AMC Theaters had an Oscar marathon on Saturday- all five Best Picture nominees. My mom and I went. She'd already seen Michael Clayton, and we'd both seen Atonement, but we enjoyed seeing them again.
Michael Clayton: It was a well-written, perfectly acted thriller with a style very similar to 70's classics such as All the President's Men. George Clooney deserved his Best Actor nomination, and if it had been any other year, he should have won! I was very happy that Tilda Swinton won Best Supporting Actress. That was one of the few surprises from last night's ceremony!
There Will Be Blood: An epic loosely based on Upton Sinclair's novel Oil! It was a wild ride, and in some places quite bizarre. It was a very interesting look at the oil industry in the early 20th Century, and what people would do to get ahead in the business. Daniel Day Lewis probably gave the performance of his career, and won his second Oscar for it. His character was conniving, heartless, and intense. I was surprised that there was so much humor throughout the film. Grim humor, but humor. "I drink your milkshake!!!" Hee. That was unexpected. I wish Paul Dano had gotten a Supporting Actor nomination as the rather hypocritical young preacher (there were shades of Elmer Gantry in his performance).
Atonement: I'm glad I got to see it twice. I loved this movie. I think it was my favorite of 2007. I loved the book, and it translated to the screen very well. I had no trouble with the time shifting/different character points of view (a quibble some viewers had). The acting, costumes, score, and photography were all perfect. I was disappointed that the only Oscar it won was for Original Score. It should have won Cinematography, and I'm still surprised that James McAvoy didn't get a Best Actor nomination.
Juno: I enjoyed this movie. I really did. Ellen Page is a terrific young actress, and I hope to see her in movies for many years to come. But I really don't understand why it got a Best Picture nomination. I felt that way about Little Miss Sunshine last year, too- and that was my favorite film of 2006. Juno was a well-written, touching, hilarious, heartbreaking, and charmingly acted film about a pregnant teen who searches for a perfect couple to give her baby to. But a Best Picture contender? Not really. That's just my humble opinion, though. I won't argue with its win for Best Original Screenplay, though- even though I thought Michael Clayton was far better. It's nice to have a comedy win a major Oscar.
And the winner is:
No Country For Old Men
Wow. That was really something. Another book adaptation (a novel by Cormac McCarthy) that was nearly perfect. And it's typical (meaning brilliant and bloody) fare from writers/directors Joel and Ethan Cohen. Murder, drugs, theft, morally ambiguous characters, dark humor, an ending that doesn't tie everything up neatly (and no happy endings, either)- it's all there. Great acting from Josh Brolin (another one who should have gotten a Best Actor nom but didn't!), Tommy Lee Jones, and Best Supporting Actor winner Javier Bardem. This was one of the few Best Pictures I've agreed with in recent years (hello, Crash over Brokeback Mountain, WTF??).
My rankings:
No Country For Old Men
Michael Clayton
Atonement
There Will Be Blood
Juno
So my viewings of the films of 2007 in the theaters is officially over. Bring on 2008! If AMC does a Best Picture Marathon in 2009, I am there.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Oops!
I forgot one movie on my 2007 list- Fred Claus. 3 stars for that one.
A quick Oscar note- my mother and I are planning to do the Oscar marathon at the nearest AMC theater. All day, all five Best Picture nominees: Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, Atonement, Juno, and There Will Be Blood. This should be a great deal of fun.
A quick Oscar note- my mother and I are planning to do the Oscar marathon at the nearest AMC theater. All day, all five Best Picture nominees: Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, Atonement, Juno, and There Will Be Blood. This should be a great deal of fun.
Monday, February 4, 2008
2007 in review...
Better late than never. I didn't see as many movies in the theaters as I thought. But here's a rundown:
Blades of Glory- 3 stars. Good, silly Will Ferrell fun!
Shrek the Third- 2 1/2 stars. Entertaining, but the charm has worn out.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End- 3 stars. A mess, but fun.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- 3 1/2 stars. I saw it three times in the theater.
Hairspray- 4 stars. My favorite film of the summer. I love musicals.
Ratatouille- 3 stars. Another excellent Disney/Pixar film. Much better story than Cars.
