Up in the Air

Jason Reitman is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors. He's made just three movies, but is now batting a thousand. Up in the Air is well written and flawlessly acted. The story is inspiring, though it is a little predictable which hurts it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but it would not get my vote for best picture this year which I mention as it is considered one of the front-runners.

Avatar

Unlike anything you've ever seen, Avatar is visually stunning from beginning to end. The story is solid, but nothing groundbreaking. My brother pointed out that it is strikingly similar to Dances with Wolves (though it's probably even more like The Last Samurai).

I watched the 3-D version, but actually think I would have preferred the 2-D version simply because the novelty of the 3-D quickly wore off and I got tired of the darned glasses.

I hate to completely dismiss it because it was really cool, but there's a reason most critics I've seen have left it out of their top ten movies of the year - it's basically like watching a 3-hour video game trailer.

Precious

Give Mo'Nique the Oscar.

While Precious is not the downer it appears to be on the surface, there are some very dark elements. We follow Precious through her life where all odds are stacked against her while she dreams frivolously of beautiful things both she and you as the viewer know are never going to happen.

It's powerful stuff and realistically presented. The antagonist is her demon of a mother played by Mo'Nique. At the end (don't worry, not a spoiler) as she is explaining her life to a social worker, Mo'Nique absolutely steals the entire show and leaves you numb with horror and grief. But, again, don't worry - Precious is the light.

An Education

What if someone offered you a shortcut to everything you ever wanted? What if your friends and family supported your abandonment of the original path in favor of the short cut? Could you say no?

In An Education, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is the top student in her class with dreams of going to Oxford to study English. She adores the finer, sophisticated thing in life and has, by and large, been isolated from them. When she meets the older, worldly David, he not only offers her these things, but wins over her parents in the process.

The film is called An Education because Jenny learns a lot. She learns about life, love, people, expectations, morality, beauty, and how to put it all in perspective.

Overall, a solid, intriguing film. The script is simple yet very well constructed. The acting is understated, but sincere, giving the whole thing a realistic feel. Not a best picture contender in my opinion, but definitely one that will garner some attention.

Where the Wild Things Are

This movie is great to look at, but not to watch. The Wild Things and their world are very well done and shot nicely. Unfortunately that's the extent of the positive things I can say about this movie. It's not that it's that bad, it's just not that good. The acting is adequate. The biggest problem is the script. Nothing happens. Max runs away, finds the Wild Things, hangs out with them for awhile, the end. To get away with something like this, you have to have very strong character development, so that even though the plot is secondary, the audience is still engaged. Cool scenery was not enough to hold my attention.

I was bored.

Zombieland

Movies are rarely this much fun to watch. Zombieland works because it doesn't waste any time trying to explore where the zombies came from or how the main characters can save humanity or anything like that. It gathers a small band of quirky characters who have managed to survive after zombies have ravaged most of the U.S. or world. They refer to each other by city of origin/destination to keep from getting attached. The hero, Columbus, is anything but heroic and has survived through sheer boy scout like efficiency and dedication to safety. He meets the surprisingly carefree Tallahassee who is on a quest to find one last Twinkie while he can and encourages Columbus to enjoy the little things. The dialogue brings to mind Pulp Fiction as the characters chat about the mundane in the midst of this zombie apocalypse.

Zombieland is simple yet bold and provides plenty of original laughs.

Bright Star

The beauty of the English language is center stage in this period romance. I've never been particularly interested in poetry, but I have to say that this film will have me searching for the works of John Keats on Amazon. Even when I didn't have time to process what was being said, the words had a melodic quality to them. I sat through the entire closing credits, which I rarely do, to listen to the poetry reading that accompanied them.

I would ultimately call this film a mood piece. There isn't really much in the way of plot - girl likes boy, boy likes girl, but boy is just a poor poet. But it works as you completely buy in to the 19th century repressed longing they feel for each other. It is remarkable how their relationship is simultaneously chaste and sensual .

Abbie Cornish shines as the titular star and may very well find herself in the Best Actress race this year.

On the whole, the movie is good, but not great. A best picture nomination would only be a gift of the expansion to ten films in that category.

District 9

The most realistic alien movie ever. Period. If you're looking for mind blowing special effects, crazy plot twists, popular catch phrases, etc. then this is not your movie.

District 9 is part social commentary but never gets preachy. It's part character study, but we don't really get to know the protagonist all that well. We mostly just watch the story happen to him instead of the other way around. The movie neither asks questions nor offers answers. The entire thing is one big, "what if?"

The majority of the movie is archive footage that was shot for a documentary of sorts within the movie. The problem is that there are also times when the forth wall is thrown back up and we are seeing things no one else in the world of the movie sees and it's not always obvious who is behind the camera.

It's an enjoyable film that had lots of potential. The effects are seamlessly incorporated with the live footage. Ultimately, however, it falls a little sort in trying to find a solid identity.

Inglourious Basterds

Some people make movies for a living, some people are artists. Guess which category Quentin Tarantino belongs to? Ever since Pulp Fiction emerged in 1994 writers and directors have tried to either directly imitate Tarantino or at least to find a QT inspired spark of their own. Most have failed to do so and even those who've made successful career of it (I'm looking at you, Guy Ritchie), fail to approach the master.

What's the difference? How does he do it? Most movies are about a story happening to a group of characters. In a Tarantino movie, the characters happen to the story. From Mr. Orange to Jules and Vincent to the Bride, Tarantino's protagonists control the show even when they lose control of the situation. Add the Basterds to their ranks.

One can tell Tarantino has no master but his own vision. The film is beautifully shot, conventions are thrown out the window, rules are broken, and the viewer has absolutely no idea what is going to happen down to the final minutes of the movie. If Tarantino had been born in an earlier generation, one could see him writing of once upon a midnight dreary or painting a coy smile on an Italian lady.

The Hurt Locker

If actors were stock, I'd tell you to put all the money you can on Jeremy Renner. The 38-year-old has been acting steadily since the mid-90s, but his work in The Hurt Locker will make him a star between now and the Oscars, even if he's not nominated. He demonstrates that he's skilled enough to carry a movie on his shoulders. Now he may just end up being another Jason Statham, but his pay checks are on their way.

