The Oscar Predictions Special Edition

Today, I have decided to write up my personal predictions for The Academy Awards and forego my review for Act of Valor. I will briefly sum that movie up to give you some closure. The film is ambitious and remarkable for what it is, but in a cinematic sense, fails to give the true pathos to make the ending worth it. Take it or leave it. C+.

Here we go. (But not every category, Just the main ones.)

Best Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris Woody Allen's tale of a writer's adventure through time is inspiring and emotionally invested. More creative than any other nominee.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Hugo The adaptation of the book is a truly magical look into the art of film preservation and french orphans. Given that the top prize is all but reserved, this is Hugo's best shot.

Best Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes Given the truly criminal snubbing of Andy Serkis as Caesar, the motion capture magic of this film is all but gauranteed to take home the prize.

Best Director: Michael Hazanavicius for The Artist Not since Chaplin has a director more masterfully put on a silent film.

Best Supporting Actor: It's really anyone's race but the experts are saying Christopher Plummer for Beginners

Best Supporting Actress: In a world where comedy ruled, Melissa McCarthy would be victorious, but in a year with Octavia Spencer from The Help nominated, this is a closed race.

Best Actor: There are 3 other well deserving nominees, and the fact that Gary Oldman got his long deserved nomination after so many years, but the most moving performance this year is from George Clooney for The Descendants.

Best Actress: Rooney Mara is the most deserving, and Viola Davis is the Cinderella story who may come from behind, but unfortunately this will most likely go to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady. P'tooey. Seriously. Just take your award and retire.

And Now Best Picture:

This was the first year that I have seen every film prior to the big night. This is all but closed. The Artist is going to walk away with the award, and well deservedly so. The film is so magical and enlightening that it brings about the renaissannce of cinema in the mind of critics. It awakens the imaginative spirit in a way that no other nominee does. That is not to say the other films don't have an immense amount of cinematic pixie dust, but let's all be honest. How many of you can say that you watched The Tree of Life without getting a headache? The nominations themselves are all tokens of appreciation, and rightfully earned by all nominees. But there is no doubt that The Artist will rise to victory.

Now.....anyone care to gamble?

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance Review

The story, the acting, the dialogue, the camera work. It's Just. So. Awful. (This review doesn't even deserve an introduction.)

Set years after the original, Johnny Blaze is hiding out in Europe. He is approached by a French man who tasks him with bringing out the Rider once more to save a young boy from the devil. At least I think that is the story, this film will make you dizzy.

It all seems so silly and ridiculous, you think that you're watching a 90 minute, live action, unfunny version of Family Guy. It even has cutaway gags. What action movie has cutaway gags? Not a good one!

Nicolas Cage is a great actor. Not joking. He is. He has proved this before. Yet, with a bad script, there is often bad acting accompanied. He acts so insane and out of control that by comparison, Charlie Sheen seems like a member of the British Parliament.
Cage delivers his dialogue in the improper tone, with poor inflection, and frankly just chews through the scenery. There is a scene in the middle in which he interrogates an associate of the boys kidnappers. It may just be one of the creepiest things I have seen to this date, and not for the reasons the filmmakers intend. You will honestly believe that Cage is losing his mind in front of a camera.

There are two redeeming factors to this film.

The first is Idris Elba. His role as Moreau is the sole pleasant performance in the entire film. He acts with strong confidence and wisdom. His devotion to God is inspiring and makes you search for a glimmer of hope in your own life. And to be honest, when Daniel Craig is finished with the role, I would love to see Idris play James Bond. Between him and Michael Fassbender.

The second redeeming factor is the special effects. They are well polished, and a complete improvement over the unfinished, lazy photoshop work of the first film

Don't see this movie in theaters. Wait for 3 years when it appears on TV. It's so bad that it's funny. Someday, it will find a group willing to appreciate it's numerous faults.

F

This Means War Review

There is a tragedy that occurs too often in the world. Something that happens to everyone, no matter what they do. I call it "When Bad Movies Happen to Good Actors".

The film is about two CIA agents who discover that they are dating the same woman. Then the title occurs. Thats it. Thats all you need to know.

When you watch this movie, you will think that you are physic. That's because the film is so cliched and predictable that it's just sad.  Director McG has no sort of control over the film, and has no idea how to direct something of this genre. There is sloppy editing, poor writing, and no sense of equilibrium as the film never finds its footing. And the ending.......just so unnecessary.

The themes in here are absolutely awful. Rather than plotting revenge against the polygamistic girl who is playing with both of their hearts, they enter a war of egos in trying to win hers. And when the truth comes out, she somehow decides to blame THEM. A true romantic film focuses on the tenderness of emotion rather than the competition for sexual reward. Is this film a foretelling of where America is headed? I surely hope not.

Chris Pine and Tom Hardy are both excellent actors, and it is clear that they aren't just working for a paycheck. They truly put their all into this film, but unfortunately it isn't enough as they are given nothing to work with. But good effort boys, good effort.

Reese Witherspoon....Well my grandmother always said that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

The redeeming factor here is Til Schweiger (You may remember him as Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz from Inglourious Basterds.) The fact that he keeps his cool and doesn't resort to lame jokes or slapstick in an otherwise garbage movie makes him "Andrew's Standout."

Save your money. This movie is just not worth it. If I hadn't won the tickets on the radio, I would not have seen it.

D

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3-D Review

On May 19, 1999, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace opened in theaters. I was 6 years old at the time. I was scheduled to go that night to see it with my mom and my brother Kevin. However, that afternoon, I got in trouble for biting my brother at my grandma's house, and as punishment, I had to stay home with my father while they went.  I never saw it....until Monday night.

