2013 Oscar Picks

My work's conference is a weekend later so, for the first time in two years, I get to watch the Oscars live! YAY!! I'm having a viewing party, complete with ballot betting. This year has some categories that could go in several ways, so it should be an exciting one. As for the TV show, God help us survive all the Family Guy voices Seth MacFarlane unleashes on us all.

Best Picture
Amour
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Like I said in my yearly roundup, I’ve been unable to rank this year’s movies, having liked a lot of them, but not definitively LOVED any of them. Conventional wisdom has Argo losing because of Ben Affleck’s snub, but I’m convinced that snub helped the film more than it hurt. The Academy wants to reward him, and this is where they’ll do it. As for me, I’ve gone back and forth between Argo, Zero Dark Thirty and Silver Linings Playbook for weeks trying to decide my personal favorite. It’s a moot point at this juncture, so I’ll say the move that should win is the one that I’m most anxious to see again, which at this point is Zero Dark Thirty. Note: I’ve seen Argo twice and Silver Linings Playbook three times.

Should Win: Zero Dark Thirty
Will Win: Argo

Best Director
Michael Haneke, Amour
Ang Lee, Life of Pi
David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook
Steven Spielberg, Lincoln
Benh Zeitlin, Beasts of the Southern Wild

I really liked Lincoln. I saw it twice, and enjoyed it both times. I respect Spielberg’s commitment to bringing this version of Lincoln’s life to the screen. I appreciate his direction to writer Tony Kushner to focus just on the amendment’s passage. I just can’t muster up much enthusiasm for the film besides Daniel Day-Lewis' performance. So I guess he gets credit for hiring him? Eh, I’m more impressed with Ang Lee. He directed a massive movie, in 3D, which featured water, animals, unknown actors and what many called an unfilmable novel. That’s enough reasons for me. Yes, most of what I’ve read calls this category for Spielberg, but I’m letting this be my wild card category.

Should Win: Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Will Win: Ang Lee, Life of Pi

Best Actor
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Joaquin Phoenix, The Master
Denzel Washington, Flight

This category was over when Day-Lewis’ casting was announced. Better luck next time gentleman, but thanks for playing.

Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva, Amour
Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

The Impossible is one of the few movies in major categories that I haven’t seen, so I can’t speak on Watts’ performance with much authority. Emmanuelle Riva broke my heart in Amour and I would not be mad if she won. Quvenzhané Wallis is adorable and was fantastic in a kid-actors-are-usually-terrible way. So that leaves Lawrence and Chastain. Lawrence has this category pretty much sewed up, and she deserves it. Hers is the performance with the most diversity. She’s funny, heartbreaking, crazy and sexy, all in the same role. She has the most to do character-wise, hence why she’s as close to a frontrunner as the category has. Personally, I’m more impressed with what Chastain was able to do with so little. We don’t get to know her Maya. We just get to see her laser focus on accomplishing her mission. It’s a quieter performance, but I think that makes it the more powerful. Especially, at the end, when she’s accomplished her mission and we get the payoff of two hours of her stoic, determinism—a human moment that completely saved the movie from being completely cold.

Should Win: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Will Win: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook

Best Supporting Actor
Alan Arkin, Argo
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln
Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained

I had the most fun watching Alan Arkin, and I wish he’d gotten more push in this category. However, it was not meant to be. I see it as a toss-up between De Niro, Lee Jones and Waltz. I think PSH’s is critics’ actual favorite, but critics don’t vote for the Academy. He is remarkable, but I think the polarizing nature of the film as whole counts against him. As for the frontrunners, I enjoyed Lee Jones the most, so I have him taking it.

Should Win: Alan Arkin, Argo
Will Win: Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Master
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook

Another lock, and for good reason—Anne Hathaway is the best part of an overstuffed, hyper-emotional act-off. In another year, Helen Hunt would have my vote. I really enjoyed The Sessions and am still smarting from John Hawkes snub for Best Actor. But this is Hathaway’s to lose, and she just won’t.

Should Win: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Will Win: Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables

Other Category Predictions

Adapted Screenplay: Argo
Original Screenplay: Django Unchained
Animated Feature: Wreck-It Ralph
Foreign Language Film: Amour
Production Design: Anna Karenina
Makeup: Les Misérables
Sound Editing: Skyfall
Sound Mixing: Les Misérables
Visual Effects: Life of Pi
Cinematography: Life of Pi
Documentary Feature: Searching for Sugar Man
Documentary Short Subject: Mondays at Racine
Film Editing: Argo
Short Film, Animated: Paperman
Short Film, Life Action: Curfew
Costume Design: Anna Karenina
Original Score: Life of Pi
Original Song: “Skyfall”

2012 Movies: Scenes that Stuck

Sometimes one or two scenes/sequences can really make a movie. They can even save a mediocre one. Here are 9 that really did both from 2012’s movies, plus a few other notables that I liked. Obviously, a SPOILER ALERT is needed here.

Best Decision to Use Less Dialogue: “Flight”

When the sound of a fridge clicking to life can make an audience gasp, you know you’ve done something special—a scene just as tense as anything in “Argo” or “Zero Dark Thirty,” but a wonderfully wordless one. Late in the film, all Denzel Washington’s Whip Whitaker has to do is not drink for one night. Then we hear the whir of a motor and realize there is a mini fridge beckoning him to destroy himself. We watch in agony as he opens the door and surveys all the glittering liquor bottles, takes one out and, eventually, sets it on the counter. Everything about the scene is elegantly framed and the pacing is so perfect that you can feel everyone in the audience collectively, silently screaming DON’T DO IT!!!!

