Just when you think the Academy Awards are finally doing what's right, they remind you that even they don't know what they are doing. More on that rant later. Here is how it went, and not very good.
Visual Effects
Chris - Guardians of the Galaxy
Adam - Interstellar
Winner - Interstellar
Chris - 0
Adam - 1
This one was mentioned as the most likely to win online, and they were right.
Sound Mixing
Chris - American Sniper
Adam - American Sniper
Winner - Whiplash
Chris - 0
Adam - 1
All right, it is a movie about music, so sound mixing would be very important.
Sound Editing
Chris - American Sniper
Adam - American Sniper
Winner - American Sniper
Chris - 1
Adam - 2
The only victory for American Sniper at the Academy Awards.
Cinematography
Chris - Unbroken
Adam - Birdman
Winner - Birdman
Chris - 1
Adam - 3
My logic paid off, the same person won it twice in a row. Or unless it wasn't him but the movie.....
Makeup & Hairstyling
Chris - Foxcatcher
Adam - Guardians of the Galaxy
Winner - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Chris - 1
Adam - 3
While it turns out the one that neither of us picked won, I can see why. Can't argue with this, should have seen it coming.
Costume Design
Chris - Into the Woods
Adam - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Winner - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Chris - 1
Adam - 4
Got this right, should have used the logic for the one above. Anyway, up by three.
Production Design
Chris - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Adam - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Winner - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Chris - 2
Adam - 5
A very logical win since the movie is nothing but production design.
Film Editing
Chris - The Imitation Game
Adam - Boyhood
Winner - Whiplash
Chris - 2
Adam - 5
The only film I didn't see, but from what I understand it is very well edited. I am more disappointed that Boyhood didn't get it, but if Whiplash deserved it, then I can live with this.
Music Original Song
Chris - Selma
Adam - Selma
Winner - Selma
Chris - 3
Adam - 6
Not only did I predict the win, but the annoying speech as well.
Music Original Score
Chris - Interstellar
Adam - The Theory of Everything
Winner - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Chris - 3
Adam - 6
Didn't expect this, the film is more visual than auditory. But it is it's fourth Oscar.
Writing Adapted Screenplay
Chris - Whiplash
Adam - Whiplash
Winner - The Imitation Game
Chris - 3
Adam - 6
This is the we don't want you to go home empty handed award.
Writing Original Screenplay
Chris - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Adam - Boyhood
Winner - Birdman
Chris - 3
Adam - 6
This is a bit confusing, Birdman over The Grand Budapest Hotel or Boyhood? Did people not watch the other films nominated?
Short Film Animated
Chris - Me and My Moulton
Adam - Feast
Winner - Feast
Chris - 3
Adam - 7
Got lucky, and I will use it to move further ahead.
Short Film Live Action
Chris - The Phone Call
Adam -The Phone Call
Winner - The Phone Call
Chris - 4
Adam - 8
Apparently this was favored to win.
Documentary Short Subject
Chris - Crisis Hotline
Adam - Crisis Hotline
Winner - Crisis Hotline
Chris - 5
Adam - 9
Again, another one that was favored.
Best Animated
Chris - How to Train Your Dragon 2
Adam - How to Train Your Dragon 2
Winner - Big Hero 6
Chris - 5
Adam - 9
The acceptance speech from the winner. "We are so glad that The Lego Movie was not nominated......"
Best Documentary
Chris - Citizenfour
Adam - Citizenfour
Winner - Citizenfour
Chris - 6
Adam - 10
Didn't realize that it was about Edward Snowden, that must be why everyone was picking it online.
Best Foreign Language
Chris - Ida
Adam - Wild Tales
Winner - Ida
Chris - 7
Adam - 10
The wife is catching up here.
Best Supporting Actress
Chris - Patricia Arquette
Adam - Patricia Arquette
Winner - Patricia Arquette
Chris - 8
Adam - 11
Besides a silly speech when she won. this is the first win for Boyhood. Always funny when someone is a millionaire complaining about wage inequality. I'd be happy to only make as much as her on her next film.
Best Supporting Actor
Chris - J.K. Simmons
Adam - J.K. Simmons
Winner - J.K. Simmons
Chris - 9
Adam - 12
I am so looking forward to seeing this movie.
