This summer burnt me out on first run movies. For the first time since high school, I went three months without going to a single first run theater. Nothing got me interested enough. So after seeing Kung Fu Panda 2 on opening night, I did not see another first run movie until Contagion.
Wait, isn't this a movie blog? Three months without a movie? Well, no. I saw several movies in Columbus and Dayton in their classic film series. I did go to a second run theater for a couple of films. And then of course there is home video and TV.
So now I'm playing catch-up. Let the second run viewings begin. And reviews based off that.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
Recession 101
"Recession 101: Stop worrying about the economy. You're scaring the children." I passed by a billboard with this message going home from work every day this spring.
Maybe the children should be scared. I know I am.
Of course, if you have enough money to take out an ad like that, the economy probably doesn't scare you. Nice for you. So you can waste money attempting to get people to accept this lousy economy, and maybe not looking at how we got this way.
This year has been unique for me, because I'm in a group that has been targeted. I am a government employee, and I live in Ohio. And we've become one of the targets of the republican government in this state.
Because of course when the economy is used as an excuse, unfortunately enough people can be conned into supporting what is actually an assault on the working man. So instead of focusing on rich people getting fat off the work of others, and not paying their fair share, the focus is one someone like me, who makes less than $30,000 a year and works to try and improve people's lives.
Because apparently me receiving medical benefits is the drain on the economy.
And I'm not supposed to be worried?
Whenever it is pointed out that the rich are not paying what they used to in taxes, that person is accused of class warfare. Make no mistake, there is class warfare. The rich are attacking the poor with regularity. And it hard to believe anything other than the system has been broken and is helping the rich fleece the poor more and more and more.
Today is Labor Day, which means more to me than it has in past years. Usually it meant the end of summer. Or just a day off from work. But it means more to me this year.
Now it means to remember the working class, who are under siege like never before. And to not keep quiet when the working class is being attacked. And I won't/ I hope anyone reading doesn't either.
Happy Labor Day.
Maybe the children should be scared. I know I am.
Of course, if you have enough money to take out an ad like that, the economy probably doesn't scare you. Nice for you. So you can waste money attempting to get people to accept this lousy economy, and maybe not looking at how we got this way.
This year has been unique for me, because I'm in a group that has been targeted. I am a government employee, and I live in Ohio. And we've become one of the targets of the republican government in this state.
Because of course when the economy is used as an excuse, unfortunately enough people can be conned into supporting what is actually an assault on the working man. So instead of focusing on rich people getting fat off the work of others, and not paying their fair share, the focus is one someone like me, who makes less than $30,000 a year and works to try and improve people's lives.
Because apparently me receiving medical benefits is the drain on the economy.
And I'm not supposed to be worried?
Whenever it is pointed out that the rich are not paying what they used to in taxes, that person is accused of class warfare. Make no mistake, there is class warfare. The rich are attacking the poor with regularity. And it hard to believe anything other than the system has been broken and is helping the rich fleece the poor more and more and more.
Today is Labor Day, which means more to me than it has in past years. Usually it meant the end of summer. Or just a day off from work. But it means more to me this year.
Now it means to remember the working class, who are under siege like never before. And to not keep quiet when the working class is being attacked. And I won't/ I hope anyone reading doesn't either.
Happy Labor Day.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
It wasn't THAT bad...
Sometimes I wonder if I'm seeing the same thing other are seeing. The Oscar show was an example.
Folks, the hosts were fine. If you put two actors in the position of hosting, they will only be as goos as their material. The writers did not have a good night.
I've read some people describe the shore as the worst ever. Did they not see Rob Lowe sing with Snow White? In the past, there used to be a couple of bloated, boring preduction numbers almost every year. Those days, thankfully, have passed.
We were spoiled two years ago, when the show was flat out amazing. Last year was a sizable step backwards, but I thought this year was better. The acceptance speeches were allowed to breathe more than past years, and most were fun.
And while James Franco seemed to me to be, uh, a bit medicated, I'd love to see Anne Hathaway with a better partner (Hugh Jakcman would be fine). Of, as in 1986, announce a comedian as a cohost, have him do a monolgue, and let the other hosts take over. (In 1986, Paul Hogan gave one of favorite openings ever, and then disappeared.)
