There are ten movies nominated for the coveted "Best Picture" Oscar at this year's 83rd Annual Academy Awards...
and tonight, we're going to review each and every one of them! This is “Movie Night”!
*theme song plays*
Hello, and welcome to a special Oscar edition of “Movie Night.” I'm your host, Jonathan Paula.
And for the first time since I can remember, I have finally had the opportunity to watch all of the "Best Picture" nominees prior to the award ceremony...
which has been even harder lately, since the Academy expanded the field from five movies to ten last year.
Tonight, we'll be taking a look at all of them, first with a condensed review from myself, followed up by two comment reveiws from you.
At the end of the video, I'll be making my prediction for which movie I think SHOULD win "Best Picture"...
and which movie I think WILL win at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, which airs live, tomorrow night, on ABC.
But let's not waste any more time, and start reviewing these "Best Pictures" from 2010, starting off in alphabetical order, with “127 Hours.”
Directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle, this film is the incredible true-to-life story of Aron Ralston...
a 20-something hiker who finds himself literally between a rock and a hard place when he traps his right arm under a boulder...
following an accident in the Moab region of Utah. Much has already been said about Ralston's incredible story...
a man forced to amputate his own arm using a multi-tool, to save his own life.
But with Boyle's original take on the adventure and James Franco's incredible acting in the lead role...
"127 Hours" comes alive in ways I didn't think were possible. In a film where everyone already knows the plot and the ending...
and one that spends 80% of its time focusing on a single character in an insolated environment, there is excitement and suspense in every scene.
This movie is a remarkable journey through Ralston's mind, at the edge of his own life, and although it's easy to blame him for getting himself into this tough spot...
it becomes very hard not to tear up in the final scenes, where he finally does finds rescue.
The climatic amputation scene is done rather tastefully, encompassing the right amount of realism and blood to make it believable and dramatic...
but not enough to make it gross or uncomfortable. Following in the footsteps of Tom Hanks’s performance and nomination in 2000's "Cast Away"...
Franco absolutely becomes his character here, and, no pun intended, single-handedly carries this movie...
taking it from what might have been a badly dramatized documentary to a fully fleshed-out "Best Picture" nominee.
"127 Hours"- “An epic struggle of determination."
Now, let's take a look at your reviews from the YouTube comments.
No time to waste in today's extended episode of “Movie Night,” so let’s get right to our ratings for "127 Hours."
A “9” and a “9”! We both agree- this was a powerful film, very exciting, and one that Franco absolutely deserved his "Best Actor" nomination for.
Next up is "Black Swan." In this seemingly bizarre psychological thriller from nominated director Darren Aronofsky...
Natalie Portman grabs a "Best Actress" nomination for eerily portraying Nina Sayers...
an ambitious New York City ballet dancer who lands the coveted lead in "Swan Lake."
The movie starts off honest enough, as we are watching Nina's trials and tribulations on her quest to become the perfect ballerina...
despite some perceived sidelining attempts by rival dancer, Lily, played by Mila Kunis.
By the final act, however, "Black Swan" transcends into a second-rate horror movie...
with some cheap gimmicks and reveals that do more to confuse the audience than it does to frighten them.
When nearly every other scene is revealed to be merely another one of Sayer's hallucinations...
it becomes difficult to root for the characters, as you no longer understand what's real and what isn't.
Perhaps that is the film's intention, but I for one did not care for the overly zealous approach.
In this imaginative world, it's Portman's dedication to her role that is astounding, though...
and her incredible dual personality is seemingly handled with ease.
“Black Swan”- "A disjointed, mind-bending thriller."
And now, some viewer comments.
Here's the Rate-o-Matic now, to show us how we both rated "Black Swan."
An “8” and a “10”! I definitely enjoyed the film. The acting was magnificent, the cinematography was beautiful.
It was the nonsense plot twists and the cheesy horror techniques that I didn't quite care for in an otherwise fantastic film. I thought it was “great,” though.
You, however, obviously disagreed with me, saying it was an “amazing" film, giving it a "10." Our third film tonight is "The Fighter."
Nominated director David O. Russell paints a vivid picture of the boxing world of Lowell, Massachusetts...
in this true-story account of brothers Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and Dickey Eklund (Christian Bale).
One is a promising welterweight who just needs his fair shot, and the other is a washed-up fighter who is struggling with a crack addiction.