Best Actress
Chris - Julianne Moore
Adam - Julianne Moore
Winner - Julianne Moore
Chris - 10
Adam - 13
No surprise here.
Best Actor
Chris - Bradley Cooper
Adam - Eddie Redmayne
Winner - Eddie Redmayne
Chris - 10
Adam - 14
And pretty much wrap up the win.
Best Director
Chris - Alejandro G. Inarritu
Adam - Richard Linklater
Winner - Alejandro G. Inarritu
Chris - 11
Adam - 14
A bit shocked that Richard Linklater didn't win, but this could have been like last year with Gravity.
Best Picture
Chris - Boyhood
Adam - Boyhood
Winner - Birdman
Chris - 11
Adam - 14
What was the Academy thinking?!?!?!?! Seriously?!?!?!??! Really?!?!?!?!?!?! This makes my victory hollow. Birdman is a good film, worthy of a nomination. But it is NOT the best picture of the year. Maybe it was nominated in a different year, no not really. Unless you could drop it into say 1983, then yes. This once again proves that the Academy will pick movies that they like instead of picking what is best. Although it is disappointing for Boyhood, it now joins an elite class of films that were also subbed like The Shawshank Redemption, Goodfellas, Network, A Streetcar Named Desire, Citizen Kane. Years from now no one will recognize Birdman as a classic but Boyhood will be.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Picks for the 2014 Oscars
It's that time of the year to once again compete my wife on picking the nominees for the Oscars. This time I have seen seven out of the eight films nominated for Best Picture and in some categories I have seen most of the films nominated. Not sure if this will help or hinder me. Remember not always the best will win but sometimes the most popular.
Visual Effects
Chris - Guardians of the Galaxy
Adam - Interstellar
Unlike last year where Gravity was going to win all of these technical awards, this year it is a bit tougher. I haven't seen Guardians of the Galaxy but I have seen Interstellar. I'm sure one of these will win.
Sound Mixing
Chris - American Sniper
Adam - American Sniper
American Sniper is one of the best movies made this year, but unfortunately I think this is only one of the two Oscars it will win.
Sound Editing
Chris - American Sniper
Adam - American Sniper
And this is the other. The sound was incredible, you felt like you were in the middle of the battle with bullets flying around you.
Cinematography
Chris - Unbroken
Adam - Birdman
This one could be a toss up too. My logic is the cinematographer for this film has won before and is respected. Also I don't think Birdman will pull off too many victories and this may be one of the only awards it will win.
Makeup & Hairstyling
Chris - Foxcatcher
Adam - Guardians of the Galaxy
No idea, saw something on the web, one in three chance.
Costume Design
Chris - Into the Woods
Adam - The Grand Budapest Hotel
These are probably the top two front runners in this category. I can see either one pulling out a victory.
Production Design
Chris - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Adam - The Grand Budapest Hotel
One of the few that we are on the same page with each other. This is an incredibly stylish film and should be a lock.
Film Editing
Chris - The Imitation Game
Adam - Boyhood
This category has a lot of emphasis placed on it lately, although historically not every best picture will win this category. Personally I felt that American Sniper was the best edited of the four films I watched, still haven't seen Whiplash at this point. But I have to go with what the voters will pick.
Music Original Song
Chris - Selma
Adam - Selma
Besides Best Picture, this was the only other nominee that Selma got. And if you watched the movie and/or read my last blog post, you'll see that this makes sense. But the academy will want to reward this movie. Get ready for a long winded speech.....
Music Original Score
Chris - Interstellar
Adam - The Theory of Everything
Some really good nominees in this category. Again, this could be a toss up. But The Theory of Everything did play Wagner, so even it is loses, it still is a winner.
Writing Adapted Screenplay
Chris - Whiplash
Adam - Whiplash
While I have not seen this movie yet, I hear that it is a great movie. It only seems logical that they would want to reward it with a major award.
Writing Original Screenplay
Chris - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Adam - Boyhood
This could be a free-for-all seeing how a different film that the ones my wife and I are picking could win. I'm sticking with Boyhood on this, my wife thinks that Wes Anderson will finally get some love.
