Veroinca Mars, that name means a lot of things to a lot of people. Back when the show was on, it meant nothing to me. Sure, as a channel surfing junior high school student, I was aware of it. I never watched it though. It always just seemed like "that weird show on that channel I never watch." It wasn't until last year (years after it had been cancelled) that I actually started paying attention to Veronica Mars. That was when I heard that the show's small, but loyal, fans had funded a film version of Veronica Mars through the crowdfunding website Kickstarter.
Since seeing the trailer for the film, I made the decision to go back and see if the show was worth watching. I was hooked from the first episode. The show is about a high school student who uses the detective skills she learned from her P.I. father to solve mysteries for her classmates, as well as solving some of her hometown's biggest mysteries. I won't go into great detail about why the show is great, because that could take all day. What I will say, is that the reasons this show was a critical success with a strong following are clear. Kristen Bell led an ensemble of perfectly cast actors portraying genuinely interesting characters. It's no surprise that many of the show's cast and guest-stars have gone on to be big names in the acting and TV world. Nobody benefited more than Bell whose recent success can be seen (or more appropriately, heard) in the film Frozen. The other element of success was the show's writing. Creator Rob Thomas (no, not the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty) was able to perfectly blend a coming of age story with the gritty world of neo-noir mystery. The show never shied away from the darker elements of life, but it presented them in a way that was far less gruesome than most of today's nihilistic cable dramas.
But beyond all of that, it isn't the greatness of the show that makes this movie an important achievement. Well, at least that isn't the only reason. Why should you care about this movie if you've never seen the show? Because the movie symbolizes possibility. When Veronica Mars was on, its ratings were dismal. There's no reason this film should have been made by Hollywood's standards of decision making. Yet here we are on the day before it hits theaters. If you've ever had a beloved show cancelled, or wondered why Hollywood doesn't make films with strong women taking on gritty situations, then that's reason enough to celebrate the success of this movie. It represents the idea that people actually have a voice that can influence creative change in TV and film.
Veronica Mars was a smartly written show, which means its days on air were always numbered. The average person watching TV or going to the movies isn't looking for something they would classify as "smart" to watch. That isn't a knock on people who watch TV shows or go to movies that I don't deem to be "smart." Reality competition shows are my guilty pleasure, so I get it. The average viewer simply wants to be entertained. There's nothing wrong with that. But that's also no reason for Hollywood to neglect those niches of viewers that are looking for something a little more witty that tests the boundaries of what's conventional. Why should you care about Veronica Mars? Because with it comes the hope for a Hollywood where a small but loyal fan base can bring new creative endeavors to the big screen. I plan on being there at Midnight tonight to catch the film. I encourage you to go give the film a chance, even if you've never seen the show.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
2014 Academy Awards: If I Had a Ballot
I saw a film critic I follow on twitter post an article online simply outlining how he would vote in each category. It's a simple idea, so I thought I would do the same briefly. Unlike this critic though, I haven't seen any of the nominees in some categories such as Foreign Film or Short Film etc., so I will be leaving categories such as that off.
Visual Effects: Gravity
Writing - Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave
Writing - Original Screenplay: Her
Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto
Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong'o
Sound Editing: Gravity
Sound Mixing: Gravity
Short Film - Animated: Get A Horse!
Production Design: Her
Music - Original Score: Gravity
Music - Original Song: "Let It Go" from Frozen
Makeup and Hairstyling: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Film Editing: Gravity
Cinematography: Gravity
Costume Design: American Hustle
Directing: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
Animated Feature Film: Frozen
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best Picture: Gravity
Visual Effects: Gravity
Writing - Adapted Screenplay: 12 Years a Slave
Writing - Original Screenplay: Her
Actor in a Supporting Role: Jared Leto
Actress in a Supporting Role: Lupita Nyong'o
Sound Editing: Gravity
Sound Mixing: Gravity
Short Film - Animated: Get A Horse!
