Golden Globe Blind Predictions

Awards season is creeping up fast.

Who'll win what?

What are some of these movies doing on a Golden Globe nominee list in the first place??

Here are my blind predictions for this years event (films only):

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Black Swan - Protozoa Pictures & Cross Creek Pictures & Phoenix; Fox Searchlight Pictures

The Fighter - Paramount Pictures and Relativity Media; Paramount Pictures and Relativity Media

Inception - Warner Bros. Pictures UK LTD.; Warner Bros. Pictures

The King's Speech - See-Saw Films and Bedlam Productions; The Weinstein Company

The Social Network - Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing

WINNER: The Social Network. The youth, vibe and relevance are all there and the script is the best of the year.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Halle Berry – Frankie and Alice

Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence – Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman – Black Swan

Michelle Williams – Blue Valentine

WINNER: Natalie Portman. Black Swan buzz is hard to kill.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network

Colin Firth – The King's Speech

James Franco – 127 Hours

Ryan Gosling – Blue Valentine

Mark Wahlberg – The Fighter

WINNER: Colin Firth. Brits being Brits, with a debilitating stt-utter.

Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Alice in Wonderland - Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Burlesque - Screen Gems; Sony Pictures Releasing

The Kids Are All Right - Antidote Films, Mandalay Vision, Gilbert Films; Focus Features

Red - di Bonaventura Pictures; Summit Entertainment

The Tourist - GK Films; Sony Pictures Releasing

WINNER: The Kids Are Alright. According to me, it's the only one in contention.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right

Anne Hathaway – Love And Other Drugs

Angelina Jolie – The Tourist

Julianne Moore – The Kids Are All Right

Emma Stone – Easy A

WINNER: Julianne Moore.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical

Johnny Depp – Alice in Wonderland

Johnny Depp – The Tourist

Paul Giamatti – Barney's Version

Jake Gyllenhaal – Love And Other Drugs

Kevin Spacey – Casino Jack

WINNER: Johnny Depp from Alice in Wonderland. Simply because he's crazy. Though, Paul Giamatti returning to his "Sideways" wit and irritability is tempting.

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams – The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter – The King's Speech

Mila Kunis – Black Swan

Melissa Leo – The Fighter

Jacki Weaver – Animal Kingdom

WINNER: Mila Kunis. Black Swan buzz again! Is it possible to be a veteran newcomer??

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Christian Bale – The Fighter

Michael Douglas – Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Andrew Garfield – The Social Network

Jeremy Renner – The Town

Geoffrey Rush – The King's Speech

WINNER: Christian Bale. I'm not a fan of Bale in everything he does but I do admire him going all the way with the roles he's given.

Best Animated Feature Film

Despicable Me - Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment; Universal Pictures

How To Train Your Dragon - DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures

The Illusionist - Django Films, Ciné B and France 3 Cinéma; Sony Pictures Classics

Tangled - Walt Disney Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Toy Story 3 - Disney * Pixar; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

WINNER: Toy Story 3. #1 Animated feature of all-time, must mean that somebody liked it.

Best Foreign Language Film

Biutiful (Mexico, Spain) - The Country of Mexico and The Country of Spain
Menageatroz, Focus Features International; Roadside Attractions

The Concert (France) - The Country of France
An Oï Oï Oï Productions, Les Productions Du Tresor, France 3 Cinema, Europacorp, Castel Films, Panache Productions, RTBF (Belgian Television), BIM Distrubuzione Co., Canal +, Cinecinema and France 3; The Weinstein Company

The Edge (Russia) - The Country of Russia
(Kpaй) Teleshow/Rock Films; Central Partnership (Russia)

I Am Love (Italy) - The Country of Italy
(IO SONO L’AMORE) First Sun; Magnolia Pictures

In A Better World (Denmark) - The Country of Denmark
(Hævnen) Zentropa Entertainment; Sony Pictures Classics

WINNER: Biutiful. Iñárritu and Bardem.

Best Director - Motion Picture

Darren Aronofsky – Black Swan

David Fincher – The Social Network

Tom Hooper – The King's Speech

Christopher Nolan – Inception

David O. Russell – The Fighter

WINNER: Darren Aronofsky. First one out of my mouth. Christopher Nolan lingering in the back of my mind.

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Simon Beaufoy, Danny Boyle - 127 Hours

Christopher Nolan - Inception

Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko - The Kids Are All Right

David Seidler - The King's Speech

Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

WINNER: Aaron Sorkin. Hands down.

