Oscar Predictions - Final Thoughts

Well since the Professor himself requested this, I guess I'll have to oblige. My choice for Best Foreign Film is an uneducated one to say the least but I'm basing it essentially on data of past Oscars and the like. This year, I think the big two would be "The Class" and Waltz with Bashir". "The Class" was this years winner of the Palm d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival and deals with educational experiences in France. "Waltz with Bashir" was this years winner of the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film with a veteran regaining his memories of the past. I will confess that I have not seen any of these films, but with an educated guess anyone can pick the winners. This year winner, I predict, will be "Waltz with Bashir".

Well good luck to all my choices. Can wait for 8:30 tonight!

Horror Films

I enjoy great films like everyone else, but is there anyone that enjoy the mindless violence or pure terror of horror films? From Exorcist to Jason, I know that every horror film seems to have to have a sequel, and while some shouldn't (The Exorcist is top on my list) others like Jason, Michael, and Freddy have always provided me with some of the best moments of violence of my life.

Watching all the movies, you realize that the ones to be killed will always be the dopers, sex fiends, and nerds (oh well) leaving the mildly to pleasantly attractive and sometimes male cohort to survive the mass murders (until there's a sequel and then all bets are off).

Nowadays, its seems every horror movie possible is getting some sort of remake. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Amityville Horror, Halloween, and now Friday the 13th. Again, I'm not against this. I enjoy a new look on how to murder a bunch of teenagers and the occasional middle-ager/parent. But sometimes you have to realize that bad choices make bad movies. Prime example being put a comedy actor into a horror film where he is the killer, and you get sub par because you can't stop laughing on how bad he is at serious work (this means Ryan Reynolds in The Amityville Horror).

Other films do get some things right. Despite what everyone said, I enjoy the Halloween remake (it does help I'm a fan of Rob Zombie's films). I felt that the beginning was pretty interesting and Malcolm McDowell was a great doctor Loomis, putting a great spin on the character by making him want to study not help Michael. I hope the new Friday the 13th can fulfill all the horror prayers that I've laid down. Oh, just for you to know, now there is going to be a remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Child's Play, so get psyched...or not, depending on your views.

Oscat Predictions - Part 2

Well, here I am again, attempting to name the winners of this year Academy Awards. Let's see how I do.

Best Supporting Actress

This year's nominees seem to be in a rare position, none that I can recall have one any other awards this year for their performances, because every other film awards have given the award to Kate Winslet, but since whe is in the Best Actress competition, this makes this category a little harder to jusdge. After watching all of these films (except Vicky Cristina Barcelona) all of the performances were terrific. That being said, I do not see either Amy Adams or Viola Davis winning, not being the head of the pack. In my mind I see Taraji P. Henson in Benjamin Button or Marisa Tomei in the Wrestler as the ones to choose. Though I enjoy them both, I see Marasi Tomei to pull out a close one. Good luck on winning you're first REAL Oscar (My Cousin Vinny...really?)

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger, Heath Ledger...God help the Academy otherwise.

Best Picture

Well there are two clear canidates this year as always. This year its The Curious Case of Benjamin Button vs. Slumdog Millionaire. Like last, everyone knew who the winner would be, it's pretty obvious by now, so I'll just say it, Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog Millionaire is the first Western Indie film that I've heard of. The story is storybook and the music superb. The story of one man's suffering to be finally delivered a winning hand by destiny is definetly a keeper.

Best Director

This could go to David Fincher but I doubt it. This year I think it will go to Danny Boyle. The direction of this film was perfect and should not be changed one bit.

Well, that's it! The Oscars are next Sunday, so let's see if I get them all right this time.

Oscar Predictions - Part 1

Since the Oscars are getting close I think it's time to start blogging about them. I think I said it in another post but I really do think the Oscars are my Superbowl. I spend the month before scrutinizing and viewing the films, meanwhile bugging the crap out of my friends on what they think (and most of them have no idea what I'm talking about lol) That night, I order food in, and threaten to kill anyone that bothers my viewing. So far, my record is 4 right, 2 wrong for Best Picture and little more conflicted with the acting categories. So here goes.

Best Actor

This year seems to be between Sean Penn for "Milk" and Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler". Both performances were great but I think with Rourke, this part was made for him. He lives his life through this character, and I feel this is his to win. So the winner will be Mickey Rourke.

Best Actress

I always have trouble picking the actress categories, sometimes the Academy comes out from left field with these awards. I'm going to have to go with everyone else with this one. Kate Winslet of "The Reader" looks to be the winner this year (despite my hatred of this movie, she is the best part of it). Although Anne Hathaway might come out of left field to win a victory for "Rachel Getting Married". The winner will be (unfortunately) Kate Winslet.

Best Animated Feature

Wall-E...does anyone really doubt this one. (Personally I do find that it got a nominations for Best Original Screenplay, despite it not having dialogue for half of the film.)

Well, that is it right now, but I will post more for my next blog. (I wonder who is going to win Best Supporting Actor...hmm (Why so Serious!)

Genghis Khan = Nice Guy

Hmm..two weeks, two good films...I like this trend. I'm not going to lie, I had heard about Mongol from another class and was tremendously excited to watch it. Unfortunately the quality on the link was really bad (sorry Professor) so I ended up getting it from outside source. Beside this, it was everything I hoped for. I wasn’t bored at anytime during the viewing and was kinda sad to see it end (although I’ve heard they’re going to be making a trilogy)

To see this film, and find that Genghis Khan wasn’t a barbarian in earlier life is not really surprising, at least not in my eyes. First of all, watching enough Hollywood biopics makes you realize that anyone can be made into a sympathetic character. I just watched “George Wallace” and found that after he was shot, he became a lot less racist and more sympathetic. SO WHAT!!! Anyone that knows anything about the Civil Rights movement would know that Wallace was a major problem, and might have become President in 1972 if he hadn’t been shot. Because he was sorry about his previous actions doesn't stop him from being one of the biggest racist in American history.

My second reason is simple. I know practically nothing about Khan and his actions. I’ve heard some of the stories in elementary school history, but like Robbins talks about, education always has propaganda attached. Another point is that this is only the early life of Genghis Khan, we have yet to see any of his further actions.

Don’t let these points think I hated this film. I enjoyed this film immensely. The actions scenes were awesome and the story was great. The cinematography was great and I did enjoy watching some of the costumes (like the Merkit masks). I hope we can keep this trend going with good films (which I’m sure we will)