Don’t Look Up

In Don’t Look Up a young scientist (Jennifer Lawrence) discovers a comet heading directly towards Earth. It is estimated to hit in six months. With that horrifying knowledge, suddenly she and her professor (Leonardo DiCaprio) are sent to Washington to meet with the Head of Planetary Defense (Rob Morgan) and inform the president (Meryl Streep) of the impending doom. What’s worse than knowing a comet is about to destroy the Earth? How about watching our leaders do nothing about it, unless it would directly improve their political agenda?

One of the hardest pills to swallow from Don’t Look Up is how it shows that those in positions of power are rarely our “best and brightest”. And sadly, even when we do have smart, moral people on the front lines, like DiCaprio’s character is supposed to be, the limelight can often cloud their judgment. The film depicts how a modern mixture of fame, media, wealth and crisis can have disastrous outcomes for the masses. 

I think what makes Don’t Look Up best picture material is that last scene around the dinner table. Mindy’s family talks about what they’re most thankful for, their most meaningful moments, eat and wait together for impact to happen. Edited in are moments across the globe as the world waits for impact too. Bees buzz, babies coo, people pray, fight and make love. What’s shown of the comet impacting is terrifying, powerful and beautiful. The whole scene packs a surprisingly emotional punch in such a comical film. 

Don’t Look Up is nominated for just four Academy Awards. They include Best Picture, original screenplay, original score and film editing. It may not sound like much compared to some of the heavy hitters, but it’s quite an honor for a disaster satire on Netflix.

Since Don’t Look Up dropped on Netflix to the masses it has sparked some politically charged love and hate, very little in between. Adam McKay’s films tend to do this, even when based in fiction. Some complain that it is ridiculous, Washington’s leaders would never behave like that, we have nothing to fear and it’s all leftist hysteria. Others say it’s practically a documentary, mirrors previous administrations and a similar scenario may be the downfall of civilization. I personally just hope we don’t live so see such times, we’ve seen enough in the last few years. 

“So basically what you’re saying is you’re about to lose the midterms cause you got caught sending pictures of your cooch to your pornstar-sheriff-boyfriend, so now it’s to your advantage to act on the comet?” 

Oscar Predictions 2013

The big night is almost here!  So without much fluff, here are my official predictions for tomorrow night’s Academy Awards:

Best Visual Effects

Obviously Gravity.

Best Production Design

This is a toss-up, I can justify any of these films winning.  So why not American Hustle?

Best Film Editing

The way those long-shots were built better earn Gravity this award.

Best Animated Feature

Sadly, I only go to see two of the five nominees: Frozen and The Croods.  Of those, I’d choose Frozen easily.  However, knowing that The Wind Rises is Miyazaki’s last film may tip the votes in his favor.

Best Original Song

Let it go, let it go! I haven’t been able to stop listening to that song for weeks.

Best Adapted Screenplay

I have not seen Before Midnight yet, and I doubt a screenplay with a few extra hundred f-words will win, so I would choose 12 Years a Slave.

Best Original Screenplay

Her is such an original story that flows so well, I would love to see it win.  My second choice, Nebraska.

Best Supporting Actress

I bet Jennifer Lawrence will win again, for blowing up the science oven, but part of me feels Nyong’o could easily take it.

Best Supporting Actor

All the hype is with Jared Leto, and I agree it was a great performance.  Everyone else is too close to call.

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett was the strongest part of Blue Jasmine, she stands apart from the pack.

Best Actor

Way too close to make a confident call.  DiCaprio is overdue, Dern has seniority, Bale and Ejiofor both guide their films, yet McConaughey  seems to be the favorite.  I pick McConaughey.

Best Director

I see no front runner, so why not Steve McQueen.

Best Picture

If I’ve learned anything from studying the Oscars, it’s that this category can be unpredictable.  But if I had to make an educated guess, I’d take 12 Years a Slave, though I would not be surprised if American Hustle or Gravity wins over the Academy voters.

No matter what the results, I’m sure Ellen Degeneres will be a delightful host, so let’s all have a fun Oscar night.  Enjoy!

American Hustle

David O. Russell’s American Hustle is a con plot, wrapped in a couple love triangles and then further complicated by the mob.  Honestly, the whole point A to point B can get a little confusing, but the film easily keeps a captive audience on board every moment due to fantastic performances by great actors who breathe amazing life and quirk into their characters.