The big question: Was it worth waiting 13 years? Yes. Because I was able to judge it with the perspective of an adult rather than a 6 year old.

The film revolves around jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi as they travel to Naboo in order to protect Queen Amidala from the Galatic Trade Federation who plans to force her to sign a treaty.

The story is no where near the level of the original trilogy, yet that does not make this a bad movie.  It is cluttered with multiple plot points at times, and the characters may not be as appealing as Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, but it is a fun ride nonetheless.

This film belongs to Liam Neeson.  His portrayal of Qui-Gonn steals the show the same way that Harrison Ford stole it as Han Solo in the original. His wisdom and calm attitude under pressure makes him the clear star of the movie. Having seen so many Neeson films before this, made this that much more interesting.

Now we come to the part I have been dreading. Jar Jar Binks. To be totally clear, I hated him. He is nothing more than a vain attempt to pander the younger generation that will accompany the fans of the original trilogy. But he is not the result of bad acting, he is the result of bad writing. Ahmed Best, the actor, did everything he could with such horrible character writing. I don't blame him in the least. I would not say get rid of him completely, I would reduce his screentime in favor of Darth Maul who has so much more potential. The fact that Ray Park (who is my choice for "Andrew's Standout") did not have more time to flesh out such a clear fan-favorite is nothing short of criminal.

The same would go for Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, but fortunately we have not seen the last of him.

I would save your money, the 3-D does not add too much extra. (Though some sequences are incredible). But see this movie sometime in your life. It's not a bad movie, just not a very good Star Wars movie.

B-

The Artist Review

Before you read my review, please do yourself a favor. Click play on the video above, and watch a small sample of the pure magic this movie has to offer. Go ahead. I can wait.

Have you watched it? Good!

The Artist. There is not much I can say. Except that this is, by far, and without a single doubt in my mind, the greatest movie I have seen in quite some time. It reminds me of the very reasons that I started reviewing movies to begin with. For every Adam Sandler crossdressing movie that has absolutely no overarching plot, and uses celebrities and fart jokes to pander to America's ever-lowering bar of accepted quality, there are movies like The Artist that remind you that there are still directors like Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg, and in this case, Michel Hazanavicius making movies with substance and pure magic.

I have seen this movie twice. When I asked friends to join me, they refused on the grounds that it was a silent and black and white movie. While they consider it a turn off, I consider it it's greatest strength. The film is a callback to a time of innocence when films were about story, acting, and getting away from the world if only for a while. The Artist proves that you don't need huge stars, million dollar computer effects, or even color to have a good movie, you just need ambition.

The film is about a silent movie actor named George Valentin who goes into depression and failure after he refuses to participate in talking pictures. But with the help of an old co-star, he may just make a comeback.

There is always a difficulty in silent movie acting. You need to talk with your body. You rely on body language and dialogue cards to tell a story. Luckily, there is no issue here. Jean Dujardin may not be a household name to you, but in France he is the equivalent of Brad Pitt. He reels you in with his charm and his wit, even when he barely talks.

Berenice Bejo is the classic 1920s flapper, with her amazing good looks and carefree attitude. But she is much more than eye-candy, she is a catalyst that gets things moving, even without words.

The film is very self referential about the fact that it is a silent movie. Characters make numerous references to the fact that George does not want to talk, even when they aren't referring to his movies. The begininng of the film is a film starring George being tortured for information, and the first title card says "I refuse to speak".

SEE this movie. SEE this movie twice. That's all I can tell you. If this film does not win Best Picture, I will be writing a very strongly worded letter to the Academy.

A+

The Descendants Review

In 1997, a George Clooney movie opened in theaters by the name of  Batman & Robin. It was absolutely awful. Nothing about the movie was good. For the past 15 years, whenever he is asked about it, Clooney apologizes for starring in it. He will even offer you a refund for your ticket. Now, he has finally made it up to the world by starring in The Descendants.

Clooney plays a Hawaiian lawyer by the name of Matt King, who is currently tasked with deciding the fate of his family's vast amount of land in Kaui that has been passed down for generations. Soon, Matt's entire world is turned upside down when his wife is involved in a boating accident from which she will not recover. What more, he is informed by his estranged daughter that his wife was also carrying on an affair. Matt sets out to find the man responsible, and along the way, reconnects with his daughters.

The story may seem complex by my brief description, but I assure you it is not hard to follow. Clooney's narration throughout the film keeps you up to speed. It is one of those movies where all the plot elements connect at a point and make the film even more rewarding.

Clooney gives the best performance of his career. When he feels pain, you feel the pain too. You can see it not only in his words, but in his eyes when he is devastated. A true actor has the ability to delve into a role and fully become the character. With Clooney, you see no less than a true actor. His level of believeability is on a level that is so hard to comprehend, you will lose yourself in it. You will instantly remember everything that makes you see Clooney as the superstar he is today. I predict he is a lock for Best Actor.

Shailene Woodley plays Clooney's estranged daughter, who informs him of the infidelity. Woodley is not a teenage girl, but as an actress she plays the TYPICAL teenage girl. By her language, her emotions, her disrespect for authority, you will instantly recognize her as at least one person in your life. The fact that this occurs is the reason why Woodley will hopefully delve into better roles than The Secret Life of The American Teenager, she can clearly achieve it.

I say see it. Don't waste your money on Chronicle or The Woman in Black, see a MOVIE this weekend. The acting alone is worth it.

A-