GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Your predictions please

POSTED BY: WHOZIT
UPDATED: Friday, January 30, 2009 22:15
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Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:14 PM

WHOZIT


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090122/ap_en_mo/oscar_nominations_list Mine are; Milk (Best Pic) Sean Penn (Best Actor) Anne Hathaway (Best Actress) Heath Ledger (Best sup, Actor) Marisa Tomei (Best sup, Actress) I do'nt care about the rest

I'm going to microwave a bagel and have sex with it - Peter Griffin

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Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:48 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.


I think Slumdog Millionaire will take Best Picture, otherwise I agree with you, Whozit.

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Thursday, January 22, 2009 4:52 PM

BIGRICHARD


I'm just angry that there was no Wrestler love.
No Best Director for Aronofsky, no best original Screenplay, and, perhaps one of the most annoying, no best original song for Springsteen. They only have 3 songs, two of them from the same film, would it have been so hard to have one more, and that one more being THE ONE THAT WON THE GOLDEN GLOBE. *sigh*

1. Best Picture:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,"
"Slumdog Millionaire."
I'm happy with either of these winning, although I think Slumdog will win.

2. Actor:
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."
should win and I think probably will.

3. Actress:
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married";
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling";
Meryl Streep, "Doubt";
not really bothered or well-informed about this category, since none of the films have come out here. But I don't want Meryl Streep to win. She irks me for some reason. Other than that, I'm not sure who will/should win, but I hope it's Jolie, only because it's an Eastwood film.


4. Supporting Actor:
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight";
Should and hopefully will.

5. Supporting Actress:
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler."
am happy with either of these, but I think Henson might win.

6. Director:
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
I think Fincher should win, but Danny Boyle probably will.

8. Adapted Screenplay:
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Benjamin Button should win, and probably will.

9. Original Screenplay:
Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges";
Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, "WALL-E."
either In Bruges or Wall-E should win (they're too different for me to choose!), although I'm unsure of what will. Although it'll probably won't be In Bruges.

will watch the Oscars, doesn't mean I'm happy with them. Although hopefully Hugh Jackman will do a great job of hosting. I believe in him! :P

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Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:26 PM

FILLYGIRL

Operative: "Its worse than you know..." Mal: "It usually is."


I just want Heath to win, so sad.:(

I think Slumdog Millionare will get most eveything its up for, and Meryl for "Mama Mia", I know she's not nominated for MM, but she can act!!!

..both Jolie & Pitt I can not stand, but they both are good.


Chaplain of the 76th Independant Battalion


Do not bother dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!


...it's worse than you know...Operative
...it usually is.....Mal

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Friday, January 23, 2009 2:13 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


I'm with you on this one Big R - why no love for Aronofsky? (BTW I'm going to go see the Wrestler this weekend and then next week Rachel Getting Married, both have been out for some time and I've heard many good things about both films _ Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei and Mickey Rourke, all favs of mine for some time. I hope they win).

Best Picture:

The odds-on early fav was Ben Button (saw it epic film, well done, but I wouldn't go so far as calling it great).

But now it seems that all the momentum has gone over to Slumdog. This is a tuffy but I think Slumdog may take Oscar home.

Best Actor:

Both Pitt and Penn will cancel each other out and Hollywood is a sucker for a good comeback story - so I pick the sentimental fav, my man Mickey Rourke (I hope he wins).

Best Actress:

This is gonna be a photo finish, it's a toss-up. You have 4 strong women in this category but which one deserves the Golden Guy. OK, I have yet to see any of the movies but, and I'm going on pure buzz here, my money's on Meryl Streep (for purely record setting purposes) but my heart is with Anne Hathaway. Of course if Cate Blanchette was in this category - MONEY! She was awesome in Ben Button and I thought was better than Pitt despite being on the screen less time.

Supporting Actor:

Everyone on the planet expects Heath Ledger to win here and although he is the sentimental fav (and I want him to win as well) I don't think he will. Buzz has Michael Shannon as the dark horse who may pull an upset.

