So, 2010 has come and gone and as always with the beginning of a new year, oscar nominations are announced. Overall the picks this year are pretty comprable. In my opinion changing the Best Picture shortlist from five to ten was a brilliant idea. It gives a lot of films a chance, not a big chance, but still a chance. The following films that the Academy composed of more than 6,000 members from all arenas of the screen are as follows:
TOP 10
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids are All Right
The King's Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone
My choices for Best Picture starting with the Best.
1.) THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Looking at this array of films one might say that it is a list of really good selections and I would have to agree. Of course if I had to give the award away to one film it would have to be "The Social Network". This film succeeded on all levels of filmmaking. Starting with an air tight script from tv guru Aaron Sorkin, he made a contemporary concept sound very rich that one could say would only get more ripe with age. Followed by director David Fincher's brilliant directing (whom as Mr. Sorkin pointed out at the golden globes) "made typing look as interesting as a car chase." But see the funny thing is, he actual did.
The performances were incredible, the editing flawless and the score classic and fresh. What happens when all of these things are put together? Magic. In any other circumstance with anyone else involved, "The Social Network" would just be a good film. But, the careful construction and attention to the tiniest detail make this film great.
Is this the Citizen Kane of OUR time? Maybe, but do not get misled, I am not comparing this film with Orson Wells timeless masterpiece but simply saying for contemporary purposes, this is a near flawless work of art.
2.) 127 HOURS
When I first saw the film 127 Hours, I can remember having the hardest time taking my eyes off the screen. At a mere running time of 1hr and 22 minutes it is one of the shortest running times of films in the Best Picture category in recent memory. But, from start to finish this movie runs on high octane, it stars one of the best up and coming young actors in James Franco whom single handly brings this movie to life. The manical direction led by former Academy Award winning director of "Slumdog Millionaire" Danny Boyle is alos unfettered.
The movie begins on the trail with our protagonist as he embarks on his journey in the horseshoe canyons of Utah. Based on a true story about a man whom out of sheer adrenaline decides to take off on an independent adventure and not tell anyone were he is going. After cycling through the desert and diving into pools hidden deep in the canyon walls the unexpected happens. While trying to enter in a small space to crawl through one of the canyons he reaches for support of a boulder that ends up becoming dislodged and he falls down the narrow interior of the canyon but his arm becomes stuck between a rock and a hard place so to speak. Inbetween the canyon wall and the boulder that fell. He knows exactly how long he has before dehydrating and only has roughly 127 hours if he is lucky to make it out alive.
A harrowing film with a lustrous performance by Franco whom downright deserves the Best Actor oscar, even though he will probably lose to Colin Firth come oscar time. I mean Franco holds this movie up on his shoulders the entire duration, it is he whom will make this pass or fail and he succeds on all levels. With a haunting score and a brutal tale of the ultimate human spirit trying to release itself in the most difficult of circumstances deserves any accolades thrown its way.
3.) The Fighter
The epitome of ensemble acting. Quite a few years this movie was in preproduction. Mark Wahlberg was set to produce and star in the film based on the boxing career of 'Irish' Mickey Ward with Darren Aronofsky in the director's chair. The budget was between 50-60 million and everything looked great. While waiting to get the greenlight, time had past and Aronofsky dropped out to do "The Wrestler", which by the way came out last year while The Fighter was just then getting started to begin filming. Christian Bale, whom had been lying very low due to the incident of yelling and screaming at a cinematographer while shooting "Terminator Salvation, had been chosen to play Dickie, Mickey's older half brother whom after having a semi successful early career in boxing turned to drugs and was decimating his career and family. Then David O' Russell was brought on to direct whom had his own skeletons in the closet with the infamous Lily Tomlin 'on set' rant seen on youtube. Oh and did I mention the budget was slashed to $25 million? This all sounds like one big failure waiting to happen right??? Well, wrong.
The Fighter assembles a great story about an interesting family whom in the dirt of it all stick together through the good and the bad, but mostly bad. Mickey is an up and coming semi pro fighter whom is trying to get his big break. After Dickie and his family basically throw Mickey into an unmatched chirade (managment changing fighers in the last minute in Vegas) just to collect a paycheck almost ruins Mickey's career forever. However, this is a story about climbing to the top no matter how hard it takes and overcoming adversity and staying in touch with what got you there in the first place, family.
Whalberg is great as Mickey Ward and the supporting cast from Amy Adams to all of the sisters create great cinematic moments. But the real winners in this film are Bale and Melissa Leo whom plays Mickey and Dickies mom. Bale completely transforms himself in the role and is sometimes almost unrecognizable. Leo is stunning as a hard mother whom will do anything for her boys as long as she gets what she wants out of any given situation. Look for The Fighter to win at least 2 oscars for Supporting Actor (Bale) and Supporting Actress (Leo).
In the end it is always nice to know you can have a sports film with more to it than sports. Take a gritty look at real life and the influences that can make or break you. Side Note: the real Mickey and Dickie appear at the end of the film during the closing credits.
4.) Black Swan
In the past there have been a few times were Darren Aronofsky, the film's director was overlooked by the Academy. You could almost say the same thing this year because Black Swan only took in 5 nominations. Most of them are big though, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress. But, for a film that broke a Critic's Choice Award Nomination barrier at 12 nominations and 10 for BAFTA (also known as the British Academy Awards) one might wonder is 5 really is enough. In this case lets just be grateful that Mr. Aronofsky finally got his due with a nomination. He has put out some daring and beautiful work in the past (Requiem for a Dream, Pi and The Wrestler). At least we can call this a start.
The film itself is a treasure, dealing with a troubled ballet dancer whom gives every single thing she has to achieve perfection. The theatre is putting on a rendition of 'Swan Lake' and Nina played by Academy Award nominee Natalie Portman, has been casted in the title role. However, through some very harsh critiques from the director, Nina's White swan is perfect, but her black swan needs a lot of work. We are then witnesses to her struggles as she desperately tries to become the best, whether its imaging having sex with a fellow ballet dancer (Mila Kunis) or fighting off her sheltering and obsessive mother whom also used to be a dancer but quit in order to raise Nina. As a viewer you can kind of put the pieces together on what brings on Nina's bizarre behavior. The final act of this film is simply stunning and I will not get into any details as it will spoil it for those whom have not seen it.
One thing is for certain, Black Swan may not win a lot of the awards it is up for, but a win by Natalie Portman is an absolute guarantee. She is truly haunting and puts in one of the best performances by an actress not only for this year but for the past few years as well. I think it is safe to say that Aronofsy has found his muse, they perform miracles together.
5.) Coming Soon...
