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Oscar Time: Best Supporting Actress

[Originally posted on MySpace]

Next up, best supporting actress… I know everyone thinks Jennifer Hudson is going to win it this year, but what do I think? Read on… Here are my picks, in reverse order:

#5: Cate Blanchett – Notes on a Scandal

Cate Blanchett plays a young teacher (Sheba) who befriends a fellow teacher (Barbara) played by Judi Dench. After becoming close, she confesses that she’s been having an affair with a student. Barbara, being an old woman who lives alone tries to use the affair to get “close” to Sheba (in an old woman who’s desperate for the love and attention of another woman type of way). You know where this is headed…

Anyway, I wasn’t impressed by Cate’s performance in this film. I think she had better performances in other films (The Aviator & Talented Mr. Ripley spring to mind). There’s the potential for greatness in this role. Her situation at home (dull husband, mentally challenged son) pushes her towards the affair with the student… There’s also a reverse situation at play between the older woman who wants to have an affair with her. But in the end it was the dialog (not the delivery) that provided the most drama in these two dilemmas. Partially I fault the direction because I know Cate can do better, but with constant narration (in the form of reading Barbara’s diary) we get Barbara’s perspective forced down upon us at times, rather than Cate’s performance leading the way.

#4: Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine

Abigail plays Olive, the adorable, naive little girl who’s the center of Little Miss Sunshine. After qualifying for the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, her family drives to California so she can participate. In many ways, she’s what holds the family together, because along the way they all experience individual tragedies. But they pull through these tough times together, because collectively they can’t give up – they all want Olive to succeed.

Abigail’s performance is amazing, especially for her age. I mean she’s 10! Born in 1996! (Damn I feel old…) What I especially like about her performance is the blend of naiveté and conviction she brings to the role. She doesn’t realize that her big glasses, tubby stomach and general lack of on-stage personality mean she’s unlikely to win the beauty pageant. She’s convinced that if she tries hard enough she’ll succeed. In some way, everyone in the family is envious of this conviction – they wish the world around them functioned as Olive see’s it. Even the audience is behind her, we’re rooting her on and we’re charmed by her personality. Making this type of impact is no easy feat, and Abigail plays the role brilliantly.

#3: Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson plays Effie White, the lead singer of the Dreamettes. Spotted at a talent competition, they are hired as backup singers for James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy). They have limited success themselves, but then break into the mainstream when Deena (Beyoncé) takes over as lead singer. This creates rift between Effie and the group, and later she’s replaced (behind her back) and the Dreamettes break into the mainstream.

Now, I didn’t really like Dreamgirls, but I have to give Jennifer Hudson some credit here. This is her first movie role, and it was damn good. She’s nominated for a fucking Oscar in her first film?… Clearly she did something right in this role. So what was it?… Personally, I think it was the sheer range of her performance. We see practically every emotion from her in this film, happiness, sorrow, anger, desperation, confusion, exhaustion, rejection, longing, thankfulness, and more. What’s amazing is that she’s able to blend this all into a believable character, with a strong willed personality complete with her own set of principles and drive. Everyone who watches this movie can identify with her at one point or another and we all feel sympathy for her. Coupled with the fact that she sings much of the soundtrack, it’s no wonder that the press thinks she’s guaranteed to go home with Oscar.

#2: Adriana Barraza - Babel

Adriana plays Amelia, housekeeper/nanny for Richard & Susan (Brad Pitt & Cate Blanchett). She’s watching over their two children while they travel through Morocco. However, when Richard & Susan are delayed in Morocco, she’s forced to take the two children to her son’s wedding in Mexico because she can’t find anyone else to care for them. But on the way back into the United States, border guards suspect her nephew (who’s driving) is intoxicated. He flees into the desert, leaving Amelia and the two kids stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Adriana is excellent. Her character is good natured, selfless, and cares tremendously about those around her, especially the two children. Throughout the movie, it’s clear she’s dedicated to their wellbeing. The strength in her performance is “underneath” her interactions with the children. It’s how she tucks them in at night. It’s how she reassures them about the strange things they see in Mexico. It’s how she goes above and beyond to rescue them after being stranded in the desert. But in the end, there’s one scene (where she’s talking with a border agent about being deported) that really irritates me. That scene in particular “feels” scripted, forced and unnatural compared to the rest of her performance. This scene reminded me that I was watching a movie and as a result I can’t pick Adriana for the award.

