Barry's Beetchin Movies

First off, I just want to say that I did do okay on my predictions. I didn't have a follow up post due to myself being busy. I did however not predict Hailee Steinfeld, Jeff Bridges, or the Coens for True Grit and I got all of those wrong. I also had a lot of faith in Black Swan, 127 Hours, and Rabbit Hole. Moreso than most people. I am only going to do captions for the 6 main categories and then just list the winners and alternates for the remaining ones. Anyways, here are my winner predictions...

Best Picture

Winner: The Social Network
Alternate: The King's Speech

I'm going to go on a whim here and declare The Social Network as the big winner. I haven't seen The King's Speech, but I can't help feel that TSN was more powerful for turning something as Facebook into an extraordinary piece of filmmaking.

Best Director

Winner: David Fincher - The Social Network
Alternate: Tom Hooper - The King's Speech

I could be wrong about TSN winning the big prizes, only because maybe the Academy is waiting for Fincher's remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to floor everyone. They could feel more justified giving him the Oscars for that movie instead of this one? However, right now, him winning for this seems very likely.

Best Actor

Winner: Colin Firth - The King's Speech
Alternate: James Franco - 127 Hours

Colin Firth has this all sewn up, no doubt about that. The runner up however, has to be James Franco for creating a larger than life performance as Aron Ralston. Being in front of the camera that long by yourself cannot be easy and when the film almost rests entirely on your shoulders, you have to be up to the plate. He was.

Best Actress

Winner: Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Alternate: Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right

Like Colin Firth, Natalie Portman has this one in the bag. The physical and emotional extremes she pushed for this role are nothing short of amazing and she will be rewarded for her efforts. Annette Bening is the runner up because she also gave an amazing performance and she is way overdue for an Oscar. Hilary Swank be damned, even though her performances were good as well. Her day will come soon, but probably not tonight.

Best Supporting Actor

Winner: Christian Bale - The Fighter
Alternate: Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Like other two above, haha, Christian Bale also has this category. He is definitely going to win for his showy, amazing, lived in performance. The alternate would have to be Geoffrey Rush for performing an awesome duet with Colin Firth. The King's Speech could also have a big sweep and take Geoffrey, and even Helena, along for the ride.

Best Supporting Actress

Winner: Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Alternate: Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

Even with the controversy surrounding her FYC ads, and the backlash that came with them, I still think Melissa Leo has an extremely close shot at winning this. Her performance is one everyone loves and who wouldn't want to reward her after Frozen River, Welcome to the Riley's, 21 Grams and all the countless movies she's done that have gone unrecognized. Hailee Steinfeld is the alternate because she's won the most critics awards next to Leo and for the fact that everyone loves her performance. Definitely a breakthrough everyone will be talking about in the years to come.

Best Original Screenplay

Winner: David Seidler - The King's Speech
Alternate: Christopher Nolan - Inception

Best Adapted Screenplay

Winner: Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network
Alternate: Michael Arndt, John Lassester, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich - Toy Story 3

Best Cinematography

Winner: Roger Deakins - True Grit
Alternate: Matthew Libatique - Black Swan

Best Costume Design

Winner: Jenny Beavan - The King's Speech
Alternate: Colleen Atwood - Alice in Wonderland

Best Art Direction

Winner: The King's Speech
Alternate: Inception

Best Film Editing

Winner: Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall - The Social Network
Alternate: Pamlea Martin - The Fighter

Best Visual Effects

Winner: Inception
Alternate: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Best Makeup

Winner: The Wolfman
Alternate: The Way Back

Best Foreign Film

Winner: In a Better World [Denmark]
Alternate: Incendies [Canada]

Best Original Song

Winner: "I See the Light" - Tangled
Alternate: "Coming Home" - Country Strong

Best Original Score

Winner: Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech
Alternate: Hans Zimmer - Inception

Best Sound Editing

Winner: Inception
Alternate: True Grit

Best Sound Mixing

Winner: Inception
Alternate: Salt

Best Animated Film

Winner: Toy Story 3
Alternate: How to Train Your Dragon

Best Animated Short

Winner: Day and Night
Alternate: The Gruffalo

Best Live Action Short

Winner: Na Wewe
Alternate: The Crush

Best Documentary

Winner: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Alternate: Inside Job

Best Documentary Short

Winner: Strangers No More
Alternate: Poster Girl

SAG Award Predictions

2011-01-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Colin Firth - The King's Speech [KING GEORGE VI]
Alternate: James Franco - 127 Hours [ARON RALSTON]

Oustanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Natalie Portman - Black Swan [NINA SAYERS]
Alternate: Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right [NIC]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Christian Bale - The Fighter [DICKY EKLUND]
Alternate: Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech [LIONEL LOGUE]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Melissa Leo - The Fighter [ALICE WARD]
Alternate: Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit [MATTIE ROSS]

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Winner: The King's Speech
Alternate: The Fighter

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner: Al Pacino - You Don't Know Jack [DR. JACK KEVORKIAN]
Alternate: Édgar Ramírez - Carlos [CARLOS, THE JACKAL]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner: Claire Danes - Temple Grandin [TEMPLE GRANDIN]
Alternate: Julia Ormond - Temple Grandin [EUSTACIA GRANDIN]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Jon Hamm - Mad Men [DON DRAPER]
Alternate: Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire [ENOCH "NUCKY" THOMPSON]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men [PEGGY OLSON]
Alternate: Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer [DEPUTY CHIEF BRENDA LEIGH JOHNSON]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Chris Colfer - Glee [KURT HUMMEL]
Alternate: Ty Burrell - Modern Family [PHIL DUNPHY]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Jane Lynch - Glee [SUE SYLVESTER]
Alternate: Betty White - Hot in Cleveland [ELKA OSTROVSKY]

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Drama Series

Winner: Mad Men
Alternate: Boardwalk Empire

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Comedy Series

Winner: Modern Family
Alternate: Glee

2011 Academy Award Nomination Predictions

2011-01-24T23:23:00.000-08:00

Best Picture

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

Alternates: Blue Valentine & The Town

Best Director

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan
Danny Boyle - 127 Hours
David Fincher - The Social Network
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
Christopher Nolan - Inception

Alternates: Ethan & Joel Coen - True Grit & David O. Russell - The Fighter

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Robert Duvall - Get Low
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine

Alternates: Jeff Bridges - True Grit & Mark Wahlberg - The Fighter

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

Alternates: Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right & Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale - The Fighter
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network
Sam Rockwell - Conviction
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Alternates: John Hawkes - Winter's Bone & Jeremy Renner - The Town

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams - The Fighter
Helena Bonham-Carter - The King's Speech
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom
Dianne Wiest - Rabbit Hole

Alternates: Barbara Hershey - Black Swan & Lesley Manville - Another Year

Best Animated Film

How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Toy Story 3

Alternates: Despicable Me & Tangled

Best Art Direction

Alice in Wonderland
Black Swan
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Inception
The King's Speech

Alternates: Shutter Island & True Grit

Best Cinematography

Enrique Chediak & Anthony Dod Mantle - 127 Hours
Matthew Libatique - Black Swan
Eduardo Serra - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Wally Pfister - Inception
Roger Deakins - True Grit

Alternates: Robert Richardson - Shutter Island & Jeff Cronenworth - The Social Network

Best Costume Design

Colleen Atwood - Alice in Wonderland
Amy Westcott - Black Swan
Julie Weiss - Get Low
Jenny Beavan - The King's Speech
Mary Zophres - True Grit

Alternates: Mark Bridges - The Fighter & Louise Stjernsward - Made in Dagenham

Best Documentary Feature

Exit Through the Gift Shop
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waiting for Superman
Waste Land

Alternates: Client 9 - The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer & Precious Life

Best Film Editing

Andrew Weisblum - Black Swan
Pamela Martin - The Fighter
Lee Smith - Inception
Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall - The Social Network
Roderick Jaynes (Ethan & Joel Coen) - True Grit

Alternates: Jon Harris - 127 Hours & Tariq Anwar - The King's Speech

Best Makeup

Alice in Wonderland
True Grit
The Way Back

Alternates: The Fighter & The Wolfman

Best Original Score

John Powell - How to Train Your Dragon
Hans Zimmer - Inception
Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech
Rachel Portman - Never Let Me Go
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Social Network

Alternates: A.R. Rahman - 127 Hours & Alexandre Desplat - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Best Original Song

"If I Rise" - 127 Hours
"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque
"I See the Light" - Tangled
"We Belong Together" - Toy Story 3
"Shine" - Waiting for Superman

Alternates: "Bound to You" - Burlesque & "Coming Home" - Country Strong

Best Sound Editing

127 Hours
Black Swan
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
True Grit

Alternates: Shutter Island & The Social Network

Best Sound Mixing

127 Hours
How to Train Your Dragon
Inception
The Social Network
True Grit

Alternates: Black Swan & Shutter Island

Best Adapted Screenplay

David Lindsay-Abaire - Rabbit Hole
Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network
Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich - Toy Story 3
Ethan & Joel Coen - True Grit
Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini - Winter's Bone

Alternates: Simon Beaufoy & Danny Boyle - 127 Hours & Robert Harris & Roman Polanski - The Ghost Writer

Best Original Screenplay

Derek Cianfrance, Joey Curtis & Cami Delavigne - Blue Valentine
Eric Johnson, Scott Silver & Paul Tamasy - The Fighter
Christopher Nolan - Inception
Stuart Blumberg & Lisa Cholodenko - The Kids Are All Right
David Seidler - The King's Speech

Alternates: Mike Leigh - Another Year & Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz & John McLaughlin - Black Swan

Best Visual Effects

Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Hereafter
Inception
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Alternates: Iron Man 2 & Tron: Legacy

Best Foreign Language Film

Biutiful (Mexico)
Dogtooth (Greece)
Even the Rain (Spain)
In a Better World (Denmark)
Incendies (Canada)

Alternates: Confessions (Japan) & Life Above All (South Africa)

Golden Globe Predictions

2011-01-16T16:29:00.000-08:00

The Golden Globe Awards are tonight and I just wanted to let you guys know who I think is going to win. I'll also be commenting on the predictions I made for the nominations last month.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Winner: The Social Network
Alternate: The King's Speech

The Social Network has definitely racked up the most precursors so far, and The King's Speech is almost as loved as that film so making it the alternate just makes sense. I got 3/5 on my predictions thinking that 127 Hours and True Grit would get in over The Fighter and Black Swan. Shocker that True Grit got shut out from the Globes entirely. I should've known about Black Swan.

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Winner: The Kids Are All Right
Alternate: Red

The Kids Are All Right is the only film out of these that has actually gotten overwhelmingly positive reviews. The other ones: not so much. Red was just barely rated "Fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes and that is why it's my alternate to win. I actually liked Alice in Wonderland a lot compared to other people and wouldn't mind it winning. The Tourist however, was awful, and doesn't deserved to be nominated for anything anywhere. Sadly, I got 1/5 on my predictions for this category getting only The Kids Are All Right. God, these nominations mostly suck.

Best Director - Motion Picture

Winner: David Fincher - The Social Network
Alternate: Christopher Nolan - Inception

David Fincher should continue his steamroll to Oscar glory. The Social Network is one of the best movies ever made and deserves all the accolades it receives. I think Christopher Nolan is a good runner up because his movie is a very trippy, mind bendy exploration and people responded very enthusiastically to it. I got 4/5 here thinking Danny Boyle would get in for 127 Hours. No leftover Slumdog Millionaire love?

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Winner: Colin Firth - The King's Speech
Alternate: James Franco - 127 Hours

Colin Firth is looking to be a more surefire lock for the win as the date gets closer and closer. Although James Franco could also sneak in. Firth's performance looks excellent, but Franco's looks absolutely draining and maybe they want to reward, perhaps, the more grueling of the work? Jesse Eisenberg could even sneak in there. This is the category that is definitely more up in the air than people think. I got 4/5 here thinking that Jeff Bridges could get in instead of Mark Wahlberg who wasn't even an alternate for me. He's the only one out of The Fighter that hasn't been getting a ton of love.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Winner: Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Alternate: Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman has this one in the bag. Nuff said. Jennifer Lawrence is the alternate only because she has won the most critics awards next to Portman. I think Nicole Kidman could've had a shot if her performance had been more overwhelmingly praised next to the other two. Portman's performance has been orgasmed over left, right and center, and I cannot deny that myself. I got 4/5 here thinking that some Lesley Manville love would arrive, but Halle Berry got it instead with Frankie and Alice. A performance I am definitely curious to see.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Winner: Paul Giamatti - Barney's Version
Alternate: Kevin Spacey - Casino Jack

Paul Giamatti seems like the only solid nod here to win. His film was very well received, unlike the others. The alternate is Kevin Spacey just because he didn't win a GG for American Beauty. Maybe the HFPA wants to give him one now? And as much as people might not like this, I wouldn't mind Johnny Depp winning for Alice in Wonderland. He was actually pretty good in it :) I got 3/5 here thinking that Jim Carrey and Ben Stiller would get in for I Love You, Philip Morris and Greenberg. Johnny Depp was inert in The Tourist. Stupid nod - yes.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Winner: Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Alternate: Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right

Annette Bening has to win this. Infact, she will. I think she gives one of the most endearing performances of the year. No matter how tough or soft she is being, she is full of love all the time and that's what's extraordinary about her work. Julianne Moore just adds to the equation and that's why she's the alternate to win. I got 4/5 here thinking Sally Hawkins would get in for Made in Dagenham. Angelina Jolie was a little better than Depp in The Tourist, but even she wasn't very good as well. Another waste of a nod just for a big star.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Winner: Christian Bale - The Fighter
Alternate: Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

For constantly undergoing transformation after transformation for his roles, Christian Bale will finally win an award. His commitment to his roles is amazing to watch. I wish more actors would take the risks. Geoffrey Rush is the alternate because his work next to Colin Firth's looks just as good and I don't think people would mind him winning at all. I got 3/5 here thinking Sam Rockwell would finally get some attention for Conviction and Sam Rockwell would get a nod for The Kids Are All Right. Jeremy Renner is a cool nod, but Michael Douglas is just the HFPA fucking stars at their best.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Winner: Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Alternate: Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom

An actress finally coming into her prime after doing so many small roles, Melissa Leo might be able to snatch another big prize. She was awesome in Frozen River, and even 21 Grams! This is a performance I am really eager to see and next to that has to come Jacki Weaver who's work everyone is fawning over. She definitely is the alternate winner here. I got 3/5 here thinking that Amy Adams' performance wasn't THAT loved (boy was I wrong) and that Hailee Steinfeld would get in with Dianne Wiest's from Rabbit Hole. Mila Kunis' performance is good, but nothing else.

Best Screenplay

Winner: The Social Network
Alternate: The King's Speech

Both of these screenplays sound very fast, zingy and wordy. But I think The Social Network has this one in the bag because of the punches you felt when anyone said a word. Those words have a long impact after you've finished watching the movie. The actors deliver them brilliantly. I got 4/5 here thinking that True Grit's better adaptation of the book would get in over 127 Hours.

Best Animated Feature Film

Winner: Toy Story 3
Alternate: How to Train Your Dragon

Both of these films were almost equally loved, but Toy Story 3 will win in the end because I don't think anyone had a dry eye in those last 10 minutes of Toy Story 3. HTTYD definitely packed it's emotional punch, but I think Story's resonates with you more later on. I got 5/5 here easily predicting all of the loved Animated films of the past year.

Best Foreign Language Film

Winner: I am Love
Alternate: Biutiful

I think I am Love will pick up it's first major award of the season. Everyone seems to like it, but everyone loves Tilda Swinton :) Biutiful is a good alternate because it also has an awesome lead performance at the head: Javier Bardem. I got 1/5 here only getting Biutiful right.