Hurt Locker holds you at the cliff's edge for its entire run time. Every moment is life or death, which is exactly the point. This is what our soldiers in combat have to deal with every day. Any plot is secondary to simply putting you into the shoes of a soldier for a couple hours. There is no political agenda here, nothing rings false. War is what it is. And, as we are told in the movie's opening, for Renner's Staff Sergeant Will James who lives for the next challenge and risk of death, war is a drug.

(500) Days of Summer

500 Days of Summer takes pains to declare that it is not a love story. I disagree. Not only is it a love story, it's one of the best love stories ever put on film, which is probably why they don't think they qualify. For me it called to mind atypical (and outstanding) romances such as Chasing Amy and Closer.

This movie is boldly unconventional. It's not afraid to take risks and it succeeds on all fronts. It is funny, gripping, and unique. Joseph Gordon-Levitt controls the screen and shows that he is a talent who could one day contend for little gold statues. He'd get my vote here.

Foreign Film

I've noticed that whenever I talk movies with someone who has similar taste, I eventually ask whether or not they've seen many (or any) foreign movies. Responses range from, "yeah, a few" to a slightly embarrassed, "no." So, I want to quickly address this group all at once and insist you watch more.

The biggest advantage that most foreign (and independent) movies have is that they weren't made primarily to make money. I am not a fan of art for the sake of art and that's not what I'm talking about. But there's something very refreshing about a movie that wasn't designed to cater to the least common denominator of the American public.

The first essential is Life Is Beautiful. I've never met anyone who didn't consider this one of their all-time favorites (unless they made the mistake of watching the English dubbed version). This was a best picture nominee and Robert Benigni (who wrote, directed, and starred) won the Oscar for best actor.

If you're still unsure, I suggest Jet Li's Hero. There isn't a lot of dialogue and you'll forget you're watching a foreign movie. I've used this one several times to get people to start watching foreign films.

Working at our DVD store, I usually feel obligated to inform customers when a movie they've selected is not in English. The all-to-common response is their decision to put it back and find something else. But my all-time favorite response came from Corey Richardson, who said simply, "I can read."

If you think about it, really listening to English dialogue is about on par with reading subtitles. Remember it's not their fault you don't speak their language nor should they be faulted for choosing to film in their native tongue or, as with Clint Eastwood's amazing Letters From Iwo Jima, to film in the language the actual events were spoken.

So, you have your homework assignment. Let me know if you have any questions. Also please share your favorite foreign movies on the wall of this group.

These are the foreign movies from my "list." The full list can be found under the Favorite Movies topic on the discussion board. I did just notice Hero and Letters From Iwo Jima weren't on there yet, accidental omissions.

2046 - Wong Kar Wai is a bad ass. I've yet to see his first English movie Blueberry Nights. He's made several good movies, but this is my favorite. I can't even really explain it, you just have to watch it.

Amores Perros - The writer/director tandem that has since brought us 21 Grams and Babel started with this... and it's the best of the three.

Brotherhood of the Wolf - Roger Ebert called it an "explosion at the genre factory." I'm not normally a sucker for action sequences - LotR and Dark Knight are obvious exceptions, so it this.

City of God - One of the best movies ever made. Nothing more needs to be said.

Hero - Similar to Rashomon with the multiple versions of the same story, but with cool fighting :)

Letters From Iwo Jima - Went in thinking, "oh great, another war movie." Came out thinking it was one of the best war movies ever.

Life is Beautiful - Benigni tried to make a comedy about the Holocaust... and it worked.

No Man's Land - A frightening and sometimes comedic look at the Bosnian conflict.

Rashomon - From the legendary Akira Kirosawa (if you haven't heard of him, you've got a long way to go); a story told from different perspectives with the truth left for the viewer to decide.

Red Violin - I'll go ahead and count it, since I think less than half of it is in English. The main character is the violin.

Run, Lola, Run - Lola's boyfriend calls and says he needs $100,000 marks (they're German) in an hour or he's a dead man. In a sort of Groundhog Day style, she gets three attempts.

Seven Samurai - Kirosawa again. One of, if not the first,foreign movies I ever saw. I never would have thought a 50-year-old Japanese movie could make you laugh and cry.

If you need more, let me know. Happy hunting.

Public Enemies

Well, we're in the second half of the year now, so I'll start with the first film to have a legitimate shot at a best picture nomination, especially the expansion of that category to ten nominees.

Public Enemies is a very well made movie with very cool moments. I was struck by both the costumes and the cinematography which are normally things that don't catch my interest. The story itself isn't anything we haven't seen before with bank robber and gangster movies, but the script is solid and Michael Mann is at the top of his game. The acting is nothing stellar. Depp and Cotillard standout, but it will take a weak year to get them nominated. Everyone else is just kinda there. Billy Crudup, who I loved in Almost Famous, seemed out of place as J Edgar Hoover.

I will say it is my top movie of 2009 so far, but I'm looking forward to seeing the films that will no doubt knock it down.

Good show.

Best Snubbed

I’m not sure if this was inspired by others following my lead to work on seeing every best picture nominee (I’ve currently seen all since 1973) or lingering frustration over The Dark Knight’s snubbing.  Probably both.  Either way, the following is a year-by-year examination of the best movies of the last twenty years that were not graced by the Academy with a best picture nomination.  Winner and should-be winner in bold.

 

1989 – Glory

 

Nominated for five Oscars, it won three, including Best Supporting Actor – Denzel Washington.  Based on the true story of an all black regiment in the Civil War.  Powerful and entertaining.  IMDb rating: 8.0

 

The nominees: Driving Miss Daisy, Born on the 4^th of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, My Left Foot

 

This was an incredibly tough year and the votes were no doubt evenly spread.  I’d hate to dethrone any of these nominees, however, the snubbing of Glory is a greater injustice.  I really like Driving Miss Daisy, but it’s the first to go.

