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Sunday, February 27, 2005
My goal each year in my Oscar prophesies is to do better than the year before. Well, this year I failed. Last year I was right 14 times, this year I 0nly got 13 right. If you are interested, those were Director, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Oringinal Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing, Art Direction, Costume Design, Make Up, Score, Animated Feature, and Foreign Film.
Yes, I actually missed Best Picture. I also missed Cinematography. Honestly, though, I think that a year ago, only Sideways gets nominated for Best Picture...just an opinion.
So, as a service to my readership I am going offer my top 15 favorite movies of 2004 and my top 15 best films so that you can make wise decisions as you rent movies in the coming year. I was originally going to do 10, but I couldn't narrow it down that far. As far as going to the movies in the next couple of months, the only ones that I am excited about are Be Cool (the sequel to Get Shorty and from the author of Jackie Brown) and Sin City. Be Cool comes out next weekend and Sin City comes out the first weekend of April.
BEST FILMS OF 2004
1). Hotel Rwanda
I had pretty much decided that the no. 2 movie on my list would be no. 1, however, the more I thought about it the more I realized that Hotel Rwanda is the only movie this year that I would recommend to EVERYONE that I know. This is the most important film of the year and I encourage all of you to see it as soon as possible.
2). Motorcycle Diaries
This film was absolutely beautiful and made me want to travel around South America.
3). Maria Full of Grace
Another foreign film, I thought it was hard to watch. However, my mom, who is Colombian thought it was a lot cleaner than it could have been. Watch it and imagine that they are glorifying the life of a drug mule and think about how hard life can be for people who see no other way than to turn to this career.
4). The Aviator
I really thought this would win Best Picture. It won the most Oscars, but again Martin Scorcese misses Best Picture and Best Director. I liked the movie a lot, even if it starts to unravel in the second half after an amazingly put together first half.
5). Closer
Uncomfortable. That is the most appropriate word to describe Closer. As ugly (though physically beautiful) the characters in the movie are, I felt like this was an incredibly made movie. The dialogue is painfully honest and disturbing, but it is beautifully shot and well acted. I don't feel that I can truly assess this film until I watch it a second time.
6). Sideways
Perhaps the most perfect movie of the year. It accomplishes excactly what it wants too. Maybe it is just me, but I came out of it so depressed as I empathized with Miles, the lead character. This is a film for men that is disguised as a girl's movie. I think only men can fully appreciate the relationship between Paul Giammati's character and Thomas Haden Church's character.
7). Million Dollar Baby
Best Picture. Maybe. Maybe not. There were flaws in the script. I respect it a lot, but it brought up a very serious issue without fully examining it. I'm not going to spoil the end for you, but I think that it brought something up in the last 20 minutes that it could have spent the entire movie debating. When I get around to watching The Sea Inside I might write more extensively on this subject.
8). The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Charlie Kaufman won the Oscar for best Original Screenplay. I can't even imagine how he came up with this, but it is one of the most enjoyable movies that was nominated for an Academy Award.
9). Finding Neverland
This was the most touching of the Best Picture nominees.
10). Control Room
I'm not sure why this wasn't nominated for Best Documentary, but in my opinion it was just that. If you aren't familiar, it is a look a Al-Jazeera tv's struggle in the middle between it's Islamic audience and and increasing American influence.
11). Fahrenheit 9/11
Although I didn't think that this was as good a documentary as Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine I still felt it was a very important movie. I'm probably one of the few Americans that relate to both Fahrenheit AND the Passion of the Christ, but historically, this movie WILL be noted.
12). Ray
Jamie Foxx was amazing.
13). Kill Bill Vol. 2
The first volume was a bloody mess...and it set up volume two perfectly. This movie pulls all the details together into a perfect package and was the only movie of the year that had me grinning ear to ear the whole time.
14). Phantom of the Opera
For some reason, musicals always get a lot of respect from critics. While Phantom didn't get any Best Picture buzz (and was no Chicago), it was still a worthwhile and respectable film.
15). Hero
I didn't get to see House of Flying Daggers which is supposed to be even better, but this was an amazing action movie.
Possum's Favorite Movies of 2004:
1. Kill Bill Volume 2
2. Garden State
3. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Hysterical.
4. Napoleon Dynamite
Immediate cult classic.
5. Spanglish
I could write an entire column on this movie, but I'm afraid it would be too personal...so I won't.
