Somewhere

Being a great admirer of Sofia Coppola’s body of work I immediately placed her latest film on my must see list for December. Somewhere is filled with the usual elements found in a Sofia Coppola film such as quiet moments revealed in a single frame and the peaceful, almost meditative, pace. However, I think she missed the opportunity to make this small film a great film and another Oscar contender like Lost in Translation. It felt as though this film ended at the end of the second act and there was no climax. If there had been that climax, the movie would’ve truly arced, the lesson would’ve been learned, and the main character would’ve grown. Instead you’re left with hopes that Johnny the actor steps up and becomes a real father.

The Tempest

Julie Taymor is a visionary director who knows how to turn a film into a piece of fine art. Everything about this film worked and complimented the language of Shakespeare beautifully. The most noteworthy part of the film was the lack of CGI when creating the special effects. Most of the effects were created with film tricks and editing, a tradition long forgotten in the film industry today. I would gladly sit through this film again and immerse myself in the world Julie Taymor created.

Tron: Legacy

I have never seen the original Tron and when I heard the sequel was coming out, I put the original in my Netflix queue and it became “unavailable,” so I only had a vague idea of what to expect. There were some cool effects in the basically monochromatic color scheme and I’m pretty sure science-fiction and video game enthusiasts will find it to be a fantastic film, filling the void for this year’s Avatar. It was an entertaining film with a kick ass soundtrack which I’m planning on purchasing in the near future, but when thinking about individual parts to evaluate, I’m left cold. I guess a bunch of neutral elements put together equals something entertaining? I don’t know.

Tangled

I’m not an animation fan, but I’m a sucker for classic Disney fairytales. I walked out of this film completely joyous yet sad knowing that this Disney’s last fairy tale for awhile. It feels as though Disney has learned from their critics and has finally stepped away from making weak princesses in need of their prince. Rapunzel is a great role model for young girls because she’s following her dream, which isn’t a man, but to explore the outside world. All the characters were clearly developed and the new mythology added to the classic fairytale created new dimension to the story. This magical, wonderful film made me feel like a little girl again.

Burlesque

What do you get when you combine Christina Aguilera, Cher, and glitter? A fun filled 2 hours! This was definitely campy, but that’s what made it fabulous. It was great to know that Christina Aguilera can act and sing. The dancing, music, and costumes where spectacular! And the icing on the cake was Kristin Bell who really proved her acting chops by playing a drunken diva.

Morning Glory

Even though I kept hearing negative reviews of this film, I was determined to see it because it looked good and I thought it was. Rachel McAdams played her character to perfection and though she was neurotic, she was very likeable. Harrison Ford was perfect as a jaded newscaster and Diane Keaton was the perfect Kathy Lee rip-off diva. This film was criticized for not being Network, but wasn’t supposed to be. It was about a woman finding the balance between work and life and figuring out what’s best for her. This was a great and refreshing film about a woman focused on something other than her love life.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

I was skeptical going into this film because the adaptation of the sixth book as so atrocious. Though this adaption was better than that one, it still fell short. A big issue I have is J.K. Rowling was able to have character arcs for every character and the screenwriter could’ve easily copied that with a couple lines of dialogue, but did not. I’m not going to lie; I was put off at the very beginning because one of my favorite scenes in the entire book series between Harry and his cousin Dudley was completely omitted. The more I thought about this movie the next day the more I realized they left out important details such as certain conversations which were suppose to take place at the wedding or a certain artifact which was suppose to be revealed when they visit an ally towards the end. I felt like so much was glossed over, I wonder if someone who hasn’t read the books would even be able to grasp what is going on. I plan on taking my dad to the movie to find out.

Black Swan

Ever since the trailer for this film appeared on the internet I’ve been dying to see it. It is a trippy and successful mixture of two things I love: psychological thrillers and dance. The masterful handheld camera work helps the audience immerse themselves inside the brain of Nina, Natalie Portman, a high-strung ballerina. Though nothing about the inner workings of Nina’s head is clearly spelled out, you never feel as though something is missing. All the pieces are there, you just have a choice as to how you want to put it together. And all the surreal and trying elements of this dark story lead up to an ending that finishes the film perfectly.

