FEATURE: Best Picture Predications (Part 2)

   As Eric stated a month ago, I am posting my predictions, too. However, when he said "soon," I don't think he thought a month, Then again, he probably did... Hopefully I'm be a little more active now that I have so much free time, which I spend watching movie or TV.
   So, here is my list. You'll notice some similar choices. That's because of two things. One, Eric and I have very close tastes. Two, it is very, very hard to predict this sort of thing without seeing half of the movies. I'm sure Eric's list will change in time, as will mine.
   (I would also like to take this time to express my hatred of the term "Oscars." Until the 2013 "Oscars," they've always been, officially, the Academy Awards. "Oscar" is just a stupid nickname! It was coined with this nickname by Academy Award librarian and Director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick. The story says that when she first saw the statue in 1931, she said that it looked like her Uncle Oscar... Well, to the list...

1. American Hustle

Director: David O. Russel (Silver Linings Playbook)
 Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro.

Why It Should Be Nominated: As Eric stated, this is based on our director and cast. High from the success of Silver Linings Playbook, Russel is bringing back a big chunk of that cast, along with additions like Bale and Adams (Both of which are well-known at the "Oscars.")

2. The Counselor

Director: Ridley Scott (Blade Runner)
 Stars: Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, Penelope Cruz

Why It Should Be Nominated: Cormace McCarthy is writing the screenplay. McCarthy is famous for writing a number of novels, which have been extremely successful in both writing and film. The Road won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2006, while No Country for Old Men won the "Oscar" for Best Film in 2007. With one of the best directors in the business, with an all-star cast. This is one to watch.

3. Gravity

Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men)
 Stars:  Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and Ed Harris

Why It Should Be Nominated: We don't often see science fiction with such "Oscar" buzz. It'll be a nice change of pace to see this in that list. And, as Eric said, it has a unique premise. Our director, Cuaron, has also shown he can handle this type of material with his movie, Children of Men.

4. Inside Llewyn Davis

Director(s): Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (No Country for Old Men)
 Stars: Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac, and Carey Mulligan

Why It Should Be Nominated: Firstly, one movie nominated for the "Oscar" each and every year must star John Goodman (see The Artist, Argo . Not only that, but the Coen Brothers haven't yet had a bad film. They can do everything from comedy to tragedy (see Raising Arizona, Fargo). Their films have raided the "Oscars" multiple times, receiving 33 nominations, wining 6.

 5. The Monuments Men

Director: George Clooney (The Ides of March)
 Stars: Matt Damon, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin

Why It Should Be Nominated: John Goodman is in this one, too. Apart from that, who doesn't love a WWII movie? Hitler is the best villain in the world. With a team like this, including Bill Murray of all choices, what is there NOT to like?

6. Nebraska

Director: Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
 Stars: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, Bob Odenkirk, Stacy Keach

Why It Should Be Nominated: This one may be a bit of a strech, but Payne has proven time and time again to be an extremely talented director, who is able to bring out the best performances in his actors and create an interesting story out of the smallest of things. This could be the black sheep in the "Oscar" list in 2014.

 7. Saving Mr. Banks

Director: John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side)
 Stars: Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson, Colin Farrell, Ruth Wilson, Paul Giamatti

Why It Should Be Nominated: Historical movies like this are always fun. Especially when it is painting a person like Walt Disney is a light we've never seen him. With Hanks playing the part of Disney, we're sure to see something special that we've come to expect in every film starring Hanks.

8. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Director: Ben Stiller (Zoolander)
Stars: Kristen Wiig, Ben Stiller, and Sean Pean

Why It Should Be Nominated: Ben Stiller is moving back into the director's seat, which he has fit very well before. He's an extremely funny, extremely talented man both in behind and in front of the camera. It'll be very much a departure from this list, but is deserving of having its own spot.

9. The Wolf of Wall Street

Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed)
Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Mathew McConaughey 

Why It Should Be Nominated: Again, Eric said it best: Scorsese + DiCaprio = Success. However, something feels much, much different about this upcoming film from others between these two. It has the feeling of something lighter, like a Hugo, but then spins into something completely different like a Taxi Driver. Scorsese has always been able to bring out the very best of DiCaprio, much like De Niro. This will be the same.

There is is. Now, this is a combination of my own picks and predicted winners. That being said, talking to me in the future, my mind may have changed, but this is it, at this very moment. If I had written it a month ago (like Eric wished), it would be very different. Reviews to come soon!

REVIEW: 17 Again

What would you do if you could turn back the hands of time and once again return to a younger age?  This is the major premise of director Burr Steers's movie, 17 Again, whichM focuses on a miserable middle-aged man who returns to the age of seventeen in order to choose which life he wants to live.  Despite the fact that the movie is built on a typical romantic-comedy formula and has one cliche after another, 17 Again has just enough charisma and chuckle moments to survive it from being a total waste of time.

