Oscar and the City

10

2009-06-24T13:30:00.001-04:00

Best Picture nominees.

Ten.

Okay, we're officially back. Wow.

2009 Predix Begin With ... Best Picture

2009-05-17T22:49:00.004-04:00

2009 predix are finally -- yes, FINALLY -- underway, beginning with BEST PICTURE.

Check 'em out here.

Brief commentary ...

I'm not entirely pleased with what I came up with. I never am this early in the game. But I wanted to find at least one Original Screenplay contender to consider because one almost always gets nominated.

Sadly, the only one I could think of (with a legit Best Picture chance, anyway) was Funny People. But how the hell does one predict a Judd Apatow movie when the Academy won't even go for The Dark Knight or WALL-E? It's too dangerous.

So in the end I settled on the following:

'The Human Factor'
'The Lovely Bones'
'Nine'
'Precious'
'Shutter Island'

I feel great about predicting 'The Human Factor' -- and everyone should, really. It's just going to be one of those movies that does really well with the Academy, and I can pretty much assure you that Morgan Freeman will win Best Actor? How can he not? It'll have to be a disastrous picture for that to happen, and even the cynic in me knows it won't be.

I feel less confident about the rest, although I have been warming up to 'Nine' lately. I'm sure comparisons will be made to 'Chicago,' especially since it looks like a lot of it was filmed on a sound stage, but Daniel Day-Lewis and particularly Judi Dench look terrific. I think they're both in for nominations.

Meanwhile, I'm just predicting 'The Lovely Bones' and 'Shutter Island' as fillers for now. They could both go either way, although I will say I'm more confident about the former (I guess ... )

Finally, I went with 'Precious' for the hell of it. I did not care much for the trailer, but I just know it's going to be one of those movies that everyone talks about. It also comes out in November, which is perfect timing, especially for what looks to be a real weepie. And with Oprah's backing, well, consider 'Precious' in the running for a Best Picture nomination ... if you can believe it. Watch the trailer below:

So that's it for now. I'll update next with Director and Actor sometime this week (which in Andy actually means September).

Feel free to post YOUR Best Picture predix below.

2009 Launch within the hour ...

2009-05-17T22:09:00.003-04:00

Cutting Best Picture photos now. Yay! Stay tuned.

Weekend screening schedule

2009-05-15T08:54:00.002-04:00

'The Da Vinci Code' was one of my least favorite movie-going experiences, so odds are I will pass on 'Angels & Demons.'

What about you?

First Glimpse of ... 'Nine'

2009-05-13T20:49:00.000-04:00

From Entertainment Tonight:

Team Fergie?

But ugh, why is 'Be Italian' on a soundstage?

'Precious' Trailer

2009-05-13T16:19:00.003-04:00

Let the Oprah pimping begin -- straight from Oprah's site!

Seriously, how far is she going to push (that pun would have been so great with the old title!) this movie? I'm scared.

Is 'The Road' REALLY that important?

2009-05-13T09:16:00.003-04:00

Esquire thinks so.

Read their spoilerific take:

At one point in The Road, a moment that is never otherwise explained or referenced, the father and the son stare at a dead forest as it burns. The fire leers profanely from one edge of the screen to the other. Dense and hot, certainly loud, it's the sort of fire from which there is no safe distance. It feels like the two of them should get out of there. From the get-go, the father and son have moved. And yet now they stand there watching the fire, dazed, like two drunks gazing out the window of a Laundromat at a mushroom cloud.

Full review.

Ehh. I'm skeptical.

Nicole bids adieu to Woody Allen

2009-05-13T09:13:00.003-04:00

She frustrates the hell out of me, I swear.

From Variety:

Nicole Kidman has ankled her role in Woody Allen's latest, untitled project.

Pic, which co-stars Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts and Freida Pinto, is set to start shooting in London in the summer.

There is no word yet on who Kidman's replacement will be.

--

But hey: At least she still has time to do commercials!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003504.html?categoryId=13&cs=1

'Up': Yes or No?

2009-05-12T21:47:00.003-04:00

I didn't think much of Pixar's 'Up' when I first saw the trailer (well, I remember thinking it looked "stupid" -- a word I hate to use).

But now that I've seen the trailer on the big screen I'm beginning to wonder if it was a bad idea to write it off so quickly. Could it be the next great Pixar movie? Or is it the next 'Cars'? Watch the trailer, then decide for yourself.

poll by twiigs.com

ETA: Hey, looks like it's doing pretty well @ Cannes!

