Movie Fodder

New Site

2009-08-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

I've moved my blog off of blogger and on to a site of its own. The new site has all the reviews posted here, plus about 150 new ones that I had written prior to starting this blog, as well as other features.

The new site can be found at: http://www.moviefodder.com

Raising Victor Vargas

2009-08-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2002
Review: A nice coming of age story about a teenager living in the Lower East Side learning to deal with his ego, family and girlfriend, despite the challenges of living in a in poor neighborhood and a difficult family situation. Using unknown actors and filming on location in New York, there is a real authentic, gritty feel which makes it more believable and easier to connect to the characters. Unfortunately the story just didn't go anywhere. The conflicts felt lacking and plot lines just seemed to die without really fleshing themselves out. 'Raising Victor Vargas' has a great feel to it, but lacks anything else that would raise this above being an average coming of age story.
Rating: 3/5

12 Rounds

2009-08-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: '12 Rounds' is meant to be an all out, in your face action movie, but is more a low-rate bore. Danny Fisher, played by John Cena accidentally arrests a criminal mastermind who then seeks revenge on Cena by kidnapping his girlfriends, forcing him to play a 12 round game to win her back. The plot sounds an awful lot like a 'Die Hard' movie, and that is exactly what this film is trying to emulate. Cena is hardly Bruce Willis, and the games challenges are uninspired. It's a sparse plot that is badly acted which tries to save itself with explosions. Save yourself the time and just watch any of the Die Hard movies again.
Rating: 2/5

Interiors

2009-07-31T23:18:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1978
Review: Woody Allen's first completely dramatic film, about the struggles of a family coping with a controlling mother who is going through a mental breakdown. Allen takes a decidedly different tone than in any of his previous work. Gone is the familiar silliness and playfulness that viewers of Allen's work are accustomed to, replaced by a very frigid, somber, and unabashedly serious film. The writing is crisp, and Allen's wit and philosophy shine through, but there is very little to laugh at. The lack of humor is not a problem, but the sheer bleakness and steady onslaught of emotion filled tirades are a bit draining and I feel some of the meaning is lost in this almost over calculated and sterile drama. The movie is, however, wonderfully acted, and paired with Allen's talent with dialog, individual scenes are profound and work perfectly in isolation. As a whole, I felt as though Allen was trying too hard to make a purely dramatic film and it suffered for it.
Rating: 3/5

Funny People

2009-07-30T23:36:00.001-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: I was able to see an early screening of this film, so my review is based on a cut which may be different than the one that is released. 'Funny People' is one of those comedies with a heart. So often lesser comedies just go with the obvious joke, immature physical humor, or anything else for a quick laugh. Judd Apatow has been among a few filmmakers changing the expectations of comedies, elevating them to more than just mindless entertainment. With this latest film Apatow continues to push the bar higher, turning in one of his best films yet. About Ira (Seth Rogen), a struggling young comedian just starting out befriending the aging, disenchanted star George Simmons (Adam Sandler). After coming down with a rare, terminal, illness George is forced to reevaluate his life and the choices he has made. The film toes the line of becoming sappy, but it never gets too sentimental. It remains hilarious throughout and filled with some of the funniest people in the industry showcasing what they do best. Rogen breaks from his normal routine and plays a different kind of character much more akin to his role in 'Freak and Geeks' than anything he has done since and Sandler delivers what is probably his best performance ever. This is a nicely rounded comedy, which is full of original humor, genuine heart and believable acting and it puts most other comedies released this year to shame.
Rating: 5/5

Inkheart

2009-07-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: A surprisingly imaginative and entertaining family film, 'Inkwell' blurs the real world with fantasy by allowing book characters to be read into the real world by 'silvertounges'. Unbeknownst to him, Brendan Fraser's character Mo, is a silvertounge, who accidentally reads a villain out of the book 'Inkwell' and inadvertently reads his wife into the book. The adventure to correct this mistake ensues, which features cameos from an assortment of characters from famous literary works. It's quite possible that I like the source material more than the movie, but I must admit I had never heard of the book the film is based on. It's not at the level of the best fantasy films, but 'Inkwell' is a solid movie, that is both fun and original.
Rating: 4/5

What Happens in Vegas

2009-07-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: As so many romantic comedies repeatedly remind us, to the point of noisome, "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas", and in like all the rest of the dime a dozen comedies, this movie proves that that this just isn't the case. Nothing is original in this predictable comedy. The premise is idiotic, the characters loath-full and the jokes nearly non-existent. It's not that this is a completely terrible comedy, what brings it down is its tired, familiar, plot and its inability to try anything new.
Rating: 2/5

You Don't Mess with the Zohan

2009-07-25T21:32:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: What Adam Sandler was thinking with this film is beyond me. 'You Don't Mess With the Zohan' is an uninspired, unfunny and altogether train-wreck of a movie. It was as if it were an exceptionally bad SNL skit went on for two hours. The character's were not funny and were pretty detestable all around. The jokes were immature and obvious, the physical humor childish. There is very little to say that is positive about this film. It seemed like there was no effort put into it at all. It was a complete waste of time.
Rating: 1/5

Up

2009-07-23T21:19:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: 'Up', Pixar's latest picture, only furthers the almost unfathomable string of truly remarkable films that the company somehow turns out. Every year I expect Pixar to slip up and not be able to live up to their previous greatness, and every year I'm left in awe at the quality of film they are able to produce. 'Up', like all other Pixar films, is on a different level than any other animated features. They have mastered the perfect blend of humor, heart and humanity that exude from all of their films and make each one enjoyable to an audience of any age. Going into 'Up' I wasn't excited by what seemed to be a pretty dull premise, but it turned out to be a very sweet, honest and uplifting film. More than just being a kids movie, it takes a serious look at life and how you spend your time in it. While this message might be lost on young kids, there is plenty of fun to be had for them as well, with talking dogs and a flying house. This is Pixar's magic. Their ability to create quality films that transcend genres and that are both meaningful and entertaining is astounding.
Rating: 5/5

Baby Mama

2009-07-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: 'Baby Momma' brings the welcome change of having two women as the leads in a comedy, and while it was a good effort, the movie felt too generic to be anything memorable. There was a lot that could have been done with the premise of surrogacy, but it always felt like they went for the easy joke rather than really pushing any boundaries. Amy Poehler tries too hard as the white trash surrogate mother, and is more annoying than funny. It was good enough to make me look forward to Tina Fey's next film, but I'd hope that this was just an awkward first film and not indicative of all her future work.
Rating: 3/5

Swing Vote

2009-07-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: 'Swing Vote' tries to parody the election process and the value of a politician's word by pinning the results of the election on the vote of one everyday American. Unfortunately what could have been an interesting plot with an endless supply of political humor is stifled by thin characters, safe jokes and a very generic feel. Kevin Costner's character, the average, blue collar worker is nothing but a low life who I can't imagine much of America would identify with, or embrace as they did in the film. Just as bad, is the Costner's daughter, who is supposed to balance out her simple father by being the voice of reason, but just comes off as annoying. Nothing is really said about politics and there wasn't that many laughs. It felt like this was a comedy just going through the motions.
Rating: 2/5

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2009-07-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: The sixth installment in the JK Rowling's wizard franchise. In preparation for watching the movie I read through all the books again and watched all the movies. It was probably a mistake to read the books again since the films should be viewed as a separate entity, and missing parts in the movie from the book seem glaring if you have just read them. None the less, this was the best of the Potter movies thus far, viewing it strictly from a movie perspective. It told a cohesive story with just enough humor, action and suspense. The acting of the young wizards, while still not up to par with the greats cast in the adult roles, has improved vastly since the first films. Above all the other improvements is the cinematography, done by Bruno Delbonnel (who also did Amelie), which is absolutely stunning. As I've said for all the other films, the Potter franchise still isn't at the top tier of fantasy films, but its getting closer with each installment.
Rating: 4/5

JCVD

2009-07-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: A completely unconventional heist movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as himself. JCVD basically plays a fictional version of himself, although everything leading up to the events of that day could be biographical. The aging, washed up and broke action star finds himself in the middle of a very real bank hostage situation. The juxtaposition of reality and Hollywood fiction are an important theme throughout the film. Credit is due to French director Mabrouk El Mechri for rooting JCVD in a very realistic character. While the film is shot very stylistically, everything seems very natural and realistic. JCVD is nothing more than a man, not a super hero like he is in the movies. He is flawed, he can get hurt and above all he doesn't try to be the hero. To Van Damme's credit he plays the role very well. Even though he is playing himself, the role allows him to show that he is a decent actor and can play a different kind of role. The film isn't without its flaws, but even without the intrigue of JCVD playing himself, the movie holds up as a compelling thriller.
Rating: 4/5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix

