The Movies I Have Seen That Are Nominated For Best Picture

I have seen 8 out of the 10 movies that are nominated for best picture.  I actually enjoyed 5 out of those 8 movies.

Here are the movies that I enjoyed:
I loved The King's Speech because of the acting and the story.  Colin Firth did a phenomenal job making us believe that he actually had a stammer.  Geoffry Rush is at his best when he plays quirky intellectual characters like the one he played in this movie.  It was uncomfortable  watching this man try so hard to make these speeches while paralyzed with fear as all of these horrible people just stare at him like he was some kind of freak.  I would definitely recommend this movie.

The Fighter was also successful because of the cast and the storyline.  It's too bad that Christian Bale was nominated for the supporting role because his performance was the best of all.  It was heartbreaking to watch this guy just screw up his life and blow his only shot in making something of himself because of his drug addiction.  I had a physical reaction to how this family treated Mark Wahlberg's character.  They were only looking out for themselves and didn't give a crap about him or what he wanted.  Lately all of these movies about Massachusetts haven't exactly portrayed the commonwealth in a very good light which is sad because it's actually pretty great there. I would recommend this movie.

Despite my husbands crush on Natalie Portman I enjoyed Black Swan.  There were many parts that made me pretty uncomfortable, but none of them as much as when Mila's character went down on Natalie's character.  I enjoyed this story, even having to watching this young lady drive herself crazy.  Natalie and Barbra Hershey's relationship freaked me out.  It was definitely one of the creepiest mother/daughter relationship's that I've seen in a movie.  To me Natalie didn't look healthy in this movie.  You could see her ribs and she just looked sickly.  Mila on the other hand looked great.  She dropped 20 lbs for this movie and had a bunch of injuries.  I would recommend this movie.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was watching Inception and I didn't even notice that it was two and a half hours long.  I read a lot of reviews about this movie before I went to go see it which made me nervous that the subject matter would go right over my head, but I kept up with it the whole time.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt is turning out to be one of my favorite actors.  Who would of thought that the kid from 3rd Rock From the Sun would grow up to be such a great actor.  I have really enjoyed every Christopher Nolan film I have seen and this one tops that list.  He is a genius and I'm sure that all of his future movies will be just as great or better.  I recommend that everyone rent this movie and really pay attention while watching it.

This Toy Story installation was the best one in my opinion.  It was kind of dark and I could see how kids could have gotten scared by watching this movie.  I loved the part when Buzz's switch got turned to Spanish and he was trying to seduce the cowgirl.  I think that I enjoy cartoons more now then I did as a kid.

Here are the movies that I didn't care too much for:

The Kids Are Alright was not as profound as everyone keeps saying it was.  It was a good movie, but I don't think it deserved to be nominated for Best Picture.  Annette Bening was great, as she usually is.  I am so tired of seeing Julianne Moore naked.  She needs to keep it zipped!!!

True Grit was entertaining, but it is not Oscar Worthy.  I thought it was okay, but I could of skipped it.

The Social Network was actually a good movie, but I have a problem with movies that are about actual people. You're never really sure if any of the content is really true because it was not authorized by the person that the movie is about.  I do like Jesse Eisenberg and, from what I can tell, his awkward portrayal of the Facebook guy was pretty spot on.  I just don't think that it should have been nominated.

I haven't seen The Winter's Bone and 127 Hours so I can't comment about them.

I will post about the winners later.

I Will See Anything With Annette Bening In It

Mother and Child is a wonderful independent film about three woman and the different trials and tribulations that they go through.  You really feel for Annette Bening's character because she didn't get the love and attention that she needed as a child nor as an adult from her mother. She was also guilted into doing something she wasn't ready to do.  As a result of the events that happened to her she turns into a bitter, socially awkward and mean adult who doesn't have any idea how to navigate through her own life.  Naomi Watts plays a damaged woman who was given up for adoption as a baby and because of this resents women and doesn't ever want to have a child of her own.  She preys on men that are unavailable because she is a commitment-phobe and uses her sexuality in any way she can as over them.  Kerry Washington plays a woman who desperately wants to be a mother but can't conceive.  She lets this desire blind her from everything else in her life, even the fact that she might not have what it takes for, or even like, motherhood.  I would recommend this movie.

Owen Wilson's Career Is In The Crapper

Hall Pass had some funny moments, but mostly sucked.  Jason Sudeikis and Owen Wilson (nice pleated pants!!!) played two dorks that couldn't get laid if their lives depended on it.  How they got the their wives in the first place is beyond me.  Christina Applegate was a total bitch and Jenna Fischer was way too tan.  A hall pass in a marriage is the stupidest idea I have ever heard of.  Just call it what it really is: cheating because you feel neglected in your marriage, from the woman's prespective, and because you think that your missing out on something, from the man's.  If you need a hall pass from your marriage then you probably shouldn't have gotten married in the first place and you need to realize that you probably don't really love your spouse.  Don't waste your money on this movie, it's not that great.