Short Film Animated
Chris - Me and My Moulton
Adam - Feast
No idea, no idea, no idea. And there is no logic, rhyme or reason who wins these.
Short Film Live Action
Chris - The Phone Call
Adam -The Phone Call
One year I actually got to watch the five films that were nominated and the one that won I would have never picked it in a million years.
Documentary Short Subject
Chris - Crisis Hotline
Adam - Crisis Hotline
The best bet is to randomly pick one. Or if you ever watch them, pick the one that you think couldn't win.
Best Animated
Chris - How to Train Your Dragon 2
Adam - How to Train Your Dragon 2
No Disney film this year and The Lego Movie didn't get nominated. This is understandable since Lego has been.....has been.....all right I got nothing why they didn't nominate the biggest animated film of the year. So this is the best bet.
Best Documentary
Chris - Citizenfour
Adam - Citizenfour
Not sure, but there is a lot of buzz on the web about this winning.
Best Foreign Language
Chris - Ida
Adam - Wild Tales
This category has been becoming harder to pick over the years, with the exception when Amour was nominated. Ida was nominated for cinematography which may help it. I'm surprised that Estonia was able to make a movie seeing how they are the only European nation to be powered by cabbages.
Best Supporting Actress
Chris - Patricia Arquette
Adam - Patricia Arquette
This was the only acting award given to Boyhood, which should make this a lock. That and no one else in the category did that great except for Meryl Streep, but she isn't going to win this year.
Best Supporting Actor
Chris - J.K. Simmons
Adam - J.K. Simmons
Another one of those guaranteed to win.
Best Actress
Chris - Julianne Moore
Adam - Julianne Moore
The odds of her not winning this rank up there with Hawaii getting a snowstorm.
Best Actor
Chris - Bradley Cooper
Adam - Eddie Redmayne
My wife is going with the logical argument that American Sniper has to win something. And Bradley Cooper was terrific. I'm playing it safe and going with the Golden Globe winner.
Best Director
Chris - Alejandro G. Inarritu
Adam - Richard Linklater
I'm going with the director of Boyhood since it was a very difficult project he started and completed. I think the academy will want to reward him for his hard work.
Best Picture
Chris - Boyhood
Adam - Boyhood
This year there is a strong competition for Best Picture. Boyhood was the early favorite. Then Birdman started to win a bunch of awards. Then American Sniper became the most popular film in America and probably has made more money than the other seven combined. Add to this Whiplash could be a wild card coming in with the vote split. Or people angry about Selma may vote for it. There is still The Imitation Game crowd who compares it to The King's Speech. One thing is for sure, The Theory of Everything will lose.
Visual Effects
Chris - Guardians of the Galaxy
Adam - Interstellar
Unlike last year where Gravity was going to win all of these technical awards, this year it is a bit tougher. I haven't seen Guardians of the Galaxy but I have seen Interstellar. I'm sure one of these will win.
Sound Mixing
Chris - American Sniper
Adam - American Sniper
American Sniper is one of the best movies made this year, but unfortunately I think this is only one of the two Oscars it will win.
Sound Editing
Chris - American Sniper
Adam - American Sniper
And this is the other. The sound was incredible, you felt like you were in the middle of the battle with bullets flying around you.
Cinematography
Chris - Unbroken
Adam - Birdman
This one could be a toss up too. My logic is the cinematographer for this film has won before and is respected. Also I don't think Birdman will pull off too many victories and this may be one of the only awards it will win.
Makeup & Hairstyling
Chris - Foxcatcher
Adam - Guardians of the Galaxy
No idea, saw something on the web, one in three chance.
Costume Design
Chris - Into the Woods
Adam - The Grand Budapest Hotel
These are probably the top two front runners in this category. I can see either one pulling out a victory.
Production Design
Chris - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Adam - The Grand Budapest Hotel
One of the few that we are on the same page with each other. This is an incredibly stylish film and should be a lock.
Film Editing
Chris - The Imitation Game
Adam - Boyhood
This category has a lot of emphasis placed on it lately, although historically not every best picture will win this category. Personally I felt that American Sniper was the best edited of the four films I watched, still haven't seen Whiplash at this point. But I have to go with what the voters will pick.