2009-07-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2007
Review: The best in the franchise to date, 'The Order of the Phoenix' is the first of the films which feels comfortable being an entity in of itself. While missing a lot of content from the book, the movie still manages to feel complete and has a satisfying story arch. The best aspect of the film is the introduction of the Order members who are all played by talented actors, easing the acting load on the younger and far less talented school age wizards. It's still not at the top level as a stand alone film, but its a step in the right direction for the series and certainly does the book justice.
Rating: 4/5

The Promotion

2009-07-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: With a familiar plot, The Promotion, relies on its two stars Seann William Scott and John C. Reilly to turn the battle for the promotion into a fresh comedy. Unfortunately the director Steve Conrad fails miserably. The talents of both Scott and Reilly are squandered in this borderline narcoleptic mess. The 'battle' for the promotion is little more than a slap fight and the comedy muted by refrain, as this film to takes no chances. Very little is funny, and nothing new is tried. This was an odd case of a film starring two of the top comedic actors working feeling like it should have been straight to DVD and forgotten about.
Rating: 2/5

Whatever Works

2009-07-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: This film is pure, unadulterated, Woody Allen. Every single one of Allen's favorite motifs are crammed into this little gem of a comedy. Oozing with his signature style, Allen has gone back to his roots filming in Manhattan and proving to all the doubters that he still, unquestionably, has the comic genius that he had when he began his career four decades ago. Perhaps the days of Allen acting out his neurotic, self-deprecating, pessimistic character are over, but he has found the perfect replacement in Larry David who carries the torch admirably. Some of the acting seemed a bit stiff, and the entire film felt more like a theater production, but it doesn't matter. It's all about the dialog and the wit, intelligence and cynicism with which Allen writes penetrates through and dominates. It's as if all the philosophy Allen has ever tried to convey about love and life in his past works was all tied up in a neat little package in this film and it can all be boiled down to 'Whatever Works'.
Rating: 5/5

Year One

2009-07-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: I had high hopes for this film for a long time seeing as it matches the great comedic director Harold Ramis with two of the most enjoyable actors working today in Jack Black and Michael Cera. I was disappointed when I heard such negative reviews, but I decided to go in with my new, lowered, expectations and give this movie a fair viewing. I'm glad I did. It's by no stretch of the imagination a great comedy, nor is it a terrible one. The plot is almost non-existent, but that isn't really the point. Many people tried to make comparisons between this film and 'Life of Brian' or 'History of the World: Part I', but really this is trying to be a completely different film altogether. The entire premise of taking place place in the year 1 AD is completely negligible, its simply a vehicle for Cera and Black (and many other funny people in smaller roles) to do their shtick in a slightly different setting then we are used to. Both Cera and Black have very clearly defined personalities and acting styles and they really don't try anything new here. If you don't like them, you will not like this movie. Some of the jokes might fall flat, but if you do like watching Cera and Black just do their thing, its an enjoyable film.
Rating: 3/5

Smart People

2009-07-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: Smart People is a film about a college professor who is too self absorbed and pompous to make any sort of connection to his students, girlfriend, family or anyone else. The film takes a decidedly depressing tone and is relentless in it's onslaught of bleakness. There was nothing new in its approach or plot and the execution left me with the feeling that this was a cheaper knockoff of similar 'indie' films. There is scarce character progression of a person who is so miserable that it drags the entire film down. There is not much to the film. It starts of bleak, it remains depressing and at the last second tries to pull up from its nose dive into despair, but comes up woefully short.
Rating: 2/5

Marley & Me

2009-07-07T21:44:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: Based on a book of the same name, 'Marley & Me' is a sweet story about a man and his dog. I haven't read the book, so while I had a general idea of where the story was going, I was going into the movie fresh. More than being about the relationship between the man and his dog, the film seemed more like a story about a man's everyday struggles of life and raising a family that just happened to also have a problematic dog. For the most part the film was austere, not funny or charming. The movie features a dog, so of course there were some adorable moments, but it didn't quite offset the often uncomfortable tone set throughout the movie. Also inescapable throughout the film is the impending ending which anyone who has ever owned a dog dreads, and the film doesn't soften the blow at all, almost reveling in the inevitable heart-wrenching ending. The tender moments in the film are rewarding, but overall depressing feeling this film doesn't quite make them worth it.
Rating: 3/5

Rescue Wings (Sora e: Sukui no tsubasa resukyû uingusu)

2009-07-05T21:30:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: A Japanese film based on an Anime series about the first woman rescue helicopter pilot. While its a recent film, I couldn't help but feel that what I was watching was a bad 80's action adventure television show. There was very little to the plot. It was simply a very dull film. There was little emotion and the only action was helicopter rescue missions which all looked exactly the same and got old quickly. Unless you suffer for insomnia and are looking for a new treatment, I'd skip this one.
Rating: 2/5

Get Smart

2009-07-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: It was an admiral attempt at a reboot, but wasn't anything that pushed expectations. The film always seemed to be teetering on the brink of the absurd and corny, but managed to maintain itself just enough to be a moderately enjoyable action comedy. Steve Carrel did a fine job of playing the oddball agent without putting too much shtick into the performance. Get Smart certainly didn't perform well enough to make me look forward to a sequel but delivered a, completely mediocre, but overall enjoyable movie.
Rating: 3/5

Hotel For Dogs

2009-07-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: A tried and true family movie starring dogs. It's hard for a dog movie to be absolutely terrible, and this one certainly wasn't. It also wasn't anything special. The same tired plot points and obstacles that are in countless other family movies are prevalent in the film. The entire film felt tired, forced and lacked any imagination. I have a hard time believing even young children won't be bored by the stale story. Hotel For Dogs is peddling cheap knockoff family entertainment and is void of any heart. It is an exploitation film for children and little else. The dogs are cute though.
Rating: 2/5

The Hangover

2009-06-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: Great comedies need to both be original and push boundaries. 'The Hangover' definitely pushes boundaries. At times it might have pushed them too far, and was just crude for the sake of being crude. Many of the great comedies over the last few years all seem to both take risks but also had a heart. This film took risks, but there wasn't much else there. It was a funny film, no doubt about it, I just wish there was a bit more too it. 'The Hangover' felt like the the dim-witted jock of the new Apatow-comedy generation family. None the less, if all you are looking for is a laugh there are plenty to be had.
Rating: 3/5

The Up Series

2009-06-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1964-2005
Review: A documentary following the lives of fourteen children from Britain coming from various walks of life in attempt to measure the impact of social class on their lives. The series starts introducing the kids at the age of seven, and revisits them every seven years for updates on their lives. The series is a fascinating, voyeuristic, view on how average people live, work and age. It is engrossing to be able to watch the lives of these people unfold. Expectations from the childhood are either realized or go tragically awry. The every day struggles that face everyone, such as the struggle to find steady work, marriage problems, and raising a family are all explored in the film simply by taking a look into these people's lives. The 'Up Series' is an important documentary which sheds light on human growth, the impact of class background and a slew of other human behavioral issues. Besides its importance, the documentary is also sheer entertainment. Once you watch one you will want to watch the entire series out of curiosity. The participants are all unique and interesting in their own way, its hard not to have a favorite. This is a monumental documentary and should be required viewing as so much can be learned about life from it.
Rating: 5/5

Special

2009-06-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2006
Review: A small film with a lot of thought, 'Special' is about a mundane meter maid who is mentally impaired to believe he has super powers after taking trial anti-depressant medication. The plot was fascinating to me even before watching the film, and the execution was even better than I had expected. While the plot is often light and comes across humorous, you began to understand how sad the story really is. Underlying are powerful messages of individuality, the corruption of drug companies and the tragedy of those with mental illnesses. 'Special' is a frequently funny but altogether moving film which shouldn't be overlooked.
Rating: 4/5

The Player

2009-06-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1992
Review: A movie buffs movie, delving in the cut-throat world of Hollywood in the form a mystery. Griffin Mill(Tim Robbins) plays a ruthless Hollywood studio script reviewer who becomes paranoid after receiving death threats. The film is brimming with references to classic movies, and movie jargon is found throughout. This quick insider banter is often poking fun at the industry itself, and the Hollywood studios are often the butt of the jokes. Being a Robert Altman film, a director who is well respected by actors, and seeing that its a film about Hollywood, there are countless cameos from a slue of popular actors of the time. I enjoyed these constant Hollywood references and the way that Altman meandered around the chaotic sets dropping in and out of conversations, in a way that he had become famous for. These references and quips were the highlight of the film. I appreciated the what the film did with the plot, and the payoff was satisfying, but ultimately I found nearly everyone in the film, particularly Griffin, so loathsome that I didn't enjoy the experience moment to moment.
Rating: 3/5

Mulholland Dr.