Creepy but Captivating: “The Master”

I had some problems with “The Master” as a film overall, but there is nothing wrong with the performances. They are incredible, practically on another level than the film itself. Nowhere is this more evident than the first “processing” scene where PSH’s religious leader asks Joaquin Phoenix—a broken and volatile WWII vet—a series of questions. The questions, which are often repeated, start with the simple “what is your name?” and build to the deeper, “are you often consumed by envy,” which slowly but surely enrapture Phoenix’s Freddie. When PSH’s Dodd tells him they are finished for now, Freddie begs him to continue. Then comes the interesting part, the pair start on a series of questions Freddie must answer without blinking or Dodd says they must start over. This series takes place in one long take as we watch Freddie struggle with both keeping his eyes open and telling the truth. It’s a deeply unsettling scene that illustrates, if only for a moment, why Freddie continues on his insane path for the rest of the film.

Best Use of Matthew McConaughey Ever: “Magic Mike”

The scene only last maybe two minutes, but it tells you all you need to know about the kind of movie you are about to watch. The movie opens on McConaughey’s strip club owner, on stage, in leather chaps, going over what the ladies in the audience can and cannot touch. But it’s the way he delivers the line “The law says you cannot touch…but I think I see a lot of lawbreakers up in this house,” that is so brilliant I can’t even pinpoint why exactly. Then he does a little shimmy and the scene cuts to black. I remember seeing the line in the trailer, and it’s what sold me that the movie had the potential to be great. It’s the line modern McConaughey—the one who forgot how talented he could be per “A Time to Kill” and the one who has become more famous for being shirtless than possibly any other actor in history, except perhaps Taylor Lautner—was born to deliver. The rest of the movie is him chewing scenery, reminding us all how good he can be. And it starts with that line and a shimmy, all at the right moment.

Most Upsetting: “Prometheus”

Almost too upsetting to even mention, but something I definitely did not think I’d see in a movie this year: a self-administered alien c-section. Note: I never need to see it again.








Biggest Surprise: “Skyfall”

He enters deep in frame, just a smudge of blond hair and light suit, slowly walking toward camera. He delivers a story about rats eating each other. But I don’t think anyone could have expected what happens next. In Javier Bardem’s quest to make Daniel Craig’s James Bond as uncomfortable as possible, he unbuttons his shirt, strokes his chest and face and touches his leg. It’s both unintentionally hilarious until you realize you are only laughing because of how uncomfortable you feel. About the time Bond makes a crack about it perhaps not being his first time, Bardem and Craig have created one of the best Bond and villain scenes in the series 50-year history.

Oscar that Should Have Been: “Django Unchained”

 Leonardo DiCaprio obviously holds a special place in most girls of my age’s hearts. His status as dreamboat has never wavered, but his career choices have been so impeccable as of late that he has overcome that label to be known as just a damn fine actor. He’s flirted with Oscar three times before, but when I saw the trailer for Django I thought for sure this was his year. The Supporting category is where Clooney won, so it makes sense that DiCaprio could find similar respect there. My hope for his Oscar was turned to near certainty with one particular scene in the film—the dinner scene where he explains of the three dimples found in African-American skulls. His Calvin Candie has just discovered that Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx have entered his plantation under false pretense, and instead of confronting them directly; he weaves a tale about his papa’s old slave Ben’s skull. Throughout the monologue he is all courtesy and grandeur on the outside, but it’s his eyes that sell it. You can see the years of hatred in those eyes. When the scene turns and we see him do one of his trademark screams and slam his hand on the table and cut it—which I had read he did on accident and just went with, which, of course, meant Tarantino couldn’t resist that take—I was in complete awe of him. To watch an actor you’ve loved for what feels like your whole life go to a place where you almost can’t watch him means he is doing something very right. And curse Oscar for overlooking it.

Most Emotional from Unexpected Place: “Ruby Sparks” 

From the trailer you might expect “Ruby Sparks” to be just a cute little movie, made by a real life couple, but you’d be very wrong. It does have those elements, which hooked me from the beginning, but what it really is is something much darker. Its concern is control. Paul Dano’s Calvin creates Ruby and can make her do whatever he wants with the tap of his typewriter keys. This idea is at its most terrifying toward the end of the film when he tries to make her understand she literally can’t leave him. He sits at the typewriter, bathed in shadows, and writes despicable things for Ruby to do—speak French, act like a dog, tell him over and over how much she loves him and that he is a genius. Each slam of the typewriter with its patented ding is like a dagger to both Calvin and Ruby, cementing that what is to come is going to be even more unpleasant. By the end, both are completely broken that the truth of what can happen when you lose yourself in a relationship or when you crave a certain level of control over someone you love is palpable. The scene is a go-for-broke acting exercise for both Dano and screenwriter Zoe Kazan, and just thinking about it makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Most Emotional (fan girl edition): “The Dark Knight Rises”

I’m a sucker for closing the loop. I love callbacks or anything that can make me feel gratified for paying attention, or at least, being there from the beginning. After suffering a broken back courtesy of Bane, Bruce Wayne recovers in a pit of a prison, where the prisoners are tortured by the possibility that they might be able to climb out. He tries and fails to climb out twice, but once his sage-like prison mate tells him to try it without the rope, the real good stuff begins. We watch him climb up a pit just like we watched him fall down a pit in “Batman Begins”. It is in that pit that a young Bruce Wayne is inspired to become Batman. Then present-day Wayne gets to the platform where he must make the jump without a rope, and a swarm of bats escape from the pit’s walls. Hans Zimmer’s score swells, the chanting of the prisoners escalates and then he jumps… all sound is sucked out of the scene until he lands on the platform safely. It made my heart full of joy with its perfectly calibrated comic book cheese, done in a way that only Nolan’s Batman films could pull off.

