A Dangerous Method (2011) - Review

Dry, boring, and an overall squandering of talented actors and director.  The film isn't so much a dissertation on the founders of psychoanalysis as it is a sleep test (i.e. try not to fall asleep while watching the film).  What a shame.

1 out of 5


Note: I don't own the rights to any of the photos on this website.  They're copied here from Google images for entertainment purposes only.

Oscars 2013

Which film will win BEST PICTURE this year?

• Amour - the only nominated film I haven't seen this year (I still would like to).  Doubt it will win.  I don't understand why foreign films or animated films are allowed to be nominated for Best Picture.  It seems to be an insult to the other films nominated for Best Foreign Language Film or Best Animated Feature - how would they stand a chance?
• Argo - this seems to be gathering the most steam with other award shows.  The fact that Affleck wasn't nominated for Best Director is interesting, but my money is on this one to win the big prize sunday night.
• Beast of the Southern Wild - this was my personal favorite film of 2012.  If ever a movie could be considered alive, it would be Beasts of the Southern Wild.  The film is bursting with life, filled with originality, and amazingly creates genuine emotion in the midst of a magical fable about a little girl named Hushpuppy and her daddy Wink.  Totally original and completely innovative.  My heart wants it to take home the Oscar, but it's more of a dark horse than a front runner.
• Django Unchained - what's imperfect for Tarantino is still better than most other directors' works.  But if Pulp Fiction couldn't bring QT the Oscar for Best Picture, I don't think Django can either. 
• Les Miserables - the film's structure (live recording) will likely prove influential for the musical genre.  But can this clunky, epic musical snag Oscars?  If your name is Anne Hathaway, I'd say yes.
• Life of Pi - probably the biggest long-shot to win.  It was visually stunning, but part of the punch from the novel's parable structure was lost on me with its transition to the big screen.
• Lincoln - right up there at the front of the pack with Argo.  Daniel Day Lewis is almost assured an Oscar for his portrayal of the former president.  The film showcases delicate storytelling centered around strong characters and historical relevance.  It all screams Oscar bait.
• Silver Linings Playbook - this movie belongs to its actors who all shine in their respective roles.  That's not to discredit the role Director David O. Russell and the writers played.  I thoroughly enjoyed the film, but don't think it will win the big prize.
• Zero Dark Thirty - the film is impressive and Kathryn Bigelow has a recent Oscar film under her belt.  Will this one be her second in less than 5 years?  Maybe, but I doubt it.  

• BEST DIRECTOR:
• Prediction: Steven Spielberg
• My vote: Benh Zeitlin
• BEST ACTOR:
• Prediction: Daniel Day Lewis
• My vote: same 
• BEST ACTRESS:
• Prediction: Jennifer Lawrence
• My vote: It would be AMAZING to see Quvenzhane Wallis win.
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
• Prediction: Tommy Lee Jones
• My vote: same
• BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
• Prediction: Anne Hathaway
• My vote: same
• BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
• Prediction: Brave
• My vote: I didn't see any of them this year :(
• CINEMATOGRAPHY:
• Prediction: Life of Pi
• My vote: SKYFALL! :) (even though Life of Pi was pretty amazing...)
• COSTUME DESIGN:
• Prediction: Les Mis 
• My vote: same
• DOCUMENTARY: 
• Did not see any of them this year :(
• FILM EDITING:
• Prediction: Argo
• My vote: same
• FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
• Prediction: Amour is going to win. Period.
• My vote: did not see any of them :(
• MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING:
• Prediction: Les Mis
• My vote: same
• MUSIC:
• Prediction: Argo or maybe Lincoln
• My vote: Skyfall
• BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
• Prediction: Zero Dark Thirty
• My vote: Moonrise Kingdom
• BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
• Prediction: Argo
• My vote: Beasts of the Southern Wild
• SOUND EDITING / MIXING
• I hope Skyfall takes them both.

Note: I don't own the rights to any of the photos on this website.  They're copied here from Google images for entertainment purposes only.

Zero Dark Thirty - Review

The woman behind the so-called "greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man."

Zero Dark Thirty is a story.  It's not meant to serve as a 100% factual representation of the events leading up to and including Osama Bin Laden's death.  Rather, it's a stylized exercise in strategic planning and military intelligence that ultimately resulted in a manhunt that has been cemented in the history books.  The heart and soul of the film is clearly Jessica Chastain (who seems to me to be Director Kathryn Bigelow's doppelganger... or maybe it's the other way around...).  At any rate, Chastain's character strikes the right balance between intellect, tenacity, and guts.  She's an intriguing character based on a real person, and Chastain's portrayal of her reveals various facets of her personality throughout the film.

The film features some striking sequences that underscore the shaky situation these military and intelligence operatives were faced with.  And the film's final act is completely captivating.  Years of hard work and due diligence are condensed into a slightly bulky 2.5ish hours... but it all comes down to that final sequence at Bin Laden's compound.  We all know the bare bones of the story because we lived through it.  Zero Dark Thirty operates on similar filmmaking strategies that made The Hurt Locker such a success.  While ZDT gains some power from its basis in "reality", I enjoyed Hurt Locker more.  However, both films represent different cinematic approaches to a topical subject and are worth checking out. 

Zero Dark Thirty 3.5 / 5

Note: I don't own the rights to any of the photos on this website.  They're copied here from Google images for entertainment purposes only.