Best Original Song

Winner: "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque
Alternate: "I See the Light" - Tangled

Burlesque seems to be only good for one thing: music and that's why the Cher ballad is the one to beat. "I See the Light" from Tangled is the alternate because it seems like the other song that seems to be getting a good amount of positive. I got 2/5 here only seeing "Coming Home" from Country Strong and "I See the Light" from Tangled.

Best Original Score

Winner: Hans Zimmer - Inception
Alternate: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Social Network

Everyone loves Hans Zimmer's score from Inception and that's why I think it has the strongest chance of winning. The score for The Social Network seems the most experimental and that makes it a good alternate. It's also freaking awesome which is another good reason. I got 3/5 here thinking that Carter Burwell's True Grit score and John Powell's How to Train Your Dragon Score would get in. Sadly, not.

For the TV awards, I'm just going to name winner and alternate predictions. No write ups.

Best Television Series - Drama

Winner: Mad Men
Alternate: The Walking Dead

Best Television Series - Musical/Comedy

Winner: Modern Family
Alternate: Glee

Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Winner: Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
Alternate: Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire

Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Winner: Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men
Alternate: Piper Perabo - Covert Affairs

Best Actor in a Television Series - Musical/Comedy

Winner: Jim Parsons - Big Bang Theory
Alternate: Thomas Jane - Hung

Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical/Comedy

Winner: Laura Linney - The Big C
Alternate: Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Winner: Temple Grandin
Alternate: You Don't Know Jack

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Winner: Dennis Quaid - The Special Relationship
Alternate: Al Pacino - You Don't Know Jack

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Winner: Claire Danes - Temple Grandin
Alternate: Jennifer Love Hewitt - The Client List

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Winner: David Strathairn - Temple Grandin
Alternate: Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Winner: Jane Lynch - Glee
Alternate: Julia Stiles - Dexter

Old Grades 52

2011-01-02T15:42:00.001-08:00

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

(x6) 1993, dir. Henry Selick A

The Polar Express

(x5) 2004, dir. Robert Zemeckis A+

A Christmas Carol

2009, dir. Robert Zemeckis A

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

(x5) 2000, dir. Ron Howard A-

Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

(x3) 1966, dirs. Chuck Jones & Ben Washam A+

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

(x3) 1997, dir. Andy Knight A+

Beauty and the Beast

(x6) 1991, dirs. Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise A+

Black Swan

2010, dir. Darren Aronofsky A+

Almost Famous

2000, dir. Cameron Crowe A

Home Alone

(x4) 1990, dir. Chris Columbus B+

The Tourist

2010, dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck C

Guess Who

2005, dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan B-

Toy Story 3

(x2) 2010, dir. Lee Unkrich A+

The Kids Are All Right

2010, dir. Lisa Cholodenko A+

SAG Predictions!

2010-12-15T23:36:00.000-08:00

I will do a follow up post for both the GG and SAG nominations later this week. But for now, here are my SAG nomination predictions!

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges - True Grit [ROOSTER COGBURN]
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network [MARK ZUCKERBERG]
Colin Firth - The King's Speech [KING GEORGE VI]
James Franco - 127 Hours [ARON RALSTON]
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine [DEAN]

Alternate: Robert Duvall - Get Low [FELIX BUSH]

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right [NIC]
Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole [BECCA]
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone [REE DOLLY]
Natalie Portman - Black Swan [NINA SAYERS]
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine [CINDY]

Alternate: Lesley Manville - Another Year [MARY]

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Christian Bale - The Fighter [DICKY EKLUND]
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network [EDUARDO SAVERIN]
Sam Rockwell - Conviction [KENNY WATERS]
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right [PAUL]
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech [LIONEL LOGUE]

Alternate: Jeremy Renner - The Town [JAMES COUGHLIN]

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Helena Bonham-Carter - The King's Speech [QUEEN ELIZABETH]
Melissa Leo - The Fighter [ALICE WARD]
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit [MATTIE ROSS]
Jackie Weaver - Animal Kingdom [JANINE "SMURF" CODY]
Dianne Wiest - Rabbit Hole [NAT]

Alternate: Amy Adams - The Fighter [CHARLENE FLEMING]

Best Ensemble Cast for a Motion Picture

Black Swan
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
The Social Network

Alternates: The Fighter, The Town and Winter's Bone

Golden Globe Predictions

2010-12-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

Haven't done a post like this in a while! Without further adue, here are my Golden Globe nomination predictions! One film will be included in brackets below the normal five because sometimes the HFPA like to go into overdrive with their nominees.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

127 Hours
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit
(The Fighter)

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Easy A
Greenberg
The Kids Are All Right
Love & Other Drugs
Made in Dagenham
(Cyrus)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jeff Bridges - True Grit
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine
(Robert Duvall - Get Low)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Lesley Manville - Another Year
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine
(Hilary Swank - Conviction)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Jim Carrey - I Love You, Philip Morris
Johnny Depp - Alice in Wonderland
Paul Giamatti - Barney's Version
Jake Gyllenhaal - Love & Other Drugs
Ben Stiller - Greenberg
(Robert Downey, Jr. - Due Date)

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway - Love & Other Drugs
Sally Hawkins - Made in Dagenham
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone - Easy A
(Cher - Burlesque)

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Christian Bale - The Fighter
Andrew Garfield - The Social Network
Sam Rockwell - Conviction
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech
(Justin Timberlake - The Social Network)

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Helena Bonham-Carter - The King's Speech
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit
Jackie Weaver - Animal Kingdom
Dianne Wiest - Rabbit Hole
(Amy Adams - The Fighter)

Best Director

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan
Danny Boyle - 127 Hours
David Fincher - The Social Network
Tom Hooper - The King's Speech
Christopher Nolan - Inception
(Ethan & Joel Coen - True Grit)

Best Screenplay

Inception
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech
The Social Network
True Grit
(The Fighter)

Best Original Score

A.R. Rahman - 127 Hours
John Powell - How to Train Your Dragon
Hans Zimmer - Inception
Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech
Carter Burwell - True Grit
(Rachel Portman - Never Let Me Go)

Best Original Song

"If I Rise" - 127 Hours
"Coming Home" - Country Strong
"I See the Light" - Tangled
"We Belong Together" - Toy Story 3
"Shine" - Waiting for Superman
("You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque)

Best Animated Film

Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Tangled
Toy Story 3
(Megamind)

Best Foreign Film

Biutiful [Mexico]
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo [Sweden]
Incendies [Canada]
Of Gods and Men [France]
Son of Babylon [Iraq]
(Kawasaki's Rose [Czech Republic])

Old Grades 51

2010-12-12T13:59:00.001-08:00

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

, dir. Kidron A-

Bridget Jones's Diary

, dir. Maguire A

The Fourth Kind

, dir. Osunsamni B-

Raising Helen

, dir. G Marshall B+

Gia

, dir. Cristofer A-

The Girl Who Played with Fire

, dir. Alfredson A

Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows: Part 1

, dir. Yates A+

, dir. I Reitman A

, dir. Mangold A-

, dir. Craven A+

, dir. Vojtowicz-Vosloo B

, dir. Hallström B+

, dir. Eastwood A-

, dir. R Marshall B+

, dir. Craven A+

Old Grades 50

2010-11-07T13:15:00.001-08:00

Scream

, dir. Craven A+

Saw 3D

, dir. Greutert B

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

, dir. Herzog B+

, dir. Meyers A

, dir. Hines A-

, dirs. Various B+

x2, dir. Håfström A+

, dir. Anderson C+

, dir. Berlanti A-

, dir. Ortega A-

, dir. Scherfig A

, dir. Almodovar A-

The Princess and the Frog

, dirs. Clements & Musker B+

Anger Management

, dir. Segal B

Old Grades 49

2010-09-26T16:59:00.001-07:00

When a Man Loves a Women

, dir. Mandoki A-

The Watcher

, dir. Charbanic B-

Sleepless in Seattle

, dir. Ephron A-

The Back-up Plan

, dir. Poul B

The Door in the Floor

, dir. T Williams B+

Paris, je t'aime

, dirs. Various B+

Alice in Wonderland

, dirs. Geronimi, Jackson & Luske A-

, dir. Nimoy B

, dir. Noyce B+

, dir. Zucker B+

, dir. Zucker A-

, dir. Ivory Wayans B+

Scary Movie

, dir. Ivory Wayans A

Basic Instinct

, dir. Verhoeven B+

Old Grades 48

2010-07-28T15:50:00.001-07:00

Crazy Heart

, dir. Cooper B+

When in Rome

, dir. Steven Johnson B

City of Angels

, dir. Silberling B-

Up in the Air

, dir. J Reitman A

The House of the Devil

, dir. West A+

Shutter Island

, dir. Scorsese A+

Ponyo

, dir. Miyazaki A-

Toy Story 3

, dir. Unkrich A+

Where the Wild Things Are

, dir. Jonze A

The Book of Eli

, dirs. The Hughes Bros. A-

Sorority Row

(x2), dir. Hendler A-

Splice

, dir. Natali B+

Traffic

, dir. Soderbergh A+

Killers

, dir. Luketic B+

Old Grades 47

2010-06-12T22:42:00.001-07:00

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

, dirs. Hurwitz & Schlossberg B-

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle

, dir. Leiner B

, dir. Berdejo C+

, dir. Zemeckis A

, dir. Skjoldbjærg A

, dir. Terrio A+

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Seventh Season

, dirs. Various A

Two Lovers

, dir. Gray B+

Elegy

, dir. Coixet A-

A Serious Man

, dirs. The Coen Bros. A

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

, dir. Arden Oplev A-

The Banger Sisters

, dir. Dolman B

The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie!

, dir. Franklin A

Avatar

, dir. Cameron A+

Old Grades 46

2010-05-02T15:12:00.001-07:00

About a Boy

, dirs. C & P Weitz B+

How to Train Your Dragon

, dirs. DeBlois & Sanders A+

Everybody's Fine

, dir. K Jones B

There's Something About Mary

, dirs. The Farrelly Bros. B+

The Shining

, dir. Kubrick A+

Brothers

, dir. Sheridan B

The Blind Side

, dir. Lee Hancock B+

A Little Trip to Heaven

, dir. Kormákur B-

, dir. Merkin B

, dir. Campion A-

, dir. Barrymore A

, dir. Elliot A-

, dir. Zonca A+

Old Grades 45

2010-03-13T10:45:00.001-08:00

Alice in Wonderland

, dir. Burton A+

Tennessee

, dir. Woodley B

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Sixth Season

, dirs. Various A

Something's Gotta Give

, dir. Meyers B+

The Box

, dir. Kelly B

Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire

(x2), dir. Daniels A+

Law Abiding Citizen

, dir. Gary Gray B

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

, dirs. Lord & Miller B+

Monsters vs. Aliens

, dirs. Letterman & Vernon A-

Frequency

, dir. Hoblit B

Rain Man

, dir. Levinson A+

Back to the Future Part III

, dir. Zemeckis A-

Spinning into Butter

, dir. Brokaw B-

Henry Poole is Here

, dir. Pellington A

Back to the Future Part II

, dir. Zemeckis A-

Oscar Predictions

2010-03-07T12:19:00.000-08:00

Best Picture: Winner: The Hurt Locker, Alternate: Avatar

Best Director: Winner: Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker, Alternate: James Cameron - Avatar

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Winner: Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart, Alternate: Colin Firth - A Single Man

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Winner: Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia, Alternate: Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Best Supporting Actor: Winner: Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds, Alternate: Christopher Plummer - The Last Station (Just because this is the first time they've nominated him and he's 80!)

Best Supporting Actress: Winner: Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire, Alternate: Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air (Just because she won the most Critics awards next to Mo'Nique)

Best Foreign Film: Winner: The White Ribbon (Germany), Alternate: A Prophet (France)

Best Adpated Screenplay: Winner: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner - Up in the Air, Alternate: Geoffrey Fletcher - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire

Best Original Screenplay: Winner: Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker, Alternate: Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

Best Costume Design: Winner: Sandy Powell - The Young Victoria, Alternate: Janet Patterson - Bright Star

Best Animated Film: Winner: Up, Alternate: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Documentary Feature: Winner: The Cove, Alternate: Food, Inc.

Best Cinematography: Winner: Inglourious Basterds, Alternate: The White Ribbon

Best Art Direction: Winner: Avatar, Alternate: Sherlock Holmes

Best Film Editing: Winner: Avatar, Alternate: The Hurt Locker

Best Visual Effects: Winner: Avatar, Alternate: District 9

Best Makeup: Winner: Star Trek, Alternate: The Young Victoria

Best Original Score: Winner: Up, Alternate: Avatar

Best Original Song: Winner: "Take It All" - Nine, Alternate: "The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart

Best Sound Mixing: Winner: Avatar, Alternate: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Best Sound Editing: Winner: Avatar, Alternate: The Hurt Locker

Best Short Film, Animated: Winner: Wallace & Gromit in A Matter of Loaf and Death, Alternate: French Roast

Best Short Film, Live Action: Winner: The New Tenants, Alternate: Instead of Abracadabra

Best Documentary Short: Winner: Music by Prudence, Alternate: China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province

I'm expecting Avatar to reap many awards and Streep to win Actress over Bullock! It has to happen. The Academy can no longer let her go on without another statue!

Some Movie Reviews

2010-02-14T17:45:00.000-08:00

Just some thoughts on the recent movies I have seen :)

Back to the Future Part II- I enjoyed the first one immensely and even though this is a bit of a step down, it still is a fun movie to watch. Michael J. Fox is good and Christopher Lloyd is loads of fun. The special effects were good and the depiction of 2015 and comparing it with what 2015 may look like 5 years from now is cool and kind of trippy. A-

Henry Poole is Here- Didn't really expect much from this, but came away with a lot more. Luke Wilson has never been better and Adriana Barraza really shows that Babel was no fluke. Newcomer Rachel Seiferth is also amazing with the name of her character really showing what Luke Wilson's Henry lacks. Definitely worth a look. A

Spinning into Butter- Merely okay. Sarah Jessica Parker seems to be trying too hard here (although she has a few nice moments) and the story seems to lack focus. Miranda Richardson is sleepwalking here and maybe with a better script this movie could have been something different. B-

Back to the Future Part III- The story kind of gets more absurd here, but also more fun. Going back to western 1885 is creative and adding a love story for Doc is nice. Michael J. Fox is still full of energy and of course Christopher Lloyd is great. The trilogy ends on a nice note and I definitely wouldn't mind watching all three again. Robert Zemeckis brought a lot of energy to the proceedings and it pays off. A-

Rain Man- A one of a kind movie with excellent performances by Tom Cruise, Valeria Golino and, of course, the exceptional Academy Award winning Dustin Hoffman. He's simply amazing in this movie and he definitely deserved the Oscar. Showing the relationship between these two brothers from one barely acknowledging the other, to the same one growing to respect and care for the other, is so touching and deeply felt. Barry Levinson does a great job depicting this and I am glad I got the chance to experience it. A+

Frequency- Verging on the almost so bad it's good category, Frequency is a fun little thriller anchored by committed performances from Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel. Talking to someone that has long passed on in another time from your time through a radio (confusing!?) would definitely be cool, and using it to save lives= BONUS! It ends all happily and such, so overall, good movie. B

Monsters vs. Aliens- A nice addition to the crop of animated films. I liked the idea of having monsters go head to head with aliens and it was pulled off with good animation and humor. Speaking of the animation, I was surprised to see how life like it was. They actually looked like humans etched into an animated world. As the animated pictures come out, the effects get so much better. The voice cast was well put together and made this film an enjoyable romp. A-

Old Grades 44

2010-01-31T16:59:00.000-08:00

Tropic Thunder

, dir. Stiller A

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

, dir. C Carter B

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

, dir. del Toro B+

, dir. Lloyd C+

, dir. Bekmambetov B

, dir. Segal B+

, dir. Benton A+

, dir. Bigelow A+

, dir. Jackson B+

The Time Traveler's Wife

, dir. Schwentke A-

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

, dir. C Weitz C+

Paranormal Activity

, dir. Peli A+

Shutter

, dir. Ochiai B

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

, dir. Nalluri A-

My Final Oscar Predictions!