2009-06-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2001
Review: A very difficult movie to digest, 'Mulholland Dr.' is none the less captivating and absolutely engaging. The plot is difficult to describe, but its roughly about an actress who is starting out in Hollywood who meets an woman who has amnesia after a car crash. What the movie is actually about is the key question to ask yourself through out the film, and one that no one has really been able to say with any certainty. The non-linear, often chaotic and always stylized film making employed by Lynch is nothing short of masterful. I often review movies stating that I didn't like them "moment to moment". 'Mulholland Dr.' is enjoyable second to second, scene to scene. There are countless stunning scenes that are flawlessly executed and instantly classic. It is hard, at times, to keep your jaw from dropping as you watch them unfold. As soon as the film finishes you will want to watch it again. Don't try to over think the plot, but enjoy the films beauty. 'Mulholland' is truly a remarkable piece of film making.
Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2009-06-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2005
Review: The fourth film in the series, and the best up until this point. The young actors, who marred the previous chapters so much with their poor acting, are starting to come around. They've developed their talent and feel comfortable with their characters, allowing the director to put more focus on them, creating richer scenes. Normally, I take issue with the amount of material they leave out of the films, but this time around they managed to compress the essence of the book very well into an entertaining movie, despite axing a few of my favorite characters completely. My biggest problem with the translation from the page to the screen in this case is the way that Professor Dumbledore is played. In the books he is always very calm and put together, but in this film he is played very angry and frantic which was distracting in every scene he was in. This film does take a much more ominous tone and is full of dark imagery and themes which seem to only make this into a more compelling movie. The film succeeds at capturing the magic of the books and transitioning them into a movie, and is without a doubt an improvement on the franchise.
Rating: 4/5

Fargo

2009-06-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1996
Review: A sort of odd comedy that could only be described as 'Coen-esque', "Fargo" is a bizarre, but oddly endearing film about a kidnapping that goes terribly wrong. For the most part the film was enjoyable, but certain aspects prevented me from really getting behind it. The whole mid-western accent and personality seemed a bit gimmicky, and while the mid-west is where the story takes place, and people from that part of the country may very well be like that, it felt too much like a running joke that eventually went stale. The ever present gloom and misery caused, not only by the circumstances of the plot, but also the setting in the bitter cold and the gray, dull tones, began to ware on me and made some scenes uncomfortable. There were some very funny moments, and the main character, Marge (played by Frances McDormand), is always entertaining and charming. 'Fargo' isn't my favorite Coen brothers movie, but it was certainly worth watching.
Rating: 3/5

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2009-06-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2004
Review: Another year in the fantastic world of Harry Potter and another attempt at reining in the boundless imagination of JK Rowling into a two and a half hour feature film. With each successive film they seem to be getting closer to producing a more sound and compete representation of the book. With this attempt they took more liberties with the plot than any of the other two by far. As the books get longer, it becomes harder to cram all the plot points into a concise children friendly movie, even without all the needlessly long Quidditch action scenes. Building upon the trend started in the previous film, the child actors are given even more acting time, and while they've made some improvements they're lack of acting ability is painfully apparent and is the biggest downside of the film. It feels like the films are going in the right direction, but haven't quite gotten to the level that the books deserve quite yet.
Rating: 3/5

Reservoir Dogs

2009-06-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1992
Review: One of Quentin Tarantino's best films, 'Reservoir Dogs' is a unique take on a botched robbery. One of the interesting things about the way Tarantino approaches this heist film is that you never actually see the crime. In fact, much of the movie is about what you don't see. For a good portion of the movie you are left in the dark, just as the group of burglars are, as to what went wrong. Tarantino masterfully guides the story, not in a linear sequence, but in a sequence that reveals just enough of the story to keep tension high, and the plot exciting. Besides a visually and stylistically brilliant film, 'Reservoir Dogs' also explores the theme of trust and the nature of good and evil. The payoff of this theme in the film's climax is one of the most memorable in Hollywood endings, and the commentary on the subject is profound. Tarantino, working on a small budget, manages to make a film which almost never leaves a single room of a warehouse feel more exciting than a big budget blockbuster. However wonderful his directing was, this film wouldn't have worked had it not been for a superb ensemble cast, each of who made their character believable and every scene enthralling. Everything about this film exudes Tarantino. Highly stylized and perfectly executed it is one of the best heist films around and is endlessly watchable.
Rating: 5/5

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

2009-06-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2002
Review: Once again it's difficult to get past the liberties the film takes with the film plot. After just reading the book even subtle discrepancies seem glaring. However, putting this aside and only taking the film in as an entity in of itself I'm still left wanting. My biggest gripe is with the acting which, given the young actors experience, is unsurprisingly poor. However, each has established themselves firmly as their character. It's very hard to think of Harry Potter and not think of Daniel Radcliffe at this point. In the first film there was very limited acting given to the Hogwarts students, undoubtedly because of their inexperience. Instead, the first movie felt like a picture book, where most of the story telling was done through imagery rather than dialog. This film gives a bit more trust to the actors and the scenes are beginning to feel a bit more complete. Overall it was a good attempt to condense the book into a film under three hours, but it still felt a little cheap and a bit empty.
Rating: 3/5

Angels and Demons

2009-06-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: I hadn't read the book, so I approached 'Angels and Demons' with an open mind. It certainly isn't a perfect film, but overall it was an enjoyable action adventure. A sort of, slightly more intellectual, 'National Treasure'. A lot of the plot is fascinating, owing of course to the source material, but it did seem that some of it was dumbed down, and parts were over sensationalized, to fit the mold of a summer blockbuster. Ron Howard was very careful to tip toe around the potential controversy the film's subject could ignite and tried to stay as neutral as possible on religion. The entire premise can basically be broken down to the long standing debate of science versus religion, so the film certainly had the opportunity to spark some anger. The pandering to stay politically correct wasn't much of a detriment, but the fact that it was so obvious didn't do much to forward the plot either. The best part of the film is just taking in the beautiful locations which the film was shot in Rome. 'Angels and Demons' may not be a memorable movie, but it was entertaining, interesting and if nothing else, a nice bit of eye candy.
Rating: 4/5

Star Trek

2009-05-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: It seems to be the trend reboot popular franchises, setting a distinctively different style to the familiar material. 'Star Trek' continues this trend admirably. JJ Abrams creates an incredible ensemble cast which, while staying true to their roots, are fresh and undoubtedly their own. While the entire plot serves as a vehicle to reintroduce characters and explain the reboot, it none the less is exciting from beginning to end. The way in which they handle the reboot is very clever, clearly pandering to the fans of the original but should leave everyone happy. Every cast member is interesting in their own regard, and has set up their legacy in the franchise nicely. Taking on material as beloved as 'Star Trek' and coming out with something that feels new and quite capable of standing on its own, is an accomplishment. Regardless of whether or not you are a Star Trek fan, this is an enjoyable, exciting and all together well thought out summer movie.
Rating: 4/5

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2009-04-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2001
Review: The first chapter in the Harry Potter saga. Being a fan of books its hard to objectively review the films since I like the source material so well. It's hard not to fault the film for leaving out large chunks of the plot. The wonderfully detailed wizard world seemed to be truncated without all the small tidbits of information Rowling carefully worked into the books. Also missing was the inner dialog and subtle emotional queues the characters give which are spelled out for you in the book, and are largely lost on the very young cast. Important parts of the plot seemed to be glossed over with a quick montage and orchestral music. However, the film could not cover everything. Even with its liberal trimmings the film comes in at nearly two and a half hours. All things considered the film stays remarkably close to the book and successfully introduces the rich cast of characters and the imaginative wizarding world. In the end I appreciated the film, but wished there was less time spent on flashy scenes like the Quidditch match and more time spent on character development.
Rating: 3/5

Born Into Brothels

2009-04-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2004
Review: A documentary spotlighting the turmoil facing the kids who live in the red light districts of Calcutta. A group of children are given cameras and photography lessons and we get to know how amazing these children are, through their photos and their interviews, despite their abhorrent circumstances. The children aren't given much of a chance, despite their talents most boarding schools will not even contemplate taking them in because of their parents illegal profession. It is hard but to be overcome with sorrow over the plight of not only the children featured in this film, but those that are born into the poorest regions all of over the world. It's harsh reality that despite this documentary winning an Oscar, many of the children featured never make it out the red light district. It is a sad, but inspiring, peek into true poverty and the hope that can be found within it.
Rating: 4/5

The Sea Inside

2009-04-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2004
Review: Based on a true story about a quadriplegic, named Ramón Sampedro, 28 year campaign to end his own life. Javier Bardem gives a remarkable performance as Ramón, imbuing him with a charisma that makes us not want to see him die, which is an essential part of the film. While the film is emotional, and well acted it did get a bit dull. Unlike 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly', which deals with a similar situation, this film didn't keep me engaged. It felt a bit repetitive at parts, and never really stretched itself to make itself really gripping. However the right to die debate is handled wonderfully, and this film will make you think hard about your stance on it regardless of your side.
Rating: 3/5