#1: Rinko Kikuchi - Babel

That leaves Rinko Kikuchi. She plays Chieko, a deaf Japanese teenage girl who desperately wants the attention of the world around her. She’s distant from her father and desperate to be desired by the opposite sex. She tries to interest boys but is constantly rebuffed. Even explicit attempts are met with failure, further contributing to her feelings of isolation.

I picked Rinko because of the emotion her performance extracts from viewers. We’ve all had situations in our past where we didn’t exactly fit in with those around us. But for Chieko it’s a never ending saga. She constantly struggles to fit into the world around her. I thought there were also two exceptionally powerful moments in her performance. In the middle of her story, there’s the possibility that a boy finds her interesting. They hang out, have fun, and end up at a club where they start dancing. Chieko finally has a moment where she seems to fit in with everyone else – enjoying a club like a normal teenager and with a boy who seems interested in her. But then her dreams are crushed in a really powerful moment that blends how she experiences the world with how the world looks upon her.

The movie ends with another powerful scene, in which after being rejected by a boy she stands naked on a skyscraper balcony. The movie ends when her father finds & comforts her. It’s unclear what she said in the note she leaves with the detective, if she was going to jump, or if her nakedness a symbol of desperation to be desired. The entire performance was really powerful and she gets my pick for best supporting actress.

Next up, Best Actor, Actress, Film & Director. =)

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Oscar Time: Best Supporting Actor

[Originally posted on MySpace]

So, last year I decided that I would watch all the movies nominated for the top Oscar awards and pick my favorites. It was a lot of fun, so I’ve done it again this year. The next few posts are going to be all about what I thought of the nominees, and who I would vote for if I was an academy member.

First up, best actor in a supporting role. Here are my picks, in reverse order:

#5: Djimon Hounsou – Blood Diamond

Djimon plays a Sierra Leone man (Solomon) who’s family is torn apart. His wife and daughters flee an attack on his village and his son is kidnapped by rebels. He forced by the rebels to work in a diamond mine where he finds (and hides) a huge diamond. The mine is raided by police and after ending up in Jail he meets Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio). Danny overhears the story of the large rock and offers to help Solomon locate his family in return for the stone.

I’ve got to be honest – this was one (of a few!) movies I was not looking forward to watching. Every aspect of the story and the performances was predictable. We learn barely anything about the background and motives behind the characters, and their personalities are shallow and uninteresting. That being said, I did like two interesting aspects of Djimon’s character. The first was how dedicated he was to locating his family. Everything else in his world was secondary and when he meets up with his wife and daughters at the refugee camp, this point is really driven home in an emotional scene. The second was his good nature. In a country full of barbarism Djimon tried heroically to be a good role model for his son. He was willing to sacrifice everything to help educate his son to one day become a doctor. While these are moving qualities, the overall performance isn’t Oscar worthy in my opinion.

#4: Alan Arkin – Little Miss Sunshine

Alan Arkin plays “Grandpa”, an opinionated father to Greg Kinnear (Richard). He’s been kicked out of Sunset Manor (an old folks’ home) and likes to snort heroin and talk about sex. He also teaches Olive her dance routine for the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant.