Besides, some of the complaints are just unfair. The nominated songs weren't that great. Well no kidding. But that's not the show's fault. There were few surprises. Oscars are not supposed to surprise, they are supposed to award the best. And there have been much worse years for that.
Worst ever? Not hardly. I thought it was just fine. There have been better. But there have been much, much worse.
Folks, the hosts were fine. If you put two actors in the position of hosting, they will only be as goos as their material. The writers did not have a good night.
I've read some people describe the shore as the worst ever. Did they not see Rob Lowe sing with Snow White? In the past, there used to be a couple of bloated, boring preduction numbers almost every year. Those days, thankfully, have passed.
We were spoiled two years ago, when the show was flat out amazing. Last year was a sizable step backwards, but I thought this year was better. The acceptance speeches were allowed to breathe more than past years, and most were fun.
And while James Franco seemed to me to be, uh, a bit medicated, I'd love to see Anne Hathaway with a better partner (Hugh Jakcman would be fine). Of, as in 1986, announce a comedian as a cohost, have him do a monolgue, and let the other hosts take over. (In 1986, Paul Hogan gave one of favorite openings ever, and then disappeared.)
Besides, some of the complaints are just unfair. The nominated songs weren't that great. Well no kidding. But that's not the show's fault. There were few surprises. Oscars are not supposed to surprise, they are supposed to award the best. And there have been much worse years for that.
Worst ever? Not hardly. I thought it was just fine. There have been better. But there have been much, much worse.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
My best picture ballot
When voters vote for best picture, they actually don't just vote, they rank their favorites. If I were a voter, this would be my ranking.
1. Inception
2. The Social Network
3, Black Swan
4. The Fighter
5. The Kids Are All Right
6. True Grit
7. The King's Speech
8. Toy Story 3
9. Winter's Bone
10. 127 Hours
As for the top five, they were all in my ten best list, and the explanations can be found on my list.
I had True Grit and The King's Speech, they were both in my 11-20 list, which is not ranked. I rank True Grit slightly higher, which I found more emotinally satisfying. I respect The King's Speech, a very well made movie, but a bit emotionally distant for my taste.
As for Toy Story 3, it was the first Pixar film where I felt the gears moving a bit. But the characters shine through. It was one of the four or five films I knocked out of my final 20 in my final debate with myself over what would be in my final 20.
As for the two not in the debate, Winter's Bone is a good film, but with the typical rough edges of low budget filmmaking. As is normal for the Oscars, when one element is truly outstanding, the film itself tends to be overrated. Jennifer Lawrence is outstanding in the lead, and deserves her Best Actress nomination. The film is very good, but I cannot ascribe greatness.
And I still reccommend my lowest ranked film, 127 Hours. Once again, one great element: James Franco's performance. The film is basically a one man show, but the reasons why I should care are missing, and for me the film paled to another one man show, Buried, which I thought was more intense and more important, even though it is fiction.
1. Inception
2. The Social Network
3, Black Swan
4. The Fighter
5. The Kids Are All Right
6. True Grit
7. The King's Speech
8. Toy Story 3
9. Winter's Bone
10. 127 Hours
As for the top five, they were all in my ten best list, and the explanations can be found on my list.
I had True Grit and The King's Speech, they were both in my 11-20 list, which is not ranked. I rank True Grit slightly higher, which I found more emotinally satisfying. I respect The King's Speech, a very well made movie, but a bit emotionally distant for my taste.
As for Toy Story 3, it was the first Pixar film where I felt the gears moving a bit. But the characters shine through. It was one of the four or five films I knocked out of my final 20 in my final debate with myself over what would be in my final 20.
As for the two not in the debate, Winter's Bone is a good film, but with the typical rough edges of low budget filmmaking. As is normal for the Oscars, when one element is truly outstanding, the film itself tends to be overrated. Jennifer Lawrence is outstanding in the lead, and deserves her Best Actress nomination. The film is very good, but I cannot ascribe greatness.
And I still reccommend my lowest ranked film, 127 Hours. Once again, one great element: James Franco's performance. The film is basically a one man show, but the reasons why I should care are missing, and for me the film paled to another one man show, Buried, which I thought was more intense and more important, even though it is fiction.