Support Independent Movies

As you can tell from reading my blogs, I absolutely love Indie Movies.  I think that Indies are better than the box office smashes that you can find at your local multiplex because they usually have better content and acting.  I love how Indies are not afraid to tell it like it is and deal with topics that might be considered taboo to most people.  I also love how actors and actresses who do Indies tend to show more range and really want to capture the character they are portraying.

  The Independent Spirit Awards are on tonight on IFC at 7:00.  I think that everyone needs to watch this awards show because that is the only way you will find out about some of the great movies out there that didn't have a huge budget - or that spent it on special effects.  Also, this awards show is so laid back and more entertaining.  The actors and actresses dress very casually and they tend to show what their true fashion style is.  The show is hilarious and it's not some overly scripted, stuffy event like the Oscars.  People joke and  it seems that they are encouraged to just be themselves. 

I think that everyone should seek out as many Independent movies as possible and support the Arts.

I Love Period Movies

I have been sick on the couch for the past seven days and have watched a variety of movies.  It just dawned on me that four of the movies I watched were period pieces.  That prompted me to look through my movie collection and I noticed I own a lot of movies that are set in "times of old".  For some reason I really enjoy watching movies that are usually set in England and are between 1700 and the early 1900's.  I watched Pride and Prejudice, Young Victoria, The Girl With the Pearl Earring and Becoming Jane.


These kinds of movies fascinate me.  I love learning about how people lived back then. I find the trials and tribulations that people went through - because of the family they were born in to -  so tragic.  In Pride and Prejudice the girls are born into an unfortunate situation and the men that fall for them have to make a decision to love them regardless of their station in life.  In The Girl With the Pearl Earring this girl is practically sold to a rich family as a servant so that her family, including her blind father, can have some money.

I will continue to love period movies and I do recommend that others watch them because they teach you something about history and they have great love stories.

A Little Movie Out Of Australia

The movie is Boy A. I liked this movie because it shows how you can never really outrun your past.  You can try your hardest to start over, but it will never work until you deal with the things that are haunting you from your past.  It also shows how hard it is for social workers, and most people that are in social services, to separate their work from their personal lives.   It stars Andrew Garfield (the new Spiderman) and I think he did a great job in this movie.  He does a great job at playing a guy who seems so innocent and shy, but has been involved in some very unsavory things in his past.  I would recommend this movie.

Watch A Movie Where Kristen Stewart Looks Like A Dirty Skank

Kristen Stewart looks like she is just oozing with STDs in Welcome to the Rileys.  She's Bella all over again, if Bella were a stripper with a daddy complex who cusses like a sailor.  The other two main actors in this movie are James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo. They both do a good job.  James is kind of a "Sopranos guy", rough around the edges and doesn't communicate very well, but he tries his hardest to play the guy who is really trying to help a screwed up little girl.  Melissa Leo is very underrated.  She is a great actress.  You really feel for her in this role of a heart-broken woman who's guilt nearly ruined her marriage and prevented her from living in reality.  I can't say that I recommend this movie.  It was okay, I guess. 

Prepare to Sob While Watching LIKE DANDELION DUST

There are only a handful of movies that are guaranteed to make me cry.  One is Dumbo; when little Dumbo goes to see his mother while she is in jail and she rocks him with her trunk through the bars.  Another is She's Having A Baby; when Elizabeth McGovern's character experiences complications while giving birth and no one tells Kevin Bacon's character what's going on. Meanwhile that song is playing about all the things this couple should have done together before it's too late.  This movie can be added to this list.  I cried twice during this movie.  What happens to the family in this movie is so sad. What's worse, they have no control over it at all.  And this poor, sweet, innocent little boy has his whole life ripped apart at such a young age.  Mira Sorvino does a good job playing the small-town woman that, for some reason, sees something in this man that no one else can see. So she keeps giving him chance after chance to redeem himself. Barry Pepper plays a very convincing ex-con that so desperately wants to be a different, reformed man but just can't seem to keep his past behaviors from reoccurring.  I would recommend this movie, but be prepared to be sad and maybe a little depressed.

To My Editor

I would like to take this time to give a big thanks to my editor, my husband. Without you I wouldn't be able to put together a grammatically correct sentence.  Thanks Gary!!!

An 80's Movie That is Now a TV Show

 In 1989 a movie called Parenthood was released starring Steve Martin.  It has now been turned into a show which fairly resembles the movie. I really like it and here's why:  I do like that there are resemblances between the movie and the show, but the differences are what make it great.  I love that there is some sort of dysfunction in all of the families.  It's also great that no matter how much they annoy each other the family sticks together and the individuals truly love one another.  I also think they did a great job in casting this show.  I loved Peter Krause in Six Feet Under as the "lost" son and now he does a great job as the "responsible" son on this show.  I used to love Gilmore Girls, so I assumed that I would love Lauren Graham in this role.  I was wrong.  The more I watch the show the more I can't stand her character Sarah - which makes me want to watch the show even more.  Who would have thought that Dax Shepard would be on a successful show?  It's only because he is playing the typical character that he always plays, the irresponsible guy who is struggling with the fact that he has to grow up and act like an adult.  I recommend this show because it has great story lines and I think that you will enjoy it.