Supporting Actress:

The odds-on fav is Penelope Cruz (I love her), Marisa Tomei has Oscar buzz surrounding her perf in The Wrestler, Taraji Henson was awesome in Ben Button. Amy Adams: various parts of my body go pitty-pat whenever I see this hunk of burning love, she's just too scrumptious for words (I don't think she'll win, but I just had to declare my love for this awesome redhead - Christina you're still number 1, but Amy is 1a).

Best Director: AGREED

David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
I think Fincher should win, but Danny Boyle probably will.

But if Aronofsky were nominated it would be a different story. How could they not even consider him with both leads Marisa and Mickey getting noms. "Strange days indeed, most peculiar momma."

Adapted Screenplay:

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Benjamin Button should win, and probably will.
But don't discount Slumdog, the sleeper hit of the year.

Original Screenplay: I get the feeling that
Wall-E may walk away with the Golden prize, but the Academy may go small here opting to honor In Bruges or Happy-Go-Lucky. Just a hunch.
_______________________________________________

I see that The Dark Knight got noms for art direction, cinematography, visual FX and the 2 sound categories, but where is the Best Film nom?
It seems to me that a picture that makes $500-some-odd million should get a nom for Best Pic, especially since reviews were solid and the film itself as well - good acting, good story, solid directing. What's wrong with this picture?
Aronofsky missing from the Best Director category is strange as well since both actors (Marisa and Mickey) got noms for their perfs. Seriously, what were they thinking? Frozen River? WTF!

Hugh Jackman will knock their socks off. Really he hosted the Tonys not long ago and was FABULOUS!
(I couldn't resist a Carson moment). Still though I prefer Billy Crystal, he's a master MC.

SGG



Tawabawho?

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Friday, January 23, 2009 3:36 PM

BIGRICHARD


I do agree that Slumdog seems to be the favourite now in many of it's categories, I simply think that adapting a script from a short story to a feature film that was as epic, and spanned as much time as Benjamin Button ought to win over a feature that was adapted from a novel into a film. That said, I know Slumdog is supposedly extremely well written, so I'm not entirely sure.

Definitely with you on Rourke and Tomei should win, as they're both brilliant. I'd be very happy with Aronofsky winning, although I just wanted him to be nominated. Boyle and Fincher both deserve the noms as well, and I love both of their work, but I hope Fincher wins, simply because Ben Button was so well directed and put together brilliantly, but mainly because this could be one of Fincher's few chances, since he rarely seems to do this kind of Oscar-nominated work (although Fight Club and Seven are masterpieces).

And yes! I've got to agree where was the love for TDK! Even a director's nom for Nolan would've made sense, that guy basically gave a lot of people faith in the comic book genre (which Zac Snyder seems to be continuing with Watchmen). Not to mention that Nolan apparently shot the whole film without a 2nd unit director.

Shinygoodguy, interested to know whether you've seen The Fountain, and what you thought of it? It was completely snubbed at the Oscars, I thought it should've at least been nominated for Best Soundtrack, Best Visual Effects among others, and I would've considered it for Best Director, Best Film and Best Acting for Hugh Jackman. But then, I just love the damn thing.
Oh, and sit through the end credits of The Wrestler and just TRY to figure out why the Springsteen song wasn't nominated. Gah!

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Saturday, January 24, 2009 3:59 AM

WHOZIT


Quote:

Originally posted by Shinygoodguy:
I'm with you on this one Big R - why no love for Aronofsky? (BTW I'm going to go see the Wrestler this weekend and then next week Rachel Getting Married, both have been out for some time and I've heard many good things about both films _ Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei and Mickey Rourke, all favs of mine for some time. I hope they win).

Best Picture:

The odds-on early fav was Ben Button (saw it epic film, well done, but I wouldn't go so far as calling it great).

But now it seems that all the momentum has gone over to Slumdog. This is a tuffy but I think Slumdog may take Oscar home.