6. The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
7. Sideways
8. Coffee and Cigarettes
There is no way to accurately explain this movie.
9. Hotel Rwanda
10. Finding Neverland
11. I [Heart] Huckabees
Waiting for Godot, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead...I'm not sure why, but I am a huge fan of absurdist, existential comedies.
12. The Phantom of the Opera
I am among the VERY few straight males who LOVE musicals...I stumbled upon Fiddler on the Roof on cable on Saturday morning and my day was shot.
13. Fahrenheit 9/11
14. Hero
15. Ray
Yes, I actually missed Best Picture. I also missed Cinematography. Honestly, though, I think that a year ago, only Sideways gets nominated for Best Picture...just an opinion.
So, as a service to my readership I am going offer my top 15 favorite movies of 2004 and my top 15 best films so that you can make wise decisions as you rent movies in the coming year. I was originally going to do 10, but I couldn't narrow it down that far. As far as going to the movies in the next couple of months, the only ones that I am excited about are Be Cool (the sequel to Get Shorty and from the author of Jackie Brown) and Sin City. Be Cool comes out next weekend and Sin City comes out the first weekend of April.
BEST FILMS OF 2004
1). Hotel Rwanda
I had pretty much decided that the no. 2 movie on my list would be no. 1, however, the more I thought about it the more I realized that Hotel Rwanda is the only movie this year that I would recommend to EVERYONE that I know. This is the most important film of the year and I encourage all of you to see it as soon as possible.
2). Motorcycle Diaries
This film was absolutely beautiful and made me want to travel around South America.
3). Maria Full of Grace
Another foreign film, I thought it was hard to watch. However, my mom, who is Colombian thought it was a lot cleaner than it could have been. Watch it and imagine that they are glorifying the life of a drug mule and think about how hard life can be for people who see no other way than to turn to this career.
4). The Aviator
I really thought this would win Best Picture. It won the most Oscars, but again Martin Scorcese misses Best Picture and Best Director. I liked the movie a lot, even if it starts to unravel in the second half after an amazingly put together first half.
5). Closer
Uncomfortable. That is the most appropriate word to describe Closer. As ugly (though physically beautiful) the characters in the movie are, I felt like this was an incredibly made movie. The dialogue is painfully honest and disturbing, but it is beautifully shot and well acted. I don't feel that I can truly assess this film until I watch it a second time.
6). Sideways
Perhaps the most perfect movie of the year. It accomplishes excactly what it wants too. Maybe it is just me, but I came out of it so depressed as I empathized with Miles, the lead character. This is a film for men that is disguised as a girl's movie. I think only men can fully appreciate the relationship between Paul Giammati's character and Thomas Haden Church's character.
7). Million Dollar Baby
Best Picture. Maybe. Maybe not. There were flaws in the script. I respect it a lot, but it brought up a very serious issue without fully examining it. I'm not going to spoil the end for you, but I think that it brought something up in the last 20 minutes that it could have spent the entire movie debating. When I get around to watching The Sea Inside I might write more extensively on this subject.
8). The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Charlie Kaufman won the Oscar for best Original Screenplay. I can't even imagine how he came up with this, but it is one of the most enjoyable movies that was nominated for an Academy Award.
9). Finding Neverland
This was the most touching of the Best Picture nominees.
10). Control Room
I'm not sure why this wasn't nominated for Best Documentary, but in my opinion it was just that. If you aren't familiar, it is a look a Al-Jazeera tv's struggle in the middle between it's Islamic audience and and increasing American influence.
11). Fahrenheit 9/11
Although I didn't think that this was as good a documentary as Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine I still felt it was a very important movie. I'm probably one of the few Americans that relate to both Fahrenheit AND the Passion of the Christ, but historically, this movie WILL be noted.
12). Ray
Jamie Foxx was amazing.
13). Kill Bill Vol. 2
The first volume was a bloody mess...and it set up volume two perfectly. This movie pulls all the details together into a perfect package and was the only movie of the year that had me grinning ear to ear the whole time.
14). Phantom of the Opera
For some reason, musicals always get a lot of respect from critics. While Phantom didn't get any Best Picture buzz (and was no Chicago), it was still a worthwhile and respectable film.
15). Hero
I didn't get to see House of Flying Daggers which is supposed to be even better, but this was an amazing action movie.