2010-01-31T16:39:00.000-08:00

Best Picture

Avatar
Bright Star
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Up
Up in the Air

JUST MISSED THE CUT: A Serious Man

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
James Cameron - Avatar
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Clint Eastwood - Invictus

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Viggo Mortensen - The Road

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Abbie Cornish - Bright Star
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Helen Mirren - The Last Station

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Alfred Molina - An Education
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Anthony Mackie - The Hurt Locker

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Marion Cotillard - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Julianne Moore - A Single Man

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Penélope Cruz - Nine

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9
An Education
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Up in the Air

JUST MISSED THE CUT: In the Loop

Best Original Screenplay

(500) Days of Summer
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
A Serious Man
Up

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Bright Star

Best Animated Film

Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ponyo
The Princess and the Frog
Up

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Best Art Direction

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Inglourious Basterds
The Lovely Bones
Nine
Sherlock Holmes

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Avatar

Best Cinematography

Bright Star
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Lovely Bones
Nine

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Avatar

Best Costume Design

Bright Star
Inglourious Basterds
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Coco avant Chanel

Best Documentary Feature

Burma VJ
The Cove
Every Little Step
Food, Inc.
Valentino: The Last Emperor

Best Film Editing

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
Up in the Air

JUST MISSED THE CUT: District 9

Best Foreign Film

A Prophet (France)
Samson & Delilah (Australia)
The Secret of Her Eyes (Argentina)
The White Ribbon (Germany)
Winter in Wartime (Netherlands)

Best Makeup

District 9
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus
The Road

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Best Original Score

Avatar
Coco avant Chanel
The Informant!
Sherlock Holmes
Up

JUST MISSED THE CUT: A Single Man

Best Original Song

"The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart
"Cinema Italiano" - Nine
"Take it All" - Nine
"I Can See in Colour" - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire
"Almost There" - The Princess and the Frog

JUST MISSED THE CUT: "Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog

Best Sound Editing

Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Star Trek
Up

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Best Sound Mixing

Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Star Trek
Up

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Best Visual Effects

Avatar
District 9
Star Trek

JUST MISSED THE CUT: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

*I have not included my thoughts on the Doc Shorts and Animated Shorts because I have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to those categories. And no just missed the cuts for Foreign Film and Documentary Feature because of the same reason

Conan O'Brien vs. Jay Leno

2010-01-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

In the ongoing war between Jay and Conan, I was and will always be on team Conan. As much as I love Jay, Conan has always seemed to me to be the better, funnier and more energetic host. In the midst of insults at NBC and putting down the network, Conan is the one that has been damaged the most.

He should have been the one to stay at his Tonight Show post and Jay should have been the one to leave. Was NBC

even gonna keep Jay after they took him off the Tonight Show and before he got his 10:00 deal?

Conan earned his right to take the reigns of the Tonight Show and to have them snatched away from him just like that is unthinkable. NBC should not have done this and I think they know that they are going to kick themselves for making this move.

The Lovely Bones: Novel to...Film?

2010-01-24T14:29:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has read this amazing novel can agree with the fact that the film has been stripped of the many riches that populated novel. Watching The Lovely Bones wasn't an unpleasant experience, but more of a disappointing one. Alice Sebold has this incredibly unique vision and all I wanted was for most of it to be rightfully translated to the screen. Unfortunately, this did not happen.

With that said though, the first 30 minutes of the movie were extraordinary and definitely made me feel I was watching a perfect adaptation of the novel. Pinpointing certain memories from Susie Salmon's mind was a great touch and really helped us get to know what kind of girl she was. Whether it be saving her little brother's life by driving him to the hospital, taking as many photos as she could, discussing with Grandma the boy she has a crush on, or almost landing her first kiss with that said boy, all of these memories detailed the incredible girl that we would stay with throughout the movie.

Everything is dynamite in this first section of the film. The art direction and costume design perfectly capture the feel of the 70's and the cinematography is glorious to look at. Saoirse Ronan deserves the biggest heap of praise because she brings Susie Salmon to life. I don't think I could picture anyone else in the role. With her face so expressive, she was able to convey everything Susie felt throughout her whole body with just one look. Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg are perfect as Abigail and Jack, providing loveable, but tough parents who definitely have family placed in their hearts. Susan Sarandon is a hoot in the scenes trying to push Susie to make a move on the boy she likes.

As the first 30 minutes comes to a close, the inevitable has to come with it too: Susie's murder. I'm glad that Peter Jackson decided to opt out of filming a rape scene, because I don't think it would've gone over too well. But with said I still think that mention of her being raped should have been present in the film. Yes it's brutal, but that's what the novel was about. A brutal act happening to this innocent girl and the toll it takes on her in the afterlife and the people she loves on Earth. The confrontation scene with Mr. Harvey (Stanley Tucci) and Susie is perfect and both play it very well. The mix of happiness, wonder, confusion and then ultimately fear on her face is heartbreaking, because you do not want her to endure this horrible act and pass away.

As soon as the scene where Susie enters George Harvey's bloody bathroom ends, is where the movie starts to go downhill and severely betray the novel. [SPOILERS] First of all, they found Susie's elbow, along with her toque, and that's what alerted Detective Fenerman (Michael Imperioli) that she was murdered. That scene in the book and the film always leave me with tears in my eyes and Weisz and Wahlberg play it amazingly. I would have liked to have seen Abigail engage in her affair with Fenerman because it was a vital part in making Abigail decide to leave her family. She just couldn't take her life anymore, so she had to leave, start an affair and then just leave her life altogether. Also, Rachel Weisz would have gotten a lot more to work with and it would've made her performance feel more complete.

Mark Wahlberg also could've gotten a lot more stride if he had been provided with more material. The scene where he thinks George Harvey is in the cornfield covering up evidence is all good and dandy, but he also has a heart attack and has more confrontation with Fenerman that would have beefed up the proceedings.

One of the most tragic mistakes made is the handling of the Grandma Lynn character. As I said earlier, in the scenes of the first 30 minutes, Susan Sarandon is a hoot. But later she kind of becomes a burden and that is ABSOLUTELY NOT the character of Grandma Lynn. Turning her into a characiture is a horrendous act and completely demeans the substance she has in the novel.

The fact that they had to basically smush everything together at the very end just made me lose more love in the film. To make it seem as if Abigail came back as soon as Lindsey (Rose McIver) escapes from Mr. Harvey's house with her life almost not intact, seems like cheating. And the fact that they forget the evidence that Lindsey brings back from Mr. Harvey's house is even more aggravating! In the book more evidence is found that links Mr. Harvey to Susie's murder (a charm and a Coke bottle) and the film doesn't even acknowledge it! The transference scene between Ruth (Carolyn Dando) and Susie was so beautiful in the novel, but is so quick and unimaginitve in the film. Ray and her were sharing this special experience and in the film it felt worthless. Speaking of Ray and Ruth, they aren't even explored! I wanted to see Ruana and see what she was like! Nope, doesn't happen. I wanted to see Ruth and the exploration of herself and her relationship with Ray after Susie brushes by her. I wanted to see Ruth grown up and on her own as well. Towards the end of the novel it explores Lindsey grown up and together with her boyfriend Sam. It shows her pregnant with her first child. There is all but one scene showing that she is pregnant and then, pfft, that's it. Even Mr. Harvey's death is a tab bit overexaggerated. Instead of leaving it to the imagination when he gets hit by the icicle and falls off the side of the hill, the film shows Mr. Harvey's violent descent. While it kind of is more gratifying, I liked the novels approach of leaving it to our imagination to figure out what happened.

It may seem like I`m being very harsh on this movie, and it`s only because this book is definitely the best book I`ve read in my life and to see it kind of savaged in movie form is a bit upsetting. I expected Peter Jackson to treat it delicately, but he kind of went overboard. I think Susie`s heaven scenes deserve to be fantastical and I think they do look amazing all CGI`d and maybe that`s what heaven should be portrayed as. This glorious place where we have the opportunity to be at peace.

And as harsh a grade as this movie seems to deserve, I can`t be that harsh on it because my love of the book overpowers my love of the movie. Plus, the first 30 minutes are breathtaking and definitely worth the look. Saoirse Ronan and Stanley Tucci definitley deserve the praise they have been receiving. However, I think after you have read the novel, just watch the first 30 minutes :)

The movie: B+, the book: A+

Old Grades 43

2010-01-10T18:26:00.001-08:00

The Air I Breathe

, dir. J Lee B+

The Family That Preys

, dir. T Perry B

, dir. Ephron A

, dir. Tarantino A+

, dir. Twohy D+

, dir. Seftel B-

, dir. Zemeckis A

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fifth Season

, dirs. Various A; The Body A+

Tim Burton`s The Nightmare Before Christmas

, dir. Selick A

The Polar Express

, dir. Zemeckis A+

Olive, the other Reindeer

, dir. O Moore A+

Elf

, dir. Favreau A-

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

, dir. Howard A-

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

, dirs. Jones & Washam A+

An apology

2010-01-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

I realized just today that I don't really post anything on here other than the awards that happen every year, my own awards, my movie grades, occasional holidays or if someone has passed away. I want to aplogize to people who used to read my blog and people who still do (if there are any) who want something more. That was my intent in the first place. I wanted somewhere I could talk about what I like most: films and anything that had to do with them. I wanted to talk unfiltered and just really speak my mind. And once again, I aplogize if I haven't been able to fulfill that up to now.

From this point on, I am going to try and focus on putting up more stuff on here. Movie reviews, news from the entertainment world and even my own daily thoughts.

So stay tuned!

SAG Nominations

2009-12-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

I am also a little late in posting these, but I couldn't predict them before hand so don't go apeshit on me.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart [BAD BLAKE]
George Clooney - Up in the Air [RYAN BINGHAM]
Colin Firth - A Single Man [GEORGE FALCONER]
Morgan Freeman - Invictus [NELSON MANDELA]
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker [STAFF SGT. WILLIAM JAMES]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side [LEIGH ANNE TUOHY]
Helen Mirren - The Last Station [SOFYA TOLSTOY]
Carey Mulligan - An Education [JENNY]
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire [CLAIREECE "PRECIOUS" JONES]
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia [JULIA CHILD]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Matt Damon - Invictus [FRANCOIS PIENAAR]
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger [CAPTAIN TONY STONE]
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station [LEO TOLSTOY]
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones [GEORGE HARVEY]
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds [COL. HANS LANDA]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz - Nine [CARLA]
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air [ALEX GORAN]
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air [NATALIE KEENER]
Diane Kruger - Inglourious Basterds [BRIDGET VON HAMMERSMARK]
Mo'Nique - Precious: Based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire [MARY JONES]

OutstandingPerformance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

AN EDUCATION

DOMINIC COOPER /Danny
ALFRED MOLINA /Jack
CAREY MULLIGAN /Jenny
ROSAMUND PIKE /Helen
PETER SARSGAARD /David
EMMA THOMPSON /Headmistress
OLIVIA WILLIAMS /Miss Stubbs

THE HURT LOCKER

CHRISTIAN CAMARGO/ Col. John Cambridge
BRIAN GERAGHTY /Specialist Owen Eldridge
EVANGELINE LILLY/ Connie James
ANTHONY MACKIE /Sgt. J.T. Sanborn
JEREMY RENNER /Staff Sgt. William James

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

DANIEL BRÜHL /Fredrick Zoller
AUGUST DIEHL /Major Hellstrom
JULIE DREYFUS /Francesca Mondino
MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Lt. Archie Hicox
SYLVESTER GROTH /Joseph Goebbels
JACKY IDO /Marcel
DIANE KRUGER / Bridget Von Hammersmark
MÉLANIE LAURENT /Shosanna
DENIS MENOCHET /Perrier LaPedite
MIKE MYERS /General Ed French
BRAD PITT / Lt. Aldo Raine
ELI ROTH / Sgt. Donny Donowitz
TIL SCHWEIGER /Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz
ROD TAYLOR /Winston Churchill
CHRISTOPH WALTZ /Col. Hans Landa
MARTIN WUTTKE /Hitler

NINE

MARION COTILLARD/ Luisa Contini
PENÉLOPE CRUZ /Carla
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS/ Guido Contini
JUDI DENCH /Lillian
FERGIE /Saraghina
KATE HUDSON /Stephanie
NICOLE KIDMAN /Claudia
SOPHIA LOREN /Mamma

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE

MARIAH CAREY /Ms. Weiss
LENNY KRAVITZ /Nurse John
MO'NIQUE / Mary Jones
PAULA PATTON /Ms. Rain
SHERRI SHEPHERD /Cornrows
GABOUREY SIDIBE /Claireece "Precious" Jones

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

KEVIN BACON / Lt. Col. Michael R. Strobl - "TAKING CHANCE"
CUBA GOODING, JR./ Ben Carson - "GIFTED HANDS: THE BEN CARSON STORY"
JEREMY IRONS /Alfred Stieglitz - "GEORGIA O'KEEFFE"
KEVIN KLINE /Cyrano de Bergerac - "GREAT PERFORMANCES: CYRANO de BERGERAC"
TOM WILKINSON /Salter - "A NUMBER"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

JOAN ALLEN /Georgia O'Keeffe - "GEORGIA O'KEEFFE"
DREW BARRYMORE /Little Edie - "GREY GARDENS"
RUBY DEE / Mrs. Harper - "AMERICA"
JESSICA LANGE /Big Edie - "GREY GARDENS"
SIGOURNEY WEAVER/ Mary Griffith - "PRAYERS FOR BOBBY"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

SIMON BAKER /Patrick Jane - "THE MENTALIST"
BRYAN CRANSTON /Walter White - "BREAKING BAD"
MICHAEL C. HALL /Dexter Morgan - "DEXTER"
JON HAMM / DonDraper - "MAD MEN"
HUGH LAURIE /House - "HOUSE"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

PATRICIA ARQUETTE/ Allison Dubois - "MEDIUM"
GLENN CLOSE /Patty Hewes - "DAMAGES"
MARISKA HARGITAY/ Det. Olivia Benson - "LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT"
HOLLY HUNTER /Grace Hanadarko - "SAVING GRACE"
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick - "THE GOOD WIFE"
KYRA SEDGWICK /Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson - "THE CLOSER"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

ALEC BALDWIN /Jack Donaghy - "30 ROCK"
STEVE CARELL /Michael Scott - "THE OFFICE"
LARRY DAVID /Himself - "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM"
TONY SHALHOUB /Adrian Monk - "MONK"
CHARLIE SHEEN /Charlie Harper - "TWO AND A HALF MEN"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly - "SAMANTHA WHO?"
TONI COLLETTE /Tara Gregor - "UNITED STATES OF TARA"
EDIE FALCO /Jackie Peyton - "NURSE JACKIE"
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon - "30 ROCK"
JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Christine Campbell - "THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE"

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

THE CLOSER

G.W. BAILEY / Lt. Provenza
MICHAEL PAUL CHAN/ Lt. Mike Tao
RAYMOND CRUZ /Det. Julio Sanchez
TONY DENISON /Lt. Andy Flynn
ROBERT GOSSETT /Commander Taylor
PHILLIP P. KEENE/ Buzz Watson
COREY REYNOLDS /Sgt. David Gabriel
KYRA SEDGWICK /Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
J.K. SIMMONS /Asst. Police Chief Will Pope
JON TENNEY / FBI Special Agent Fritz Howard

