#6: Gone with the Wind

My wife loves this movie.  For the last four years of my life all I have heard about is how much she loves this movie, how good this movie is, how it is the best thing that has happened since sliced bread (whatever that means).  That is right today I am reviewing Gone with the Wind.  The 1939 film Gone with the Wind is based of the Margret Michelle novel of the same name and is directed by Victor Flemming and stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh.  Anyways lets get on with the review before we are dust in the wind.

This film is an American epic.  This film was the longest running film (almost four hours) and was one of the first films filmed in color.  It broke the box office becoming the highest grossing movie shortly after it came out.   And to do this day if you adjust for inflation Gone with the Wind is the highest grossing movie of all time.  This film also is referenced much as well as having one of the most famous lines from film, "Franky, my dear, I don't give a damn".  On top of all of this Gone with the Wind won 8 academy awards for Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography (color), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (Vivien Leigh), Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel), Best Director, and Best Picture.  It also received honorary and technical Oscars and was nominated for 5 other awards.  McDaniel was the first African-American to win an Academy Award.

The internet also has postive things to say about this film.
IMDB: 8.2 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Rating): 96%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Rating): 91%
It seems the internet agrees that there is something special about this movie.

The acting in this movie was very good for an older film.  I usually find older films to have really bad acting but this movie was great.  Starting with the supporting characters we have family members of Starlets family and they are decent nothing special.  Then we have Mammy who was played by McDaniels.  This character was so funny and so sassy.  She also liked to use the phrase "white trash" which I had no idea was around back then. But the problem with this movie is that for every great enjoyable character we have one of these:

Ugh Prissy!  The same goes with the main characters as well.  Clark Gable as Rhett Butler (which I learned is not Bret Butler the ex-Dodger).  Clark was great.  He was funny and likeable.  Ashley the Boy was also well acted and an enjoyable character.  His wife Melanie was great and probably the nicest person in the movie.  But with all of these good likable characters we knew the there had to be a realy annoying character the problem this time is that the annoying character is the main character Scarlet, played by Vivien Leigh.  While I cannot complain about the acting the character is so unlikeable.  She is selfish, lacks empathy, uses people, and is just a general brat.

The story aspect of the movie is really what was hard for me to enjoy.  The movie felt like it had no point other than to follow Scarlett as she dealt with the Civil War.  When the end came I felt like saying "that's it?".  I put 4 hours into this film and what I got was really nothing.  This movie is definitely based on novel.  It is long, not about to much but character development.  At times I felt like I was watching Twilight with Team Rhett and Team Ashley.  On the bright side I did learn somethings:
#1. There were eating disorders in the Old South (20 in waist was big?)
#2.  They all hate the Yankees as much as I do.
#3.  Must not be an age of consent.
#4. They really are into incest in the South:

The music was fairly good and the settings and cinematography were very good too.  At times I felt like I was at Disneyland.  I do not fully know why but it just reminded me of Fronierland or Critter Country.   The green screen on the other hand is not very good:

In conclusion this movie was long and at times left long.  The acting and cinematography were great but the characters not so much.  The movie has definitely left  a huge impact on American film.  I have to give Gone with the Wind an A.

#11: City Lights

Ugh.. Not another one of these!  Silent movies are so boring.  After Modern Times there is no way I was looking forward to this Charlie Chaplin "classic".  That's right boys and girls today I get to review another Charlie Chaplin Silent movie.  Today we will take a look at City Lights.  This 1931 silent film stars, is written and directed by Charlie Chaplin.  We lets get out quiet on and get on with this review.

City Lights came out in 1931 and did very well despite the fact that "talkies" were on the rise since 1928 and silent movies were on their way out.  I wish 3D movies were on their was out:   

The film was well received by Depression-era audiences, earning $5 million (guess that was a lot back then) during its initial release, and became one of Chaplin's most financially successful and critically acclaimed works. 

