Film Review Catch-up

As any reader of this blog will no doubt notice, i have been absent since spring break, a case of too much within too short of a time period. But now I am back and ready to carry on during what I call the dormant pre-oscar season. First of all here are some snipets of reviews for the film's I have seen recently:

State of Play: A strong, well made thriller led by solid turns from Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren as well as show-stealing performance from Jason Bateman. The script is sharp, the direction is good, and the movie carried enough momentum to keep me engaged and excited to see what would happen next.

An overall good film: ***

Awards Prospects: Screenplay, Supporting Actor: Jason Bateman

Observe and Report: A savagely dark and twisted comedy that shocked, disgusted and filled me with roarious laughter. Seth Rogen is no longer the same Seth Rogen we saw in Knocked Up and Pineapple Express, in this film he has shattered my image of him as an actor, replacing it with something I am not able to explain in words. The direction and screenplay are good, not great, but the performances and shock factor made me fall in love with this movie.

I loved it: ***

Awards Chances: Seth Rogen for Golden Globe Best actor in a Comedy or Musical

Sunshine Cleaning: A small, nice, little unobtrusive dramedy and nothing more. The story was a bit maudlin at times, and the direction was poor but Amy Adam's bubbly charm made me care for her character, and Alan Arkin does what I love best, basically play the same character he always does.

A nice movie, but nothing more: **

Awards Chances: Amy Adams for Best Actress

Fast and Furious: I got exactly what I expected from this film: A few good car chases, some good action, nostalgia value from the return of the original cast, and an ending that clearly sets up for a sequel. Vin and Paul were exactly what they needed to be, vessels for their characters to come back and presumably kick ass. It wasn't anything awards worthy but I enjoyed myself, even if the revenge story fell flat.

Awards chances: Special F/X and sound, if that.

Duplicity: Hands down my favorite movie I've seen so far this year. I enjoyed if not loved every aspect of this film. The direction was lively and fun, the screenplay from Tony Gilroy ( who also directed ) was superbly funny and thrilling and smart. Clive Owen and Julia Roberts have an excellent chemistry, playing off each other just as well as they did 5 years ago in Closer, albeit on the opposite side of the emotional spectrum. Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti, Tom McCarthy and Denis O'Hare deliver great supporting performances. The cinematography was beautiful, and the editing, just as fun and lively as the direction. I adore this film for all of that, and for an ending that knocked my socks off as far as how happy I was with it.

A++++: ****

Awards Chances: Director, Actor, Actress (Globes), Sup. Actor, Screenplay, Score, Editing and Cinematography.

Adventureland: I went in expecting Superbad set in the 80's, I left very happy knowing that my expectations were dead wrong. The film, written and directed by Geg Mottola was touching and funny, but thankfully funny in a real sort of way, not raunchy or sophmoric. The humor comes from the characters and dialogue rather than by situation. Jesse Eisenberg was painfully good, I havent felt so deep a personal connection to a character in quite a while, and Kristen Stewart was also well cast in a role much like her excellent turn in Into The Wild. The supporting cast was good, especially Ryan Reynods, Martin Starr and Matt Bush who delivered the best one liners in the film. Here's hopin that Mottola continues on this path ala Daytrippers rather than Superbad.

Funny, moving and personal: *** 1/4

Awards chances: Screenplay, Best Actor ( Globes)

Heres a preview of my spring break screenings to be reviewed soon

"What happened to the American Dream ? It came true....your lookinging at it"

