My friend Ken says he has “less than zero percent interest” in seeing “Avatar.” I told him unless he has access to some good smoke, an IMAX theater and a couple of hours to waste (and get wasted) not to waste his time.
I think all of the acting categories are locks this year—Bridges, Bullock, Waltz, Mo'Nique. So is Kathryn Bigelow. If anyone else wins in these categories, it'll be a major upset (although I hope Meryl Streep wins myself). I also hope “The Hurt Locker” beats “Avatar,” too, but I'm not so sure it's definite—”Avatar” could certainly take the top honor, even if Cameron won't win Best Director.
i agree with your picks but i just have this sick feeling in my stomach that thinks that 'Avatar' will get best picture and best director..i'm hoping that hurt locker wins but i just have a feeling..hopefully i'm wrong.
I totally agree with your Avatar thoughts. I loved that movie for what it was, a really good, groundbreaking popcorn flick. If James Cameron wins for it, it would be like Blofeld beating Bond. I expect Cameron would wear a Nehru jacket too.
Sometimes you just want to see a movie that you hope is going to make you laugh. Even so, I have seldom walked out of one, even if it clearly sucks. Hardly ever. I always have hope that it's going to get better. Silly me.
so those were all the funny scenes; pretty lame. sometimes your job is too painful to contemplate, since the rest of us either wouldn't show up to watch this crap in the first place or would just say no a short time in to the viewing.
“An Education” is a self-conscious art study, while “A Serious Man” is a bizarre creation even by Coen brother standards. Both are enjoyable, particularly regarding the overall good acting, but hardly Oscar winners.
That said, not that many years ago such a little film as “The Hurt Locker” would never have gotten a widespread release, much less warrant an Oscar nomination.
Then again, I'm not sure “Avatar” would have been nominated either.
just saw 'The Hurt Locker' last night and i loved it. i missed it over the summer when it was in theatres i don't think it was in theatres that long and my summers are usually very busy so i don't get to see everything i want ..anyway i haven't been a big fan of a lot of the recent iraq war films but i liked how this film delved into the psychological aspects of how war can take a toll on these men and the film had quite a bit of intense action so all around it was a great film i think it should win best picture although i still need to see 'A serious man' and 'An Education' but from what i hear i doubt either of those films are quite as good.
Whatever the critics are saying, and Rotten Tomatoes' top critics rate the film at just 62 percent, the film did well at the weekend's box office, making just over $40 million. That probably won't last. But for the moment, it's good for Scorsese, whose films make barely a fraction of what, say, Michael Bay does.
Like you said, I like Scorsese flicks, and I will be seeing this film. I read the book over the holidays up in Spokane. Many of the reviews and criticisms of the movie track with my main problem with the book, i.e., the big twist was somewhat flat. Hard to explain. I was worried how it was going to translate on film. I certainly understand why the material was picked for a movie, though. I am not going to fault Scorsese for the material or the twist. Anyways, cheers!
i always look forward to Scorsese's films and many of his films rank as some of my favorite films. i wouldn't say 'shutter island' is among his best but it is very entertaining and i enjoyed it very much..i read the book a couple years ago so i knew what to expect out of the film..the adaptation was near perfect in my opinion without doing what was done with 'Watchmen' where it is virtually a direct copy of the book. the visuals in the film enhanced what was in the book and it had some great performances in it.
Travolta is a classic case of a guy who has talent, but whose talent has limits. He's much the same as many other screen actors, from Al Pacino (could anyone ever convincingly argue that “Scarface” is anything more than a guilty pleasure?) to John Wayne (ever see “The Barbarian and the Geisha”?).
I'll always remember him as the intelligent mumble-chum Vincent Vega.
Ouch it was painful just to read and think about some of the stinkers on that list let alone the pain you must have endured to actually sit through them!
I was not excited about this movie, but ended up going with a friend who was. He bought the tickets, so what the hell, right? NO. WRONG ANSWER. I can not get those two hours back, forever.