The internet gave the following ratings:
IMDB: 8.6 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Rating): 100%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Rating): 94%
100%!!!!! Are you kidding me!  I hate the internet sometimes

Though there were only three characters in this film the acting in this movie was pretty decent.  The drunk millionaire was defiantly my favorite character.  He was just so fun though I felt that he was sometimes a little to friendly with Charlie:

The next character is the blind girl.  What can I say about her other than she is blind.  Okay this character is boring lets move on.  Charlie plays the Little Tramp in this movie.  I found this interesting because I thought he was always the Little Tramp.  I guess I am not up on my silent movie trivia.  Anyways Charlie did a great job.  There were many times where his facial expressions made me laugh.  Though I am curious if the Little Tramp is gay:

The story was fun and kept me much more engage then I expected.  The relationships between Charlie and the millionaire and Charlie and the blind girl were both very well done.  This movie was also funnier then I expected.  Then again there were other "comedic" scenes that I just didn't get.  Also sorta annoying was the cliff hanger ending.  There were a few things I did learn though:
#1. I wish I only paid $22 in rent.
#2. Charlie Chaplin came up with the idea for Joe Millionaire
#3. Blind people can get a surgery so they are not blind anymore (more blind people should do this; blind people if you are reading this, go get that surgery)

The music in this film was decent but nothing special, the stunts and physical comedy was ok.  Actually most of this movie was just ok, except for the talking.  The talking sucked. 

In conclusion this movie was much more enjoyable than Modern Times but that is not saying much.  I still found my self having a hard time paying attention (though that may have been due to the beers I had).  I give City Lights a C-

#100: Ben-Hur

Today I will be reviewing the 1959, William Wyler film Ben-Hur.  Now I have never seen the movie the whole way through (which is no surprise since this movie is nearly four hours long) but I have seen bits and pieces of the movie, most notably the famous chariot race.  But seriously four hours?  Do you know what else you can do in four hours?  Watch a ballgame, fly from Chicago to Los Angels, cook a turkey, or watch Ben-Hur.

Now this movie is a great epic movie.  All sorts of big events thrown together for a great story but this movie is famous for one thing... the chariot race.

This scene is exciting and for the time must have been extremely hard to shoot.  I am not an expert on the subject so I will just give my ignorant non-founded facts and say that this scene had to shape action scenes for years to come.  The fact that it is still refereed to and referenced shows how impactful this scene was.  Also while watching this scene it really made me wish NASCAR was this entertaining.  One top of this scene this film also won 11 Oscars for ...no way that is to many to list, I will just say it won 11 Academy awards and nominated for one more.

The wide world of world wide web has the following ratings:
IMDB = 8.2 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Rating) = 89%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Rating) = 81%
Really high critic rating and a little lower on the audience meters but maybe 19% of people have better things to do then watch a four hour movie.

Now time for my extremely un-expert opinion on the movie.  The characters we overall I don't know... nonexistent.  Ben-Hur's sister and mom were in the movie... and I can not tell you one characteristic about them.  The same would go for the character of Ester, Arrian, and pretty much everone else in this movie.  All characters can be defined by are they a nice person or a mean eperson.  Only a few characters outside of Ben-Hur stood out to me.  First being Jesus (does this then count as a Christmas or Easter movie) because he is Jesus.  Next the Sheik who is just super entertaining.  I really wish there was more of him in this movie.  Lastly there was Messala who only really stands out due to his role in the story not due to great acting or being a stand out character.  Ben-Hur is a really enjoyable character and I found him really funny though I am not sure if I was supposed to.  The acting is fine I didn't feel that it was horrible but nothing special either.

Now that we are back from the intermission (get it because the movie is so frickin long?) lets look at the story.  The story is what makes this movie great.  As I mentioned before the characters are pretty flat but the plot is the main draw and focus of this story.  Ben-Hur goes through a lot on his journey and even though this movie starts with the birth of Christ (is this why all my mom's Christmas decorations have one black wise man?) and goes for years it never feels long while watching it.  There is always something going on.  Also, as always, I learned  thing or two from this film:
#1: The best way to prove yourself innocent is to kill someone
#2: Boats have four speeds: normal, battle, attack, and ramming
#3: Fire sticks are better than swords
#4: People don't want to hang out with leapers
#5: Leapers don''t want to have out with people

This movie is famous for its big chariot scene and I am not sure how much stunt and camera work had to go into that scene but I bet it was a lot.  That wasn't the only battle scene though:

Though this looks more like kids playing with fireworks and roman candles.  I am also curious why the blood is so red in this movie.  It is like ketchup.  Also for a movie with a lot of violence and blood I was surprised that it was rated G.  I guess back in the days their children weren't wusses (that right I'm looking at you six year olds).  Lastly this movie has decent music.  How do I know this you ask, well its because this film has a overture which lasts over six minutes at the begging of the film and another moment of music lasting for 4 minutes on the second disc of the DVD.  Boy oh boy its fun to watch a blank screen while music plays. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, despite that my fiance continued to patronize me and explain everything that was happening in the movie.  The story is great and the action is fun.  Ben-Hur is a funny character who does awkward things at times and even though the movie is four hours it is never boring.  In conclusion I give this movie an A.