My Father (Ma-i pa-deo)

2009-04-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2007 (Korea)
Review: This is an emotionally charged film from Korea based on a true story about an American adopted Korean man, James(Daniel Henney) , who joins the army in search of his birth parents. After being stationed in Korea he manages to locate his father who is on death row for murder. Through repeated visits to his father James learns to love him despite his past. The cast did a great job handling this emotional and sensitive subject. While the plot was interesting and engaging what I missed out on was the motivation behind Jame's actions. However, this is based on real events, so the film only had so much liberty. It also felt as though the film sacrificed itself in some areas in order to shove in some needless comical or overly emotional scene. I enjoyed the film, but can't give it a higher rating simply because I could not connect with the main character or understand his motivations.
Rating: 3/5

Do the Right Thing

2009-04-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1989
Review: A film full of visual style, painting a vivid, if not exaggerated, portrait of a 'typical' neighborhood in Brooklyn. Spike Lee uses vibrant colors and music and language that are full of style to create an array of interesting characters simply living their lives on a particularly hot day in the city. At the heart of this film are the racial tensions that drive the plot from beginning. This film is aptly named 'Do the Right Thing', but it is presented more as a question in the film rather than a statement. What is the right thing to do? Lee carefully constructs a brilliantly intense climatic scene in which the hatred that had been simmering all along finally erupts and the result will affect each viewer differently. Who was right and who was wrong, or if there is really a clear cut answer to that question is the essence of this film. Regardless of your opinion this film will evoke strong emotions and will make you question even your own stances on racial issues, and this is what makes this film so great.
Rating: 4/5

The Day The Earth Stood Still

2009-04-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: A remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic, 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' tries to market itself to a modern audience with state of the art special effects and a new message that would resonate with the current audience. The original film had an underlying messages about the cold war that was meant to speak to its generation. The current adaptation replaces these messages with the current crisis facing our environment. Unfortunately this message is far to heavy handed and preachy, coming off more as a green-peace propaganda piece, rather than a sci-fi blockbuster. Not only did it fail on delivering its message but it wasn't a fun movie either. If all you are looking for are aliens and explosions there are far better movies out there that will deliver it. The acting is painful, and the plot points felt generic and forced. It was if the film didn't know if it wanted to be a cerebral thriller with a message or a mindless alien flick with lots of eye candy and it ended up failing miserably at both. I admire its aim, but can't applaud its effort.
Rating: 2/5

Observe and Report

2009-04-11T23:07:00.000-07:00

Release Date: 2009
Review: A mall security cop with some serious mental issues gets obsessed with a girl and does anything to protect her. I had high hopes for 'Observe and Report' as I do with all movies starring Seth Rogen. Unfortunately this film largely missed the mark for me. It seemed like they were channeling 'Taxi Driver', complete with a monotone, self important narration given near the climax. Where it fails is that this is a comedy with extremely dark undertones, that doesn't generate the laughs. If a film is going to go in the direction of being overly offensive it had better deliver on humor, but for the most part this film did not. Instead of being funny it was more disturbing, which created an awkward feeling throughout the entire film. It was as if the film maker knew they had us trapped for the next two hours and they were just going to torture us by being as offensive as they possibly could. There were good ideas at the heart of it, but the writing was too weak to deliver. Sometimes less and is more, a point that was clearly overlooked while making this film.
Rating: 2/5

Fast & Furious

2009-04-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: I haven't seen the previous films in this series, so I had no connection to the prior plot lines or characters. There isn't much to this film. There are nice cars that people, who apparently have super-human driving abilities, race to do mostly nefarious activities. Not seeing the first one and not being a fan of cars I'm not the target audience for this movie. There is plenty of action and a paper thing plot. I think it accomplishes what it set out to do, which is to appeal to its large audience. If you liked the previous films you will probably like this one. If you didn't, or don't think this is your type of movie then don't expect to be surprised with a meaningful subplot.
Rating: 2/5

Ghost Town

2009-04-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2008
Review: Ricky Gervais stars in this comedy about a man who, after a brush with death, can communicate with all the ghosts who are stuck wandering around New York city with unfinished business. A man, Dr. Pincus, is miserable and doesn't get along with the society surrounding him. Because of an event (technically dieing) he is forced to meet a girl who breaks him out of his shell and he falls in love with her. This is a by-the-books romantic comedy, there is no doubt about it. Fortunately, despite the fact that this is very formulaic, Ricky Gervais is just bitter and sarcastic enough to provide many laugh out loud moments. There is nothing all too memorable about the film, but it is moderately funny and worth the watch if you're in the mood for a light, familiar feeling film, that will provide a few laughs.
Rating: 3/5

Wicker Park

2009-04-11T22:37:00.001-07:00

Release Year: 2004
Review: Wicker Park is a complicated plot of love and obsession that slowly unwinds before you. It follows Matt, a young, but successful man in search of his lost love. The plot is interesting, but can get convoluted at times. The biggest fault of the film is that it is ultimately too conventional. There was little ever doubt where it would eventually go. For most of the film the director plays up the tension of Matt almost coming in contact with his love interest, but falling just short. This is expected to happen so it loses some of the suspense. However, the acting was well done and story was compelling enough to make it an enjoyable film that explores the limits of what should be done in the name of love.
Rating: 4/5

Gremlins

2009-04-11T22:15:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1984
Review: One of my all time favorite monster movies and a classic 80's film, Gremlins shows us how adorable furry pets can terrorize a town. Feeding off the fears of foreign products in the United States, Gizmo is purchased from a Chinese junk dealer by a crackpot inventor as a gift for his son. Lacking the discipline needed for caring for the fluffy creature, the careless acts of the new owner spawns mutant forms of the pet which are out to kill everyone in the small town. If nothing else the sheer cuteness of Gizmo makes this film memorable. This is a hilarious monster movie that doesn't take itself too seriously with just the right mix of gore and wry humor.
Rating: 4/5

His Name Was Jason: 30 years of Friday the 13th

2009-04-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2009
Review: I remember watching the early Friday the 13th every Halloween and having nightmares for weeks after. Friday the 13th has always been my favorite slasher series with Jason representing everything a great monster should be. This is a television documentary that tries to sums up the entire run of the franchise with actor interviews and and plenty of of the best clips from the films. It was a nice look back at the films and certainly made me want to go and rewatch a few of them. One of the problems I had with it was that it tried to convince us that the franchise was a cohesive story with each film tying into the others, but this is clearly not the case. Friday the 13 is, and will always be, an exploitation film. The film makers weren't concerned about making a seamless sequel, they just wanted to make a few bucks and scare the audience. There is nothing wrong with this, its what we expect and is why we love them. This isn't a top rate documentary, and was clearly made for television, but is a good nostalgic watch.
Rating: 3/5

Postal

2009-04-11T21:59:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 2007
Review: Uwe Boll is back at it adapting yet another video game into a film and once again produces a colossal failure of anything resembling entertainment. I believe Uwe was trying to push the limits on what is considered decent and shock the viewers into entertainment. This might have worked out had it been more tongue in cheek, or at least been either funny or meaningful. Unfortunately all this film provides is the offensive without any of the laughs. I don't consider myself up-tight and enjoy my share of gross out or offensive humor, but there is none to be had here. It's not about Uwe crossing any lines or being offensive, there is just nothing there beyond that. This film has nothing going for it. There is no interesting plot to speak of, no laughs and the action is lacking. There is no reason to waste your time watching this garbage.
Rating: 1/5

Sweet and Lowdown

2009-04-11T21:15:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1999
Review: A mock documentary about the life of a gifted, yet flawed, jazz musician Emmet Ray. Woody Allen constructs this film in a way to make you believe that the story your seeing unfold is about a real person, where most of what he learn about Emmet is through Jazz lore that is often distorted and contradictory. This is a brilliant way to show that its not all about what happens, but how its remembered. Sean Penn gives a great performance as Emmet and Allen delivers one of his best films of the 90's in this heartfelt, and often very funny, film.
Rating: 4/5

Desperately Seeking Susan

2009-04-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Release Year: 1985
Review: A romantic comedy set in New York City in the 1980's, Desperately Seeking Susan follows the adventure of Roberta, a straight laced house wife who obsesses over the free spirited Susan. This film has the rare trait of being produced, written and directed by females giving a unique take on the familiar romantic comedy genre. Unfortunately the film never really pushes the bounds of the genre, seeming to not want to wander too far from the well worn path of so many similar films before it. Madonna and Rosanna Arquette both give strong performances, but weren't given enough to work with. There are some fun moments, but on a whole there were too many cliche scenarios and standard plot points to make this a great film.
Rating: 3/5