Production Design: Her
Music - Original Score: Gravity
Music - Original Song: "Let It Go" from Frozen
Makeup and Hairstyling: Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Film Editing: Gravity
Cinematography: Gravity
Costume Design: American Hustle
Directing: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity
Animated Feature Film: Frozen
Best Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best Picture: Gravity
2014 Academy Award Overview: Best Picture
This one is going to be a little different. There are nine films nominated for best picture and I want to highlight each of them in some way. Every film nominated isn't realistically a contender to win the award. I'll talk about the films that are nominated, but aren't real contenders. Then I'll talk about the films that have a real shot at winning the award.
Best Picture:
American Hustle
Nebraska
Captain Phillips
Philomena
Dallas Buyers Club
12 Years A Slave
Gravity
The Wolf of Wall Street
Her
The Real Contenders:
American Hustle:
American Hustle is the story of two small time con artists (played by Christian Bale and Amy Adams) who get caught up in an FBI investigation to expose political corruption. All of the characters are caught in a web of lies, and are constantly struggling to get themselves to a better place. This film initially opened with the consensus that it is a good film, but not quite the amazing film that it was hoped to be. As awards season started, a strong campaign surged forward to promote American Hustle as a true contender for Best Picture. The appeal of the film is based around its four main actors: Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper. All four are deserving of their acting nominations in their respective categories. The hitch in Hustle's step is that as far as "con artist" films go, it is hardly the most inventive, funny, or edge of your seat film in the genre. Many films have taken on similar subject matters and done much better.
12 Years A Slave:
12 Years A Slave tells the true story of Solomon Northrup, a black man who was born free, but is betrayed and sold into slavery. It is a raw, brutal, and passionate film that removes any Hollywood notions of slavery being anything but a soul crushing practice that degrades the humanity of everyone involved. The ensemble cast is brilliant, though they have gained less attention than that of American Hustle. What makes 12 Years A Slave a true masterpiece is Solomon Northrup's struggle to hold on to his humanity in the face of heinous crimes against the human spirit. The voice and essence of Northrup bleed into this film in a way that exposes his soul to the world. None of this could have been done without Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o's beautiful acting. There is a line in the film that sums up the entire experience. "Your story is amazing, and in no good way."
Gravity:
Gravity is the story of a woman stranded in outer space and struggling to survive after an unforeseeable disaster. Except that it isn't. The real story of Gravity is that it is a film about the choice that every person must make to either believe and fight for something greater than our sorrows, or to be consumed by them and allow ourselves to float away into the silence. The setting of outer space is less of a necessary structure to the telling of the story, and more of a compliment to it. Gravity is a film of contrasts, much like space itself. Life cannot exist in space. The conditions are extreme. In the same beat, space offers the most visually stunning sights known to man, and a serene silence that a person could get lost in. Director Alfonso Cuaron uses these images to highlight the internal struggle of main character, Ryan Stone (expertly portrayed by Sandra Bullock). When it seems like Stone is fated to die, her character must make the choice to give in, or fight for life. Bullock's performance, in which she anchors most of the film on her own, is one of the most emotionally appealing displays of the year. The film also features a visual and technical mastery that is revolutionary to the craft of film making. It's a testament to Cuaron that he was able to make his vision come to life, and Bullock that she was able to give voice to that vision.
The Other Nominees:
Nebraska:
Nebraksa tells the story of an old man who is starting to lose some of his sense of reality, and his son who feels the obligation to get to know his father better. In the film Bruce Dern portrays the main character, an old man who believes he has won a contest, which his family recognizes is clearly a scam. He insists on going to Nebraska to collect his prize though, and so his son reluctantly drives him there in hopes of growing closer to his father. Watching the father/son relationship unfold, albeit more on the part of the son than the father, on screen is the most rewarding aspect of the film. The film falters in areas, and more than anything was nominated for Alexander Payne's name recognition.