#76: Forrest Gump

Okay, okay, okay first off its been a long time since my last post, secondly I do not understand why everyone loves this firckin movie so much!  I mean it is a good movie but the idea of watching it fills me with dread and I can't really say why.... oh wait yes I can I'm writing a blog.  Today we review Forrest Gump.

Forrest Gump is a 1994 Robert Zemeckis film starring Tom Hanks.  This film might be one of the most quoted movies of my generation.  I remember when this movie came out people every where just quoting this movie left and right.  Quotes like: "Seats taken", "Stupid is as stupid does",  "Run forest run", "You ain't got no legs Lt. Dan", "My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump", and something about being shot in the "butt-ox".  And if these quotes weren't enough there was even a popular song:

If this didn't tell you how much this movie effected culture the movie even started a restaurant chain.  And to top how big of a deal this movie was, it also won it won six Oscars including a win for Tom Hanks, Best Editing, Best Writing, Best Directing, Best Special Effects, and Best Picture, and nominated for seven other Academy Awards.

Now lests see what the wise internets has to say about this movie:
IMDB = 8.7 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Rating) = 71%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Rating) = 93%
Seems to fairly well critically but once again I see that everyone frickin loves this movie for some reason. 

Now for my extremely biased opinion. Acting wise I felt this movie was great.  Starting with the young Forrest Gump who is in the first quarter of the movie.  He does great for a child actor.  Next we have Jenny.  Jenny is a bitch.  I don't like her character at all.  Acting wise she is fine I guess.  Man, Jenny is a bitch.  Bubba is awesome.  Great character and the acting really makes the character likable.  Next we have Lt. Dan.  Lt. Dan is an interesting character.   Do you hate him? do you like him?is he a prophet?:

I am not a huge fan of Gary Sinise so I guess he is fine in this movie.  Next we have the mom, or Mrs Gump.  The acting is great but the character is mentally insane.  She names her son after the KKK and has sex to get her son in school.  WTF!  Lastly we have Gump.  Tom does great with this role.  He makes it come to life and made Forrest one of film's most beloved characters.  Now as the character goes I hate him.  He is so annoying.  Ugh! I will address this later but the only positive is that he likes Dr. Pepper.

The story is all told through Forrest Gump's narration as he tells people who don't want to listen (I am one of them) the story of his life:

The movie is so long and boring.  Ugh and annoying.  I don't even know what else to share except Forrest does everything.  He meets Elvis and John Lennon, plays for the Crimson Tide, gets the Medal of Honor, meets like three Presidents, goes pro in ping-pong, owns his own business, and a bunch of other crap.  WTF!  So what am I supposed to get out of this Forrest is awesome and my life sucks?  The only thing I learned from this movie is:
#1. Hookers taste like cigarettes.
Though I do have a theory.  Forrest keeps going yet many people in Forrest's life do not survive the movie.  Maybe he is a serial killer. 

The movie has fantastic music.  Given that the movie starts in the 60s I believe and goes through the 80s you get great music for those decades.  Some of the movies green screen effects or whatever this is:

not so good.  Are they on a conveyer belt?

Anyways even though I do not like this movie very much I have to admit I did at one point think it was enjoyable and it is and extremely well made movie as well as made a gigantic impact on pop culture.  Do to all of these factors I am forced to give this movie an A-....I hate that I did that. 

#73: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

I have always heard from my parents and my brother how great this movie was so I was looking forward to watching it, I mean it could be like The Sting but a western.  Today I will be reviewing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Robert Redford and Paul "The Dressing" Newman

star in this 1969 film written by William Goldman and Directed by George Roy Hill.  Now as I mentioned my mom likes this movie, but apparently "like" is not a strong enough word.  My mom had Butch and Sundance posters all over her room as a teen, some of which she even burned the edges of to make them look more western.  How embarrassing....

This film is not as groundbreaking as some of the other movies on the AFI Top 100 but it still is a very well beloved American classic and has been referenced in multiple shows and movies like Shanghai Noon, The Simpsons, Futurama, and even The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!  This film also did win a few Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song (more on that later), and Best Writing.  It was even nominated for three other Academy Awards including Best Picture. 

The internet says:
IMDB = 8.2 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Rating) = 89%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Rating) = 90%
These scores are not very high compared to many of the movies on the Top 100 list but it is still above average.