THE ROMANTICS

A couple months ago I read a book called The Romantics and I really enjoyed the story.  Then I found out they were making a movie of the book and I was curious about whether the movie would live up to the book.  I watched the movie today and it was... okay.  Of course the book was more detailed and I think that it really captured the pain and anguish that the characters were going through better than the movie did.  It may be because of some of the casting.  I don't think Josh Duhamel was a good choice for Tom.  He is just not believable as an ivy-league intellectual who speaks so eloquently (I'm guessing that he didn't understand some of the dialogue that he used in this movie; and side note: why do people still let him act?).  Katie Holmes did a good job and fit the bill as Laura.  She captured the pain that Laura was going through in the book.  Anna Paquin also did a good job as Lila.  She showed some more range then just playing a vampire-lover (...SOOKIE!!!).  Overall I would recommend that you read the book over seeing the movie, but if you hate to read you might as well see this movie.

I Enjoy Watching Movies Over and Over Again

I have now watched Going The Distance five times and I will probably watch it a million more times.  Romantic comedies are my bread and butter...well, if I were actually paid for my opinions!  This one also adds in just enough cussing and dirtiness (which I love).  Drew Barrymore kind of always plays the same character, but in this movie she varies a little. Her character is the type of girl that isn't afraid to act like a dude and  say whatever she wants.  The MAC guy also did a good job playing "that guy" who is just starting the process of growing up even though he is in his late 20's and "that guy" who finds out what it's like to really love another person.  This movie is rated R, so it may not be suitable for all, but I do recommend it because it is funny and it will warm your heart.

Kiera Knightly Needs to Eat Something

You need to be in the right mood and you need to pay attention in order to watch Never Let Me Go.  This movie really makes you think about what people will do to avoid their own mortality. There are some ethical grey areas and some moral questions throughout this movie that will affect people in different ways and stir various emotions.  I don't want to give too much away so I will stop there.  I will let you know that I think that Carrie Mulligan will continue to have a great career.  I've loved every movie I've seen her in so far and I think she will only continue to make good movies.  Also, Gary would like for me to mention that the movie score, which was mainly violin and other strings, was beautiful and haunting.  I would recommend this movie, but with the disclaimer that it may not be for everybody.   

Editor's note: Excellent score by Rachel Portman.

My new obsession, SHAMELESS

Shameless is a new series on Showtime that Gary and I are kind of hooked on.  The family in this show is the definition of "dysfunctional"- which is of course why I like it so much.  I have a kind of sick attraction to movies, TV shows and books about screwed up families and relationships.  Shameless is all about how this group of people cope on a daily basis with the hand-that-they've-been-dealt and how they will do whatever it takes to keep their family together.  They have these crazy and screwed up things happen to them every week and they always seem to find their way through them as a family. I wait with anticipation for the next episode.  I would recommend that everyone watch this show.  Believe me, you will get hooked too.

Disclaimer

I know the title of my blog suggests that I would only write about movies, but I want to clarify that I might throw in something about music or any other topic that might strike my fancy.  I can't guarantee that the content of my blogs will be G rated because I do tend to get riled up about certain subjects on occasion.

My Dilemma with THE DILEMA

I had a few things to decide before I could go see this movie.  First, was this going to be another Fred Claus for Vince Vaughn? Secondly, would he use his famous line which he has used in a number of other movies:' "Let's have a few drinks and make some bad decisions"?  Then there is Kevin James.  Was his performance going to be just like his others (Hutch, Paul Blart: Mall Cop or Grownups)? And lastly, were all the good scenes shown in the previews?

It turns out that this movie, marketed (like so many others) as a comedy, really wasn't.  The Dilemma happens to have some funny parts as you would expect from a movie starring Vince Vaughn and Kevin James, but it also has some serious parts.  This movie is really centered around this friendship between these two guys and how it continues to be tested everyday.  It is also about trust in a relationship and deciding whether you really know the person you are sharing your life with. 

Overall it was a good movie, but I'm not so sure that I would recommend that people absolutely have to go see it.  Just wait until it comes out on video.

My take on BLUE VALENTINE

It is rare that a movie makes you have a real emotional reaction and gets under your skin.  Blue Valentine did this for me.  I was so heart broken when I got out of this movie and it affected me for the next couple of days.  I felt so distressed over what had happened to the couple in this movie.  It is very sad to watch a relationship between two people, who obviously felt very deeply for one another at one time, disintegrate right before your eyes.  My husband and I had a discussion about this movie on our way home, as we often do, and we both agreed that so many  people our age tend to rush into commitment and bind their lives together before they really know each other or even know themselves for that matter. Then, one day, they realize this fact and they either must live with their differences or decide that they just can't go on being in a relationship with someone who is like a stranger to them.  Ryan Gosling did such a good job in this movie.  In my opinion he was robbed of a nomination for his performance.  Michelle Williams also did a wonderful job.  Her portrayal of an angst ridden young woman was heart wrenching,  I really enjoyed this movie and I would recommend that everyone go out and see it.

Editor's note: Good sound track by Grizzly Bear.