At first I thought maybe I just wasn't tracking the film because of the couple cocktails I had beforehad, but I soon realized they were the only reason why I didn't walk out of this incoherent mess of a film.
Can't argue with anything you say. And having not seen “Redacted,” I can't comment on it - though I'm not sure anything that DePalma has done in his career convinces me that he can make a scintillatingly authentic study of a real-life incident. And, sure, Hollywood has to make films that people will see. It is, as you say, a business. I can remember, though, sitting in the theater and fuming as I watched John Wayne's “The Green Berets.” That 1968 film was particularly obvious propaganda, trying to define the post-WWII world in the same old Cold War way, when anyone who served there understood just how impossibly complex the issues were. I think the main problem is that few mainstream filmmaker try to explore that underlying complexity. And when they do, whether we're talking about John Wayne or Robert Redford, the result often is a simplistic … well, rant. My solution is to see more foreign films. “Ajami,” for example, which is Israeli Arabs and Jews defining themselves. HNNA (Hollywood need not apply).
IMHO it comes across as a rant. I sounds as if he is saying [perhaps demanding] that films either be true fact or true fiction before they are allowed to be released for mass consumption. To me the true travesty is the vast majority of people who assume that because a film contains an historical figure that it is a documentary. But of course this is no different that the pap served up to most if not all of us throughout primary and secondary school history. I think for many film goers the 2 or 3 hours in the theater is an escape and it is easier to escape when there are readily identifiable good guys and bad guys. Two nights ago I watched “Aguirre, the Wrath of God”, which from most of my post high school reading seem to paint a fairly realistic picture of the European exploits in the Americas; on the other hand it is hard to imagine the Jane and Joe six-packs of America lining up to watch the movie and perhaps learning a bit about the true motivations and behaviors of our white, Christian forefathers. At the end of the day the film industry needs to make films that people will see and make a profit and i think that the Oscars should reward “skill in the craft”. After all Oscar night is an evening of bombastic fantasy celebrating and entire fantasy world.
©2010
JamesBond on The Oscars: Let this be the final word on March 10 at 3:38 p.m.
No comment on George Clooney getting caught by the paparazzi taking shots of Jack Daniels out of his pocket flask? Sounds like he was toasted. Hehehe.
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Ronn on Do you find Ryan Seacrest funny? on March 09 at 6:18 a.m.
Yeah but he is really good at saying…”This…is American Idol” lol
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KathleenCo on Do you find Ryan Seacrest funny? on March 08 at 10:00 a.m.
Agree, I don't get his appeal - at all. Never have.
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Dan Webster on James Cameeron has an ego? on March 06 at 1:53 p.m.
And I hear that as Dr. Evil would say it: “One TRILL-ion DOLL-ars!” followed by a comic-maniacal laugh.
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JamesBond on James Cameeron has an ego? on March 06 at 9:28 a.m.
Let's put it this way: I expect him to be the first producer/director to make a film that costs 1 trillion dollars.
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Dan Webster on Your early Oscar picks on March 05 at 4:55 p.m.
My friend Ken says he has “less than zero percent interest” in seeing “Avatar.” I told him unless he has access to some good smoke, an IMAX theater and a couple of hours to waste (and get wasted) not to waste his time.
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Nathan W on Your early Oscar picks on March 05 at 9:24 a.m.
I think all of the acting categories are locks this year—Bridges, Bullock, Waltz, Mo'Nique. So is Kathryn Bigelow. If anyone else wins in these categories, it'll be a major upset (although I hope Meryl Streep wins myself). I also hope “The Hurt Locker” beats “Avatar,” too, but I'm not so sure it's definite—”Avatar” could certainly take the top honor, even if Cameron won't win Best Director.
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dfratini on Your early Oscar picks on March 05 at 7:31 a.m.
as Sheri likes to describe Avatar: ” Pocahontas meets Dances with Wolves”
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Ronn on Your early Oscar picks on March 04 at 9:41 p.m.
i agree with your picks but i just have this sick feeling in my stomach that thinks that 'Avatar' will get best picture and best director..i'm hoping that hurt locker wins but i just have a feeling..hopefully i'm wrong.