DEXTER

PRESTON BAILEY /Cody
JULIE BENZ / Rita Bennett
JENNIFER CARPENTER / Debra Morgan
BRANDO EATON / Jonah Mitchell
COURTNEY FORD / Christine
MICHAEL C. HALL /Dexter Morgan
DESMOND HARRINGTON / Joey Quinn
C.S. LEE / Vince Masuka
JOHN LITHGOW /Arthur Mitchell
RICK PETERS /Elliot
JAMES REMAR /Harry Morgan
CHRISTINA ROBINSON / Astor
LAUREN VÉLEZ /Lt. Maria Laguerta
DAVID ZAYAS /Angel Batista

THE GOOD WIFE

CHRISTINE BARANSKI / Diane Lockhart
JOSH CHARLES /Will Gardner
MATT CZUCHRY /Cary Agos
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick
ARCHIE PANJABI /Kalinda Sharma
GRAHAM PHILLIPS /Zach Florrick
MACKENZIE VEGA /Grace Florrick

MAD MEN

ALEXA ALEMANNI /Allison
BRYAN BATT /Salvatore Romano
JARED S. GILMORE/ Bobby Draper
MICHAEL GLADIS /Paul Kinsey
JON HAMM / Don Draper
JARED HARRIS /Lane Pryce
CHRISTINA HENDRICKS / Joan Holloway (Harris)
JANUARY JONES /Betty Draper
VINCENT KARTHEISER / Peter Campbell
ROBERT MORSE /Bertram Cooper
ELISABETH MOSS /Peggy Olson
KIERNAN SHIPKA /Sally Draper
JOHN SLATTERY /Roger Sterling
RICH SOMMER /Harry Crane
CHRISTOPHER STANLEY / Henry Francis
AARON STATON /Ken Cosgrove

TRUE BLOOD

CHRIS BAUER /Andy Bellefleur
MEHCAD BROOKS /Eggs
ANNA CAMP / Sarah Newlin
NELSAN ELLIS /Lafayette Reynolds
MICHELLE FORBES /Maryann Forrester
MARIANA KLAVENO /Lorena
RYAN KWANTEN /Jason Stackhouse
TODD LOWE / Terry Bellefleur
MICHAEL McMILLIAN/ Steve Newlin
STEPHEN MOYER /Bill Compton
ANNA PAQUIN /Sookie Stackhouse
JIM PARRACK /Hoyt Fortenberry
CARRIE PRESTON /Arlene Fowler
WILLIAM SANDERSON/ Bud Dearborne
ALEXANDERSKARSGÅRD / Eric Northman
SAM TRAMMELL /Sam Merlotte
RUTINA WESLEY /Tara Thornton
DEBORAH ANN WOLL/ Jessica Hamby

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 ROCK

SCOTT ADSIT /Pete Hornberger
ALEC BALDWIN /Jack Donaghy
KATRINA BOWDEN /Cerie
KEVIN BROWN / DotCom
GRIZZ CHAPMAN /Grizz
TINA FEY / LizLemon
JUDAH FRIEDLANDER/ Frank Rossitano
JANE KRAKOWSKI /Jenna Maroney
JOHN LUTZ / Lutz
JACK McBRAYER /Kenneth Parcell
TRACY MORGAN /Tracy Jordan
KEITH POWELL /Toofer

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM

LARRY DAVID /Himself
SUSIE ESSMAN /Susie Greene
JEFF GARLIN /Jeff Greene
CHERYL HINES /Cheryl David

GLEE

DIANNA AGRON /Quinn Fabray
CHRIS COLFER /Kurt Hummel
PATRICK GALLAGHER/ Ken Tanaka
JESSALYN GILSIG /Terri Schuester
JANE LYNCH / Sue Sylvester
JAYMA MAYS / Emma Pillsbury
KEVIN McHALE /Arty Abrams
LEA MICHELE /Rachel Berry
CORY MONTEITH /Finn Hudson
HEATHER MORRIS /Brittany
MATTHEW MORRISON/ Will Schuester
AMBER RILEY /Mercedes
NAYA RIVERA /Santana Lopez
MARK SALLING /Puck
HARRY SHUM JR. /Mike Chang
JOSH SUSSMAN /Jacob Ben Israel
DIJON TALTON /Matt Rutherford
IQBAL THEBA /Principal Figgins
JENNA USHKOWITZ /Tina

MODERN FAMILY

JULIE BOWEN /Claire Dunphy
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell Pritchett
NOLAN GOULD /Luke Dunphy
SARAH HYLAND /Haley Dunphy
ED O'NEILL / Jay Pritchett
RICO RODRIGUEZ /Manny Delgado
ERIC STONESTREET/ Cameron
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
ARIEL WINTER /Alex Dunphy

THE OFFICE

LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER/ Kevin Malone
CREED BRATTON /Creed Bratton
STEVE CARELL /Michael Scott
JENNA FISCHER /Pam Beesly
KATE FLANNERY /Meredith Palmer
ED HELMS/ AndyBernard
MINDY KALING /Kelly Kapoor
ELLIE KEMPER /Kellie Erin Hannon
ANGELA KINSEY /Angela Martin
JOHN KRASINSKI /Jim Halpert
PAUL LIEBERSTEIN/ Toby Flenderson
B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard
OSCAR NUÑEZ /Oscar Martinez
CRAIG ROBINSON /Darryl Philbin
PHYLLIS SMITH /Phillis Lapin-Vance
RAINN WILSON /Dwight Schrute

Golden Globe Nominations

2009-12-23T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sorry about posting reactions to the Globe nominations so late. I just haven't found the right time to do so, but now seems perfect. The nods I got right will be bolded.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
Up in the Air

I got 4/5 here missing Avatar for 3 other movies because sometimes the HFPA goes nuts and nominates 7 movies for Best Picture. My other choices were An Education, Invictus and The Last Station.

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

I got 5/5 here, but this category was pretty easy to guess. I also chose A Serious Man and Whip It as my other choices. Whip It got such good reception, so I thought it had a very good chance. Guess not.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Tobey Maguire - Brothers

I got 4/5 here thinking that Tobey Maguire's performance in Brothers wouldn't make it with the uneven reception it has gotten. My other choices were Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker and Viggo Mortensen for the Road.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Emily Blunt - The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

I got 4/5 here not expecting Emily Blunt for The Young Victoria to come into play at all. Her performance and the film haven't been getting the best reviews so I thought there was no chance for her. But then again, Cate Blanchett did get in for Elizabeth: The Golden Age which was another picture not well received by critics. My other choices were Abbie Cornish for Bright Star and Saoirse Ronan for The Lovely Bones.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Matt Damon - The Informant!
Daniel Day-Lewis - Nine
Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg - A Serious Man

I got 5/5 here. Easy category to predict. My other choice was Sacha Baron Cohen for Bruno just because he won for Borat a couple years ago and it's the same type of performance.

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Sandra Bullock - The Proposal
Marion Cotillard - Nine
Julia Roberts - Duplicity
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia
Meryl Streep - It's Complicated

I got 4/5 here. Didn't see Julia Roberts' nomination. They sure do love her don't they? After her good, but hardly award worthy performance in Charlie Wilson's War got nominated, I should always predict her in the future. Next year she will most likely get a nomination for Valentine's Day! :) My other choices were Zooey Deschanel for (500) Days of Summer and Ellen Page for Whip It.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Matt Damon - Invictus
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

I got 4/5 here not predicting Woody Harrelson's nod. With this and the SAG nominating him, he might be on his way to an Oscar nod. My other choices were Alec Baldwin for It's Complicated and Alfred Molina for An Education.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Penelope Cruz - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo'Nique - Precious
Julianne Moore - A Single Man

I got 5/5 here, but I am hoping that the Academy realizes that Marion Cotillard is supporting and moves her to this category bumping Penelope Cruz out and having that as the line up for Oscar. My other choice was Samantha Morton for The Messenger.

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
James Cameron - Avatar
Clint Eastwood - Invictus
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

I got 4/5 here thinking that since a big movie like Avatar hadn't been released yet, that would hurt it's chances of being nominated. My other choices were Rob Marshall for Nine and Lee Daniels for Precious.

Best Screenplay

District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
It's Complicated
Up in the Air

I got 3/5 here, missing District 9 and It's Complicated for An Education, Precious and A Serious Man.

Best Animated Film

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Up

I got 5/5 here, but I wish they had picked my other choice Ponyo instead of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Best Original Score

Avatar
The Informant!
A Single Man
Up
Where the Wild Things Are

I got 2/5 here with my other choices being Coco avant Chanel, The Last Station, The Lovely Bones and The Princess and the Frog.

Best Original Song

"I See You" - Avatar
"Winter" - Brothers
"The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart
"I Want to Come Home" - Everybody's Fine
"Cinema Italiano" - Nine

I also got 2/5 here with my other choices being "Take it All" from Nine, "I See in Colour" from Precious and both "Almost There" and "Down in New Orleans" from The Princess and the Frog.

Best Foreign Film

Baaria (Italy)
Broken Embraces (Spain)
The Maid (Chile)
A Prophet (France)
The White Ribbon (Germany)

I got 3/5 here with my other choices being Coco avant Chanel, Mother and Samson and Delilah.

Best Television Series - Drama

Big Love
Dexter
House
Mad Men
True Blood

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama

Glenn Close – Damages
January Jones – Mad Men
Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife
Anna Paquin – True Blood
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Drama

Simon Baker – The Mentalist
Michael C. Hall – Dexter
Jon Hamm – Mad Men
Hugh Laurie – House
Bill Paxton – Big Love

Best Television Series - Musical/Comedy

30 Rock
Entourage
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical/Comedy

Toni Collette – United States Of Tara
Courteney Cox – Cougar Town
Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey – 30 Rock
Lea Michele – Glee

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical/Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
Steve Carell – The Office
David Duchovny – Californication
Thomas Jane – Hung
Matthew Morrison – Glee

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

Georgia O'Keeffe
Grey Gardens
Into The Storm
Little Dorrit
Taking Chance

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Joan Allen – Georgia O'Keeffe
Drew Barrymore – Grey Gardens
Jessica Lange – Grey Gardens
Anna Paquin – The Courageous Heart Of Irena Sendler
Sigourney Weaver – Prayers For Bobby

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Kevin Bacon – Taking Chance
Kenneth Branagh – Wallander: One Step Behind
Chiwetel Ejiofor – Endgame
Brendan Gleeson – Into The Storm
Jeremy Irons – Georgia O'Keeffe

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Jane Adams – Hung
Rose Byrne – Damages
Jane Lynch – Glee
Janet McTeer – Into The Storm
Chloe Sevigny – Big Love

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Michael Emerson – Lost
Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother
William Hurt – Damages
John Lithgow – Dexter
Jeremy Piven – Entourage

Old Grades 42

2009-12-23T11:57:00.001-08:00

, dir. Duffy B

, dir. I Winkler A

, dir. Craven A-

, dir. Pasquin B

, dirs. Bass & Rankin Jr. A+

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

, dirs. Nagashima & Roemer A+

Shrek 2

, dir. Adamson, Asbury & Vernon A

Shrek

, dirs. Adamson & Jenson A

South Park: Imaginationland

, dir. Parker A-

I Love You, Beth Cooper

, dir. Columbus B-

Four Christmases

, dir. Gordon C

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fourth Season

, dirs. Various A

My Sister's Keeper

, dir. N Cassavetes A+

The Shawshank Redemption

, dir. Darabont A+

RIP Brittany Murphy

2009-12-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

It is so sad to see you go at the age of 32. You were always a beacon of light in every movie you did no matter what the subject matter. I, however, will always remember you as Beverly Donofrio's best friend Fay Forrester in Riding in Cars with Boys. To me, that is your greatest performance. You are missed dearly :(

Final Golden Globe Predictions

2009-12-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

These are my final Golden Globe predictions. The Best Picture categories have 7 nominees and the rest of the categories have 6 nominees because sometimes the HFPA likes to go crazy like that.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
The Last Station
Precious
Up in the Air

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
It's Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine
A Serious Man
Whip It

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
Viggo Mortensen - The Road

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Abbie Cornish - Bright Star
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Saoirse Ronan - The Lovely Bones
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Sacha Baron Cohen - Bruno
Matt Damon - The Informant
Daniel Day-Lewis - Nine
Robert Downey Jr. - Sherlock Holmes
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg - A Serious Man

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Sandra Bullock - The Proposal
Marion Cotillard - Nine
Zooey Deschanel - (500) Days of Summer
Ellen Page - Whip It
Meryl Streep - It's Complicated
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Alec Baldwin - It's Complicated
Matt Damon - Invictus
Alfred Molina - An Education
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Penelope Cruz - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo'Nique - Precious
Julianne Moore - A Single Man
Samantha Morton - The Messenger

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Lee Daniels - Precious
Clint Eastwood - Invictus
Rob Marshall - Nine
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds

Best Screenplay

An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up in the Air

Best Animated Film

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Ponyo
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Best Original Score

Coco avant Chanel
The Informant
The Last Station
The Lovely Bones
The Princess and the Frog
Up

Best Original Song

"The Weary Kind" - Crazy Heart
"Cinema Italiano" - Nine
"Take it All" - Nine
"I See in Colour" - Precious
"Almost There" - The Princess and the Frog
"Down in New Orleans" - The Princess and the Frog

Best Foreign Film

Broken Embraces
Coco avant Chanel
Mother
A Prophet
Samson & Delilah
The White Ribbon

First Golden Globe Predictions

2009-11-29T15:40:00.000-08:00

These are my first Golden Globe predictions, so bear with me :) For the picture nominations I'm going to put 7 films and for the actors, actresses, director and screenplay there will be 6 films because we all know how the Globes like to go crazy sometimes.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Bright Star
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Invictus
The Lovely Bones
Precious
Up in the Air

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

(500) Days of Summer
The Hangover
Julie & Julia
It's Complicated
Nine
A Serious Man
Whip It

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
Viggo Mortensen - The Road

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Abbie Cornish - Bright Star
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Saoirse Ronan - The Lovely Bones
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Matt Damon - The Informant
Daniel Day-Lewis - Nine
Robert DeNiro - Everybody's Fine
Ricky Gervais - The Invention of Lying
Joseph Gordon-Levitt - (500) Days of Summer
Michael Stuhlbarg - A Serious Man

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Sandra Bullock - The Proposal
Marion Cotillard - Nine
Zooey Deschanel - (500) Days of Summer
Ellen Page - Whip It
Meryl Streep - It's Complicated
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Alec Baldwin - It's Complicated
Matt Damon - Invictus
Alfred Molina - An Education
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Penelope Cruz - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo'Nique - Precious
Julianne Moore - A Single Man
Susan Sarandon - The Lovely Bones

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Lee Daniels - Precious
Clint Eastwood - Invictus
Peter Jackson - The Lovely Bones
Rob Marshall - Nine
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Best Animated Film

Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
Ponyo
Up

Best Screenplay

An Education
Inglourious Basterds
The Lovely Bones
Precious
A Serious Man
Up in the Air

I have no idea about the Original Score and Foreign Film nominees, so I'm not going to post those until I have more information.