Now how did I like this movie you ask, well I will tell you.  There was not much of the way in characters in this film.  It really only followed around Redford and Newman and many other characters didn't have more then a few lines, many of which didn't even have names, though there are some surprising people like Cloris Leachman playing these character.  Despite this one of these very minor characters was one of my favorite things of the movie:

He is so colorful.  Next we have the "love" interest of the film played by Katharine Ross.  She was pointless, I am not sure why she was in this film.  She just seemed shoehorned in so that there was a female character in this film.  Now we have our two main men.  Robert Redford was pretty funny in this film and the character was great.  My only problem with him was his mustache.  Why did mustaches used to be cool and acceptable?  Now mustaches are just a joke or creepy.  I just think it is so interesting that today's facial hair style can be tomorrow's molester.  Anyways Paul Newman was extremely funny in this movie.  Butch was my favorite character despite the fact that he could be a little weird at times.  The two of them played of each other so well and were so funny that it really helped make the movie more enjoyable. 

There was not to much to this story really.  I realized after watching almost and hour and a half of this movie that all I was watching was people do things.  Also this is not your typical western, or at least it is a lot different then the westerns that I have seen.  I have to mention the good script given that the dialogue between or two main characters was hilarious.This western has comedy and modern music and a certain scene which just struck me as odd.  Sometimes the vibe of the movie made me feel the train time-machine from Back to the Future 3 could be making an appearance.  Once again I did learn some important life lessons from this movie:
#1: All Mexico has is sweat
#2: There are no rules in a knife fight
#3: Butch would fail Spanish class
#4: Time in Bolivia makes you colorful

Now here we get to some interesting things.  First off it felt like the first ten minutes of this movie was in sepia tone for some reason (so if you watch this there is nothing wring with your TV), then we have some bike stunts (why?), and lastly the music is so weird.  I think it is funny that the song won an Oscar.  The song is not bad at all but it just seemed so out of place in a western

So did Paul Newman start the planking trend?

In conclusion, I really liked this movie though I wish there was more of a story. The comedy was great and the film was very enjoyable despite the parts of the movie (mainly the scene above) which really took me out of it.  I give this movie a B.

# 69: Tootsie

Heh heh 69..... Anyways today I will be reviewing Tootsie.  Tootsie is a 1982 comedy starring Dustin Hoffman who dresses up as a women to get a role on a soap opera.  I was nervous about this movie for two reasons.First, this movie is about a man who dresses up as a women to get a job.  Sounds like it be okay but then I saw this:

If the movie was going to be anything like this I was going to hate it.  Secondly, not all comedies from the 70s and early 80s are that funny to me.  My parents would rave about how funny Fast Times at Ridgemont High was, then I watched it.... not so funny.  So these two factors made me nervous to see the film but I knew it had to be done, so we gathered together to watch a movie about a cross-dresser.

I was really surprised to learn that this film wasn't one of the first movies to have a lead male character dress as a women for comedy.  I guess I just assumed that it wasn't done that often because old things are conservative and lame (hey so are my parents).  This was one of the few movies I have seen staring a male who dresses up as a female, I have seen Ladybugs (great/weird soccer comedy) and Mrs Doubtfire. Going into this movie I was comparing everything to Mrs. Doubtfire.  Its struck me as I was doing this that even though Tootsie came out first and may even inspired Mrs. Doubtfire I still in my life see Mrs. Doubtifre as the movie to compare and contrast to.  I guess it is all about perspective.... does that mean kids to day will watch The Empire Strikes Back and compare it to The Phantom Menace? Anyways back on track, Tootsie received 9 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture, and won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, Jessica Lange.

The internet, who know all that is right, fells the movie should receive rating like this:
IMDB = 7.4 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes (Critic Rating) = 88%
Rotten Tomatoes (Audience Rating) = 75%
Overall, I feel these scores are a little low for a movie on the AFI Top 100.  Maybe the internet hates cross-dressers.

The comedic acting in this movie was really good.  There were lots of really funny characters with good delivery, at the same time though there were a lot of pointless characters.  Hoffman's agent played by Sydney Pollack had some great scenes and great lines.  George Gaynes, or Commandant Eric Lassard as I know him,  was hilarious.  He might have been one of my favorite characters in this movie and he had one of my favorite lines "Does Jeff know?".  Bill Murry was awesome.  He is always so funny and this movie is no exception.  He has great delivery and made me wish he was in it more.  Now I need to insert a clip of Bill Murry being hilarious.

