Dallas, Her, Wolf - What a Year for Movies

Four months ago the 86th Academy Awards took place.

Four days ago I watched the last of the nine Best Picture nominees.

Four hours ago I decided which one I liked best.

And four minutes ago I changed my mind.  Again.

Having trouble picking this year.  But unlike recent years it’s not because none of the films really stood out - it’s that there were more than a few that did.  In fact, this was the best year for movies since 2011 (Winter’s Bone, The King’s Speech, The Social Network, Inception, The Fighter and True Grit.)  Not bad.

So without further ado (I'm all out of ado, actually) here's the list:

Dallas Buyers Club

What it’s about:  The struggle of a Ron Woodroof, a homophobic cowboy who gets AIDS in 1985 and has to fight friends, doctors, big pharma and the government in order to survive this dangerous, new disease.

Loved this movie, and not just because Scott Takeda appears within. The story tugs at your heart, but not in a sappy, Steven-Spielberg way.  McConaughey’s transition from healthy homophobe to terminally ill champion of those he hated is sincere and believable.  Leto seems not so much acting as letting out another person who’s been living inside him.  And Jennifer Garner proves again it’s just a matter of time until she wins an Oscar of her own.
 
Review-ku:

Early days of AIDS.
Rodeo cowboy did al-
right alright alright.

Her

What it’s about:  The futuristic tale of a recently-divorced introvert who falls in love with his computer’s operating system.

This movie gets huge points on creativity alone. Spike Jonze’s love story set in futuristic Los Angeles paints a picture of a world where artificial intelligence has advanced to the point where a fulfilling relationship doesn’t really require another person.

Again, Joaquin Phoenix morphs into his character to the point of being unrecognizable. His co-star, the voice of Scarlett Johansson, received calls for a Best Actress nomination. While I could listen to SJ read old issues of the American Journal of Psychiatry for 12 hours straight, there are other, more compelling reasons to check out this gem.

Review-ku:

Scarlett Johansson
Living in my mobile phone?
Where do I sign up?

The Wolf of Wall Street

What it’s about:  The ‘true’ story of a slimy stock broker in the 90’s. Sex, drugs, stocks, strippers, cars, yachts, drugs, egos, FBI agents, drugs, midgets, drugs. Did I mention drugs?

People either loved or hated this movie. Count me in the loved camp. One of Martin Scorsese’s finest efforts, great thought was put into every shot. No fillers to get from one scene to the next (hello American Hustle) - even the simplest transitions are with care.  Think Amélie, The King’s Speech, The Assassination of Jesse James…  Wolf is one of those films.

Jonah Hill excels as the slimiest of a truly slimy crew, Rob Reiner is foul-mouthed and funny, and Australian newcomer Margot Robbie is maybe the guiltiest pleasure in a movie bursting with them. DiCaprio is fun to watch even though at no point do you forget it’s him you’re watching.

Home of one of my favorite scenes of the year.

Review-ku:

Entertaining flick
Though by the end it makes you
Want to take a bath

Gravity

What it’s about: Astronaut Sandra Bullock faces near-insurmountable obstacles after a freak accident destroys her shuttle and kills her crew.

Visually stunning, Gravity was not meant to watch at home unless you have a very, very large TV.  All the hallmarks of a great drama are here - likable characters (Bullock as the newbie astronaut, George Clooney as the warm and wise mentor), near impossible odds with death always an eyelash away, time running out, and a touching B-story brought up just often enough.

At times it’s a bit predictable, other times a bit cheesy, but the imagery alone makes the time fly by - a trait not always seen in 2+ hour movies.

Review-ku:

Two hours about
Sandra Bullock’s well-shaped as-
tronaut character.

American Hustle

What it’s about: Hollywood producers dress popular actors in 70’s clothing, give one a perm and one a comb-over and how in the world could hilarity not ensue?

A virtual Hollywood all-star team combines to make a recent period piece about scam artists and nutty FBI agents in bed together. Cooper and Bale are solid, but Lawrence was the high mark for me as she can play a great crazy. Amy Adams joins the fun as she is contractually obligated to appear in every single movie until 2024.  Bonus: excellent soundtrack.

Review-ku:

Adams and Bale,
Scammers in the seventies.
Cooper gets a perm.

Philomena

What it’s about: An elderly woman enlists the help of a past-his-prime reporter to track down the child she was forced to give up many years ago.

Judi Dench. Really that’s reason enough to watch Philomena. But, if you’re some kind of doofus who needs more than that there’s Steve Coogan, who helped adapt the book. Both are relatable and fun to watch. This is a comfortable movie, a drama with just the right amount of comedy sprinkled in. Good viewing for a rainy day. I’m assuming. I live where it doesn’t rain.

Review-ku:

Enjoyable film,
Though 'Philomena' sounds like
a rare STD.

