Andrew's Oscar Picks

The Academy Awards are this Sunday, February 25th, so I thought I'd weigh in with my predictions, as well as my personal preferences, for the Big 6 categories. (Note: I have not seen Ryan Gosling's performance in Half Nelson, so my analysis in the Best Actor category is slightly incomplete.)

Best Director

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Babel
Martin Scorsese, The Departed
Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Paul Greengrass, United 93

In case you hadn't heard, Martin Scorsese, the director of Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, and Goodfellas, has never won an Oscar. After all these years, it seems as if America's greatest living director will finally win one. His return to form in The Departed won him the Golden Globe and his very first Director's Guild award this year, so it looks as if the Academy will finally give in and reward him. Of course, we've been thinking the same thing for a number of years now, so keep an eye out for Academy favorite Clint Eastwood, who scored a double whammy with two impressive films this year, Letters and Flags of our Fathers. Since Clint just won two years ago, my money is still on Marty to take the gold.

Prediction: Martin Scorsese
Preference: Martin Scorsese
Should've been nominated: Alfonso Cuaron, Children of Men

Best Supporting Actress

Adriana Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

The Academy loves to honor newly discovered talents in this category, and American Idol reject Jennifer Hudson fits that bill perfectly. Her powerhouse debut in Dreamgirls took everyone by surprise, and was arguably even more of a lead performance than supporting. She's won the major precursor awards up until now (Golden Globe, Screen Actor's Guild), and her fair share of critics' awards as well. The only thing that could hold her back is that the Academy's support for Dreamgirls isn't as strong as people had originally thought (No Best Picture or Director nomination), possibly opening the door for one of the other candidates. Hudson's still the best bet though. Blanchett gives an Oscar-worthy performance in almost every movie she makes, so she'll probably be taken for granted. The actresses from Babel will likely cancel each other out, and Breslin should be happy to be invited to the adults' party (though Anna Paquin would beg to differ).

Prediction: Jennifer Hudson
Preference: Rinko Kikuchi
Should've been nominated: Emma Thompson, Stranger than Fiction


Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Comeback stories are also big for the Academy. Eddie Murphy was a box office king in the 80's and has since been floundering in low rent comedies and mediocre family films, with the occasional bright spot (Bowfinger, Shrek). His pathos-infused soul singing in Dreamgirls showed a dramatic side that no one had seen before; exactly the kind of thing the Academy likes to reward (the Globes and the SAG already have). He's more vulnerable than J. Hudson though, due to the tepid response to the film, as well as his history of being reclusive and difficult to work with. Alan Arkin has a good shot at upsetting him; he's a well-respected veteran who's also never won an Oscar, and gives a crowd pleasing performance in Sunshine. An even better comeback story would be Jackie Earle Haley (The Bad News Bears), who's been out of the public eye for over 20 years, and gives a haunting performance in Little Children, but he stands little-to-no chance.

Prediction: Eddie Murphy
Preference: Jackie Earle Haley
Should've been nominated: Michael Sheen, The Queen


Best Actress

Penelope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet, Little Children

This one isn't even close. Helen Mirren will win this in a walk, and she deserves it for her transformation into Queen Elizabeth II, displaying all of her grace and vulnerability. Considering how strong the rest of the category is, that's quite an achievement. She's won every major precursor award and every major critics' award this year (and even picked up a few TV awards along the way). A win by anyone else would be one of the greatest upsets in Oscar history.

Prediction: Helen Mirren
Preference: Helen Mirren
Should've been nominated: Actually, these 5 are probably the best of the year, although I haven't seen Maggie Gyllenhaal's acclaimed performance in Sherrybaby.