The Simpsons Movie- 3 stars. Fun, hilarious big screen adventure of TV's favorite dysfunctional family.
The Golden Compass- 3 stars First part of the His Dark Materials Trilogy- a lavish production. The film was a little rushed and themes were toned down from the book, but it was enjoyable. Unfortunately, it did not do well at the box office in the U.S., so it's unlikely that the remaining two parts will make it to the screen.
Enchanted-3 1/2 stars. Probably the most fun I had in the theater in 2007 (except for Hairspray). A delightful send-up of the Disney princess craze and Disney movies in general- with an animated princess banished to the real world of New York City.
Sweeney Todd- 3 1/2 stars. Gory and haunting adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical. Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton team up once again. Sondheim's music is mostly intact, and Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman can really sing. It's a little too intense. I spent large portions of the film covering my eyes!
Atonement- 4 stars. Best movie I saw in 2007. Excellent adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel. Beautifully shot and acted. A four hankie movie if ever there was one- the end of the film is heartbreaking.
Still hoping to see: Kite Runner, Michael Clayton, Juno, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. The last four and Atonement are this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees.
2007 was another good year for movies. 2008 and 2009 look a bit gloomy with the WGA strike still going on (though it may be over this week). There are still plenty of films already in the can, however, and I already have a list of what I'm looking forward to:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull- the title has me thinking WTF?, but it will be nice to have Harrison Ford back as Indy.
Mamma Mia- an adaptation of the hit Broadway show- a story about a wedding set to the music of ABBA. I loved ABBA as a kid. I'm getting "Dancing Queen" in my head now.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- Duh. Of course I'm looking forward to this one!
Star Trek- officially, Star Trek XI- but it takes place long before the original show's adventures. I can't wait to see what the new cast and crew does with the franchise. It needs some refreshing.
Blades of Glory- 3 stars. Good, silly Will Ferrell fun!
Shrek the Third- 2 1/2 stars. Entertaining, but the charm has worn out.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End- 3 stars. A mess, but fun.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- 3 1/2 stars. I saw it three times in the theater.
Hairspray- 4 stars. My favorite film of the summer. I love musicals.
Ratatouille- 3 stars. Another excellent Disney/Pixar film. Much better story than Cars.
The Simpsons Movie- 3 stars. Fun, hilarious big screen adventure of TV's favorite dysfunctional family.
The Golden Compass- 3 stars First part of the His Dark Materials Trilogy- a lavish production. The film was a little rushed and themes were toned down from the book, but it was enjoyable. Unfortunately, it did not do well at the box office in the U.S., so it's unlikely that the remaining two parts will make it to the screen.
Enchanted-3 1/2 stars. Probably the most fun I had in the theater in 2007 (except for Hairspray). A delightful send-up of the Disney princess craze and Disney movies in general- with an animated princess banished to the real world of New York City.
Sweeney Todd- 3 1/2 stars. Gory and haunting adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's musical. Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton team up once again. Sondheim's music is mostly intact, and Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Alan Rickman can really sing. It's a little too intense. I spent large portions of the film covering my eyes!
Atonement- 4 stars. Best movie I saw in 2007. Excellent adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel. Beautifully shot and acted. A four hankie movie if ever there was one- the end of the film is heartbreaking.
Still hoping to see: Kite Runner, Michael Clayton, Juno, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. The last four and Atonement are this year's Best Picture Oscar nominees.
2007 was another good year for movies. 2008 and 2009 look a bit gloomy with the WGA strike still going on (though it may be over this week). There are still plenty of films already in the can, however, and I already have a list of what I'm looking forward to:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull- the title has me thinking WTF?, but it will be nice to have Harrison Ford back as Indy.
Mamma Mia- an adaptation of the hit Broadway show- a story about a wedding set to the music of ABBA. I loved ABBA as a kid. I'm getting "Dancing Queen" in my head now.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- Duh. Of course I'm looking forward to this one!
Star Trek- officially, Star Trek XI- but it takes place long before the original show's adventures. I can't wait to see what the new cast and crew does with the franchise. It needs some refreshing.
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