Skyline

Aliens invading earth isn’t exactly the most original idea for a film, but fun to watch. The characters in the movie were obnoxious and belonged on a VH1 celebreality show. Though everything about the characters and their plots was boring, the aliens were great and worth watching. They were a mixture of all the different aliens from great cinema mashed up into an alien race hell bent on ridding earth of humans. It was awesome watching them get rid of the main characters.

The Hereafter

I know that Clint Eastwood is a critically acclaimed director, but I generally avoid his movies unless the topic seems interesting. The trailer for this movie made it seem interesting, but I had no idea what the real topic was and I was still wondering that after the movie was over. I kept waiting for something to happen because there must be a reason why these characters were the way they were, but yet nothing happened. When the movie was over all I wanted was some chocolate to chase away the depressed and unsatisfied feeling I was left with.

Conviction

When simply looking at the plot of this film, a woman who never graduated high school puts herself through law school to help get her wrongfully convicted brother out of jail, it sounds like a Lifetime movie. However, great acting and nonlinear story telling helps keep this movie fresh and intriguing. Sam Rockwell gave a stellar performance as the brother and it was wonderful to see Minnie Driver, who played Hilary Swank's friend, in something because she is a talented actress who isn't used nearly enough. I enjoyed the pacing and the talent that brought this movie together. It was a wonderful way to spend my Tuesday evening.

Paranormal Activity 2

When the first Paranormal Activity came out I was excited, and honestly it wasn’t that scary the first time I saw it, but got increasingly scarier the more times I’ve watched it. It’s so rare to find an actual scary horror movie that doesn’t rely on blood and gore; I was ready to give this sequel my money. The first half of the movie was boring filled with supposedly creepy shots of a pool cleaner and thumping noises. Then something big happened that made me jump and put me on edge for the rest of the film. The ending, however, was laughable and lame. This movie is filled with cheap scares, effective and fun, but cheap.

My Soul to Take 3D

There’s nothing in the world like horror movie logic. It’s what helps Freddy haunt dreams, Chucky’s soul stay inside a doll, Jason come back to life and Michael never die. And this movie relied on the same kind of logic. A serial killer with not multiple personalities, that’s been done to death, but multiple souls. Ooooohhhhh. Awwwweeee. I’m just happy that the killer's soul stayed away from killing animals and stuck to annoying teenagers, making this a bloody fun movie.

Case 39

This is one of those cases where there was probably a great script, but then too many people interfered and it was muddled into something far less. There were great creepy ideas in the movie and the premise was fresh and exciting, but the elements didn’t quite add up. A lot of it had to do with the horrible performances from Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper. I never bought Renee as a mousy social worker or Bradley as a child therapist, he’s way too slimy for that. I just wish it was better movie.

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Gore porn for women. That is the best way to describe this intense, but fun movie. I remember watching the original 1978 film during my revenge phase and cringing during the too graphic rape scene, wishing for the worse torment to be bestowed upon the rapists and not being satisfied. This wasn't the case with the remake. All the issues I had with the original were solved. The rape scene is still graphic, but when it becomes too much to handle the film fades to black, giving the audience a sigh of relief. The revenge, which is what the film is all about, is bloody and justifiable. All of the men responsible for brutally raping the girl get theirs and it is bloody satisfying. I loved this film, better than the original, by far.

Dinner for Schmucks

Every girl has a secret "geek crush" and for me it's Steve Carell. Ever since I saw him in the 40 Year Old Virgin, I've had a little crush. He's the reason why I watch the Office every week. Who wants Jim when you can have Michael Scott? So I was obviously drawn to this movie because I had to see my favorite geek being his adorable idiotic self, I just wish he was less of an idiot. I hate sitting in a movie and watching a character continually screw up; it's frustrating. And with this movie there didn't seem to be enough resolution proportional to the anguish I felt watching Carell consistently make things worse. I also felt they didn't use Paul Rudd to his full potential. I was waiting for him to let his schmuck flag fly, but there was nothing. And honestly, I could've done without Zack Galifianakis. To me, he's always playing the same character and I got enough of that character in The Hangover. I did laugh, out loud, a few times, but I'm glad I only paid $3 to see it.

