| Author |
Message |
|
| billyweeds |
 Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 11:58 pm |
 |
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
carrobin wrote: Finally saw "The Descendants" today. Wonderful film, and I think Clooney has a lock on Oscar.
So now I can look around and try to catch "The Separation" and "The Artist" and other movies that will get away if I don't hurry.
I too saw a trailer for "The Grey" a few weeks ago and knew it wasn't for me. I don't patronize anti-wolf flicks.
This seems like a minor point, but actually is larger than it seems. The title is not The Separation, but A Separation, which implies that it's one of many. The larger meaning of this is more poignant when you've seen the movie. |
|
|
| Back to top |
  
|
| Syd |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:46 am |
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
|
I saw The Descendants and liked it quite a bit, not as Best Picture, but certainly in the ballpark. It's one of Clooney's best performances, along with Michael Clayton and Up in the Air, and I'd like him to win the Oscar for this, although I think Jean Dujardin will win. The cast is generally super; not just Clooney and the kids, but Judy Greer and a slew of familiar faces.
I'm finding this year's best picture this year hard to predict; it could easily be Hugo, The Artist or The Descendants; The Tree of Life would be an upset, if I remember, they're a sort of Australian ballot and I see it getting a fair number of first-place votes, but not enough seconds and thirds. I would be very surprised if Midnight in Paris wins; The Descendants has a lot of the same gentle appeal and is a better movie. |
_________________
I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
|
| Back to top |
|
| carrobin |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:15 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
|
I thought "The Descendants" has everything it needs to win Best Picture. It's far more complex than the ads lead you to believe (I expected it to be more of a comedy) and all the performances are excellent (how did they choose only one Supporting?). The only other nominated film I've seen so far is "Hugo," which has a good chance, but may be considered too much of a kids' movie, wonderful though it is. It will be interesting to see how the Academy voters react to a silent black-and-white film, which is French besides, so it may be just too esoteric for the big win. I may change my mind when I see it. I don't think any of the other nominees are still playing, so I'll have to check them out on DVD eventually.
I think Clooney will win Best Actor, because he's terrific in "Descendants" and everyone is saying it's his year. But I'd also love to see a surprise surge for Gary Oldman. Which is about as likely as Ron Paul becoming the Republican candidate. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| bartist |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:32 am |
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 6958
Location: Black Hills
|
The Descendants should, in a sane universe, eat The Artist for breakfast and still have room for waffles. I don't know if Academites will see The Artist as esoteric, but I hope they will see it as just too lightweight for the best pic. As for actor gold, I don't know...the performances were excellent but struck me more as novelties than as great moments in drama.
Regarding tomorrow's releases....easy choice, see Rampart, skip Safe House. And as for The Vow, (avert your eyes if you don't care for message board yelling and screaming): OH GOD NOOOOO NOT ANOTHER COMA MOVIE! And no disrespect to Sam Neill, but it seems lately that he's a dead canary in the theater coalmine. |
_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:06 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
carrobin wrote: ...all the performances are excellent (how did they choose only one Supporting?)
Which supporting are you talking about? There were none. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| carrobin |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:08 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
|
| The actress who played the teenage daughter was nominated, wasn't she? |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:10 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
bartist wrote:
Regarding tomorrow's releases....easy choice, see Rampart, skip Safe House.
Have you seen them both? I have. And while Rampart is miles ahead of Safe House, the latter (along with too much noise and mess) has some excellent scenes between Washington and Reynolds and some fine supporting (or perhaps we should call them cameo) performances by Ruben Blades and Sam Shepard, and strong work from a young actor named Joel Kinnaman. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Syd |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:02 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 12921
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
|
bartist wrote: The Descendants should, in a sane universe, eat The Artist for breakfast and still have room for waffles. I don't know if Academites will see The Artist as esoteric, but I hope they will see it as just too lightweight for the best pic. As for actor gold, I don't know...the performances were excellent but struck me more as novelties than as great moments in drama.
Regarding tomorrow's releases....easy choice, see Rampart, skip Safe House. And as for The Vow, (avert your eyes if you don't care for message board yelling and screaming): OH GOD NOOOOO NOT ANOTHER COMA MOVIE! And no disrespect to Sam Neill, but it seems lately that he's a dead canary in the theater coalmine.
I saw a preview for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and it looks promising. Emily Blunt is the love interest and that always gives me hope. |
_________________
I had a love and my love was true but I lost my love to the yabba dabba doo, --The Flintstone Lament |
|
| Back to top |
|
| carrobin |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:15 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
|
| I also saw that trailer and they had me at Ewan McGregor. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:35 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
carrobin wrote: The actress who played the teenage daughter was nominated, wasn't she?
No. Believe it or not. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 3:37 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| Should have added that Safe House more or less wastes the talents of Brendan Gleeson and particularly those of Vera Farmiga. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| bartist |
| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:15 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 6958
Location: Black Hills
|
Sorry - meant easy choice for me; was reacting with utmost subjectivity to snips of review and such, in rejecting the safe house and heading for the ramparts. But, hey, if there be salmon fishing with Emily Blunt, then it would trump them both. I suspect it's limited release, though.
And A Separation is getting here Mar. 2, at the U. theater. About time. Sadly, it being leap year means waiting an extra day. |
_________________
He was wise beyond his years, but only by a few days. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| jeremy |
| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:32 pm |
|
|
Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 6794
Location: Derby, England and Hamilton, New Zealand (yes they are about 12,000 miles apart)
|
I also saw the trailer for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen , but would suggest that unless they were deliberately holding back, it looks far from promising. And I say this despite my near stalker like love for two of the cast. Emily Blunt and Kristen Scott-Thomas, not Ewan McGregor, in case you were wandering.
The trailer seemed to be selling the film as a gentle romantic-comedy cum political satire, but from the snippets shown, it seemed light passion, jokes and bite respecifvely. |
_________________
I am angry, I am ill, and I'm as ugly as sin.
My irritability keeps me alive and kicking.
I know the meaning of life, it doesn't help me a bit.
I know beauty and I know a good thing when I see it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Befade |
| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:48 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
|
The title is not The Separation, but A Separation, which implies that it's one of many. The larger meaning of this is more poignant when you've seen the movie.Quote:
This time of year it can be so hard to catch up. But I've been trying. Billy's right in recommending A Separation. It's not a forgettable film. It works on you. The director's teenage daughter was a standout in a great cast with great writing. I thought it was going to be about how hard life is in Iran and how any woman would want to raise her daughter anywhere else.........That's not the issue of this movie.
What it touches on is FAR broader and inclusive: what do you do with an elderly parent with dementia? Who covers up the truth? Who gets it wrong?
Can you trust hired help? What's moral? Which parent has the best interest of the kid at heart? Who feels the events in this movie most deeply?
My conclusion: skip the rest and watch the BEST! |
_________________
Lost in my own private I dunno. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| billyweeds |
| Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:22 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
|
| Totally agree with that last statement. If you see only one movie this year, it has to be A Separation. It truly blows every other 2011 film out of the water. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