In a movie that will be invariably compared to “Rocky,” "The Fighter" is, similarly, a story about an underdog fighter...
battling his own personal issues outside of the ring, just to get a shot of redemption inside the ring.
Gritty with its realism and cinematography, this is a film that absolutely immerses you in the world of its characters...
encouraging the viewer to cheer right along with them. If the plot is a conventional one, the characters are anything but.
The entire cast is at their best here, with Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo all appropriately earning nominations for their incredible work.
Despite the stiff competition, though, Bale is undeniably the stand-out performance in this movie...
losing over 40 pounds for the role, and taking himself deep into the mind of a charismatic drug addict in every scene.
Despite the flaws of its characters, "The Fighter" does an amazing job of convincing the viewer to care about all of these people, even if you don't care about boxing.
"The Fighter"- “A feel-good underdog redemption story."
That's what I had to say about the movie. Now, let's see what you had to say in the YouTube comments.
Time to rate "The Fighter."
A “9” and an “8”! Maybe it's just because I have a soft spot for underdog stories...
or perhaps because Bale's performance completely won me over, but I scored this movie an “awesome.”
You agreed, praising this movie for being much more than your average boxing movie, giving it a “great.”
Our next "Best Picture" nominee tonight is "Inception."
Christopher Nolan has once again hit a homerun, combining all the elements of action, suspense, thriller...
and mystery into one amazingly tight-knit film that quite literally defines the word "epic."
I already reviewed "Inception" on an earlier episode of “Movie Night,” so if you'd like to hear my full review...
please check out that episode at any time. But to repeat myself a bit, this is a film that completely impresses you...
with its thought-provoking story and lush landscapes of the protagonist's mind. While none of the characters are terribly memorable...
or even worth rooting for, the journey here is more about deception and reality than a traditional three-act-structure.
This strangely believable motion picture is as exciting as it is unique, and will most certainly be talked about for years to come.
"Inception"- "a stimulating thriller with fantastic environments."
Now, let's read some of your YouTube reviews about "Inception."
No surprises here- as we discussed in episode #24 of “Movie Night,” "Inception" earns a well-deserved “9” and a “10” from us.
I thought the lack of supporting character development was really the only flaw in an otherwise outstanding movie.
Moving forward, though, let's take a look at tonight's fifth film, "The Kids Are All Right."
Although presenting us with an unconventional family dynamic, that of a lesbian couple with two teenage children...
this movie is ultimately about the very conventional problems that all of us have in relationships.
The interesting plot introduces us to the Allgood family, who, despite having a seemingly happy life together, all secretly have their issues.
The two children, now old enough to legally discover the truth on their own...
contact the sperm bank from where their lesbian parents got them nearly two decades earlier.
Their sperm-donor father, Paul, played by Mark Ruffalo, then slowly becomes part of their lives, hanging out with the children...
and starting an unlikely romantic relationship with one of the parents. Annette Benning and Julianne Moore both do fantastic jobs...
as the strong-minded and well-developed parents here. And while Benning received the nomination for "Best Actress" here...
it fortunately doesn't appear to be merely because she's a straight woman playing a gay character...
but rather for the explosive range of emotion she exhibits throughout the film.
The same cannot be said for Ruffalo, however, who, despite his "Supporting Actor" nomination, seems to loaf around awkwardly while on screen.
While the characters and story are incredibly intriguing here, it is individual lines of dialogue that really hurt this film, some of which just feel forced and unrealistic.
Perhaps it's because I personally don't have any experience with test-tube babies' relationships with their surrogate father...
but there were several key sequences in this film that just didn't feel real to me.
However, it is an engrossing and captivating story of family, friendship, and heartbreak that is certainly worth exploring.
"The Kids Are All Right"- "Occasionally inconsistent, but heartwarmingly intriguing."
Here's some of your reviews about it in the YouTube comments.
The Rate-o-Matic is back, and here's what we thought of "The Kids Are All Right."
A double “cool”! This is a very interesting film with some very strong performances, but it was almost too awkward at times for me to really enjoy it.
I rated it a “7.” Unsure what to think about this film, some really enjoying it and others, quite simply, didn't, your score averaged to a “7," as well.
We're halfway done! Continuing in alphabetical order, let's review "The King's Speech."