Now as I mentioned there were a lot of characters which just felt pointless, including Teri Garr.  It is weird she was nominated for this movie because I felt her role was pointless and unnecessary.  Also, Geena Davis was in this movie for about thirty seconds.  Though this movie was a comedy there was also a lot of dramatic elements and actors like Charles Durning did a great job.  Now Jessica Lange won for this movie and I think she did a decent job but what I found the most interesting thing about her is that she used to look like this and now looks like this.  Dustin Hoffman, as the lead, was great.  He was funny when it was time to be funny, great in the dramatic roles, and had great chemistry with the cast.  His interactions with Bill Murry were fantastic and though Hoffman wasn't the funniest character in the movie he was still great.

The story was actually real good.  In this day and age it is great to see comedies that not only are funny but have a good story and heart as well.  This film really looked at not only what it means to be an actor:

but also shared a message on gender roles, and how to stand up for yourself.  The movie was also very funny, my fiancee was laughing the whole time.  The situations and lines were just great and it was relatively a clean comedy as well.  Now as always I learned a few things from this movie:
#1: Women have a much easier time getting jobs then men
#2: If you are get caught naked in a friend of the opposite sex's place just have sex with them.

The makeup in this movie is really good.  It is actually sorta hard to tell that Dustin Hoffman is playing a woman, meaning it is better then Jack and Jill.  Though this can lead to an interesting question:

Ewww. Gross.  Also the music in this movie got nominated but I cannot help but this the music is really corny.  It feels more like a sitcom beat the a movie soundtrack:

In conclusion I think this movie is really good.  It is very funny and totally went above and beyond my low expectations.  It is a great comedy with a real dramatic story at its core.  I give this movie a B.

The Awesometeer vs The Oscar Nominees

This is just a quick little blog about my reactions to seeing the Oscar nominations.  For some background on me I tried not to see any of the movies with Oscar buzz because every year I attend an event held by AMC theaters where you can watch all Best Picture nominated movies.  Anyways here are my immediate thoughts and reactions to the nominees:

Sound Mixing:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – What is sound mixing?

Hugo – Is it layering sounds?

Moneyball – Like crowds cheering while Brad Pitt is talking?

Transformers: Dark of the Moon – This movie has the dumbest title ever

War Horse – I hope I don’t see this movie anywhere else

Sound Editing:

Drive – What is sound editing?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – What is the difference between sound mixing?

Hugo – I could google it but I am lazy

Transformers: Dark of the Moon – This movie better not win an Oscar

War Horse – Why is this movie here?

Visual Effects:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – It wasn’t magic?

Hugo – Better 3D then Avatar eh?  I need to see this in 3D

Real Steal – Rockem Sockem Robots the movie

Rise of the Planet of the Apes – Looked better then the remake

Transformers: Dark of the Moon – Why couldn’t you just put side in your title!?  UGH!

Makeup:

Albert Nobbs – Jack and Jill didn’t get nominated?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – Seriously Lord V. looks awesome

The Iron Lady – But she didn’t even look like iron.

Costume Design:

Anonymous – Is this the Shakespeare is a fraud movie?

The Artist – I wonder what color the costumes were?

Hugo – Movie has a good look to it

Jane Eyre – A period piece?  No way!

W.E. – Is that short for Wall-E?

Art Direction:

The Artist – Feel like I will be seeing this on here a lot.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 – Man, that is a long title

Hugo – This movies seems (from the previews) to have a really cool look to it

Midnight in Paris – sure, I guess, I dunno

War Horse – Every nomination this movie gets will make me more and more mad.

Cinematography:

The Artist – Guess it need to be good if there is no talking in it.

The Girl with the Dragoon Tattoo – Honestly I don’t know good cinematography really, I just notice bad cinematography.

Hugo – ok

Tree of Life – sure

War Horse – Got to get a good shot of the horse

Film Editing:

The Artist – I guess another nomination won’t hurt

The Descendants – What make editing good?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Sometime when I picture editing I picture a guy with scissors cutting filmstrips

Hugo – Oh wow Hugo with another nomination.

Moneyball – Yay baseball!

Music (Original Song):

“Man or Muppet” (The Muppets) – First off best song in the movie.  So funny.  Secondly it was written by half of The Flight of the Conchords.  I want this to win.