 

Also snubbed: When Harry Met Sally…, Do the Right Thing, Henry V

 

How it should have played out: Glory, Born on the 4^th of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, My Left Foot

 

1990 – Misery

 

Kathy Bates won for Best Actress.  A rare thing – a good horror movie.  IMDb rating: 7.8

 

The nominees: Dances with Wolves, Awakenings, Ghost, The Godfather, Part III, Goodfellas

 

A much weaker year than ’89.  No offense to Wolves, but you could argue that Glory would have won in this year.  The nominations of Ghost and Godfather III are particularly weak.  I haven’t seen Cyrano (only one I mention in this post that I haven’t seen), but it earned five nominations and, come on, Ghost is a 6.9 on IMDb.

 

Also snubbed: Hamlet, Cyrano de Bergerac

 

How it should have played out: Dances with Wolves, Awakenings, Misery, Goodfellas, Cyrano de Bergerac

 

1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day

 

Nominated for six Oscars and winner of four.  Still considered a major milestone in film history for it’s groundbreaking special effects.  Not really best picture material, but a stronger movie than all but two of that year’s nominees.  IMDb rating: 8.5

 

The nominees: The Silence of the Lambs, Beauty and the Beast, Bugsy, JFK, The Prince of Tides

 

Beauty and the Beast is good, but it’s not like it stands higher above other animated musicals than does T2 among action movies.  Bugsy is plain boring and forgettable.  Tides is fine, but not best picture caliber.

 

Also snubbed: The Fisher King, Europa, Europa

 

How it should have played out: JFK, The Silence of the Lambs, Beauty and the Beast, Terminator 2, The Fisher King

 

1992 – Reservoir Dogs

 

Tarantino’s directorial debut.  Ignored by the Academy probably for simply being too small at the time.  Low budget, largely unknown cast – unforgettable action thriller.  IMDb rating: 8.4

 

The nominees – Unforgiven, The Crying Game, A Few Good Men, Howard’s End, Scent of a Woman

 

Crying Game got this purely on shock value for its famous twist.  Scent and Howard are good but far from great. I like Unforgiven but A Few Good Men is more memorable and entertaining.

 

Also snubbed: Malcolm X, Glengarry Glen Ross

 

How it should have played out: A Few Good Men, Unforgiven, Reservoir Dogs, Glengarry Glen Ross, Malcolm X

 

1993 – Tombstone

 

In my opinion, one of the best westerns ever made.  I’m not a huge Val Kilmer fan, but he should have won best supporting actor for his job as Doc Holliday.  Not only did the award go to an unchallenging role for Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive, but Kilmer wasn’t even nominated.  IMDb rating: 7.7

 

The nominees – Schindler’s List, In the Name of the Father, The Fugitive, The Piano, The Remains of the Day

 

The year of the dramas apparently with only The Fugitive throwing in some thrills.  All good shows, but nominations of any kind for the completely snubbed Tombstone and Groundhog Day would have added some life to the party.

 

Also snubbed: Groundhog Day, Philadelphia

 

How it should have played out: Schindler’s List, Tombstone, Groundhog Day, The Remains of the Day, Philadelphia

 

1994 – Leon (The Professional)

 

A great movie that seems to have fallen completely through the cracks.  In an odd parallel to Les Miserables, a hit-man takes in an orphaned young girl and they each fill a role badly needed in the life of the other.  Make sure to opt for the more poignant international cut (Leon) over the American cut (The Professional).  The American version removes all scenes of him training her to kill and those with chaste sexual tension.  Natalie Portman’s first movie.  IMDb rating: 8.6

 

The nominees: Forrest Gump, Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Quiz Show, Four Weddings and a Funeral

 

Strongest year since 1989.  Weddings is the lightest fare, but still a very good show.  Pulp and Shawshank are in a virtual tie for my favorite movie of all time.  Pulp gets the tie breaker on sheer originality.

 

Also snubbed: Clerks

 

How it should have played out: Pulp Fiction, The Shawshank Redemption, Quiz Show, Forrest Gump, Leon

 

1995 – The Usual Suspects

 

The movie won for script and supporting actor (Kevin Spacey) and can’t get a nomination in the best pic category.  Keep in mind this is a great movie even without its famous twists. IMDb rating: 8.7

 

The nominees: Braveheart, Apollo 13, Babe, Il Postino, Sense and Sensibility

 

Okay, Babe is fine, but it’s a joke as a best pic nominee.  Only Braveheart and Apollo 13 are best pic material here.  Some great movies got passed over this year.  Voting must have been tight – real tight allowing a greased Babe to sneak in.

 

Also snubbed: Dead Man Walking, Seven, Before Sunrise, Leaving Las Vegas, Mr. Holland’s Opus, Richard III, Twelve Monkeys

 

How it should have played out: Braveheart, Apollo 13, The Usual Suspects, Dead Man Walking, Seven

 

1996 – Trainspotting

 

A little out-there, I know, but that’s just why it deserved a shot in this race.  Ewan McGregor as a heroin junkie in his native Scotland.  The life-affirming rant that bookends the film with altered subtext is genius.  IMDb rating: 8.2

 

The nominees: The English Patient, Fargo, Jerry Maguire, Secrets & Lies, Shine

 

A pretty soft year where something like Trainspotting could have snuck in.  Secrets was just boring.  I need to rewatch Fargo and my change here reflects what I feel is now pretty much the consensus more than my personal opinion.

 

Also snubbed: Beautiful Girls, Sling Blade, Hamlet, Primal Fear

 

How it should have played out: Fargo, The English Patient, Shine, Trainspotting, Jerry Maguire

 

1997 – Chasing Amy

 

Ben Affleck falls in love with a lesbian in a movie that is every bit as dramatic as it is funny.  Kevin Smith’s best movie by far.  An indie that did manage a Golden Globe nomination for Joey Lauren Adams.  IMDb rating: 7.5

 

The nominees: Titanic, As Good as It Gets, Good Will Hunting, L.A. Confidential, The Full Monty

 

A very strong year, but sorry, Monty, you get the boot.  And Titanic is good, but it’s also the most titanically overrated movie ever. Good Will Hunting is one of my all-time favorites.