Annie Hall

2009-04-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Review: The greatest of Woody Allen's works. This cerebral comedy optimizes the post modernism that characterizes a majority of Allen's films. The quick, witty, dialog pops and the chemistry between Allen and Keaton is remarkable. It seems people either adore Allen's whiny, self deprecating humor, or love it and this film is no different. While a romantic comedy at its core, Allen breaks convention at every turn, turning the genre on its head. Stylistically and thematically it refuses to be boxed into a genre stereotype. Annie Hall strives to show that love is necessary, but ultimately a doomed concept. With his sarcastic quips and pessimistic, but brutally honest, outlooks on life, Woody Allen created an all time classic which set the bar for not only the rest of his films, but the genre itself.
Rating: 5/5

I Love You, Man

2009-03-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

Review: 'I Love You, Man" is a romantic comedy with a twist. The main relationship is the platonic friendship of two straight men. When Peter Klavin realizes he has no close friends he goes on a mission to find a best man for his wedding and stumbles into a friendship with Sydney. The film pairs the always likable Paul Rudd with Jason Segel for the third time. The film is written and directed by John Hamburg who also wrote 'Meet the Parents' and 'Zoolander', so the film had a lot in it's favor and it delivers. There is nothing groundbreaking in the execution and the plot doesn't have much to it, but the film is consistently funny. Rudd and Segel have a good comedic chemistry and just watching them fool around together is enjoyable. While it's not going to be the best comedy of the year, it also doesn't disappoint. It gets the laughs in.
Rating: 4/5

Taxi Driver

2009-03-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Review: One of my favorite movies, Taxi Driver is a compelling character study of Travis Bickle, played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro, who is an insomniac taxi driver who works the seedy sections of New York City at night. Travis is a complex character who seems to be caught up in his own world. He claims to be a Vietnam War vet, but whether or not this is true is never certain. Much of what Travis says and does is a lie, feeding his distorted view of reality. Travis doesn't connect with the society surrounding him and he describes himself as "God's lonely man". There is a strong presence of duality throughout the film. The two women in which he interacts with represents the two spectrums of Travis, an angelic political campain worker and a corrupted prostitute. What is right and wrong is blurred throughout this film and it is perfectly portrayed in the final act culminating in one of the most memorable climaxes in film. This is a true classic. A powerful character analysis that is hard to forget.
Rating: 5/5

The Purple Rose of Cairo

2009-03-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

Review: In the Purple Rose of Cairo, Mia Farrow plays Cecelia, a depression-era working women in an abusive marriage who escapes the hard times in reality by getting lost in movies. Woody Allen often uses fantastic elements in his films to materialize hypothetical situations on screen. In this film Allen employs this fable technique to bring to life a character from a film which Cecelia is infatuated with. The character literally walks out of the screen and whisks her away just like in the film world she is so in love with. Allen brilliantly, if not at times heavy handedly, weighs the pros and cons of fictional perfection against flawed reality. In the end it may not really matter. We are stuck in the real world and films are our great escape. This is a classic Woody Allen film and is among his best work.
Rating: 5/5

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father

2009-03-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Review: One of the most affecting films I have ever seen. I think it is best to go into this film as I did, knowing nothing of the material and simply letting the emotions roll over you as you watch this often devastating film. The range of emotions you experience from joy to anger, hatred and sadness is masterfully guided by film maker Kurt Kuenne. I can't recommend this film enough, it is a must watch documentary that will stay with you for a long time.
Rating: 5/5

My Best Fiend: Klaus Kinski

2009-03-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

Review: One of the my favorite parts of watching Herzog works is actually after the film ends when I go read up on the production of the film which inevitably is as exciting and interesting as the film itself. If Klaus Kinski was part of the cast then the production summary is sure to be that much more entertaining. Herzog cast Kinski, the borderline psychotic, but talented madman of an actor in five of his films. It is a testament to Kinski's talent that despite his behavior on set, which frequently included violence toward the crew, hours of hysteric tantrums, broken contracts and general hatred towards everyone, Herzog continued to cast him. In this bizarre love-hate relationship between the two, the duo completed some truly great films. It was if they fed off one another, each needing the other one no matter how much they didn't want that to be true. This is a fascinating documentary by Herzog and will give you a new appreciation for both Herzog and for Kinski.
Rating: 5/5

Alice

2009-03-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Review: Woody Allen is no stranger to using fantasy elements in his films and certainly does in this 'A Christmas Carol'-esque self exploration film about Alice, a wealthy housewife who begins to question her marriage to her husband. I didn't connect to this film as I often do with Allen works. I often felt Mia Farrow was borderline annoying playing the lead in Alice. With dialog as important and compelling as it is in Allen films, it was aggravating when Farrow would whisper her lines as she often did in what I felt was over playing the meekness in Alice. This is an interesting character study and I enjoyed it, but it didn't have the same biting dialog that I love about so many of Allen's films.
Rating: 3/5

The Godfather Part II

2009-03-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

Review: Taking a decidedly different tone then the first one, The Godfather Part II, is a parallel story of Vito Corleone's formation of the family and Michael Corleone's current leadership of the family. In the first film there was a sense of royalty among the family. Despite the fact they were in illegal businesses the family, for the most part, conducted themselves in such a way that they could be well liked, and above that, nothing was more important then family. In Part II it is clear a new era has come to the family. Where traditional Italian songs and traditions were carried out during the parties in the first film, this film there isn't an Italian in the band. Michael is far less rooted in his Italian past then Vito was. While Michael may be as intelligent as his father, he doesn't posses the same presence and certainly doesn't have the same values. He doesn't put family above all and isn't willing to trust even his closest friends. As a result, while the business might do well, his personal life slowly unravels. While the tone of the two films differ significantly, the theme is still the same. While a gangster film The Godfather Part II is still about family, with struggles that we the audience, who aren't in the mob, can identify with. So often a great films sequel squanders some of first film's greatness by not being able to live up to the expectations set by the first film. The Godfather Part II is not that kind of sequel. Part II lives up to the first film and is a must watch if you enjoyed the fist film.
Rating: 4/5

The Godfather

2009-03-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

Review: Considered one of Hollywood's best pictures and for good reason. Coppola makes a gangster film about family, where although the family might be doing unlawful things, they are true to themselves. This is a character driven film and each member of the family has their own powerful personality which drives the plot. There is a reason this film is loved by so many, it is nearly flawless and despite being nearly three hours it never gets boring.
Rating: 5/5

Bonnie and Clyde

2009-03-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Review: Bonnie and Clyde is one of the films that people point to as the start of the Golden Era of cinema; the Auteur Generation, where directors break free from studio constraints and start taking liberties with their own work. From the films first scene, a closeup of Faye Dunaway's lips, Arthur Penn starts breaking with the traditional way of shooting a film. While anyone can appreciate what the film meant for the future what really matters is if it still entertaining, and it certainly is. Bonnie and Clyde is a great adventure about the famous Barrow gang on the lam and robbing banks. The problem I had with the film is that it may take too many liberties and it almost feels like Penn wasn't sure of the mood he wanted to set. Much of the film is lighthearted and borderline slapstick at times, never really creating a momentous feeling of tension that one would expect from life on the run from the law. When the film does take a serious turn, the impact of it was lessened because of the nature beforehand. I lost sensitivity for the characters who took their illegal activities in such a carefree way that, when they did drop their air of being untouchable, I couldn't feel for them. Despite this, Bonnie and Clyde remains classic film that holds up over time.
Rating: 4/5

Watchmen

2009-03-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Review: Easily the most anticipated film of the first quarter of the year for me was Watchmen. Coming off the greatest super hero film of all time in 'The Dark Knight', I had high hopes for the film based on the nearly unanimous choice for best graphic novel. The film starts off promising with an impacting montage of an alternate time line of United States' famous events, thanks to a new breed of super heroes, more rooted in reality then most comic book heroes. Not having read the graphic novel I was experiencing this story with fresh eyes. Ultimately the biggest problem that I had with the film was the story itself. Zach Snyder did an incredible job creating a feel to this film that is uniquely his own. Over stylized action and gorgeous gore are Snyder's hallmarks and it fits this genre perfectly. There are scenes in this film that are so well executed you can't help but grin stupidly at what Snyder accomplishes. While I liked the film as a whole, the underlying story gets too pretentious and runs too long for me to rank it at the top of its genre. As good as some scenes are, there are just as many that fall flat and verge on uncomfortable. Another major fault to the film was the soundtrack. While I was a fan of all the songs played individually, they did not fit into the movie. The soundtrack should heighten a viewing experience not take you out of it as many of the songs that evoked laughter from the audience that I watched it with did. Overall Watchmen is an accomplishment for it's style and its obedience to the source material, for better or for worse.
Rating: 3/5

The future of this blog

2009-03-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

While created to track my attempt to watch all films before the Oscars, I will continue to post my short reviews to films that I see. These aren't so much reviews, so much as a few sentences briefly summing up my feelings on the film. I've been writing these for quite awhile and submitting them to Netflix mostly as a way to remember how I felt about films. I have a pretty poor memory and I found that I completely lost my memory on how I felt about films after a certain length of time. By writing these short reviews it helps me retain those thoughts and jog my memory if I want to revisit the film or recommend the film later on.