Music Original Song
Chris - Selma
Adam - Selma
Besides Best Picture, this was the only other nominee that Selma got. And if you watched the movie and/or read my last blog post, you'll see that this makes sense. But the academy will want to reward this movie. Get ready for a long winded speech.....
Music Original Score
Chris - Interstellar
Adam - The Theory of Everything
Some really good nominees in this category. Again, this could be a toss up. But The Theory of Everything did play Wagner, so even it is loses, it still is a winner.
Writing Adapted Screenplay
Chris - Whiplash
Adam - Whiplash
While I have not seen this movie yet, I hear that it is a great movie. It only seems logical that they would want to reward it with a major award.
Writing Original Screenplay
Chris - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Adam - Boyhood
This could be a free-for-all seeing how a different film that the ones my wife and I are picking could win. I'm sticking with Boyhood on this, my wife thinks that Wes Anderson will finally get some love.
Short Film Animated
Chris - Me and My Moulton
Adam - Feast
No idea, no idea, no idea. And there is no logic, rhyme or reason who wins these.
Short Film Live Action
Chris - The Phone Call
Adam -The Phone Call
One year I actually got to watch the five films that were nominated and the one that won I would have never picked it in a million years.
Documentary Short Subject
Chris - Crisis Hotline
Adam - Crisis Hotline
The best bet is to randomly pick one. Or if you ever watch them, pick the one that you think couldn't win.
Best Animated
Chris - How to Train Your Dragon 2
Adam - How to Train Your Dragon 2
No Disney film this year and The Lego Movie didn't get nominated. This is understandable since Lego has been.....has been.....all right I got nothing why they didn't nominate the biggest animated film of the year. So this is the best bet.
Best Documentary
Chris - Citizenfour
Adam - Citizenfour
Not sure, but there is a lot of buzz on the web about this winning.
Best Foreign Language
Chris - Ida
Adam - Wild Tales
This category has been becoming harder to pick over the years, with the exception when Amour was nominated. Ida was nominated for cinematography which may help it. I'm surprised that Estonia was able to make a movie seeing how they are the only European nation to be powered by cabbages.
Best Supporting Actress
Chris - Patricia Arquette
Adam - Patricia Arquette
This was the only acting award given to Boyhood, which should make this a lock. That and no one else in the category did that great except for Meryl Streep, but she isn't going to win this year.
Best Supporting Actor
Chris - J.K. Simmons
Adam - J.K. Simmons
Another one of those guaranteed to win.
Best Actress
Chris - Julianne Moore
Adam - Julianne Moore
The odds of her not winning this rank up there with Hawaii getting a snowstorm.
Best Actor
Chris - Bradley Cooper
Adam - Eddie Redmayne
My wife is going with the logical argument that American Sniper has to win something. And Bradley Cooper was terrific. I'm playing it safe and going with the Golden Globe winner.
Best Director
Chris - Alejandro G. Inarritu
Adam - Richard Linklater
I'm going with the director of Boyhood since it was a very difficult project he started and completed. I think the academy will want to reward him for his hard work.
Best Picture
Chris - Boyhood
Adam - Boyhood
This year there is a strong competition for Best Picture. Boyhood was the early favorite. Then Birdman started to win a bunch of awards. Then American Sniper became the most popular film in America and probably has made more money than the other seven combined. Add to this Whiplash could be a wild card coming in with the vote split. Or people angry about Selma may vote for it. There is still The Imitation Game crowd who compares it to The King's Speech. One thing is for sure, The Theory of Everything will lose.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Hedging My Bets (Again)
It's that time of the year again when I talk about the movies that I though would be nominated that I got to see before they were nominated. As well as what I got to see before the awards are announced. I have seen seven out of eight so far, so I will list them in the order that I saw them and rank them appropriately. There will be a separate post for my picks and my wife's for our annual competition that I will get out before this Sunday. Still working on ranking Best Director, it will be coming soon.
Boyhood (2014) - The first one I saw, and wow what a movie! Filmed over the course of twelve years, the movie follows the same actors as they go about their life. The film moves seamlessly through each year showing a small clip of their lives at the moment chosen for that year. Very well directed, a strong script and good editing. Should be a lock for Patricia Arquette for Supporting Actress, Best Picture and probably Original Screenplay.