 

Also snubbed: Boogie Nights, Donnie Brasco

 

How it should have played out: Good Will Hunting, L.A. Confidential, As Good as It Gets, Chasing Amy, Titanic

 

1998 – American History X

 

I find it extremely unfortunate that many racists seem drawn to this film and are oblivious to the real point it is trying to make.  It’s not terribly great film making, but the acting and its message resonate.  Sorry, Roberto, Mr. Norton should have won the Oscar here, but I’ll give you the best picture prize.  IMDb rating: 8.6

 

The nominees: Shakespeare in Love, Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful, The Thin Red Line

 

The big battle here was always the showdown between Shakespeare and Private Ryan and many were insulting by Shakespeare’s win.  The real injustice was that Benigni quietly created one of the best films in history.  Does anyone even remember Thin Red Line?

 

Also snubbed: Gods and Monsters, The Truman Show

 

How it should have played out: Life is Beautiful, Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love, American History X, Gods and Monsters

 

1999 – Fight Club

 

Obviously not for everyone.  I remember thinking the preview to this looked horrible, but it is so much more than what it seems.  Great acting, great characters, interesting social commentary.  IMDb rating: 8.8

 

The nominees: American Beauty, The Sixth Sense, The Green Mile, The Cider House Rules, The Insider

 

I really like all of these movies, but someone is going to have to make room for Fight Club.

 

Also snubbed: South Park, Boys Don’t Cry, Magnolia

 

How it should have played out: American Beauty, Fight Club, The Insider, The Green Mile, The Sixth Sense

 

2000 – Almost Famous

 

This omission had me livid at the time.  It won the Golden Globe for best comedy (over Chocolat).  Cameron Crowe wins the Oscar for best screenplay to go with its three other nominations. Based on Crowe’s actual experiences as a 15-year-old writer for Rolling Stone Magazine, the movie plays as one long love letter to music.  One of my all-time favorites.  IMDb rating: 8.0

 

The nominees: Gladiator, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Traffic, Chocolat, Erin Brokovich

 

Solid year.  Gladiator has since grown on me, and though I did like it at first I found myself arguing against it simply because it could have been so much later.  [Minor spoiler coming if you haven’t seen Gladiator].  When Maximus reveals himself in the arena to the emperor who thought he had been killed, I was thinking, “What has it been? Two weeks?  Make it twenty years and then you have a story.  Give me The Count of Monte Cristo for a revenge story”

 

Also snubbed: Requiem for a Dream, Amores Perros, Billy Elliot, Quills, The Contender

 

How it should have played out: Almost Famous, Gladiator, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Traffic, Requiem for a Dream

 

2001 – Memento

 

A drama/thriller about a man who can’t make new memories trying to track down his wife’s murderer.  And it’s told in such a way that you find yourself struggling to keep the memory of previous scenes fresh in your mind.  The breakout movie for director Christopher Nolan.  A major criticism has always been supposed plot-holes, but I’ve seen this movie several times and I just don’t buy that argument.  You can pick every movie apart if you are so inclined.  IMDb rating: 8.6

 

The nominees: A Beautiful Mind, The Fellowship of the Ring, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, Moulin Rogue

 

What is with the token British nominations that pop up most every year?  Gosford Park, go win a BAFTA and leave the rest of us alone!

 

Also snubbed: Training Day, Iris, Monster’s Ball, I am Sam, Ali

 

How it should have played out: Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge, Memento, A Beautiful Mind, Training Day

 

2002 – Adaptation.

 

I couldn’t stop grinning for 30 minutes after seeing this movie in the theater.  It is pure genius – a movie about writing the script for THIS movie.  Charlie Kaufman had to be thinking his career was over when he had the guts to turn this script in.  He made himself the main character of the screenplay for a book that has nothing to do with him (it’s about flowers) and the film actually contains the line, “I’ve written myself into my screenplay.”  It was nominated for four Oscars and Chris Cooper won best supporting actor.  IMDb rating: 7.9

 

The nominees – Chicago, The Two Towers, The Pianist, Gangs of New York, The Hours

 

Chicago pales in comparison to Moulin Rouge as a movie musical.  And although The Pianist wasn’t my favorite movie this year, the fact that it won for best director, script, and actor but somehow lost to Chicago for the overall prize, blows my mind.

 

Also snubbed: Hero, About Schmidt, Far From Heaven, Catch Me if You Can, Frailty, Talk to Her, Road to Perdition, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Frida

 

How it should have played out: The Pianist, The Two Towers, Gangs of New York, Adaptation., Hero

 

2003 – City of God

 

Roger Ebert constantly complains about the Academy’s selection process for foreign films and if anything proves what a joke it is, it’s the fact that City of God managed to earn a Best Director nomination without earning a best foreign film nomination. This is an absolute classic exploring gang life in Rio de Janeiro.  IMDb rating: 8.8

 

The nominees: The Return of the King, Master and Commander, Mystic River, Lost in Translation, Seabiscuit

 

All good shows but since Return of the King is the only other masterpiece here, the other four are all in the way.  In America and Whale Rider are two of the most emotionally touching movies I’ve ever seen.

 

Also snubbed: 21 Grams, Cold Mountain, House of Sand and Fog, Monster, In America, Whale Rider

 

How it should have played out: The Return of the King, City of God, In America, Whale Rider, Mystic River

 

2004 – Kill Bill: Vol. 2

 

Volume 1 didn’t really do a lot for me.  It seemed all style and little substance.  That was until the story was completed in volume 2.  Looking at the whole thing as one big movie elevates it to rival Pulp Fiction.  Ignored completely by the Oscars, it did get two Golden Globe acting nominations.  IMDb rating: 8.0

 

The nominees: Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Ray, Sideways

 

This was the year Aviator was supposed to win everything for Scorsese before Baby snuck in at the last minute to steal the show (and rightfully so).  I probably should have highlighted Hotel Rwanda, but Kill Bill is the more interesting choice.  Hotel Rwanda is so emotionally powerful it transcends movies and is a required life experience.

 

Also snubbed: Hotel Rwanda, Closer, Collateral, Kinsey, Maria Full of Grace

 

How it should have played out: Million Dollar Baby, Hotel Rwanda, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, The Aviator, Collateral

 

2005 – Brick

 

Had to pick this one because most of you probably haven’t seen it, or even heard of it.  Style points are off the charts here, it’s film noir featuring modern high school students.  I heard the screenwriter say in an interview he even chose some words just because of the way they sounded not because of the meaning.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt tries to unravel the labyrinth of a local crime syndicate to figure out what happened to his ex-girlfriend.  IMDb rating: 7.6

 

The nominees: Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Munich, Capote, Good Night, and Good Luck.