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech

Danny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland

A. R. Rahman - 127 Hours

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network

Hans Zimmer - Inception

WINNER: Alexandre Desplat. Side note: Hans Zimmer is a Beast! (but will be overlooked again)

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

"Bound To You" – Burlesque - Music By: Samuel Dixon
Lyrics By: Christina Aguilera and Sia Furler

"Coming Home" – Country Strong - Music & Lyrics By: Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey and Troy Verges

"I See The Light" – Tangled - Music By: Alan Menken
Lyrics By: Glenn Slater

"There's A Place For Us" – Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader - Music & Lyrics By: Hillary Lindsey, Carrie Underwood and David Hodges

"You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me" – Burlesque - Music & Lyrics By: Diane Warren

WINNER: Coming Home. Yee Haw Country.

HOLIDAY MOVIE NOTABLES

The List:

127 Hours - 11/5 (limited release) --- WHY... Director Danny Boyle and a James Franco amputation

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 - 11/19 --- WHY... Umm, do we have to ask?

The Next Three Days - 11/19 --- WHY... Paul Haggis, prison break and a bad-ass Russell Crowe

Love and Other Drugs - 11/24 --- WHY... Gyllenhaal and Hathaway reunite with an R-rating... no cowboys this time

Black Swan - 12/03 (limited release) --- WHY... Darren Aronofsky's follow-up to The Wrestler, oh, and Natalie Portman playing a troubled girl

The Tourist - 12/10 --- WHY... Jolie and Depp mixed with some international vacationing

The Tempest - 12/10 (limited release) --- WHY... Visionary director Julie Taymor returns to Shakespeare + an amazing cast

Tron Legacy - 12/17 0 --- WHY... self-proclaimed 3D IMAX event of the year and Jeff Bridges (25 years ago)

True Grit - 12/22 --- WHY... The Coen Brothers do another western and Bridges does The Duke (not the Dude)

Biutiful - 12/29 (limited release) --- WHY... Javier Bardem is eying another Best Actor Oscar win

INCEPTION

How do you determine what is real?

If your mind is flooded with tender memories but your reality is void, wouldn't you rather live in the fiction?

An alternate reality is just a dream away...

Inception, unlike extraction, is about putting something into your thoughts rather than taking it out... and this film surely plants a pot to be pondered.

A workout for the brain, no doubt. That is one way to describe sitting through this film. You feel yourself getting lost in the story... but in a good way, like being blindfolded on a roller coaster. At times you feel dumbfounded and even up to the end you might feel like you don't comprehend everything, but then comes the satisfying jolt at the end of the ride and the lap belt releases. Did I really just experience that?? Let's do it again!

It almost felt like floating in zero gravity - like some of the characters, ironically enough.

After the dust settles - or rather appears to settle - the film sticks with you like a tantalizing meal leaving you craving dessert (maybe an infinity layer cake with zero calories).

The visual effects are truly something to behold with certain moments that are just plain trippy. Sadly, there was one scene in particular where the computer generated effects go a bit over the top for my taste. Luckily, many of the film's most effective visual elements are achieved without the use of CGI. That's just creative filmmaking, plain and simple.

Sleek, sexy, and modern, Inception is a well-oiled ensemble machine, bursting at every seam with talent - without allowing one to outshine the other. It was a bit light on the emotional side but in no way devoid of feeling. Nolan's truly original script is a gasp of fresh air in this age of rehashed and resold cinematic garbage. A compelling thrill ride, hands down... Inception beckons revisiting, again and again.

SPRING 2010 MUST-SEE LIST

Ah, springtime is finally upon us.
What better way to celebrate the season than to stay indoors and watch a movie!?
Here's my short list of Spring 2010 Coming Attractions:



1. Hot Tub Time Machine 3/26


2. Clash of the Titans 4/2


3. Leaves of Grass 4/2


4. Date Night 4/9


5. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4/30


6. Iron Man 2 5/7


7. Robin Hood 5/14


8. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time 5/28

Crazy Weary Brave Heart

A one man show elevated by a behind the scenes musical genius.

OK... the Oscar nom is validated for me.

Jeff Bridges does an exceptional job portraying worn and torn country singer Bad Blake while the music, done by the incomparable T-Bone Burnett (Cold Mountain, Oh Brother Where Art Thou), adds true grit, pulse, and a backbone to the film.