Most Emotional (musical obsessed edition): “Les Misérables”

I have a weakness for “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” in the stage version of “Les Misérables”. It’s where I lose whatever composure I had left and become a balling, heaving mess. However, the film version, while still powerful didn’t destroy me in the same way. Probably because Anne Hathaway had already destroyed me with her endlessly discussed performance of “I Dreamed a Dream.” It made me tear up with just the trailer, but the actual scene itself is the one place in the movie where Director Tom Hooper’s annoying obsession with close up actually works for me.

Other Notable Scenes:
“Silver Linings Playbook:” Jennifer Lawrence destroys Robert De Niro’s Eagles theory.
“The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey:” Gollum and Bilbo play riddles in the dark.
“Looper:” Torture victims lose their limbs in past and affect their future selves.
“Zero Dark Thirty:” After a decade of hunting Bin laden, Jessica Chastain has nowhere to go.
“Argo: The hostages get pulled aside at the airport.

2012 Movies: Trailers

Everyone is well aware that I love a good trailer. Here are my favs from this year.

Trailer that made me weep repeatedly: Les Miserables

Trailer that made me nervous even though I knew how it turns out: Zero Dark Thirty

Trailer that made my heart burst with happiness: Moonrise Kingdom

Trailer that I loved but never even saw the movie: Snow White and the Huntsman

Trailer that made me read the book first: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Trailer that made me root for an Oscar for a performance: Django Unchained (Leo)

Trailer that succeeds because of one line: Magic Mike

Trailer that made me grateful I never hated Ben Affleck: Argo

Trailer that made me swoon: Skyfall (the cuff adjustment heard round the world)

Best trailer of 2012: The Dark Knight Rises 

2012 Movie Rundown

This year was a fantastic year for movies. However, for the first time, I can't really anoint any of the movies I saw as "Perfection." I feel passionately about all the movies under "Excellent," but not to the degree that I could make an argument for any of them being perfect. So you only get "excellent" movies this year.

Note: I was running behind last year's total until my flight got cancelled and I had three extra days in New York before coming home for Christmas. Those three days allowed me top last year's total of 42 by two, with 44, which includes a viewing of Titanic in 3D that is not ranked below because I think everyone knows my feelings on that movie by now. I also decided to mark which movies I saw more than once in the theater and to include movies I watched on the plane to Paris since they were fairly current in theaters. What did I miss? Where did I go wrong? Speak up . . .

Excellent
Argo
The Avengers (2)
The Dark Knight Rises (2)
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Ruby Sparks
Silver Linings Playbook (2)
Skyfall (3)
Zero Dark Thirty

Solid 
The Amazing Spiderman
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Flight
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hunger Games (3)
Lincoln (2)
Looper
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Pitch Perfect
21 Jump Street
The Sessions

Fine
Anna Karenina
Celeste and Jesse Forever
The Five-Year Engagement
Friends with Kids
For a Good Time Call…
Life of Pi
Lola Versus
Prometheus
Safety Not Guaranteed
This is 40
The Woman in Black
Wreck-It Ralph

Eh
The Campaign
To Rome with Love
Wanderlust

Just Silly
Magic Mike
Ted
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2

Just Bad
Hitchcock
John Carter
What to Expect When You’re Expecting

Trailer Time 10/3/2012

The Lone Ranger

Predictably Johnny Depp gets the real mythic treatment in this first look at Gore Verbinski's (the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and let's never forget, The Mexican) long-gestating take on the '50s Western icon. Armie Hammer stars as the titular hero but it's clear who is really being used to sell the movie: Depp in "crazy" makeup with a  bird on his head, cause come on, why WOULDN'T he?

The Guilt Trip

In what should have been called "Jewish Mom Takes a Road Trip," "The Guilt Trip" pairs Barbra Streisand, in her first leading role since 1996's "The Mirror Has Two Faces," with Seth Rogan as a mother and son on a road trip. Naturally silly, mensch-y hijinks ensue.

Movie 43 (NSFW)

OK, deep breath...

This movie stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Elizabeth Banks, Hallie Berry, Hugh Jackman, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Gerard Butler, Kristen Bell, Anna Faris, Kate Winslet, Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Seann William Scott, Chris Pratt, Justin Long, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Josh Duhamel, Live Schreiber, Bobby Cannavale, Kate Bosworth, Jason Sudeikis, Johnny Knoxville, Tony Shalhoub, Kieran Culkin, Jack McBrayer, Stephen Merchant and John Hodgman, and is directed by Elizabeth Banks, Peter Farrelly and Brett Ratner, among eight others.

THAT is a lot of star power in one movie. Apparently this was filmed over a period of four years in order to fit everyone in. The plot is a secret but it's clear by this trailer it will include lots of actors using words and speaking on subject matter that you thought was unbefitting to their "craft."

Lincoln

Now, that is more like it. The first trailer for this indulged in schmaltz fest, but this one gave me goosebumps. Angry Abe is a much better color on DDL than battered Abe. Not to mention some great lines from the gaggle of grizzled character actors that populate the rest of the cast. So now we've seen sentimental Spielberg and badass Spielberg. Which one will the actual movie be??

Pop Culture Diary

This post was inspired by one of my favorite pop culture blogs, NY Mag's Vulture, which recently asked Gillian Flynn, one of my favorite writers from EW, to keep a diary on her pop culture consumption for a week. I figured that was an easy way for me to write about the pop culture that's on my mind, so amazingly I managed to do it. This obviously doesn't include the vast amounts of online articles I read about pop culture daily because that would show my ridiculousness in a different way.

Day 1
9:00 a.m. 
I’m about 70% into "A Dance With Dragons," the most recent entry in "A Song of Ice and Fire," which I mostly read on the subway. Chris generously let me borrow one of his many reading tablets and I’ve enjoyed not carrying around these massive books in my purse. Oh my, how IS Tyrion going to get out of this one?