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JamesBond on Your early Oscar picks on March 04 at 7:48 p.m.
I totally agree with your Avatar thoughts. I loved that movie for what it was, a really good, groundbreaking popcorn flick. If James Cameron wins for it, it would be like Blofeld beating Bond. I expect Cameron would wear a Nehru jacket too.
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dfratini on 'Cop Out': The title says it all on March 04 at 7:05 a.m.
well i suppose that in your line of work “unbridled optimism” is a useful defense mechanism
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Dan Webster on 'Cop Out': The title says it all on March 04 at 5:46 a.m.
Sometimes you just want to see a movie that you hope is going to make you laugh. Even so, I have seldom walked out of one, even if it clearly sucks. Hardly ever. I always have hope that it's going to get better. Silly me.
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dfratini on 'Cop Out': The title says it all on March 03 at 6:04 a.m.
so those were all the funny scenes; pretty lame. sometimes your job is too painful to contemplate, since the rest of us either wouldn't show up to watch this crap in the first place or would just say no a short time in to the viewing.
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Dan Webster on Of odd book titles and such nonsense on March 01 at 8:54 a.m.
I' m partial to “101 Super Uses for Tampon Applicators.”
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JamesBond on Of odd book titles and such nonsense on February 27 at 10:15 p.m.
My God, those all sound like the titles of Ph. D. dissertations. Hehehe.
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Nathan W on Of odd book titles and such nonsense on February 27 at 11:01 a.m.
I once found a book in a thrift store called “Giving Birth to Thunder, Sleeping with His Daughter: Coyote Builds North America.”
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Dan Webster on The Brits recognize 'Hurt Locker' on February 23 at 3:13 p.m.
“An Education” is a self-conscious art study, while “A Serious Man” is a bizarre creation even by Coen brother standards. Both are enjoyable, particularly regarding the overall good acting, but hardly Oscar winners.
That said, not that many years ago such a little film as “The Hurt Locker” would never have gotten a widespread release, much less warrant an Oscar nomination.
Then again, I'm not sure “Avatar” would have been nominated either.
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Ronn on The Brits recognize 'Hurt Locker' on February 23 at 2:20 p.m.
just saw 'The Hurt Locker' last night and i loved it. i missed it over the summer when it was in theatres i don't think it was in theatres that long and my summers are usually very busy so i don't get to see everything i want ..anyway i haven't been a big fan of a lot of the recent iraq war films but i liked how this film delved into the psychological aspects of how war can take a toll on these men and the film had quite a bit of intense action so all around it was a great film i think it should win best picture although i still need to see 'A serious man' and 'An Education' but from what i hear i doubt either of those films are quite as good.
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Dan Webster on 'Shutter Island': A Scorsese 'entertainment' on February 22 at 9:57 a.m.
Whatever the critics are saying, and Rotten Tomatoes' top critics rate the film at just 62 percent, the film did well at the weekend's box office, making just over $40 million. That probably won't last. But for the moment, it's good for Scorsese, whose films make barely a fraction of what, say, Michael Bay does.
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JamesBond on 'Shutter Island': A Scorsese 'entertainment' on February 21 at 1:34 p.m.
Like you said, I like Scorsese flicks, and I will be seeing this film. I read the book over the holidays up in Spokane. Many of the reviews and criticisms of the movie track with my main problem with the book, i.e., the big twist was somewhat flat. Hard to explain. I was worried how it was going to translate on film. I certainly understand why the material was picked for a movie, though. I am not going to fault Scorsese for the material or the twist. Anyways, cheers!
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Ronn on 'Shutter Island': A Scorsese 'entertainment' on February 21 at 1:16 p.m.
i always look forward to Scorsese's films and many of his films rank as some of my favorite films. i wouldn't say 'shutter island' is among his best but it is very entertaining and i enjoyed it very much..i read the book a couple years ago so i knew what to expect out of the film..the adaptation was near perfect in my opinion without doing what was done with 'Watchmen' where it is virtually a direct copy of the book. the visuals in the film enhanced what was in the book and it had some great performances in it.