 

Munich is the only one here I didn’t care for.  I’ll save my rant on how Speilberg is overrated for another day.

 

Also snubbed: Walk the Line, Cinderella Man, Match Point, A History of Violence

 

How it should have played out: Crash, Brokeback Mountain, Brick, Capote, Good Night, and Good Luck.

 

2006 – Blood Diamond

 

This one caught me completely off guard.  I was just expecting a slightly better than average action movie and found one of the biggest snubs on this entire list.  The acting is great, the action is compelling and never forced, and the ending is unforgettable.  IMDb rating: 8.0

 

The nominees: The Departed, The Queen, Letters from Iwo Jima, Babel, Little Miss Sunshine

 

Babel was good but the weakest in a sort of trilogy begun with Ameros Perros and continued in 21 Grams.  Departed was helped by the Aviator’s loss two years earlier.  Letters is so much more than your standard war movie.  Queen – see note above concerning Gosford Park.

 

Also snubbed: Dreamgirls, Little Children, The Last King of Scotland, Children of Men

 

How it should have played out: The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Blood Diamond, Babel, The Last King of Scotland

 

2007 – Once

 

One of the best musicals ever and it’s not really a musical; the characters just happen to be musicians.  Not only that, instead of hiring actors to play musicians, the director hired musicians to act.  You may remember them from the Oscar win for best original song.  I challenge you to watch this movie, find the Oscar clip on youtube of them winning, and not cry.  It can’t be done.  IMDb rating: 8.1

 

The nominees: No Country for Old Men, There Will be Blood, Juno, Michael Clayton, Atonement

 

Atonement can go hang out with The Queen and Gosford Park in timeout.  I absolutely love Daniel Day-Lewis and he definitely deserved the Oscar here, but the movie was missing something for me.  Michael Clayton surprised me in much the same fashion as Blood Diamond, but it got its nomination.

 

Also snubbed: Sweeney Todd, Into the Wild, 3:10 to Yuma, Charlie Wilson’s War

 

How it should have played out: No Country for Old Men, Juno, Michael Clayton, Once, Into the Wild

 

2008 – The Dark Knight

 

If you were around me at all during the most recent Oscar season, you’ve already heard me complain non-stop about this omission.  If not, check it my comments here:  http://hesaidshesaidfilm.blogspot.com/2009/01/top-movies-of-2008.html  IMDb rating: 8.9

 

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

 

The Reader is considerably better than the other British fare I complained of above, but it doesn’t belong in this race.  And I still can’t forgive the last 15 minutes of Ben Button.

 

Also snubbed: Changeling, The Visitor, The Wrestler, Doubt

 

How it should have played out: The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Visitor, Changeling

And the winner is...

Slumdog Millionaire and its impressive eight Academy Awards including, of course, Best Picture of the year.

No real surprises tonight.  Slumdog won in 8 of the 10 prizes it was nominated for, losing only to itself in original song and The Dark Knight in sound editing (poetic justice?).

Sean Penn takes home his second best actor award and Kate Winslet got her first.  Penelope Cruz and Heath Ledger won the supporting trophies, with Ledger's parents and sister accepting the Oscar on his behalf.

I loved watching the shots of all the actors' reactions to Heath Ledger's win. I enjoyed how Danny Boyle got more excited for the other Slumdog winners than he did for himself.  Hugh Jackman did great (though am I alone in thinking everyone I've seen host recently did a good job?).  And does anyone know when Sophia Loren turned into a zombie? I was worried she was going to feast on Kate's brains.

The one upset of the night was the Japanese movie Departures beating out both Waltz with Bashir and The Class in the foreign film category.  I believe this category is so hard to predict because so few of them are seen until voting time. How else could a movie like Pan's Labyrinth two years ago, nominated six times over and winner of three Oscars, lose the prize for best foreign film? And a movie like City of God still flies completely under the radar.

Oscar Eve

It's Oscar weekend so I'll run through real quick and say what I think (or guess) will win and also what I would vote for if I was an Academy member.

Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire will most likely win.  I loved it, but Milk would get my vote.

Best Director - Danny Boyle is the favorite here and he gets my vote too.

Best Actor - A tight race.  Mickey Rourke is right there, but I saw Sean Penn edges him (though a Frank Langella win won't completely surprise me either).  Penn gets my vote.

Best Actress - Kate Winslet is finally getting her Oscar due and I'll probably cry.  However, for this particular race my vote swung to Angelina Jolie this week after finally watching Changeling (I still have not seen Frozen River or Rachel Getting Married).

Best Supporting Actor - Heath. Ledger.

Best Supporting Actress - "They" say Penelope Cruz is the favorite in an extremely tight race with Viola Davis her closest competitor.  I'll go ahead a pick Davis to win, but her castmate Amy Adams would get my vote.

Original Screenplay - Some say Milk will win here as a consolation prize for losing Best Pic to Slumdog, but I think Wall-E takes home the prize.  Wall-E gets my vote as well.

Adapted Screenplay - I still want it clarified whether this is the best job of adaptation or the best screenplay that qualifies as adapted.  I think Benjamin Button wins for its total reimagining of Fitzgerald's 20 page short story unless Slumdog love extends to this category.  I'd vote for Slumdog.

Cinematography - Slumdog's spectacular photography of India will win as it should, though depending on the mood I was in at the time, I might for The Dark Knight.

Animated Movie - Wall-E x 2

Special Effects - Ben Button will probably win for its aging of Brad Pitt, but I'd vote for Dark Knight out of spite here.

I'll leave the rest of the categories alone as I either haven't seen enough of them, or still am not sure what they are (sound editing?)

Changeling

Changeling definitely falls into the category of "truth is stranger than fiction," because if this wasn't based on a true story, you wouldn't buy it.