The Social Network

Is this the film that defines my generation, generation y, the millennials? It is. How could it not be? It’s about the one thing our generation is hopelessly addicted to, Facebook, social networking, and instant gratification. Mark Zuckerberg is the quintessential icon for this generation with his slacker attitude, need for things to happen instantaneously, emotional detachment, and drive for power. This geek may have invent one of the biggest icons of the last decade, but he is still geek who wants nothing more than to be seen as cool and can’t get Erica, the girl who broke his heart out of his head. It can even be concluded after the film that his creation of Facebook was a way to win her back. What this film is lacking is the female voice of the generation which can only be heard once at the beginning of the film when Erica dumps Mark and says, “you’re going to go through life thinking girls don’t like you because you’re a nerd, but really, it’s because you’re an asshole.” Just because a man is a nerd or a geek doesn’t make him easier to get along with, it might even make it harder. This film is worth seeing because it is an important film. It is a glimpse into the mind of the newest power-hungry worker drones graduating from college and infiltrating the corporations or creating their own.

You Again

A quintessential chick flick that missed the opportunity be original and fresh. Women one-upping each other is a cliché found in chick flicks, so when going with that theme it’s best to do something new and different making the film unforgettable. With such a great cast of women who are risk takers in their craft, Betty White, Sigourney Weaver, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kristin Bell, it is such a shame that filmmakers chose to play it safe, not using the actresses to their full potential. The draw of the film for me was a possibility of a cat fight between Ripley and the Scream Queen, and I didn’t even get that.

Catfish

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I wasn’t impressed and could figure out what all of it was going to lead up to. Then the hype started and people who I wouldn’t think would be interested in the film all of a sudden became interested and I thought I was wrong. I was wrong to believe the hype. This is not a thriller, don’t let the hype mislead you. Anybody who is shocked by the big reveal is technologically naïve.

Machete

I fell in love with the Grindhouse double feature from the very first trailer which was Machete. The hype for this film, however, surpassed the content of the actual movie. The blood and action was fun, but mixed in between was the message of immigration and I felt like it was being shoved down my throat. The best part of the film had no actual relevance to the plot, which was the return of Lindsay Lohan. I’ve always liked her and though she was a great actress, I even own I Know Who Killed Me, so I was happy to see her on the big screen again. Now she just needs to get of the drugs and get her curvy body back.

Easy A

Teen comedies are awesome. I love Sixteen Candles, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, etc. And I love to examine and want to change the way the world views promiscuous females. So, of course, I was totally looking forward to seeing this movie and I was totally impressed. It is so rare to find a movie that exceeds my already high expectations. The excellent supporting cast just adds to the witty performance of Emma Stone. At the end of the movie I was wishing Patricia Clarkson and Stanley Tucci were my parents. The references to teen films of previous generations were just the cherry on top of the sundae of awesomeness. This movie blends a fresh twist into a nostalgic genre.

Devil

I know just having the name M. Night Shyamalan attached to a film these days automatically makes a movie bad, but I loved the concept of having six people stuck in an elevator with the devil, so I gave the movie a chance and I am so glad I did. I found the twist predictable, but the characters and the actions leading up to that twist were engaging. I did wish there was a little bit more character development between the six stuck in the elevator, but besides that it was a good, solid film. Maybe Shyamalan should stop writing and directing and just stick to coming up with cool concepts.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

I saw the first Resident Evil and never felt compelled to watch any of the others, but this time I was in the mood to watch a guilty pleasure movie on a weekend afternoon, and this was perfect. It knew what it was, what kind of audience it had and didn’t have any extra level of pretention to try and make it a good film. It’s a good film because it’s a film about Milla Jovovich killing zombies and trying to bring down the Umbrella Corporation, nothing more. It’s a fun, fun, fun movie.