Old Grades 41

2009-11-21T01:35:00.001-08:00

The Ugly Truth

, dir. Luketic B-

, dirs. Docter & Peterson A+

Chéri

, dir. Frears B

The Ring Two

, dir. Nakata B

The Notebook

, dir. N Cassavetes A-

, dir. Verbinski A-

, dir. J Lynch A

, dir. Mendes A+

, dir. R Scott A

, dir. Fletcher B+

, dir. Dougherty A+

, dir. Carpenter A+

, dir. Collet-Serra A

Saw VI

, dir. Greutert B+

Old Grades 40

2009-10-24T00:54:00.001-07:00

, dir. S Raimi A+

, dir. Kusama B+

, dir. Wang B

, dir. Fincher A

, dir. J Coen B

, dir. Dante Wayans B+

, dir. Hendler A-

, dir. Cuarón B

, dir. Di Meglio B-

, dir. Jeffs A

, dir. Rydell A+

, dir. Friedkin A+

, dir. T Gilroy B+

, dir. Selick A+

Kristin Chenoweth is amazing...

2009-09-21T18:56:00.001-07:00

This is probably the most gracious Emmy win I have ever seen. Kristin is alternately happy-sad and hilarious. This had me crying too =)

Old Grades 39

2009-09-05T00:26:00.001-07:00

Fragments

, dir. Woods C

Labour Pains

, dir. Shapiro B

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Third Season

, dirs. Various A

The Last House on the Left

, dir. Iliadis A

, dir. T Jenkins A+

, dir. S Coppola A

, dir. Scorsese A+

, dir. Nichols A

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

, dir. Spielberg A-

, dir. Favreau A-

, dir. Radford A

, dir. Tarantino A+

, dir. Avnet C

, dir. Selick A+

The Bhuray's: Other Categories III

2009-08-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Best Poster

Away from Her

The Brave One

There Will Be Blood

Time

Zodiac

Runners Up: American Gangster, Black Snake Moan, Michael Clayton, The Simpsons Movie & Snow Cake

Sexiest Woman

Carice van Houten as Rachel Stein/Ellis de Vries in Black Book

Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis in Atonement

Sienna Miller as Katya in Interview

Christina Ricci as Rae in Black Snake Moan

Tang Wei as Wong Chia Chi/Mrs. Mak in Lust, Caution

Runners Up: Megan Fox - Transformers, Alicia Keys - Smokin' Aces, Sidney Tamiia Poitier - Grindhouse, Kristen Stewart - In the Land of Women & Marisa Tomei - Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

Best Musical Sequence

"That's How You Know" - Enchanted
"Ann Sings at Lila's Wedding" - Evening
"Good Morning Baltimore" - Hairspray
"I Know Where I've Been" - Hairspray
"Falling Slowly" - Once

Runners Up: "Happy Working Song" - Enchanted, "You Can't Stop the Beat" - Hairspray, "I Can Hear the Bells" - Hairspray, "Non, je ne regrette rien" - La Vie en Rose & "If You Want Me" - Once

Best Action Sequence

"Robbery in the Convienent Store" - The Brave One
"Jumping from Building to Building" - The Bourne Ultimatum
"Big Truck on the Road" - Live Free or Die Hard
"Adam's Rescue" - The Kingdom
"The Hotel" - No Country for Old Men

Runners Up: "Mr. Turner's Attack" - Disturbia, "Duel at the Department of Mysteries" - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, "Police Car Pile Up" - The Hitcher, "First Assassination" - Lust, Caution & "Charlie and Yvaine vs. Lamia" - Stardust

The winners in ALL categories will be announced shortly! =)

Old Grades 38

2009-07-26T19:34:00.001-07:00

Grey Gardens

, dir. Sucsy A

Nothing but the Truth

, dir. Lurie A

The Haunting in Connecticut

, dir. Cornwell B

Just My Luck

, dir. Petrie B

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

, dir. Yates A

The Unborn

, dir. Goyer C+

Smart People

, dir. Murro A-

Diary of the Dead

, dir. Romero C-

Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem

, dirs. The Strause Bros. C

Riding in Cars with Boys

, dir. P Marshall A+

Killshot

, dir. Madden C

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

, dir. Bay B

The Bank Job

, dir. Donaldson B

Vantage Point

, dir. Travis A-

My Birthday!!

2009-07-12T12:23:00.000-07:00

This post is 2 days late, but so what? The past two days have been a drunkenfest of sorts and I haven't had time to post about it so here we go.

MY BIRTHDAY WAS ON FRIDAY (July 10th)! I AM OFFICIALLY 19 AND CAN DO AS I PLEASE! Here's a picture of chocolate cheesecake to help me celebrate =)

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Jennifer's Body Trailer

2009-07-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

One of my most anticipated movies to see in the fall. It just looks so....evil =)

Old Grades 37

2009-06-28T14:24:00.001-07:00

, dir. Lowell C+

, dir. Hoblit C+

, dir. Koepp B+

, dir. Philips A-

, dir. Reeves A-

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

, dir. Burton A

I Am Legend

, dir. Lawrence A

Charlie Wilson's War

, dir. Nichols B+

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Second Season

, dirs. Various A+

Revolutionary Road

, dir. Mendes A+

He's Just Not That Into You

, dir. Kwapis B+

Drag Me to Hell

, dir. S Raimi A+

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

, dir. Herman B-

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete First Season

, dirs. Various A-

The Bhuray's: Other Categories II

2009-06-26T21:47:00.000-07:00

Best Makeup

La Vie en Rose
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: Atonement, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Best Original Score

Dario Marianelli - Atonement
Alexandre Desplat - Lust, Caution
Michael Giacchino - Ratatouille
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Silk
Jonny Greenwood - There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: Gabriel Yared - 1408, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Dario Marianelli - The Brave One, David Torn - Lars and the Real Girl & James Newton Howard - Michael Clayton

Best Original Song

"That's How You Know": Written by Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz. Performed by Amy Adams - Enchanted
"Guaranteed": Written & performed by Eddie Vedder - Into the Wild
"Way Back into Love": Written by Adam Schlesinger. Performed by Hugh Grant & Drew Barrymore/Haley Bennett - Music and Lyrics
"Falling Slowly": Written & performed by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - Once
"Baby Don't You Cry": Written by Andrew Hollander & Adrienne Shelly. Performed by Quincy Coleman - Waitress

Runners Up: "Do You Feel Me" - American Gangster, "A Hero Comes Home" - Beowulf, "Happy Working Song" - Enchanted, "Pop! Goes My Heart" - Music and Lyrics & "If You Want Me" - Once

Best Sound Editing

1408
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Into the Wild, Spider-Man 3, Transformers & Vacancy

Best Sound Mixing

1408
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: The Bourne Ultimatum, The Brave One, Into the Wild, Once & Transformers

Best Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Stardust
Transformers

Runners Up: The Bourne Ultimatum, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End & Spider-Man 3

Best Ensemble

Atonement
Hairspray
Lars and the Real Girl
A Mighty Heart
Michael Clayton

Runners Up: Black Book, Juno, Knocked Up, Things We Lost in the Fire & The TV Set

The Bhuray's: Other Categories

2009-06-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

Best Adapted Screenplay

Christopher Hampton - Atonement
Sarah Polley - Away from Her
Eileen Chang, James Schamus & Hui-Ling Wang - Lust, Caution
Ethan & Joel Coen - No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: Scott Alexander, Matt Greenberg & Larry Karazsewski - 1408, Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard - Gone Baby Gone, Steve Buscemi & David Schecter - Interview, Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughan - Stardust & James Vanderbilt - Zodiac

Best Original Screenplay

Cynthia Mort, Bruce A. Taylor & Roderick Taylor - The Brave One
Nancy Oliver - Lars and the Real Girl
Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Brad Bird, Jim Capobianco & Jan Pinkava - Ratatouille
Allan Loeb - Things We Lost in the Fire

Runners Up: Diablo Cody - Juno, Judd Apatow - Knocked Up, Scott Frank - The Lookout, Tamara Jenkins - The Savages & Jake Kasdan - The TV Set

Best Art Direction

Sarah Greenwood & Katie Spencer - Atonement
Stuart Craig & Stephanie McMillan- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Dante Ferretti & Francesca Lo Schiavo - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
David Crank & Jack Fisk - There Will Be Blood
Donald Graham Burt & Victor J. Zolfo - Zodiac

Runners Up: Ellen Christiansen & Mark Friedberg- Across the Universe, Janice Blackie-Goodine - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Lai Pan - Lust, Caution Gavin Bocquet & Peter Young - Stardust & Keun-woo Choi - Time

Best Cinematography

Roger Deakins - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Seamus McGarvey - Atonement
Rodrigo Prieto - Lust, Caution
Robert Elswit - There Will Be Blood
Harris Savides - Zodiac

Runners Up: Benoît Delhomme - 1408, Bruno Delbonnel - Across the Universe, Sławomir Idziak - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Roger Deakins - No Country for Old Men & Dariusz Wolski - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Best Costume Design

Jacqueline Durran - Atonement
Kirston Leigh Mann - Lars and the Real Girl
Marit Allen - La Vie en Rose
Lai Pan - Lust, Caution
Mark Bridges - There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: Patricia Norris - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Alexandra Byrne - Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Rita Ryack - Hairspray, Colleen Atwood - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street & Casey Storm - Zodiac

Best Film Editing

Peter Boyle - 1408
Tony Lawson - The Brave One
John Gilroy - Michael Clayton
Ethan & Joel Coen - No Country for Old Men
Dylan Tichenor - There Will Be Blood

Runners Up: Paul Tothill - Atonement, David Wharnsby - Away from Her, Tim Squyres - Lust, Caution, Peter Christelis - A Mighty Heart & Angus Wall - Zodiac

The Bhuray's: A Special Citation

2009-06-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

This is an honourary award that I'm going to give in my awards from now on to a performance that I felt went extremely unnoticed from the year, and I didn't have to space to give it recognition in the categories. The first one goes to a performer who has been aces in everything she has acted in, but has never gotten the notices for it. That performer is...

Rosario Dawson as Maya in...

Descent, directed by Talia Lugacy

I did think that Rosario Dawson's best performance thus far had been in Rent, but after seeing Descent, this is clearly her best work. Dawson plays Maya, a student going through college. She meets a boy, Jared (played by the great Chad Faust), and rebuffs him at first. She takes a shine to him and they hit it off. They get to fooling around, and then the unthinkable happens. Maya's life is shattered and as she tries to piece her life back together, her need for vengeance grows and she turns to a person she meets at a club, Adrian (Marcus Patrick), for help.

This is a tough film to get through, but it's worth it. Rosario Dawson has never been better and it's disappointing that not a lot of people saw this movie or gave it the time it deserves. That is why Rosario Dawson is the recipient of this Special Citation.

The Bhuray's: Best Animated Film

2009-06-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Happily N'Ever After, directed by Paul Bolger & Yvette Kaplan

Meet the Robinsons, directed by Stephen J. Anderson

Ratatouille, directed by Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava

Shrek the Third, directed by Raman Hui & Chris Miller

The Simpons Movie, directed by David Silverman

Runners Up: Bee Movie, Beowulf, Paprika & Tekkonkinkreet

The Bhuray's: Best Foreign Film

2009-06-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

After the Wedding, directed by Susanne Bier

Black Book, directed by Paul Verhoeven

La Vie en Rose, directed by Olivier Dahan

Lust, Caution, directed by Ang Lee

The Orphanage, directed by Juan Antonio Bayona

Runners Up: The Lives of Others, Paprika & Time

The Bhuray's: Best Actress in a Limited or Cameo Role

2009-05-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

Lynn Collins as R.C. in Bug

Andrea Frankle as Maddie McConnell in The Reaping

Emily Hampshire as Vivienne Freeman in Snow Cake

Vanessa Redgrave as Older Briony Tallis in Atonement

Susan Sarandon as Joan Deerfield in In the Valley of Elah

Runners Up: Nancy Beatty - Lars and the Real Girl, Cate Blanchett - Hot Fuzz, Dagmara Dominczyk - Lonely Hearts, Kerri Kenney-Silver - The Ten & Kristen Wiig - Knocked Up

The Bhuray's: Best Actor in a Limited or Cameo Role

2009-05-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

Jason Bateman as Rupert "RIP" Reed in Smokin' Aces

Barry Corbin as Ellis in No Country for Old Men

Russell Harvard as H.W. Plainview - Older in There Will Be Blood

Gene Jones as Gas Station Proprietor in No Country for Old Men

Brian F. O'Byrne as Dr. Sweet in Bug

Runners Up: David Duchovny - Things We Lost in the Fire, Samuel L. Jackson - 1408, Jérémie Renier - Atonement, Ryan Seacrest - Knocked Up & Sergio Di Zio - The Lookout

The Bhuray's: Best Supporting Actress

2009-05-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

Emily Mortimer as Karin in Lars and the Real Girl

Amy Ryan as Helene McCready in Gone Baby Gone

Meg Ryan as Sarah Hardwicke in In the Land of Women

Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton

Kristen Thomson as Kristy in Away from Her

Runners Up: Laura Dern - Year of the Dog, Kelli Garner - Lars and the Real Girl, Leslie Mann - Knocked Up, Imelda Staunton - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix & Sharon Stone - Alpha Dog

The Bhuray's: Best Supporting Actor

2009-05-29T23:59:00.000-07:00

Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men

Hugh Dancy as Buddy Wittenborn in Evening

Paul Dano as Paul/Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood

Hal Holbrook as Ron Franz in Into the Wild

Paul Schneider as Gus in Lars and the Real Girl

Runners Up: Morgan Freeman - Gone Baby Gone, Andy Griffith - Waitress, Ed Harris - Gone Baby Gone, Paul Rudd - Knocked Up & Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Old Grades 36

2009-05-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

, dir. J Hopkins A+

, dir. Friedlander B

, dir. Abrams A+

, dir. Wolf B-

, dir. Morel B

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

, dir. Fincher A+

The Golden Compass

, dir. Weitz B-

The Uninvited

, dirs. The Guard Bros. B

, dir. Boyle A

, dir. Hollander B

, dir. Winick B

, dir. Aronofsky A+

, dir. C Hunt A-

, dir. Luhrmann B-

The Bhuray's: Best Actress in a Leading Role

2009-05-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

Julie Christie as Fiona Anderson in Away from Her

Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose

Jodie Foster as Erica Bain in The Brave One

Angelina Jolie as Mariane Pearl in A Mighty Heart

Tang Wei as Wong Chia Chi/Mrs. Mak in Lust, Caution

Runners Up: Nikki Blonsky - Hairspray, Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up, Laura Linney - The Savages, Sienna Miller - Interview & Christina Ricci - Black Snake Moan

The Bhuray's: Best Actor in a Leading Role

2009-05-24T14:37:00.000-07:00

Casey Affleck as Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood

Ryan Gosling as Lars Lindstrom in Lars and the Real Girl

James McAvoy as Robbie Turner in Atonement

Ryan Reynolds as Richard Messner in Smokin' Aces

Runners Up: George Clooney - Michael Clayton, John Cusack - 1408, Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah, Gordon Pinsent - Away from Her & Seth Rogen - Knocked Up

The Bhuray's: Best Director

2009-05-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Paul Thomas Anderson - There Will Be Blood

Ethan & Joel Coen - No Country for Old Men

Neil Jordan - The Brave One

Ang Lee - Lust, Caution

Joe Wright - Atonement

Runners Up: Judd Apatow - Knocked Up, Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava - Ratatouille, Craig Gillespie - Lars and the Real Girl, Tony Gilroy - Michael Clayton & Sarah Polley - Away from Her

The Top 20 of 2007!

2009-05-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Well ladies and gentleman, I give you my top 20 of 2007. Numbers 20-11 will be listed with the directors name beside them. Numbers 10-1 will have a picture and a description of why I think they're amazing.

