A lot of people asked me what my thoughts were on the Oscar nominations. For some reason, I needed to take a step back from it all, because I immersed myself so much in the noise of some of the blogs and websites. My shitty work day really got the best of me, and I couldn't really write anything until now. I tried predicting every single category this year, and I got a score of 92/122, which is 75%. Not that bad. There were some surprises, as always, so let's dive right in. A full list of nominees is listed here, so look no further.
Sally Sally Sally
Sally Hawkins getting nominated for Blue Jasmine was my Oscar wish, and it came true! I thought she was a long shot, because she hasn't been up for that many awards (except for the Golden Globe). When her name was announced first, I let out a squeal/yell/noise that was so loud that I am sure strangers at work thought about having me committed. It's so great to see both her and Cate Blanchett nominated together. Congratulations, Sally!
The Snubs
Let's just the major snubs out of the way. Tom Hanks was ignored for both his performances in Saving Mr. Banks and Captain Phillips. I thought Saving would fall by the wayside, but his work in Phillips is some of the best of his career. The last ten minutes are astonishing. I also thought Paul Greengrass was in for directing.
Hanks' Saving co-star, Emma Thompson, was not as safe as everyone thought. Amy Adams got in for American Hustle, and we learned that we should never bet against Meryl Streep. Sorry, my queen, never again. Even if people didn't like Thompson in the movie, I thought they might want to have the chance of getting her behind a mic. Thompson is so funny and charming when she speaks publicly. Saving got the shaft everywhere. The only nomination it received was for Best Original Score.
Can someone please tell me how 12 Years a Slave got snubbed for Cinematography and Score? Surely, I am not the only one who thought that it was set in these categories?
And Christian Bale? Really? I don't even think I am mad that he got in for his performance--he's really good. I think that the idea of him getting in without any previous traction annoys me. And I know that's the dumbest thing in the world. It's the shittiest/dumbest logic, but I couldn't help but feel that way. But more on American Hustle later.
Dallas Buyers Club
I wasn't expecting Dallas to be such a presence in this year's Oscars. I thought it would be a Best Picture contender and do well in the acting categories, but I never expected it to also pick up Makeup & Hairstyling, Editing and Screenplay. How close was it to Director?
It's such a good movie, so I am glad that it received so many nominations.
No One Will EVER Be Able to Predict Best Original Song. Period.
This is a statement that everyone needs to become comfortable with. Remember last year when everyone thought they had it nailed down, and "Before My Time" from Chasing Ice was the first song announced? Every year, the Best Original Song shortlist isn't very short, so it's not like I am knocking anyone per se. This year had 75 songs on it, and the music branch is fickle as all get out. Very unpredictable.
I thought The Great Gatsby's "Young and Beautiful" was a lock, and I am still shocked it didn't get in. I've never heard of Alone Yet Not Alone, and it sounded like the audience attending the nomination announcement did either. I saw the trailer for it...yikes.
Kudos to Pharrell Williams (nominated for "Happy" from Despicable Me 2) who continues his fantastic 2013 into the awards season.
Get Used to American Hustle
When I first saw Hustle, I liked it, but there was something about it that I didn't like. A lot of scenes felt like first drafts to me, and it really bugged me. If you asked me who I thought would win Best Picture, I would say American Hustle. It got four fucking acting nominations, and that's two years in a row that director David O. Russell managed that. When it happened last year with Silver Linings Playbook, it was the first time since 1981.
If it takes the Screen Actors Guild, it will win. It's tied with the most nominations, and it's going to win some. The movie feels like warily making a friend in high school and then having that person turn around and win all the senior superlatives. It's really bugging me for some reason. On a side note, how did this not get nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling? What the what?!
Watch the nomination announcement below. Sweet Jesus--Christ Hemsworth voice is seeeexy...
Oscar nomination day is almost upon us!!! It's kind of like Christmas morning, because you get up super early and wish that you get the things you've been thinking about all year long. I am pretty notorious for throwing too much caution to the wind when it comes to predicting the nominations themselves, so I might be hanging my head on Thursday morning. I am going to try and predict the nominations for every single category (yes, even those pesky small ones that no one knows about). Here we go.
Best Animated Short
Feral
Get a Horse!
The Missing Scarf
Mr. Hublot
Room on a Broom
A lot of audiences know Horse! from seeing Frozen already. I tried looking up the different kind of animation that were used in each of the finalists. I like Broom, because it's about a witch and her orange tabby cat. Look out Ulysses! There's another feline in town.
Best Live Action Short
Helium
Kush
Record/Play
Tiger Boy
The Voorman Problem
They usually pick shorts in this category with nice production value. I may have picked selections that were too light, though. I always feel super depressed after seeing these. Helium looks gorgeous (check out the trailer) and Voorman features Martin Freeman and Tom Hollander.