The Last Exorcism

Little girls being possessed freak me out. The trailer for this film freaked me out. I was expected to get scared out of my mind during this film. I was wrong. The mocumentary starts off comedic, portraying the priest protagonist as an arrogant douche bag who makes money off faking exorcisms and he decides he’s going to do one more based on a letter from a family in rural Louisiana. Throughout the film the audience is left questioning whether or not the little girl in question is actually possessed, which gives a new dimension to these stale idea. However, at the end of the film, there is an added twist which should’ve either gone on longer or not happened at all. That twist ending broke the film.

Monsters

My dad loves alien movies, so when I heard about this alien film was being shot by a father/daughter team I decided we had to see it together. It was a classic home-made, handheld camera film about aliens in Mexico and a man and woman having to cross the border into America without being killed by these aliens, these monsters. What gave this film an interesting twist was that it was less of an alien invasion film and more like a modern adaptation of It Happened One Night. A very enjoyable film.

Vampires Suck

I’m not usually drawn to these overly ridiculous parody films such as Disaster Movie and Superhero Movie, but I hate the Twilight films and didn’t mind watching them endlessly mocked. The most interesting part of the movie was the fact that the actors mocking Edward and Bella were actually better actors than their serious counterparts; Kristin Stewart and Robert Pattinson. This movie was great because the dialogue felt like a replication of the commentary my friends and I add whenever we watch one of the Twilight films.

Step-Up 3D

Everybody has a certain genre of film that is their complete guilty pleasure, mine is teen dance films. I love Save the Last Dance and Step-Up 2: the Streets, so yes; I was excited about this 3D dance spectacle. Though this film lacks any real plot like its predecessor, it is entirely fun and has does have the message to be true to yourself. I also made it a point to see the film in 3D because it was actually filmed with 3D cameras, unlike the rest of the “3D” films which have come out this summer, and I wanted them to dance in my face. All I wanted to do during the movie and after was DANCE!

Middle Men

A movie about the one thing internet is often used for, porn. Though this film is your basic overtly dramatization of actual events, it is none the less entertaining. The best part of the film are the interactions between Wayne Beering and Buck Dolby, portrayed by Giovanni Ribisi and Gabriel Macht. They add laugh out loud moments which propelled the story forward and added something different to the usual tale of porn and then men who make money off it.

Charlie St. Cloud

I’ve never seen any of the High School Musical movies and could never understand what the appeal is for Zac Efron, so I did go into the movie skeptical of what this movie would consist off. Though the plot is predictable and there are way too many close-up shots of Efron, it is a pretty decent film. The most impressive aspect of the film was Efron’s acting. I noticed in Seventeen Again that he had some acting capability and now I know it wasn’t a fluke.

Get Low

I would say this is the first serious film of the year. It is filled with excellent acting, directing, cinematography, etc. The chemistry of Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, and Bill Murray is phenomenal and pushes the story forward, keeping the viewer entertained and engaged. Robert Duvall’s character goes from grumpy old man to compassionate human being and it is compelling to watch.

Inception

Fifteen minutes into the film I was wondering why I decided to sit through another Christopher Nolan film. I am not a fan of his. I hate Memento, get twitchy when I watch Batman Begins, and only liked Dark Knight for Heath Ledger. So why did I see Inception? I was bored and it was the only thing playing that wasn’t for children. To me this movie was predictable and tedious. The whole premise seemed to be stolen from the Matrix, a far superior film. Again, I was left unimpressed by a Chris Nolan film.

Cyrus

I can’t believe I went into this movie except something new and different, but it’s just like all the other feel good indie dramadies out there. It’s a cast of quirky characters in an awkward situation talking about life to a hipster soundtrack. The only new thing about the film is Jonah Hill acting more like Michael Cera than this usual outrageous, raunchy self.