First off, we have Irving (Christian Bale).  He’s the epicenter, the main con man, experienced and damn good at what he does.  After years of running multiple scams on his own, he meets Sydney (Amy Adams).  She is up for the adventure and thrill of a good con and brings her own touch to a new phony lone business.  She and Irving begin a passionate relationship, even though he is already married.  His wife, Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence) is an unpredictable woman with a young son who spends her time tanning, painting her nails and doing other frivolous things.  She knows Irving is having an affair, the two women just haven’t met, yet.

When Irving and Sydney’s bogus loans are busted by an FBI agent, Richie (Bradley Cooper), he makes a deal to release them if they help him arrest a few politicians.  Richie wants to entrap the mayor of Camden, New Jersey, Politio (Jeremy Renner).  Irving brings in a friend to pose as a Sheikh looking for potential investments in America, specifically with Polito.  But Richie’s over-eagerness nearly screws up the whole deal.  Thankfully, he has Irving and Sydney to help him out, but little does Richie realize that they are playing him, while Sydney is seducing him.

As Politio is making friends with a phony Sheikh and going out to dinner with Irving and his wife, Irving starts to have second thoughts about the whole operation.  It becomes a moral dilemma for him, seeing that Politio really is a nice family man just trying to make his city better.  And when Irving finds himself getting involved in the mob, and his wife starts talking too much, things might get out of control.

There is so much to enjoy about this film even if a con plot doesn’t sound like your cup of tea.  Each actor brings charm and has their own great moments, including Louis C.K. in a great minor role as Richie’s boss.  Though they may not be truly good guys, each character is so charismatic that you can’t help but love them, even be on their side to some extent.  If you’re a fan of late 70s fashion, the wardrobes and hairstyles will delight.  It’s rather hilarious to see Amy Adams dancing at a disco, Bradley Cooper in curlers and Christian Bale meticulously perfect his strange comb-over.

American Hustle is tied with Gravity for receiving the most Oscar nominations this year, a total of ten.  Among them are Best Picture, costume design, film editing, production design and original screenplay.  David O. Russell received his second consecutive nomination for best director.  And among the actors, Christian Bale for lead actor, Amy Adams for lead actress, Bradley Cooper for supporting actor and Jennifer Lawrence for supporting actress.  It is not often a film lands nominations in each acting category, but this film sure deserves it.

My personal favorite scene really has nothing to do with the whole plot, but is just a hilarious moment with Irving’s ditzy wife using an early microwave, or as they call it, the science oven.  We see her in the kitchen, talking to herself in a mocking voice about how she was warned not to put any metal in the science oven.  Psh, what’s the harm right?  Then she tosses in something in aluminum foil, and boom, you know what happens.  But her breezy, whatever attitude suddenly replaced by instructing her son to get the other fire extinguisher is so flawless and hilarious, I can’t let it go.  If Jennifer Lawrence wins her second Oscar for American Hustle, it will be because she blew up the science oven.

“Bring something into this house that’s gonna take all the nutrition out of our food and then light our house on fire?  Thank God for me.”

Oscar Predictions 2012

I guess I can’t put this off anymore.  The Oscars will be presented on Sunday and this year I believe I have seen more nominees than in any year since I began this blog, (29/53 total nominees).  However, this feels like one of the most unpredictable years I have ever witnessed.  So, here are my somewhat informed, probably completely wrong Oscar predictions:

Cinematography

Life of Pi, no other film comes close to its visual beauty.

Costume Design

Haven’t seen 3 of these nominees…Why not Anna Karenina? Pretty dresses often help in this category.

Sound Mixing

Leaning towards Les Mis, mostly because of the mix of cannons and singing.

Editing

Zero Dark Thirty, I just feel it.

Sound Editing

Django?  I mean come on, how many westerns have won this category?

Visual Effects

The Hobbit, maybe because I saw it in HFR 3D.

Makeup and Hairstyling

The Hobbit again.  Did you see all those crazy beards?

Original Song

Skyfall for Skyfall because Skyfall.  Anyone else psyched for a the Academy’s tribute to Bond films?

Original Score

Life of Pi, mostly because I really didn’t notice the other scores much and found this so beautiful.

Animated Short

Head Over Heels.  Inventive, imaginative and a lot of heart.

Feature Documentary

So, I thought I saw all of them this year (it would have been my first year to do so!) but I kinda accidentally skipped The Gatekeepers and saw The Imposter instead.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  So..The Gatekeepers! Cause it would be just my luck to miss out on the best.