2009-02-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

The night is here. It's time to see if the Academy has chosen well. I fell a bit short of my goal to watch every film nominated, but I did manage 38 of the 50, with all the major categories completely covered. The documentary, foreign film and documentary shorts are hard to get a hold of. None the less I'm looking forward to watching this year's awards more than any others. Most years I complain that the pretentious Academy has only nominated small art films that no one likes. While it's true most people haven't seen most of the nominated films most do deserve their nominations and were quality films. I'm happy that the awards has exposed me to these films which I ordinarily would not have bothered to watch. Here are my picks for the 81st Academy Awards. My personal favorite picks are in blue, the choice that I think will win is in bold and films that I haven't seen are in red.

Best Picture
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Frost/Nixon
* Milk
* The Reader
* Slumdog Millionaire
Thoughts: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should not have been nominated and is the on the list where I would be upset if it one. The other films were very good and deserving of the nomination. I still would have liked to see The Wrestler, WALL-E, Rachel Getting Married or the Dark Knight get nominated, but given the choices Slumdog is the clear choice and is the choice I think the academy will go with.

Best Director
* Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
* Stephen Daldry – The Reader
* David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
* Gus Van Sant – Milk
Thoughts: I'm still disappointed that Christopher Nolan didn't get nominated, but given the choices of what I've seen, the award has to go to Boyle. Van Sant has a strong case, but I think Boye is most deserving over all and the academy will recognize this.

Best Actor
* Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
* Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
* Sean Penn – Milk
* Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Thoughts: This is the award I care most about. I'd be very disappointed if Rourke did not win this. Penn gave a fantastic performance, but this is Rourke's year.

Best Actress
* Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
* Angelina Jolie – Changeling
* Melissa Leo – Frozen River
* Meryl Streep – Doubt
* Kate Winslet – The Reader
Thoughts: Winslet gave a really great performance and I have no problem with her winning tonight as she probably will. I'm going with Hathaway though since she surprised me the most and I enjoyed her role. I also feel Rachel Getting Married deserves a win and this one makes the most sense. Again, I think Leo shouldn't have been nominated, I think there were more deserving actresses this year.

Best Supporting Actor
* Josh Brolin – Milk
* Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder
* Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
* Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
* Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road
Thoughts: I hope people don't think Ledger winning isn't just because of his death. He deserves this award.

Best Supporting Actress
* Amy Adams – Doubt
* Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
* Viola Davis – Doubt
* Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
Thoughts: I'm torn between Cruz and Henson, both gave great performances. That being said I'm picking Cruz since she meant the most to the film she was in. Viola Davis will probably win, but it's a mystery to me why. She was in her film for about five minutes. Amy Adam's perofrmance was annoying.

Best Original Screenplay
* WALL-E - Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter
* Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
* Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
* In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
* Milk - Dustin Lance Black
Thoughts: So many good films nominated in this category it's hard to pick just one. I don't think Milk will win best picture so I think it will get this as a consolation prize. My favorite is In Bruges, but given the competition it has next to no chance to win. The only one I don't want to see win Frozen River. It really wasn't all that great of a screen play.

Best Adapted Screenplay
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
* Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
* The Reader - David Hare
* Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy
* Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Thoughts: It is so hard to pick, but I think Slumdog deserves to win. However, I don't think it will Either the Reader or Doubt will, but I think Doubt will come away on top.

Best Animated Feature
* Bolt – Chris Williams and Byron Howard
* Kung Fu Panda – Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
* WALL-E – Andrew Stanton
Thoughts: Not really much of a competition here.

Best Foreign Language Film
* Revanche (Austria) in German - Götz Spielmann
* The Class (France) in French - Laurent Cantet
* The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) in German
* Departures (Japan) in Japanese
* Waltz with Bashir (Israel) in Hebrew - Ari Folman
Thoughts: I've only seen two of the nominated films, so it's a bit tough to choose. Both Waltz and Revanche were very good films. Waltz has the momentum from winning the Golden Globes however, so I think it will win. On a personal level I'd like to see Revanche get the win a bit more. The Class is also a strong contender.

Best Animated Short
* La Maison En Petits Cubes - Kunio Kato
* Lavatory - Lovestory - Konstantin Bronzit
* Oktapodi - Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
* Presto - Doug Sweetland
* This Way Up - Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes
Thoughts: The only short I couldn't get my hands on was La Maison En Petis Cubes. My personal favorites were Oktapodi and Presto. Given the two I give Presto the slight edge. The one I liked the least, 'This Way Up' will probably come away with the award.

Best Art Direction
* Changeling – James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
* The Dark Knight – Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
* The Duchess – Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
* Revolutionary Road – Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt
Thoughts: The best part of Benjamin Button was the art and makeup. Therefore, I'm picking it for most of the art awards.

Best Cinematography
* Changeling – Tom Stern
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Claudio Miranda
* The Dark Knight – Wally Pfister
* The Reader – Chris Menges, Roger Deakins
* Slumdog Millionaire – Anthony Dod Mantle
Thoughts: Slumdog was beautifully shot, and the look of it stuck in my mind more than the rest of the nominated films.

Best Costume Design
* Australia – Catherine Martin
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Jacqueline West
* The Duchess – Michael O'Connor
* Milk – Danny Glicker
* Revolutionary Road – Albert Wolsky
Thoughts: I hate to pick this film for best costume, since the period films always seem to win this award... but given the subject, its only fitting that this film wins this award.

Best Documentary Feature
* Nerakhoon (The Betrayal)
* Encounters at the End of the World
* The Garden
* Man on Wire
* Trouble the Water
Thoughts: Given that I thought Man on Wire was one of the best films of the year period I feel secure in picking it as best documentary. If any other were to win I hope its Encounters at the End of the World, not only because its the only other one that I saw, but because Herzog is amazing.

Best Documentary Short
* The Conscience of Nhem En – Steven Okazaki
* The Final Inch
* Smile Pinki
* The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306
Thoughts: Unfortunately I couldn't find any of the nominated short documentaries to watch. So my pick is a slightly educated guess.

Best Film Editing
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall
* The Dark Knight – Lee Smith
* Frost/Nixon – Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley
* Milk – Elliot Graham
* Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens

Best Live Action Short
* On the Line (Auf der Strecke)
* Manon On the Asphalt
* New Boy
* The Pig (Grisen)
* Toyland (Spielzeugland)
Thoughts: I'm excited for this catagory for the first time since starting to watch the awards. Manon On the Asphalt and On the Line were two of my favoites from the list. I think On the Line will win, but my pick is Manon. Toyland is also a strong contender.

Best Makeup
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Greg Cannom
* The Dark Knight – John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
* Hellboy II: The Golden Army – Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Best 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

Best Original Song
* "Down to Earth" from WALL-E – Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman (music), Peter Gabriel (lyrics)
* "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman (music), Gulzar (lyrics)
* "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman and M.I.A.

Best Sound Editing
* The Dark Knight – Richard King
* Iron Man – Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
* Slumdog Millionaire – Tom Sayers
* WALL-E – Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
* Wanted – Wylie Stateman

Best Sound Mixing
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
* The Dark Knight – Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick
* Slumdog Millionaire – Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
* WALL-E – Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
* Wanted – Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt

Best Visual Effects
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
* The Dark Knight – Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin
* Iron Man – John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick, Shane Mahan

Australia

2009-02-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

Review: Australia is a film that tries to be too big and too grand for it's own good. Attempting to be a sprawling epic, all that the film manages to do is be rambling, corny and nearly painful to watch. There are times when directors make use of slow motion and bombastic music in climatic scenes. Someone needs to take this technique away from Baz Luhrmann as he started using it in what seemed like the first scene and in nearly every scene following. Each scene seemed over produced, over acted and featured dialog not fit for a cheap romance novel. This could be forgiven if there was something to grasp onto in the plot, however it was too all over the place to get anything out of. It could have easily been two completely seperate films with little connection to one another. The first half the film, about cattle driving, is effusively dull. Before that story arch can even come to a reasonable conclusion it is suddenly made completely obsolete by an entirely different story which the first half largely ignored. The one good thing that can be recovered from this mess is that it's pretty to look at. Australia is a beautiful country and it is shot well. The visuals alone are not enough to make this film watchable however. Australia fails at being an epic or any other kind of enjoyable movie.
Rating: 1/5

Award Consideration: Mercifully Australia is only up for best costume design. The costumes were fine, but nothing that special. It shouldn't win this award.