Since it was the first, it obviously is the best I've seen so far. But this is one of the best movies I've seen in many years and appears to be the front runner.
The Theory of Everything (2014) - A bio pic about Stephen Hawking starting while he is working on his PhD and when he met his first wife. Not so much a film about his theories but more of his life dealing with his illness and the toil it eventually took on his wife and their relationship. Very well acted by Eddie Redmayne who should win Best Actor. And as a plus they did play some Wagner.
Besides those two strong points, this wasn't a great movie. Compared to Boyhood, and eventually the other films I have seen, it isn't going to win Best Picture. And it doesn't deserve to either.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - To be technical, I did tape this movie before the eight films were announced and was planning on watching it before the announcement. But I ended up seeing it a few days later. Standard Wes Anderson film, but this one is a bit better. Very enjoyable, funny at times, surreal at others, makes it a fun movie to watch. Acting is great and the story is what you would expect from his movies. Nice to see him get a few more nominations than the usual Best Writing ones he has only gotten in the past.
Compared to the other two films this falls in the middle. It is better than The Theory of Everything, but it is nowhere near Boyhood. It will sit in second for now.
The Imitation Game (2014) - Another bio pic, this one based on the life of Alan Turing focusing on two specific times in his life. Most of the film is about his work during WWII trying to figure out how to break the German Enigma code and during the 1950's when he was arrested for being a homosexual but though may have been a spy. Good acting from the entire cast, a very well done movie. There has been some controversy about Alan Turing being gay, but this isn't a major part of the film, it is mainly about him working on breaking the code, and saving people's lives. This isn't even mentioned until an hour into the movie. And it is more of a reminder that the English government back then treated homosexuals as criminals having them either go to jail or be forced to take unnecessary medications. A very brilliant man's life was cut short from this government infringement. (I will step down off my soap box now....)
It's not as good a Boyhood, but now has moved The Grand Budapest Hotel into third place and The Theory of Everything holding up the bottom.
Birdman (2014) - Didn't know anything going in to seeing this. The commercials don't really tell you much about the film. I just heard that it was supposed to be funny and very well done. The fact is they are right. It is very funny and a well done movie. It's about a former super hero movie star who is trying to produce a Broadway play he is staring in. The conflicts between his cast and him seeming loosing his mind, makes this one of the most interesting films I have seen in a while. It has been nominated for a bunch of Oscars, not such if it will win any like American Hustle last year. But it will gain popularity over time.
I would rank this movie as third behind Boyhood and The Imitation Game, but just ahead of The Grand Budapest Hotel. And The Theory of Everything, are you still looking for that? Check the end of the list.
Selma (2014) - This is an example of when you rush a film before it is completely ready, you get something that could be so great, but it just isn't. There has been controversy about this film not getting enough Oscar recognition. Of course people saying this are forgetting that 12 Years A Slave won Best Picture last year. But while the movie is still worth of a Best Picture nod, it wasn't very well directed, the editing was terrible and while David Oyelowo was very good as Martin Luther King Jr., this is a very crowded year for Best Actor.
It is very frustrating that the studio didn't take it's time and release this movie later. They were late in getting the film out for this year and they paid the price with only two nominations. So while it is still better than The Theory of Everything, I would put this in fifth place right now.
American Sniper (2014) - This is an amazing movie about the life of Chris Kyle. It mainly covers his four tours in Iraq and how he became the most lethal sniper in American history. It also covers his difficulty of dealing with being at war and trying to become a civilian when he is back home. Very powerful with a strong anti-war message, but one that makes you feel proud to see a small part of his life. This is also the best edited movie I've seen in a long time, a shame that Clint Eastwood didn't earn another best director nod.
If the world was fair, this movie would win Best Picture. But it isn't. Hollywood has a history of not picking the best film of the year, and I am afraid that this will happen again this year. So to rank all the movies, not including Whiplash the only one I haven't seen, American Sniper, Boyhood, Imitation Game, Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Selma and The Theory of Everything.