Transforming Watchmen, one of the most celebrated graphic novels of all time, into a movie is as ambitious an undertaking as anyone in Hollywood is likely to ever attempt. For more than 20 years, a variety of filmmakers have been involved in the task of attempting to bring Watchmen to the big screen only to fail, and after seeing the movie it is easy to see why.
The man to finally bring it to the screen is Zack Snyder, the director of 2007’s smash hit “300”. Snyder may have replicated the story faithfully, with only one major plot point deviation, and re-created panel-by-panel the iconic look of the graphic novel, but the nuances are gone. The film seems too busy and too detailed for it to achieve the level of personal involvement that one can get from reading the books. Watchmen is a perfect example of how source material, no matter how faithfully adapted, often loses something critical in translation.
Watchmen takes place in an alternate universe during October 1985. Richard Nixon, unaffected by the Watergate scandal and adored by a skeptical population, is in his fifth term as president. The United States and Soviet Russia have never been more antagonistic toward each other and the threat of nuclear war is eminent. This is the reality in which the main characters find themselves. With two exceptions, they are ex-superheroes, individuals who have been forced by the government to remove their costumes and bury their secret identities. This law does not apply to Dr. Manhattan, the blue-skinned superman who is the United States' ultimate weapon. Rorschach has chosen to live outside of the law, acting as a vigilante with uncompromising determination, and still prowling the city at night. Laurie Jupiter, once called Silk Spectre, is Dr. Manhattan's girlfriend and assistant. Adrien Veidt, formerly known as Ozymandias, a billionaire businessman and the "smartest man in the world," is working with Dr. Manhattan on a plan to save humanity. And Dan Dreiberg, a.k.a. Night Owl, is at loose ends, trying to figure out how he fits in the new order. There are other, older "Watchmen" as well, those who were active in the '40s when the group was first formed. These include Laurie's mother, Sally Jupiter, and the crass, electrifying Comedian, whose death during the opening scene sets the events of the film in motion.
From a visual and stylistic standpoint, Watchmen develops a gloomy, paranoid atmosphere for the film, which perfectly suits it. One of the largest personal flourishes added by Snyder, being the excellent opening credit sequence that details the history of the world in which these heroes live. Set to Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are-A Changing”, this sequence is without a doubt the film’s shining moment.
Despite giving out detailed backgrounds of the protagonists, Watchmen’s stars, for the most part, fail to compel. The exceptions are Rorschach, brilliantly portrayed by Jackie Earle Haley, who brings Oscar caliber energy to his performance that makes the movie his own. And The Comedian, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who appears only in the start of the movie and in flashbacks, yet brings an intensity that lights up the screen every time he appears.
Aside from Haley and Morgan, none of the other heroes are memorable. Matthew Goode and Patrick Wilson occupy space as the subdued Night Owl and Ozymandias, but there's not much for the viewer to hook into. Malin Akerman is attractive and looks good with and without clothing as Silk Spectre, but there's nothing in her performance to suggest that she actually has talent or understands her role. Billy Crudup gives us a Dr. Manhattan who is a detached, emotionless enigma, where as in the novel, Dr. Manhattan is a tragic, tortured figure, but not much of that comes across in the performance which is at its best during the pre-Dr. Manhattan flashbacks.

In the end, while Watchmen is visually stunning to look at and a faithful adaptation of the

graphic novel, the movie only truly takes off during the opening credits and every time that The Comedian and Rorschach appear on screen. The task of bringing the book to theatres may just have been too big a task for Zack Snyder, caught between the pressure to satisfy the hardcore Watchmen fan base and creating a film accessible to the average filmgoer, all the while cramming a 12 part series into an under 3 hour running time. While the film may not have been the penultimate screen version of Watchmen, it is

definitely not a bad film. It is just one that reaches for greatness only to miss it narrowly in the end.

2009 Year In Advanced Preview Coming Soon..Heres A Look into 2009

The Morning After...

And on the 7th day...He relaxes

What a year, what a year, what a year....

I cant believe we went from Revolutionary Road and Australia being the frontrunners to Slumdog Millionaire sweeping the awards circuit... It just goes to show ya, its always

 something.......

20/24 Slumdog Millionaire, Penelope Cruz, Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet and Sean Penn wins!!!

1. Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz- Im so happy for her, a truly deserving win

2. Best Original Screenplay: Milk by Dustin Lance Black- What a beautiful speech, truly touching
3. Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire adapted by Simon Beaufoy- An ok speech

4. Best Animated Film: Wall-e-Andy Stanton !, congratulations again to Pixar!

5. Best Animated Short: La Maison en Petits Cubes- Sank you Oscars for not awarding the best these nominees, presto.

6. Best Art Direction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Button is officially not shut out!

7. Best Costume Design: The Duchess- Duh

8. Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Award # 2, so much for 0/13

9. Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire- 2/2 I think we may see a sweep here

I loved the Apatow short for 2008 comedies, it really was genuinely funny, Janusz Kaminski was hillarious as were Franco and Rogen. Cant wait for Funny People this summer.

10. Best Action Short: Toyland ! Yes ! My first ever correct short prediction.

The Musical number was decent, but what on earth happened to Beyonce ? She looked like Jessica Simpson at the Chilli cookoff, her legs are thicker than mine right now.

Alan Arkin flubs P.S.H's name...Cuba gives a hillarious intro to Robert Downey Jr....Kevin Kline gives a beautiful elogy to Heath

11. Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight- Words cannot express how emotional this must feel for Heath's freinds and family. Chris Nolan said it best when he remarked: A hole has been ripped from the future of cinema. R.I.P Heath we miss you

Bill Maer comes on and gives a slightly amusing intro that almost turned ointo an infomercial for Religiolus...

12. Best Documentary: Man On Wire- This one has been a long time coming, I love that Phillipe Petit came up on stage with Marsh and gave a lovely little speech, hes a charming little fucker

13. Best Documentary Short: Smile Pinki- I... whatever...

Decent action montage

14. Best Visual F/X: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Award No. 3!

No Slumdog. No Slumdog. No Slumdog...

15. Best Sound Editing: The Dark Knight! Yes! Slumdog Millionaire aint gonna sweep!

No Slumdog. N0 Slumdog. No Slumdog.....

16. Best Sound Mixing: Slumdog Millionaire....totaly and completely undeserved. Award no. 3...

17. Best Film Editing: Slumdog Millionaire- Lets just change the name of the award to Most Editing this year, because The Dark Knight, Milk and Ben Button all had better editing.

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award To Jerry Lewis- Eddie Murphy gives a slightly insincere intro to Jerry before cutting a great montage of Jerry.
It's so great to see an Oscar in the hands of that genius. Jerry gives a lovely speech thanking the Academy and the film industry, he's done so much and for so little, bless that man.

An inventive score montage conducted by Michael Giacchino, i'm sorry to butcher the name, yields an unexpected lovely moment of music and cinema.

18. Best Original Score: Slumdog Millionaire- My least favorite score of the group wins but at least I got another correct prediction.

I really did not like this song medley they are doing, Its unfortunate that M.I.A. didnt show up and that John Legend is singing Peter Gabriel's beautiful song from Wall-e because he kind of butchered it in my oppinion. Jai Ho is going to win... Bruce's not being here ruined it from the start

19. Best Original Song: "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire- All I will say is that Bruce should have been nominated, had he been, we would have seen a much different person on stage

I'm thinking about switching my foreign language predix to Waltz With Bashir or Departures, but I will stay put...for now

I'm changing it to Departures at 11:06

20. Best Foreign Language Film: Departures!!! I CANT BELIEVE THAT PAID OFF!!!! My thanks to Nat Rogers for writing a convincing enough prediction thats been nagging at me all day.

In memorium....by way of Queen Latifah who sings beautifully
Ends with a beautiful tribute to Paul Newman which itself ends with my favorite shot ever of Paul Newman: a tip of the nose from The Sting, I actually started to tear up... everyone who died in 2008 will be missed terribly.

Thank god Sid Ganis is not making a speech tonight, thats the best parting gift I've ever seen. Hopefully with him gone. the Oscars will take a new direction by actually awarding phenominal films like The Dark Knight and Wall-e with Best Picture nods.