I really liked the Grandpa character. He’s crass & opinionated, but respectful of Olive and wants nothing but the best for her. While travelling to California, Olive is listening to her headphones while Grandpa gives advice to Duane (”Fuck a lot of women, Duane. Not just one woman, a lot of women. Are you getting any? You can tell me Duane, are you getting any? No? Jesus! You’re what? 15?! My god man! You should be getting that young stuff!”) and talks about the old women at Sunset Manor (”Ho ho! I had second degree burns on my Johnson I kid you not.”). But when Olive takes off her headphones he tells her they were just talking about politics. Later, in the Hotel room, Olive’s concerned that she’s not going to win the competition, she’s in tears because she thinks she’s a loser. But Grandpa convinces her that she’s not, that she’s beautiful and the only real losers are those that don’t even try.

What’s really interesting is how Olive’s performance at the beauty pagent reminds you of Grandpa’s character. Grandpa’s personality & the impression he leaves with you resurfaces here and it really speaks to how well his character was portrayed.

#3: Eddie Murphy – Dreamgirls

Eddie Murphy plays James “Thunder” Early, a popular pop star who dreams of becoming an international sensation. But in the end, his inability to try new material and appeal to a broader audience ends up holding back his career.

Now, I really didn’t like Dreamgirls in general (you’ll see this theme in my other reviews I’m sure), but Eddie did have really good moments that I think deserve credit… Yes, in general he’s that same loudmouth Eddie character we’ve seen time and time again, a bit loony, short sighted and impulsive, but I really like how he shines at some parts in the movie… especially after he records the duet “Patience” (which was nominated for Best Song).

You see, he goes out on a limb with this song, recording something with a completely new sound in the hope he can please Curtis (Jamie Foxx), and finally break out of the musical rut he’s in. When he presents it to Curtis, he’s excited, convinced that it’s that new sound he’s looking for. But Curtis shoots him down, saying “… still, it’s a message song.” Everyone looks at him in disbeleif, they’re convinced that the song captures the mood of the nation, but Curtis says that’s not the point – “Music is supposed to sell. But don’t worry about it, we’ll find you some new material.” Eddie is devestated. It’s written all over his face. After hearing that, he becomes disconnected from everyone else. It’s Christmas but he decides to shoot up. In his eyes, it looks like he’s lost the will to keep on trying. It’s really quite sad, and something I didn’t expect from Eddie.

There are other moments in the film as well, but these alone aren’t good enough to get my Oscar vote.

#2: Mark Wahlberg – The Departed

Mark plays “Dignam” a police captain in charge of a Boston undercover unit in the Massachusetts State Police. Around the office, he’s crude, disrespectful, witty and honest. He’s got a rapid fire conversation style and doesn’t worry about the opinions of others. Here’s a good example, when he briefs Ellerby (Alec Baldwin) and company on his undercover operation:

Dignam: Ok, my people are out there. They’re like fucking Indians. You’re not going to see them, you’re not going to hear about them. Except through me, and Captain Queenan. You will not ever know the identity of undercover people. Unfortunately this shit hole has more leaks than the Iraqi navy.

Ellerby: Fuck yourself.

Dignam: I’m tired from fucking your wife.

Ellerby: How’s your mother.

Dignam: Good, she’s tired from fucking my father.

This style of dialog really makes me smile, but also the confidence in how it’s delivered really speaks to how dedicated Dignam is to the police force. This dedication shines through at the end of the movie, but also makes me excited every time I see Dignam walk into a scene. You know his character isn’t going to hold back, and will light up the conversation. Part of this is good writing (or improvisation if reports are true) and part is outstanding delivery. I really like the characters Mark plays (back to I [Heart] Huckabees, Four Brothers, and 3 Kings) and he really did well in this role.

#1: Jackie Earle Haley – Little Children

This was a difficult movie to watch at times, especially when Jackie was on screen. He plays a pedophile named Ronnie. Ronnie’s recently moved back into the community (he’s moved in with his mother), and many in the town are uneasy knowing that he lives in their midst. Through much of the movie, we don’t get to know him very well. He’s an outcast, and really, I mean really creepy. In one scene, he goes to the town swimming pool and snorkels underwater to watch kids swim. After a dinner date he can’t restrain himself from jacking off while the girl isn’t paying attention, talking to herself in the car. It’s fucking NASTY.