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole, Venus
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

If not for O'Toole, Forest Whitaker would be just as much of a lock as Helen Mirren is. Like Mirren, Whitaker has won all the major precursor awards and most of the major critics' awards for his volcanic portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. O'Toole, like Scorsese, is a legend in the business who has never won a competitive Oscar, and this is likely his last real shot. It is a little odd that Lawrence of Arabia himself has never won, so the Academy might be tempted to give it to him. Whitaker is still the heavy favorite though. Smith and Gosling are along for the ride, and DiCaprio gave a better performance in The Departed (Academy rules don't allow for the same actor to be nominated in the same category twice, although they allow it for directors. Dumb.)

Prediction: Forest Whitaker
Preference: Forest Whitaker
Should've been nominated: Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed


Best Picture

Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

For the first time in years, this will be the most competitive race of the night. Usually by this time, there is a clear-cut frontrunner, or at least a two man race. This year, all 5 films seem to have at least a chance to win, with 3 of them running neck and neck. The Queen will probably be seen as mostly the Helen Mirren show, and they will reward her in the Actress category. The Academy loves Clint Eastwood, but Letters from Iwo Jima is entirely in Japanese and may have peaked a little too late in the game. That leaves Babel, The Departed, and Little Miss Sunshine in a 3 way dead heat. All have their pluses and minuses. Babel is big, ambitious, has an important social message, and won the Golden Globe; however the Globe is the only major award it has won, and people have a love it or hate it reaction to it. The Departed is the most critically acclaimed of the 3, won the Director's Guild, and is a star-studded popular hit. On the other hand, it might be too violent for voters, and it lacks the social importance the Academy likes. Little Miss Sunshine is the little movie that could, a small independent actor's showcase that rose from Sundance favorite to popular favorite, winning the Producer's Guild and the Screen Actor's Guild awards. It might be viewed as too lightweight for a Best Pic winner though, and only 3 times in history has a film won the top award without getting a Best Director nomination (The last time was Driving Miss Daisy in 1990). So who wins? Truth be told, I have no idea. But since I have to predict, I'll go with Babel, due to it's social conscience. It seems to be this year's Crash, a multi-storyline epic with something to say that isn't entirely successful (although it's better than Crash).

Prediction: Babel
Preference: The Departed
Should've been nominated: United 93

Have fun at the Oscars!

posted by Andrew

BODIES. . .The Exhibition

posted by Andrew

This might really be considered educational, rather than art, but this weekend I took in Bodies. . .The Exhibition at the South Street Seaport in NYC. For those who don't know, this somewhat controversial exhibit features preserved human bodies carefully dissected to display all of the different organ systems in the body. Each room focuses on one system: respiratory, nervous, digestive, etc. There are also numerous displays of how different diseases and pathologies affect the organ systems. As a person who works in the medical field, I was very impressed with the skill in which every muscle, artery, and nerve were dissected out and sustained. It may not be for the overly squeamish, but this is a very fascinating look at the intricacies and complexities of the human body. There are currently exhibitions in NYC, Amsterdam, Miami, Seattle, and Las Vegas, and will probably be visiting most major cities soon. Check it out if you have the chance.

Half Nelson

February 13th marked the release of Half Nelson starring Ryan Gosling on dvd. Gosling plays an inner city middle school history teacher, Dan Dunne, who deals with his frustrations of not being able to change the world with drug use. He friends a student named Drey, played beautifully and edgy by Shareeka Epps, who discovers him smoking crack in the girl's locker room. Drey's own understanding of life's difficulties (with an over-worked mother who's never there and a nice-guy drug dealer friend(Anthony Mackie) who tries to sway her to peddle drugs) allows her to bond with her teacher in an unlikely friendship of an older white man and a young black girl. A common theme of the film is dialectics, tension between two forces, a subject Dunne teaches to his students in regards to things like civil rights, which clearly fits his struggle with drugs. Gosling has come a long way from The Notebook with easily one of the top male performances of the year. He sells Dunne's frustrations well with every pain-filled facial expression. You can't help but feel sympathetic towards both of these characters with their struggles, but find relief in that they have each other. I had to rent this film to finally get a look at it and i suggest you do the same.

posted by Ped

Happy Valentine's Day!

posted by Andrew

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are 12 of my favorite screen romances, along with the principal players. Never fear, not one Matthew McConaughey movie in sight.