10:00 a.m.
Friday means trailer day! I watched (and shared) trailers for “2 Days in New York” and "For a Good Time Call." I had read positive things about Julie Delpy’s follow up to “2 Days in Paris” and I’m excited to see Chris Rock in a “dramatic” role. I hadn’t head of “For a Good Time Call” until seeing this trailer but it looks fun. I have residual good feelings toward Ari Gaynor so I’d see this as part of marathon movie day. Later I watched the trailer for “Pitch Perfect,” a kind of “Glee” meets “Bring it On.” I shared the trailer with Carolyn who replied within minutes with simply: Carolyn: well i'll obviously be seeing that

11:00 a.m.
I’m on Spotify for most of the workday so instead of obsessively listing what songs I listen to here I’ll give you the name of the playlist. Today was a Rolling Stones day. I recently created a Wes Anderson playlist after seeing "Moonrise Kingdom" and noted that he uses a lot of Stones in his movies. Realizing I didn’t think I’d ever listened to a full Stones album I subscribed to this Ultimate Rolling Stones one and I am LOVING it.

7:00 p.m.
I took advantage of my summer Friday to catch an early showing of "Prometheus" I managed to avoid spoilers so I was excited to see it. Saw some great trailers beforehand, most of which I’d already watched online.

• "Django Unchained": SO PUMPED! Oscar for Leo!
• "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter": I still haven’t decided on this one, I think I’ll wait for reviews to roll in to decide if it’s worth going in the theater.
• "Frankenweenie": I feel like I’ve seen this trailer for MONTHS. Time to come out so I can stop.
• "Savages": I hold out hope for this one, only because I love Taylor Kitsch and God knows he needs a win after "John Carter," which I did see, and "Battleship," which I totally meant to. He deserves better and Oliver Stone should be able to deliver. The trailer looks equal parts creepy and exciting. Also, hey Benicio!
• "Gangster Squad": Is it just me or is this the only movie where Ryan Gosling’s accent actually makes sense? Loving everything I’ve seen and read about this.

So anyway, "Prometheus…"

SPOILER ALERT: I’m so confused! I was actively enjoying the film while I was watching it but then it was over and I was like, meh. Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace are both fantastic. I genuinely thought the tattooed geologist was Christian Bale for a good 20 minutes of the film. I also knew Guy Pearce was in the movie and therefore thought he was tattooed geologist’s respected friend who wanted to CUDDLE AN EYEBALL. So. Much. Confusion!

On the other hand the scene where she performs her own C-section will haunt me for months. Overall, I just can’t muster up much enthusiasm for the film. I get that the black goo is obviously the catalyst for creating life but if this film was made to answer questions about the "Alien" mythology it failed miserably by creating so many more questions than we were prepared for. But of course, there will be a sequel to answer those quesitons! We should have known that going in guys.

10:00 p.m.
Made it home to hang out with my kitten and started watching "Crazy, Stupid, Love" since I just ordered it from Amazon to push me into free shipping. Am interrupted by Alison alerting me to the fact that a man is going to walk on a tightrope across Niagara Falls. Am transfixed for a solid half hour with terror and wonder. Finish "Crazy, Stupid, Love," watch the latest "Ricky Gervais Show" (God bless Karl Pilkington) on HBOGO and go to sleep.

Day 2 
9:00 a.m. 
I recently started watching "Breaking Bad" from the beginning on Netflix. I'm enjoying it but am not flying through episodes like I thought I would. I had hoped to get all caught up before the new season starts but that's not looking good right now. However, I now understand why Cranston always steals away the win from Jon Hamm at the Emmys, even though I'm not 100% supportive of it. I watch a good portion of an episode while I’m getting ready.

10:30 a.m.
Before leaving for the day I watch the trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's movie about Scientology, "The Master." The teaser for this focused on Joaquin Phoenix but this time PSH gets his turn. He's doing his creepy best. Man, remember "There Will Be Blood?" PTA is just the best. Also, FNL's Landry as PSH's son. Impeccable casting! I am sold.

12:00 p.m.
I spend most of the day at the Jazz Age Lawn party on Governor's Island so while there is still culture (jazzy costumes, dancing, orchestra) it doesn’t quite fit this diary.

5:30 p.m.
Exhausted and sunburned I return home with some Five Guys and with every intention of watching "Animal House," which I’ve had from Netflix for weeks. Can’t seem to muster enthusiasm for it and decide to peruse Netflix Instant instead. I settle on "Kick Ass," which I’d never seen. It was fun but I think I’d heard it talked up too much.

9:00 p.m.
I gorge on two episodes of "Say Yes to the Dress" because I’m obsessed with it. They are followed by an episode of a spin off called "Randy to the Rescue," where Klienfeld’s “fashion director”/resident gay travels to Vegas with wedding dresses in tow to help brides find their wedding look. I obviously set a series record to this as well.

11:45 p.m.
Some more episodes of "The Ricky Gervais Show" and I’m asleep with a kitten by my side.

Day 3 
9:00 a.m. 
Up to make it to brunch I watch more "Breaking Bad" while I get ready. Walter just shaved his head and now looks like the badass he is.

11:00 a.m.
Meeting friends for brunch in Harlem but they are running late so I get some more "Dance With Dragons" reading done.

6:00 p.m.
Settle down in front of the TV with my computer to get some work done. I also recently started watching "Happy Endings" from the beginning so I decide to watch that while working. I’m liking it a lot, though I wonder what the recappers say about Elisha Cuthbert’s character. Am I supposed to dislike her this much?

11:15 p.m.
The usual "Ricky Gervais" episodes play while I fall asleep.

Day 4 
8:00 a.m.
Watch some "Breaking Bad" while getting ready for work.

9:00 a.m.
More "Game of Thrones" on the subway. I’m about 85% done per my borrowed Kindle.