Captain Phillips:
Captain Phillips is the true story of a ship that was boarded by pirates, and the ship's captain who was taken hostage. Tom Hanks' portrayal of the title character drives this film, as does Barkhad Abdi's portrayal of the pirate who takes Phillips hostage. It isn't the most exciting of the nominees on the list, but Captain Phillips features great acting, a well rounded story that explores all perspectives of the event, and enough edge of your seat moments to warrant a nomination. The shame of this film is that Barkhad Abdi's performance won't get the recognition it deserves.
Philomena:
Philomena is the true story of a woman who had her son is taken from her by a group of nuns, and her search to find out what happened to him nearly 50 years later. This is easily the crowd-pleaser of the the group, and I don't mean that pejoratively. For as sad as the subject matter of the film is, there is also a lot of levity, and a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" level of sentiment. Judi Dench carries the film as the titular character. At times the film tries to play the "look at this cheeky old lady" card, but I think Dench tried to take the role seriously, and it shows. It's not the weakest nominee in the group, but the real honor for the film is just being nominated.
Dallas Buyers Club:
Dallas Buyers Club is the story of a man diagnosed with HIV who, upon learning that there is no effective treatment for the disease, starts a buyers club where people diagnosed with the disease can buy vitamins and supplements that help fight the effects of the disease. Dallas Buyers Club's impact is that it shows just how poorly HIV treatment and education were handled in the past. There are warnings about the privatization of scientific research and how uninformed ignorance can lead to prejudice, in the film. The acting here is solid, but I don't think it's so strong that it warrants a win in both male acting categories. If things get really crazy with Best Picture voting, then this might be the film that could sneak past the top three, but I highly doubt that.
Her:
Her tells the story of a lonely man who falls in love with a personalized computer OS while struggling to overcome a divorce he didn't want. This film is probably the most original of the group, at least in concept and plot. The concept of a person falling in love with a computer could have gone very wrong. As a whole, this film is more thought out and well crafted than any of the other non-contenders, and even more than the actual contender American Hustle. Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix should have been nominated for their roles here, but in all honesty, the Best Picture nomination and potential Best Original Screenplay award are more than most films of this status could ask for. Unfortunately for Her (but not for us as viewers), the film didn't go for obvious social messages or slightly witty older actors that are the hallmarks of Academy cherished films.
The Wolf of Wall Street:
I haven't seen this one. I have no desire to see this one. Why America has a fascination with men being a**holes on screen is beyond me. I don't need to see three hours of an overrated actor snorting coke and dropping f bombs. Wouldn't it be a crazy change of character for DiCaprio to try playing a humble character with no money? Just a thought. Not that he needs any help. Like Woody Allen before him, DiCaprio will keep getting money and praise just for doing the same thing over and over again. Wolf won't win, but it's a Scorsese/DiCaprio film, so the nomination is no surprise.
Who Will Win:
As discussed above, the three real contenders for this award are American Hustle, Gravity, and 12 Years A Slave. Not only are these three the top contenders, but many critics are saying that this is the tightest Best Picture race that there has been in years. Let's break this down a little.
American Hustle has two factors that contribute to its contender status. The biggest factor is that it won the Best Ensemble award at the Screen Actors Guild awards. In that same vein, the largest voting body for Best Picture are actors, so they tend to vote for actor driven films such as American Hustle. All of that being said, while Hustle used to be considered one of the top two contenders, it's lack of wins from any of the other guild awards has knocked it down to number three status and slowed its momentum significantly. The best chance American Hustle has is if Gravity and 12 Years A Slave split the vote enough for it to pass them.
For being the most critically lauded film (a 97% rotten tomatoes rating, which is the highest of any nominated film), Gravity's chances are far from certain due to a number of factors that help and hurt its chances. First, the pros column. Director Alfonso Cuaron won the Directors Guild Award, and it is almost certain that he will win Best Director at the Oscars this year. This is normally a fairly strong indicator of a film's shot at winning Best Picture, but it's far from a sure thing. Gravity also had a historical tie with 12 Years A Slave to win the Producers Guild Award, which has been a strong predictor of the Best Picture winner in recent years. Since actors tend to vote for actor driven films, that could hurt Gravity's chances because it mostly features one actor, and many actors may see the technical aspects of the film as trying to replace actors in the medium. On the other hand, Gravity's support among the voters who belong to the technical categories is almost a guarantee. Gravity's chances are good, but for a lot of the race it has been considered the number two contender.