Captain Philips

What it’s about: A cargo ship captain tossed into a volatile situation after Nigerian pirates board his vessel.

Another movie based on a book, staring Tom Hanks. Enjoyable for the most part but about 30 minutes longer than needed. Director Paul Greengrass does a great job of building tension in the first half but even America’s favorite actor can’t overcome a script that rambles on and on in the second. Proof that longer isn’t always better.

Review-ku:

Hey look it’s pirates
But not the Johnny Depp kind
Forrest Gump kicks ass!

12 Years a Slave

What it’s about: A documentary on the first ice cream stand at Coney Island. No, of course not. Just look at the title. Duh.

From the title, buzz and reviews, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing this one.  I put it off until I’d seen all of the others, expecting it to be a gut-wrenching ordeal like Schindler’s List or Roots, one of those movies you wish you could un-see. But, outside of one incredibly-uncomfortable, well-shot scene, it didn’t meet expectations. A good film, for sure. Interesting, definitely. Well-made, you bet. Socially important, of course. Best Picture? Meh. 

Review-ku:

Oh Hollywood, you
Like nothing more than patting
Yourself on the back.

Nebraska

What it’s about: An old man believes he’s won the lottery after receiving one of those Publishers Clearinghouse letters. His son drives him to the claim center a couple states away to shut him up. Road trip!

Towards the end of this movie one thought kept running through my mind: “Who did what, and to whom, to get this movie nominated?”

Best pic nominees should be strong in all areas. Story/writing, acting, direction, virtually all of the other categories combined. Nebraska, not so much. Not even close. But it was in black and white - that’s artistic! Yes, it sure was a pretty movie.

Review-ku:

Not sure how it got
A nod, then again it was
Shot in black and white.

2012 Oscar Review (Best Picture)

2012 Best Picture Review

Total Nominees:  9

Dramas:  7.5

Comedies:  .5

Musicals:  1

Wastes of Walton Goggins' Talent: 2

Summary:  as the case in 2011, none of these movies really stood out as my favorite however there is some method to the madness in that the ones I enjoyed the most can be found towards the top.

Les Miserables

What it's about: miserable people living in the political unrest of 19th century France, where talking has been outlawed and citizens are forced to sing all conversation.

From the moment I read the words, "Hugh Jackman sings" I expected to not like this movie, but damn it if I didn't find it enjoyable.

Jackman shines in the lead role, as does Anne Hathaway, who despite appearing in less than half of the 2 hour and 37 minute run time, proves herself deserving of the Oscar she won.  Both make you wonder how the rest of us can be expected to do anything worthwhile in a world where some people have so much damn talent.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter provide delicious, comic relief as a devious, thieving couple who would do anything to make a coin.  Then there's Russell Crowe and his constant, sullen expression, which could be character interpretation or maybe the fact that, like the audience, he knows how he's the weak link in this ensemble. 

Pre-Viewing Tip: Turn on the old closed captioning at the start.  You'll thank me later.

Argo

What it's about: A daring, joint effort by American and Canadian governments in 1980 to rescue American diplomats hiding in Iran after the US Embassy was overtaken my militant students.

Put me down as one of the many that believe Ben Affleck should have received a nomination for Best Director.  He does an excellent job of transporting the viewer back to the era of bell bottoms and crazy hair.

The story is interesting, the script is tight, and while no one in particular stands out as carrying the load, there are no weak links here either.  Particularly enjoyable are the performances by Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston.

I'm sure events were tweaked for maximum dramatic effect, and there's been some controversy as to just who was responsible for the heroic events. Whatever - it's great entertainment.

Zero Dark Thirty

What it's about: The hunt for, and killing of, Osama bin Laden.

If anyone doubs director Kathryn Bigelow's ability to create an intense thriller (unlikely after the Hurt Locker) they need only watch ZDT.  From the start she transforms the viewer into the harsh, unpleasant post-9/11 world - a world where there are no rules when it comes to fighting terror.

Jason Clark (Dan) shines at the start as a CIA agent with a knack for torture, then hands it over to the talented Jessica Chastain as Maya - another agent still wet behind the ears but hell bent on finding America's most wanted man.

Though Maya's ultra-fast transformation from unsure newbie to convinced badass (telling the CIA Director that she's the 'mother fucker who found him') borders on the unbelievable, the act 3 portrayal of the storming of bin Laden's compound is edge-of-your-seat stuff and shouldn't be missed.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

What it's about: A little girl living in a poor, lowland community near New Orleans is tested by poverty, a missing mother, a dying father and a massive hurricane.

If you enjoyed 2010's Winter's Bone nearly as much as I did you probably would enjoy this too.  While Beasts isn't quite as dark, it too features a unique region of the country and the people who call it home - where every character, good or bad, is thought provoking.