Encounters at the End of the World

2009-02-18T06:06:00.001-08:00

Review: This is a Herzog documentary so it goes without saying that it is beautifully shot and conceived. Encounters at the End of the World is more then just a visually pleasing exhibition of "fluffy penguins" (as Herzog puts it), it is an analysis of the people that live on the research bases in Antarctica and what motivates them to endure the frigid conditions. The group that does occupy the frozen continent turn out to be fascinating people. Most are highly educated, and seemingly all of them are world travelers looking for a new adventure. You know you have a peculiar living environment when there are PHDs as dish washers. This is both ,breathtaking to look at and intellectually stimulating. Another altogether well made film by Werner Herzog.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: Despite the fact that this is a very well made documentary and that Herzog is one of my favorite filmmakers, I'm still going to have to go with Man on Wire as the best documentary. It brought more to the table then Encounters, and created a more coheasive story from start to end.

Waltz With Bashir

2009-02-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

Review: The Israeli animated documentary, nominated for an academy award for best foreign film, is about the filmmaker's quest to regain his memories about the Lebanon war he fought in twenty years earlier. The use of animation to convey his story is genius since this film is more about memories and how people interpret events of the past than anything else. Much of the filmmaker's, and the people he interview's, memories are skewed and distorted, or blown out of proportion. Animation allows us to witness events how they remember it, or how they felt when they experienced it. The surreal, dreamlike, vignettes are in stark comparison to the brutal events that the filmmaker was fortunate enough to block from his memory. The brutal massacre which is the focal point of the film is a tragic act and leaves no wonder why anyone would want to erase the events from their memory. Waltz with Bashir is a beautiful film with an austere message about war and the nature of our memories.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: Although I enjoyed the film a lot, I'm still going with Revanche in this catagory if for no other reason than to root for the underdog. Both are very good films, and Waltz with Bashir already won the Golden Globe. It would be nice for Revanche to get some recognition.

Revanche

2009-02-17T06:04:00.000-08:00

Review: The Austrian film, nominated for an academy award for best foreign film, is a dynamic examination of grief, guilt and revenge. Alex, a petty criminal decides to rob a bank so that he and his lover, a prostitute, can escape together. The consequences of the robbery are an intricate and compelling weave of character plot lines. The film is a great character study, with multiple layers of emotional complexity. This is a fantastic film that should not be over looked.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: So far the best of the nominated foreign films that I've seen. It could win since last year's winner, The Counterfeiters, was also an Austrian film.

Bolt

2009-02-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

Review: A Disney film that lacked the magic and timeless charm that so many of it's past works have produced. At best Bolt is a sub-par CG crank out. There is nothing much to the plot, and no profound underlying message. The voice acting by John Travolta was distractingly out of place. The voice did not fit the cute, pint sized dog which is Bolt at all and threw the vibe off kilter each time he spoke. There are some adorable scenes, mostly involving Bolt's ball-of-fury hamster sidekick Rhino, but on a whole its forgettable.
Rating: 2/5

Award Consideration: It was hardly worthy of a nomination. Both WALL-E and Kung Fu Panda are far better films.

Rachel Getting Married

2009-02-15T18:29:00.000-08:00

Review: About Kym,a former model who has been in and out of rehab battling substance abuse, coming back home to attend her sister's wedding. Not knowing anything about this film you might think that it's another romantic comedy from the title, but it's so much more than that. The tension and emotion that this film exudes is striking. Kym is a complex character and is played perfectly by Anne Hathaway displaying a mix of angst and tenderness in her performance. Always seeking to be the center of attention, she tries to make every part of the wedding about her, and the frustration of loving her and hating her illness brings her family to the breaking point. The brutally awkward scenes of family fights are offset by equally powerful scenes of a caring family supporting their loved one. Dealing with the complicated matter of a, normal, loving family dealing with the tragedy of drug addiction is no easy task, but this film pulls it off in a way that feels absolutely earnest and manages it without being bleak or depressing.
Rating: 5/5

Award Consideration: Only up for one award, I think it's getting short changed. In addition to getting a nomination for best actress, a best original screen play nod is also deserved. None the less I'm going with Anne Hathaway for best actress. This is a bit of surprise for me since I've never been much of a fan. While her performance may not be any better than some of the others nominated, its also no worse and this film deserves some award.

Happy-Go-Lucky

2009-02-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

Review: Sally Hawkins plays an endlessly optimistic, peppy, and all around happy 30 year old, single, elementary school teacher fittingly named Poppy. Throughout the film Poppy is tested in her unwavering joy by the tragedies and hardships that afflict us all in every day life. Normally I find the Poppy's of the world irritating, as do many of the characters Poppy meets in the film, but there is something endearing and charming about the simplicity and naivety in which she lives her life. She isn't mean spirited, jaded or has any ulterior motive for her disposition. Her cheerfulness is just her way of life. The film also doesn't make her out to be a saint, while she is a good person, she does have her flaws. At first her high spirits can be grating, but just like the, grumpy, anti-social driving instructor (brilliantly played by Eddie Marsan), you can't help but fall in love with her quirky aura. This was a refreshing film to watch and reminds us not to take life so seriously. If nothing else, it should leave you in a good mood.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: It's only nominated for best original screen play, and I don't think it will take this award. It was a cute story, but not award worthy. Sally Hawkins had a lot of buzz for her performance and many thought she was snubbed for a best actress nomination. I would have put her in over Melissa Leo, but I don't think she should have won this category even if she had been nominated.

Doubt

2009-02-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

Review: For the most part Doubt missed the mark, never going beyond a mediocre drama that seemed to hold the hand of the viewer, forcing emotions rather than guiding. Perhaps it's because it's based on a play, but Doubt felt boxed in and overly controlled, preventing me from connecting with it in any meaningful way. It's not that its a bad film, there is a strong message at its heart, but its not one of the best film of the year. A few of the scenes between Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep are powerful and memorable, but on a whole the film left me wanting more of those scenes and less of the cold, somber drabble that filled most of the rest of the movie.
Rating: 3/5

Award Consideration: Doubt is nominated for five awards, though it shouldn't come away with any wins. Meryl Streep is the most deserving of the nominees, giving another great performance. I, however, wouldn't put it above Kate Winslet's performance in The Reader. Phillip Seymour Hoffman also got a nomination for best supporting actor which seemed like a stretch considering the role seemed more like leading one. However, despite a good performance, this years supporting actor award goes to Heath Ledger.

The final three nominations I think are undeserved. I thought the biggest fault with the film is that it felt too trapped by its play roots, and I think the blame lies in a bad adaptation. Considering this, I think the nomination for best adapted screenplay is unjustified. The two nominations it received for best supporting actress also are a stretch. Viola Davis is in the film for about five mintues, and while she does a fine job, there is nothing overly remarkable about her performance. Amy Adams performance I felt was one of the worst in the film, with her 'innocent nun' role feeling a bit over the top and borderline annoying.

The Reader

2009-02-06T05:52:00.000-08:00

Review: About a young, innocent, boy who has an affair with an older woman and the effect that it has on both their lives, The Reader is an impassioned story that challenges the bounds of love. The film almost seemed as if it were two movies, with the tone dramatically changing in the second half. The plot point that causes this shift is provoking and unsettling-- exactly how it was meant to be portrayed. The agony of the love and hurt that Michael Berg, played by Ray Fiennes and David Kross, experiences is palpable. The affair between he and Hanna, played by Kate Winslet, felt authentic and seeing this relationship irreversibly torn is affecting. Although not without its flaws, the brilliant performance by Kate Winslet and the genuine emotions that this film evokes makes it worth the watch.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: While worthy of the best picture nomination, it doesn't beat out Slumdog or even Milk. I didn't feel it brought anything overly special to the table, it was simply a very well made film. Kate Winslet, however, redeemed herself from what I felt was a poor performance in Revolutionary Road, with a great performance here. As of now, I'd put her as the front runner for best actress.

Stephen Daldry is nominated for best director, and is certainly deserving of the nomination, delicately constructing this emotional love story. However, for the same reasons that I don't think it should win for best picture, I don't think Daldry should get the Oscar. Both Boyle and Van Sant do more with their films and had more to manage.

Two other awards I don't feel The Reader should grab which it is nominated for are best cinematography best adapted screenplay. I didn't feel it was an especially pretty film, so the cinematography award doesn't seem to fit. I haven't read the books for any of the films nominated for best adapted screenplay, so all I can go by is how much I enjoyed the film. Therefore, I'm sticking with Slumdog for this award as well.

Milk

2009-02-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

Review: An inspiring, yet tragic film about the gay politician Harvey Milk. The great ensemble cast led by a truly remarkable performance by Sean Penn drives this film. The unique characters brought to life by the talented supporting cast draws you in and makes you feel vested in Milk's cause. Gus Van Sant comes through and breaks free from the monotony that biopics tend to fall into and delivers a fine tribute to an inspiring person.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: Milk is nominated for eight awards and should probably take home at least one. Perhaps in any other year I'd pick Sean Penn for best actor, but this year Mickey Rourke's performance is an insurmountable. I also don't think this is the best film of the year. It's a great film, unquestionably, but not the best. Slumdog Millionaire is still the best of the nominated bunch, and I'm going to stick with it for best picture, with Milk coming in at second.