A boy is returned to his mother after a five month disappearance, but his mother doesn't recognize him.  Is this, as the police insist, because she is in shock and the ordeal has also had physical manifestations in the boy, or is the mother the victim of a corrupt LAPD looking only to keep its image shining brightly in the public's collective eyes?

The mother, Christine Collins, played by Oscar nominated Angelina Jolie continues to fight the police and their insistence that the case is closed.  Only at the beginning of her and her son's "reunion" does she question whether she might be mistaken.

John Malkovich plays a local reverend who has made it his life's mission to challenge the LAPD and takes up Mrs. Collins's cause.  I'm normally not a fan of Malkovich but he is very good here.

The film is long, but only because it continues to present you with the facts of the case as they happened nearly 80 years ago in California.  It provokes anger at several injustices, sadness for a mother's loss and impotence, and hope that patience and persistence may overcome.

It also forces me to update my top 5 movies of the year: 

1. The Dark Knight

2. Milk

3. Slumdog Millionaire

4. Changeling

5. The Visitor

Oldboy

I have to admit, I must really be missing the boat on Oldboy, because I didn't enjoy much of anything about this movie.

I found it disconnected and violent to the point of absurdity (still wondering why we watched him pulling teeth). I got bored during the fight scenes where the main character showed off the skills he learned watching TV in captivity. The almost-ending monologue by the bad guy reminds me of how in The Incredibles and Kim Possible the villains always get caught up in a huge monologue and then the heroes take advantage of their distraction and foil the evil plot.

I was disappointed by the fact that the only real female character was completely useless. There's never really explanation for why she keeps hanging around with a violent crazy person and having no personality of her own, except "Oh, we hypnotized her, too." Her lines during sex are things like "It hurts so much, but I'll endure it for you" and "I want to make you feel good." Vomit.

I guess I'm just going to have to chalk it up to not getting some angle of this movie. Clearly, I am disagreeing with the majority. I recognize some elements that make a good story, and also some sharp technical skills. But it just felt like a hollow box.

Weeds is about as addictive as an actual drug.

Four years ago, I didn't watch TV. Today, I would consider myself a devoted watcher of probably 7 shows (though one of them is sadly off the air). How did this happen?

Because of shows like Weeds, that's how. Weeds is the blackest of black comedies, a comedy about a single mom who resorts to dealing pot to pay the bills after her husband's sudden death. Her family is hilariously dysfunctional, and so are her suburban So-Cal neighborhood and neighbors.

If you are a fan of shows like Arrested Development, The Office, and awkward comedies in general, you will love this show.

Coraline

Coraline is one of the scariest "kids' movies" that I've ever seen. That said, it was very cool, and hands down the best animation I have ever seen. There's not much analysis to be done - it's just a really cool movie. I can't believe Tim Burton isn't somewhere on credits.

If this movie was a month and a half earlier in its release, it would be really tough competition for WALL-E in the Best Animated Film category.

Top movies of 2008

I originally intended this to be a top 10 list, but attempts at compiling such a list proved just as frustrating as trying to rank my all-time favorite movies. How does one weigh, for example, the merits of Vicky Cristina Barcelona vs Iron Man vs The Reader. All were high quality productions which I enjoyed and would gladly watch again, but by what criteria do I judge them against each other? Also, I have not seen every movie released in 2008 (nor would I want to). Not only have I missed obvious titles such as Changeling or Rachel Getting Married, but titles very few have seen like Wendy and Lucy or Waltz with Bashir.

Perhaps it is too soon to throw together a best of '08 list? But consider that not only have Academy members already voted, but votes have already been tabulated and released in the form of the Oscar nominations. (Don't think good movies fall through the cracks?)

So, here's the plan. I'll briefly mention several 2008 movies I considered (in no particular order) and close with the five movies I would have voted for had I been an Academy member.

Iron Man - Definitely a tier above your standard action movie and if it hadn't been for The Dark Knight's release just a month later, more people would be talking about it. The final confrontation was a little weak, but a solid show.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - What can I say? This was a really funny movie with interesting characters. Not your standard throw away comedy with no story.

Doubt - Loved seeing the behind the scenes world of the priests and nuns at a Catholic school. Four Oscar nominations for acting is not a fluke.

Burn After Reading - Even the people who said they didn't really care for this movie, laugh out loud when you remind them of some of the highlights. Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons steal the show.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona - If it weren't for that damned voice over, this might have cracked my top five.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Enjoyed the ride, but can't forgive the weak final act.

In Bruges - Far from perfect but a lot to love here. Excited about its Oscar nom for screenplay, and happy for Colin Farrell's Golden Globe win.

The Wrestler - I watched the trailer 15 times. The movie was great, but the trailer actually moved me more. Springsteen not getting nominated for Best Original Song was one of the biggest Oscar snubs.

The Reader - I liked it, but nothing really surprised me here. It fills the roll of pretty good movie that boots better movies out of the Best Picture category (I'm talking to you Atonement and The Queen).

WALL*E - Brilliant. First 3/4 are absolutely revolutionary. Final quarter is solid, but drifts toward the more conventional. Don't be surprised to see it win for Best Original Screenplay.

I'm sure there are still others I forgot to mention, but moving on - here are my five "votes" for Best Picture of the Year:

5. Frost/Nixon - Frank Langella is amazing as Richard Nixon. This movie turned an interview with an ex-president into an epic battle for information. I could have watched these two battle it out for hours. Oscar moment - Nixon calls Frost in the middle of the night to rant about how "they" (the underprivileged), appreciate their success more and will rub it in the faces of the rich kids who stood in their way - a conversation Nixon has no memory of the next day.

4. The Visitor - If every film had the same resources to campaign during awards season, I think you would have seen in The Visitor nominated for far more than just its leading actor, Richard Jenkins. People are all too often, too selfish and too absorbed in their own lives to connect with strangers. Walter (Jenkins) takes that leap with Tarek, a Syrian living in NYC, and it changes his life. Think of this as a mellower version of American Beauty.

3. Slumdog Millionaire - This movie is an absolute blast. It is intense and dark at times, balanced by love and light. What started as the underdog movie out of India has avalanched into the absolute front runner for Best Picture. I only wish the characters had a little more polish to them. It's not my number one of the year, but there's no way to root against it.