17 Again follows the life of Michael "Mike" O'Donnell (Matthew Perry), a middle-aged man who is in the process of getting a divorce from his wife, Scarlet (Leslie Mann).  Miserable with his life, he takes a drive on a dark and stormy night.  Seeing the high school janitor trying to jump over a bridge, Mike tries to save him and ends up going over the rail, falling into a swirling vortex.  He awakens the next morning back in his bed, but he's much younger.  He's seventeen again.  Young Mike (Zac Efron) now has to try to reevaluate his life and return back to where it all started - high school.  Pretending to be a normal teenager, Mike has to go through several awkward moments to figure out what he wants to do with his life.

If you like simple teen comedies that don't require any thinking, then this is the movie for you.  Personally, I prefer a more sophisticated romantic-comedy, like Silver Linings Playbook, but sometimes we all need an easy movie to just watch and relax on a Friday night.  And in that regard, this movie works well, despite all its stereotypes, cliches, and formulaic plot.

The comedy aspects in the film are pretty hit and miss.  Some are hysterical and some are just stupid.  The movie is sprinkled with a wide variety of jokes, from people's behaviors,  to fart jokes, to a penis joke.  For the most part, they work well.  But the ones that don't work bring the movie down and make it a low-class comedy.

Surprisingly, 17 Again is actually saved primarily from Zac Efron.  For all the hate he gets, he's actually not a terrible actor.  His charisma and charm makes the movie much more enjoyable than it would have been.  He is actually really funny in some of the scenes, particularly when he is trying to figure out how to act as a modern teenager.  But the funniest character in this movie is hands-down Ned Gold, played by Thomas Lennon.  Almost everything he said at least made me grin.  And he's the one that gets the great "hand-baby" joke!

What bothered me most about the movie were the glaring holes.  Like how did Ned, Mike's best friend, not recognize him when he became seventeen?  And how did the coach not recognize this great 'new' basketball player?  And how did the wife not recognize her husband?  After all, she's been with him since high school.  These were just some of the numerous holes that turn this movie into a slice of Swiss cheese.

The movie has a weak start with Zac Efron in his natural form - no shirt.  But he does get dressed quickly and remains that way for the duration of the movie.  As the story progresses, the film does get better.  It is by no means a great movie, but it is good for some simple weekend comedy.  It's at least worth one watch, and you're almost guaranteed to laugh at least once.

RATING: 3 / 5

This film is rated PG-13 (language, some sexual content, teen partying)

FEATURE: Best Picture Predictions

As stated yesterday, here is my list of possible Best Picture nominees.  Tyler's list will posted soon, so keep checking the blog!

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption, and the federal government.

Why Should it be Nominated: Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio working together for the fifth time = movie magic.

2. Saving Mr. Banks

Author P.L. Travers reflects on her difficult childhood while meeting with filmmaker Walt Disney during production for the adaptation of her eponymous novel, Mary Poppins.

Why Should it be Nominated: It's based on a shockingly true story and if it's done correctly, it may change how people view both Walt Disney and the movie, Mary Poppins.  It also includes an excellent cast, including Tom Hanks.

3. August: Osage County

A look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them.

Why Should it be Nominated: It's based on an award-winning play.  Oh, and it stars Meryl Streep... need I say more?

4. Inside Llewyn Davis

A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961.

Why Should it be Nominated: The Coen Brothers. Period.

5. The Monuments Men

In a race against time, a crew of art historians and museum curators unite to recover renowned works of art stolen by Nazis before Hitler destroys them.

Why Should it be Nominated:  It hosts an all-star cast with some pretty amazing talent powering the film.  Also, George Clooney has been on an outstanding streak of being involved in top-notch movies.

6. Gravity

A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

Why Should it be Nominated: It's been said by early reviews that it features excellent special effects, great acting, and a unique, interesting story.  It could be this year's Life of Pi.  Oh, and there's George Clooney again.

7. 12 Years a Slave

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. 

Why Should it be Nominated: Historical movies have always done well at the Academy Awards and this movie seems to be very well put together, featuring a talented cast. 

8. American Hustle

The story of a con artist and his partner in crime, who were forced to work with a federal agent to turn the tables on other cons, mobsters, and politicians - namely, the volatile mayor of impoverished Camden, New Jersey.

Why Should it be Nominated: It's the same director that made Silver Linings Playbook and pretty much the same cast, including Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Jennifer Lawrence.  It also stars Christian Bale and Amy Adams.  With a cast like that and a well-established director, David O. Russell, I'm sure it will do well.

9. Blue Jasmine

A life crisis causes a vapid and narcissistic socialite to head to San Francisco, where she tries to reconnect with her sister.

Why Should it be Nominated: It has done extremely well among critics, it has a good cast, and it's said to be yet another Woody Allen classic.