Thoughts on the Oscar Nominations

So this winter I saw a lot of movies....more than I usually see in a year. But there were so many good ones and I didn't have much to do, so there you go. Plus where I was staying, matinées were six dollars! I saw:

Australia A-
Bolt A-
Doubt A
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button B-
Gran Torino A+
Frost/Nixon A
Slumdog Millionaire B+

Now, I guess in most categories I have opposite taste of the Academy but read my thoughts and
let me know if you agree.


Australia: I thought this was a great movie! The critics said it was too long, covered too much
stuff, but so did Forrest Gump! So did Benjamin Button! Plus, I thought this movie had a lot more depth than Button, a nominee for 13 academy awards including best picture (which I will get to later)! This movie was a love story, a story of justice, clashing cultures, racism and doing what is right despite what other people think. One thing I did not expect in this movie from the trailers, was her special relationship with the boy, Nulla. The pull she feels between letting him go to be with his people and her own desire to love him and protect him is delicate and powerful. The motif of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was original and moving. Plus hot actors, great costumes, great editing and color (as is expected of Baz) , what's not to like? I do agree that while relationships in the film were moving some of the characters were not very developed and you didn't leave feeling like you knew them intimately. And of course, it could have been a bit shorter.

Bolt: I am not always so keen on Pixar movies. Yes they are clever for all ages, yes they are creative and cute and funny, but often I find that all the funny lines are given away in the trailers
and the movies are disappointing (except Wall-E)! This Movie, however was cute, funny and original. The set up of a dog who thinks he has super powers when he's really on a TV show is a great beginning, and the whole movie carries the creativity with funny characters, and great memorable lines. His journey as he discovers who he really is and tries to come to grips with it along with a dense but lovable hamster and a sassy cat, is classic and a great lesson for kids. But this movie is not just for kids, I was extremely entertained by it, and I didn't expect to be! I also enjoy how Bolt, played by the voice of John Travolta, actually kind of looks like him!

Doubt: This movie I was very anxious to see, and I was not disappointed! Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymore Hoffman delivered amazing performances and there charactrers were not over simplified as the evil nun, the good nun, and the nice priest though it seems like it in the first 30minutes of the movie. Rather, as the movie develops we see they are all complex characters struggling between what is right and wrong (except for Meryl who knows shes right most of the movie and doesn't struggle at all until the end). This is an awesome look into the complex politics of the Catholic church, the social rules of engagement, and the ambiguity of what is write and what is wrong. Too bad it wasn't nominated for best picture, but I'm rooting for the actors!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Ok, this is the movie that is a mystery to me. Yes it is epic, yes there is cool make up and technology used, yes bradpit is hot whether he is 65 or 18. And the movie did have some beautiful sets, costumes and editing. But, other than that...what is the big deal? 13 nominations for a film with little message other than the obvious "time is short" thing, with shallow relationships (Cate and Brad had some chemistry, but the character's relationship throughout the movie was not deepened by any experiences together except sex, and their childhood friendship) Plus this movie was looooooong and slow and the history included was not extremely poignant, or exciting. Plus I thought the set up of the old woman reading her journal to her daughter was kind of hokey and unoriginal. SIGH. I just don't understand what the big deal is and why it is nominated for best picture, best actor, best director and 10 others. Especially when there were so many other good pictures this year (especially Doubt which was left out of Best Picture, and Gran Torino which was left out of the awards completely!)

Gran Torino This movie was definitely my favorite of the season. An original film about an old recently widowed vigilante who though originally racist against his Hmong neighbors, ends up growing fond of them and protecting them against a Hmong Gang that wants the boy in the family to join them. The film is unapologetic for Walt's (Clint Eastwood) racism, sexism and stereotypes, which is why the academy might not have liked it, but yet the Hmong characters are so strong in their culture, and are presented fairly so that Clint is just one racist character...what can you do. Yet he is presented with the same humor as the people he makes fun of, making the film realistic in that people don't always just change completely because their views change. He ends up saving their lives, doesn't he? The film is extremely hilarious the entire first 3/4, especially if you enjoy harmless racist and sexist jokes (delivered right back to him by a Sassy Hmong girl and her brother). The last fourth is violent and shocking, but drives the characters to the climax they need for change. This whole movie is moving, unique and believable. Though Clint's character is a racist hick, he is lovable and multi-dimensional. Just enough so that you can't guess the end. If you see one of these movies this winter, see this one.