This Weekend in Cinema

Well, hello again, everybody!

Starting today I’m breaking out a new feature. Most weeks it will appear on Thursdays or Fridays, but the opening edition is today, a Saturday. I’m calling it “This Weekend in Cinema,” and it consists of three things.

1) A quick look at the wide release, or significant film releases of the week. I’m creatively calling this “The Blockbuster Report.”

2) A running count of “Where do the Movies Come From?” This is just a check at people who insist that the film industry isn’t creative anymore, even though evidence doesn’t show that. There are five categories a film can be placed in: original (written with no source material), adapted (film adapted from a book, short film, comic book, TV series, play, or whatever), sequel/prequel, and remake (this actually has to be a remake of a film. For example: Evil Dead, and NOT another adaptation of a book or something, this year’s Carrie film for example). Lastly, there is a re-release, which can be a 3D re-release, or an Americanized version (dub) of a foreign film (think Miyazaki).

3) Finally, we have “Oscarwatch.” This is a list of what would be in contention for Best Picture (and perhaps other awards) if the year ended today. I’m proud of the fact that I got 20 out of 24 Oscar categories correct this year, and that this list has accurately predicted the Best Picture Oscar winner for the past two years (which is how long it has been in existence). I’m also proud that I don’t try to pick Oscar winners months or years in advance. I’ve laughed in the past as films like J. Edgar and Cloud Atlas were raved about as potential Oscar contender, only to have those hopes dashed as soon as the film was released. So this list only deals with films currently released.

And so, without further ado…

The Blockbuster Report

This weekend we have essentially one main film of note: Oblivion. There are a few limited release films around (The Lords of Salem, Home Run, and In the House, along with what looks like a great Levon Helm documentary: Ain’t In It for My Health.)

Morgan Freeman and Tom Cruise star in Oblivion.

Oblivion is my wide release film to watch, just because its the only one out there. I’ve had reservations about how good a film it would actually be, and it looks like those suspicions were founded. And in a year that we have a bunch of sci-fi films coming out (Iron Man 3, Star Trek Into Darkness, Elysium just as examples) this will probably be lost in the shuffle. I have heard it is a stunning film visually though.

My limited release film to watch is Ain’t In It for My Health. I’m a huge Levon Helm fan and as much as I generally don’t go for documentaries, this would be one to enjoy.

Where Do the Movies Come From?

To bring things up to date, before this weekend, these were the counts:

Original: 17

Adaptation: 13

Sequel/Prequel: 4

Remake: 1

Re-release: 2

And we add Oblivion to the list, as an adaptation of the graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski and Arvid Nelson, which makes for adaptation #14.

Oscarwatch (side note: lists are calculated on Mondays, so this doesn’t include Oblivion yet)

1) Upstream Color

2) The Place Beyond the Pines

3) 42

4) Side Effects

5) The Croods

6) Warm Bodies

7) Stoker

8) Evil Dead

9) Oz, the Great and Powerful

10) Mama

Full IMDB list here.

My Oscar Predictions

It appears this blog has gotten completely one dimensional as far as subject matter goes, but perhaps I’ll start steering the boat away from the film world. But first, the obligatory Oscar predictions. You know the drill.

~~BEST PICTURE~~

Nominees: Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty

I’ve been saying it all along. Argo is the picture of the year. I said it way back before it won any awards, and now people are raving about how if it wins at the Oscars it will be because the Academy will vote for it because of its recent success. So why did the first few award voters vote for it? I honestly liked all the movies up for the award this year, but Lincoln is the only other complete movie. I felt the rest had their ups and downs. Argo for the win, because it deserves it, not because people are trying to save face.

~~BEST LEADING ACTOR~~

Nominees: Bradley Cooper, Daniel Day-Lewis, Hugh Jackman, Joaquin Phoenix, Denzel Washington

Bradley Cooper did a heck of a job in Silver Linings Playbook. But hands down this goes to Lincoln star Daniel Day-Lewis. The only one I didn’t see here is Phoenix.

~~BEST LEADING ACTRESS~~

Nominees: Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, Emmanuelle Riva, Quvenzhané Wallis, Naomi Watts

I really didn’t like Chastain that much in Zero Dark Thirty. She did a great job, but I didn’t think the part was that great a performance. I hope Riva gets it, but I think Lawrence will.