Best Actor:

Both Pitt and Penn will cancel each other out and Hollywood is a sucker for a good comeback story - so I pick the sentimental fav, my man Mickey Rourke (I hope he wins).

Best Actress:

This is gonna be a photo finish, it's a toss-up. You have 4 strong women in this category but which one deserves the Golden Guy. OK, I have yet to see any of the movies but, and I'm going on pure buzz here, my money's on Meryl Streep (for purely record setting purposes) but my heart is with Anne Hathaway. Of course if Cate Blanchette was in this category - MONEY! She was awesome in Ben Button and I thought was better than Pitt despite being on the screen less time.

Supporting Actor:

Everyone on the planet expects Heath Ledger to win here and although he is the sentimental fav (and I want him to win as well) I don't think he will. Buzz has Michael Shannon as the dark horse who may pull an upset.

Supporting Actress:

The odds-on fav is Penelope Cruz (I love her), Marisa Tomei has Oscar buzz surrounding her perf in The Wrestler, Taraji Henson was awesome in Ben Button. Amy Adams: various parts of my body go pitty-pat whenever I see this hunk of burning love, she's just too scrumptious for words (I don't think she'll win, but I just had to declare my love for this awesome redhead - Christina you're still number 1, but Amy is 1a).

Best Director: AGREED

David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
I think Fincher should win, but Danny Boyle probably will.

But if Aronofsky were nominated it would be a different story. How could they not even consider him with both leads Marisa and Mickey getting noms. "Strange days indeed, most peculiar momma."

Adapted Screenplay:

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";
Benjamin Button should win, and probably will.
But don't discount Slumdog, the sleeper hit of the year.

Original Screenplay: I get the feeling that
Wall-E may walk away with the Golden prize, but the Academy may go small here opting to honor In Bruges or Happy-Go-Lucky. Just a hunch.
_______________________________________________

I see that The Dark Knight got noms for art direction, cinematography, visual FX and the 2 sound categories, but where is the Best Film nom?
It seems to me that a picture that makes $500-some-odd million should get a nom for Best Pic, especially since reviews were solid and the film itself as well - good acting, good story, solid directing. What's wrong with this picture?
Aronofsky missing from the Best Director category is strange as well since both actors (Marisa and Mickey) got noms for their perfs. Seriously, what were they thinking? Frozen River? WTF!

Hugh Jackman will knock their socks off. Really he hosted the Tonys not long ago and was FABULOUS!
(I couldn't resist a Carson moment). Still though I prefer Billy Crystal, he's a master MC.

SGG



Tawabawho?

I hope Rourke wins also, what a great come back story, but I picked Penn because I think he'll win. I'm not looking forward to listening him bitch about "what ever" when he does, I'm sure Penn will find somthing to whine about.

I'm going to microwave a bagel and have sex with it - Peter Griffin

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Monday, January 26, 2009 1:20 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


as posted by BigRichard
Shinygoodguy, interested to know whether you've seen The Fountain, and what you thought of it? It was completely snubbed at the Oscars, I thought it should've at least been nominated for Best Soundtrack, Best Visual Effects among others, and I would've considered it for Best Director, Best Film and Best Acting for Hugh Jackman. But then, I just love the damn thing.
Oh, and sit through the end credits of The Wrestler and just TRY to figure out why the Springsteen song wasn't nominated. Gah!
____________________________________________

I'm gonna say this without having seen Slumdog, but The Wrestler was fantastic. What a performance by Mickey Rourke. Also Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood (who, I predict, will win an Oscar herself in the not-too-distant future). It was a raw, gritty and poignant story about how a man can lose himself. A truly solid story, strong performances (how Aronofsky didn't get a nom for directing is beyond me, he does wonders with these 3 actors especially Rourke - who was as raw and vulnerable as his character Randy the Ram). I heard a piece of the Boss's song the other day, but tonight heard the entire song - you're right the Academy screwed this one up. That song should have been nominated.

I have not seen The Fountain as of yet, but I'll put it on my list.