Best Documentary Short
CaveDigger
Facing Fear
The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life
Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall
Recollections
I might be running a risk having too many Nazi themed shorts. Fear is about how a former neo-Nazi and his gay victim meet after 25 years have passed since they last saw each other. Lady follows Alice Herz Sommer, the world's oldest Holocaust survivor and details her recipe for living a happier life. The doc shorts tend to tug your heartstrings.
Best Animated Feature
The Croods
Ernest & Celestine
Frozen
Monsters University
The Wind Rises
Frozen is in. I won't bet against Pixar just yet, so I am including Monsters. I almost went with Despicable Me 2 instead of Ernest, but I always pick something most people haven't heard of in this category. Sorry, minions. Maybe when The Minions Movie comes out?
Best Documentary Feature
The Act of Killing
Blackfish
The Squre
Stories We Tell
20 Feet from Stardom
While I would love to see Blackfish take this, it's between 20 Feet and Stories.
Best Foreign Language Film
The Broken Circle Breakdown, Belgium
The Missing Picture, Cambodia
The Hunt, Denmark
The Grandmaster, Hong Kong
The Great Beauty, Italy
I actually haven't seen...any...of these. I just missed them when they came to Pittsburgh, so it's really all my fault. I think the costumes and cinematography could propel Grandmaster in, and I've heard Broken Circle is absolutely devastating. I wish Blue is the Warmest Color was eligible to give it some sexiness/controversy.
Best Sound Editing
All is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Iron Man 3
Lone Survivor
Best Sound Mixing
All is Lost
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lone Survivor
I SUCK at predicting the sound categories. I usually pick the loudest or the one with the most gunfire, and then slightly differ the categories. Inside should get into Mixing for its music, and Gravity should dominate the technical categories. I will get these mostly wrong, and I'm fine with it.
Best Visual Effects
Elysium
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
Pacific Rim
I was surprised that certain movies were excluded from the Academy's shortlist for this category. Man of Steel would have been included, but The Lone Ranger and World War Z were included in its place. They should really call this category Runners-Up to Gravity. Like, seriously. I figured Elysium would be included since it bears a striking resemblance to District 9.
Best Original Score
All is Lost
The Book Thief
Gravity
Saving Mr. Banks
12 Years a Slave
Normally, I am very on top of this category. I try to sample as much music as I can from the year's films. I love Steven Price's Gravity, and Hans Zimmer's work on 12 Years reminds me so much of the movie. Everyone keeps insisting John Williams will be up for The Book Thief, but I can't figure out why. Alex Ebert won the Golden Globe last week for Lost, so I am throwing him in there. Maybe his hair will be even more insane.
Best Original Son
"Let It Go" from Frozen
"Young and Beautiful" from The Great Gatsby
"The Moon Song" from Her
"Ordinary Love" from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
"So You Know What It's Like" from Short Term 12
This category is always messed up, so we shall see. There is always something completely random nominated, so I am bound to be wrong. I think the songs from Frozen and Gatsy are locked in. Karen O's "Moon" fits nicely into the movie, and the Academy usually wants the song somewhere in the movie. "So You Know" is a great moment from the Short Term 12, and it is sadly going to be the movie's best chance at any sort of nomination.
Best Production Design
Gravity
The Great Gatsby
Her
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
12 Years a Slave
There is no way you can discount two things in this category: Catherine Martin and those damn hobbits. Martin, who always collaborates with husband Baz Luhrmann, has been nominated for her production design work in three other Luhrmann films. She won twice (also costume design) for Moulin Rouge! back in 2001. Plus, the design of Gatsby is sick. Gatsby's mansion...those parties...thoooose parties made me want to abuse alcohol and then puke all over the marble floors. Peter Jackson's Middle Earth films have received nominations in this category every single time whether they are chasing a ring or following Bilbo. The line between art direction and visual effects is very fine, and Avatar won in this category in 2009, so I am including Gravity. My riskiest choice is Her. Throwing caution to the wind there when I could have picked Saving Mr. Banks or Inside Llewyn Davis. No guts, no glory, right?
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
American Hustle
Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
The Long Ranger
I was wondering when they re-titled this category (added the hairstyling to it) when the hair would become a noticeable player and not just the makeup. Hustle is Hair: The Motion Picture. The first time you see Christian Bale, he's construction an elaborate toupee, and Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper all have fun with hair pieces. I won't even acknowledge the second movie listed, just don't say I didn't warn you/call it.
Best Film Editing
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Gravity
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street
Editing is a key factor in the Best Picture game.
Best Costume Design
American Hustle
The Great Gatsby
The Invisible Woman
Saving Mr. Banks
12 Years a Slave
Or the most costumes of the year? Invisible, although invisible to audience's consciousnesses, should get in here, because of this big costumes. They love huge designs for costumes (see The Young Victoria, Memoirs of a Geisha, Marie Antoinette, the list goes on and on), and they generally overlook anything remotely modern. I'm still not over Black Swan's omission a few years back. Could Her get in for Joaquin Phoenix's colorful shirts or the waistpants that are begging to be sold at Urban Outfitters?