2. Milk - The Scots had William Wallace, the Indians had Mahatma Gandhi, the gays had Harvey Milk. Seriously, this movie parallels Braveheart in more ways than you could imagine. I know we've seen movies where one man or woman battles against injustice to fight for what is right, but this is one of the best. Not only did Harvey Milk inspire thousands of oppressed people but his is a battle that is still being fought today.

1. The Dark Knight - Few question that this is the best superhero movie ever made. That in itself should make the Academy feel ashamed for leaving it out of the Best Picture race. The best fantasy movie won the top prize just five years ago (LotR - The Return of the King). They have rewarded horror (Silence of the Lambs), thriller (The Departed), western (Unforgiven), and comedy (Annie Hall), but not The Dark Knight. I read once that the Academy Awards honor those achievements that advance the art and science of film making. Yes, TDK was nominated for eight awards, but despite being THE BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE EVER MADE, it was left out of the Best Picture and Best Director races.
The Dark Knight is not only filled with memorable action sequences, it is filled with social commentary, and characters sincerely torn as to what is "right." And, of course, there's Heath Ledger's Joker who might be the best (or worst) movie villain ever (sorry, Darth Vader). But it's much more than that, Batman is the ultimate hero, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice - not dying for a cause, but living for it after all his supporters become his enemies.
I never thought about it until this moment, but the Batman that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale have created is the Man described in Rudyard Kipling's "If" - "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you..."

Oscar race update

The Producers and Screen Actors Guilds announced their winners this weekend. Slumdog Millionaire took home the top prize for both. It will now be an upset if it doesn't take home the Oscar for best pic. The SAG award is especially telling. Doubt was nominated for four acting awards to Slumdog's one, yet Slumdog was awarded for best cast in a motion picture.

Heath Ledger is still a lock for supporting actor, but the other three categories just got more competitive than they already were. Sean Penn won the SAG after Mickey Rourke won the Golden Globes. Those two and Frank Langella are in a virtual dead heat. Meryl Streep beat out Kate Winslet and company to win for Doubt, though Winslet at the Oscars is nominated for The Reader, not Revolutionary Road as she was at the SAGs.

But by far the closest race is supporting actress. Kate Winslet matched her GG win with a SAG last night for The Reader. She won't be around come Oscar time in this category, and there's no way to know which way the voters plan to swing when they can't vote for Kate in this category.

The Wrestler

The Wrestler is the fourth movie by Darren Aronofsky and there is definitely a theme that threads them all together: loneliness and isolation.  Pi gives us a mathematician isolated by his own genius.  Requiem for a Dream follows a group of friends whose drug problems push them deeper and deeper into the cocoons of their separate addictions.  The Fountain follows Tom on three parallel journeys to find/save his soul mate with no one who can help him.

Now Mickey Rourke stars as professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson (don't dare call him by his real name, Robin Razinski).  Many movies deal with a crisis of identity, with a character struggling to find where they fit in the world.  The Wrestler approaches that concept from a different angle.  Randy knows what he is: a wrestler.  But how long will his body let him continue.  He's already 20 years past his prime.  In the ring he is a god, but in real life he is insecure and scared while still trying to wear the worn badge of The Ram.  He is alone.

Frost/Nixon

Saw Frost Nixon last night, and I'm going to have to disagree with Richie. This movie is a serious contender for the top spot this year, and here's why:

1) This is a true event. Unlike Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader and Ben Button, there's a lot less artistic license allowed. And that makes it all the more impressive when you can recreate it impressively on the big screen.

2) As the ending commentary of the movie notes, the power of the close-up is incredible. This entire movie is a close up. These guys entertained you with a movie where you learned the names of all of 8 characters, and go to know fewer than that. At least half of the framing of was just a face, and nothing else. There was more silence in the sound than any movie I think I've ever seen. And despite all of these extreme close-ups, they kept everyone's attention for over two hours!

Quite simply, this movie will give the others a run for their money because it is the year's best achievement in filmmaking. It took the least interesting situation of the five - an interview (though it was politically charged) and turned it into two hours of awesomeness.

Revolutionary Road

With expectations diminished by its lower than expected Oscar nomination tally (three), I went in to Revolutionary Road hoping to enjoy it more because now it could surprise me.

This was not the case.

The acting was top notch.  Kate, Leo, Oscar nominated Michael Shannon, Kathy Bates, everyone.  Ultimately, the story just wasn't that interesting nor could I get emotionally invested despite the great performances.

Oscar nominations

I watched the Oscar nomination announcement live Thursday morning with the anxiety of a kid hoping Santa brought him the one thing he REALLY wanted for Christmas.  I don't know why I became so personally invested, but the one thing I really wanted was that best picture nomination for The Dark Knight.  No offense to The Reader, but it was the lump of coal I got instead.  The Dark Knight did receive eight total nominations, though I'm not sure if that makes me feel better or worse.  I'll save my full Dark Knight rant when I post my favorite movies of 2008 in the next few weeks.  Moving on to the other nominations...

Best picture and best director were the same five movies: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, and Slumdog Millionaire.  This is probably a 2 1/2 horse race, with Slumdog in the lead, Button within reach, and Milk trailing and hoping they both crash.

Best actor wasn't too surprising, matching the SAGs exactly: Brad Pitt (Ben Button), Sean Penn (Milk), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler).  Rourke won the Golden Globe.  Penn and Langella will push him for the Oscar.  Penn's win for Mystic River probably hurts his chances a bit.

Best actress played out about the same way, but with one twist: while the same five women were nominated as for the SAGs, Kate Winslet is nominated for The Reader and not Revolutionary Road.  The Academy does not allow an actor to be nominated twice in the same category so the fact that she didn't vote split herself out of contention leads me to believe she would have been double nominated had it been allowed.  I'm going to call her a lock for the Oscar for three reasons: Kate is really good in The Reader, there's no clear favorite everyone is talking about (like a Charlize Theron in Monster),  and it's her turn, something the Academy all too often takes into account.  Also nominated are Meryl Streep (Doubt), Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), and Angelina Jolie (Changling).