Annie Hall (1977, d. Woody Allen)-Woody Allen, Diane Keaton
The Apartment (1960, d. Billy Wilder)-Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine
Beauty and the Beast (1991, d. Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise)-Animated Disney characters. That's right.
Before Sunrise/Before Sunset (1995/2004, d. Richard Linklater)-Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy
Casablanca (1942, d. Michael Curtiz)-Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
Moulin Rouge! (2001, d. Baz Luhrmann)-Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor
The Philadelphia Story (1940, d. George Cukor)-Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart
Say Anything. . .(1989, d. Cameron Crowe)-John Cusack, Ione Skye
The Shop Around the Corner (1940, d. Ernst Lubitsch)-James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan
Sleepless in Seattle (1993, d. Nora Ephron)-Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan
Swing Time (1936, d. George Stevens)-Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
When Harry Met Sally. . . (1989, d. Rob Reiner)-Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan

Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape

After the end of No Doubt, Gwen Stefani managed to keep our attention with her eccentric, but cool style and her catchy retro songs ("hollaback girl," "rich girl") that make us nostalgic of growing up and 8O's pop. No one had made bottle blond look so good. With her recent releases of "Wind it up" (yeah that Sound of Music one) and "The Sweet Escape" (which I honestly believe is good because of Akon's tenor contributions, which he doesn't get credit for, probably due to the fact that we can't seem escape him on the radio right now anyways), you would think Gwen has followed up with another noteworthy album. Well, she doesn't. The rest of the album is blah. None of these songs will be ring tones, believe me. The only other song worth mentioning is "Early Winter" and I asked myself, why do I like this song? And I realized that it was because "Early Winter" sounds like No Doubt. I miss them.

posted by ped

Venus, Smokin' Aces, Pan's Labyrinth

posted by Andrew

A quick word on the films that I saw this week:

Venus

Venus has gotten lot of publicity as possibly Peter O'Toole's last lead performance and probably his last real shot at a competitive Oscar, which he has never won (He won an honorary award in 2003). The hype surrounding this performance is well-deserved. O'Toole is fantastic as Maurice, the aging actor who enters into a unique love affair with twenty-something Jessie (Jodie Whittaker), his friend's grand-niece. The film is a fascinating character study of how an old man and a young woman can develop a sincere, semi-platonic bond. Admittedly, the subject matter is somewhat bizarre and borderline creepy, but O'Toole's performance as the witty, tragic, and foul-mouthed Maurice makes it palatable and worth the price of admission.

Smokin' Aces

Another movie in a long line of pseudo-cool Pulp Fiction-ripoffs (The Boondock Saints, Knockaround Guys) that just can't get it right. They all follow the same formula: take a bunch of colorful lowlifes, add some slick dialogue and wacky ultra-violence, throw in a twist ending, and stir it all up. In this case, the characters are colorful but uninteresting, the dialogue not nearly as funny or clever as it thinks it is, and the ending is unsurprising because it is totally ridiculous. A decent lead performance from Ryan Reynolds and some creative action sequences can't totally save this Tarantino-wannabe. To paraphrase a quote by a famous pianist, this is a perfect example of being able to play the notes but not the music.

Pan's Labyrinth

Guillermo Tel Toro's previous work has included Blade 2 and Hellboy, creative comic book movies sure, but nothing that indicated that he was capable of something like Pan's Labyrinth. Del Toro has fashioned a truly different gothic horror story set against the backdrop of World War II Spain during the rise of fascism. Ivana Baquero stars as Ofelia, a young girl who escapes from her terrifying life with her ill, pregnant mother and her monstrous, military stepfather by entering into an equally terrifying fantasy world filled with fauns, fairies, and mythical creatures. Baquero gives the best child performance of the year (in a strong year dominated by Fannings and Breslins), and Del Toro weaves intricate parallel tales of Ofelia's magical quests and the Spanish resistance fighters' quest for freedom. With Pan's Labyrinth, Del Toro finally manages to put himself in the same discussions as his friends, Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the POA, Children of Men) and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel).