12:00 p.m.
Today’s Spotify playlist is Ultimate Mad Men, which I’ve been listening to a lot since season five started and has now ended. Favorite entries from the past season include “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” by Dusty Springfield and “He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)” by The Crystals.

8:30 p.m. 
Had a date but it ended early so I was home in time to watch "The Bachelorette" and still fast forward through commercials. It’s ridiculous but I am helpless against it. The recaps on EW the next day make the humiliation of admitting I watch it worth it.

11:15 p.m.
To shake things up I watch the pilot of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as I drift off to sleep. Pants tent!

Day 5 
8:00 a.m.
More "Breaking Bad." Walter made a deal with Tuco and Jesse just doesn’t think it’s a good one.

9:10 a.m.
More "Game of Thrones." I’m about 87% done. If Dany doesn’t show up in the conclusion of this I’m going to pissed.

10:30 a.m. 
Take a short break to watch the new "The Dark Knight Rises" trailer. So much more Bane! I have already secured my tickets to opening day for this and am convinced it will be the highlight of my summer.

12:30 p.m.
Back to the playlist that started the Stones obsession, my Wes Anderson playlist. I was inspired to make this after seeing his most recent movie, "Moonrise Kingdom." It is fantastic and I recommend to all who love Wes Anderson. If you don’t like him, I must say, this is the most Wes Anderson-y of his films I can think of so steer clear.

6:30 p.m. 
Decide to catch up on some DVR’d TV including "True Blood" and the last two episodes of "Girls." "True Blood" I can’t even say I really enjoy watching anymore. I feel like I’ve seen all these plots before. WHY are we subjected to watching Tara be a vampire? Wasn’t everyone excited when they thought she was dead and we didn’t have to listen to her anymore.

As for "Girls," I’ve really enjoyed its first season. The pilot got way overhyped but the successive episodes really built on who these characters are. There has been so much written about the show that it feels superfluous to add more so I’ll just link to some of my favorite articles about it and leave it at that.

However, I will say these last two episodes were especially affecting as we see SPOILER Hannah and Marnie move farther away from each other as they each realize hard truths about themselves. We’ve all been there, right? Then Bobby Moynihan shows up and makes the season with his hilarity. "Girls," I’m signed on for season two along with DONALD GLOVER!

A.V. Club article I liked: http://www.avclub.com/articles/how-girls-challenges-the-masculine-expectations-of,81266/

10:30 p.m. 
When I turn off the DVR "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II" is on HBO and I watch until INCREDIBLY OLD SPOILER Snape is about to die and I have to turn it off because I don’t want to go to sleep a teary mess.

11:45 p.m.
Ricky Gervais and Co. lull me to sleep.

Day 6 
8:00 a.m. 
Nothing like watching some meth being cooked to start the day.

9:00 a.m. 
More—you guessed it—"Dance with Dragons!"

2:15 p.m. 
Break down and watch the new "Breaking Dawn Part 2" teaser trailer. Yes, I know these movies are terrible. I suffer from a condition where I can not stand reading about pop culture events when I haven't seen/read/listened to said event. I’ve managed to not give in to this condition on things like "50 Shades of Grey" but my condition got me to read/watch "Twilight" so long ago it seems silly to stop now before it’s finished.

4:00 p.m. 
As a palate cleanser, I watch the new "Anna Karenina" trailer. I hadn’t heard about this adaptation but I am sold immediately.

5:00 p.m.
Leave promptly so I can eat before heading to "The Book of Mormon" tonight!

9:30 p.m.
The Book of Mormon just got out and WOW! So fun! I forgot that I paid the big bucks to get a really good seat so I had a perfect seat for all the hilarity. My favorite part had to be when Jesus calmly called one of the missionaries a dick. And he promptly sang “I can’t believe Jesus just called me a dick!” Also, the cameos by Hitler, Darth Vader and Yoda were most welcome. Definitely worth the money. The songs will be in my head for days.

Day 7
12:00 a.m.
Head home after drinks with a visiting friend and read my "New York Magazine" because I’m too tired to focus on "Game of Thrones."

12:45 a.m.
Watch "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to try and fall asleep. Have a tough time of it since my kitten has been alone all day and wants to PLAY. So I have to watch three episodes before he calms down enough for me to actually fall asleep.

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
The usual "Breaking Bad," "Dance with Dragons" morning commences. Oh look Dany did show back up. I finish the book and have decided to read "The Devil in the White City" next.

1:40 p.m.
I’m headed to the Newport Folk Music Festival at the end of July so I created a playlist of the bands playing to prepare myself. I’m really liking Blind Pilot and City and Colour so far.

4:45 p.m.
Watch "$ellebrity" trailer. Hadn’t heard of this one and am impressed all these celebrities agreed to talk to the filmmaker. I am easily sold, which I’m afraid is the point the movie is making. Conundrum!

5:03 p.m.
The day is winding down and I’ve lost motivation so I watch the "Celeste and Jesse Forever" trailer, which starts Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones in a film they co-wrote. I’d read about this during Sundance and am clearly going to see it. Looks like they’ve got great chemistry and will probably make me cry my eyes out.

2012 Oscar Picks

It's that time of year and once again, I won't be able to watch the Oscar telecast live because of a conference. That, plus it being the KU-Mizzou game on Sat. made me declare this the worst possible weekend my work could have scheduled this conference. So even though my viewing will be a few days late, I still wanted to offer up some picks. I was successful in seeing all nine movies nominated for Best Picture even if I really didn't want to (I'm looking at you War Horse). Plus, I am running our office Oscar pool so, for what's it worth, here's how I predict the night will go down (and how it should have).

