Truth be told this was actually easier before they expanded the field - 9 this year. It was also easier to do this in a somewhat timely fashion before certain films (not to point fingers but it rhymes with Flea Dartist) held the DVD release for way too long.
Nothing really blew me away with this year's selections. To be honest, the top 4 were all very close. But I digress. Without further ado...
1. Moneyball - nominated for 6 Oscars, and for good reason. Brad Pitt solidifies his place among the industry’s most-underrated actors, Jonah Hill continues his transition from the chubby, comedic sidekick and Philip Seymour Hoffman continues to knock out whatever roll that’s tossed his way. But it’s the writing that really puts it over the top for me. Aaron Sorkin injects his trademark crisp dialogue and the cast drives it home. I’ve heard people say it’s a baseball movie that even non-baseball fans can enjoy. Not sure about that, but this baseball fan enjoyed the hell out of it.
2. The Artist - first, let me say I understand all of the negative feedback the Academy received for giving this so many accolades (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, etc.) There are people who, understandably, don’t want to be forced to read at the movies. Movie-going is, after all, supposed to be a break - a brief escape in which the viewer can relax and be transported to another world. I get it.
As some would consider an entire movie (almost) without any audible communication as a negative, it should be looked at more as the incredible feat that it is. To keep someone engaged for 90+ minutes with just music and the written word? Hell, a ton of ‘regular’ movies can’t do that. (Looking at you, Tree of Life.)
Like every other film on this list The Artist didn’t really blow me away, but it was unique and enjoyable - a well-executed homage to a much simpler era. Solid acting, great imagery (watch for the symbolic use of stairways) and, as someone who tries like hell to write scripts, I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been to pen this. Bravo.
Oh, and it has a cute little doggie. Bonus.
3. The Descendants - won't lie - I've always been a big fan of George Clooney. He and his supporting cast shine in this self-realization tale of a dysfunctional family living the beautiful state of Hawaii. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, often both - this multi-layered gem has a lot going for it and is worthy of all of the praise it’s received.
4. Midnight in Paris - the naturally-neurotic Owen Wilson was the perfect choice for one of Woody Allen’s naturally-neurotic characters. The selection pays off in this clever, mystic story which brings the past and present together using Allen’s signature dialogue.
5. Hugo - shocked this didn’t generate a little more buzz actually. This tale of an orphan (Asa Butterfield, impressive for his age) living in hidden tunnels of a Paris train station is enjoyable from start to finish, and it shows Sasha Baron Cohen is a very good ‘normal’ actor too. Visually stunning at times. And the countdown to Chloe Grace Moretz’s first Oscar continues.
6. The Help - well-written, well-performed and well-made, though just a tad self-righteous. Another designed to tug on the heartstrings, Help successfully mixes drama, comedy and history to put forth the message (again) that slavery was very, very bad. Or that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Or that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Or...
Saw a mock movie poster for this with the title changed to, “White People Solving Black People’s Problems.” You can judge how accurate that is for yourself.
7. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - credit this film for not only crossing into territory (9/11) few others have but for making it a central part of the story which, as far as story goes, is interesting and fresh. There are no ‘wow’ scenes per se, some parts of the story seem unfinished, and no actors really blow you away (though Max von Sydow comes close.)
While stars like Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Viola Davis are technically in it, this is Thomas Horn’s movie, and for someone all of 14 he does a respectable job. Better than I expected - though I didn’t expect much.
8. War Horse - Like a middle child, this must-have-cost-a-fortune epic just tries too hard. Spielberg pulls out every heartstring-tugging trick he’s learned in his illustrious career to make you feel emotion throughout. At times visually stunning, at more times predictable, and at even more times cheesier than a Wisconsin dairy farm. Towards the end I could tell what was going to happen next by asking, "What would really make this movie even more emotional and heart-wrenching?"
9. Tree of Life - if you can't say something positive don't say anything at all. So...this film is as fine a screensaver disguised as a major motion picture you’ll ever see. Sean Penn had so little screen time that he was probably envious of Jack Nicholson’s part in A Few Good Men. I understand director Terrance Malick’s is known for his different style; what I don’t understand is why the Academy felt it deserving of a Best Picture nod.
It sure was pretty though.
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Here's to a fresh crop of films in 2012 which entertain, inspire and move people, as movies should.