12 Years A Slave has been perceived at the leader for much of the race, granted that is by a slim margin. As stated above, it tied for the PGA award with Gravity. Like American Hustle, it features a large ensemble cast, which could appeal to actors in the Academy. Unlike Hustle, 12 Years A Slave has managed to maintain its momentum. It looks like the film might only come away with one acting win despite its three nominations, and even that win isn't a sure bet. Many voters will most likely feel some guilt over not giving Chiwetel Ejiofor the Best Actor award and therefore cast their vote to award this film Best Picture. There is also a strong sense that due to the subject matter of the film, that it "should" win. The sentiment isn't necessarily wrong, but it also isn't necessarily genuine based on how uneven 12 Years A Slave's chances are of winning in other categories this year. If you're playing the odds, this is probably the film to bet on, but don't be too surprised if Gravity has the upper hand, or American Hustle sneaks in there.
Who Should Win:
I'll make this short. I am dying to see Gravity and 12 Years A Slave tie for this win. It happened at the PGA Awards, but critical consensus seems to be that it would be nearly impossible to see it happen at the Academy Awards. Still I can hope. Both films together epitomize film as an art form. I can't really choose a favorite between the two because both are spectacularly well made, and completely different. Whichever one wins (hopefully both!), I'll be happy.
Snubs:
There are plenty of arguments to be made for any number of films that weren't nominated this year. Many people thought that The Butler, Inside Llewyn Davis, Saving Mr. Banks, and August: Osage County would be contenders, but they were mostly left out of the Awards all together. These films all had flaws, but that doesn't mean there isn't a decent argument for some of them being better than some of the films that did make the cut this year. Unlike last year when Beasts of the Southern Wild overcame it's small independent status to get a handful of nominations, the smaller independent films didn't have as much luck this year. Some great smaller independent productions that deserved nominations were Fruitvale Station and Short Term 12. Then of course, there's The Way Way Back, which was a personal favorite of mine this year. I love the blend of humor and drama in the film, but while it was well received by critics, many tried to compare it to other "summer" films, and lost sight of its voice.
Best Picture:
American Hustle
Nebraska
Captain Phillips
Philomena
Dallas Buyers Club
12 Years A Slave
Gravity
The Wolf of Wall Street
Her
The Real Contenders:
American Hustle:
American Hustle is the story of two small time con artists (played by Christian Bale and Amy Adams) who get caught up in an FBI investigation to expose political corruption. All of the characters are caught in a web of lies, and are constantly struggling to get themselves to a better place. This film initially opened with the consensus that it is a good film, but not quite the amazing film that it was hoped to be. As awards season started, a strong campaign surged forward to promote American Hustle as a true contender for Best Picture. The appeal of the film is based around its four main actors: Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper. All four are deserving of their acting nominations in their respective categories. The hitch in Hustle's step is that as far as "con artist" films go, it is hardly the most inventive, funny, or edge of your seat film in the genre. Many films have taken on similar subject matters and done much better.
12 Years A Slave:
12 Years A Slave tells the true story of Solomon Northrup, a black man who was born free, but is betrayed and sold into slavery. It is a raw, brutal, and passionate film that removes any Hollywood notions of slavery being anything but a soul crushing practice that degrades the humanity of everyone involved. The ensemble cast is brilliant, though they have gained less attention than that of American Hustle. What makes 12 Years A Slave a true masterpiece is Solomon Northrup's struggle to hold on to his humanity in the face of heinous crimes against the human spirit. The voice and essence of Northrup bleed into this film in a way that exposes his soul to the world. None of this could have been done without Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o's beautiful acting. There is a line in the film that sums up the entire experience. "Your story is amazing, and in no good way."