There are moments when we sympathize with his plight, pretty much anytime he’s alone with his mother. It’s clear in these scenes that his mental age is that of a small child, he calls his mom “mommy” and desperately wants to be her “good boy” even though he looks to be in his 40′ies. In the end, he ends up mutilating himself because he’s so upset with the pain & suffering he’s caused around him. It’s tragic, but also hard to take in because he just can’t escape the creepiness of his character. This is why I end up giving him my Oscar pick – because even though we hate him, we hate him so vehemently that it overrides our sense of compassion.

Stay tuned – my pick for Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Film are still coming up. =) In the meantime, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Don’t care? Speak your mind!

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50/50…

[Originally posted on MySpace]

I just finished watching the Academy Awards… Good show this year, John Stewart did an awesome job - the Best Actress & Best Sound Mixer promotional ads were really funny.. =)

I’m happy to see that 50% of the academy agreed with my selections. We both picked:

• Best Motion Picture: Crash
• Best Achievement in Directing: Ang Lee
• Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman

We disagreed on:

Best Supporting Actor: I picked Matt Dillon, but the academy gave Oscar to George Clooney. George had the best acceptance speech of the night, and he was my #2 pick in this category, so I was happy he won.

Best Supporting Actress: I picked Amy Adams, but the academy choose Rachel Weisz. I’m a bit disappointed that Amy didn’t get it (Roger Ebert and I are totally in sync - go see Junebug!), but I’m happy with giving it to Rachel. She was my #3 pick in this category.

Best Actress: I picked Felicity Huffman, but the academy choose Reese Witherspoon. I’m a bit disappointed in this category. Reese was my #2 pick in this category, but I really don’t think Reese is ready for an Oscar at this point in her career. Ohh well…

In any case, I’m probably going to stop blogging as much as I have been. This week is going to be pretty hectic and I’ve got to head down to Oregon next weekend. Perhaps I’ll stop at Mt. Bachelor for some snow on Sunday… I’ll take pictures if I do.

Later.

Ohh wait - I totally forgot to mention 36 Mafia!!.. First, why the fuck can’t they say bitches?! According to the press, all systems were go, but in the performance they sung “witches” instead… Lame!! But who could have picked them as the winner?! _O_M_G_!… I don’t think the press will cover this much, but I see it as a really big turning point in hip hop history… This is going to push rap to another level, the future is going to be awesome! =)

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Oscar Time: Best Motion Picture of the Year

[Originally posted on MySpace]

Well, it’s the last installment… I’m posting a bit late tonight (spent the evening snowboarding again) because we had to drop Striker off at the hospital. He landed on his wrist when trying to land a jump. Hopefully it’s not broken and he can keep playing Geometry Wars… =)

In any case, back to the Academy Awards, here are my picks for best motion picture, in reverse order:

#5: Good Night & Good Luck

There are number of things I’m looking for in a movie, to get my pick as best film. One of those qualities is ‘repeat watchability’ - do I want to see this film over & over again or is one time enough? For Good Night & Good Luck, one time is enough. It just doesn’t seem like I’m going to learn anything new about the characters or their story. And the movie isn’t going to evoke any of the original emotions you feel when watching it for the first time. These are important to me, so this film goes on the bottom of my pick list.

#4: Munich

On the contrary, with Munch I feel there is something more to learn about these characters. But, the story is very linear… The movie doesn’t require any mental horsepower to figure out what’s going on - at no point is the viewer left in suspense - well, longer than one scene that is. I enjoyed the varied action in this film - from scenes of intense action to much calmer, even comedic scenes when planning the next hit. Mixing it up like that makes me think that I would enjoy this film if I saw it again. =)

#3: Capote

Picking #3 was really difficult for me. I really can’t say enough about Philip Seymour Hoffman, I’ve always been a big fan of his and I think I would really enjoy watching his films over & over again. But, this film doesn’t quite have the emotional punch that Brokeback Mountain has… So if I were to watch Capote again, I think my primary reason would be to appreciate Philip’s abilities, not to experience the story for a second time.