There are hints of "The Dude" in Bridges' performance but unlike the comical deadbeat in The Big Lebowski, "Bad" is a real person you identify with, sympathize with, and cheer for the entire film. The aging country singer (a real country singer... not candy coated pop-country) is such a careless, reckless, and set in his ways kinda guy, you know bad things are in store for "Bad'' throughout the film. Redemption is inevitable, however, and a satisfying closure comes at the end of the film; like a sunrise and a sunset in one.

In such a one character piece, Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a surprisingly good supporting performance and Colin Farrell is a convincing Keith Urban clone.

Although the plot of the film is somewhat predictable, the real focus is the subtle nuances in the character work. Bridges displays such comfort in this character, you can't help but think Jeff Bridges (the actor) goes out touring on the road in between film projects (a la Russell Crowe). Bad is a real cool cat that ends up good in the end.

It's never too late to start fresh and make amends with yourself. If not for yourself, do it for the hypothetical "other" in your life.

"Retreat" from the theater and demand a $1.50 refund

OK, so I know this movie isn't exactly a new release but I happened to catch Couples Retreat at the dollar theater last night. 

You'd think that a vacation comedy starring "consistent everyman" Vince Vaughn, his buddy from Swingers John Favreau, Arrested Development ace and co-star in every other comedy of '09 Jason Bateman, and big black Faizon Love would be a recipe for success... but NO. 

Couples Retreat, written by Vaughn and Favreau, fails because it takes itself way too seriously and is just plain dull. The characters are too bland and stereotypical and most of the jokes fall flat (especially the all-too-often rants by Vaughn).  

The movie centers around 4 couples struggling with different issues while attending a tropical vacation therapy camp. 

As for the pairings...what's the deal with film and TV nowadays pairing the average, overweight, slacker husband with the extremely hot and intelligent wife??? Not only is it unrealistic but it actually distresses me. So, I guess I need to let myself go and dull it down to about a 3 in order to have a worthwhile relationship with a hot girl?! 

All of the women in Couples Retreat (Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman and Kristin Davis) are nice, hot, reliable actresses but are merely there for eye candy. Their roles provide little to no comedic involvement. They really should've cast a group of gals with some comedy/improv chops (i.e. Kristen Wiig, Amy Poeler, Sandra Bullock, etc) to spice up the screenplay, instead of relying on the old, played-out, buddy humor between the gents. 

The plot of this movie is quite predictable and formula driven and there's really nothing new about relationships explored here. Honestly, if the film hadn't taken place in a fun, tropical location it would've just been downright depressing.

One thing I did happen to like about the film (other than the fun, tropical location) was the score by Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar winning composer A.R. Rahman. Thumping bass and tropical vibes kept my head bumping while it was shaking in disbelief.

I sure hope MY next vacation is more enjoyable than this!

919 on Blu-ray - Trick 'r Treat

Break out your costume, carve your jack-o-lantern, and set out the candy because Halloween is upon us...

                                                     ...and man, is this holiday fun!

Trick 'r Treat is an instant classic among movies, not because it's an amazing film (far from it) but because it fits into the exciting genre of "seasonal gems", ala "Tim Burton's: The Nightmare Before Christmas", "Fright Night" and "John Carpenter's: Halloween". Soon to become a Halloween tradition of its own, the movie invokes the nostalgia of All Hallows Eve and what it was like trick or treating and creating mischief around the neighborhood back in the day. 

The movie is a collection of interwoven stories, all revolving around the traditions of October 31st, the one night out of the year where all bets are off and we're free to embrace the other side. 

Produced, directed and written by the team behind X-Men 2 and Superman Returns,  Trick 'r Treat has big-budget appeal without losing its campy feel.

Now... the movie is not overtly scary but does have just enough gore and malice to keep the torture-porn "SAW" addicts appeased. The film actually has more humor to it than expected and the Halloween imagery and mood created by the scenic design team are enough to make you as giddy as a school kid holding a glow stick and toting a pillowcase full of candy. 

The over-the-top nature of the stories within the film elevate it to that of a campy, yet artfully presented goodie-bag of fright, without being too ridiculous.  

Trick 'r Treat is a definite must-see for anyone looking to get into the mood of the season and should be mandatory viewing for the last week in October. 

Happy Halloween!

*This film is not recommended for viewing any other time of the year but fall - It'll just make you upset that Halloween is so far away.