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

First the two "what were they thinking" awards go to War Horse and Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I didn't hate Extremely Loud as much as most reviews did, probably because of residual affection for the book, but by no means should it be on here over The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Bridesmaids. War Horse felt incredibly artificial for me. It was trying so hard to be the traditional Oscar film that it failed to make me feel anything; and I cry at EVERYTHING! No tears during a war movie—something has to be wrong. The rest of this list is filled with movies that I liked but can't muster up much passion for. The film I saw most recently was The Tree of Life, and while I enjoyed it, I'm not done thinking about it to decide if I love it. I'd say the movies that are on this list where I walked out of the theater excited by what I had just seen would be Hugo and Midnight in Paris. Hugo because I'm a film geek and the last half hour is film geek catnip, and Midnight in Paris because I love Paris and Woody Allen. The award for making me weep goes to The Descendants, which I really liked a lot. It feels effortless and obviously deals with a subject matter I have some experience in (losing a parent, not a parent cheating, just to clarify). Moneyball I also thought was very entertaining but probably not a movie I'd watch over and over again. The Artist is a completely charming movie. It's a tad overlong, which most of these are, but overall I enjoyed watching it. Would I watch it and enjoy it again? Sure. Does it feel like the best picture of 2011? Just no.

Will Win: The Artist
Should Win: Uh, I'll go with Hugo but I'd put The Descendants and Midnight in Paris on even keel with it.

Note: As I was writing the rest of this post I realized I failed to mention The Help at all in this section. Makes sense since I also don't understand all the hoopla about the movie itself. Its nominated performances are completely deserved. Viola Davis can do no wrong in my opinion. But The Help belongs in this category like The Blind Slide did a few years ago. NOT AT ALL. Both are enjoyable movies that got way overpraised in the interim between release and awards season.

Best Directing
Michel Hazanavicius--The Artist
Alexander Payne--The Descendants
Martin Scorsese--Hugo
Woody Allen--Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick--The Tree of Life

Here is where I get the admiration for Malick for sheer ambition. Does the movie succeed as much as he hoped it would? Like I said, I'm still deciding. It's my pick for the ideas he contributed to create truly remarkable and beautiful imagery (I think the film will, and should, win cinematography). I also wouldn't be upset to see Martin Scorsese win either, again, because the film was clearly a passion project for him. However, it's clear Hollywood is in love with Michel Hazanavicius and I get it to a degree. He got people to fall in love with a silent movie in 2011 (well, he and Harvey Weinstein)

Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius--The Artist
Should Win: Terrence Malick--The Tree of Life

Best Actor
Demián Bichir--A Better Life
George Clooney--The Descendants
Jean Dujardin--The Artist
Gary Oldman--Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt--Moneyball

This is probably the toughest category to call. Convincing cases can be made for everyone on this list, most obviously George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Jean Dujardin. I have not seen in A Better Life so I can't speak to Demián Bichir. I love me some Gary Oldman and I liked Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but his performance got a little lost for me while I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on. I'll give props to Brad Pitt making a very interesting choice, doing a wonderful job with it and for the fact that he was really a champion in getting the film made in the first place. Yes, Dujardin had to keep the move chugging along without saying a word, and he was very charming while doing so (and on SNL) but I can't say it was simply his performance that made the film so enjoyable. That movie was more the sum of its parts then just him. That being said, it is Clooney that makes The Descendants so affecting. The lost look in his eyes through most of the film keeps you just on the edge of heartbroken, until he goes ahead and pushes you over the edge at the very end.

Will Win: Jean Dujardin--The Artist
Should Win: George Clooney--The Descendants

Best Actress
Glenn Close--Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis--The Help
Rooney Mara--The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep--The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams--My Week with Marilyn

I have not seen The Iron Lady or Albert Nobbs but from the trailers I know exactly why these two women are here. I can say with confidence that Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the only performance of these that I have seen where I left the theater thinking, man she did a fantastic job, and yes, I've seen the Swedish version. I have a severe girl crush on Michelle Williams and I think she was stunning in My Week with Marilyn, making a mediocre movie watchable. However, Viola Davis is just lovely in The Help. She is the reason the film itself got any notice beyond being just a serviceable adaptation of a popular book.

Will Win: Viola Davis--The Help
Should Win: Viola Davis--The Help

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh--My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill--Moneyball
Nick Nolte--Warrior
Christopher Plummer--Beginners
Max von Sydow--Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Wouldn't it be amazing to see Jonah Hill win an Oscar? I hope that day comes someday. But it won't be this weekend.

Will Win: Christopher Plummer--Beginners
Should Win: Christopher Plummer--Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo--The Artist
Jessica Chastain--The Help
Melissa McCarthy--Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer--Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer--The Help

Ditto above for Melissa McCarthy. It is great to see her even on the short list for a performance that despite being insane (and hilarious) is actually really grounded. This is especially evident in the scene where she confronts Kristen Wiig and then bites her on the ass and makes Wiig punch her. I hope that is the scene the Academy chooses to show as her Oscar clip. Enough about the dress shopping scene please! Regardless, it's The Help's ladies' night.

Will Win: Octavia Spencer--The Help
Should Win: Octavia Spencer--The Help

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash)

Hugo (John Logan)

The Ides of March (George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon)
Moneyball (Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan)

I haven't read any of the books (or seen The Ides of March as a play) these movies were based on, but I know Moneyball was thought of to be an insane choice to adapt into a movie. So kudos to Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian for that one. However, I think it is Dean Pelton (and team)'s moment in the sun.

Will Win: The Descendants
Should Win: Moneyball

Best Original Screenplay
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius)
Bridesmaids (Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig)
Margin Call (J.C. Chandor)
Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)
A Separation (Asghar Farhadi)

Here is my spoiler category. Conventional wisdom has either The Artist or Midnight in Paris taking this one, but I'm going all in on a Bridesmaids upset. Otherwise the ceremony is going to be the most boring thing ever. It won't happen but sometimes blind hope is all one has in this world.

