What Movie Did You Watch, Pt. 1: Starting Over

[dug11]

I agree with you about The Social Network and how the two films will be viewed in the future. I think it's a shame that The King's Speech is dismissed so quickly though, as I do think it's a very good movie.

Although, Black Swan should've easily taken Best Picture that year anyway. 2010 was actually a great Picture lineup overall. The two frontrunners would be around the bottom of those nominees, and I still enjoyed both.

[tonygoldenemmy]

Ahem. The Fighter should've won.

[mahogany soul]

I'd go with Picture for "The Social Network" and Director for Arronofsky.

[eurocheese]

1. Inception (love)
2. Black Swan
-------------------------
3. The Social Network (really enjoy)
4. The Kids Are All Right
-------------------------
5. True Grit
6. Toy Story 3
7. The King's Speech
8. The Fighter
9. 127 Hours
10. Winter's Bone

Aronofsky would be my vote by a mile in Director, but I would have very much preferred Fincher to Hooper. I loved Hooper's take on Les Miserables though.

[misplaced validity]

Tootsie

I hadn't seen this one in awhile. While the movie gets more conventional as it goes along, I love it. It mixes so many elements and works on several levels. There are a lot of good scenes, but the scene between Hoffman and Pollack where they argue over the tomato kills me every time. This might contain Hoffman's best performance; that he makes Michael and Dorothy such different people is pretty incredible. I think Lange's win is a bit questioned here, but I think she mixes vulnerability and charisma, which is filtered through her incredible chemistry with 'Dorothy.' It was a great ensemble in general, too.

[NGL]

Oliver!
1968, Carol Reed

Even though this is past TCM's "31 Days Of Oscar," I was able to catch this on TCM last night and erase this from my list of still-to-watch-Oscar-winning/nominated films.

This has a wonderful Dickensian atmosphere, visually from the sets and costumes and aurally from the songs, that is marred somewhat from a story I found a little too hard to believe.

I have never read Dickens' Oliver Twist, so I do not know how much liberty the film took with the source material. I did find that the lucky coincidences were too many and some way too lucky. Most prominent are an incident at court that leads Oliver to a new place to live that most likely would have been resolved earlier with the police and not have had so much of an impact; and, a completely-out-of-left-field discovery at Oliver's new home.

The sets did greatly enhance the atmosphere, especially regarding the scenes of climbing up many decrepit steps. I really enjoyed most of the songs. I did not know before that "Food, Glorious Food" came from Oliver!, and, I was surprised that Mark Lester, playing the title character, did not do his own singing. The lip-synching is very convincing.

B+

[jonny]

Chappie-

What a waste. Some interesting ideas baked in, and about three different better movies buried somewhere in the script, but ultimately what we're given is the least interesting way to go. Cool mo-cap FX and the hyper-reality look and feel was solid, but also a waste of sigourney weaver and hugh jackman. Disappointing.

D

[misplaced validity]

Tape (2001)

I love this little film. I'm always intrigued by explorations of perception and ethics. Ethan Hawke is pretty incredible. Considering the trilogy the did together, Boyhood, and this, they are easily one of the best director/actor pairings in history for me.

[Culturegeek]

(03-19-2015 12:52 AM)misplaced validity Wrote:  Tape (2001)

I love this little film. I'm always intrigued by explorations of perception and ethics. Ethan Hawke is pretty incredible. Considering the trilogy the did together, Boyhood, and this, they are easily one of the best director/actor pairings in history for me.

Don't forget Waking Life or The Newton Boys!

But yes, Hawke and Linklater are awesome.

[dug11]

Cinderella

This was better than I was expecting. It's really well made, and really pretty. Disney's "real life" adaptations of its film have been a big miss for me so far (Maleficent was so boring and don't even get me started on the heinous Alice in Wonderland). The fact that it works even though Cinderella, even in animated form, is a rather dull protagonist (still love the animated version, though) is even more impressive.

Cate Blanchett is having a blast, and I wish that she had even more to do. She managed to be nasty and camp it up a bit without going too far and making everything about her. But her role is smaller than I was expecting as well. The two actresses playing the step-sisters are also really good. Lily James is sweet in the title role, and I think Richard Madden is an excellent Prince Charming. Again, not a terribly deep character - but he works extremely well as a charming prince.

Also, as I mentioned, it's a very pretty film. Absolutely gorgeous costumes, and not only for the women. The prince's wardrobe (featuring some very, very tight pants) are just as impressive. They're pretty stunning. I can't imagine Sandy Powell missing a nomination for this one. The production design is also very impressive.

So, a really enjoyable, charming film.