4-Minute 'Terminator Clip'

2009-05-11T14:23:00.003-04:00

Christian Bale freak out not included.

Clip here.

Are you pumped to see this 'Terminator' reboot? Post now.

Whither Renee?

2009-05-10T23:36:00.004-04:00

Sometimes following an actor you love can be painful, especially when that actor is Renee Zellweger.

I credit myself as one of the last surviving Renee fans on the internet. Most people gave up on her after 'Cold Mountain,' and six stressful years later I'm beginning to wonder if that was a wise decision after all.

'Case' in point: the 'Case 39' trailer, which puts Renee in a battle against supernatural beings, cliche scare tactics and -- presumably -- the critics.

Watch the trailer here.

I don't know what's happened to her career, or why she's in these movies to begin with. But she's starting to frustrate me so much that it's becoming that much harder to defend her.

So now I'm thinking it's time for me to let her roam free for awhile -- which may ultimately wind up being a good thing. I did the same with Gwyneth Paltrow and she just fired back with a stunning performance in this year's 'Two Lovers.'

Perhaps the same will happen with Renee in 'My Own Love Song'?

But probably not. Sigh. I just hope Renee can survive without me ...

Notes form a disenchanted Oscar watcher

2009-05-10T23:19:00.005-04:00

So, I'm back and I'm about to push the play button on my 2009 Oscar predictions (starting this week with BEST PICTURE).

But I have to admit that in doing so, I'm a little hesitant -- hence, my brief (okay, long) disappearance.

The reason I'm hesitant is because I feel like we've seen two completely -- almost bi-polar -- sides of the Academy over the last two years.

In 2007, they made bold and daring choices with 'There Will Be Blood,' 'Juno,' 'No Country for Old Men' -- even 'Atonement' felt like a cool choice in some weird, classic kind of way.

Then we had the baffling year that was 2008. Instead of going for bold choices again (hello, 'Dark Knight' snub!) they reverted back to their old tactics by nominating 'The Reader,' 'Frost/Nixon' and what have you.

Part of me wants to say that 2008 was just a fluke year, and that I'm OK to make bold predictions for 2009. But is it possible that 2007 was really the fluke, a perfect storm where all of the year's best movies were the ones getting all of the right awards buzz?

I really don't know.

I'm gonna think on this for a couple more days and then have my predictions up by NO LATER THAN FRIDAY. I'm sick of being MIA from you guys -- it's not fair to you or to the blog.

In the meantime, how much fun was 'Star Trek'?

Jusice, Almost Four Years Later

2009-04-21T17:43:00.002-04:00

From the Chicago Tribune's interview with Paul Haggis:

"Obviously, you're trying to move people, and hopefully 'Crash' did," said Haggis, though he remains perplexed why "Crash" took home the top Oscar.

"It's certainly not a perfect movie," Haggis said. "I love the Oscars; I just think they are the best thing in the world, but if you asked me if it was the best film of the year, I'd say, 'Of course not.' "

Full interview.

Finally, we're on the same page.

First look at ... 'The Lovely Bones'

2009-04-20T01:36:00.003-04:00

Hey, remember me?

I'm still laying low while I research, but I wanted to post this link to a production still of 'The Lovely Bones' since Stanley Tucci may enter my Best Supporting Actor predix (unless you all can convince me otherwise.

See the pic here.

Then tell me: Is 'The Lovely Bones' worth considering? Or should I skip over it?

Is the Best Actor race already over?

2009-04-11T15:50:00.004-04:00

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get excited about this year's Best Actor race because it already seems like a foregone conclusion that Morgan Freeman will win for the Nelson Mandela biopic.

Of course, so many things can happen between now and next March. But the combination of biopic, Clint Eastwood, Nelson Mandela and Morgan Freeman is such an overwhelming force that I fear the race may already be over.

Am I wrong, bloggers? Is the race wide open or should we expect the inevitable?

Best Actress: Will comedy prevail?

2009-04-11T15:37:00.003-04:00

In doing my [MIA] research for 2009 Oscar predictions, I was curious to see what you guys thought about Amy Adams and Meryl Streep's chances.

