Possum Holler

I should have seen it coming. I failed to remember the rule of thumb for guessing the awards that you're not sure about: go with the film that is likely to take home an arm load. The Return of the King was honored for the entire trilogy and deservingly so, but I was too socialist in my prophecizing trying to give an award to as many films as possible. Nonetheless, I bettered my scored from a year ago, improving two for a total of 14 correct predictions. I know there are several of you that beat me. The best way was to use my sister's method of voting a straight LOTR ticket, and then going with my picks for the ones in which LOTR was not nominated (she did stray on a couple of picks, but this method would have scored you a 21 out of 24).

So, let's break it down:
Hits: Best Picture, Best Actress, Supporting Actress, Animated Film, Cinematography, Directing, Documentary, Documentary Short, Editing, Foreign Film, Sound, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, and Original Screenplay. A couple of the most exciting wins for me were Lost in Translation for Original Screenplay, and Master and Commander for Sound Editing and Cinematography. I was glad that those two films were recognized in some capacity.

Misses: Best Actor, Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Costume Design, Make Up, Score, Song, Animated Short, Short Film, Adapted Screenplay. I knew that Mystic River's sweep of the Actor categories was coming, but I voted against them anyway out of stubborness. Another disappointment for me was Best Song where I really didn't like Annie Lennox's song for LOTR. I thought either of Allison Krauss' songs for Cold Mountain were far better, and the best moment of the entire show was when Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara recreated their performance of A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow from A Mighty Wind.

I know it's a little late, but as any good film critic would, here is my Top 10 list for 2003:

1. 21 Grams
I'm not going to recommend this movie to everyone. It is definately the hardest film I've watched in a long time. The non-linear story line is sometimes difficult to keep your head around, but the three incredible performances from Sean Penn, Benecio Del Toro and Naomi Watts shake you up and leave you unsure of whom to feel sorry for.
2. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The thrilling conclusion to the greatest epic ever told on film. The most incredible cinematic experience that I have witnessed.
3. Lost In Translation
I think this one ended up being my favorite of the year, but the people I watched it with (my third viewing) the other day weren't all that impressed. Perhaps I am just drawn to these movies about lonely people.
4. Cold Mountain
So, this film hits close to home...literally. I live about 30 minutes from Cold Mountain, and I was a little bit peeved (as were most Western North Carolinians) by the fact that they were filming this movie in Romania and had cast an Australian and Englishman to play the leads. However, once I thought about it, I decided that they might be better suited to pull off the very specific southern appalachain dialect than some American. I was a bit annoyed by the over play of the love story, but they did what they had to do to successfully adapt the great novel onto the screen. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and felt it could have gotten Oscar nominations over Mystic River or Seabiscuit.
5. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
This was just a solidly crafted film by Peter Weir. Russell Crowe was great in an understated way. His mere presence is so strong that he does not need to over act his heroic roles. A prime example in this film is his "win one for the gipper"-esque speech before he leads his ship into battle. It was not your typical Hollywood star, self glorifying, "hey Academy, look at me" speech. It was strong without being overly loud....just like the rest of this movie.
6. Big Fish
A film overlooked by Oscar, but one of the most entertaining movies of the year. An interesting side note that I'm not so sure most people are familiar with is that co-star Billy Crudup is a graduate of our very own UNC-Chapel Hill.
7. Thirteen
This movie really caught me by surprise. I had heard nothing about it until Holly Hunter grabbed a supporting actress nomination, but picked it up one night not sure what to expect. It is a fascinating and very scary probe into a culture where teenagers are getting involved in sex and drugs at a younger and younger age. Thirteen seems to point the finger of blame squarely at the parents. Also a movie with some interesting cinematography. Watch as the color slowly fades out of the film as Rachel Evan Wood's character gets deeper and deeper into trouble until the final climax where all of sudden you realize that you are watching a black and white sequence. I was also blown away by the scene in the living room where mother and daughter have a very heated argument. I loved the way the camera rocks back and forth as the energy in the room shifts.
8. A Mighty Wind
For my money this is the funniest film yet from Christopher Guest and his troupe of mocumentarians.
9. School of Rock
I wanted to include one popcorn movie on this list and School of Rock narrowly edged out Pirates of the Carribean. This was the first Jack Black movie I had seen and I believe he made a fan out of me. Watch the way he move and even the way he dresses. It reminds me of John Belushi in Animal House...not really sure why, but this was so much better than I ever thought it could be.
10. Seabiscuit
I didn't want to like this movie. I was not in the mood for nostalgic, Hollywood "inspiration," but I couldn't help but respect it. It is a beautiful movie, and Tobey McGuire and Michael Cooper are extremely talented actors. It almost had a Field of Dreams feel to it.
Runners Up: Pirates of the Carribean, The Cooler, Capturing the Friedmans, American Splendor

Biggest Surprise: Bubba Ho-Tep
For an ultra low budget film starring the world's most famous B-movie actor, this ended up being one of the most fun movies I've ever seen. Elvis, who switched places with an impersonator just before his "death" is living in a nursing home where his best friend is a black man who believes he is JFK. Together the two fight off an evil Egyptian mummy that is killing off the residents of their home. Sheer genius!!!

Biggest Disappointment: tie: Mystic River and The Last Samurai
Tom Hanks in a movie where he is the only one speaking for 2 hours is entertaining; Tom Cruise in a movie where he is the only one speaking English for 2 hours is draining.

Mystic River has quickly become my favorite movie to hate this year. Problem #1: Lawrence Fishburne's character, aside from being the token black guy named Whitey, is so poorly written, spouting every cop movie cliche that has ever been muttered.
Problem #2: Uh, where did that soliloquy that Laura Linney gives towards the end come from?
Problem #3: The resolution is too simple for such a dark and tragic movie, pinning the murder on a minor character that is little more than an extra. After all this movie puts it's viewers through emotionally, it leaves them with a copout killer and a non-existent motive.
Problem #4: Kevin Bacon's ex-wife that keeps calling. I can only assume that this was important in the book, but in the film, please give us some explanation of why it is included or cut it out.
5th and biggest problem...to me: I liked the ending to this movie. Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon walking down the street in a scene remeniscent of the two kids watching their pal riding away in the back of that car so many years ago. However, this time they know he isn't coming back. But then it keeps going! I was ready for a fade to black, but all of a sudden everyone is at a parade...what a happy ending! Maybe they'll explain why we should care about Kevin Bacon's ex-wife...nope. Maybe they'll give us some incite into the mute kid and why he shot that poor girl...nope. Maybe Lawrence Fishburne will get shot the day before he is scheduled to retire...not even. Sean Penn killed his best friend for no reason. Lets have a parade!!!


I'm gonna stop writing about movies for a while. I know that I have exhausted the subject. I hope you have enjoyed this year's Possum Holler Oscar coverage. We'll see if we can do better next year.