediction: Meryl Streep ("Julie & Julia")
Winner: Meryl Streep ("Julie & Julia")
Analysis: With her performance as Julia Child being the only thing close to an Oscar worthy performance from this group, picking Meryl Streep was a safe bet and sure enough she was the winner.

Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon - "Invictus"
Stanley Tucci - "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz - "Inglorious Basterds"
Christopher Plummer - "The Last Station"
Woody Harrelson - "The Messenger"

Prediction: Christoph Waltz
Winner: Christoph Waltz
Analysis: Another surefire winner, Waltz has been the Oscar leader in this category since Cannes. Though he's facing some quality competition, it's a safe bet that he'll take home the Oscar.

Best Supporting Actress
Vera Farmiga - "Up in the Air"
Anna Kendrick - "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique - "Precious"
Penelope Cruz - "Nine"
Julianne Moore - "A Single Man"

Prediction: Anna Kendrick
Winner: Mo'Nique
Analysis: This was my biggest mistake. Having seen both films and looking back on these performances I was criminally wrong. Kendrick is excellent, but Mo'Nique is monstrously good. What made me hesitant about her was her constant anger and hatred throughout the film, but her scene at the welfare center was something to behold, truly showing the audience that this was a character who was not only vile but desperate, and that scene is going to ensure I predict her come Oscar time.

Best Director
James Cameron - "Avatar"
Jason Reitman - "Up in the Air"
Quentin Tarantino - "Inglorious Basterds"
Clint Eastwood - "Invictus"
Kathryn Bigelow - "The Hurt Locker"

Prediction: James Cameron
Winner: James Cameron
Analysis: It takes a special talent to make a film with the epic scope of "Avatar", but James Cameron pulled it off, rightfully deserving his Best Director win.

Best Screenplay
"Up in the Air"
"District 9"
"Inglorious Basterds"
"The Hurt Locker"
"It's Complicated"

Prediction: "Up in the Air"
Winner: "Up in the Air"
Analysis: I thought of changing my prediction but I stuck with my gut and ended up correctly guessing the winner. While "The Hurt Locker" and "Inglorious Basterds" both had a shot, "Up in the Air" is at the top of the class in terms of this year's screenplays.

Best Animated Film
"Up"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
"Coraline"
"The Princess and the Frog"

Prediction: "Up"
Winner: "Up"
Analysis: Was there ever any doubt? Pixar owns the animated film sector, and with it's newest film it has created yet another classic. "Up" is truly deserving of its win and is a pretty safe bet to take home the Oscar.

Five Films You May Not Have Seen But Should

Here are five films that I enjoy immensely that may not have been seen by the masses:



1. "Road to Perdition"
Probably the most popular film on my list, "Road to Perdition" was just one of many excellent films to be released in 2002 ("Chicago", "The Pianist", "Adaptation", just to name a few). While it was recognized by the Academy in several categories and won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, the film for the most part went under the radar by the public. Its theme (the bonds between sons and fathers) may be nothing new but the execution is flawless. Director Sam Mendes, coming off his critically acclaimed debut "American Beuaty" that netted him the Best Director Oscar (and also won Best Picture), brings the 1930's gangster scene to life but instead of using violence as the method goes for the more intimate approach of a hitman fleeing with his son after the son witnesses what his father does for a living. The direction is top notch, the acting by all (Tom Hanks, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, and especially Paul Newman in his last Oscar nominated role) is excellent, and the score by Thomas Newman is beautifully engaging and touching. But the highest accolades go to Conrad Hall, who died before he was able to claim the Oscar for Best Cinematography that this film won and richly deserved. Bringing the period to life through excellent use of lighting and camerawork, it is a fitting end to Hall's illustrious career. "Road to Perdition" is a beautifully crafted film, one that should have gotten more attention when it was released and should be seen for just how good it really is.