I love it when a cast of relatively unknowns come together to tell an amazing story.  Nine year-old Quvenzhane Wallis - Hushpuppy - carries the load for a good portion of the film which is impressive because, you know, she's freaking NINE YEARS OLD.  Dwight Henry, who plays her father, brings his character to life with a stern, intense love that must have made the writers giddy.

Toss in some interpretive symbolism in the way of large, boar-type creatures that only Hushpuppy can see, a unique soundtrack and an ending that makes you create your own conclusions and you've got an entertaining story.

Django Unchained

What it's about: a bounty hunter frees a slave to help him track down bad guys.

After Quintin Tarrantino's ever-so-humble Oscar speech ("I'd like to thank me for writing a great script...") I wasn't exactly excited about giving the egotistical prick my money or time, but the guy is a pretty damn good writer so...

The first 3/4 of Django was wonderful - a fun ride full of the same sharp, humorous dialogue we've come to expect from Tarrantino.  Don Johnson has fun with his character, Big Daddy, and the scene where his idiotic gang argues about the quality of their masks is one of my favorite film moments of 2012.

Christoph Waltz is constantly grin-inducing as a German bounty hunter perplexed by the whole slavery thing, and Jamie Foxx maintains a cool anger that burns like embers under his skin.  You never really know just what he's capable of but you know it's probably a lot.  And Leonardo DiCaprio has so much fun playing bad guy Calvin Candie it makes you want to move to Hollywood and give acting a shot.

Eventually though, as he seems to always do, QT pushes the envelope and inserts over the top violence, blood, gore, etc.  The intent is clearly to shock, but the problem with doing this in every film is that it eventually it doesn't work.  What was shocking in Reservoir Dogs or Pulp Fiction now seems bland, even predictable.

Throw in an awkward bit of self-casting with possibly the worst Australian accent ever captured on film and it's enough to drop this from my top spot.  Django is no Inglorious Basterds, but it's still good.

Life of Pi

What it's about: religi-curious Indian boy stranded at sea in a lifeboat with a tiger...or is he?

For the first 45 minutes of Life of Pi I thought I'd found my favorite movie of 2012.  Original, thought-provoking, beautiful.

Suraj Sharma excels as Pi - a boy named after a swimming pool and raised in a zoo.  While crossing the ocean with his family and their animals their ship encounters a huge storm and sinks, sending young Pi on an adventure that will 'make you believe in God.'

The tale of survival that follows is epic in nature, but a little too much for me as act 2 seemed to drag.  A nice twist at the end brings it all back, leaving the viewer with something to think about.

Still a visually-stunning film - Director Ang Lee and his special effects team create one mesmerizing scene after another - the end result is as much a piece of art as anything.

Silver Linings Playbook

What it's about: relationship between two emotionally-damaged people, set in the city of brotherly fucking love.

Somehow placed in the comedy genre, Silver Linings Playbook received no less than 8 Oscar nominations and, after watching, I'm not really sure why.  Bradley Cooper is deserving as Pat, the story's hero who's had a mental breakdown after coming home to find his wife in the shower with someone's great grandfather.  He shows emotional range you won't find in any of the Hangover films (1, 1A or 3).

Jennifer Lawrence, a tad disturbed herself after the loss of her husband, is solid and engaging, but let's be honest - this Oscar win is more a make-up for the one she should have won for her work in Winter's Bone.

Robert DeNiro was nominated as well, for playing a character that could easily appear in the script as "DeNiro in a Variety of Philadelphia Eagles Shirts."

While not bad, SLP lacks the grandeur or vision found in the others on this list, seems at times to be trying to break the Big Lebowski's record for uses of the word 'fuck,' and is about 45 minutes longer than it needs to be.

Lincoln

What it's about: 16th President's efforts to pass the 13th Amendment during a time of great unrest - in the nation, in Congress, and in his own home.

After watching Best Picture nominees Warhorse and this one-man play disguised as a feature film, I'm convinced that Spielberg could release a home movie of his cat chasing a laser pointer and the Academy would slobber all over it while giving him a nomination.

Yes there was a great performance by Daniel Day Lewis (and his make-up artist), and a supporting cast full of A-listers.  Great costumes, makeup, etc.  And James Spader's performance as a thug lobbyist was excellent though a bit rushed, showing that dirty politics have been around from the start.

Yet with all this it still seemed like I was watching in real time.  Towards the end I thought, it'd be cool if they didn't mention the assassination - there's no need - everyone knows what happened so they could really be artistic here.  Of course, SS never met a chance to tug on the heart strings he didn't like so it's in there, with dramatic music, flags waiving, etc.

A can't-miss for big fans of Day Lewis and/or 1800's political banter, a can-miss for everyone else.

Amour

What it's about: by all accounts, something horribly, horribly depressing.

Not available on Netflix at this time.