SGG

Tawabawho?

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Monday, January 26, 2009 2:46 AM

BIGRICHARD


if you liked The Wrestler, go see The Fountain. In my opinion, it's still Aronofsky's best. It's epic, beautiful and extraordinary.

I still haven't seen Slumdog either, although I should be getting around to it soon.

Saw Gran Torino the other night, more gold from Clint Eastwood, that man can do no wrong.

Evan Rachel Wood was brilliant! I guess her part was too small for her to really be able to be nominated for an award, but what she did with her scenes was absolutely perfect.

As for Aronofsky's directing, not only does he get the best performances out of the 3 mains, but he also shoots the film with an amazing eye, and throws in loads of little details here and there to make the film a truly remarkable film. The simple camera technique of following Randy around (almost like a backward version of his famous Requiem for a Dream shot) works brilliantly.

And finally, yep, The Boss got snubbed, and it's not fair. I haven't stopped listening to that song since I heard it at the end of the credits (I avoided it until then so it would be fresh for me) and I don't think I will for a while. That, along with the brilliant Gran Torino end credit song (written and performed by Clint Eastwood and Jamie Cullum) should've most definitely been nominated.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 11:43 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


Yep, Eastwood is a master storyteller. He's simple and clean (his technique) and is just as talented in front of the camera. I like his style. Did you know that he doesn't yell out "action" but prefers "let's start" - saw that somewhere, perhaps on cable, about his work on Birdland movie.

A couple of weeks ago I visited my sister who had an acquaintance over and he had a bootleg copy of Gran Torino. Saw about half the movie before it went haywire. I promised myself to go and see it in the theatre. It is another Eastwood work of art. His acting has been never better and his direction is also on the money, good story too.

Evan Rachel Wood, yeah I agree, her part my have been too small (actually the screen time not the part) and she did wonders with it. It was the linchpin of the piece, handled wrong it could have been a disaster. The scene where he got there late for their "date" was one of the most powerful I've seen in any movie - big budget or not.

Usually I'm not a big fan of hand-held cinema virte, people just don't know how to use it properly. Aronofsky used it almost to perfection. The true test (at least to me) is do you notice the camera movements. Only once for me. I have to tell you I loved the way he told this story. Like I said gritty, raw much like the way The Ram lived his life. It was not your typical hollywood approach, and I'm glad. Loved his camera technique, as well as the little details - you're right he built the story brick by brick. The old fashioned way. No explosions, no spec FX, just raw human emotion.

I could tell that you're a fellow enthusiast, or, as most would call it, a movie-buff. Do you prefer seeing in theatre or at home? For me it depends - if its any of the masters, then theatre; sometimes I prefer to see some of the "hollywood" movies at home. Saw wanted at home, it was actually quite good. I LMAO. It's definitely good to share this with a fellow Browncoat. Thanks BigR

SGG



Tawabawho?

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 1:42 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


I predict that the Oscar ceremony will dip in the ratings again this year, and a month later no one will remember who won anything.



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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:28 PM

BIGRICHARD


no problem Shiny.
I'm actually doing a Bachelor of Film and Television at the moment, so I'm hoping to get into the industry later on, and hopefully become a director/writer/editor/somethin (haven't quite decided yet), so you can tell I love movies! I just love discussing it with other people and seeing what they thought, it'll no doubt help later on if I get into a career.

Mostly, I like to watch the film at the cinema, but often, unless I really can't wait, I'll watch it a few weeks after it comes out, at the latest session, so that often there's very few people in the cinema. I had a really bad experience with Gran Torino in the cinema, which drove me crazy, so I wish I'd waited for that. Mind you, with films like The Wrestler, you're generally ok. Otherwise, I now have a 46" LCD at home (thank god), along with a BluRay player, so it's a lot better for watching films now.