Television-Monday, February 5

posted by Andrew


I watch a lot of television on Monday, so I figured I'd post some of my thoughts on the shows that I watch and tonight's episodes.

Prison Break
Prison Break is now in it's second season, and I don't think it's any secret that the quality has gone downhill since they actually broke out of prison. It started out as a very clever concept in season 1, revealing week-by-week Michael Scofield's elaborate plan to break his wrongfully accused brother out of prison. This season, however, has lost it's focus, with too many storylines about too many characters we don't really care about. In hindsight, this show probably should have just been conceived as a miniseries. That being said, Prison Break can still be counted on for an entertaining hour of action and cheap thrills. Tonight's episode was a prime example, with Michael and Lincoln crashing a train through a police blockade, C-note taking down an armed robber, and Haywire plummeting to his predictable death. It's not quite the must-see show it was last season, but there are worse ways to spend an hour.

24
24 has been my favorite show on television for the last 5 years. I have literally sat on the edge of my seat from the non-stop thrills. Season 6 has been no exception, getting off to an explosive start. Admittedly, for a show that has always strained credibility, this season has come dangerously close to jumping the shark. I'm referring of course to the latest plot developments concerning Jack Bauer's family. Tonight it was revealed that Jack's father (James Cromwell) has been involved in the terror attacks to some degree. These are pretty incredible developments, but I'm willing to give the show the benefit of the doubt. There are still about 17 hours left for the writers to try and explain his motives. The personal involvement for Jack also allows Kiefer Sutherland to explore hidden demons and emotional depths that we never knew Bauer had. Personally, I can't wait to see what happens.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
I've had conflicting feelings about Studio 60 all year. It is simultaneously a show that I don't want to miss as well as perhaps one of the bigger disappointments of the year. The show is still entertaining due to the one-liners and witty banter between the characters. However, I'm starting to think that while Studio 60 is blessed with good dialogue, it is not necessarily good writing. Aaron Sorkin is using many of the same techniques to bring up important issues he used on The West Wing, but being set on a sketch comedy show, the arguments seem a lot less credible. The characters, especially Matt Albie (though well acted by Matthew Perry), all seem caught up in a swamp of self-importance and pretension about the show they are working on, eliciting very little sympathy and understanding from the average viewer. Unfortunately, the recent attempts to shift the focus of Studio 60 to the character's personal lives have not been successful either, with endless bickering between Matt and Harriet, and the very silly subplot of Danny and Jordan being stuck on the roof, leading of course to true love. I really don't have any good suggestions as to what can be done to tighten the focus of the show. It may be that it is just too tricky to set a dramatic television series on a late night comedy show. I'm still not giving up on the show, as the dialogue is still more intelligent than most of what's out there, and it should commended for aiming high.

Lily Allen Rocks my World

Last night, I discovered Lily Allen on SNL and now, once again, I'm in love for like the millionth time. In her single "Smile," a tranquil smooth tone over a reggae/ska poppy sound makes you forget she's singing about break-up. Her adorable style (floppy dresses with sneakers) combined with her cutesy songs will definitely cheer you up. She's a hit in in the UK and on myspace and I hope she gets some serious radio-play in the US.

song recommendations:
Smile
LDN
Littlest Things
Nan You're a Window Shopper

posted by ped.