Predators

By far the best movie I’ve seen all summer, which I know isn’t saying much considering what has come out. It knew what is and didn’t try to be anything more than it was. Predators is the perfect summer blockbuster filled with aliens, semi-interesting characters, explosions, and dumb, but not too dumb dialogue. I’d see it again.

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

I could shit a better movie than this. I suffered through reading the books and go to see these films for a laugh. However, the job of the screenwriter is to adapt a book as easy and mindless as the Twilight series into a movie either equivalent to quality of the book or better, not worse. If I was an actual fan of Bella, Edward, and Jacob I would hire a hit on the screenwriter.

Knight and Day

A summer blockbuster featuring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, and lots of action, so it can either be mildly entertaining or terrible. Luckily it was mildly entertaining if one is in the mood for a mindless popcorn movie with mildly witty jokes and slam bam star power. Though this film is pretty forgettable, except when it comes to the true identity of the actors, it was good for a giggle.

Splice

A good, classic sci-fi film without all the extra footage of action and explosions is rare these days. Splice is a rare gem. The updated version of Frankenstein involves a couple of N.E.R.D.’s and their special creation Dren: a hybrid of human, bird, butterfly, and cat (I think). This movie was enjoyable to watch with excellent pacing and like every good science fiction had social commentary.

Letters to Juliet

It is wonderful to go to a movie and get exactly what you were expecting and what you wanted. This movie was a chick flick about love and romance in Verona, Italy, pure and simple. It never got too sappy or whiny and it left me wanting to find true love and go to Italy. It was the perfect daydream of a lovely summer romance. Extra bonus: I made a new friend when I went to go see it.

Sex and the City 2

The idea of spending another two hours with my favorite New York City girlfriends made me giddy. After the movie though, my expectations fell flat. The movie had no plot. There were good moments and plenty of chances to have plot, but these a movie does not make. The “plot” was more based in fantasy than reality. The decoy plot I heard of before the movie came out involved Mr. Big was suppose to be traveling on business because of losing in the recession and might have an affair and Miranda quitting her job to open a restaurant with Steve. These would’ve added more depth to an already criticized for being shallow subject matter. The direction that Michael Patrick King decided to go in was an outrageous, extravagant adventure that felt more like a gay man’s idea of how Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda should act instead of how women really do act.

Iron Man 2

After a week of writing a feature length screenplay and an 800 word paper, all I wanted to do was sit in a dark theater, eat popcorn, and watch things explode. Iron Man 2 satisfied these wants. Though it can’t compare with the first one, it was still fun. The acting was solid and Scarlet Johansson made me want a Black Widow movie. There should be more female action heroes and it would be really nice to have a female comic book movie that’s actually decent.

Death at a Funeral

I know this is a remake and I’ll admit to never seeing the original, so this review is purely based on the new movie, which was funny. Maybe it was the being half awake and wearing my pajamas to go see the movie, but I was laughing out loud on a frequent basis. Though all the comedians were hilarious, the best was James Marsden. His performance of the unexpectedly drugged boyfriend was worthy of an Oscar.

Clash of the Titans

Being a fan of the original and a fan of Greek mythology in general, I was hesitant about seeing this film. In comparison to the original, the special effects in the new one are much better especially when it comes to Medusa and the kraken. I didn’t see the movie in 3D, but I don’t see it making much of an improvement. What made this movie horrible was their complete disregard for Greek mythology. It was as if the screenwriter couldn’t take the time to go to Barnes and Nobel and pick up a book on mythology. Zeus and Hades are fighting like God and Lucifer from Christianity and Medusa was no longer vain, she was a rape victim. The tragic thing is children are going to see this movie, this blockbuster, and think this is what Greek mythology is. So much art, so much of our culture is based on these myths, it is blasphemy to pervert them so much.

How to Train Your Dragon

Out of lack of choices about what movie to review, I let my best friend who loves animation, drag me to go see How to Train Your Dragon, and it was everything I would expect. There’s a story about a misfit in this Viking versus dragon culture and he has to prove himself, but realizes he would rather train dragons than kill them. It is filled with celebrity voices and it is easy to tell which actor is voicing which character. The one thing that really bothered me was the super quick edits during the action scenes. There were some shots I couldn’t even process because of how fast the images moved across the screen. No wonder children have ADD.