#2: Brokeback Mountain

That means that Brokeback Mountain is my #2 pick. This is a film that is told with such patience and grace - I think you can reconnect with these characters many times over. What’s also amazing is how this film sucks you into the story - it pulls you away from your everyday reality. That gives this film a real lasting quality…

#1: Crash

Crash is the movie that exceeded all of my expectations for a good film, and is the movie I would pick for Best Picture. As I’ve mentioned before, the unpredictable intersecting plotlines are wonderful, and the acting is multidimensional yet not overt. I liked how there wasn’t a single dominate character - the film relied on the entire cast to make it good. The story also significantly varies how you feel when watching. This movie will make you angry, laugh, cry, depressed, hopeful, frustrated, wide-eyed, sympathetic, and a whole slew of other things… Also, I imagine the subject matter will remain relevant for quite awhile - it’s something you can’t help but talk about after watching.

Of course, I have no idea who’s going to win on Sunday night, it will be interesting to see where the Academy and I align & where we diverge. I hope the academy members actually saw all of these films, they were all great - their nominations were all deserved…

On a side note - I’m not headed to Dubai next week after all (office politics - hmph!), but I will be in Eugene on 3/13 to try and get rid of a speeding ticket, and I’ll be in Las Vegas 3/16 - 3/20 for an extended bachelor party.. Woo!

Later.

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Oscar Time: Best Achievement in Directing

[Originally posted on MySpace]

I didn’t get a chance to post over the weekend - we got a ton of rain on Thursday, which required another evening snowboard trip Friday. Went cruising with a bunch of other Microsoft-ies on Saturday… Had a going away party for a friend on Sunday…. In any case, here are my picks for Best Achievement in Directing:

#5: George Clooney for Good Night & Good Luck

Watching this film, you can clearly recognize a number of choices & styles that speak to a strong-willed director. Choices that I found really interesting… One example: Clooney does a nice job contrasting the jovial atmosphere in the newsroom (gathering news stories, joking about personal lives) with the tension delivering his reports on air. I think this tactic really gives you a deeper appreciation for the characters - not only are they fighting the uphill battle that is McCarthy-ism, but they’re trying to lead normal lives at the same time. But, with that said - I don’t see George pushing himself to the next level with this film… It’s a strong performance, but I think there will be other opportunities for George to really strut his stuff in the future.

#4: Bennett Miller for Capote

I really enjoyed the pace of this film… I think more novice directors would have been tempted to rush the story, not taking the time to illustrate the different sides of Truman’s character… I also liked how the film never deviated from the story of Truman… That is, the movie never diverted into a story about the murder’s themselves, we never debated the merits of the killers, we never dug deep into the mind of the town sheriff… The film stayed focused on Truman’s investigation & his life. That made events more emotional, more memorable…

#3: Steven Spielberg for Munich

I really liked the attention to detail in this movie. I felt like I was in 70’s Europe. There wasn’t any one element that made me feel that way, but the combination of costume, scenery, props, even the way the actors carried themselves, all made me realize that the events in the film took place at a radically different time. I also liked the slow transition that Spielberg evokes from the leading character. He starts as a naive officer, but ends up as a cold blooded assassin and I have no idea when that change took place. Propelling that character down such a transition without any clear pivot point really gives me an appreciation for Spielberg’s film direction..

#2: Paul Haggis for Crash

I think there are two big reasons to acknowledge Paul’s direction in this film. The first is the subject matter - directing a film about stereotypes is no easy matter, but Paul does a good job not only getting you totally pissed at the bigotry these characters show, but he also gets you attached to the them. I feel a sense of compassion for their ignorance… The second reason is the intersecting plotlines. I know what you’re saying - it’s been done before. Sure it has, but Paul does it in a way that leaves you guessing. Predicting the intersections is impossible and when they suddenly appear they make the scene really pop - forcing characters to deal with their conflicts and make tough decisions. Each intersection makes the lives of both characters more memorable, and that’s really skillful.