20. Descent (Talia Lugacy)
19. Gone Baby Gone (Ben Affleck)
18. Zodiac (David Fincher)
17. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (David Yates)
16. The Simpsons Movie (David Silverman)
15. Interview (Steve Buscemi)
14. Things We Lost in the Fire (Susanne Bier)
13. Stardust (Matthew Vaughn)
12. Away from Her (Sarah Polley)
11. Ratatouille (Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava)

10)

La Vie en Rose, directed by Olivier Dahan

While many film critics disliked the film and loved/hated Marion Cotillard's performance, I am one of the select that loved both. Sure it's a messy biopic, but it's also glorious, grand and epic. Edith Piaf seemed like a larger than life character, and while showing us that she had an amazing voice, this movie also shows that her life was glorious, grand and epic as well. Cotillard delivers one of the best performances of the year.

9)

Michael Clayton, directed by Tony Gilroy

After the Bourne films, Tony Gilroy deserved to have his own platform and he pulled it off in spades. Michael Clayton is an amazing thriller with sharp writing and direction. Not only is it incredibly paced, but he cast assembled here is perfection; Clooney proves he's a pro once again, Wilkinson is insanely good as an unstable man who actually might be the most stable there is and Tilda Swinton is best in show as a woman who will do anything to stay ahead. It's a fascinating and complex performance. Michael Clayton is a perfect film.

8)

No Country for Old Men, directed by Ethan & Joel Coen

The critics awards sweeper and rightfully so. Ethan & Joel Coen have crafted a masterful cat and mouse game that is so intense that music wasn't even necessary to enhance the mood. Edited with some of the most frightening precision I've seen in a while, the brothers have made a thriller that knows no bounds. Javier Bardem only adds to this by being one of the most chilling villiains to hit the screen in some time. In fact, the whole cast is uniformly excellent. The Coens have proven once again that they know what they are doing, and that it's great.

7)

Atonement, directed by Joe Wright

A beautiful adaptation of the already beautiful novel. Joe Wright teams up with Keira Knightley for a second time, and it's a move that succeeds again. Knightley along with McAvoy, Ronan, Redgrave, and the rest of the cast, magnificently pull off this tragic romance of what happens when a 13 year old girl sees something she doesn't quite understand yet. Wonderfully shot, written and acted, Atonement is an amazing feat and a worthy adaptation of Ian McEwan's excellent novel.

6)

1408, directed by Mikael Håfström

Not only the scariest film of the year, but the best Stephen King adaptation I have seen. Builds up the suspense amazingly well and maintains it's scary tone throughout the whole movie. With images that will be bound to give you bad dreams, Mikael has created a terriyfing movie going experience. John Cusack is absolutely brilliant, nailing the hysteria and the fearfulness in Mike Enslin as his little hotel room slowly grows into a neverending nightmare.

5)

Knocked Up, directed by Judd Apatow

Definitely the funniest movie of the year, Judd Apatow has proven himself to be a comedic genius. You thought The 40 Year Old Virgin was funny? Knocked Up is even more hilarious and heartfelt. The story of a lazy stoner and an ambitious entertainment reporter getting drunk and becoming parents is a story destined for laughs. But Apatow is more brilliant than that by adding layers to these people, the ones around them, and the story at the center. Seth Rogen deservedly catapulted into the spotlight with this role and Katherine Heigl shows why she deserves to be in a lot of TV and a lot of movies. The rest of the cast is hilarious and truthful making Knocked Up a huge pleasure to watch and one of the best comedies to come along in a while.

4)

The Brave One, directed by Neil Jordan

Unfairly maligned by critics everywhere, The Brave One is a fantastic thriller about how far one person can slip into revenge and if they can ever go back to being the person they once were. A strong film anchored by the determined and devastating Jodie Foster, The Brave One deserves every good review it has gotten and maybe a million more. People who have trouble with the ending can go screw themselves and their notions about how movies should end. The way The Brave One ends is filled with hope, and it's a movie that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who gives it a chance.

3)

Lust, Caution, directed by Ang Lee

After the brilliant Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee is back in fine form with Lust, Caution. An erotic spy thriller with sex, twists and turns, I think it's an even better movie than BBM. Not only is it handsomely produced, but everyone in the cast is great. Tang Wei deserves to be a huge star after this movie and Tony Leung and Joan Chen prove why they are acting legends. A thriller is supposed to thrill us and keep us on edge and this movie does exactly that. With a lot of sex in between =D

2)

Lars and the Real Girl, directed by Craig Gillespie

I am so happy Craig Gillespie made this movie after he made Mr. Woodcock. The latter is one of the worst movies of the year, while this is one of the best. Let everyone watch this movie and they will definitely forget the atrocity that was Mr. Woodcock. I honestly didn't have a lot of faith in this movie before I watched it. A shy and introverted guy orders a sex doll online for companionship isn't a plot that many watchers would have confidence in. However, my suspicions dissolved immediately while watching it. Everyone in the cast deserves all the good in the world for being so unbelievably great. Director Gillespie and writer Nancy Oliver have crafted something extraordinary out of this; funny, endearing and heartbreaking all at once, Lars and the Real Girl is something special.

1)

There Will Be Blood, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Definitely ambitious and epic in scope, There Will Be Blood is definitely the best film of the year and one of the best movies I have ever seen. The story of an oil man determined to get whatever he wants and will do anything he can to get it, is one for the ages. With an amazing screenplay, score and awesome production values, it is a masterpiece. Daniel Day-Lewis is almost unrecognizable as the vicious oil man and the way he dives head on into his character is stunning to watch. The way he speaks, calmly, yet vicious at the same time, the way he walks, the way he presents himself, are all testaments to what a genius Daniel Day-Lewis is. He proves once again that he is a thespian who can do anything. Paul Thomas Anderson has crafted a grand spectacle of a film.

My awards start tomorrow so stay tuned! =)

The Bottom 10 of 2007

2009-05-22T23:26:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know! 2007! This is how long it takes me to watch all the movies I want. I just figured, I really have seen enough, it's time for me to do my end of the year list and my awards. So without further a due, here is my bottom 10 list.

10. Margot at the Wedding (Noah Baumbach)
9. The Last Winter (Larry Fessenden)
8. Silk (Francois Girard)
7. The Breed (Nicholas Mastandrea)
6. Captivity (Roland Joffe)
5. Ghost Rider (Mark Steven Johnson)
4. Mr. Woodcock (Craig Gillespie)
3. Skinwalkers (James Isaac)
2. Because I Said So (Michael Lehmann)
1. Hitman (Xavier Gens)

The Top 10 of 2007(!) will be coming tomorrow =)

Old Grades 35

2009-04-26T19:08:00.001-07:00

Beowulf

, dir. Zemeckis B

Obsessed

, dir. Shill B

The Reader

, dir. Daldry A+

My Best Friend's Girl

, dir. Deutch B-

Doubt

, dir. Patrick Shanley A

, dir. Khalfoun A-

Bee Movie

, dirs. Hickner & Smith B

American Gangster

, dir. R Scott B+

Role Models

, dir. Wain B

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

, dir. Duke B

, dir. T Demme A+

, dir. Ardolino A

, dir. Tarlov B

, dir. McKay C

Old Grades 34

2009-03-29T18:02:00.001-07:00

, dir. J Zucker B+

, dir. Craven A+

, dir. Craven A+

, dir. Craven A+

, dir. Hardwicke C+

, dir. Martin C+

, dir. Leigh A+

Rachel Getting Married

, dir. J Demme A+

Dude, Where's My Car?

, dir. Leiner B

The Secret Life of Bees

, dir. Prince-Blythewood B+

Changeling

, dir. Eastwood A

No Country for Old Men

, dir. The Coen Bros. A+

Lions for Lambs

, dir. Redford B

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

, dir. Allen A+

The Last House on the Left (2009)

2009-03-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

I am really looking forward to this movie. Has anyone seen the original? And how is it?

Academy Awards: Winner Predictions!

2009-02-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Best Motion Picture of the Year: Slumdog Millionaire
Alternate: Milk

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Alternate: Sean Penn - Milk

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Kate Winslet - The Reader
Alternate: Meryl Streep - Doubt

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Alternate (yeah right): Josh Brolin - Milk

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Alternate: Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Achievement in Directing: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Alternate: Gus Van Sant - Milk

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Pete Docter, Jim Reardon & Andrew Stanton - Wall-E
Alternate: Dustin Lance Black - Milk

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Alternate: Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

Best Achievement in Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle - Slumdog Millionaire
Alternate: Wally Pfister - The Dark Knight

Best Achievement in Editing: Chris Dickens - Slumdog Millionaire
Alternate: Lee Smith - The Dark Knight

Best Achievement in Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt & Victor J. Zolfo - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Alternate: Nathan Crowley & Peter Lando - The Dark Knight

Best Achievement in Costume Design: Michael O'Connor - The Duchess
Alternate: Albert Wolsky - Revolutionary Road

Best Achievement in Makeup: Greg Cannom - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Alternate: John Caglione, Jr. & Conor O'Sullivan - The Dark Knight

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score: A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire
Alternate: Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song: "Down to Earth": Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman - Wall-E
Alternate: "Jai Ho": Sampooran Singh Gulzar & A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Achievement in Sound: Lora Hirschberg, Ed Novick & Gary Rizzo - The Dark Knight
Alternate: Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke & Ian Tapp - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Achievement in Sound Editing: Richard King - The Dark Knight
Alternate: Tom Sayers - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Achievement in Visual Effects: Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Burt Dalton & Steve Preeg - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Alternate: Chris Corbould, Nick Davis, Paul J. Franklin & Timothy Webber - The Dark Knight

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year: Wall-E
Alternate: Kung Fu Panda

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year: Waltz with Bashir (Israel)
Alternate: The Class (France)

Best Documentary, Features: Man on Wire
Alternate: Trouble the Water

Best Documentary, Short Subjects: The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306
Alternate: The Conscience of Nhem En

Best Short Film, Animated: Presto
Alternate: This Way Up

Best Short Film, Live Action: New Boy
Alternate: Manon on the Asphalt

Old Grades 33

2009-02-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

, dir. Carr B+

Margot at the Wedding

, dir. Baumbach C

Quarantine

, dir. Erick Dowdle B+

Atonement

, dir. Wright A+

The Man in the Moon

, dir. Mulligan B+

The Village

, dir. Night Shyamalan A

Highwaymen

, dir. Harmon C+

The Other Sister

, dir. G Marshall A

Mirrors

, dir. Aja C-

Assault on Precinct 13

, dir. Richet B

, dir. Lima B+

, dir. Salva B+

, dir. D Meyers A-

, dir. Meirelles A-

SAG Winner Predictions!

2009-01-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

Outstanding Peformance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Winner: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Alternate: Milk

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Sean Penn - Milk [HARVEY MILK]

Alternate: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler [RANDY "THE RAM" ROBINSON"]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road [APRIL WHEELER]

Alternate: Meryl Streep - Doubt [SISTER ALOYSIUS BEAUVIER]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight [THE JOKER]

Alternate: Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire [JAMAL MALIK]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Kate Winslet - The Reader [HANNA SCHMITZ]

Alternate: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [MARIA ELENA]

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Winner: 30 Rock

Alternate: Desperate Housewives

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

Winner: Mad Men

Alternate: The Closer

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock [JACK DONAGHY]

Alternate: Steve Carell - The Office [MICHAEL SCOTT]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Winner: Tina Fey - 30 Rock [LIZ LEMON]

Alternate: Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds [NANCY BOTWIN]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Jon Hamm - Mad Men [DON DRAPER]

Alternate: Hugh Laurie - House [DR. GREGORY HOUSE]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Winner: Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men [PEGGY OLSON]

Alternate: Holly Hunter - Saving Grace [GRACE HANADARKO]

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner: Paul Giamatti - John Adams [JOHN ADAMS]

Alternate: Tom Wilkinson - Recount [JAMES BAKER]

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Winner: Laura Linney - John Adams [ABIGAIL ADAMS]

Alternate: Laura Dern - Recount [KATHERINE HARRIS]

Oscar Nominations!

2009-01-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

I scored 3/5 here, putting all my faith in Revolutionary Road and The Dark Knight scoring best picture nods. RR was very wishful thinking, but TDK had a legitimate chance of being nominated. I didn't see The Reader coming at all, even though it did very well at the Golden Globes. This is Slumdog's all the way.

Best Director

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant - Milk

I got 3/5 here as well missing Ron Howard and Stephen Daldry for Sam Mendes and Christopher Nolan. Like I said, TDK had a good shot in Best Picture and this category, but it didn't come to fruition. Stephen Daldry is apparently a God because he has gotten 3 nods for all 3 of his films. The next movie he directs immediately goes to the top of everyone's predictions.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

I scored 4/5 here missing Richard Jenkins for Leonardo DiCaprio. In my mind, Leonardo has one Oscar already for The Departed, which he should have been nominated in this category for, and not for Blood Diamond. Never count out early releases.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

I got 3/5 here thinking that Kate Winslet's performance in RR would end up here and the critical love for Sally Hawkins in Happy-Go-Lucky would pay off in this category. Instead Kate Winslet's performance in The Reader escaped category fraud and ended up in the right placement. I'm kind of disappointed that Kate didn't get 2 Oscar nods this year, cuz that would have been all kinds of awesome.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

I scored 5/5 here =) I knew all the raves for Michael Shannon's performance would pay off. Kind of feels like last year when no one was predicting Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah. I'm assuming I'm only one of the few people that actually predicted Michael to be nominated. Heath Ledger has this category all sewn up.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

I scored 4/5 here. I'm kind of shocked that Amy Adams got in for Doubt because, other than the GG, SAG and BAFTA nods, she didn't get many raves from critics. All of those went to the other three cast members. If anything, Rosemarie DeWitt should have gotten in over Amy. I'm really happy to see Taraji P. Henson here because I think she is an underrated actress who should get more exposure thanks to this nod.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth & Robin Swicord - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
David Hare - The Reader
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

I got 3/5 here leaving out Frost/Nixon and The Reader for The Dark Knight and Revolutionary Road. Jeez, I had a lot of faith in RR because many people were saying what an underrated masterpiece it was and in later years, people will realize that. TDK seemed pretty plausible for a nod here, but it didn't happen.

Best Original Screenplay

Courtney Hunt - Frozen River
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Pete Docter, Jim Reardon & Andrew Stanton - Wall-E

I scored 2/5 here, which kind of sucks. I was really hoping for some Jenny Lumet and Woody Allen love here, but the Academy didn't follow my wishes, as usual =) However, this is a very respectable list.

Best Animated Film

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

I got 2/3 here. Funny how they didn't go foreign this year, when they did last year with Persepolis. Waltz with Bashir also won a Best Picture awards from one critic's group which should have sealed the deal. Oh well. It still has a very good shot at winning the Best Foreign Film Oscar.

Best Foreign Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

I scored 3/5.

Best Art Direction

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

I got 4/5.

Best Cinematography

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

I scored 4/5.

Best Costume Design

Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

I got 4/5.

Best Documentary

The Betrayal
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water

I scored 3/5.

Best Film Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire

I got 4/5.

Best Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

I got 2/3.

Best Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

I got 4/5.

Best Original Song

"Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"O Sava" - Slumdog Millionaire
"Down to Earth" - Wall-E

I scored 2/3.

Best Sound Editing

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted

I got 4/5.

Best Sound Mixing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
Wanted

I scored 3/5.

Best Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

I got 3/3.

Overall. I think I did pretty well. You can rarely get perfect when predicting the Oscars because they always throw such curve balls at you. When the time comes around to do so, I will post my winner predictions =)

Final Oscar Nomination Predictions!