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Dan Webster on Travolta: The good, bad and ugly on February 21 at 9:44 a.m.
Travolta is a classic case of a guy who has talent, but whose talent has limits. He's much the same as many other screen actors, from Al Pacino (could anyone ever convincingly argue that “Scarface” is anything more than a guilty pleasure?) to John Wayne (ever see “The Barbarian and the Geisha”?).
I'll always remember him as the intelligent mumble-chum Vincent Vega.
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dfratini on Travolta: The good, bad and ugly on February 19 at 5:36 a.m.
Ouch it was painful just to read and think about some of the stinkers on that list let alone the pain you must have endured to actually sit through them!
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Dan Webster on 'Wolf Man': What were they thinking? on February 18 at 2:44 p.m.
Those two hours are gone … forever. BTW, even ninjas wouldn't have helped that wereturkey.
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Ryan Pitts on 'Wolf Man': What were they thinking? on February 18 at 12:41 p.m.
I was not excited about this movie, but ended up going with a friend who was. He bought the tickets, so what the hell, right? NO. WRONG ANSWER. I can not get those two hours back, forever.
At first I thought maybe I just wasn't tracking the film because of the couple cocktails I had beforehad, but I soon realized they were the only reason why I didn't walk out of this incoherent mess of a film.
Give me some damn ninjas.
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Dan Webster on Oscars 2010: Parade of propaganda? on February 18 at 10:15 a.m.
Can't argue with anything you say. And having not seen “Redacted,” I can't comment on it - though I'm not sure anything that DePalma has done in his career convinces me that he can make a scintillatingly authentic study of a real-life incident. And, sure, Hollywood has to make films that people will see. It is, as you say, a business. I can remember, though, sitting in the theater and fuming as I watched John Wayne's “The Green Berets.” That 1968 film was particularly obvious propaganda, trying to define the post-WWII world in the same old Cold War way, when anyone who served there understood just how impossibly complex the issues were. I think the main problem is that few mainstream filmmaker try to explore that underlying complexity. And when they do, whether we're talking about John Wayne or Robert Redford, the result often is a simplistic … well, rant. My solution is to see more foreign films. “Ajami,” for example, which is Israeli Arabs and Jews defining themselves. HNNA (Hollywood need not apply).
Flag as inappropriate
dfratini on Oscars 2010: Parade of propaganda? on February 18 at 6:16 a.m.
IMHO it comes across as a rant. I sounds as if he is saying [perhaps demanding] that films either be true fact or true fiction before they are allowed to be released for mass consumption. To me the true travesty is the vast majority of people who assume that because a film contains an historical figure that it is a documentary. But of course this is no different that the pap served up to most if not all of us throughout primary and secondary school history. I think for many film goers the 2 or 3 hours in the theater is an escape and it is easier to escape when there are readily identifiable good guys and bad guys. Two nights ago I watched “Aguirre, the Wrath of God”, which from most of my post high school reading seem to paint a fairly realistic picture of the European exploits in the Americas; on the other hand it is hard to imagine the Jane and Joe six-packs of America lining up to watch the movie and perhaps learning a bit about the true motivations and behaviors of our white, Christian forefathers.
At the end of the day the film industry needs to make films that people will see and make a profit and i think that the Oscars should reward “skill in the craft”. After all Oscar night is an evening of bombastic fantasy celebrating and entire fantasy world.
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Dan Webster on This app helps you better enjoy the movies on February 17 at 8:53 p.m.
I learned lots of tricks during the days we'd sneak beer into the drive-in. Triple horror features can take a lot out of you.
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Kevin on This app helps you better enjoy the movies on February 17 at 8:19 p.m.
Just don't forget that you used your cup for storage afterwards.
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KathleenCo on This app helps you better enjoy the movies on February 17 at 10:53 a.m.
ha! (you haven't by chance been to field trials, have you? :)
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