Possum's Favorite Movies of 2004:
1. Kill Bill Volume 2
2. Garden State
3. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Hysterical.
4. Napoleon Dynamite
Immediate cult classic.
5. Spanglish
I could write an entire column on this movie, but I'm afraid it would be too personal...so I won't.
6. The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
7. Sideways
8. Coffee and Cigarettes
There is no way to accurately explain this movie.
9. Hotel Rwanda
10. Finding Neverland
11. I [Heart] Huckabees
Waiting for Godot, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead...I'm not sure why, but I am a huge fan of absurdist, existential comedies.
12. The Phantom of the Opera
I am among the VERY few straight males who LOVE musicals...I stumbled upon Fiddler on the Roof on cable on Saturday morning and my day was shot.
13. Fahrenheit 9/11
14. Hero
15. Ray
Monday, February 21, 2005
Welcome to the third consecutive "Possum's Oscar Prophesies!" I've been watching a lot of movies in my quest to make this the most accurate Prophecies yet. Going into next week's ceremony I stand a modest 26 for 48 in my picks over the last two years, my downfall a year ago was being too democratic in my choices, then watching LOTR take every category.
Let's start at the top:
BEST PICTURE: The Aviator
I liked this movie. It didn't blow me away, but it was very well done. I think it edges out Million Dollar Baby which is also worthy, though I'm not sure that either of these would win in another year. Sideways was my favorite of these five, Finding Neverland was touching and entertaining but not quite Best Picture material, and Ray gets in pretty much on the merits of Jamie Foxx alone.
DIRECTING: Clint Eastwood
Martin Scorcese gets passed over again. I really thought that the Academy was going to give the sympathetic vote to him this year, but the award shows leading up to the Oscars strongly point toward Eastwood taking home his second statue. Both Eastwood and Scorcese make decisions in their films that I think are questionable, but The Aviator is far from Raging Bull or Goodfellas. I'm not even sure that it is better than Gangs of New York.
BEST ACTOR: Jamie Foxx
Don Cheadle, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio all turn in outstanding performances. However, I can't figure out how Clint Eastwood gets nominated over Paul Giammati. All that said, this is probably the surest thing this year. Foxx was amazing. To portray a person that has been in the public eye so recently and that so many people are familiar with does not seem like an easy task. Yet, Jamie Foxx makes you believe that he is Ray Charles almost immediately.
BEST ACTRESS: Hilary Swank
Swank will win her second Oscar, and for the second time, she will beat out Annette Bening in doing so. I would also just like to commend the longest shot of any category, Catalina Sandino Moreno, for a wonderful job in Maria Full of Grace.
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Morgan Freeman
I was originally going to pick Clive Owen for stealing the show in Closer from heavy-weights Julia Roberts, Jude Law and Natalie Portman, but Morgan Freeman changed my mind in Million Dollar Baby. His best role in a long time...maybe since Shawshank Redemption.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Natalie Portman
Cate Blanchett might very well win this one for a great turn as Katherine Hepburn, but I'm going to stick with Portman for Closer which probably deserves one award. On a related note, nominee Laura Linney never replied when I asked her cousin, my neighbor, to ask her if I could go to the awards with her.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The mastermind behind mind benders such as Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, Charlie Kaufman, wins for one of my favorite movies of the year.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Sideways
Everyone loves Sideways, and this is where it will be honored by the Academy.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: House of Flying Daggers
This is always my favorite category, and I have been accurate the past two years (Road to Perdition and Master and Commander). However, this year the film that I would pick for best cinematography, Closer, wasn't even nominated. As ugly the characters and dialogue in it are, it is beautifully shot. So, I'm going with House of Flying Daggers based mostly on Yimou Zhang's Hero which also was released in the US this year. The Aviator could very well win this won as well.
FILM EDITING: The Aviator
VISUAL EFFECTS: I, Robot
ART DIRECTION: The Aviator
Like gangs of New York, this was an enormous project with amazing art direction from the movie openings to the air fleets.
COSTUME DESIGN: The Aviator
MAKE UP: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
SOUND MIXING: The Aviator
SOUND EDITING: The Polar Express
SONG: Learn to Be Lonely, The Phantom of the Opera
You almost have to give best song to the only musical.
SCORE: Finding Neverland
ANIMATED FEATURE: The Incredibles
I'm picking this one over Shrek 2 because everyone I've talked to liked Shrek 2, but they rave about The Incredibles. I personally have not seen any of these.