Foreign

Amour, duh.  Did Up or Toy Story 3 lose best animated when they were also up for best picture?  No.  It’s in the bag.

Animated Feature

Ok, let’s break it down: ParaNorman and Frankenweenie seem to be treading in the same territory and may step on each other’s toes.  Pixar didn’t bring their best work with Brave, that may cost them.  Wreck-It Ralph depends on pop culture too heavily.  Therefore, The Pirates!

Best Actor

As much as I loved the other performances, especially Cooper’s, I bet Daniel Day-Lewis gets this.  He was a phenomenal Lincoln.

Best Actress

This feels like such a weird category this year.  Seriously, our ladies’ ages range nearly 80 years.  But I think it will fall in the middle, on Jennifer Lawrence.  She was such a force in SLP.

Supporting Actress

Anne Hathaway.  Nuf said.

Supporting Actor

This is tough, partially cause I’m still waiting for DiCaprio to be nominated.  But it might be De Niro.  He owned his scenes.

Original Screenplay

As much as I want to root for the sweet, quirky and wonderful Moonrise Kingdom, I feel like Django will take it.  And Tarantino’s speech will be awesome.

Adapted Screenplay

SLP had such a great script, I loved every conversation.  I really hope it takes this one….and more.

Director

First…the camera might just pan over Affleck as whoever is presenting is blathering on for irony.  Poor Ben.  Honestly, I’m happy if it’s David O. Russell or Ang Lee. If I had to bet on one, it would be Lee.

Best Picture

In the 3 years that I have been keeping this blog, it hasn’t been this hard to pick a favorite for BP.  There was only one film I didn’t really like (Lincoln) but it’s still so good.  Honestly, you might have better luck tossing the names on a dartboard and blindly throwing to pick it.  Lincoln, Argo, Django, Les Mis and ZDT all have some historical elements and could split that vote.  Then again, Hollywood loves stories of itself in their movies (remember the Artist and Hugo last year?), therefore I can’t count Argo out just yet.  Amour isn’t easy to digest.  Beasts is really indie.  That leaves Life of Pi,  SLP and Argo.  Now that is tough, two of these 3 are my favorites.  However, there has been a curse lately that director follows picture…so there goes Argo.  Now, I’m predicting Lee to win director, so naturally his film will take the cake.  There, Life of Pi to win best picture…but I’m not sure.

Also, Seth MacFarlane will use his “Stewy” voice no less than 8 times.  And I will make it a drinking game.

Let me know what you think and enjoy Oscar night!

Silver Linings Playbook

Have I ever told you how much I love it when a great, heartfelt comedy makes it into the Best Picture nominations?  Of the year’s nine nominations, Silver Linings Playbook is the most lighthearted film and it leaves you smiling and warm inside.  Best of all, it feels like it did so effortlessly.  Over the past 20 years, I can count the comedies nominated for best picture that made me feel this good on one hand: As Good As It Gets, Little Miss Sunshine and Juno.  I love adding another rare treat to that list.

Bradley Cooper plays Pat, a man trying to reinvent himself after being diagnosed and institutionalized with bipolar disorder.  This time away has separated him from his wife.  The details connecting the status of his marriage and his time the mental institute are revealed perfectly, so I won’t spoil the ride.  His institutionalization seems to have been well for him, he has gotten in shape and is enthusiastic about the positive attitude he is trying to maintain.  It is awkwardly endearing how he is so eager to tell everyone his excelsior motto and how he is practicing to be a better husband.  You know that nearly everyone sees him as a huge loser.

While Pat’s family sees that he is doing better, there is still room for improvement.  He refuses to take his medications, claiming to not like how he feels on them, and it’s not easy for an aging couple to force their grown son to do anything.  His social skills are lacking, sometimes Pat seems to blurt things out with no filter.  His late night rantings, from being upset over the ending of a A Farewell to Arms, to feeling the urgent need to watch his wedding video, become a disturbance heard all down the street.

Through a friend, Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), whose husband recently died.  While Pat’s poor social skills stem from his mental issues, Tiffany’s may come from a mixture of grief and just not having much to care about anymore.  Her instigative scenes with Pat are beautifully raw while still keeping everyone at a distance.  Lawrence has a sweet way of making Tiffany rudely real, vulnerable yet strong and one of the most level headed characters in the film.  She and Pat strike up a friendship and a deal: Tiffany will deliver letters to Pat’s wife if he will enter a dance competition with her.

