THE WRESTLER

DVD viewing  I’m not sure what I expected from The Wrestler, but I knew that Mickey Rourke’s performance was central to the film’s success and acclaim. I knew very little about the premise other than it being the story of a professional wrestler whose heyday was in the ’80s but he was still making some money [...]

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

DVD viewing

It is not always the case with an Academy Award that the most popular (i.e. chosen) film is also the very best film. And most of the time, my own favorite films are not the best films I see throughout a given year. But occasionally the Best Picture Oscar winner will truly be the [...]

4 things I loved (last) week…

… plus one I absolutely did not!
March 22-28, 2009
1. this backyard patio.

If I was an outside kind of girl, this would be my permanent spot. Alas, I’m not, and so I visit it vicariously. But it looks comfy, no? via desiretoinspire, from Mae Brunken Design  
2. Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds This character, darling that [...]

RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

DVD viewing

Rachel Getting Married has been on my list of films to see since I first read about it last fall. That it’s an “indie” means there are not many chances for it to appear in my small town, and I never made it to Dallas when it was playing in the cinema there. With [...]

What I loved about the 2009 Oscar Ceremony

1. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. Jackman’s opening bit started strong for me but really hit its mark when he pulled Hathaway to the stage and she stole the scene from him. Her singing voice is much stronger than I realized (who knew she could hit such a pure, high note?), and her true joy [...]

2009 Oscar Ritual : REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

February 6, 2009, at Movies 16, Allen, Texas
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon) and Costume Design

I recently read a critical review of Revolutionary Road which stated that some of its appeal was lost to a post-Mad Men audience, and I have to say that I agree with that assessment. Mad Men has so brilliantly [...]

2009 Oscar Ritual : THE READER

February 6, 2009, at Cinemark Legacy, Plano, Texas
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress (Kate Winslet), Best Director, Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography
The Reader is one of those films that is easy to describe but difficult to relay. At its core is the story of a woman’s relationship with a teenage boy, but this is merely a [...]

5 things I love this week

January 18-24, 2009
1. Ushering in the presidency of Barack Obama. It’s historical, it was too-long-coming, and it was full of equal parts hope and realism. I was moved and I was proud of this great step in the American story. And I’m excited for what comes next, if for no other reason than to have [...]

My Top Five Moments of the Golden Globe Awards

My Annual Oscar Ritual begins each year with the Golden Globe Awards telecast, which is no longer so much an indication of the Oscars as it is a catalyst to help me determine which films to begin seeing right away. Tonight’s telecast of the Golden Globes was probably my favorite in many, many years. Though [...]

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

December 26, 2008, at AMC Stonebriar, Frisco, Texas
UPDATE 01.22.09 –> Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography plus 7 more categories
 

So much can be said about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and yet so little could do it justice. The [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

DVD viewing
Winner of 2008’s Best Picture of the Year, Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem, Best Director(s), and Best Adapted Screenplay

I’m not certain I would have seen No Country for Old Men had it not been such an award-winner this year. For some reason it didn’t really register on my radar despite the terrific cast and [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : MICHAEL CLAYTON

DVD viewing
Nominated for Best Picture, Director, Actor (George Clooney), Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton), Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson), Original Screenplay, and Original Score

For all the critical acclaim for Michael Clayton I certainly expected a better film. It’s not a bad film; it’s just not all I hoped it would be. Sure, George Clooney is fantastic and [...]

My favorite (TV) night of the year

2008 Oscars
Moreso every year, there are fewer surprises in the Academy Awards, and the constant media predictions have increasingly determined more and more winners than ever in history. In the past few years I’ve seen frontrunners left behind in favor of little-known or little-seen performances simply because the media circled around the latter and put [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : AMERICAN GANGSTER

DVD viewing
Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Ruby Dee) and Art Direction

The casting of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in opposing character roles ought to be enough to make a film excellent. Adding a gritty storyline to that mix is certainly a good idea, as is fleshing out the cast with a force of talented actors [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : GONE BABY GONE

DVD Rental
Nominated for Supporting Actress (Amy Ryan)

There were myriad reasons I was interested in Gone Baby Gone, not the least of which was hearing such critical acclaim for Ben Affleck, continuing to prove that he has finally returned to the strengths which first brought him accolade in Hollywood. The Oscar nomination for Amy Ryan was [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : ELIZABETH – THE GOLDEN AGE

DVD viewing
Nominated for Best Actress (Cate Blanchett) and Costume Design

I knew very little about Elizabeth: The Golden Age beyond the fact that it is a sequel to 1998’s Elizabeth and features the same principal actors in their roles. While I did see the first film, I cannot say I truly enjoyed it, but rather was [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : THE SAVAGES

February 10, 2008, at Angelika Film Center, Dallas, Texas
Nominated for Best Actress (Laura Linney) and Original Screenplay

Though billed as a comedy, The Savages would more aptly be categorized a “comedy of life” for the realism that ran through the entire film. Watching this film made me realize just how overstimulated I am in my entertainment [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD

DVD viewing
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Casey Affleck) and Cinematography

Before renting The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, I knew little of the film other than its two stars and the title. That turned out to be a very good thing; my opinion might have been tainted had the filmed been described [...]

Oscar Ritual 2008 : EASTERN PROMISES

DVD viewing
Nominated for Best Actor (Viggo Mortensen)

It was never my intent to see Eastern Promises. The only draw for me was Viggo Mortensen, but I expected the material to be so violent that I would find no enjoyment in the film. Still, my curiosity lingered, and its inclusion in the Academy Awards nomination list drew [...]

2008 Oscar Ritual : AWAY FROM HER

DVD viewing
Nominated for Best Actress (Julie Christie) and Adapted Screenplay

Much acclaim has been focused toward Julie Christie for her performance as a woman afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease, all of which is due, but the real heart of Away From Her lies in Gordon Pinsent’s aggrieved husband. His performance is moving and heartbreaking and captivating during [...]