When the Oscars decided to up the number of Best Picture nominees from five to ten, I was skeptical at first. It seemed excessive. That being said, now that I have seen the result of that change, I'm happy they made it. The ten, or this year nine (still haven't heard an explanation for that), films are a sort of showcase of the year's best work. While we all know that there are only two or three real contenders for the award, it's good to recognize the movies that were good enough to be eligible for the award. So instead of doing the Who will win/who should win thing, first I'm just going to highlight each film (except War Horse, the only one I haven't seen), then I will say who will and should win in my opinion.
The Tree of Life:
This movie, while on the artsy side, was very interesting. The movie bases itself on the premise of there being two paths in life, that of Grace and that of Nature. The story follows a boy, who you later see as an adult, and his upbringing under a mother who represents Grace and a father who represents Nature. The film deals with some pretty big themes such as the death of a relative, the meaning of existence, and emotional abuse. There are long periods of the film that consist mainly of visual images. They are stunning. I don't think this movie has a chance at winning Best Picture, but if it doesn't win best cinematography, it's a crime. It's also worth mentioning that Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt are two of the main actors in this film and they are both nominated in acting categories for other films.
Midnight in Paris:
I'm normally not a huge Woody Allen fan, but sometimes his creativeness outdoes his oddness, an that is the case with Midnight in Paris. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, because if you haven't seen it, there is a bit of a twist that I guarantee you won't see coming. What I will say is that if you are a fan of history, literature, or the arts, you should look into this movie. It's well acted, creatively written, and certainly worth a watch. No, this movie won't win Best Picture, but it might win best original screenplay and it definitely deserves the nomination.
Moneyball:
It's always good to see a true story that is well told on film. Moneyball isn't your traditional sports film. Yes baseball is a part of the film, but it's really more about the inner workings of the sport and what it takes for a small market team to compete. I really liked the human struggles that you see depicted in this movie. A lot of sports films deal in grand gestures and cliches, but this movie looks at the struggles that people deal with on an everyday basis, such as building a relationship with you child, or providing for a family. It's a good film, but again, it won't win the Best Picture award. It is worth noting that Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are both nominated for their acting roles in this film.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close:
This film hasn't gotten the respect that it deserves. It's a well acted film that shows a great range of human emotions. The film has a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and I think that this is a testament just how cynical movie critics have become. This movie depicts such a range of human issues and emotions, that I think it definitely deserves this nomination. Also of note is that Max von Sydow is nominated for his performance in this film.
Hugo:
This was a really good movie. The story revolves around a young boy who is orphaned and living in a Paris train station, while trying to reconnect with is dead father. While it is supposed to be a children's film, it deals with many adult elements. There is also a nice look back at the era of silent film in this movie, much like its fellow nominee The Artist. This film probably won't win Best Picture, but there is a good chance that it will grab the Best Director award.
The Artist:
The Artist is easily one of the three best films of the year. What has drawn many to it is the novelty of being a 21st Century silent film. The way the film deals with this aspect is creative and worthy of praise. Beyond the silent film aspect of the movie, this is just a really well made movie. It is creatively written (although I do have a problem with a film that doesn't have any real dialog being nominated for best original screenplay), well acted, and overall very charming. The story may not be the most original, but it goes to a fairly deep place and does so creatively. For all of these reasons it is indeed a contender to win this award. Also worth noting is that this film won the Golden Globe for Best Picture Comedy/Musical
The Descendants:
This is one of my two favorite films of the year. It deals with the story of a family dealing with their mother/wife suffering from a boating accident. The emotion in this movie is on a level beyond most movies I have seen. The acting in the movie is also some of the best in any movie I've seen this year. Shaileen Woodley should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress, and George Clooney rightfully earned the Best Actor nomination, which he very well could win. It also won the Golden Globe for Best Picture Drama.
The Help:
This is the other movie that makes my top two list. The story (based on a book) deals with the struggles of African-American maids in the South. Some critics have expressed problems with this film, under the claim that it portrays African-Americans in a disparaging light. I couldn't disagree more. Yes, the women in the film are maids and aren't well educated. That's the tragedy of the time that the story takes place in, but it is an accurate portrayal for the most part. What is so great about the story is that the characters, while living in a horrible situation that they had no control over, rise up and do great things in the face of adversity and danger. The movie shows that the women are greater than their situation. That's why I think it's great. Is this a contender for Best Picture? Some say yes and some say no. I think the fact that the question is even being asked makes it a contender. Also keep in mind, it's worth noting that this film did win Best Ensemble Cast at the SAG Awards and that make up the biggest voting group at the Oscars. The win is very possible, but the nomination alone is a great recognition of the movie.
Who will win?/Who should win?
Like I said, I think the three contenders for this award are The Artist, The Descendants, and The Help. Who will win? At this point I'm guessing that The Artist will win just because of the novelty. Not that it isn't an amazing movie, but of these three movies I would put it at number three. Who should win? I'm having a hard time deciding if The Help or The Descendants is the better movie. I like them both a lot. But I think when it comes down to it, I would have to go with The Help, just because of the multitude of great acting performances and the power of the story being told. Whoever wins, make sure you watch the Oscars tomorrow night on ABC!
No comments:
Post a Comment