FOREIGN FILM: The Sea Inside
Critics loved it. I haven't seen it. I'm disappointed that Motorcycle Diaries and Maria Full of Grace were not nominated.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Story of the Weeping Camel
While highly entertaining and eye opening, SuperSize Me wasn't exactly a great piece of filmmaking. Farenheit 9/11 wasn't pushed for nomination because Michael Moore tried to push it for Best Picture, though it wasn't quite as well done as Bowling for Columbine. Personally, I was surprised/disappointed that Control Room wasn't nominated.
DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Sister Rose's Passion
Now start the categories that I simply choose based on the name of the film. I have done surprisingly well with this method.
ANIMATED SHORT: Gopher Broke
LIVE ACTION SHORT: 7:35 in the Morning
There's a 7:35 in the morning?!?!?
Alright, I'll be back next week with the run down on how I did. Also, I will offer my top 10 best movies and top 10 favorite movies of the year.
Let's start at the top:
BEST PICTURE: The Aviator
I liked this movie. It didn't blow me away, but it was very well done. I think it edges out Million Dollar Baby which is also worthy, though I'm not sure that either of these would win in another year. Sideways was my favorite of these five, Finding Neverland was touching and entertaining but not quite Best Picture material, and Ray gets in pretty much on the merits of Jamie Foxx alone.
DIRECTING: Clint Eastwood
Martin Scorcese gets passed over again. I really thought that the Academy was going to give the sympathetic vote to him this year, but the award shows leading up to the Oscars strongly point toward Eastwood taking home his second statue. Both Eastwood and Scorcese make decisions in their films that I think are questionable, but The Aviator is far from Raging Bull or Goodfellas. I'm not even sure that it is better than Gangs of New York.
BEST ACTOR: Jamie Foxx
Don Cheadle, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio all turn in outstanding performances. However, I can't figure out how Clint Eastwood gets nominated over Paul Giammati. All that said, this is probably the surest thing this year. Foxx was amazing. To portray a person that has been in the public eye so recently and that so many people are familiar with does not seem like an easy task. Yet, Jamie Foxx makes you believe that he is Ray Charles almost immediately.
BEST ACTRESS: Hilary Swank
Swank will win her second Oscar, and for the second time, she will beat out Annette Bening in doing so. I would also just like to commend the longest shot of any category, Catalina Sandino Moreno, for a wonderful job in Maria Full of Grace.
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Morgan Freeman
I was originally going to pick Clive Owen for stealing the show in Closer from heavy-weights Julia Roberts, Jude Law and Natalie Portman, but Morgan Freeman changed my mind in Million Dollar Baby. His best role in a long time...maybe since Shawshank Redemption.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Natalie Portman
Cate Blanchett might very well win this one for a great turn as Katherine Hepburn, but I'm going to stick with Portman for Closer which probably deserves one award. On a related note, nominee Laura Linney never replied when I asked her cousin, my neighbor, to ask her if I could go to the awards with her.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The mastermind behind mind benders such as Adaptation and Being John Malkovich, Charlie Kaufman, wins for one of my favorite movies of the year.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Sideways
Everyone loves Sideways, and this is where it will be honored by the Academy.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: House of Flying Daggers
This is always my favorite category, and I have been accurate the past two years (Road to Perdition and Master and Commander). However, this year the film that I would pick for best cinematography, Closer, wasn't even nominated. As ugly the characters and dialogue in it are, it is beautifully shot. So, I'm going with House of Flying Daggers based mostly on Yimou Zhang's Hero which also was released in the US this year. The Aviator could very well win this won as well.
FILM EDITING: The Aviator
VISUAL EFFECTS: I, Robot
ART DIRECTION: The Aviator
Like gangs of New York, this was an enormous project with amazing art direction from the movie openings to the air fleets.
COSTUME DESIGN: The Aviator
MAKE UP: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
SOUND MIXING: The Aviator
SOUND EDITING: The Polar Express
SONG: Learn to Be Lonely, The Phantom of the Opera
You almost have to give best song to the only musical.
SCORE: Finding Neverland
ANIMATED FEATURE: The Incredibles
I'm picking this one over Shrek 2 because everyone I've talked to liked Shrek 2, but they rave about The Incredibles. I personally have not seen any of these.