Best Cinematography
Gravity
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Prisoners
12 Years a Slave
I'll be honest. I don't know much about cinematography, and I generally pick the prettiest looking movies. I think a lot of voters might actually do the same thing.
Don't mess with Roger Deakins. I hope he will get in for his moody, dark, rainy Prisoners. Inside almost feels black and white because of the palette, and the Ulysses the cat is a bright burst of orange color. They will also blow a big one over the black and white photography in Nebraska. A lot of the shots of 12 Years are absolutely haunting. The way Steve McQueen lets the camera sit there and watch is stunning.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Before Midnight
Captain Phillips
Philomena
The Wolf of Wall Street
12 Years a Slave
Best Original Screenplay
American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
There are so many great scripts this year. I think in a weaker year, the field would be a lot wider open. Maybe Fruitvale Station or Enough Said break into the Original race? Perhaps August: Osage County sneaks into Adapted? But what would they knock out? I think they are pretty solid.
All right! Here we are--the top six categories. Also known as the six categories you suffered to get to.
Best Supporting Actress
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Lawrence's a runaway sensation. She shines in a loud, truly supporting role. Roberts provides some incredible work in August. I think Oprah stays in, because the movie was nominated in three categories at the Screen Actors Guild. She's Oprah. I don't really need another argument. Everyone was in that movie and everyone loves her. Will someone overshadow her since the movie came out so long ago? Maybe, but I doubt it. If someone in waiting in the wings, it's Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine, and, if that happens, I will scream like crazy, little girl.
Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
I couldn't figure out who I wanted to put here. Leto is picking up everything, so he's a lock. Daniel Bruhl received Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Rush, but I swapped him out for Gandolfini. Yes, I know posthumous nominations don't happen often, but I want it to so badly. I think they are going to go for Hustle in a big way, so I threw Cooper in as well. I am sweating over this one.
Best Actress
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
THIS CATEGORY IS GIVING ME A HEADACHE!!! For months, it was Blanchett, Bullock, Dench, Thompson and Meryl Streep. And then along came American effing Hustle, and it threw everything out of whack because of Adams. I want Meryl Streep in there, because it will be a line up of women over 45 that have already won before. It would fucking fantastic. Buuuuut if Cooper gets in Supporting, then I think Amy get in Lead. I don't know how you take out Meryl Streep from this category, because she's awesome in August: Osage County, but I guess screaming on a toilet gets you there.
Best Actor
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
I forgot how tight this race was. Robert Redford was in here for a while for his one man show, All is Lost, but I think he's going to get knocked out by Leo's fearless performance in Wall Street (I wonder what Leo's Oscar clip would be...snorting coke out of a hooker's ass perhaps?). This is one of the most competitive Best Actor race in years, and I feel like everyone has a really awesome shot at winning.
Best Director
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
David O. Russell, American Hustle
I usually go with the DGA nominations for Best Director, but I wasn't sure. For a while I had Spike Jonze for Her up there (and that could still happen), and Martin Scorsese was there (DGA nominated). How do I pass up Marty? I don't know! Maybe the reaction to Wall Street will only get it so far? Too polarizing? That limb I'm sitting on is getting miiiighty heavy...
Best Picture
American Hustle
Blue Jasmine
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Lee Daniels' The Butler
Nebraska
Saving Mr. Banks
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street
I always predict ten nominees even though I know it's difficult for that to happen with the voting system. I put Blue Jasmine in there as a passion plea. It was nominated by the Producers Guild, so it's not totally out there. The Butler is in there, because I figured either that or August would get in with their big ensemble casts (both nominated for SAG). Maybe Philomena gets in. Or Inside Llewyn Davis. Or August: Osage County. It's been a pretty solid year for movies, and this is a pretty solid roster, if you ask me.
So, there you have it!!! What do you think? Am I totally nuts? The nominations are announced at 8:30 tomorrow morning, so we shall see how batshit I really am.
Forgive me, father, for I have sinned. I was a theater major, and I never read Tracy Letts' landmark work, August: Osage County. The three-hour huge cast drama won the Pulitzer back in 2008, and the behemoth work is something community theaters only wish they could tackle. Naturally, this is the sprawling, Hollywood film version adapted by Letts himself.
At the center of the Weston family is Violet, the pill-popping, acid tongued matriarch played by Meryl Streep. Her husband Beverly (Sam Shepard) goes missing at the film's opening, and the Weston clan clamors over for moral support. Violet's eldest daughter, Barbara, is played by Julia Roberts. Let's go over the reactions people could have to this casting. One one side, one would say, "what the fuck is Julia Roberts doing in such a complex role?" while others might be clapping their hands with joy at the thought of these women sharing not only screen time but fictional blood.