Director Tom Hooper's film about Prince Albert's stuttering problem took home 12 nominations this year, the most of any film in 2010.
Colin Firth stars in a nominated role as Prince Albert, during his unlikely ascension to the throne of England...
as he struggles with a stuttering problem that threatens to ruin his reputation as an effective leader.
In comes Geoffrey Rush, who was also nominated, as speech therapist Lionel Logue, a simple man who attempts to use simple techniques...
to win the respect of Albert, and hopefully fix Albert’s oratory skills. The humble and personal story is one obviously based on the real-life story...
of the eventual King George VI, but this movie artfully takes us inside some of the future king's most personal moments, as he slowly becomes friends with Logue.
Refreshingly, this film is mostly shot wide and static, letting the actors themselves fill each frame with emotion and excitement...
which, luckily, is something none of them have issue with. Firth is particularly convincing...
the frustration and embarrassment over his stutter felt painfully by the audience in every scene.
The movie sadly, though, isn't much more than that, with a good deal of the 118-minute run-time spent directly on Albert and Logue's speech therapy sessions.
With a man and an era as epic as Prince Albert's, it is unfortunate that more wasn't done here...
to broaden the scope of the picture to the level of period pieces from past nominations.
"The King's Speech"- "Slightly lacking, but beautifully honest."
That's what I had to say about this movie. So, now, let's take a look at what you had to say in the YouTube comments.
Once again, the Rate-o-Matic, this time for "The King's Speech.”
A “great” and an “awesome”! Plain and simple, I thought this was a good movie with amazing acting; I gave it an “8.”
You agreed with me, with many suggesting it will probably win this year, giving it a “9” out of “10.”
Our seventh film tonight is "The Social Network."
Here's another movie that we've already discussed on “Movie Night,” but let's revisit David Fincher's semi-biographical drama about the group of people behind Facebook.
Aaron Sorkin turns in another brilliantly written but unfortunately overly verbose script that all of the actors carry with ease.
The entire film is nothing but talking heads, but it is strangely fascinating and amazingly entertaining.
In the lead role of the sometimes abrasive Mark Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg does well enough to convince the audience...
that you may want to see the story from his point of view, but honestly, I'm curious as to how he got a "Best Actor" nomination for an otherwise non-impressive performance.
As with every film nominated, "The Social Network" is, of course, brilliantly filmed, edited, and scored, even coming to a satisfying emotional conclusion.
Unfortunately, much is also left on the table, with many plot elements needing on-screen text before the credits to tie them up.
"The Social Network"- "Expertly written, but nothing remarkable."
Now that you've heard my review, let's read some of yours.
The same ratings we saw from episode #28 of “Movie Night,” but once again, the Rate-o-Matic to remind us how we scored "The Social Network."
An “8” and a “9”! This film was well-polished and very entertaining, but, at times, it felt more like a documentary than a nominated drama.
I scored it a “great.” You loved the dialogue and music, rating it an “awesome.”
We'll be right back to take a look at tonight's eighth film right after this quick commercial break.
Welcome back! “Toy Story 3” is only the third-ever animated movie to be nominated in this category, and surprisingly...
it's the first-ever sequel to be nominated when its predecessors weren't.
“Toy Story 3” picks up many years after the last two films, but, as you'd expect, it's as if they never left.
By now, 15 years removed from the original, the classic that redefined Hollywood as the first-ever feature-length CGI film...
our heroes Woody and Buzz Lightyear are household names. Their adventures of misfortune, discovery, rescue, and love are timeless.
This time around, owner Andy is off to college, but that's not before all of his toys are mistakenly donated to a hellish day care center.
Luckily for them, Woody is on the outside, and helps stage the greatest prison break-type escape in the history of animated movies.
While the effects are once again top-notch, the jokes family-friendly and hilarious, the voice acting inspired, the environments creative and exciting...
and the characters well-developed and memorable, none of it would matter without an emotional connection.
Luckily, that's where this film comes through in spades, with a strong final act that is sure to make even the toughest of men tear up...
as they watch the adventures of Woody, Buzz, Jesse, Rex, Potato Head, and the rest of them come to a close for the final time.
And although this film is able to recapture the magic of the original, it unfortunately does not recapture its uniqueness.
By now, “Toy Story” is familiar, and not much is done here to really spark new life into the aging series.