Supporting actor is close to the SAGs with Revolutionary Road's Michael Shannon subbed in for Slumdog's Dev Patel.  The other four are Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), Josh Brolin (Milk), and, the biggest lock of the season, Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).

Supporting actress also goes 4 for 5 with the SAGs with Taraji Henson (Ben Button), Viola Davis (Doubt), Amy Adams (Doubt), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), and Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler) takes the spot vacated by Winslet's promotion to the lead category for The Reader.  I am excited to see Amy Adams here, but I'll likely end up rooting for Tomei (watching Wrestler tomorrow).  This might be the tightest race at the Oscars.

Here is the IMDb link for the complete list of nominees: http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Academy_Awards_USA/2009

Doubt

Doubt opens with Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) delivering a sermon on the bond of shared uncertainty during a public crisis, such as the aftermath of the JFK assassination, and how we should empathize with our neighbor who may be experiencing equally powerful but private feelings of doubt in his or her own life. I can't think of a more blatant way of smacking the viewer with the theme of your movie, but it actually works just fine here. After all, Father Flynn is only human and he can choose his sermon topics as he sees fit.

The thorn in Father Flynn's side is Sister Aloysius played by Meryl Streep who I normally am not a huge fan of (blasphemy, I know), but she is masterful here and much deserving of her impending Oscar nomination. Sister Aloysius believes Father Flynn is up to no good, for no other real reason than she believes it. The story is nearly that simple. The characters are very strong and the performances all top notch. My favorite though is one that will most likely be left out of the Oscar race (though she was Golden Globe nominated) and that is Amy Adams. She shows her range here, breaking from normally more flamboyant performances to play the demure Sister James who makes even other nuns seem like hedonist sinners.

Overall, the story falls just a little flat, but I enjoyed living in this world and wished I could have spent more time with the characters... even Sister Aloysius.

Golden Globes

It was already inching in that direction, but last night Slumdog Millionaire pole vaulted to the top of the Oscar race, taking home four Golden Globes including best director and best dramatic picture.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona won best comedy/musical movie.

Heath Ledger won his expected award for supporting actor.

Sally Hawkins won best actress in a comedy for Happy-Go-Lucky.

Mickey Rourke beat out Sean Penn and Frank Langella for best actor in a drama.

Colin Farrell was somewhat surprising winning best actor in a comedy for In Bruges.

The highlight, for me, was Kate Winslet winning not one but two Golden Globes for best actress in a drama and best supporting actress. This will hopefully be the year she brings home her first Oscar.

Ten days until Oscar nominations...

Frost/Nixon

Though I suppose it should have been obvious beforehand, I never would have guessed how apt the title of this movie was.  Think Ali/Frazier or, more appropriately, Balboa/Creed, because Frost/Nixon is essentially an underdog boxing movie.

Frank Langella is captivating as Richard Nixon and will give Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke a serious run for their money in the best actor race. He is nearly as mesmerizing as the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight.  He walks a delicate line, creating a Nixon that invokes pity without letting him off the hook for his crimes.

After his turn as Tony Blair in The Queen and now as the calmly charismatic David Frost, I'd love to see Michael Sheen take on a more emotionally challenging role to test his mettle.

I don't think this movie has enough to go all the way, but it's a good show.

Gran Torino

The preview for Gran Torino didn't overly impress me. The only reason I rushed to see it opening day was its astronomical IMDb rating - 8.4 and currently #142 all-time. Turns out my instinct was right and I should have just waited for the DVD. It's a good show, but it can't even smell the ballpark of great. Eastwood growls and barks for two hours as only he can. The rest of the acting ranges from passable to laughable. The story is descent but the script is weak. I will give props to Ahney Her who plays the daughter of the family next door. It was her film debut and she gives a solid performance.

Not a bad movie, but if anything other than Clint gets nominated I'll be surprised. And I won't lose any sleep if he doesn't.

PGA

Sorry, golf fans, in the movie world that's the Producer's Guild.  And the PGA has me pretty excited with their nomination of The Dark Knight for best picture of the year.  Its top five match exactly what Entertainment Weekly is predicting for the Oscar nominations.  It is also the scenario have I have been wishfully predicting, not because I necessarily agree these are the top five films of the year, but because this is the scenario that most likely gets Dark Knight into the race.

PGA best pic noms:

The Dark Knight

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

The Reader

The Reader is yet another example of why I love this time of year for movies. It's not even one of my favorite movies of the year, but I got exactly what I was hoping for - a really well-made, well-acted movie.

The story is of an older Michael, played by Ralph Fiennes, telling of his affair as a young boy with an older woman, play by Kate Winslet. Morality is a central theme, but what impressed me the most was simply looking at the various stages a person's life goes through and how diverse they can be while still coming together to form the whole of that person's experience. It was also interesting to watch how the dynamic of a relationship can change with time. When he encounters her again as an old woman, his affection resembles that of a son to an aging mother.

I'm a big Kate Winslet fan and there is much speculation she could be double nominated this year at the Oscars for her supporting work in The Reader and as the female lead in Revolutionary Road. She already has five nominations to her credit at just 33-years-old and that would push her total to seven. Record holder Meryl Streep had four at 33 and now has 14 total, though she too will likely add to that this year with Doubt.

Guess he hasn't seen Mockingbird?

Stanley Fish for the New York Times makes his list of the 10 Best American Movies of all Time. If you ask me, he's got a little research to do.

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/the-10-best-american-movies/

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

It's about the journey, not the destination.  So the saying goes.  In Ben Button this is illustrated in life affirming wonder as it hasn't been on screen since Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates fourteen years ago.

It's remarkable how viewing the world through Benjamin's eyes can hold the mirror up to our own thoughts and desires so beautifully.  Perhaps it is precisely because Benjamin's life is quite literally a reflection of the normal human life.  He was born an old man and ages backward, entering the summer of his life as his peers enter their fall.

The acting, special effects, and tone are all spot on and completely engrossing.  The only detraction ties in with my opening.  This seemed a movie without a destination and the end isn't as strong as what proceeds it.  I suppose it was inevitable that it would falter a bit under its own weight.  This is not, in my opinion, the best movie of the year, but it's one hell of a journey.