~~BEST DIRECTOR~~

Nominees: Amour (Michael Haneke), Beasts of the Southern Wild (Benh Zeitlin), Life of Pi (Ang Lee), Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell), Lincoln (Steven Spielberg)

Of course Affleck should be on here. I think Tom Hooper should be as well. I have a hard time picking this one, I think Affleck’s absence could drive people away from Spielberg on the “he’s won too many” mentality. Ang Lee did wonders with Life of Pi. Tough call, but give it to Spielberg.

~~BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR~~

Christoph Waltz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert De Niro,  Alan Arkin, Tommy Lee Jones

Gosh, all these guys were great (I didn’t catch Hoffman). My favorite performance is a toss up between Waltz and De Niro. I say Waltz takes it, but maybe that’s just because I want him to.

~~BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS~~

Sally Field, Anne Hathaway, Jacki Weaver, Helen Hunt,Amy Adams

Duh.

~~BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY~~

 Zero Dark Thirty, Django Unchained, Moonrise Kingdom, Amour, Flight

Loved Moonrise, but it will be Django or Amour.

~~BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY~~

Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, Life of Pi, Beasts of the Southern Wild

It should be Life of Pi considering how most considered the novel to be unfilmable, but these are all good. It probably will be Argo, which I don’t mind at all. Beasts stands alone as a non-contender.

~~BEST ANIMATED FILM~~

Frankenweenie, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, Wreck-It Ralph, Paranorman, Brave

Brave is easily the worst one on here, but it still could win. Wreck-It Ralph should though.

~~BEST FOREIGN FILM~~

Amour, A Royal Affair, Kon-Tiki, No, War Witch

Hint: If only one film in a ‘Best Film’ category is up for Best Picture, it should win the category.

~~BEST VISUAL EFFECTS~~

Life of Pi, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Avengers, Prometheus, Snow White and the Huntsman

Andy Serkis in The Hobbit is almost enough to win this on his performance alone. Almost.

~~BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY~~

Skyfall, Anna Karenina, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Lincoln

This film takes place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for most of the time, yet there’s almost always something new going on.

~~BEST FILM EDITING~~

Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty

~~BEST COSTUME DESIGN~~

Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Huntsman.

~~BEST MAKE-UP/HAIR STYLING~~

Hitchcock, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Miserables

~~BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN~~

Anna Karenina, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln

~~BEST ORIGINAL SCORE~~

Anna Karenina, Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall

~~BEST ORIGINAL SONG~~

“Before My Time” from Chasing Ice, Everybody Needs a Best Friend from Ted, “Pi’s Lullaby” from Life of Pi, “Skyfall” from Skyfall, “Suddenly” from Les Miserables

Adele is virtually a lock to win this one.

~~BEST SOUND MIXING~~

Argo, Les Miserables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Skyfall

Say what you want about the film, but the vocals were clear and the sound brought you right into the film.

~~BEST SOUND EDITING~~

Argo, Django Unchained, Life of Pi, Skyfall, Zero Dark Thirty

~~BEST FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY~~

Five Broken Cameras, The Gatekeepers, How to Survive a Plague, The Invisible War, Searching for Sugar Man

~~BEST SHORT SUBJECT DOCUMENTARY~~

Inocente, Kings Point, Mondays at Racine, Open Heart, Redemption

~~BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM~~

Asad, Buzkashi Boys, Curfew, Death of a Shadow, Henry

~~BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM~~

Adam and Dog, Fresh Guacamole, Head over Heels, Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare,’ Paperman

Paperman was attached to Wreck-It Ralph and was the best animated short I’ve ever seen. However, I haven’t seen many.

——

EDIT NOTE: At 7:20pm on February 23rd, I made two last minute changes. I now predict that Jennifer Lawrence will win Best Actress instead of Jessica Chastain, and I finally gave in and now say that Brave will win Best Animated Film. I didn’t want to because Wreck-It Ralph deserves it, but I think Brave will win.

Lincoln & Les Mis: Two Great Films

Both decades in the making, both getting rave reviews, and both sure to bring home the gold this awards season, Lincoln and Les Miserables bring the pages of history alive and iconic characters to the big screen, leaving us in applause, tears, laughter, and joy.

Lincoln, the newest Spielberg masterpiece, showcases Daniel Day-Lewis as the beloved president. I had to continually remind myself that Abraham Lincoln himself was not gracing us with his presence on screen. Day-Lewis completely disappears into the role, and in Spielberg’s decision to zoom in on this part of his life, the fight to destroy slavery, we see the touch of genius. We see the torment Lincoln faces on all fronts at once. With the Civil War raging, his son’s eagerness to fight in it, his wife’s mental instability, and the rigors of a recently gained re-election, Abe still has to fight tooth and nail for every vote.

