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.

FEATURE: Oscar Predictions

Oscar season is practically upon us, and in preparation for this season, Tyler and I will be sharing with you our predictions.  Based on early critical reviews, trailers, and the people on each project, we will attempt to predict which films will be nominated for the Best Picture Award at the upcoming Academy Awards.  If you all enjoy this new feature, we will continue to predict nominations for other Oscar categories.  Predictions for Best Picture will be posted tomorrow evening, so stay tuned!

REVIEW: Schindler's List

When you think of iconic movies and pieces of cinematic history, what comes to mind?  While answers will vary, for many people, Schindler's List is a definitive piece of cinema.  And they're right.  Schindler's List goes beyond just being a simple little movie, it becomes a piece of culture and history.  Steven Spielberg, who directed the movie, is so articulate with details and all of the actors painstakingly bring the characters to life, making a rare piece of movie magic.

Schindler's List is the true story of Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) during the tragedies of the Holocaust.  Oskar, being the business man that he is, finds war the perfect time to start a factory and get rich fast.  Getting help from a Jew, Itzhak Stern (Ben Kingsley), the two set out to start a business to produce army mess kits.  Together they hire Jews from the ghetto, but Schindler's only goal is to make money.  As the war continues, the Jews are relocated to a camp under the control of a sadistic SS Lieutenant by the name of Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes).  Jews are being killed one by one, and only Oskar can step up to the plate to try and save them.

Make no mistake, the events and characters in this movie are 100% fact.  And Steven Spielberg, known for making his scenes feel extremely real, holds absolutely nothing back.  What makes this movie so unique is that from beginning to end, it never feels like a movie.  It feels like a documentary.  And through a strong script, a focused director, and a powerhouse cast, Schindler's List gets under your skin and becomes more than just a film.

The acting in this movie is just beyond belief.  Never once did I doubt the characters or think that the actors were doing a bad job.  You can tell that everyone was moved by the story, so they really committed to nailing the characters.  However, the top three performances go to Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Ben Kingsley.  They each play such different people, and its their contrasts that make each stand out.  Liam Neeson plays the perfect hero.  He's perfect because he's flawed.  He was a Nazi out to make money, but through a series of events, starts to care for the Jews.  His transformation on screen is phenomenal.  Also, the scene were he realizes he could have saved more Jews had he sold his car and other belongings is just so gut-wrenching and powerful.  Ralph Fiennes plays the perfect villain.  He's sadistic and crazed and enjoys torturing and killing Jews.  And Fiennes just knocks the character out of the park.  I imagine it would have been hard to play, but Fiennes never lets the audience down.  Finally, Ben Kingsley is just a lovable character.  He's so quiet and smart and loyal, he's hard not to love.  Kinngsley captures a variety of emotions, and portrays them in such subtle ways.  He, too, is amazing in this film.

    

Not only is the acting in this film way above par, so is the cinematography.  The shots and angles that are used are so deliberate and so powerful.  And the lighting is always spot-on.  And I have to tip my hat off to Spielberg for his use of color.  Color is really only seen at the very beginning and the very end, with the exceptions being the little girl and the candles during a Sabbath service.  The little girl in red has now become a staple figure in world cinema, and whenever you see a picture of her, the Holocaust and Schindler's List will always come to mind.  Although the girl is only in the film a brief time, her presence is felt and you will be impacted by her character.

Stark, and gritty, and real.  Reading about the Holocaust and witnessing its atrocities are two completely separate things, and nothing can really prepare you for this movie.  Chances are you won't feel like you're watching a movie, but that you are bearing witness to the real thing.  And that is what's so frightfully good about this movie.  Schindler's List is an iconic movie from a director like no other.  Nothing is held back from the topic at hand, making a fantastic historical film.  It is without hesitation that I can now finally give a movie a perfect score.

RATING: 5 / 5

This movie is rated R (language, some sexuality, nudity, and actuality violence)

REVIEW: Mud

Mud -  a tiny film with a big heart.  Director Jeff Nichols strikes gold yet again with his third movie, leading into what I'm sure will be a very successful career.  Mud is filled with heart and cinematic soul, and while it wasn't a Hollywood blockbuster, it certainly was one of the best movies I've seen so far this year.

Mud is the story of two young boys, Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob Lofland), who embark on a journey to a seemingly deserted island on the Mississippi River.  Upon their arrival, they discover an old boat stuck up in the trees, a result of their last flood.  Inside the boat, they discover food and boot prints, indicating that they are not alone.  This is where Mud enters the story.  Mud (Matthew McConaughey) is a man on the run, hiding from a group of bounty hunters who want him dead.  In order to protect his girlfriend (Reese Witherspoon), he had to kill a man, and ever since then, the law has been working against him.  So the two boys form a pact with Mud and try to help him avoid the bounty hunters and reunite with his true love.

This movie is just a gem, which is pretty amazing considering the plot isn't anything amazing.  But it's not really the story that makes this film work, it's the actors who bring it to life.  

Matthew McConaughey delivers one of his best performances as Mud.  Despite the fact that Mud is a wanted criminal, you still root for his survival and the downfall of the bounty hunters.  McConaughey never overplays the character; in fact, he almost underplays it to give the character a sense of mystery.  But he's not the only shining star in this movie.  Although she was only in the movie a very short amount of time, Reese Witherspoon nails her character, Juniper.  After Mud was over, I couldn't stop thinking about her and McConaughey.  Their performances resonate and stay with you.  That being said, the two boys also do a job well done, especially Ellis, who masters a variety of emotions,  from trust to betrayal.  The boys add some comedic relief to an otherwise serious story and throughout the film, they progressively mature.  The smaller roles, played by people like Sam Shepard and Joe Don Baker, also make the world more believable and add to a talented cast.  

What makes this movie even more incredible is the fact that, on the surface, there seems to be nothing incredible about it.  There is no action until the end.  The romance is only spoken of, never seen.  And the entire movie is really just a series of conversations between characters.  And yet, Mud gets under your skin and stays there.  It deals with profound themes that we ourselves question,  such as law and love.  With Ellis's parents getting a divorce, he begins to question love and if people can be true to one another.  And he learns that love hurts.  And the movie poses questions about the law, and if things are fair or not.  It's these themes and the characters involved in them that make this movie a masterpiece.

Mud is an incredible movie - no doubt.  It's a character-driven story with people that you would want to know.  It offers some of the best performances from both McConaughey and Witherspoon, as well as the rest of the cast.  The movie is nearly perfect, with the only part falling short for me was the ending.  While I enjoyed the conclusion, I was slightly unsatisfied.  However, that's just my opinion.  I could easily see how somebody would love the end; it just didn't fit me exactly.  Overall, though, Mud is a must-see and falls just below perfection.  I can't wait to see what Jeff Nichols comes up with next!

RATING: 4.8 / 5

This movie is rated PG-13 (violence, sexual content, language, and drugs/alcohol)

NEWS: Ellen DeGeneres to Host 2014 Academy Awards

Earlier this morning, Ellen DeGeneres, host of the Ellen show, officially announced that she will be hosting the upcoming Academy Awards.

In a tweet, she stated:

It's official: I'm hosting the #Oscars! I'd like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 2, 2013

"We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars," said Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the 2013 Oscars.  "As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars.  There are few stars today who have Ellen's gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity.  She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, an in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are."

This is not Ellen's first time at the Oscars.  She also hosted the Academy Awards back in 2007, thus marking the first openly gay individual to host the show.  As many may recall, she did a fantastic job as host and included humor that could be enjoyed by all.  

So, are you excited that Ellen will be hosting the 2014 Oscars?  Let us know, and comment below!