Academy Award Predictions 2011

Oscar Predictions 2011:

Best Picture:

The Social Network

Best Actor:

Colin Firth - The King's Speech

Best Actress:

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Best Supporting Actor:

Christian Bale - The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress:

Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Best Director:

David Fincher - The Social Network

Best Original Screenplay:

David Seidler - The King's Speech

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

Best Animated Feature:

Toy Story 3

Best Editing:

Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall - The Social Network

The Social Network (2nd Viewing)

 THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010)

directed by David Fincher

[filmography: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), The Game (1997), Se7en (1995), Alien 3 (1992)]

written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin

[filmography: Charlie Wilson's War (2007), "The West Wing" (1999-2006), The American President (1995), A Few Good Men (1992)]

starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Mazzello, Max Minghella, and Justin Timberlake

   
ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"The best movie of the year"

    I loved this movie, from the opening scene to the closing credits.  Its velocity is unmatched.  Its witty dialogues, narrative, score, and editing are unlike most films I have seen.  It's inspirational, but not in a cheesy way.  It's relevant.  It's the greatest film of the year.

The Town (on DVD)

THE TOWN (2010)

directed by Ben Affleck

[director filmography: Gone Baby Gone (2007)]

written for the screen by Peter Craig [writing debut], Ben Affleck [Academy Award winning co-writer of Good Will Hunting (1997), and Gone Baby Gone (2007)], and Aaron Stockard [Gone Baby Gone (2007)]

based on the novel The Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan  

starring Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall [Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)], Jeremy Renner [The Hurt Locker (2009)], Jon Hamm [Don Draper on "Mad Men" (2007-2010)], and Chris Cooper [Adaptation. (2002), American Beauty (1999)] 

ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"One of the top films in its genre, and second favorite film of the year."  

     The Town received enormous critical claim, and surprised a lot of its viewers with an astonishing follow-up to Ben Affleck's directorial debut three years earlier, Gone Baby Gone.  Now, I have told a lot of people about my love and admiration for this movie, both as an acheivement for the cast, and Ben Affleck, but also for being a contender as one of the great action films.  The Town is on par with Heat as far as ruthless violence and action goes, as well as the creativity of its high tension heist and car chase scenes.  Then, it has an element of Shawshank Redemption, or Bonnie and Clyde, as you begin to root for the ruthless killers falling in love, and doing all that "movie stuff".  All in all, The Town is definitely worth seeing.  If you loved The Departed, if you loved Gone Baby Gone, or if you just love high tension, action-filled, bloody, creative, great acting, movies that are filmed in Boston.  

Somewhere

 

SOMEWHERE (2010)

written and directed by Sofia Coppola 

[filmography: Marie Antoinette (2006), Lost in Translation (2003), The Virgin Suicides (1999)]

starring Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, and Chris Pontius

ENJOYMENT: ***** (out of 5)

"Loved it"

I was not expecting to love Somewhere.  I was merely seeing it because I appreciate Sofia Copolla's style of filmmaking.  I love her slow-moving, almost monotonous scenes, where nothing really happens to the naked eye, but a message is still being conveyed.  Now, personally, I loved Lost in Translation.  In fact, it's one of my favorite films of all time.  However, Marie Antoinette was sort of a let down as far as overall quality of the film is concerned, despite having some of the most amazing hair and costume design ever in a film (as far as I'm concerned).  But Somewhere is a little different.  Its style is a lot like Copolla's previous films, if not more Sofia-esque than even the predecessors, but for some reason, I cared a lot about this story.  It's truly heartfelt, and conveys its message extremely well.  And Elle Fanning is a doll.  All in all, Somewhere is a contender for my top 10 for last year, though I know not a lot of others will feel the same.  Screw it, I can love films that not everyone loves.