Friday, January 25, 2013

My Oscar Picks

There are still a few I have to see before I can make a top ten films of 2012 list, but I thought I'd share my picks for the 85th Academy Awards.

1) Best Picture: Argo 

2) Best Director: Ang Lee- Life of Pi 

3) Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis- Lincoln 

4) Best Supporting Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman- The Master 

5) Best Actress: Jessica Chastain- Zero Dark Thirty 

6) Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway- Les Misérables 

7) Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino- Django Unchained 

8) Best Adapted Screenplay: Tony Kushner- Lincoln 

9) Best Animated Film: ParaNorman 

10) Best Foreign Film: Amour 

11) Best Visual Effects: Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R. Elliott- Life of Pi 

12) Best Cinematography: Roger Deakins- Skyfall 

13) Best Costume Design: Paco Delgado- Les Misérables 

14) Best Original Score: Mychael Danna- Life of Pi 

15) Best Original Song: Adele- Skyfall 

16) Best Film Editing: William Goldenberg- Argo 

17) Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Peter Swords King, Rick Findlater and Tami Lane- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 

18) Best Production Design: David Gropman (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration)- Life of Pi 


Other very noteworthy films I've seen this year include Flight, Cloud Atlas and Prometheus. Unfortunately, I have yet to see Beasts of the Southern Wild, but it is certainly on my list. And although 2012 was a great year for movies, there were plenty of stinkers we had to suffer through nonetheless (i.e. Wrath of the Titans, Battleship, Red Dawn, and the deplorable Twilight conclusion Breaking Dawn: Part 2). Thanks for reading, and I look forward to what's playing in 2013. 



Sunday, January 13, 2013

Zero Dark Thirty

****
Dir. Kathryn Bigelow

Even though viewers know Bin Ladin is dead going into this movie, Kathryn Bigelow's innate ability as a filmmaker makes for an intense and gritty dramatic thriller. After she and screenwriter Mark Boal blew critics away with The Hurt Locker in 2009, this team returned to make a film depicting the greatest manhunt in American history.

After opening with recordings from 9/11, the film chronicles the process which CIA operatives used to bring down the former Al-Queda leader. Dan (Jason Clarke) and Maya (Jessica Chastain) are agents working together in Pakistan, tasked with the job of interrogating prisoners and compiling as much data as they can in regards to this radical organization. Maya is a top level member of her division, recruited straight out of high school. The early years of her career are devoted entirely to finding a man regarded as one of the most dangerous people alive.

Between the graphic torture scenes and terrorist attacks, it's pretty remarkable how Bigelow is able to immerse audiences into this distorted world which most Americans only know about through what they see on the news. Most war films attempt to strive for a realistic approach, but are nonetheless plagued by Hollywood components. That is not the case here. From the moment the film begins to the closing sequence, viewers are transported to the fear and confusion of the Middle Eastern atmosphere. The cinematic techniques which Bigelow uses to capture this dismal setting is what makes the experience of watching this picture so compelling.

Nevertheless, what separates this film from The Hurt Locker is that there isn't quite as much emphasis on character development. Although the acting is great, the action tends to overshadow the story at points. It's not bad, but it is what keeps the film from being riveting in my opinion.

However, Jessica Chastain gives a remarkable performance. Whether it's her facial expressions during the interrogation sequences, or just her sheer presence on screen, she embodies the internal and external conflicts of her character very effectively. Clarke also does a great job, portraying a more original and believable tough guy. He makes trained killers look like they wanna go cry to their moms, and yet he still possesses the desire for an ordinary lifestyle. Kyle Chandler also has a nice deal of screen time as their boss Joseph Bradley, and is well suited for the role.

Like a lot of films released around this time, this one is up for best picture and several other Oscars. I still think Argo deserves to win, but I thoroughly enjoyed the artistic attributes of this picture. While not as groundbreaking as Bigelow's previous works, it's definitely one to see.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Promised Land

***
Dir. Gus Van Sant

This film has particular significance in our society today. Between the fiscal cliff and various economic troubles over the last decade, much of it has to do with the rise of major corporations clashing with older ways of life. Contrasting the lives of small town farmers with those of big city people can have a powerful effect within this medium.

Promised Land tells the story of Steve Butler (Matt Damon), a salesman for a natural gas company. When he and his partner Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand) are sent to a small town so the corporation can tap into available resources, both think it'll be an easy job. Yet because the area has been hit hard in recent years by the economy, people like schoolteacher Frank Yates (Hal Holbrook) aren't as receptive to the innovative businessmen trying to crush their way of life. As tensions rise, Butler and Thomason are then met by Environmentalist Dustin Noble (John Krasinski), there to combat the company's actions. As the mission turns into a political battle, Butler's morals and mentalities are questioned. By the end, he undergoes a spiritual journey which transforms his character.

Director Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting) presents a film which is very relevant to Americans everywhere. Whether you're a suburban or farmer in a small town, the message is applicable to a wide range of viewers. Sant's direction works really well with Damon and Krasinski's script. Although the pacing is pretty slow, there's a really nice twist in the plot at the end which makes up for it. The story flows very well, and effectively enhances the character development. Butler's internal conflicts reflect the various themes presented, and I really like how he changes over the course of the picture.

As far as the acting goes, you can see from the cast that there's definitive quality. While not Damon's best, he is nonetheless well suited for this role and has very solid chemistry with McDormand and Krasinski. This is a pretty light-hearted, more humorous drama, and the cast executes Sant's vision very effectively.

Between the business ethics and character intrigue here, this is certainly worth seeing. While nothing remarkable or as good as Sant's previous works, it is a very good film nonetheless.