“Real in Rio” (Rio) – No one cares

Music (Original Score):

The Adventures of Tintin – Yay I love Tintin and I love John Williams

The Artist – It better have good music

Hugo – So this movie isn’t about Hugo Strange

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – ok

War Horse – No comment……

Documentary Feature:

Hell and Back Again – I hope its not a documentary about Ghost Rider

If A Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front – Sounds political

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory – I didn’t see the first two

Pina – Colada

Undefeated – Did you say sports?  Looks like I will have to check this out

Foreign Language Film:

Bullhead – Minotaur

Monsieur Lazhar – Canada isn’t foreign, its America’s hat.

A Separation – Foreign films would be more popular if you didn’t have to read.

A Footnote – Heading

In Darkness  - Dayman AHHHHHHH Fighter of the Nightman AHHHHHHH

Animated Feature Film:

A Cat in Paris – Huh?

Chico & Rita – Wha?

Kung Fu Panda 2 – Umm…

Puss in Boots – Hmmm…

Rango  - Where is Tintin?

Actress in a Supporting Role:

Berenice Bejo (The Artist) – How on Earth do you say that name?

Jessica Chastain (The Help) – Great movie.  I am so happy to see nominations.

Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) – So this is sorta like the Tropic Thunder/Robert Downey Jr. Thing

Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs) – Sure, whoever you are (I don’t like things or people I don’t know getting nominated).

Octavia Spencer (The Help) – She was FANTASTIC!  She better win.

Actor is a Supporting Role:

Kenneth Branagh (My Week With Marilyn) – Who are you?  Where is Albert Brooks?

Jonah Hill (Moneyball) – This will make many people very upset.  Hey remember when he was in Superbad?

Nick Nolte (Warrior) – This is a great movie!  Everyone and their mom should see it.  I love this movie and I am so happy it got a nomination for something.

Christopher Plummer (Beginners) – I don’t like old people.

Max von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) – See above.

Actress in a Leading Role:

Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs) – She sorta looks like Conan O’Brien in this movie

Viola Davis (The Help) – She was great in this movie.  Very happy for her.

Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) – Eww that’s Rooney Mara!?  Why is she so weird looking?

Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) – Oh wow you are nominated…..

Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn) – She actually looks like she did a good job in this movie, too bad I will never see it.

Actor in a Leading Role:

Demian Bichir (A Better Life) – Who are you?  What is this movie?

George Clooney (The Descendants) – Oh wow you got nominated! Shocking (sarcastic tone)

Jean Dujardin (The Artist) – Not much of a reaction here, I just spent most of the time trying to say his last name.

Gary Oldman (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) – Cool, I really like Gary Oldman

Brad Pitt (Moneyball) – Yay for sports movies!

Writing (Adapted Screenplay):

The Descendants – There’s a book?

Hugo – No idea this was adapted

The Ides of March -  What’s this based off of?

Moneyball – This movie is nothing like the book

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy  - I need to start going to the library, no idea these were all adapted.

Writing (Original Screenplay):

The Artist – Must have been a short script

Bridesmaids – Best comedy of the summer.  I really hope they don’t make a sequel, Hangover 2.

Margin Call – Ummm ok…. Where did this come from?

Midnight in Paris – Wonder if Woody is still using a typewriter

A Separation – A foreign film?

Directing:

The Artist – I wonder if it was all quiet on set (get it?)

The Descendants – This movie looks good.

Hugo – Martian Scorsese, nah he probably won’t win

Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen is still alive?  How old is he?

The Tree of Life – Sure, why is this movie here?

Best Picture:

The Artist - I am not looking forward to this.  I am not sure that I can sit through another silent movie.

The Descendants - I am really looking forward to this movie.  Though I am still not sure to expect a dark comedy or a drama.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - I am so glad this got nominated.  I have not seen it yet but the previews look great and it wasn't getting much buzz so I thought it had no chance of getting nominated.  

The Help - I saw this movie in the summer.  Love it.  

Hugo - I try not to read to much about movies that are getting Oscar buzz so I don't really know anything about this movie other then everyone says it is amazing.

Midnight in Paris – ok

Moneyball - I am a huge baseball fan.  I love this movie, I read the book, and I am just happy to see it nominated. 

The Tree of Life - This movie seems so weird to me.  I am not sure what to expect at all.  I have heard so many mixed things and I do not even know what it is about.

Warhorse - Frick!!!!!! I do NOT want to see this movie.  This movie looks horrible!  Ugh!  The previews annoy me.  I do not want to see a movie starring a horse!  Why did this get nominated?

*** You may have noticed that none of the short nominees were mentioned.  That is because no one cares about them.  I hope you enjoyed this blog.