Hahaha David Fincher and Gus Van Sant got the most applause of the director nominees.

21. Best Director: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire! I cant believe I'm seeing Danny Boyle, the man who directed Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, with an Oscar.

On a side note, I love that Danny Boyle apologized to a choreographer that he left off the credits, that was a great moment.

Can Kate win tonight ? Sophia, Shirley, Halle, Nicole and Marion present...Kate looks stunning

22. Best Actress: KATE WINSLET!!! I cant believe she finally has that Oscar in her hands- A truly phenominal actress finally wins her first Oscar, hopefully the first of many more.

Kate gave a great speech...Best Actor coming right up
Robert DeNiro, Ben Kingsley, Anthony Hopkins, Adrien Brody, and Mike Douglas present, what a line up huh? God I hope Mickey wins.. Bob DeNiro delivers a great line

23. Best Actor: Sean Penn for Milk...a great performance no doubt, but I really thought Mickey had this sewn up, Sean gives a fantastic funny speech, and a powerful political message.

Steven Spielberg presents Best Picture, how fitting that the man who helmed the last Best Picture to sweep, Schindler's List presents this award to Slumdog Millionaire, we all know it's gonna happen.

24. Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire- We all knew it was coming, now we can take that much needed break...

20 out of 24 aint bad at all!
Good Night.

Meditations....On my final Oscar Predictions Part 1 & 2

Well, they're finally here. Tonight, millions, well maybe not millions, of americans and foreign audiences will sit down on their couches and watch the Academy Awards which I believe are in their 8oth year. Though there may seem to be hardly any suspense in the categories which list Slumdog as a nominee, I think that we could indeed end up seeing a suprise or two tonight, and I'm not talking about the telecast's format either, which in itself is also creating some palpable excitement from Oscar watchers around the world. So without further adu here are my final Oscar predictions for each and every category. - Tyler j. Pratt "The Oscar Hut"

Live Action Short Film:

Auf der Strecke

Manon on the Asphalt

New Boy

The Pig

Toyland

I unfortunately have not seen any of these short films this year, so I have to go with what title looks most likely to called tonight. My Prediction: Toyland, What Could Win: The Pig

Best Animated Short:

La Maison en Petits...

Lavatory Lovestory

Oktapodi

Presto

This Way Up

Having seen Presto and This Way Up, I feel much more confident in predicting this award. For some reason many people are predicting La Maison en Petits... to the award which begs the question: Did you see Presto ? Hands down, the best animated short I think I've ever seen, Presto is nearly perfect, never hitting a false note. My Prediction: Presto, What Could Win: La Maison en Petits...

Best Documentary Short:

The Conscience of Nhem En

The Final Inch

Smile Pinki

The Witness From the Balcony of Room 306

I really have nothing to say about this category so...My prediction: The Witness From the Balcony of Room 306, What could win: The Final Inch

Best Documentary:

The Betrayal

Encounters at the End of the World

The Garden

Man on Wire

Trouble The Water

I've seen Encounters, Man on Wire and Trouble the water, which leads me to confidently say that the best of these nominees is Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of The World which I loved. But it wont win, it wont even come in second in this vote. My Prediction: Man on Wire, What could win: Trouble the Water, What Should win: Encounters at the End of the World

Best Animated Feature aka: The Pixar Award:

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

Wall-e

With a masterpiece in Wall-e this year and Up next year, I think we will be seeing a threepeat not seen since Michael Jordan led my hometown Chicago Bulls to two threepeats during their dynastic decade of the 90's. Wall-e is without a doubt, for me, Pixar's best work yet, and it will win this in a landslide. My Prediction: Wall-e, What Could Win: I'm sticking with Wall-e, What Should Win: Wall-e

Best Foreign Film:

Austria-Revanche

France-The Class

Germany-Der Baader Meinhof Komplex

Israel-Waltz With Bashir

Japan-Departures

This is the first year that I have ever seen all the nominees for this category, and with that said, The class should be the victor here but it faces some extreme competition with the also excellent Waltz With Bashir. There have been rumblings that Japan's Departures could take it but I highly doubt it. My Prediction: The Class, What Could Win: Waltz With Bashir, What Should Win: The Class

Best Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Hellboy 2

This is a kind of tough category to call. Button features great aging makeup, The Dark Knight created an iconoclastic new version of the Joker, and Hellboy 2 was a makeup artists wet dream. So who wins here ? I'm gonna go with the movie that involves a ton of aging and de-aging. My Prediction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, What Could Win: The Dark Knight, What Should Win: Benjamin Button

Best Visual F/X:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

This is another tough one because any one of these could win, and deserves to win. Unfortunately for the super heroes, Button features the most innovative effects since Jurrasic Park scared the shit out of litttle kids everywhere *cough cough*. My Prediction: The Curious of Button, What Could Win: The dark Knight, What Should Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Sound Editing:

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

Slumdog Millionaire

WALL-E

Wanted

Slumdog Millionaire's inclusion here is a joke, it does not deserve either award but I have a feeling that it could win if there is indeed a sweep, (Which I predicted back when the BAFTA nominees were announced so dibs) but I cannot in good conscience predict a film this undeserving so, My Prediction: The dark Knight, What Could Win: Slumdog "ughh" Millionaire, What Should Win: The Dark Knight or Wall-e

Best Sound Mixing:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Slumdog Millionaire

WALL-E

Wanted

Read Sound Editing. My Prediction: The Dark Knight, What Could Win: Slumdog Millionaire, What Should Win: Wall-e

Best Original Song:

"Jai Ho"-Slumdog Millionaire"

"O Saya"-Slumdog Millionaire"

"Down to Earth"-WALL-E

I am disowning this category for its exclusion of The Boss, Slumdog will win. My Prediction: Jai Ho, What Could Win: O Saya, What Should Win: The Wrestler, I am pretending it was nominated

Best Original Score:

Curious Case-Desplat

Defiance-Howard

Milk-Elfman

Slumdog Millionaire-Rahman

WALL-E-Newman

This is another race full of deserving nominees that will ultimately be shut out by Slumdog Millionaire which was a good movie with good direction, nothing more. I hated that soon to be Oscar winning score. My Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire, What Could Win: Wall-e, What Should Win: Any nominee but Slumdog

Best Costume Design:

Australia

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Duchess

Milk

Revolutionary Rd

I can only go by what I thought looked good, I dont know much about costumes. My Prediction: The Duchess, What Could Win: Benjamin Button, What Should Win: Benjamin Button

Best Art Direction

Changeling

Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

The Duchess

Revolutionary Road

All of these films had excellent Art Direction, but none measure up to the excellence in design showcased in Button. My Prediction: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, What Could Win: The Duchess, What Should Win: Button

Best Cinematography:

Changeling

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

This year featured good cinematography, but nothing on par with last years excellent examples like There Will Be Blood and The Assassination of Jesse James. However, these nominees are all at least worthy of the prize and I could see any of them winning if it were not for Slumdog's inclusion. My Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire,What Could win: The Dark Knight, What Should Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight or Changeling

Best Film Editing:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Why waste time writing an intro to this, Slumdog wins. My Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire, What Could Win: The Dark Knight, What Should Win: The Dark Knight

Best Original Screenplay

Frozen River by Courtney Hunt

Happy-Go-Lucky by Mike Liegh

In Bruges by Martin McDonagh

Milk by Dustin Lance Black

Wall-e by Andrew Stanton & Others

This category is for me the hardest of the night to predict. While many blogs have chalked this one up to Milk, the frontrunner which won a screenplay award last night at the Spirit Awards, I feel that if there is to be an upset tonight it will come here. Wall- e is the closest competition to Milk, and a very popular film that is basically 100 % scene and action description. In Bruges, my favorite of the group and probably the best written of the screenplays as well has won many precursors but can it overcome the one-two powerouse of Milk and Wall-e? The same question goes for Frozen River, which has no shot, and Happy-Go-lucky, the darjhorse of the group.