The Runaways

The chick rock revolution began with these young girls. This movie came out a great time when female empowered rock is in a bit of deficit. The acting, directing, and writing fucking rocked! For once Kristin Stewart did not spend the entire movie running her fingers through her hair and biting her lip, she actually acted and it was refreshing. Dakota Fanning also should what and incredible actress she is and I’m looking forward to watching her in years to come. This was an awesome movie about chicks rocking out and owning their sexuality written and directed by a woman. Rock on!

Bitch Slap

This movie which was in theaters the first week of January and is now available on DVD is my favorite film of 2010. A wonderful homage to the sexploitation films of the 60’s and 70’s. The movie began with a quote about how men are the root of all evil and gets better from there. If you’re in the mood to watch a campy movie with hot women kicking ass, get Bitch Slap.

Remember Me

A perfect experiment to see if Twilight fans will follows Robert Pattinson after he is done playing Edward Cullen. Rob Pat plays another pale brooding character but Tyler is a little more Spike from Buffy, living on a diet of beer and cigarettes and starting random fights. The pacing was slow and the two main characters lack the chemistry needed to make the relationship believable. However, it was very funny watching their native accents slip out. The real heart of the movie was Rob Pat’s gifted artist younger sister. Her serious sensitivity truly captured what it is like for a young girl to be different in middle school. This movie is just another opportunity for Rob Pat fans to swoon.

Alice in Wonderland

Oh Tim Burton, maybe you should take a break. And oh Johnny Depp, maybe you should take a break too. In fact maybe this should be the last time you two work together. This movie had lots of potential, but fell short aiming to appeal to the teenybopper set. Instead of creating something new from the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland, it was just a horrible, gothic rehashing of the Disney movie. And what they really did wrong was show what Johnny’s Mad Hatter looked like months before the movie actually came out. When the big reveal came, introducing us to the Mad Hatter, there was no wow factor because I’ve been staring at his face for 6 months. I kept thinking what else you got? They didn’t have much else to impress with.

The Crazies

Yay Zombies! Yay Crazy People! Yay the just right amount of gore and violence! This movie was a fun time, especially while eating some excellent Mexican food that I snuck into the theater. Not a great film, but totally fun and worth watching.

Shutter Island

I love thrillers and film noirs and my best friend loves Leonardo Dicaprio, so of course we saw this film. This is Martin Scorsese best film ever. He truly demonstrated his masterful filmmaking skills creating a suspenseful film noir. Leo’s performance was also outstanding. This was the first time in a long while I actually forgot I was watching Leonardo Dicaprio. Though I figured out the twist of the film within the first five minutes, I still enjoyed watching it. This was the only predictable film I have found watchable.

Ghost Writer

A Roman Polanski thriller with Ewan McGregor and Kim Cattrall? Yes please! However, my expectations fell short, as usual. Instead of getting something exciting and intriguing, I got something slow and boring. The story was a bit cliché and should have focused more on the affairs instead of the controversy. And as far as Kim Cattrall’s performance, her fake English accent ruined any chance for her to exude any sexual chemistry.

Valentine's Day

I’m alone on Valentine’s Day, what is a perpetually single girl to do? I decided to go out with one of my only single friends to a 21 and over showing of Valentine’s Day. So because of the quantity of alcohol I had consumed, I truly enjoyed the Los Angeles version of Love Actually for what it was: a cheesy romantic comedy with no real point. Sometimes we need a little cheesy romance with an all star cast, especially when some alcohol is involved. Lol!

The Wolfman

I was already weary about this film before stepping into the theater because of the release date being pushed back three times. I should trust my instinct. Within the first five minutes I could tell they had a good, suspenseful script which needed some help with the dialogue, but twisted it and made it horrible. It was obvious that there were three cuts of the film, a slow, mysterious one, a half and half, and an action-packed, lowest common denominator that only relies on the special effects and CGI. They obviously went with the third cut, the worse cut. And top it all off, everyone had an accent except Bencio Del Torro. Not worth it!