Will Win: Bridesmaids
Should Win: Bridesmaids

2011 Movie Rundown

It's been too long friends but, fear not, I haven't been idle. I've done well seeing the best of the season's films. My best of the year can be gleaned from this. My post diving deeper just isn't coming together in a timely fashion, so my apologies. 

This year’s total was 42, up three from last year. What did I miss? Where did I go wrong? Speak now...

Perfection

Bridesmaids

The Muppets

Excellent

50/50

The Artist

Crazy Stupid Love

Drive

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Hanna

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II

Midnight in Paris

Shame

Super 8

Solid

Captain America: The First Avenger

A Dangerous Method

The Descendants

The Help
Hugo

The Ides of March

Like Crazy

Moneyball

Paul

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Thor

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

X Men: First Class

Perfectly Fine

The Adjustment Bureau

The Adventures of Tintin

Contagion

Friends With Benefits

Horrible Bosses

Our Idiot Brother

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Eh

The Guard

No Strings Attached

One Day

Young Adult

Your Highness

Just Silly

Bad Teacher

Scream 4

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part I

Just Bad

The Hangover Part II

Water for Elephants

Modern Family: Phil on Wire

Season 3, Episode 3: Someone is snoring at the Delgado-Pritchett house. While Gloria thinks it is Jay, the camera pulls back to reveal that the family has gotten a dog that snores loud enough to wake Gloria. Jay is clearly smitten with Stella, enough to allow her to sleep in the bed when he won't let Manny, who we see is sleeping on the floor. ("Answer the question, Jay")

The newest addition to the family likes to spend time chewing on Gloria's shoes and taking all of Jay's affection, including Gloria's place in the shower with him.

At Cam and Mitchell's, Cam decides he wants to go on a juice fast. Mitchell fears a hungry Cam will disrupt a dinner at his boss's house, especially since Cam goes through six stages when he is on a diet:
 
1. The Clean Sweep—Cam throws out all junk food in the house.
2. Attack Mitchell—Mitchell tries to avoid this by joining in the juice fast. It's them versus food.
3. Soap Actress—Cam becomes incredibly emotional, distraught that his sister just can't put herself out there more. Why ARE men so superficial?
4. A Rush of Epiphanies—Cam doesn't need food. Architecture is EVERYWHERE! And true, Spaniards DO make amazing athletes.
5. Despair—Cam can't even bring himself to seek when Lily hides.
6. Rage—The kitchen cabinets never stood a chance.

Mitchell does admit he is proud that Cam has made it farther in a diet than he ever has before. Though he fears what stage comes next.

Over at the Dunphy's Phil and Luke are watching Man On Wire and marveling at how awesome people are. Cam stops by to drop off the junk food from their house. Luke quickly commandeers it and hides it in his room. Watching the film inspires Phil to fulfill his dream of walking on a tightrope. He and Luke set up a test run in the yard and Luke's enthusiasm, while appreciated by Phil, is really the result of way too much chocolate.

Alex is being placed in a higher math course, the same course Haley is taking, and has been at least once before. Distraught that the girls will be in the same class, Haley spells out some ground rules: No looking at Haley in class and no texting Haley in class. Claire lectures the girls that sometimes they need to just rise above the small stuff as a school cop comes buy to lecture her about stopping in a loading/unloading zone. Claire, sensing this was a time for a lesson, politely "rises above" an unpleasant situation. She naturally thinks of a great comeback line after driving away.

When the girls return from their first day in the same class, it was obviously a disaster. Haley thought 8 was a prime number and Alex reminded the teacher to give the class homework. Claire tries a "subtle" manipulation ("The two of you could have been super Dunphys") to get the girls to help each other out: Haley helps Alex with her social standing and Alex helps Haley with her schoolwork. However, the girls take this to mean Alex helps Haley cheat if she gets a seat at the cool table at lunch.

Phil continues his quest to be a tightrope walker in the yard but is having trouble, complete with awesome "swear" phrases such as "Chicken and a biscuit!" and "Bartles and Jaymes!"

Gloria, frustrated with Cam's call asking to describe all her meals for the day, stumbles across Stella caught in the act of chewing on her clothes. Gloria offers up one of Jay's shoes and tries to get Stella to chew on it to give him a taste of the dog's show-induced wrath.  Stella is not interested so Gloria manages to show the dog how it's done by eating the shoe herself while promptly discovered by Jay and Manny. Note: This is as ridiculous as it sounds. It does allow for a patented "animal reaction shot" that TV shows think never fail. They are right.

The next day when Claire is picking up the girls from school she gets a call that they are in the principal's office for cheating. While on the phone, school cop comes over to give her another parking lecture (and a ticket). This time Claire does not rise above. She lashes out and rips up the ticket and throws it in the cop's face. The girls emerge from the principal's office to find mom lecturing them while handcuffed. None of the ladies can be considered Super Dunphys today.

Phil picks up Luke from school after Luke throws up. Luke confesses saying he doesn't need a doctor. he ate all the junk food Mitch brought over because of their "Jew Fast." Phil tells Luke it's OK, as long as he learned a lesson and ruminates that he too learned a lesson about his ability as a tightrope walker. Luke mentions perhaps the problem is that the rope was only six inches off the ground, where Phil knew he could fall. If the rope was higher, Phil would have to stay on it. "Genius!" Phil exclaims. And yes you can have a donut!

At Mitch's boss's party, which is a fundraiser for sea life, the juice fast is weighing on both the men. As Mitch's boss tells a story about a sea lion (Snorkles) who he befriended and then who died because of a plastic bag, Mitch and Cam lose it and run out into the water. Mitch admits he is starving was only doing the fast for Cam. Cam admits he was only doing the fast for Mitch. I love you the way you are, etc. Cue embrace (I think a kiss would have been appropriate here. It would have felt more natural than just a hug. I still think the show is avoiding the kissing thing too much, even after the beautiful kiss episode of last season. Have we seen Cam and Mitch kiss since?)