On a seperate note, after seeing a few Oscar films lately (Benjamin Button, Wrestler, Gran Torino, etc.) I went and saw Underworld 3 last night. Oh wow. I don't think it did it any favours that I'd just seen all these brilliant films, but it also didn't do them any favours that their editor was a little triggerhappy with the cutting and that the screenwriter felt like he forgot to do the script until he was told he had a day before he had to hand it in. But then, Bill Nighy is possibly the best vampire ever, and it was Underworld, so I was mildly entertained for the hour and a half. Plus I saw it for free, so I shan't complain.

Shiny, you say you're not a fan of cinema virite, I was just wondering whether you'd seen Children of Men? Now that does have explosions and such, but it is absolutely brilliantly directed by Alfonso Cuaron, and is a brilliant film in my opinion. Up there in my favourites.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 2:47 PM

COZEN


Slumdog Millionaire wins. Mickey Rourke should win, Sean Penn probably will. Heath Ledger's win is historically automatic, about the no-brainer of all time. Kate Winslett will win for one of her two roles, because for the time being the American political landscape is being painted in appropriate colours. All the remaining categories will be interesting enough for those who care.


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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:27 PM

BIGRICHARD


cozen, Winslet is only nominated for Best Actress for The Reader (which many consider to be a worse performance than her Rev. Road performance). She won a Best Actress Golden Globe for Rev. Road and Best Supt. Actress Golden Globe for the Reader. And she is up against Meryl Streep (Doubt), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Melissa Leo (Frozen River) and Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married).

I think it's entirely possible Streep or Hathaway wins, possibly Jolie. I'm hoping Hathaway or Winslet wins, or Jolie, simply because she it's for an Eastwood film (I haven't seen it yet) I'm just not big on Meryl Streep, she irks me somehow, not to mention that Doubt, to me, looks kinda like it was made with the Oscars firmly in it's mind.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:20 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)


Quote:



Complete list of 81st annual Academy Award nominations announced Thursday:
1. Best Picture: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "The Reader," "Slumdog Millionaire."
2. Actor: Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"; Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Sean Penn, "Milk"; Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."
3. Actress: Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"; Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"; Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"; Meryl Streep, "Doubt"; Kate Winslet, "The Reader."
4. Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk"; Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"; Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"; Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road."
5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, "Doubt"; Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"; Viola Davis, "Doubt"; Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler."
6. Director: David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"; Gus Van Sant, "Milk"; Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"; Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."
7. Foreign Film: "The Baader Meinhof Complex," Germany; "The Class," France; "Departures," Japan; "Revanche," Austria; "Waltz With Bashir," Israel.
8. Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"; John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"; Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"; David Hare, "The Reader"; Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire."
9. Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"; Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"; Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges"; Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"; Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, "WALL-E."
10. Animated Feature Film: "Bolt"; "Kung Fu Panda"; "WALL-E."
11. Art Direction: "Changeling," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "The Duchess," "Revolutionary Road."
12. Cinematography: "Changeling," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "The Reader," "Slumdog Millionaire."
13. Sound Mixing: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Slumdog Millionaire," "WALL-E," "Wanted."
14. Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight," "Iron Man," "Slumdog Millionaire," "WALL-E," "Wanted."
15. Original Score: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Alexandre Desplat; "Defiance," James Newton Howard; "Milk," Danny Elfman; "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman; "WALL-E," Thomas Newman.
16. Original Song: "Down to Earth" from "WALL-E," Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; "O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire," A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.
17. Costume: "Australia," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Duchess," "Milk," "Revolutionary Road."
18. Documentary Feature: "The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)," "Encounters at the End of the World," "The Garden," "Man on Wire," "Trouble the Water."
19. Documentary (short subject): "The Conscience of Nhem En," "The Final Inch," "Smile Pinki," "The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306."
20. Film Editing: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "Slumdog Millionaire."



1. Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire.

2. Best Actor: Probably Mickey Rourke (Hollywood loves a good comeback story), but Richard Jenkins gave a powerful performance in "The Visitor".

3. Best Actress: Anne Hathaway. It's her turn.

4. Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger. But Robert Downey was fantastic in "Tropic Thunder" - and Tom Cruise wasn't even nominated for that, and he was better than either of them!

5. Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Tomei. She's good. I used to think her Oscar for "My Cousin Vinny" was just a fluke, but she was fantastic in last year's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead", too.

6. Director: Danny Boyle.

7. Foreign Film: Waltz With Bashir.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Benjamin Button.

9. Original Screenplay: Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges". Probably won't win, but I loved every minute of it!

10. Animated Feature Film: "WALL-E." Which is why it won't win Best Original Screenplay.

11. Art Direction: "Revolutionary Road." Possibly Benjamin Button.

12. Cinematography: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

13. Sound Mixing: " "WALL-E."

14. Sound Editing: "WALL-E."

15. Original Score: "Milk," Danny Elfman.

16. Original Song: "Down to Earth" from "WALL-E," Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman.

17. Costume: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

18. Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire."

19. Documentary (short subject): No idea.

20. Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire."

I haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire yet, but by all accounts from what I've heard (I listened to interviews with Danny Boyle and others on NPR), it sounds like some amazing fimmaking. Sounds like it takes place as a series of flashbacks, with the guy being asked questions on India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and then flashing back to specific memories in his life, to show how and why he knows the answers to the questions. And interspersed with this are the "flash-forwards" to the police station, where he's being questioned by the police this time, because they're sure that no "slumdog" could possibly know these things and he must have cheated. So you get flashbacks with him being questioned on the show, then cut to him being tortured by police about the same questions, then flashing to his memories. Sounds like powerful stuff and intriguing filmmaking. And to top it off, they threw in some great "Bollywood" elements.

My favorite movies from this season are still "In Bruges" and "Man on Wire". "In Bruge" I walked into with absolutely no preconceptions except one: I don't like Colin Farrel. Or at least I *used* to not like him. That movie turned me around, and made me want to give him another chance. That's the second time he's done that for me - "Phone Booth" was the first; again, I saw that without hearing anything about it beforehand. Maybe that's the key to Colin Farrel movies: Don't expect anything.

"Man on Wire" had me, quite literally, on the edge of my seat. It's astonishing; you KNOW he lived to tell the tale, because he's right there on the screen in today's world telling you about it. Still, you keep thinking, "Oh SHIT - he's going to fall!!" And there's something so surreal about seeing a guy dancing on a tightrope strung across the tops of the World Trade Center towers. I cried a bit. He's still here; the Towers are long gone. :(




Mike

"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009 5:50 PM

BIGRICHARD


"2. Best Actor: Probably Mickey Rourke (Hollywood loves a good comeback story), but Richard Jenkins gave a powerful performance in "The Visitor". "

So I hear, although I'm yet to see The Visitor! I'll have to try to get around to it before the Oscars. Rourke was brilliant though, and would deserve it, comeback story or not.


"4. Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger. But Robert Downey was fantastic in "Tropic Thunder" - and Tom Cruise wasn't even nominated for that, and he was better than either of them!"

Downey was great (always is) in Tropic Thunder, although he was no way near better than Ledger. I think Tom Cruise was way overrated, he was mildly amusing, but mainly because it was Tom Cruise. If it had've been an unknown it would've been a fairly boring, lame character IMHO.

"7. Foreign Film: Waltz With Bashir. "

Another I'm yet to see, although I may watch it soon since you speak highly of it.



Just out of interest, why don't/didn't you like Colin Farrell? He's done some fairly mediocre films, but he's done some pretty great stuff too. Namely In Bruges and Phone Booth.

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Friday, January 30, 2009 3:17 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


A BFT student, shiny!, I wish you well with that. I've been in love with film ever since I was ten. I'm an old dude now, but I still get a kick out of a good movie. The best thing in the world is to do what you love, so go for it! At some point you'll gravitate toward your passion and pick one (or all)-
direct/write/edit. But don't let anything distract you, I did years ago and regret it.

I still hold out hope that 'one day' I'll be lucky enough to write and direct a film. I too love discussing film with people to get their take on a particular film, best thing about seeing a good movie with friends - the discussion afterwards.