I didn’t expect this to be a dance movie, and it isn’t, but watching Cooper and Lawrence move together is wonderful.  As they practice, we are watching an unspoken bond form.  It becomes a big release for them both, better than their therapy sessions.  Romantics will hope for love to bloom, and us realists will just be happy that Pat is sleeping well at night and not bringing up his wife as much.

Pat’s family is loving and supportive, but beautifully flawed.  His father,  Pat Sr. (Robert de Niro), seems obsessive compulsive about his rituals when watching sports.  However, they come from good intentions; he just wants to spend time with his son, and seems to think of Pat as a good luck charm for the Philadelphia Eagles.  He also has a short violent history that has him permanently banned from the Eagles’ stadium.  Pat’s mother, Dolores (Jacki Weaver), is a sweet and supportive aging woman who seems to have spent most of her life dealing with the different bits of crazy coming from her husband and son.  She is weathered from it, but also stronger, smarter and more understanding.  What I couldn’t understand was how she lets her husband place such steep bets on football games and how he personally involves Pat in them.  But what do I know, I’m just an outsider looking in.

Silver Linings Playbook is nominated for eight Academy Awards, and they are all the big ones too.  Cooper, Lawrence, De Niro and Weaver are all nominated for their performances, earning the film a nomination in each acting category.  The film has also earned recognition in best picture, editing, adapted screenplay and David O. Russell is competing for best director.  That’s a lot of deserved recognition from a sweet modern dramatic comedy.

I loved Silver Linings Playbook for all that it was and wanted nothing more from it.  There was a good dose of human comedy, some drama without harsh tears and a way to find happiness in this strange world.  While Pat’s mental illness is the stem of his problems, the film doesn’t preach, objectify or or let it define his character.  It is just part of this human experience.  The big dance scene is a wonderful climax that I wouldn’t dare ruin for you, but it made me think back to Little Miss Sunshine in the best way possible.  This is an unexpectedly honest and sweet film that, like its characters, doesn’t apologize for being a little off beat.

“I just see that you made an effort, and I’m gonna be better with my wife.  I’m working on that.  I wanna acknowledge her beauty.  I never used to do that.  I do now.  Just practicing.  How’d Tommy die?”

Winter’s Bone

Winter’s Bone takes place in the rugged terrain of the Ozark Mountains and the people are just as rough.  Everyone drives trucks, little sedans would not fare well on those dirt roads.  The most important classes at the high school seem to be ROTC drills and teen parenting 101.  The story is in present day, yet there are no cell phones, iPods or laptops floating around.  It looks like they’ve all  been traded in for hound dogs, banjos and an ax.  Ree and her family live in a small log cabin, chop and burn wood for warmth and can’t afford to buy hardly any food, so they hunt squirrels.  In the summer, this setting would be gorgeous, and there could be hope for a garden, or at least the occasional rabbit.  But in winter it’s just barren, harsh and cold.

Ree (Jennifer Lawrence) is only seventeen, but she takes care of her two younger siblings and mother, who seems to be little more than a walking vegetable after a severe mental breakdown.  Her deadbeat father is a drug dealer with a court date coming up and he has put the house up as collateral for his bail.  If he doesn’t show up for court in one week the house will be gone and Ree will have no way to take care of her family.  She starts searching the area, asking everyone if they know anything about where her father might be.  The people are very harsh and private, only telling Ree to stay away and keep out of their business.  They may be hiding something.  Her uncle, known as Teardrop (John Hawkes), says that her father is probably dead, but even if that is the case she needs proof in order to keep the house.  Ree keeps pushing further against all the warnings for the sake of truth and for her family but when she goes too far there will be repercussions.

Lawrence’s Oscar nominated performance as Ree is as smart and controlled as Ree has learned to be.  At seventeen we don’t expect any girl to be so tough or unflinching.  She is the product of rising to the circumstances around her.  With her father gone and her mother withdrawn Ree is just doing what she has to do.  And towards the end, what she has to do is absolutely bone chilling.

One of my favorite traits about Ree is how she is constantly trying to teach her siblings.  From a spelling quiz on the walk to school or a lesson on guns, Ree is always pointing them in the right direction.  She knows their parents are no help anymore and she’s putting herself in more danger the deeper she searches for their father.  If anything were to happen to her, she does not want to leave them completely helpless.  This makes Ree one of the most honorable young characters I’ve seen in recent film.

“I’d be lost without the weight of you two on my back. I ain’t going anywhere.”

If The Academy chooses a gritty story of determined youth in a harsh climate Winter’s Bone will win Best Picture.