This is a film that effectively brings us back to our childhood, conjuring up intense feelings of heartfelt nostalgia and family.
It is a truly remarkable accomplishment that, in just three short movies, Pixar has created some of cinema's most enduring and lasting characters...
which is no wonder why "Toy Story 3" went on to gross over a billion dollars worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2010.
If you're like me, and you grew up loving the original films, the latest installment doesn't disappoint.
"Toy Story 3"- “a fun, bittersweet reunion for everyone."
Well, those are my thoughts on the movie. Now, let's look some of yours.
Overwhelmingly positive responses there, so it's no surprise that the Rate-o-Matic is showing a “9” and a “10” for “Toy Story 3.”
Despite being a bit derivative of the original, this is an absolutely fabulous film. Go and see it with your family if you haven't already.
I thought it was “awesome.” None of you had anything bad to say about this movie. You thought it was “amazing.”
Our ninth film tonight is the remake of the John Wayne western classic, "True Grit."
Veterans of cinema Joel and Ethan Coen are at it again, this time venturing into the western genre with an untested newcomer, Hailee Steinfeld, at the helm.
Steinfeld plays Mattie Ross, a young girl in the Old West who recently lost her father to a vicious murderer.
She hires the local alcoholic US Marshal, Rooster Cogburn, played by Jeff Bridges in a nominated role, to help track down her father's killer.
The film, of course, is visually stunning, really capturing the majesty and sights of the famed "Old West."
Cogburn is an absolute character, providing for some of the film’s best moments, both dramatic and comedic.
Matt Damon has a smaller role as a Texas Ranger, and, despite his lack of roundhouse kicks to outlaws’ faces, does a great job with his character, as well.
At times, "True Grit" feels more like a slow-paced TV movie, though, than an Oscar-nominated Coen brothers’ film, but the writing...
laced with plenty of dialogue of the period, more than makes up for this. The plot itself, however, could have been a bit tighter...
with most of the film just sort of wandering from scene to scene. The final goal is a definitive one, but how the characters get there doesn't seem all that unique.
The final act is an exciting action sequence complete with horse jaunting with pistols, caves of snakes, vicious revenge...
and last-minute rescue attempts- everything that makes a good western great.
In her first substantial role to date, Steinfeld more than holds her own in this picture, undeniably lighting up the screen with her charisma and determination.
At only 14 years old, her “Supporting Actress” nomination is certainly well-deserved, but curiously placed in the "supporting" category.
She had more screentime here than anyone else in the movie.
"True Grit"- “a wild adventure, but nothing epic."
Well, that's what I thought about the movie. Now, let's see what you had to say in the YouTube comments.
Here comes the Rate-o-Matic now, to show us how we scored "True Grit."
A “cool” and a “great”! As seems to be the trend on “Movie Night,” I am slightly harsher on the movie than you have been.
There were many things about this movie I really enjoyed, but nothing really stood out and wowed me. I scored it a “7” out of “10.”
Many of you loved this film, really complimenting it in regards to the 1969 original. You rated it an “8.”
And last, and unfortunately for some of you, also least, we'll take a look at "Winter's Bone."
Easily the least-known of the nominated pack, "Winter's Bone" is an unflinching look at the life of Ree Dolly...
played by Jennifer Lawrence in a nominated role, a 17-year-old girl in the rural Ozarks who struggles to support her poor family by herself.
Matters are made worse when her deadbeat dad misses his court date, an action that could result in the state repossessing the Dolly family house.
So, with her family's only hope of survival in the hands of her missing father, Ree sets out around her insular world in the mountains...
questioning her relatives and her father's criminal contacts, looking for answers. Shot on a budget of just $2 million...
"Winter's Bone" is a startlingly realistic and sometimes invasive look at the American poor in the rural Midwest.
Most of the actors here, especially that of John Hawkes, who was nominated for "Supporting Actor," playing Ree's tough and unforgiving uncle...
are unflappable in their portrayal, many of them actually acting for the first time here, presumably in roles very close to home.
Ultimately, it's a story about Ree's quest to save her family, and her relationship with her younger siblings is easily the emotional center of this film.
The rest of the movie feels like an old-fashioned film noir detective case, all building to a satisfying conclusion, but one that will also leave many with mixed feelings.
