O Holy Night

Sorry, Christmas. I'm talkin' about the 81st Academy Awards, otherwise known as "Oscar Night." It is only a few days away (February 22nd), and I know you have all been waiting on pins and needles for my movie reviews. Research has been exhausting. I am trying to see as many Oscar-nominated films as possible before the big night. I'm very behind schedule this year, so I'm afraid I won't be as prepared as I'd like for the annual betting pool. Nevertheless, here are my findings thus far:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Nominations:
Taraji P. Henderson, Best Supporting Actress
Brad Pitt, Best Actor
Best Picture
Other categories that nobody cares about, like Costume and Film Editing

Taraji was great, sure. I'm glad she got a nomination. I thought she was better in Hustle and Flow, but whatever. Brad Pitt was good, but Best Actor good? I didn't think so. I wouldn't bet on either of these folks walking away with anything on Oscar Night.

I thought the movie itself was pretty ridiculous. If you took 100 people, locked them in separate rooms and asked them to write the script for a movie about a guy who ages in reverse, they would all emerge with the same damn script. I thought it was predictable and pointless. Of course there's going to be some scene where Benjamin has his first sexual encounter and everybody's all shocked because to them, he looks like an 80 year old virgin. Of course he's going to fall in love and be forced to walk away from it. Yawn.

Cate Blanchett is an amazing actress. Definitely in my Top 10. But I've been disappointed with her choices lately. Indiana Jones? And now this crap? Homegirl needs to start stepping up her game and choosing roles that are worthy of her talent.


Doubt
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Best Supporting Actor
Meryl Streep, Best Actress
Amy Adams, Best Supporting Actress
Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress

This film was lame. I can't believe I'm about to say this, heaven forgive me, but I think it was overacted just a touch. I am willing to go down on record as saying that I think Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep are two of the best in the business, but this movie was not their finest work. And I wanted to throttle Amy Adams the whole way through. Viola Davis, on the other hand, was brilliant and I can't wait to see what she does next. And oh, my gosh, wasn't she gorgeous at the SAG Awards?



Milk
Sean Penn, Best Actor
Josh Brolin, Best Supporting Actor
Best Picture
Costume, Directing, etc., etc.

So good! Sean Penn was amazing. Josh Brolin was amazing. James Franco was hot and amazing. It was a very moving story, and I thought it was beautifully told. The interweaving of actual footage of the time with the action of the movie was masterfully done. And the cinematography! There was this one scene where Sean Penn is having a conversation with a cop, but you see the actors reflected in a whistle dripping with the blood of a man who had just been beaten to death (the gay people in the neighborhood would use whistles to alert each other when the police were raiding stores, beating up homosexuals, etc.) The scene kind of frames the police officer's reflection in the whistle, and you ask yourself, whose whistle is it, the victim's or the officer's? Is it a symbol of the blood the police have on their hands? It was brilliant.

Sean Penn is a genius. He just might add Oscar #2 to his collection this year.

Frost/Nixon
Frank Langella, Best Actor
Best Picture
Ron Howard, Best Director

Or the Oscar could go to Frank Langella, who would TOTALLY DESERVE IT. I was mesmerized by him. He was incredible. Flawless, even. In fact, I can't think of anything I didn't like about this movie. It was so great, and if I didn't have such strong feelings about Slumdog Millionaire, I would be happy to see it take it all come Oscar Night. I totally loved it. Such an interesting story and so timely and so relevant to many of the nation's current feelings about George Dubya. On paper, this movie looks like it would be a total snoozer, but in reality it was actually suspenseful. Again, I loved it, loved it, loved it.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Penelope Cruz, Best Supporting Actress

I usually can't stand Woody Allen. I don't really get him or his style. But I liked this film, and I LOVED Penelope Cruz. I just like her more and more every time I see her. She was so good in Volver. I don't think she stands much of a chance on Oscar Night, but I hope I'm wrong. She is my favorite pick out of all of the nominees for Best Supporting Actress. She plays crazy really well. But it's a controlled, understandable, and normal kind of crazy, which I think is difficult to do. She is definitely one of my new favorite actresses.

Okay, I'm going to go ahead and post this. Stay tuned for more movie reviews and my official Oscar Night predictions! (Can you feel the excitement?)