Just a few comments on 2006

New Addiction: Heroes
Super heroes, hot chicks, character deaths, a cliffhanger at the end of each episode. What else could you ask for?
Worst Movie of the year: Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
Don't even ask why I saw this one.
Favorite Song: "Kick Push" by Lupe Fiasco
For once a rap song not about money, cars, jewelry or sex. A fresh jazzy sound with lyrics about skateboarding and young love of all things.
Biggest Disappointment: The Da Vinci Code and Eragon
Two best selling novels done horribly wrong. I hate paying 8 bucks, just to leave the theater angry.
Favorite Performance: Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine
He's just damn good in this film.
Worst Song: "Lips of an Angel" by Hinder
Why do people like song? It sounds like every other rock song that's come out the last 10 years and has implications of cheating on his girlfriend. That's not cool man, not cool.
Best writing on TV: Studio 6O
Why aren't more people watching this show? It's smart and most Americans can't handle that.

posted by ped

Andrew's Top 10 Movies of 2006

Below are my picks for the best movies of 2006, along with some honorable mentions and some films I wish I hadn't missed. Enjoy my humble opinions.

Notable films I missed (so far): Pan's Labyrinth, Venus, Half Nelson, Army of Shadows, Deliver us from Evil, An Inconvenient Truth, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu

Honorable Mention: Babel, Borat, The Illusionist, The Last King of Scotland, Notes on a Scandal, The Queen, Stranger than Fiction, Thank You for Smoking

And now the top ten:

10. A Prairie Home Companion: Robert Altman's final film, celebrating small-town American culture while mourning it's demise. A stellar cast, led by Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and even Lindsay Lohan weave through Altman's gem of an ensemble comedy

9. Volver: This quasi-supernatural tale from Pedro Almodovar is a passionate exploration of the resilience of mothers, daughters, and the not-so-great men in their lives. Penelope Cruz's central performance is at once funny, sexy, and tragic in a role that shows she actually can act, when in her own language

8. Dreamgirls: After the relative disappointments of Rent and The Producers, Bill Condon's Motown musical infused with energy and actual dramatic tension has to be considered a victory. Good performances, vocally and otherwise, throughout the movie, especially from breakout star Jennifer Hudson and comeback kid Eddie Murphy

7. Casino Royale: A re-imagining of a franchise in definite need of a jumpstart, Casino Royale introduces us to a new, less-than-polished, and more emotionally invested James Bond, played with intensity and vulnerability by Daniel Craig. Who knows if this can continue in later movies, as Bond becomes more experienced and jaded, but this one, at least, is perhaps the best Bond ever.

6. Little Miss Sunshine: A supremely funny road comedy that was the talk of last year's Sundance film festival lived up to expectations. A pitch-perfect cast leads this raucous, original, and even kind of heartwarming tale of a less-than-perfect family.


5. Children of Men: What would happen if women in the world stopped having babies? Alfonso Cuaron has a theory, in this bleak vision of the future, with not-so-subtle parallels to today's world. Clive Owen, who would've made a pretty good Bond himself, headlines a strong cast.

4. Little Children: Todd Field's follow up to In the Bedroom explores the boredom, frustrations, and emotional fragility of suburbanites, and the consequences of their actions. Standouts include Kate Winslet as the restless central housewife and Jackie Earle Haley (coming a long way from The Bad News Bears), as the child molester you can be disgusted by and also feel sorry for.

3. Letters from Iwo Jima: Clint Eastwood's companion piece to Flags of our Fathers is the stronger of the two, and actually enhances the first one. Eastwood brilliantly shows the consequences of war on humanity by showing the Japanese side of what was considered the last good war for America. Ken Watanabe is strong and stoic as the general of a battalion of Japanese troops facing certain death

2. The Departed: A superior remake of a really good Hong Kong film (Infernal Affairs), Martin Scorsese creates a morality play with great depth and power from a simple cops and robbers story. There aren't enough accolades for the top-notch performances from everyone, including Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, and Alec Baldwin.

1. United 93: Not exploitative in the slightest, Paul Greengrass' verite-style recreation of the heroism of the passengers of the one flight that didn't reach it's destination was the most emotional experience of the year. Also focusing on the confusion and frustration of the control towers in New York, Greengrass avoids the melodrama of Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, and has fashioned the best of film of the year.