As the Dunphy ladies return home, the girls apologize for their behavior. The arrive in time to see Phil walking a tightrope seven feet in the air. "Don't even bother, he's in the zone. He can't hear you," Luke warns them. Phil putting his dream into action instead of just talking the talk wraps the episode up in a nice little saccharine-filled bow. It's sweet and only truly cringe-inducing when Claire utters the line: "Turns out I've had my Super Dunphy all along." (Shudder)

Kind of a meh episode for me, but what did you guys think? Did the end segment make your eye twitch with cute overload?

Great lines and observations: 

Claire: "Right now our daughters are upstairs making a decision they think is their own but really was an idea that was skillfully implanted by me." Phil: "Inception, Claire. Dangerous game but I like it."

Phil: "Luke, grab your camera." Luke pops up from couch: "I was just sleeping." Pops handful of candy in his mouth.

Phil: "If I had a nickel for every time I puked in school do you know how much money I'd have? Luke: "35 cents?" Phil: "Exactly."

Mitch: "It's tough enough to deal with Cam when I'm at full strength, but I have been fasting just as long as he has and I do not have the energy to deal with a big, needy brisketcase . . . basketcase."

Mitch: I really think you need to eat something." Cam: "What? You are supposed to be my support! Away from me temptress. And I never thought I'd call you that in a negative way."

Gloria to Jay: "You used to put me first. You used to want me in that shower." Manny: "Should I be here for this?" Gloria: No Manny it's OK, I go. I want you to know this, where I come from men cherish woman. It goes wife, mistress, dog, dog always at the bottom.

Cam as Mitch is crying: "I think he just needs a little air." Mitch: "You know who else needed air, SNORKELS!"

Summer Movie Recap

Summer is officially over. During the past four months (I'm counting from the beginning of May) I saw 17 movies, some more than once. Overall, I'd say about five of them could count as memorable. Most are middling. However, middling is still worth discussing so now a rundown...

Thor
Who would have thought five months ago that Thor wouldn't be a complete mess? It's got its flaws for sure and I couldn't tell you at this point what the central conflict was about beyond Thor is banished to Earth, is a fish out of water and makes Natalie Portman swoon, but its sense of humor and dazzling visuals elevate it beyond the usual superhero nonsense. It is still nonsense, of course, but when Thor finishes his drink and promptly throws it on the ground it sure was fun.



Bridesmaids
Five viewings later I still laughed out loud, teared up and yearned for my best friends.


Midnight in Paris
Escapism the Woody Allen way. Allen takes my decade-long desire to move to Paris and personifies it on screen.


The Hangover Part II
Why was this made? It was better the first time, and even then, not the best comedy I've ever seen.

X Men: First Class
A duet between greats. I hadn't seen Michael Fassbender in anything before this

Super 8
Nostalgia for a time in movies that i didn't get to experience first hand. All the kids' performances in this are great. The movie is pure popcorn fun the way it ought to be for summer movies. Yes, the creature at the end is somewhat disappointing but who cares when it was so much fun to watch the lead up to its reveal?

Bad Teacher
Biggest wasted potential. The trailer made me laugh every time I watched it. I don't think I laughed out loud once during the actual movie.

Horrible Bosses
It's officially time for Charlie Day to be in more movies. This was fun enough, if not especially memorable for anything except Jennifer Aniston doing her best to play against type. it worked for me,  but now, a few months later, I can't seem to muster up any great enthusiasm for it. Worth a Netflix for sure.


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Two hours of pure payoff is reason enough to understand why they split the last Harry Potter novel in half. Yes, anyone who hasn't been paying attention would be hopelessly lost watching this, but I judge them for trying to watch it without any other context. And true, I have some quibbles about things that were changed, etc, but in the end, it didn't really matter.  Everyone in the cast is in top form—especially Alan Rickman and Ralph Fiennes. It was exciting from beginning to end. and oh what an ending. So. Much. Crying.

Captain America: The First Avenger
The best word I can use is classic. Captain America felt old-fashioned in the best sense of the word. 


Friends With Benefits
Way better than the same movie from earlier this year, but still, the exact same movie from earlier this year. This time it takes place in New York, has leads with actual chemistry but still manages to indulge plenty of the cliches of the romantic comedies it claims to abhor.


Crazy, Stupid, Love
I loved everyone involved. The (mostly improvised) pillow talk between Stone and Gosling ranks up there with some of the best scenes in modern romantic comedies.  Their chemistry crackles throughout the movie but the more important chemistry is the surprising one between Gosling and Steve Carrell. Funny, charming and lovely.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
While the trailer made my eyes roll once I started reading reviews, I was so confused. How could it possibly be good? The answer is Andy Serkis. His Ceasar is a fully formed character and he outpaces every "human" actor in the film. I actually felt myself get excited for a possible sequel. That's rare when something isn't named Harry Potter or Batman.

The Help
Don't overreact! Yes, the performance of Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer (and Jessica Chastain belongs in with them) are superb. Emma Stone is her usual husky-voiced, adorable self. But calm down people. It's just a regular, serviceable feel-good movie.


One Day
After reading too much about people harping on Anne Hathaway's accent and the TWIST ending, I still gave One Day a chance. The accent didn't bother me and the twist I could see coming but I still reluctantly enjoyed this in spite of my better judgment. It's no masterpiece but the chemistry between Hathaway and Jim Sturgess worked for me. I still swooned and cried like a girl. So mission accomplished, One Day.

Our Idiot Brother
It's the Paul Rudd is charming show! Watch Paul Rudd have long hair and a beard! Watch Paul Rudd's great chemistry with a dog named Willie Nelson! Watch Paul Rudd make silly mistakes and be almost instantly forgiven! It's perfectly fine.