#1: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain

Ang must be the industry favorite for this category. He took a movie that Hollywood has passed on for years, the “gay cowboy” story and produced a really emotional & touching film. As a viewer you’re left with a sense of “what could have been” and even a hint of “forbidden love” … He weaves the wonderful landscapes of Wyoming into the film to give a sense of peace and tranquility to the time Jack & Ennis spend together, and he highlights the mundane off the mountain to further heighten the longing between the two main characters. For having such a delicate hand and weaving in such emotion, Ang Lee gets my pick for best director.

Next up, my last pick - Best Motion Picture of the Year…

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Oscar Time: Best Leading Actress

[Originally posted on MySpace]

Pride & Prejudice = DONE… So, here are my thoughts about the nominees for Best Leading Actress:

#5: Charlize Theron for North Country

On the whole, I wasn’t very impressed with Charlize in this movie. Her character did not provide her with enough fresh material to really shine… So she’s playing a tough girl, so she’s had a rough past, so she’s a single mom. These are all characters that I’ve seen before and I don’t think that Charlize did enough to elevate them to another level… Previous movies such as Monster, Sweet November (I liked it!), Reindeer Games, Devil’s Advocate, or even the Legend of Bagger Vance have required more creativity…

#4: Judi Dench for Mrs. Henderson Presents

I didn’t know what to expect from this movie before watching it. I didn’t know what the plot was about, and I assumed it would be a long boring period piece. It was actually pretty good, it was interesting, funny and peppy. The banter between crabby old Mrs. Henderson & Mr. Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) was witty & kept my attention. But other than that I don’t recall anything unique about Judi’s performance. I mean she did her job, but I don’t think it was a standout role for her… BTW - Which movie has more boobs? Mrs. Henderson presents or 40 days & 40 nights? - I honestly don’t know, you tell me..?

#3: Keira Knightley for Pride & Prejudice

I really liked Keira’s character in this movie… Man, Keira’s cute… Great face, eyes, eyebrows!, skin, teeth (I like her pointy teeth - mine are pointy too), she’s freakin hot!…. Ahem, wait… err… …. anyway, back to her performance.. Getting the role of Elizabeth is an accomplishment for any actress, her character is strong willed, a hopeless romantic & intelligent - starting with that it would be difficult for any actress to go wrong. There were many moments where I really enjoyed Keira’s performance - telling off Mr. Darcy in the rain, outside his estate, asking for her fathers marriage blessing, and her private moments with her sister Jane. There were also moments in this movie where I was confused about the director’s intent (the symbolism behind spinning on the swing, when she & Mr. Darcy are suddenly dancing alone, the focus on Mr. Darcy’s hand…) Anyway, Keira gets #3 on my list.

#2: Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line

I’m not sure what it was that I liked about Reese in this role. I’m not really a fan of her work as an actress, but I may be jaded when I try to evaluate her in a more critical role. I keep getting images of her in more teenage roles, like Legally Blonde, Election or Cruel Intentions… But that said, I think she did a really good job with Walk the Line - her character demanded a very wide range of emotions and she did a good job with them all (from anger, happiness, despair, hope, friendship, determination, compassion, love, sadness, the list goes on…) That’s why she gets #2 in my list.