2009-01-22T01:37:00.000-08:00

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

IN THE WINGS: Frost/Nixon

Best Director

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk

IN THE WINGS: Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

IN THE WINGS: Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

IN THE WINGS: Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

IN THE WINGS: Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

IN THE WINGS: Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married

Best Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth & Robin Swicord - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Justin Haythe - Revolutionary Road
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

IN THE WINGS: Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

Best Original Screenplay

Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor

IN THE WINGS: Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler

Best Animated Film

Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Waltz with Bashir

IN THE WINGS: Bolt

Best Foreign Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

IN THE WINGS: Revanche (Austria)

Best Art Direction

Australia
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road

IN THE WINGS: The Reader

Best Cinematography

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

IN THE WINGS: Changeling

Best Costume Design

Australia
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

IN THE WINGS: The Other Boleyn Girl

Best Documentary

Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A
Man on Wire
Standard Operating Procedure
Trouble the Water

Best Film Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

IN THE WINGS: Frost/Nixon

Best Makeup

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Reader
Synecdoche, New York

IN THE WINGS: The Wrestler

Best Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E

IN THE WINGS: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Best Original Song

"Once in a Lifetime" - Cadillac Records
"Up to Our Nex" - Rachel Getting Married
"Jaiho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"Down to Earth" - Wall-E
"The Wrestler" - The Wrestler

IN THE WINGS: "Little Person" - Synecdoche, New York

Best Sound Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millonaire
Wall-E

IN THE WINGS: Defiance

Best Sound Mixing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Defiance
Iron Man
Wall-E

IN THE WINGS: Quantum of Solace

Best Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

IN THE WINGS: Australia

Old Grades 32

2009-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

, dir. Eastwood A-

, dir. Dobkin B

, dir. Mostow A

, dir. Eyre A+

, dir. Night Shyamalan D

Danika

, dir. Vromen D+

Snow Angels

, dir. Gordon Green A

, dir. Hedges B+

, dir. Bertino A

, dir. A Davis B

, dir. McG B+

, dir. Berg B

, dir. Thomas Anderson A+

Sex and the City: The Movie

, dir. Patrick King B

Golden Globe Awards: Winner Predictions!

2009-01-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

Best Motion Picture - Drama: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Alternate: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy: Happy-Go-Lucky

Alternate: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: Sean Penn - Milk

Alternate: Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama: Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Alternate: Meryl Streep - Doubt

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy: Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey

Alternate: Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy: Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky

Alternate: Rebecca Hall - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Alternate: Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Alternate: Kate Winslet - The Reader

Best Director - Motion Picture: Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Alternate: David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Alternate: Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

Best Original Song - Motion Picture: "The Wrestler" - The Wrestler

Alternate: "Once in a Lifetime" - Cadillac Records

Best Original Score - Motion Picture: Alexandre Desplat - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Alternate: A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Film: Wall-E

Alternate: Kung Fu Panda

Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Alternate: I've Loved You So Long (France)

Oscar Predictions: Update! In (Almost) Every Category

2008-12-29T15:19:00.000-08:00

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
---------------------
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Wall-E
The Wrestler

Best Director

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk
---------------------
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
Jonathan Demme - Rachel Getting Married
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Andrew Stanton - Wall-E

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
---------------------
Josh Brolin - W.
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing but the Truth
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Kristin Scott-Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Ralph Fiennes - The Reader
James Franco - Milk
Bill Irwin - Rachel Getting Married
Eddie Marsan - Happy-Go-Lucky
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader
---------------------
Amy Adams - Doubt
Kathy Bates - Revolutionary Road
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married
Vera Farmiga - Nothing but the Truth
Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married

Best Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Justin Yathe - Revolutionary Road
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
---------------------
Francois Begaudeau, Robin Campillo & Laurent Cantent - The Class
Nicholas Meyer - Elegy
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni Di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso & Roberto Saviano - Gomorra
David Hare - The Reader

Best Original Screenplay

Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor
---------------------
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River
Dave Johannson & Nick Shenk - Gran Torino
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Andrew Stanton - Wall-E
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler

Best Animated Film

Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Waltz with Bashir
---------------------
Bolt
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!
The Tale of Despereaux

Best Foreign Film

The Class (France)
The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Gomorra (Italy)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Best Art Direction

Australia
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Synechdoche, New York
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
---------------------
Australia
Changeling
Defiance
Frost/Nixon
Milk

Best Costume Design

Australia
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Brideshead Revisited
The Dark Knight
Doubt
The Other Boleyn Girl
The Reader

Best Documentary

Encounters at the End of the World
I.O.U.S.A.
Man on Wire
Standard Operating Procedure
Trouble the Water

Best Film Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
---------------------
Defiance
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Rachel Getting Married
The Reader

Best Makeup

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Synechdoche, New York
---------------------
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
The Reader

Best Original Score

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
---------------------
Changeling
Defiance
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The Reader
Revolutionary Road

Best Original Song

"Once in a Lifetime" - Cadillac Records
"Up to Our Nex" - Rachel Getting Married
"Jaiho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"Down to Earth" - Wall-E
"The Wrestler" - The Wrestler
---------------------
"I Thought I Lost You" - Bolt
"The Call" - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
"Gran Torino" - Gran Torino
"Little Person" - Synechdoche, New York
"Right to Dream" - Tennessee

Best Sound Editing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millonaire
Wall-E
---------------------
Australia
Defiance
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Quantum of Solace

Best Sound Mixing

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Defiance
Iron Man
Wall-E
---------------------
Australia
The Incredible Hulk
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Quantum of Solace
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
---------------------
Australia
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Quantum of Solace

Old Grades 31

2008-12-29T03:36:00.001-08:00

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

, dirs. Hayward & Martino A-

Wall-E

, dir. Stanton A+

The Polar Express

, dir. Zemeckis A+

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

, dir. Selick A

Elf

, dir. Favreau A-

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

, dir. Howard A-

Olive, the Other Reindeer

, dir. S Moore A

Made of Honor

, dir. Weiland B

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

, dir. Stoller A+

, dir. G Marshall A

, dir. J Reitman A

, dir. Tennant B

, dir. Lau B

, dir. Harlin B

Update: Top 10 Nominees in Each of These Categories (so far)

2008-12-26T22:55:00.001-08:00

(Again)...Try and guess the 5 nominees in each group of 10 =)

Best Picture

1408
Away from Her
The Brave One
Knocked Up
La Vie en Rose
Lars and the Real Girl
Lust, Caution
Michael Clayton
Ratatouille
There Will Be Blood

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Casey Affleck - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
George Clooney - Michael Clayton
John Cusack - 1408
Daniel Day-Lewis - There Will Be Blood
Ryan Gosling - Lars and the Real Girl
Jake Gyllenhaal - Zodiac
Tommy Lee Jones - In the Valley of Elah
Gordon Pinsent - Away from Her
Ryan Reynolds - Smokin' Aces
Seth Rogen - Knocked Up

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Nikki Blonsky - Hairspray
Marion Cotillard - La Vie en Rose
Julie Christie - Away from Her
Jodie Foster - The Brave One
Katherine Heigl - Knocked Up
Carice van Houten - Black Book
Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart
Sienna Miller - Interview
Christina Ricci - Black Snake Moan
Tang Wei - Lust, Caution

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Hugh Dancy - Evening
Jeff Daniels - The Lookout
Paul Dano - There Will Be Blood
Morgan Freeman - Gone Baby Gone
Andy Griffith - Waitress
Ed Harris - Gone Baby Gone
Hal Holbrook - Into the Wild
Paul Rudd - Knocked Up
Paul Schneider - Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Wilkinson - Michael Clayton

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Laura Dern - Year of the Dog
Jennifer Garner - Juno
Kelli Garner - Lars and the Real Girl
Emily Mortimer - Lars and the Real Girl
Amy Ryan - Gone Baby Gone
Meg Ryan - In the Land of Women
Imelda Staunton - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Sharon Stone - Alpha Dog
Tilda Swinton - Michael Clayton
Kristen Thomson - Away from Her

Best Cameo/Limited Role Actor

Jason Bateman - Smokin' Aces
Bruce Campbell - Spider-Man 3
David Duchovny - Things We Lost in the Fire
Ben Foster - 30 Days of Night
Russell Harvard - There Will Be Blood
Ethan Hawke - The Hottest State
Samuel L. Jackson - 1408
Brian F. O'Byrne - Bug
Ryan Seacrest - Knocked Up
Sergio Di Zio - The Lookout

Best Cameo/Limited Role Actress

Nancy Beatty - Lars and the Real Girl
Lynn Collins - Bug
Andrea Frankle - The Reaping
Emily Hampshire - Snow Cake
Kerri Kenney-Silver - The Ten
Amy Madigan - Gone Baby Gone
Vanessa Redgrave - Atonement
Susan Sarandon - In the Valley of Elah
Meryl Streep - Evening
Kristen Wiig - Knocked Up

Have as much fun as you can muster, guessing!

Christmas!

2008-12-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

SAG Nominee Predictions

2008-12-17T18:10:00.000-08:00

Best Male Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road [FRANK WHEELER]
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor [PROFESSOR WALTER VALE]
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon [RICHARD NIXON]
Sean Penn - Milk [HARVEY MILK]
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler [RANDY "THE RAM" ROBINSON]

Alternate: Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [BENJAMIN BUTTON]

Best Female Actor in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [DAISY]
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married [KYM]
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky [POPPY]
Meryl Streep - Doubt [SISTER ALOYSIUS BEAUVIER]
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road [APRIL WHEELER]

Alternate: Angelina Jolie - Changeling [CHRISTINE COLLINS]

Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin - Milk [DAN WHITE]
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder [KIRK LAZARUS]
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt [FATHER BRENDAN FLYNN]
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight [THE JOKER]
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road [JOHN GIVINGS]

Alternate: James Franco - Milk [SCOTT SMITH]

Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona [MARIA ELENA]
Viola Davis - Doubt [MRS. MILLER]
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married [RACHEL]
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [QUEENIE]
Kate Winslet - The Reader [HANNA SCHMITZ]

Alternate: Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler [CASSIDY]

Best Ensemble

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Revolutionary Road

Alternate: The Dark Knight

Oscar Predictions: Update!

2008-12-10T01:50:00.000-08:00

Again, these are just predictions in, what I think are, the main categories =)

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
---------------------
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Gran Torino
Rachel Getting Married
The Wrestler

Best Director

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Gus Van Sant - Milk
---------------------
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Jonathan Demme - Rachel Getting Married
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
---------------------
Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon
Will Smith - Seven Pounds

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
--------------------
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing but the Truth
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Kristin Scott-Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
Emma Thompson - Last Chance Harvey

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Josh Brolin - Milk
James Franco - Milk
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Bill Irwin - Rachel Getting Married
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire
Liev Schreiber - Defiance
Brandon Walters - Australia

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married
Kate Winslet - The Reader
---------------------
Amy Adams - Doubt
Kathy Bates - Revolutionary Road
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married
Vera Farmiga - Nothing but the Truth
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Adapted Screenplay

Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Justin Yathe - Revolutionary Road
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
---------------------
Clayton Frohman & Edward Zwick - Defiance
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Nicholas Meyer - Elegy
David Hare - The Reader

Best Original Screenplay

Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
---------------------
Ethan & Joel Coen - Burn After Reading
Dave Johannson & Nick Shenk - Gran Torino
Joel Hopkins - Last Chance Harvey
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor
Andrew Stanton - Wall-E

Best Animated Film

Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Waltz with Bashir
---------------------
Bolt
Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
The Tale of Despereaux

Best Foreign Language Film

The Blind Sunflowers (Spain)
The Class (France)
Gomorra (Italy)
The Necessities of Life (Canada)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Golden Globe Predictions!

2008-12-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

These are my (almost) final Golden Globe predictions. If I feel any changes need to me made in the next 2 days, I will do it. I am also including 6 nominees in each main category because the Globes are that crazy sometimes.

Best Motion Picture - Drama

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Milk
Rachel Getting Married
Revolutionary Road
The Wrestler

[Alternates: Frost/Nixon or Slumdog Millionaire]

Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
Last Chance Harvey
Mamma Mia!
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

[Alternates: Sex and the City - The Movie or Tropic Thunder]

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

[Alternates: Richard Jenkins - The Visitor or Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon]

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Kristin Scott-Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

[Alternates: Kate Beckinsale - Nothing but the Truth or Melissa Leo - Frozen River]

Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Jim Carrey - Yes Man
George Clooney - Leatherheads
Ricky Gervais - Ghost Town
Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey
Ben Stiller - Tropic Thunder

[Alternates: Colin Farrell - In Bruges or James Franco - Pineapple Express]

Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy

Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Scarlett Johansson - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Frances McDormand - Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Sarah Jessica Parker - Sex and the City: The Movie
Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson - Last Chance Harvey

[Alternates: Amy Adams - Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day or Anna Faris - The House Bunny]

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
James Franco - Milk
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

[Alternates: Bill Irwin - Rachel Getting Married or Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire]

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader

[Alternates: Vera Farmiga - Nothing but the Truth or Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married]

Best Director

Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Jonathan Demme - Rachel Getting Married
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk

[Alternates: Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler or Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino]

Best Screenplay

The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Rachel Getting Married
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

[Alternates: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or Milk]

Best Animated Film

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

[Alternates: Horton Hears a Who or The Tale of Despereaux]

Best Foreign Film

The Class (France)
Gomorra (Italy)
I've Loved You So Long (France)
Let the Right One In (Sweden)
Waltz with Bashir (Israel)

Best Original Score

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Revolutionary Road

[Alternates: Milk or Wall-E]

Best Original Song

Quantum of Solace
Sex and the City: The Movie
Synechdoche, New York
Wall-E
The Wrestler

[Alternates: The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian or Hamlet 2]

Old Grades 30

2008-11-24T12:29:00.001-08:00

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

, dir. Lumet A-

Armageddon

, dir. Bay B

Con Air

, dir. West A-

Stephen King's The Mist

, dir. Darabont A-

27 Dresses

, dir. Fletcher B+

Reservation Road

, dir. George B

We Own the Night

, dir. Gray B+

Why Did I Get Married?

, dir. T Perry B-

The Orphanage

, dir. Antonio Bayona A

, dir. Hughes B+

, dir. Harold B

, dir. Nava A-

, dir. Hood A

, dir. Branagh A

The Expected Nominees for Best Actress in a Motion Picture...

2008-11-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

Drama:

Angelina Jolie - Changeling

Nicole Kidman - Australia

Kristin Scott-Thomas - I've Loved You So Long

Meryl Streep - Doubt

Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road

Comedy:

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married

Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky

Sarah Jessica Parker - Sex and the City: The Movie

Meryl Streep - Mamma Mia!

Emma Thompson - Last Chance Harvey

Old Grades 29

2008-11-02T10:12:00.001-08:00

Saw III

, dir. Lynn Bousman A

Saw II

, dir. Lynn Bousman A

Saw

, dir. Wan A

Lars and the Real Girl

, dir. C Gillespie A+

Saw V

, dir. Hackl A-

The Jungle Book

, dir. Reitherman A

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

, dir. Kapur B

Pocahontas

, dirs. Gabriel & Goldberg A

Death Becomes Her

, dir. Zemeckis A

Resident Evil: Extinction

, dir. Mulcahy B+

Michael Clayton

, dir. Gilroy A+

The Heartbreak Kid

, dirs. Farrelly Bros. B+

The Opposite of Sex

, dir. Roos A

The Good Night

, dir. J Paltrow B+

Oscar Nomination Predictions: Update!

2008-10-21T01:25:00.000-07:00

Just some minor changes due to the release dates of some films being pushed back.