I know what you mean about bad experiences at the cinema. A few years back, when LOTR: ROTK was playing, some ignorant dudes sitting behind me and my son were commenting during the films quieter moments. I almost got up to say something but several people complained and told them to shutup. And for TDK, second day, I almost got into a fight with a obnoxious female because I was holding a seat for my son in a sold out theatre. There are times when people just lose their minds when it comes to a super-hyped movie.
Still, it's no excuse for being rude and bitchy.
Oh well, what the heck!

I have a 42" LCD and BR player and I'm in heaven with my little collection of movies. BTW thanks for the heads-up on the Underworld movie, saw the first 2 in the theatre, absolutely loved the first one (Kate Beckinsale - rrwwwrrrrao! she really does it for me) and I'm not that into horror but Underworld was surprisingly good. The second one was 'awright.' I still want to go see Gran Torino, Rachel Getting Married, Slumdog; I'm not sure about Milk, although it's gotten rave reviews, I think I'll wait on that one a bit.

Here's what I've been thinking since I saw The Wrestler, I'm finding that I'm liking Mickey Rourke's perf more and more, even more than Pitt in Button (actually I thought that Cate Blanchette outshone everyone in Button save Taraji Henson), this is totally based on what I've seen so far and only my opinion, so that and a quarter will get you a bag of chips. Josh Brolin though will one day soon bag himself an Oscar. He's really coming into his own lately and in No Country for Old Men he was awesome.

P.S. I like Cinema Virte BigR, but only in the right hands. It is brilliant when properly used and annoying when not. Aronofsky, of course, Lars Van Trier (Breaking the Waves) just to name 2 that I really enjoyed.

Haven't seen Children of Men by I like Alfonso Cuaron so I'm there.

SGG




Tawabawho?

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Friday, January 30, 2009 10:15 PM

BIGRICHARD


See Children of Men, if only to see some of the most brilliant long takes in history. In that as it is cinema-virite, he will follow the action/character for a few minutes, all in the one shot, and it makes for an astounding looking film. One shot goes for quite possibly 10 minutes, although it's possible that he managed to sneak some edits in, but I doubt it. Clive Owen's best performance and Michael Caine is delightfully cheeky.

As for Underworld, I'm with you. Loved the first, was ok with the second (hey, it still had Kate, who am I to complain?) and the third had it's moments, but was ultimately lacking. If you have nothing better to do, rent it when it comes out on DVD, for Bill Nighy's performance alone. The guy plays one brilliant vamp.

I've still got to see Rachel Getting Married (although I'm not SO bothered about this one, so I might wait for the DVD), Frost/Nixon and Slumdog. Will also try to see The Visitor and Milk, although Milk has put me off simply because I'm not a big Gus Van Sant fan.

Rourke was definitely better than Pitt, although Pitt's role didn't call for as much of a performance as Rourke's, it was much more low-key and quirky.

Brolin was great in No Country, but the standout in that film was still Javier Bardem. Chigurh (did I spell that right?) still creeps me out.

As for my course, I was almost going for Business Systems (essentially business/computers) as that's what I'm alright at, and I'd probably have no trouble getting a job in it. About 2 days before our form was due in, I ripped it up, printed out another one, and filled it in for Film and Television. That's how close I was to just giving up. It's not an easy industry to get into, especially to do the sorts of films/shows that I want to make, and so I was extremely put off. Now, I'm so incredibly glad that I did, as I've met some great people, written some alright things (so far we've had time limits and junk, so I'm not extremely proud of any of my work thus far), and had a brilliant time while doing most of it, so I couldn't have made a better choice.

I wish you the best of luck with your writing/directing too, who knows, maybe if I become a hot shot producer or something, I'll hunt you down and give you a shot ;)

(on second thoughts, that last sentence made me sound like I'm going to assassinate you or inject you with something...)



....I think my posts are getting longer and longer...

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