Gravity:
Gravity is the story of a woman stranded in outer space and struggling to survive after an unforeseeable disaster. Except that it isn't. The real story of Gravity is that it is a film about the choice that every person must make to either believe and fight for something greater than our sorrows, or to be consumed by them and allow ourselves to float away into the silence. The setting of outer space is less of a necessary structure to the telling of the story, and more of a compliment to it. Gravity is a film of contrasts, much like space itself. Life cannot exist in space. The conditions are extreme. In the same beat, space offers the most visually stunning sights known to man, and a serene silence that a person could get lost in. Director Alfonso Cuaron uses these images to highlight the internal struggle of main character, Ryan Stone (expertly portrayed by Sandra Bullock). When it seems like Stone is fated to die, her character must make the choice to give in, or fight for life. Bullock's performance, in which she anchors most of the film on her own, is one of the most emotionally appealing displays of the year. The film also features a visual and technical mastery that is revolutionary to the craft of film making. It's a testament to Cuaron that he was able to make his vision come to life, and Bullock that she was able to give voice to that vision.
The Other Nominees:
Nebraska:
Nebraksa tells the story of an old man who is starting to lose some of his sense of reality, and his son who feels the obligation to get to know his father better. In the film Bruce Dern portrays the main character, an old man who believes he has won a contest, which his family recognizes is clearly a scam. He insists on going to Nebraska to collect his prize though, and so his son reluctantly drives him there in hopes of growing closer to his father. Watching the father/son relationship unfold, albeit more on the part of the son than the father, on screen is the most rewarding aspect of the film. The film falters in areas, and more than anything was nominated for Alexander Payne's name recognition.
Captain Phillips:
Captain Phillips is the true story of a ship that was boarded by pirates, and the ship's captain who was taken hostage. Tom Hanks' portrayal of the title character drives this film, as does Barkhad Abdi's portrayal of the pirate who takes Phillips hostage. It isn't the most exciting of the nominees on the list, but Captain Phillips features great acting, a well rounded story that explores all perspectives of the event, and enough edge of your seat moments to warrant a nomination. The shame of this film is that Barkhad Abdi's performance won't get the recognition it deserves.
Philomena:
Philomena is the true story of a woman who had her son is taken from her by a group of nuns, and her search to find out what happened to him nearly 50 years later. This is easily the crowd-pleaser of the the group, and I don't mean that pejoratively. For as sad as the subject matter of the film is, there is also a lot of levity, and a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" level of sentiment. Judi Dench carries the film as the titular character. At times the film tries to play the "look at this cheeky old lady" card, but I think Dench tried to take the role seriously, and it shows. It's not the weakest nominee in the group, but the real honor for the film is just being nominated.
Dallas Buyers Club:
Dallas Buyers Club is the story of a man diagnosed with HIV who, upon learning that there is no effective treatment for the disease, starts a buyers club where people diagnosed with the disease can buy vitamins and supplements that help fight the effects of the disease. Dallas Buyers Club's impact is that it shows just how poorly HIV treatment and education were handled in the past. There are warnings about the privatization of scientific research and how uninformed ignorance can lead to prejudice, in the film. The acting here is solid, but I don't think it's so strong that it warrants a win in both male acting categories. If things get really crazy with Best Picture voting, then this might be the film that could sneak past the top three, but I highly doubt that.
Her:
Her tells the story of a lonely man who falls in love with a personalized computer OS while struggling to overcome a divorce he didn't want. This film is probably the most original of the group, at least in concept and plot. The concept of a person falling in love with a computer could have gone very wrong. As a whole, this film is more thought out and well crafted than any of the other non-contenders, and even more than the actual contender American Hustle. Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix should have been nominated for their roles here, but in all honesty, the Best Picture nomination and potential Best Original Screenplay award are more than most films of this status could ask for. Unfortunately for Her (but not for us as viewers), the film didn't go for obvious social messages or slightly witty older actors that are the hallmarks of Academy cherished films.