FOREIGN FILM: The Sea Inside
Critics loved it. I haven't seen it. I'm disappointed that Motorcycle Diaries and Maria Full of Grace were not nominated.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Story of the Weeping Camel
While highly entertaining and eye opening, SuperSize Me wasn't exactly a great piece of filmmaking. Farenheit 9/11 wasn't pushed for nomination because Michael Moore tried to push it for Best Picture, though it wasn't quite as well done as Bowling for Columbine. Personally, I was surprised/disappointed that Control Room wasn't nominated.
DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Sister Rose's Passion
Now start the categories that I simply choose based on the name of the film. I have done surprisingly well with this method.
ANIMATED SHORT: Gopher Broke
LIVE ACTION SHORT: 7:35 in the Morning
There's a 7:35 in the morning?!?!?
Alright, I'll be back next week with the run down on how I did. Also, I will offer my top 10 best movies and top 10 favorite movies of the year.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
If you'll notice in the top righthand corner of your screen there is a button that reads "Next Blog." This button will take you to a random blog somewhere else in the internet. Out of shear boredom, I have spent some time just clicking the "Next Blog" button and skimming a bit of what my fellow bloggers have to say (at least those that are in English).
I have come to this conclusion: 78% of bloggers suck at blogging.
At least 63% of all blogs are titled "[insert bloggers name here]'s Thoughts." This is the first sign that the blog you are about to read sucks. If that is the cleverest title the blogger can come up with, chances are they aren't going to come up with much else worth reading.
Next, if the contents of the blog truly are the bloggers thoughts, said blogger should probably try thinking more. I've read far too many blogs that read something like:
I haven't had time to blog in a while (this being about two days since their last post).
I got a haircut today. It was a boring day. My life sucks.
If this is the best you can come up with, you probably shouldn't be blogging. Keep a journal or something. If you really feel that the two people who read your blog are interested in reading this, then you are sadly mistaken.
Then there are the bloggers who realize they have no thoughts of their own to add to the internet, but since blogging is 'in' they must join in the fun. They make up for the lack of anything to say in one of two ways. First, by simply posting song lyrics. Second, is to fill space with the results of one of those cutesy AIM quizzes like "Which Will & Grace Character Are You?" or "Which Flavor Ice Cream Best Fits Your Personality."
And everyone else is a political pundit.
Now I'm not proclaiming to be the greatest blogger on the web, but my goal in blogging is always to entertain my readers. Whether or not I succeed, I always think to myself before posting, "do I at least think that most people who read this will be amused?"
So, that's what I have to say about that. In case you are interested:
I watched a movie tonight. It was good. I"m kinda tired and bored.....gonna go to bed soon. My life sucks.
Music i'm listening too now: Reckless Kelly "Wicked Twisted Road"
Mood: bummed
So I'll be back early next week with Oscar Predictions!!!
I have come to this conclusion: 78% of bloggers suck at blogging.
At least 63% of all blogs are titled "[insert bloggers name here]'s Thoughts." This is the first sign that the blog you are about to read sucks. If that is the cleverest title the blogger can come up with, chances are they aren't going to come up with much else worth reading.
Next, if the contents of the blog truly are the bloggers thoughts, said blogger should probably try thinking more. I've read far too many blogs that read something like:
I haven't had time to blog in a while (this being about two days since their last post).
I got a haircut today. It was a boring day. My life sucks.
If this is the best you can come up with, you probably shouldn't be blogging. Keep a journal or something. If you really feel that the two people who read your blog are interested in reading this, then you are sadly mistaken.
Then there are the bloggers who realize they have no thoughts of their own to add to the internet, but since blogging is 'in' they must join in the fun. They make up for the lack of anything to say in one of two ways. First, by simply posting song lyrics. Second, is to fill space with the results of one of those cutesy AIM quizzes like "Which Will & Grace Character Are You?" or "Which Flavor Ice Cream Best Fits Your Personality."
And everyone else is a political pundit.
Now I'm not proclaiming to be the greatest blogger on the web, but my goal in blogging is always to entertain my readers. Whether or not I succeed, I always think to myself before posting, "do I at least think that most people who read this will be amused?"
So, that's what I have to say about that. In case you are interested:
I watched a movie tonight. It was good. I"m kinda tired and bored.....gonna go to bed soon. My life sucks.
Music i'm listening too now: Reckless Kelly "Wicked Twisted Road"
Mood: bummed
So I'll be back early next week with Oscar Predictions!!!