I do think that the best directing award should go to Gus Van Sant. Sant's work is a little all over the place for me. I loved Good Will Hunting and really disliked the critically acclaimed Paranoid Park. In Milk, Sant reined in a potentially messy movie with a big name cast and made it work. Boyle did a great job with Slumdog, but I'd give a slight edge to Sant for best director.

Josh Brolin is a bit of a mystery to me for best supporting actor, since I don't think he was even the best supporting actor in the movie. He was decent, but not all too memorable.

The screenplay for Milk was fine, but I'd have a hard time giving best original screenplay to a biopic. I'm also a bit confused on why its nominated for best costume design. The costumes seemed pretty mundane and by the books. These two nominations seemed more like acclamation padding than anything.

This leaves best editing and score. It takes a lot for me to actually recognize a deserving winner in either of these categories and Milk really didn't stand out for me in either. However I might go with it for best score if for no other reason than Danny Elfman is amazing in general.

The Visitor

2009-02-05T05:56:00.001-08:00

Review: Writer/Director Thomas McCarthy's second film, and much like his first, Station Agent, this film is simple, quiet and full of emotion. About a college professor who, lonely and morose after the death of his wife, inadvertently gets dislodged from his monotonous rut when he visits his New York City apartment only to find two illegal immigrants occupying it. Despite the lack of effusive dialog the the film crackles with life by the great acting and hypnotic African drumming. McCarthy has a way of communicating so much while saying so little. The anger and pity this film evokes over the injustice in immigration laws in this country is remarkable.
Rating: 4/5

Award Consideration: Richard Jenkins is up for best actor in the only Oscar this film is nominated for. He is very good, but the role isn't anything too challenging. I would have preferred to see Haaz Sleiman get a nomination for best supporting actor, but It's nice to see Jenkins get nominated if for no other reason than to get this film some deserved recognition. Jenkins won't, and shouldn't, get the win however. There are far more deserving nominees this year.

2009 Academy Awards -- My picks

2009-02-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

My goal is to watch every nominated film this year prior the Oscars. Hopefully I'll get to enjoy the show a bit more knowing who actually deserves to win. It's a bit of heady task, but I've got a fairly good start. I at least want to watch all the nominated films in the major categories. I'll update the blog as I watch the remaining films, but my list so far (films I've not seen colored red, my pick in blue):

Best Picture
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Frost/Nixon
* Milk
* The Reader
* Slumdog Millionaire
Thoughts: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button shouldn't even be on this list where more deserving films like The Wrestler, The Dark Knight and WALL-E could have been. It's a bit tough to call right now since I still need to see two of the nominated films, but right now, Slumdog Millionaire is the clear winner. Frost/Nixon was a very good film, but not worthy of an Oscar.

Best Director
* Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
* Stephen Daldry – The Reader
* David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
* Gus Van Sant – Milk
Thoughts: I'm still disappointed that Christopher Nolan didn't get nominated, but given the choices of what I've seen, the award has to go to Boyle. Fincher's direction was the worst thing about Benjamin Button, if he wins its for his past work, not this one. While I liked Frost/Nixon, Howard didn't really do anything all that great-- I feel this was just a token nomination.

Best Actor
* Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
* Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
* Sean Penn – Milk
* Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler
Thoughts: Rourke should win this hands down. While I have yet to see Penn's Milk, it would take a lot to dethrown Rourke, who I felt gave one of the better performances of the decade.

Best Actress
* Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
* Angelina Jolie – Changeling
* Melissa Leo – Frozen River
* Meryl Streep – Doubt
* Kate Winslet – The Reader
Thoughts: Kind of slim picking here. The most talked about performances I haven't seen yet. That leaves Leo and Jolie. I really didn't like Frozen River all that much and thought Leo's performance was a little forced. Jolie did a decent job, not Oscar worthy, but for now I guess I'm forced to pick her. I'm kind of suprised that Sally Hawkins from Happy-Go-Lucky wasn't nominated, as she had a lot of buzz leading up to the nominations. I haven't seen the film, but she had to have been better than Leo or Jolie.

Best Supporting Actor
* Josh Brolin – Milk
* Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder
* Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
* Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
* Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road
Thoughts: While Michael Shannon was the only good thing about Revolionary Road, there is no doubt who this award should go to.

Best Supporting Actress
* Amy Adams – Doubt
* Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
* Viola Davis – Doubt
* Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
Thoughts: Of the three performances I've seen they were all good performances, but none really stood out as a clear winner. I'm picking Cruz mostly because I liked film more so than her performance.

Best Original Screenplay
* WALL-E - Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter
* Happy-Go-Lucky - Mike Leigh
* Frozen River - Courtney Hunt
* In Bruges - Martin McDonagh
* Milk - Dustin Lance Black
Thoughts: While I loved WALL-E, I think In Bruges was a bit over looked and one of my favorite films of the year. I'd be great to see it win here. That said.. How was Woody Allen not nominated this year? He is always nominated in this category and for once it was actually deserving.

Best Adapted Screenplay
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
* Frost/Nixon - Peter Morgan
* The Reader - David Hare
* Slumdog Millionaire - Simon Beaufoy
* Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
Thoughts: Doubt is a strong candidate to over take my choice here.

Best Animated Feature
* Bolt – Chris Williams and Byron Howard
* Kung Fu Panda – Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
* WALL-E – Andrew Stanton
Thoughts: WALL-E should have been nominated for best picture, but it will run away with best animated feature.

Best Foreign Language Film
* Revanche (Austria) in German - Götz Spielmann
* The Class (France) in French - Laurent Cantet
* The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) in German
* Departures (Japan) in Japanese
* Waltz with Bashir (Israel) in Hebrew - Ari Folman
Thoughts: Still kind of disappointed that "Let the Right one In" wasn't nominated. I have a few of these films lined up to be watched, but until then I can't pick anyhing.

Best Animated Short
* La Maison En Petits Cubes - Kunio Kato
* Lavatory - Lovestory - Konstantin Bronzit
* Oktapodi - Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
* Presto - Doug Sweetland
* This Way Up - Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes
Thoughts: The only one I've seen... I plan on knocking out a lot of these shorts this weekend. Presto was good as all Pixar shorts are. I want to give the rest a fair viewing though.

Best Art Direction
* Changeling – James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
* The Dark Knight – Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
* The Duchess – Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
* Revolutionary Road – Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt
Thoughts: The best part of Benjamin Button was the art and makeup. Therefore, I'm picking it for most of the art awards.

Best Cinematography
* Changeling – Tom Stern
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Claudio Miranda
* The Dark Knight – Wally Pfister
* The Reader – Chris Menges, Roger Deakins
* Slumdog Millionaire – Anthony Dod Mantle
Thoughts: Slumdog was beautifully shot, and the look of it stuck in my mind more than the rest of the nominated films.

Best Costume Design
* Australia – Catherine Martin
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Jacqueline West
* The Duchess – Michael O'Connor
* Milk – Danny Glicker
* Revolutionary Road – Albert Wolsky
Thoughts: I hate to pick this film for best costume, since the period films always seem to win this award... but given the subject, its only fitting that this film wins this award.

Best Documentary Feature
* Nerakhoon (The Betrayal)
* Encounters at the End of the World
* The Garden
* Man on Wire
* Trouble the Water
Thoughts: I've only seen one, but given that I thought Man on Wire was one of the best films of the year period I feel secure in picking it as best documentary.

Best Documentary Short
* The Conscience of Nhem En – Steven Okazaki
* The Final Inch
* Smile Pinki
* The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Best Film Editing
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall
* The Dark Knight – Lee Smith
* Frost/Nixon – Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley
* Milk – Elliot Graham
* Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens

Best Live Action Short
* On the Line (Auf der Strecke)
* Manon On the Asphalt
* New Boy
* The Pig (Grisen)
* Toyland (Spielzeugland)

Best Makeup
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Greg Cannom
* The Dark Knight – John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
* Hellboy II: The Golden Army – Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Best 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

Best Original Song
* "Down to Earth" from WALL-E – Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman (music), Peter Gabriel (lyrics)
* "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman (music), Gulzar (lyrics)
* "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman and M.I.A.

Best Sound Editing
* The Dark Knight – Richard King
* Iron Man – Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
* Slumdog Millionaire – Tom Sayers
* WALL-E – Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
* Wanted – Wylie Stateman

Best Sound Mixing
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
* The Dark Knight – Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick
* Slumdog Millionaire – Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty
* WALL-E – Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
* Wanted – Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt

Best Visual Effects
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
* The Dark Knight – Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin
* Iron Man – John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick, Shane Mahan