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Australia
Changeling
Defiance
Slumdog Millionaire
The Wrestler

Best Director

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Baz Luhrmann - Australia
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk
---------------------
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Edward Zwick - Defiance

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
---------------------
Josh Brolin - W.
Dustin Hoffman - Last Chance Harvey
Hugh Jackman - Australia
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Benicio Del Toro - Che

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
--------------------
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth
Nicole Kidman - Australia
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Kristin Scott-Thomas - I've Loved You So Long
Emma Thompson - Last Chance Harvey

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin - Milk
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Liev Schreiber - Defiance
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Jamie Bell - Defiance
Demian Bichir - Che
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
James Franco - Milk
Bill Irwin - Rachel Getting Married

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married
Kate Winslet - The Reader
---------------------
Kathy Bates - Revolutionary Road
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Adapted Screenplay

Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Justin Haythe - Revolutionary Road
David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
---------------------
Nicholas Meyer - Elegy
Clayton Frohman & Edward Zwick - Defiance
David Hare - The Reader
William Monahan - Body of Lies
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

Best Original Screenplay

Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
J. Michael Straczynski - Changeling
---------------------
Stuart Beattie & Baz Luhrmann - Australia
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor
Martin McDonough - In Bruges
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
Andrew Stanton - Wall-E

Best Animated Feature

Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Waltz with Bashir
----------------------
Bolt
Horton Hears a Who
The Tale of Despereaux

Old Grades 28

2008-10-18T01:12:00.001-07:00

House on Haunted Hill

, dir. Malone A-

The Darjeeling Limited

, dir. Anderson B

The Miracle Worker (2000)

, dir. Tass B

Baby Mama

, dir. McCullers B+

The Sixth Sense

, dir. Night Shyamalan A

The Miracle Worker (1962)

, dir. A Penn A+

, dir. Lee A+

, dir. Berg B+

, dir. Penn A-

, dir. Fessenden C

, dir. LaBute A-

, dir. Williamson A-

, dir. Girard C

, dir. C Gillespie D+

Emmy Award Winners!

2008-09-22T20:17:00.001-07:00

Drama Series:

Mad Men ("Pilot, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")

Comedy Series:

30 Rock ("Cooter")

Actor,Drama Series:

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad ("Pilot")

Actress,Drama Series:

Glenn Close - Damages ("Pilot")

Actress,Comedy Series:

Tina Fey - 3o Rock ("Sandwich Day")

Actor,Comedy Series:

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")

Supporting Actor,Comedy Series:

Jeremy Piven - Entourage ("The Day Fuckers")

Supporting Actor,Drama Series:

Zeljko Ivanek - Damages ("I Hate These People")

Supporting Actress,Drama Series:

Dianne Wiest - In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 1")

Supporting Actress,Comedy Series:

Jean Smart - Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")

Reality Host:

Jeff Probst - Survivor

Reality-Competition Program:

The Amazing Race

Miniseries:

John Adams

Made-for-TV Movie:

Recount

Actor,Miniseries or a Movie:

Paul Giamatti - John Adams

Actress,Miniseries or a Movie:

Laura Linney - John Adams

Supporting Actress,Miniseries or a Movie:

Eileen Atkins - Cranford

Supporting Actor,Miniseries or a Movie:

Tom Wilkinson - John Adams

I got 12 out of the 18 I predicted which is a score of 67%!! If I had predicted the other winners, I think I would've done well. 4 wins that were shocking to me were Bryan Cranston's (!!!!), Zeljko Ivanek's, Jean Smart's and Dianne Wiest's! I'm fine with Bryan and Zeljko's wins, but Jean Smart and Dianne Wiest? Come on. Vanessa Williams and, especially, Chandra Wilson deserved those awards. Dianne Wiest didn't even bother to show up, and Chandra Wilson was there!!!!@@!!! Other than those, everything else was fine. Jeremy Piven won for a third time, but it hasn't begun to grate on me like it has other people. I am extremely happy for 30 Rock's swoop. It deserved all the awards it won. Glenn Close was fantastic in Damages and as expected, Mad Men won Best Drama Series while John Adams swooped the Miniseries or a Movie awards. I also am very proud of myself for predicting Jeff Probst's win for Survivor. I knew all his hard work year after year, season after season, would not go unnoticed. The beginning of the show sucked so bad and the Laugh In bit wasn't funny at all. The show did pick up throughout though and was very entertaining. The best part, however, had to be Ricky Gervais heckling Steve Carell for his Emmy won last year. And that is what I'm going to end this post with =)

Revolutionary Road Trailer

2008-09-22T20:05:00.001-07:00

I am REALLY looking forward to this movie. I wanna see it sooooooo bad. December is such a long ways away. It looks like it will do extremely well at the Oscars and it should..........I NEED TO READ THE BOOK!!! =)

First Oscar Nomination Predictions!

2008-09-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

These are the predictions for the main categories. For them I have included the 5 that I think will be nominated and then 5 alternates.

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Revolutionary Road
---------------------
Australia
Changeling
Defiance
Slumdog Millionaire
The Wrestler

Best Director

David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Baz Luhrmann - Australia
Sam Mendes - Revolutionary Road
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk
---------------------
Darren Aronofsky - The Wrestler
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Edward Zwick - Defiance

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
---------------------
Robert Downey, Jr. - The Soloist
Hugh Jackman - Australia
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Viggo Mortensen - The Road
Benico Del Toro - Che

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Sally Hawkins - Happy-Go-Lucky
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - Revolutionary Road
--------------------
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth
Nicole Kidman - Australia
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Julianne Moore - Blindness
Kristin Scott-Thomas - I've Loved You So Long

Best Supporting Actor

Josh Brolin - Milk
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Kodi Smit-McPhee - The Road
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
Michael Sheen - Frost/Nixon
---------------------
Demian Bichir - Che
Russell Crowe - Body of Lies
James Franco - Milk
Bill Irwin - Rachel Getting Married
Liev Schreiber - Defiance

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Debra Winger - Rachel Getting Married
Kate Winslet - The Reader
---------------------
Kathy Bates - Revolutionary Road
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Rosemarie DeWitt - Rachel Getting Married
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Adapted Screenplay

Justin Haythe - Revolutionary Road
David S. Goyer, Christopher Nolan & Jonathan Nolan - The Dark Knight
Joe Penhall - The Road
Eric Roth - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
---------------------
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Clayton Frohman & Edward Zwick - Defiance
David Hare - The Reader
William Monahan - Body of Lies
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon

Best Original Screenplay

Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Jenny Lumet - Rachel Getting Married
J. Michael Straczynski - Changeling
---------------------
Stuart Beattie & Baz Luhrmann - Australia
Thomas McCarthy - The Visitor
Martin McDonough - In Bruges
Robert D. Siegel - The Wrestler
Andrew Stanton - Wall-E

Best Animated Feature

Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Waltz with Bashir
----------------------
Bolt
Horton Hears a Who
The Tale of Despereaux

Chandra Wilson & Sandra Oh

2008-09-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

These are clips from the two episodes of Grey's Anatomy that Chandra Wilson and Sandra Oh are nominated for, for the Emmys.

"Lay Your Hands on Me"

"The Becoming"

2008 Emmy Award Winner Predictions!

2008-09-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

My winner picks are in bold, while the alternates are in italic.

Drama Series:

Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")
Damages ("Pilot")
Dexter ("The Dark Defender")
House ("Frozen")
Lost ("The Constant")
Mad Men ("Pilot, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes")

Mad Men is the series that everyone has been championing and the one that has really broken out. Damages has also been critically acclaimed, and raved about, but it's not as big as MM is. Therefore, MM will win the Emmy for Best Drama Series tonight.

Comedy Series:

Curb Your Enthusiasm ("The Bat Mitzvah")
Entourage ("The Day Fuckers")
The Office ("Local Ad")
30 Rock ("Cooter")
Two and a Half Men ("Rough Night in Hump Junction")

30 Rock should see a repeat win here because it is the funniest thing on television bar none. The Office is a close runner up, but 30 should be the one winning tonight.

Actor,Drama Series:

Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 4")
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad ("Pilot")
Michael C. Hall - Dexter ("There's Something About Harry")
Jon Hamm - Mad Men ("The Wheel")
Hugh Laurie - House ("House's Head")
James Spader - Boston Legal ("The Court Supreme")

I am not even going to count James Spader because I want to think that Emmy voters have wanted to move on after 3 years. Hugh Laurie is more overdue than Jon Hamm and everyone loves Dr. House anyways, so why not do the right thing and give the Emmy to Hugh?

Actress,Drama Series:

Glenn Close - Damages ("Pilot")
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters ("History Repeating")
Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ("Undercover")
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace ("Tacos, Tulips, Ducks and Spices")
Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer ("Manhunt")

There is no question that Glenn Close will be winning tonight. She has fashioned one of the best characters on TV in the past year. "Patty Hewes" is charming, cunning, funny, sadistic, ruthless and very intelligent, and Glenn plays all of the traits to the hilt. It is constantly fascinating work each episode. Kyra Sedgwick is the alternate because she has been nominated more than the other contestants without winning. "Brenda Leigh Johnson" is a wonderful character and Kyra is edging closer and closer to getting that Emmy to put next to her Golden Globe.

Actress,Comedy Series:

Christina Applegate - Samantha Who? ("The Restraining Order")
America Ferrera - Ugly Betty ("Odor in the Court")
Tina Fey - 30 Rock ("Sandwich Day")
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine ("One and a Half Men")
Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds ("Bill Sussman")

Tina Fey should follow up her Golden Globe and SAG wins with a nice, shiny new Emmy. Tina is a genius and "Liz Lemon" is just neurotic hilarity. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the runner up because no other character made me laugh harder than "Christine Campbell" going through perimenopause. Everything she did in that episode cracked me up.

Actor,Comedy Series:

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock ("Rosemary's Baby")
Steve Carell - The Office ("Goodbye, Toby")
Lee Pace - Pushing Daisies ("Pie-lette")
Tony Shalhoub - Monk ("Mr. Monk and the Naked Man")
Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men ("Is There a Mrs. Waffles?")

Alec Baldwin should be getting the Emmy this year for the one that he narrowly lost to Ricky Gervais in Extras. And like Kyra Sedgwick, Steve Carell is just inching closer and closer to getting that Emmy. Next year? I think so.

Supporting Actor,Comedy Series:

Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men ("Meander to Your Dander")
Kevin Dillon - Entourage ("The Dream Team")
Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother ("The Goat")
Jeremy Piven - Entourage ("The Day Fuckers")
Rainn Wilson - The Office ("Money")

For me, it's a 3 way race between Neil Patrick Harris, Jeremy Piven and Rainn Wilson. They're all extremely funny and deserving the win. I want Neil to win because he seems like a really nice guy and he is the funniest person on How I Met Your Mother. Jeremy Piven is the alternate because he has won the past 2 years. Rainn Wilson will get the Emmy eventually.

Supporting Actor,Drama Series:

Ted Danson - Damages ("Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker")
Michael Emerson - Lost ("The Shape of Things to Come")
Zeljko Ivanek - Damages ("I Hate These People")
William Shatner - Boston Legal ("Mad About You")
John Slattery - Mad Men ("Long Weekend")

I think Michael Emerson will win this year because Terry O'Quinn won last year, and also because his character on Lost is one of the best. He always performs to the best of his abilities on that show. I've only seen a few episodes and I can tell you that. William Shatner is the alternate here because they skipped out on him last year, and he seems to be very popular with the Emmy voters just like his castmate.

Supporting Actress,Drama Series:

Candice Bergen - Boston Legal ("The Mighty Rogues")
Rachel Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters ("Domestic Issues")
Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy ("The Becoming")
Dianne Wiest - In Treatment ("Paul and Gina: Week 1")
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy ("Lay Your Hands on Me")

No words can begin to describe how extraordinary Chandra Wilson was during the whole fourth season of Grey's Anatomy. In every episode, Chandra had some amazing stuff to work with and she always performed the hell out of it. No more so than in "Lay Your Hands on Me" where she knocked it out of the park and blew everyone else off the screen. No one deserves an Emmy more than her this year. Sandra Oh is the alternate here because she did put forth one of the best episodes for her, ever. From her singing and practicing stitching on dead bodies, to her tearful address to the Chief and his wife about how she helped Burke with his hand and got nothing in return, Sandra was aces throughout the entire episode.

Supporting Actress,Comedy Series:

Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies ("Girth")
Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live ("Tina Fey")
Jean Smart - Samantha Who? ("The Girlfriend")
Holland Taylor - Two and a Half Man ("Media Room Slash Dungeon")
Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty ("Bananas for Betty")

Vanessa Williams should win this year because her episode is really funny. The situation Wilhelmina gets herself into with Betty White is hilarious and White uses everything she has to humiliate Wilhelmina further. The interaction between the two is great and Vanessa is extremely funny throughout the entire episode. Amy Poehler is the alternate here because it is her last season on SNL and I remember her being very funny in the Tina Fey hosted episode. She also has created a host of memorable characters and the Emmy voters might want to reward her for being one of the funniest performers ever on SNL.

Reality Host:

Tom Bergeron - Dancing with the Stars
Heidi Klum - Project Runway
Howie Mandel - Deal or No Deal
Jeff Probst - Survivor
Ryan Seacrest - American Idol

Reality-Competition Program

The Amazing Race
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Project Runway
Top Chef

Miniseries:

The Andromeda Strain
Cranford
John Adams
Tin Man

Made-for-TV Movie:

Bernard and Doris
Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
A Raisin in the Sun
Recount

Actor,Miniseries or a Movie:

Ralph Fiennes - Bernard and Doris
Ricky Gervais - Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
Paul Giamatti - John Adams
Kevin Spacey - Recount
Tom Wilkinson - Recount

Actress,Miniseries or a Movie:

Judi Dench - Cranford
Catherine Keener - An American Crime
Laura Linney - John Adams
Phylicia Rashad - A Raisin in the Sun
Susan Sarandon - Bernard and Doris

Supporting Actress,Miniseries or a Movie:

Eileen Atkins - Cranford
Laura Dern - Recount
Ashley Jensen - Extras: The Extra Special Series Finale
Audra McDonald - A Raisin in the Sun
Alfre Woodard - Pictures of Hollis Woods

Supporting Actor,Miniseries or a Movie:

Bob Balaban - Recount
Stephen Dillane - John Adams
Denis Leary - Recount
David Morse - John Adams
Tom Wilkinson - John Adams

Old Grades 27

2008-09-16T03:01:00.000-07:00

King of California

, dir. Cahill B+

In the Valley of Elah

, dir. Haggis A

Eastern Promises

, dir. Cronenberg A-

The Brave One

, dir. Jordan A+

Damages: The Complete First Season

, dirs. Various A+

, dir. Taymor B+

, dir. Mirkin A

, dir. Schnabel B+

, dir. Van Sant C

, dir. Goldwyn A-

, dir. M Davis B

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story

, dirs. Michels & Shin A

The Hunting Party

, dir. Shepard A

3:10 to Yuma

, dir. Mangold A-

Mosaic

2008-09-04T17:16:00.001-07:00

I noticed this on other blogs, so I decided to do one for myself.

1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page, pick an image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.
But first, my answers:

1. What is your first name? Barry
2. What is your favourite food? Spaghetti
3. What high school did you go to? Centennial Secondary
4. What is your favorite color? Forest Green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Halle Berry
6. Favorite drink? Milk
7. Dream vacation? Los Angeles
8. Favorite dessert? Chocolate Cheesecake
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? Film Critic
10. What do you love most in life? Friends
11. One word to describe you: Random
12. Your Flickr name: No Flickr account, so I put in "Burray," another way to spell my nickname.

The masterpiece of mosaics if I do say so myself. The closest they could get to spagetti was that(?) That is not my school, that is Centennial College in Toronto. My school is not as good looking as that one. Halle Berry looks hot. Milk Street looks interesting. That's Los Angeles at night time. The chocolate cheesecake looks fucking yummy. Friends came up as a flower and Burray has to do with sunsets. Who knew?