While this film doesn't necessarily do anything wrong- the acting, the editing, the music all set the mood perfectly- it's unfortunately not quite enough to become "Best Picture of the Year."
Ultimately, it is just a simple mystery story that does little to break the confines of its genre. As overlooked as it was, this is the type of film that more people absolutely need to see.
Lest we all start complaining that Hollywood is incapable of making anything original anymore, perhaps we're content with the familiar?
Six of the ten nominees this year are adaptations on previously available material.
In any event, "Winter's Bone" is "surprisingly fresh, if mostly uneventful."
Well, that's my review. Now, let's read some of yours.
For the last time tonight, let's fire up the Rate-o-Matic for "Winter's Bone."
A “7” and a “6”! This film is different, it's unique, and it takes a certain type of mood to truly appreciate that.
And while I acknowledge that, it's also not the type of film that's terribly memorable or exciting, either. I thought it was “cool,” though.
Some of you went so far as to say this movie was boring, but at least recognizing that it was a “good” movie.
Now that we've examined all 10 “Best Picture” nominees, let's make some predictions.
When the Academy expanded this category to ten films last year, it opened up the opportunity to include more mainstream titles...
as well as shining light on some lesser-known films that may not have done as well commercially, like last year's "Hurt Locker."
And while this year's selection is a very strong group of films, not a single one of them really jumped out at me. You may have noticed I didn't give any of them a "10."
Some of my favorite films from last year like "Shutter Island," "Easy A," "Frozen," and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” are, as expected, not included on this list.
But since these are the so-called "Best Pictures" of the year, it is now my responsibility to make some tough predictions.
For each of the top four categories ("Best Actor," "Actress," "Director," and "Picture")...
I will be picking my favorite, as well as the one I think is most likely going to win tomorrow night.
For “Best Actress”: Natalie Portman. She is an absolute show-stealer in “Black Swan,” and I truly believe she was the best actress in the field this year.
It's likely the Academy will agree with me, as well. In the “Best Actor” category, only Colin Firth and Franco really took over the screen when they were present.
The other nominees weren't as memorable. And while I'm sure Colin Firth will take home the Oscar, my personal pick has to go to Franco...
who really carried the entire movie on his back. “Best Director” is a very difficult category to predict, but I'm going to wager a guess that Tom Hooper will win for "King's Speech."
Despite some of its rather trite horror sequences, I personally felt Darren Aronofsky's job with "Black Swan" was this year's best, and by far the most inventive.
And finally, for the biggest award in all of cinema, the coveted "Best Picture" Oscar?
I personally had difficulty selecting my favorite from this field, it being a toss-up between "Inception," "127 Hours," or "The Fighter."
When pressed, though, I believe that "Inception" deserves to win. It's the only film in recent memory that, when finished...
made me immediately want to watch it again for the second time. Brazenly original and intriguing, it's also the only film from 2010 that I have already purchased on Blu-ray.
The Academy, however, will likely choose "The King's Speech." It's the safe vote for them- a traditional period piece...
with established actors that does enough to earn 12 nominations, but not quite enough to break the mold.
In any event, wrong or right, I hope you are just as eagerly awaiting the Academy Awards as I am.
I will be live-Tweeting the entire evening, posting my immediate reactions and, of course, snide comments...
so I encourage you to follow me on Facebook or Twitter, to be part of the conversation.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, I will also be posting an episode of "The World According to Jon" about my thoughts and reactions to the Oscars...
so make sure to subscribe to my second channel if you'd like to see that video when it's posted.
But for now, that does it for my reviews and predictions on these Oscars. Now, let's take a look at what's currently playing in theaters, with some Tweet Critiques.
Remember, if you're going to the movies this weekend, make sure to submit your Twitter review, using the #JPMN hashtag, to have it featured on an upcoming episode.
Next week, we'll be taking a look at two brand-new DVD releases: "Due Date," a road trip-style comedy starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Zach Galifianakis...
and "Faster," a high-octane action film that's high on action and low on substance that stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton.
As always, I encourage you to buy, rent, or download these films before next week's episode...
and then let me know what you think about them by voting in the polls below, or by leaving a comment review.
Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula. Thank you for watching “Movie Night."
Have a great time watching the Oscars this weekend. I hope to see you right back here next Friday!
*end credits play*
*Remember to tune in to the season 10 premiere of the microwave show on April 1st!*