MUST-SEE Movies and Awards Blog
Well it’s award season again out here in Hollyweird and each year I think I’m losing touch with public opinion. Well this year I think I’m losing touch with critics opinion cause I’ve been reading movie reviews from Rotten Tomatoes and can’t believe what I am reading! Now I look at the Award nominations and am equally shocked. So what I did was I took out 2 weeks and watched every screener that came by my mailbox and supplemented that list by going to the theaters to see those which did not. I don’t like to talk trash about films I think are an utter waste of time. So I’ll just make my list of MUST-SEE movies of the season.
1. Warrior – If you haven’t seen it yet, you probably should. Not only cause I am in it LOL but it probably is one of the only movies this year that hits every chord. It’s emotional roller coaster with action and beautiful cinematography in an unconventional gritty way. I won’t elaborate since I am biased but I am very proud of making this film. My career can move into bullshit blockbusters and I can always say “well I was in one good movie”.
2. The Artist – The last time I saw a silent film I was in Film school and this one was one of the best. Great directing, great story, touching without being heavy-handed. It’s a treat. Go see it…and I love the dog.
3. The Help – Now I know the common opinion that “why do blacks always need a white person to save them?” yeah I had the same opinion at first but after watching the whole movie I forgave that and moved on to enjoy an inspiring piece of cinema. I think it was probably the best acting. I fell in love with each character for their flaws…Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer killed it but so did Bryce Dallas Howard. Talk about justifying your character and not judging. Brilliant and I enjoyed the film.
4. The Descendants – Clooney is Clooney, the man is dope no doubt. But was this his best work? Not for me, he was aite…but his bar is pretty high so his “aite” is like everyone else’s “outta-the-park” still in my opinion didn’t deserve the Golden Globe. Shailene Woodley, a star is born, excited to see what else she does, if she has or can develop any range. Then again she is just a kid and has time. I do have a bone to pick. One of my favorite characters was the surfer dude boyfriend but I kept asking why was he white and not Hawaiian? Is it cause Payne only sees his characters as white? Would it have been too off-the-cuff to imagine that he could have been Hawaiian? I mean the daughter was rebellious? Hmmm…small note but it did occur to me.
I have a few honorable mentions that in my opinion were good movies but not award-worthy. Moneyball, Hugo, The Guard, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Now for my S#!T list…and I’ll be brief.
The Tree of Life – One word…masterbatory. Yeah it was artistic but I couldn’t stop thinking to myself “When is this going to end?”. I honestly thought it was playing a prank on me. But listen I come from a different point of view. I have my Master’s degree in Sciences so I’ve watched these “Origins of Life” films for years that this was like being back in class. If you wanna see a good nature show watch Planet Earth…great documentary.
Warhorse – I could careless about this movie. And I was equally annoyed by the P&A that goes behind every Spielberg movie. “Listen Steven, I’d love to work with you but ease up on the cheese aite?”. I’m gonna go horseback riding to reconnect with my love of horses.
Haywire – Now I know this movie wasn’t nominated but I am shocked the critics gave it a 82% on Rotten Tomatoes. This in my opinion ranked second next to Tree of Life for movies-that-I-will-never-get-my-time-back. It was horrible AND Gina is my homegirl. They dubbed her voice to sound like a man. Soderberg as a great director should have helped her with her acting a little. How about a little range? Try something different then just being “hard”, be affected and have an opinion. Anyway the action was a snore. And I truly didn’t give a shit about any of the characters. They could’ve all died and it would’ve probably rid the world of 4 scum bags that we really don’t need. No STAKES…kill them…kill them all. OK one part I did actually care was when they hit the deer. It was still breathing! I was sad. Then I sat there hoping that I would care about one of the characters more than I did the deer. But I didn’t. Poor deer.
Well that’s it, I can go on but I think I’ve vented enough. Playoff football time!