Oscar nomination predictions and votes
I've already posted my analysis of the three shorts races, with mini reviews of all of them as I have seen all of the nominated shorts this year. I've done the same for animated feature and documentary feature. Here's predictions and opinions for the feature nominations:
PICTURE
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
With True Grit as a dark horse, I think this is mostly between The Social Network and The King's Speech. Usually when one film takes an edgy approach and one a more traditional approach, the traditional approach wins. For example, Forrest Gump beating Pulp Fiction, or Dances with Wolves beating Goodfellas. Both contenders are well made, but I'll take the traditional approach: The King's Speech.
My vote: Inception. It topped my end of the year list, and I haven't changed my mind.
ACTOR
Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)
Colin Firth has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. He'll win.
My vote: Eisenberg. It's hard to make a character standoffish and intriguing at the same time, but he did it.
ACTRESS
Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)
Natalie Portman has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. She'll win.
My vote: Portman. She does heavy emotion, complicated dancing, and keeps us involved through some rather outlandish plot twists. The best acting this year in any category.
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)
Christian Bale has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. He'll win.
My vote: I have a lot of affection for Ruffalo's live-in performance, but I cannot deny the overall impressiveness of Bale. So I vote for Bale.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)
Melissa Leo has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. But... she has waged a personal campaign in the Hollywood papers which has turned some people off, and I think her lead has slipped. I can literally come up with a scenario where any of the five could win. I think the toughest contender is Steinfeld, who absolutely carries a film which received 10 nominations. I think this is close, but I think Leo will still pull out a close win.
My choice: Steinfeld. She should have been up for lead , as she carries the film, but as for the question of which performance I like the best of these five, it is her.
ART DIRECTION
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, PArt 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit
Alice in Wonderful are the most eye popping, but my bet is the film which had a hotel set that had to spin to create the illusion of being on the ceiling. That would be Inception.
My choise: Inception, for that reason.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit
This year's ridiculously overdue winner is Roger Deakins, who should have wone previously. Multiple times. He shot True Grit.
My choise: Black Swan. Matthew Libatique put me in the main character's head, and pulled off some logistical nightmares with all those reflections.
COSTUMES
Alice in Wonderland
I Am Love
The King's Speech
The Tempest
True Grit
Sandy Powell (The Tempest) and Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland) are generally the two most respected in the business, but more people saw Atwood's work. So I'm going with Alice.
My choice: vacant. I have not seen I am Love or The Tempest, and I usually love Powell's work. Of the three I have seen, I would be fine with any of the three.
DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
Darren Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit)
Hoper won the Director's Guild award. But that had a lot of TV directors voting, and Hooper (John Adams) has a TV background. The movie director, and the former nominee who hasn't won yet, is Fincher, and somehow he made computer nerds visually arresting with great acting. I go with Fincher.
My choice: Fincher. He;s due, and this is his best film to date.
EDITING
Black Swan
The Fighter
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
When in doubt, take the Best Picture winner in this category. I'm very unsure, but will take The King's Speech.
My choice: Inception. And since that isn't nominated, The Social Network, for going back and forth in time effortlessly.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Biutiful
Dogtooth
In a Better World
Incendies
Outside the Law
The voters have to watch all five films, so Biutiful's supposedly front-runner status I believe is inaccurate. I believe In a Better World has the approach the voters will endorse.
My choice: vacant. I haven't seen any of them.
MAKEUP
Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman
This category most years should be most makeup. This year, that's The Wolfman.
My choice: I haven't seen any of them.
MUSIC: ORIGINAL SCORE
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Remember this category is voted by the whole academy. Usually when a non-traditional composer gets nominated, he can win. That would be Trent Reznor (and Atticus Ross)for The Social Network.
My choice: I love The Social Network, but love Hans Zimmer's work for Inception anymore. The last five minutes of the movie is my favorite piece of music this year.
MUSIC: ORIGINAL SONG
"Coming Home" (Country Strong)
"I See The Light" (Tangled)
"If I Rise" (127 Hours)
"We Belong Together" (Toy Story 3)
The last time the list was so underwhelming, the voters figured they would just vote for Randy Newman. I guessing they do it again, for "We Belong Together".
My choice: The only song of the four I remembered was "I See The Light", used during Tangled's best scene, when the lanterns are lit.
