Russians, Superheros, Princesses and Feisty Teenagers! Oh my!

I really should have checked my class work schedule before beginning this challenge seeing as I have a really big paper due two days after the ceremony but I promise that I will be trying my hardest to finish what I have started.

On another note, I realized while doing this project that I come in with lots of snobby film student-y assumptions about the films that I watch, sorry to subject you to them. It's just how I have been taught to think. Here are the most recent films that I have finished watching:

• Salt (Best Sound Mixing)

My same issue that I had with Nicole Kidman applies here. Angelina Jolie tends to play the same people over and over. The bad but totally self-righteous female lead who can also kick some serious butt. At least she plays the character well. The plot on the other hand was too convoluted and ridiculous for me. I'm not really that adept at the sound categories because though I sort of understand the difference between mixing and editing, I will more than likely not understand to the point of picking a correct answer. That being said, I don't think this really has that good of a shot since it generally goes to films in contention of the Best Picture prize. The exception of course being Pirates of the Caribbean 2 in which the film won both sound awards in 2007.

• Tangled (Best Original Song)

I genuinely thought that this was going to be another cheesy princess movie produced by Disney but honestly, I loved this. My roommate Laura was raving about it prior to me watching it and I can thoroughly see now why. It's really wholesome and amusing. Generally my issue with songs from animated films is that they really don't have anything to do with major plot points but "I See the Light" fits pretty well with the film. I also have an affinity for Mandy Moore ever since I fell in love with A Walk to Remember when I was about 9. Unfortunately though, the Academy recently has been moving away from giving the awards to animated features. Enchanted was nominated for three different songs and lost to a song from Once.

• Iron Man 2 (Best Visual Effects)

Any excuse to watch RDJ is a good one for me. Playboy superhero Tony Starks returns with a new enemy on his hands, Mickey Rourke's Whiplash. The visual effects in this film, like the first as well, are impressive but I do have to say a little overdone. I like my action movies to have some real looking content and the last half hour of the film is all CGI special effects business. Good for the kiddies and men that like to see stuff blown up but not particularly my cup of tea.

• Winter's Bone (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor- John Hawkes, Best Actress- Jennifer Lawrence, Best Adapted Screenplay)

I will never ever in my life go to the Ozarks region. I'm not sure exactly where this was shot but for once, this shows that the people that live there are not just dumb poor hicks. The societal order of the poor community is astounding and truly terrifying. A very unique film with outstanding performances by both Lawrence and Hawkes, it really is no wonder why they both were nominated. Strong yet really vulnerable at the same time, Lawrence is relentless and moving in pursuit of her father and in keeping her family's land. I was really surprised how much I liked this film whenever I guiltily went in thinking that it was going to be Sundance Oscar bait film. With such heavy competition in all the categories, the only category it really seems to have a chance with is going to be Adapted Screenplay which isn't even fair seeing as it is in the same category as The Social Network.

25 down, 33 to go. 

Have You Missed Me?

Sorry for the delay on this post. For those of you who know me, I am in a sorority. Whenever you take a "little" or someone you mentor, you decorate their room for four days before you find out who they are. This takes up a crazy amount of time with crafting and what not. There was also the little thing called the Superbowl in which my PACKERS WON!! Wahoo!! Had to throw that in their and I hope that I am not alienating any of my readers that are Steelers fans.

That being said, there are no excuses for not making my deadline. I have watch four new movies and here are my thoughts on them:

•  Rabbit Hole- Best Actress Nicole Kidman

It is interesting to see the evolution of Nicole Kidman from a box office star to a indie star with the except of this week's release of Just Go With It. Though her acting is phenomenal as a woman who has lost her children in an accident, I feel as though I may have seen her in this part in a different movie. Kidman has gotten down how to play emotionally wrecked underneath the surface and the Academy seems to love just nominated her for it. This isn't to discredit those actors who play the parts they fit well like Katherine Hepburn whose whole career was built on her "character". Very emotionally charged movie with even better acting I would say from Aaron Eckhart but not the winner so far for this category in my opinion.

•  The Illusionist- Best Animated Feature Film

Sylvain Chomet and his animation team has master the art of three dimension in two dimensional films. It's films like this that make me truly love film. Though a French product with a few French phrases, the film for the most part does not have any dialogue. I haven't really read anything about the film prior to watching it and I was pleasantly surprised how much of a story we can infer by actions and facial expressions alone. This film proves the point that national cinema and language does not actually have to be a barrier. The animation was beautiful, giving real depth to an otherwise two dimensional film, as previously stated. Though Toy Story 3 seems to be the clear cut winner with a Best Picture nod as well, the Academy could hand the award to Chomet since he lost in 2003 to another Disney picture, Finding Nemo.

•   How To Train Your Dragon- Best Animated Feature

Poor DreamWorks. Every year they come out with a really delightful film that has to lose to a Disney film. Dragon is a film about a young Viking who befriends a dragon and convinces his village that dragons on the whole are not evil. Toothless is the most adorable creature and I would love to have him as a pet. The disappointed father to whom the main character must prove his worth to is a little overplayed but Jay Baruchel's delightful comedic turn on the character of Hiccup made the film very enjoyable. A great film for kids that will more than likely not walk away with the trophy at the end of the night.

• Tron: Legacy- Best Sound Editing

While I am a huge fan of the first movie, I was surprised that this got nominated at all seeing as it is a futuristic action movie. Not exactly Academy material. The first film was also nominated in this category as well as costume design though it did not win either award. I was even more surprised that it was nominated for something like Sound Editing and not Visual Effects. I thought the visuals were great especially seeing that they made Jeff Bridges look twenty-something again. Garrett Hedlund is extremely attractive and does a decent job for an action film. The same could be said for rising star Olivia Wilde. An enjoyable action film to watch but it more than likely will not win based on the favorites that are also nominated in this category.


Feeling the pressure a little bit now seeing as there are only 15 days until the ceremony but I will pull all-nighters if it means completely this....well not actually because I've never pulled one before and I tend to fall asleep watching movies. Ask my roommates or my parents or my boyfriend or basically anyone that knows me well.

21 down, 37 to go.