#1: Felicity Huffman for Transamerica

This was a good movie - I had no idea where the story was going and I was unprepared for all the different situations that Bree gets into during the course of this movie. But what really amazed me was the entire concept of a woman, playing a transsexual who is desperate to complete her transition to womanhood by undergoing gender reassignment surgery. I was blown away by all the different elements that Felicity had to pull together to make this character believable while simultaneously getting the audience to really engage with her & her desires. Take one small element, such as the way Bree walks, she doesn’t walk like a woman. She doesn’t walk like a man. She walks like a man who desperately wants to be like a woman. She’s conscious of her height, her stride, the way she carries herself, the way her arms fall - Felicity blends all these elements together and keeps them in sync throughout the film… And walking around is just one tiny part of her overall performance… Felicity definitely deserves to go home with Oscar this year…

It’s been raining all day, hard at times - so that means fresh snow! I’ll post my pick for Best Director tomorrow night after I get back from the slopes… Later!

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Oscar Time: Best Supporting Actress

[Originally posted on MySpace]

Another night, another movie… Tonight I watched North Country which means I can bring you my picks for Best Supporting Actress…

#5: Catherine Keener for Capote

I remember Harper Lee as a mostly a sounding board for Capote’s brainstorming sessions… Sure, there’s a part of the movie where she basks in the success of her book (To Kill a Mockingbird), but her character fades into the background when I think back to what I enjoyed most. I don’t mean that to be a criticism of her acting, but she didn’t really need to do much to “support” as this character…

#4: Frances McDormand for North Country

I feel almost the same way about Glory in North Country - yeah she’s tough, yes it’s touching to see her struggle with sickness, but she just didn’t blow me away in this role. Maybe I just can’t get Fargo out of my mind, but she felt odd and somewhat stiff in this role. Ohh well..

#3: Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener

This was a really interesting role to evaluate. Rachel stars in the first half of the film, but then she disappears and the story builds around Justin’s search for what happened to her… She’s near the top of my list because she made such a strong impression on me during that time she was on screen. I sympathized a lot with Justin (Ralph Fiennes) thinking back to the moments when she was around. Building a strong connection with the viewer in those short moments gets my recognition.

#2: Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain

This was a hard pick for me - Michelle Willams was the front runner for quite a while. Her character is so sad, torn between being a mother, between working a job and between a husband who isn’t everything she thought he was. She shows genuine raw emotion when she finds out what Ennis really does up on the mountain. I feel for her when she finally separates from Ennis. Her performance was excellent and I would not be surprised if she ends up taking home Oscar this year…

#1: Amy Adams for Junebug

But, I was even more impressed with Amy Adams in Junebug. I don’t understand her character at all - she’s soo perky & positive - she’s like a sponge eager to suck up the world. Part of me wants to just give her a fucking encyclopedia to shut her up - and part of me wants to hear what comes out of her mouth next. This is a one of a kind character and I’m always going to think back to this role whenever I see Amy Adams again. Great stuff!

Only two more films to go: Pride & Prejudice and Transamerica… I’m saving my best director & best picture picks for last, so you’ll have to wait a few days before my next post…

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Oscar Time: Best Supporting Actor

[Originally posted on MySpace]

Tonight, my picks for best supporting actor…

#5: William Hurt for A History of Violence

I don’t know what to make of this nomination. William Hurt is only in A History of Violence for one scene, perhaps less than 10 minutes overall. IMO, Ed Harris should have received the nomination if you were required to pick someone from this film. I don’t mean to disparage William’s performance it was excellent and quite forward, but I can’t place him higher than the other nominees.

#4: Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man

This is probably the movie I looked forward to seeing the LEAST. I’m not a Russell Crowe fan. You know there aren’t going to be any suprises in this film, everyone knows what the story is going to be, and everyone knows it will be about a character who faces tough times but eventually triumphs. Great, seen it, done it, thank you but no thanks. Paul does a good job in this film but his character is completely overshadowed by the trials & triumphs of Jim Braddock. He doesn’t have enough room to shine in this role. Part of me thinks that Paul was nominated partly because he didn’t take home an Oscar for Sideways last year - if he wins this category I’m going to be really upset.