10 Best Pictures?

THE 10 BEST PICTURES? On Groundhog Day the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences announced they’re nominations for the Academy Awards and this year instead of the traditional five nominees for Best Picture, they announced ten. Now I personally think that 2009 wasn’t the best year for movies and when the Academy announced during the summer it was going to extend the Best Picture category to ten, I kind of laughed about it. However, when I saw what movies were nominated, it turned out I saw all but three, so I made the effort to see my last three. Here’s my opinion about the movies and which ones deserve recognition and which one deserves the win. Avatar: Definitely the most talked about movie of the year and now the highest grossing movie of all time, well, depending on inflation and other factors. Does it deserve all the hype? Yes and No. The special effects and revolutionary 3D technology made me feel like I was on another planet even after the movie ended. However, the plot was a bit cliché and a little preachy, but I think an epic movie with everything from action to romance is something the world was starved for. It was good and expressed what filmmaking is supposed to be about: escapism. A contender. The Blind Side: This was one of the three movies I had left to watch after the nominations were announced because I thought it was a football movie, but it’s not. This movie demonstrates what it means to be a decent human being and since it is based on a true story, it makes it even more heartwarming. Sandra Bullock is phenomenal in it and even though I cried during it, out of happiness, the movie gave me a happy feeling overall. It gave me hope for humanity. A contender. District 9: A gritty, gross science fiction movie with a message set in South Africa. After viewing this movie I could see why people liked it. It really is an allegory about racial inequality and since the setting is South African, helps to reiterate it. What really makes the film good is the documentary style it was shot in, making the notion of discriminated aliens plausible. Should be happy it’s nominated. An Education: My personal favorite nominated movie because I’ve always had a thing of May-December romances. What makes this particular one enjoyable to watch is the depth of the young girl and how she approaches her relationship with the older man in a curious and semi-logical way. No real chance. The Hurt Locker: Yay women directors in charge of critically acclaimed films! I don’t like war movies at all, but I sat through this without getting bored. I did like how it dealt with soldiers and what they go through without bringing the politics of the Iraq war into it. A contender. Inglorious Basterds: I love Tarantino and tend to like his lesser stuff more than his critically acclaimed films, but this movie was wonderful. True to Tarantino fashion it had a strong female protagonist and a climatic end that made everybody wish that Tarantino could truly rewrite history. Also the Academy has always favored WWII and Holocaust movies so it made sense the bloody, good time of a film go nominated. A contender. Precious: This is one of those movies which are good in a “we can do better no matter what obstacles life presents” us kind of way. A minute into the film I was crying and kept crying until the credits were done rolling. The acting is amazing because of the depth each actor gives their character. However, the last plot twist takes this already tragic story over the edge. Would have more of chance without the last plot twist. A Serious Man: This was the last movie of the nominees that I saw because honestly the Coen brothers are a bit hit and miss with me. This is one of the movies I thought didn’t truly deserve the nomination. It is obvious within the first five minutes what the themes of the movie are and the movie hits you over the head with them repeatedly. I didn’t care about any of the characters and turned on my laptop to check my facebook halfway through the movie. Why was this nominated? Up: A cartoon! Animation has its own category and this just proves that there were slim pickings last year for quality films. Pixar did wave their magic wand again and create something special and unique with a wonderful beginning and it totally deserves to win Best Animated Feature, but that’s it. Again, why was this nominated? Up in the Air: After seeing this supposed critically claimed film I wanted to scream “the emperor has no clothes!” Nothing about this film was surprising, fresh, or original and had way too many filler shots to fill up the empty void of uniqueness. Why do so many people like this? Were they paid off? I think that the big contenders are Avatar, The Blind Side, The Hurt Locker, and Inglorious Basterds. My vote out of those is for Inglorious Basterds, but I won’t be surprised if Avatar or Hurt Locker win.