My Prediction: Milk by Dustin Lance Black

What Could Win: Wall-e by Andrew Stanton

What Should Win: In Bruges by Martin McDonagh (PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Best Adapted Screenplay

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Eric Roth & Robin Swicord

Doubt- John Patrick Shanley

Frost/Nixon- Peter Morgan

The Reader- David Hare

Slumdog Millionaire- Simon Beaufoy

This is the antithesis of the original screenplay race, Slumdog Millionaire is the frontrunner by a mile, and the only film with a shot to unseat it is Ben Button which we all know wont happen.

My Prediction: Slumdog Millionaire

What Could Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

What Should Win: The Reader

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams forDoubt

Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Viola Davis for Doubt

Taraji P. Henson for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler

Many are describing this race a 5 women competition implying that anyone could win. I 100 percent agree, anyone of these gals could end up on stage tonight which makes this a hard to spot race. I think the weakest link is obviously Amy Adams, even though I prefered her to Viola Davis who is going head to head with Penelope Cruz for frontrunner status. Taraji benefits for being in a BP nominee and Marisa Tomei bared her soul (among other things) on screen in the truest supporting performance of the year.

My Prediction: Peneope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Who Could Win: Viola Davis for Doubt

Who Should Win: Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler

Best Supporting Actor:

Josh Brolin for Milk

Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder

Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Doubt

Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road

All I have to say is this: I feel sorry for the man who ends up beating Heath tonight, even though that wont happen, that would not be a good sitch to be in.

My Prediction: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Who Could Win: N/A

Who Should Win: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight

Best Actress:

My Prediction: Kate Winslet for The Reader

Who Could Win: Meryl Streeep for Doubt

Who Should Win: Kate Winslet for The Reader

Best Actor:

My Prediction: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler

Who Could Win: Sean Penn for Milk

Who should Win: Mickey Rourke

I blazed through these because we have a mere 30 minutes until the redcarpet cut off, my rational for these two picks is basically, they deserve it and both were phenominal.

BEST PICTURE/BEST DIRECTOR:

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Why? Because the movie is decent and a deserving winner, and because who are the Academy to upset an awards season sweep not seen since Schindler's List stormed into the Oscars way back in 93'

The Oscar Hut Poll Results...

In the Best Actor race, readers gave Mickey Rourke the win with 55 % of the vote compared to rival sean Penn's 33 %.
For Best actress, Kate Winslet won with 73 % of the vote.
Heath Ledger seems to in route to a posthumous oscar as 71 % percent of our readers believe that there is no chance in Hell that he can lose.
And the Best Supporting Actress race sees Penelope Cruz with 52 percent of the vote followed closely behind by Viola Davis.

how will these Oscar Hut winners fare at the Oscars tommorow night ?

We shall see

Final Oscar Predictions coming....

On Saturday, right after the independent spirit awards.

Speaking of the Indie Spirits, those predix are soon coming as well, expect them by tommorow morning.

One week and counting....

until the biggest movie event of the year!

Here is what we know for sure:

1. Slumdog Millionaire is guaranteed at least 3 Oscars
2. One of Slumdog's three oscars will be for Best Picture
3. Heath Ledger will win Best Supporting Actor
4. Wall-e will win Best Animated Film
5. Mickey Rourke will have to censored in some way at least once during the ceremony.

Here Is What We can be pretty sure about:

1. Either Sean Penn or Mickey Rourke will win Best Actor
2. The same goes for Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep in Best Actress
3.Slumdog Will Win more than 3 oscars

Here Is What is definitely up in the air:

1. Supporting Actress
2. Original Screenplay
3. Foreign Film
4. The Presenters
5. Will the show be good

Here is what we know for sure wont happen:

1. The Oscar telecast ratings will be up from last year