2. "Glengarry Glen Ross"
If you like dialogue-heavy films, great ensemble acting, and plenty of expletives, then "Glengarry Glen Ross" is for you. Released in 1992, the film has since gone unnoticed by today's generation, who are more caught up with films that entertain than films with true skill. Focusing on the happenings of a real estate office, "Glengarry Glen Ross" is an adaptation of the play created by David Mamet, who wrote the screenplay for the film. Though the premise may seem terribly boring to moviegoers today (especially my generation), this is without a doubt one of the underrated films of the 1990's. Featuring a script to die for and a cast for the ages - Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey, Alec Baldwin, and Alan Arkin - does it get any better?




3. "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
In my opinion this is the most underrated film of the past decade. 2007 will go down in history as having been a very good year for films - "No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" are cinematic masterpieces worthy of the highest praise; "Juno" has already gathered a cult following; "Michael Clayton", "Atonement", and "Into the Wild", among others, add to the depth of that year. But this long-named film should not be forgotten when it comes to the great films of the year. "The Assassination of the Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" looks at the life of Jesses James and the obsession, and ultimately the disdain, with which Robert Ford, a youngster with dreams of being famous, has for his childhood idol. A box-office failure when it was released, it was recognized by the Academy in only two categories: Best Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck) and Best Cinematography. Had this film come out any other year those two nominations may have resulted into wins. Affleck is at his absolute best here, giving Ford a nervous, even pathetic edge that is a result of his desperation to be known and appreciated, and the cinematography by Roger Deakins is among the best you will ever see, with the train robbery scene standing out in particular. The acting as a whole is excellent, with Brad Pitt portraying James as a confident yet increasingly paranoid man. The pacing may be too slow for some, but in this case the film works best as a slow portrait of the life of one of the Midwest's greatest outlaws. And though it was hardly noticed in 2007, I would be willing to bet that history will look back on this film as easily being one of the best of its year and a hidden gem of its decade.



4. "Midnight Cowboy"
Of the five movies on the list "Midnight Cowboy" is not only the most critically acclaimed but also the hardest to watch. Not because it is the oldest, though I'm sure some will be put off by its 1969 release date. Rather, this film is the most controversial film on my list. It has plenty of sexual scenes along with some of drug-induced trips that plunge the viewer into unease. That being said, "Midnight Cowboy" rightfully deserves its place on AFI's Top 100 American films of all time. Despite being the first X-rated film to win Best Picture (the rating has since been lowered to R), it is a powerful character study that not only explores the gritty underbelly of urban society during that time period but also served as an effective "buddy" film. Joe Buck is a cowboy, a man from out West who dreams of making it big in New York City as a "hustler". However, when things don't go as planned, he finds himself paired with Ratso Rizzo, a crippled con-man who knows the ways of the streets. They work together in hopes of one day making it to Florida, where hopefully all of thier troubles will be cleard. The skill of director John Schlesinger is apparent through the interwoven tales of urban depravity and the power of friendship. The editing is superb, especially during the disorienting drug scenes and during Joe's flashbacks. Both Dustin Hoffman as Ratso and Jon Voigt, a relative newcomer at the time, as Joe are astoundingly efficient in their Oscar nominated roles. The film has lost some of its edge due to the increasinging amount of sex in movies today, but its effectiveness as a tale of two loners in need of companionship in the midst of a harsh and uninviting environment has now lasted 40 years, and it has taken its rightful place among the screen classics.




5. "Magnolia"
Paul Thomas Anderson can never be accused of not having ambitious goals. His first film, "Boogie Nights", tackled the porn industry during the 1970's and 1980's, a controversial topic that has never been conveyed with as much skill and daring. His second major film was even more ambitious and in the end even more memorable. "Magnolia" tracks the interweaving stories of several people over a few days in San Fernando Valley as they search for happiness, forgiveness, and meaning. Featuring an astounding ensemble cast with the likes of Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Jason Robards, and a career best performance from Tom Cruise to go along with a deep and riveting script, PTA's most confusing yet intriguing film is yet another example of why he is one of our generation's finest filmmakers.