Feb 05 2010
2010 Oscars Roundup
So the nominees for 2010 Oscars were released a few days ago. Avatar got nominated for a shit load of awards, and I’m sure this year they movie will dominate the Oscars. Here are my thoughts on the nominees, and there are a few spoilers, as well.
Avatar: Look, I agree that this movie was visually stunning. The 3D and CGI really placed you in this alien planet. But the story was long, generic and predictable. The characters might as well have been wearing ‘good guy’ ‘bad guy’ shirts on. And you could tell how the movie was going to end 15 minutes into the film. So, can Avatar still be best picture? I dunno. The film really looked great, but it’s like of like a super hot Miss USA contestant winning the title, even though she has been hooking on the side – giving her award just kind of makes a mockery of the competition.
Precious: This movie made me think I could be a screen writer. Just take a minority, place them in an awful situation that involves minority problems like lack of education, drugs and throw in a little incest for good measure. Sure, Monique played a crack head well…but then again, a crack head isn’t a very complex character, is it? Who knows, she may have just been on crack during filming. And the girl who played Precious was really just playing a fat black girl…again, not too much of a stretch.
District 9: I like how District 9 took a new approach to the alien genre. I also liked the gritty, documentary feel of the movie. The alien costumes were at times a bit low res, but overall this was a pretty good movie.
Inglorious Basterds: A decent movie, but not best picture material. Also, I’m skeptical that a movie that shows jews killing Nazi’s and Hitler is in the running for best picture. Talk about a home field advantage.
The Blind Side: Not surprisingly this movie was a pretty sappy sports movie, and I’m surprised it got nominated for best picture. I enjoyed watching it, but really the storyline was really just a recycled generous-white-person-helps-minority tale. Still, this was one of the few movies nominated for best picture that really leaves you with a good feeling at the end.go
Up in the Air: This movie was kind of over hyped way before it was in wide release. When I finally saw it, it was somewhat of a let down. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t hard to sit through at all. But the idea of a guy who travels a lot…not very unique to me. Neither is the idea of a guy with no wife? And they say Clooney is a good actor in this movie, but really he’s kind of too good looking for this part. In reality, if Clooney was in this role he’d be banging girls left and right, and he’d have to settle down with the ones he got preggers.
Up: This movie actually wasn’t bad. It was a lot more serious than other Pixar movies, and surprisingly this worked out well with CGI. The whole balloon thing was not very realistic…but whatever, it’s a cartoon so you kind of have to forgive that.
It seems pretty clear that Avatar is gonna take away a ton of awards, including best picture. That’s too bad, because I’d rank it behind Basterds, Up in the Air, District 9 and Up.
I also think Bruno should have been nominated for something. Really, when you look at these actors half of them are playing characters pretty close to their actual persona. Clooney is a guy who travels a lot and bangs random chicks he meets at hotels? Not a big stretch. Monique is playing a fat black lady…is that really deserving of an Oscar?
But Bruno played a gay guy, even though Cohen is straight in real life. Plus, he did this all in one-take scenarios where his acting was critical to keeping the bits alive.
Well, the Oscars are in a month. Check it out.