SOUND EDITING
Inception
Toy STory 3
Tron: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable
The sound design that stunned the most this year was Inception.
My choise: The sound design that stunned the most this year was Inception.
SOUND MIXING
Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Netwrok
True Grit
Closer than the other sound race, but I think Inception still impresses.
My choice: Inception still impresses.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2
Lots of amazing subtle effects, and a couple of jaw dropping ones, make Inception the choice.
My choice: Inception. Easiest choice on the entire list.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
A great backstory for the writer, coupled with great dialogue, makes The King's Speech the easy prediction.
My Choise: For creating a dream within a dream within a dream, and getting it to make sense, Inception is an easy choise for me.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. He'll win.
My choise: Sorkin created my favorite TV show of all time, Sports Night. Of course I am rooting for him.
PICTURE
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
With True Grit as a dark horse, I think this is mostly between The Social Network and The King's Speech. Usually when one film takes an edgy approach and one a more traditional approach, the traditional approach wins. For example, Forrest Gump beating Pulp Fiction, or Dances with Wolves beating Goodfellas. Both contenders are well made, but I'll take the traditional approach: The King's Speech.
My vote: Inception. It topped my end of the year list, and I haven't changed my mind.
ACTOR
Javier Bardem (Biutiful)
Jeff Bridges (True Grit)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Colin Firth (The King's Speech)
James Franco (127 Hours)
Colin Firth has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. He'll win.
My vote: Eisenberg. It's hard to make a character standoffish and intriguing at the same time, but he did it.
ACTRESS
Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right)
Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole)
Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone)
Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine)
Natalie Portman has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. She'll win.
My vote: Portman. She does heavy emotion, complicated dancing, and keeps us involved through some rather outlandish plot twists. The best acting this year in any category.
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
John Hawkes (Winter's Bone)
Jeremy Renner (The Town)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)
Christian Bale has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. He'll win.
My vote: I have a lot of affection for Ruffalo's live-in performance, but I cannot deny the overall impressiveness of Bale. So I vote for Bale.
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams (The Fighter)
Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech)
Melissa Leo (The Fighter)
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit)
Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom)
Melissa Leo has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. But... she has waged a personal campaign in the Hollywood papers which has turned some people off, and I think her lead has slipped. I can literally come up with a scenario where any of the five could win. I think the toughest contender is Steinfeld, who absolutely carries a film which received 10 nominations. I think this is close, but I think Leo will still pull out a close win.
My choice: Steinfeld. She should have been up for lead , as she carries the film, but as for the question of which performance I like the best of these five, it is her.
ART DIRECTION
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, PArt 1
Inception
The King's Speech
True Grit
Alice in Wonderful are the most eye popping, but my bet is the film which had a hotel set that had to spin to create the illusion of being on the ceiling. That would be Inception.
My choise: Inception, for that reason.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Black Swan
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit
This year's ridiculously overdue winner is Roger Deakins, who should have wone previously. Multiple times. He shot True Grit.
My choise: Black Swan. Matthew Libatique put me in the main character's head, and pulled off some logistical nightmares with all those reflections.
COSTUMES
Alice in Wonderland
I Am Love
The King's Speech
The Tempest
True Grit
Sandy Powell (The Tempest) and Colleen Atwood (Alice in Wonderland) are generally the two most respected in the business, but more people saw Atwood's work. So I'm going with Alice.
My choice: vacant. I have not seen I am Love or The Tempest, and I usually love Powell's work. Of the three I have seen, I would be fine with any of the three.
DIRECTOR
Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan)
David O Russell (The Fighter)
Tom Hooper (The King's Speech)
Darren Fincher (The Social Network)
Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit)
Hoper won the Director's Guild award. But that had a lot of TV directors voting, and Hooper (John Adams) has a TV background. The movie director, and the former nominee who hasn't won yet, is Fincher, and somehow he made computer nerds visually arresting with great acting. I go with Fincher.
My choice: Fincher. He;s due, and this is his best film to date.
EDITING
Black Swan
The Fighter
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
When in doubt, take the Best Picture winner in this category. I'm very unsure, but will take The King's Speech.