I think Meryl will inevitably be nominated for 'Julie & Julia' (Supporting?), so maybe that's why I'm drawn to her role in the new untitled Nancy Meyers movie. Is it possible for her to pull a Diane Keaton this year? Or will the studio simply push her lead for the Julia Child pic?

And what does this mean for Amy Adams? Surely they love her, considering she was nominated for 'Doubt.' If Meryl goes supporting, could Amy Adams snag a nomination in Best Actress?

Discuss away.

Predix up at the end of the month, PS.

Quick post: 2009: The sure bets ... and the flicks to avoid

2009-04-05T13:55:00.002-04:00

I'm gonna start doing my Oscar research tonight, and I was curious to find out two things: 1.) The films and/or performances you think will inevitably get nominated, and 2.) The films and/or performances you think I should avoid.

So far I think the only "inevitable" is Morgan Freeman in the Nelson Mandela biopic. I mean, Freeman + Eastwood + Mandella = a huge Oscar combination.

Not sure about the movies to avoid, however. Some are saying 'Nine' but ... I just don't know. I still think it might be good.

Discuss away!

I Love You, Paul Rudd

2009-04-04T14:25:00.003-04:00

Is it wrong for me to want Paul Rudd to get an Oscar nomination for 'I Love You, Man'?

I just saw it last night and I thought he gave a terrific, perhaps career-best performance, turning what could have been a cringe-worthy and terribly awkward character into someone likable, sympathetic, funny and down right adorable.

Am I reaching into the hyperbole jar, readers? Or does anyone else agree with me?

Back in the saddle again

2009-04-01T00:30:00.001-04:00

It's April 1st and I haven't even begun to think about the 2009 Oscar race yet, so I figured now might be a good time to get cracking on my official Oscar predictions.

They won't be up until midway through the month -- I need time to research, which will begin this weekend -- but at the very least, we should be off to a much quicker start than last year.

So stay tuned! And feel free to post your early tips ... right now. :)

A few words on ... 'Sunshine Cleaning' and 'Two Lovers'

2009-03-29T22:54:00.004-04:00

I had two trips to the movie theater this weekend: One good one, and one ... meh.

Let's start with the meh, which is more commonly known as 'Sunshine Cleaning.'

It kind of breaks my heart to blog about this one because I really wanted to love it. It had a nice (albeit 'Little Miss Sunshine'-esque) trailer, and Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are both terrific actresses.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to sell such a poorly thought out screenplay, which was driven by a silly and at times implausible premise. Much of it felt very lazy, and with rushed bookends the film didn't allow any time for the story to thaw out on its own (although it was always game for a saccharine moment or two). I'd cautiously recommend this, but only as a DVD rental (C-/C).

On the plus side, I also got around to seeing 'Two Lovers,' which I actually loved way more than I was expecting to after watching the first 15 minutes.

I found the whole experience to be hypnotic. Whether it was the music, or New York or the pacing, I slowly fell into this world, and by the end of it I was really quite emotionally taken by the experience.

I felt the same way about Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow's performances. Both took some time getting used to, but when they settled in they really took off. In fact, I'd argue that everything that went on in the film's final moments was brilliant.

More reason to hope Phoenix's media meltdown is a joke after all (B+).

Trailers that should be banned

2009-03-29T22:52:00.002-04:00

I vote 'The Soloist,' a trailer that plays at every. single. movie. -- like the two I saw this weekend.

Seriously, I can almost quote the entire thing.

Weekend screening schedule

2009-03-27T16:50:00.002-04:00

Snore.

What are you watching this weekend?

'Taking Woodstock' trailer

2009-03-26T01:40:00.001-04:00

Meh. I got an 'Almost Famous' lite vibe from watching this.

Oscars return to March (for one year)

2009-03-25T16:06:00.002-04:00

Looks like the Olympics will push back the Oscars once again, says AP.

Next year's ceremony will officially be held on March 7.

I'm personally all for these kinds of delays. It opens the door for potential surprises, which seem to be a thing of the past these days.

Quick post: Best movie of '09 (so far)

2009-03-24T01:27:00.002-04:00

We're almost a quarter of our way into 2009 and so far it looks like we're off to a good start.

But what's the best movie you've seen in 2009? Is it 'Coraline'? 'Two Lovers'? Post your reviews and recommendations below.

For me, I'd have to go with 'Duplicity' only because I haven't seen much of anything this year. But it was a fun movie given what it was trying to accomplish. Good for Julia and Clive.