The Wolf of Wall Street:
I haven't seen this one. I have no desire to see this one. Why America has a fascination with men being a**holes on screen is beyond me. I don't need to see three hours of an overrated actor snorting coke and dropping f bombs. Wouldn't it be a crazy change of character for DiCaprio to try playing a humble character with no money? Just a thought. Not that he needs any help. Like Woody Allen before him, DiCaprio will keep getting money and praise just for doing the same thing over and over again. Wolf won't win, but it's a Scorsese/DiCaprio film, so the nomination is no surprise.
Who Will Win:
As discussed above, the three real contenders for this award are American Hustle, Gravity, and 12 Years A Slave. Not only are these three the top contenders, but many critics are saying that this is the tightest Best Picture race that there has been in years. Let's break this down a little.
American Hustle has two factors that contribute to its contender status. The biggest factor is that it won the Best Ensemble award at the Screen Actors Guild awards. In that same vein, the largest voting body for Best Picture are actors, so they tend to vote for actor driven films such as American Hustle. All of that being said, while Hustle used to be considered one of the top two contenders, it's lack of wins from any of the other guild awards has knocked it down to number three status and slowed its momentum significantly. The best chance American Hustle has is if Gravity and 12 Years A Slave split the vote enough for it to pass them.
For being the most critically lauded film (a 97% rotten tomatoes rating, which is the highest of any nominated film), Gravity's chances are far from certain due to a number of factors that help and hurt its chances. First, the pros column. Director Alfonso Cuaron won the Directors Guild Award, and it is almost certain that he will win Best Director at the Oscars this year. This is normally a fairly strong indicator of a film's shot at winning Best Picture, but it's far from a sure thing. Gravity also had a historical tie with 12 Years A Slave to win the Producers Guild Award, which has been a strong predictor of the Best Picture winner in recent years. Since actors tend to vote for actor driven films, that could hurt Gravity's chances because it mostly features one actor, and many actors may see the technical aspects of the film as trying to replace actors in the medium. On the other hand, Gravity's support among the voters who belong to the technical categories is almost a guarantee. Gravity's chances are good, but for a lot of the race it has been considered the number two contender.
12 Years A Slave has been perceived at the leader for much of the race, granted that is by a slim margin. As stated above, it tied for the PGA award with Gravity. Like American Hustle, it features a large ensemble cast, which could appeal to actors in the Academy. Unlike Hustle, 12 Years A Slave has managed to maintain its momentum. It looks like the film might only come away with one acting win despite its three nominations, and even that win isn't a sure bet. Many voters will most likely feel some guilt over not giving Chiwetel Ejiofor the Best Actor award and therefore cast their vote to award this film Best Picture. There is also a strong sense that due to the subject matter of the film, that it "should" win. The sentiment isn't necessarily wrong, but it also isn't necessarily genuine based on how uneven 12 Years A Slave's chances are of winning in other categories this year. If you're playing the odds, this is probably the film to bet on, but don't be too surprised if Gravity has the upper hand, or American Hustle sneaks in there.
Who Should Win:
I'll make this short. I am dying to see Gravity and 12 Years A Slave tie for this win. It happened at the PGA Awards, but critical consensus seems to be that it would be nearly impossible to see it happen at the Academy Awards. Still I can hope. Both films together epitomize film as an art form. I can't really choose a favorite between the two because both are spectacularly well made, and completely different. Whichever one wins (hopefully both!), I'll be happy.
Snubs:
There are plenty of arguments to be made for any number of films that weren't nominated this year. Many people thought that The Butler, Inside Llewyn Davis, Saving Mr. Banks, and August: Osage County would be contenders, but they were mostly left out of the Awards all together. These films all had flaws, but that doesn't mean there isn't a decent argument for some of them being better than some of the films that did make the cut this year. Unlike last year when Beasts of the Southern Wild overcame it's small independent status to get a handful of nominations, the smaller independent films didn't have as much luck this year. Some great smaller independent productions that deserved nominations were Fruitvale Station and Short Term 12. Then of course, there's The Way Way Back, which was a personal favorite of mine this year. I love the blend of humor and drama in the film, but while it was well received by critics, many tried to compare it to other "summer" films, and lost sight of its voice.
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