Boyhood (2014) - The first one I saw, and wow what a movie! Filmed over the course of twelve years, the movie follows the same actors as they go about their life. The film moves seamlessly through each year showing a small clip of their lives at the moment chosen for that year. Very well directed, a strong script and good editing. Should be a lock for Patricia Arquette for Supporting Actress, Best Picture and probably Original Screenplay.
Since it was the first, it obviously is the best I've seen so far. But this is one of the best movies I've seen in many years and appears to be the front runner.
The Theory of Everything (2014) - A bio pic about Stephen Hawking starting while he is working on his PhD and when he met his first wife. Not so much a film about his theories but more of his life dealing with his illness and the toil it eventually took on his wife and their relationship. Very well acted by Eddie Redmayne who should win Best Actor. And as a plus they did play some Wagner.
Besides those two strong points, this wasn't a great movie. Compared to Boyhood, and eventually the other films I have seen, it isn't going to win Best Picture. And it doesn't deserve to either.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - To be technical, I did tape this movie before the eight films were announced and was planning on watching it before the announcement. But I ended up seeing it a few days later. Standard Wes Anderson film, but this one is a bit better. Very enjoyable, funny at times, surreal at others, makes it a fun movie to watch. Acting is great and the story is what you would expect from his movies. Nice to see him get a few more nominations than the usual Best Writing ones he has only gotten in the past.
Compared to the other two films this falls in the middle. It is better than The Theory of Everything, but it is nowhere near Boyhood. It will sit in second for now.
The Imitation Game (2014) - Another bio pic, this one based on the life of Alan Turing focusing on two specific times in his life. Most of the film is about his work during WWII trying to figure out how to break the German Enigma code and during the 1950's when he was arrested for being a homosexual but though may have been a spy. Good acting from the entire cast, a very well done movie. There has been some controversy about Alan Turing being gay, but this isn't a major part of the film, it is mainly about him working on breaking the code, and saving people's lives. This isn't even mentioned until an hour into the movie. And it is more of a reminder that the English government back then treated homosexuals as criminals having them either go to jail or be forced to take unnecessary medications. A very brilliant man's life was cut short from this government infringement. (I will step down off my soap box now....)
It's not as good a Boyhood, but now has moved The Grand Budapest Hotel into third place and The Theory of Everything holding up the bottom.
Birdman (2014) - Didn't know anything going in to seeing this. The commercials don't really tell you much about the film. I just heard that it was supposed to be funny and very well done. The fact is they are right. It is very funny and a well done movie. It's about a former super hero movie star who is trying to produce a Broadway play he is staring in. The conflicts between his cast and him seeming loosing his mind, makes this one of the most interesting films I have seen in a while. It has been nominated for a bunch of Oscars, not such if it will win any like American Hustle last year. But it will gain popularity over time.
I would rank this movie as third behind Boyhood and The Imitation Game, but just ahead of The Grand Budapest Hotel. And The Theory of Everything, are you still looking for that? Check the end of the list.
Selma (2014) - This is an example of when you rush a film before it is completely ready, you get something that could be so great, but it just isn't. There has been controversy about this film not getting enough Oscar recognition. Of course people saying this are forgetting that 12 Years A Slave won Best Picture last year. But while the movie is still worth of a Best Picture nod, it wasn't very well directed, the editing was terrible and while David Oyelowo was very good as Martin Luther King Jr., this is a very crowded year for Best Actor.
It is very frustrating that the studio didn't take it's time and release this movie later. They were late in getting the film out for this year and they paid the price with only two nominations. So while it is still better than The Theory of Everything, I would put this in fifth place right now.
American Sniper (2014) - This is an amazing movie about the life of Chris Kyle. It mainly covers his four tours in Iraq and how he became the most lethal sniper in American history. It also covers his difficulty of dealing with being at war and trying to become a civilian when he is back home. Very powerful with a strong anti-war message, but one that makes you feel proud to see a small part of his life. This is also the best edited movie I've seen in a long time, a shame that Clint Eastwood didn't earn another best director nod.
If the world was fair, this movie would win Best Picture. But it isn't. Hollywood has a history of not picking the best film of the year, and I am afraid that this will happen again this year. So to rank all the movies, not including Whiplash the only one I haven't seen, American Sniper, Boyhood, Imitation Game, Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Selma and The Theory of Everything.
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