His chief allies (at least in politics), William Seward (David Strathairn), Preston Blair (Hal Holbrook), and Thaddeus Stevens (Tommy Lee Jones), play a dangerous game with the opposition, both from the South and from the pro-slavery representatives in the U.S. House. Victory is gained on both flanks, and Lincoln’s place in history cemented.

The score, acting, writing, and especially the costumes and sets are exquisite. Day-Lewis steals the show, and Jones, Strathairn, and the rest follow suit. This is an all-around success, a certain Best Picture contender come Oscar time.

Les Miserables is surprising similar in effect to Lincoln. Certainly we’re dealing with a musical set in France here, and fictional characters, but the backdrop of revolution is there, as is the promise of Oscar gold.

Anne Hathaway simply steals the show here. Her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” lingers in the ears and on the tongue. Such a passionate and heartwrenching expression of grief is not seen often on Hollywood screens. Also stealing the show was the love triangle of Amanda Seyfried (Cosette), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), and Samantha Barks (Éponine).

Actually, there wasn’t a weak link in the acting chain. Even Russell Crowe, who has come under fire for his singing, delivered a solid performance, and gets a few vocal moments to shine. Hugh Jackman plays Valjean as if he was made for the role, although at some points his vocals fall a little flat and talky. The tension and intensity in his eyes at every moment are pure Jackman, and pure greatness. I never cry during movies, but I did shed a few tears as he said his final good-byes.

To go without mentioning Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen would be perhaps a crime as the ones they so often commit as the Thénardiers. Cohen fits in well here, a sly jerk of an innkeeper who sings rowdily well and Carter is her usual stellar self, although the most squeamish part of the film is when she drops a cats tail into a ‘mystery meat’ grinder.

Much has been made of the method of music for Les Mis. Director Tom Hooper did things ‘backwards’ this time around, getting the vocals first, live, on set, and adding the music later. This produces more natural, raw, tones, and allows the vocalists to really get into their renditions. The one exception to this was “Bring Him Home,” one of the most iconic songs, which was delivered by Jackman with a lack of luster. There also were a few times where I was wondering what melody Jackman was trying to sing, as he half sang/half spoke some of his lines, which was distracting on occasion.

But when all is said and done, Les Mis is still stupendous. Worth your time, and worth a look as Best Picture contender. The direction is superb, the acting wonderful, and the emotion and spectacle phenominal. It is highly recommended you see this one in theaters.

Wreck-It Ralph is Smashing!

So Wreck-It Ralph is awesome. That is all.

Ok, just kidding, that’s not all. But after walking out of that movie theater, I felt that I had just seen one of the funnest, best put together films of all time. From start to finish it entertains. The people who made this thought of everything. When we’re standing in the lobby of an 80s arcade game hotel, the windows and splattered frosting are pixelated, and the occupants move in that jerky way we know belonged to days of rough graphics. Safes are opened with an ‘up, down, A, B” code on a Nintendo controller, and you get to see “what really happens” that makes arcade games work. Who knew that power strips are actually basically transportation hubs for arcade characters?

The animation is brilliant, and flawlessly transitions from the retro ‘Wreck-It Ralph” to the brutal ‘Hero’s Duty’ to the candy filled ‘Sugar Rush’ that actually made me hungry. And you won’t want to miss the end credits as there is some funny stuff going on there as well.

Carried by John C. Reilly (Ralph), Sarah Silverman (Vanellope), Jane Lynch (Calhoun), Alan Tudyk (King Candy), and Jack McBrayer (Felix), this is a truly brilliant cast, and even the bit roles, at any moment, are primed to unleash both brilliantly hilarious lines, and/or pearls of wisdom that really give this film a deeper quality than some of the fluff that passes for family entertainment. We learn that being a hero is more than just winning medals, that greatness can come from the unlikeliest of places, and that it is always a good idea to help out the homeless Q*bert by giving him the extra cherry you just stole from Pac-man.

And of course, there are the video games. Oh my, are we immersed in them. And while people my age are more likely to get all the references and recognize more characters, there’s something here for everyone. I will refrain from giving examples so I won’t spoil the surprise.

I’m giving this five out of five stars. To put it simply, if this doesn’t win the Best Animated Feature Oscar this year, then the Academy has completely lost it. If you love video games you’ll love it, if you don’t, you’ll still love it, because this is a quality film that brings something fresh and fun at a mile a minute. Go see it.