#3: Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain

Many people I talk to really liked Jake’s performance in Brokeback - I wasn’t as excited. There’s something about Jake’s eyes, his expressions that don’t ring true to me. No matter how hard I tried to recognize this character as Jack I always saw him as Jake. Ohh well…

#2: George Clooney for Syriana

I was really excited to see this movie, I enjoy overlapping plots and I’ve met both George Clooney & Matt Damon (shameless plug) and respect them. What I liked most about George’s performance in this film was his characters’ unwavering commitment to try and do the right thing, in a world filled with turmoil. George really made me believe in his character - I think it was how he really showed great concern when “the wrong” decisions were being made. George made me root for his character, all the way to the bitter end…

#1: Matt Dillon for Crash

Matt Dillon is my pick for best supporting actor. I picked Matt because of how he played the two different sides to Officer Ryan. On one side, his character is a racist cop, but on the other he’s a caring & concerned son. When I think back to Matt’s performance in this film, I think of these two qualities and the scenes where both blended together - fighting for medical care for his father while being an unashamed bigot. It’s a long way from his role in Something About Mary…

So, what am I watching next? I’ve got to finish North Country (Charlize!), Pride & Prejudice (Keira!), & Transamerica… I’ve finished all the other nominated films and I’ll post my picks in the other categories this week.

Later…

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Oscar Time: Best Actor

[Originally posted on MySpace]

It’s Oscar time… Every year I have a few favorites going in, but I’ve never actually seen all the movies nominated. This year, I’m taking a few hours out of each night to screen movies nominated for the top categories. Over the next week I’ll post my picks here…

As usual, there are a number of strong performances nominated for best leading actor. My picks - in reverse order:

#5: David Strathairn in Good Night & Good Luck

His character (Edward R. Murrow) demanded a strong performance and David delivered it. I call it a strong performance because so much of the character is delivered without dialogue. The nervous moments before going on camera, the scene in the bar when we find out what happens to Ray, and the way he delivers such precisely worded commentary are shining moments. But it wasn’t quite enough to best my next pick…

#4: Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow

I saw Crash before watching this movie, so I thought I knew what to expect from Terrence in this type of role - but he proved me wrong right off the bat. Terrence _is_ DJay… I never questioned this character throughout the entire movie, his acting was completely transparent to me. This role required a lot focus & dedication and Terrence delivered.

#3: Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line

Out of all 5 movies, this is the one I saw last and wanted to see the least. I’m not a Johnny Cash fan and I didn’t really care about his life story. But personal interests aside, it does feature a powerful performance from Joaquin. Just like Terrence, Joaquin completely takes over the character. Joaquin _is_ Johnny Cash. The fact that he also performed all the songs himself really impresses me… But, just like Terrence I feel like I understand everything there is to understand about this character. I don’t feel like I would discover a new depth to the character by watching the film again…

#2: Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain

This was a tough decision… Unlike Terrence & Joaquin I feel like there are undiscovered aspects to the performances of Heath & Philip. It’s hard to explain… But I can see many different levels to these characters - perhaps it’s due to their circumstances… In the case of Ennis he has a different style of interaction depending on where he is, and who he’s with. Think back to Ennis by himself (travelling alone or waiting outside the office) and compare that to Ennis on the mountain with Jack and compare that to Ennis at home with Alma and compare that to Ennis with his teenage daughter at the end of the film and compare that to Ennis at Jack’s parents house… There are many different sides to this character and I like how the viewer is left to fit them all together to come up with our own interpretation of who he really is…

#1: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote

But…. I think Philip is going to take the award this year… Again, I really enjoyed the multiple different levels that Philip plays. When I left this movie, I was struck by how different Truman is depending on who he interacts with. Compare Truman’s interactions with Perry Smith (one of the killers), to interacting with Jack the sherrif, compared to Harper Lee, compared to his publisher, compared to his personality at parties… I’m never sure who the real Truman is but I enjoy piecing together all the different personalities. Philip does a tremendous job in this role and is my pick for best leading actor.

So, now it’s your turn - What do you think? Who is your pick?