My choice: Inception. And since that isn't nominated, The Social Network, for going back and forth in time effortlessly.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Biutiful
Dogtooth
In a Better World
Incendies
Outside the Law
The voters have to watch all five films, so Biutiful's supposedly front-runner status I believe is inaccurate. I believe In a Better World has the approach the voters will endorse.
My choice: vacant. I haven't seen any of them.
MAKEUP
Barney's Version
The Way Back
The Wolfman
This category most years should be most makeup. This year, that's The Wolfman.
My choice: I haven't seen any of them.
MUSIC: ORIGINAL SCORE
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The King's Speech
127 Hours
The Social Network
Remember this category is voted by the whole academy. Usually when a non-traditional composer gets nominated, he can win. That would be Trent Reznor (and Atticus Ross)for The Social Network.
My choice: I love The Social Network, but love Hans Zimmer's work for Inception anymore. The last five minutes of the movie is my favorite piece of music this year.
MUSIC: ORIGINAL SONG
"Coming Home" (Country Strong)
"I See The Light" (Tangled)
"If I Rise" (127 Hours)
"We Belong Together" (Toy Story 3)
The last time the list was so underwhelming, the voters figured they would just vote for Randy Newman. I guessing they do it again, for "We Belong Together".
My choice: The only song of the four I remembered was "I See The Light", used during Tangled's best scene, when the lanterns are lit.
SOUND EDITING
Inception
Toy STory 3
Tron: Legacy
True Grit
Unstoppable
The sound design that stunned the most this year was Inception.
My choise: The sound design that stunned the most this year was Inception.
SOUND MIXING
Inception
The King's Speech
Salt
The Social Netwrok
True Grit
Closer than the other sound race, but I think Inception still impresses.
My choice: Inception still impresses.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Iron Man 2
Lots of amazing subtle effects, and a couple of jaw dropping ones, make Inception the choice.
My choice: Inception. Easiest choice on the entire list.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Another Year
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
A great backstory for the writer, coupled with great dialogue, makes The King's Speech the easy prediction.
My Choise: For creating a dream within a dream within a dream, and getting it to make sense, Inception is an easy choise for me.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) has been the frontrunner all season. That remains unchanged. He'll win.
My choise: Sorkin created my favorite TV show of all time, Sports Night. Of course I am rooting for him.
Oscar nominated features: Animated
I've seen all these are well. So I'm not repeating the introduction again.
How to Train Your Dragon
A charming film with wonderful sequences of the main character training and caring for an injured dragon, great flight sequences, and supporting characters that blended together too much for me. Grade A-
The Illusionist
A charming, beautifully drawn film which bored the hell out of me. Pretty much the same reaction I had to The Triplets of Bellvue. Great looking film, but the director doesn't understand plot and pacing. The Minions got screwed. Grade C
Toy Story 3
I thought the story telling was a little forced, but Dragon's big flaw is Toy Story's big strength: well drawn characters. And even lower level Pixar is better than almost everyone else.
Oscar prediction: Never bet against Pixar. Toy Story 3 in a walk.
My choice: If you don't know who the Minions are, see Despicable Me stat. But since they aren't nominated, go with Pixar.
How to Train Your Dragon
A charming film with wonderful sequences of the main character training and caring for an injured dragon, great flight sequences, and supporting characters that blended together too much for me. Grade A-
The Illusionist
A charming, beautifully drawn film which bored the hell out of me. Pretty much the same reaction I had to The Triplets of Bellvue. Great looking film, but the director doesn't understand plot and pacing. The Minions got screwed. Grade C
Toy Story 3
I thought the story telling was a little forced, but Dragon's big flaw is Toy Story's big strength: well drawn characters. And even lower level Pixar is better than almost everyone else.
Oscar prediction: Never bet against Pixar. Toy Story 3 in a walk.
My choice: If you don't know who the Minions are, see Despicable Me stat. But since they aren't nominated, go with Pixar.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Oscar nominated features: Documentary
I have seen all the films in this category, so I'll offer short reviews of each followed by my prediction in the category.