As more of the family arrives, we begin to learn just how strained all of their relationships are. Oh, and trust me, everyone's relationship with everyone is a bond that's about to break. Everyone shows up. Margo Martindale plays Mattie Fae, Violet's sister, and carries her husband Chris Cooper in tow. Ewan McGregor plays Roberts' wife, and their troubled 14 year-old daughter is played by Abigail Breslin. Juliette Lewis and Julianne Nicholson play Barbara's sisters. That's not even all the actors--trust me, they are aplenty.
As the booze flows, so do the secrets. I don't want to spoil the draaahhh--maaaahhh, so I shall be skimpy on the plot. Usually with play adaptations, the film version always seems a bit stage-y or talky or so grand for the screen that it threatens to rip holes in it. Each of the actors gets a moment alone on the screen, whether a monologue or a dramatic moment is in play. It's very nice to see. Maybe in part because I don't mind big or stagey or graaaaand.
As far as performances go, Roberts steals it. Preconceived notions of her acting ability will be throw out the window, because this is quite possibly Roberts' best performance to date. Movie star is the title Roberts has been slapped with (a scarlet S for STAR), but she channels a jagged rage in this performance. She embraces her anger towards her mother, and when she and Streep spar, I was bowled over by the dynamic of it. I feared Streep would be so over the top that I wouldn't be able to enjoy it, but she's great. Bile and humor spill from her mouth. No wonder she's regarded as the greatest living actress.
If one more person around me said something to the effect of "I thought my family was dysfunctional" I might have killed myself, but I would love to hang out with the Weston family. Streep could hurl insults at me, Roberts to force me to eat cod (just trust me) and Margo Martindale and Chris Cooper could get into a passionate fight over me. Bring it.
Ah, Paranormal Activity. Full disclosure: I love these movies, and I look forward to them every year. Yes, every year, because they crank out a new one every Halloween. These movies aren't necessarily about the movies themselves as they are about the experience while watching it. Most of PA's as campaigns rely on green, voyeuristic shots of people screaming and jumping out of their chairs while watching.
The latest installment, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, has a whole new, Latin cast. I thought it was a total spin-off, but by the end everything ties into at least the first three (to be honest, I don't remember a lot of the fourth). In this chapter, a young man named Jesse becomes "marked" after the woman who lives downstairs is blown away. Jesse thinks he has powers because he can control himself from falling and he can throw people long distances. When it all starts, Jesse doesn't remember doing any of it, but as it grows stronger, he is more intrigued by it. It's kind of like Chronicle but less interesting. There is also a lame recurring sequence where they ask an aged Simon questions like a Ouija board.
I just want to point out that these might be some of the dumbest characters to ever be put in a horror movie--easily out of the PA franchise. Jesse and his friend Hector continually break into his downstairs neighbor's apartment even after they find evidence that she was a witch. The blood stained walls and creepy vibe are a no go for me. Thanks, guys. There are even two instances where the camera swirls around in the dark and a stranger is standing there. Creepy as hell, people! Why do they keep going back?!?! Stupid bastards.
The end (like always) is the best part, but this one adds a twist to the franchise. It comes out of nowhere. You either love or hate these movies, and I definitely am in the former category. They're fun and make me jump out of my chair. If you like them, go see it. If not, you will hate them just like all the others.
I am pouring over my decisions over my predictions. These are the problems I have, people. The nominations hit on Thursday morning, so look for an update soon!
Remember when Megan and I recorded a weekly podcast to discuss the pop culture news? And do you also remember when hectic holiday schedules got in the way of us recording for, say, two months? Never fear, listeners! Megan and I have returned for a short, on-the-fly take on what we think will win the Golden Globes tonight. No rumors and conjecture this week really, but maybe this will inspire (force?) us to continue with out commitment to out tens of listeners. Enjoy!
Am I the only one who didn't realize that The Legend of Hercules came out today? Anyone? Please tell me I'm not alone here.
This new take on the rise of the famous hero stars The Twilight Saga's only good looking man Kellen Lutz. Well, not so much his beef jerky face as much as his really defined pecs--something I am totally fine with. I wouldn't be able to tell anything about Lutz or describe aspect of his acting. Pecs, pecs, pecs. Yes, yes, yes.
I have never been a fan of the Disney Hercules. I think it's because it was right when I thought I was "getting too old for those kind of movies," and I need to sit down and watch it again. I am the person who ranked Frozen on his top ten list, so I shouldn't say anything. I doubt anyone actually wants to see this. It looks pretty awful.
So which is your hero? Disney's Hercules with his pointy elbows and snazzy songs? Or Mr. Meathead Lutz and his big pecs. Sigh.