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Well gee, how to describe this one? It's about guerrilla street art, a topic I don't care about. But as Roger Ebert has said, a film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. And this film's goofball approach, as the subject because the filmmaker and the filmmaker becomes the subject, is tremendously entertaining. What is real and what is not? Don't really know, which is part of the fun. But the spirit of guerrilla art is captured. Grade: A
Gasland
And boy is this film getting the full court press from the natural gas industry. The director sets out to learn more about gas drilling after an offer to pay him to drill on this family's property. The more he talks to people, the more worried he gets. The film is technically a bit amateurish, but that gives it an appeal, as the anger of the film isn't as much at the practice, but the fact that the industry is not even regulated by the US government. Grade: A-
Inside Job
Director Charles Ferguson approached as a journalist, trying to understand how the financial crisis of 2008 occurred and how we could avoid repeating the mistakes. His breakdown is enraging. And the lessons don't seem to have been learned. This is the essential document of how greed run amok is destroying our economy. Grade: A+
Restrepo
This look at a year in the life of a group of soldiers in Afganistan, focusing on the establishment of Outpost Restrepo, named for a comrade who was killed. The film does a good job of getting the feel of the service, but fails to do a good job of getting a sense of who these soldiers are as people. And that failure makes this the weekest of the nominees. But as a document of what the Afganistan fighting has been like, the film is invaluable. Grade: B+
Wasteland
A second documetary involving art, a second movie I really didn't care to see, and a second movie which was a pleasant surprise. This film documents an artist using materials from Rio's primary garbage dump to make art. He meets the pickers, who sort through the trash and get recyclable materials, and becomes wrapped up in their plight. The way several of the pickers, who at the beginning seem to have lost hope and how their outlook on life is changed, is truly inspiring. Grade: A
Oscar chances: I've seen a lot of predictors saying Exit Through the Gift Shop. I think some of them forget that the documentary branch chooses the winner, and when the top two contenders include a rule breaker and a rule follower, the rule breaker ususally doesn't win. And Exit Through the Gift Shop is definitely a rule breaker. Charles Ferguson lost last time he was nominated with No End in Sight, his excellent look at the causes of the Iraq War. Inside Job is even better, and he's due. I think Inside Job wins.
My choice: Inside Job.
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Well gee, how to describe this one? It's about guerrilla street art, a topic I don't care about. But as Roger Ebert has said, a film is not what it is about, but how it is about it. And this film's goofball approach, as the subject because the filmmaker and the filmmaker becomes the subject, is tremendously entertaining. What is real and what is not? Don't really know, which is part of the fun. But the spirit of guerrilla art is captured. Grade: A
Gasland
And boy is this film getting the full court press from the natural gas industry. The director sets out to learn more about gas drilling after an offer to pay him to drill on this family's property. The more he talks to people, the more worried he gets. The film is technically a bit amateurish, but that gives it an appeal, as the anger of the film isn't as much at the practice, but the fact that the industry is not even regulated by the US government. Grade: A-
Inside Job
Director Charles Ferguson approached as a journalist, trying to understand how the financial crisis of 2008 occurred and how we could avoid repeating the mistakes. His breakdown is enraging. And the lessons don't seem to have been learned. This is the essential document of how greed run amok is destroying our economy. Grade: A+
Restrepo
This look at a year in the life of a group of soldiers in Afganistan, focusing on the establishment of Outpost Restrepo, named for a comrade who was killed. The film does a good job of getting the feel of the service, but fails to do a good job of getting a sense of who these soldiers are as people. And that failure makes this the weekest of the nominees. But as a document of what the Afganistan fighting has been like, the film is invaluable. Grade: B+
Wasteland
A second documetary involving art, a second movie I really didn't care to see, and a second movie which was a pleasant surprise. This film documents an artist using materials from Rio's primary garbage dump to make art. He meets the pickers, who sort through the trash and get recyclable materials, and becomes wrapped up in their plight. The way several of the pickers, who at the beginning seem to have lost hope and how their outlook on life is changed, is truly inspiring. Grade: A
Oscar chances: I've seen a lot of predictors saying Exit Through the Gift Shop. I think some of them forget that the documentary branch chooses the winner, and when the top two contenders include a rule breaker and a rule follower, the rule breaker ususally doesn't win. And Exit Through the Gift Shop is definitely a rule breaker. Charles Ferguson lost last time he was nominated with No End in Sight, his excellent look at the causes of the Iraq War. Inside Job is even better, and he's due. I think Inside Job wins.
My choice: Inside Job.
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