Movies I've recently seen

January 3, 2010

Happy New Year Everyone!   Time to catch you up on the movies I've recently seen. . .here we go!

UP IN THE AIR

Up in the Air, directed by Jason Reitman grabbed 6 Golden Globe nominations and has emerged as the early favorite for the Best Picture Oscar.  I liked Up in the Air.  I am not a George Clooney fan, however, he delivers a smart, convincing performance as an air-traveling hatchet man.  He's cold. . yet professional in his job, which is to fire people in order to downsize companies in this terribly struggling economy.  

Anna Kendrick plays Clooney's new assistant and is equally effective and cold.    The beauty of her performance is that we find she is vulnerable to common human emotion.  Here is where Clooney excels in his performance maintaining his cool during her breakdown.  Clooney's love interest is Vera Farmiga who plays a traveling businesswoman who is gathering almost as many frequent flier miles as the record-breaking Clooney's character.  This film is a contemporary look at a modern day lifestyle that is frighteningly realistic to these times.  There are a few twists toward the end of the movie, which could possibly make you truly care for Clooney's character.  As I said before, I liked it. . however. . .I did not love it. 

INVICTUS

Let me begin by saying because I am such a tremendous admirer of Clint Eastwood's work. . .that more than any other film in 2009. . .I've been looking forward to seeing Invictus.  Ever since I heard that Eastwood was undertaking this project and casting his old friend, Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela, I've wanted this to be Eastwood's third Best Picture Oscar winner.  Unfortunately I couldn't be more disappointed after seeing it.  What a letdown!  Freeman is not capable of giving a bad performance. . and this is certainly the case here.  He looks like Mandela, he sounds like Mandela, he acts like Mandela. . and he is so convincing that at times. . .I thought he actually was Mandela.  Therefore, I see another Oscar  nomination  for Freeman.  Not even his convincing performance can save this movie.  Matt Damon plays the captain of the South African rugby team who Mandela supports and embraces in trying to unite his racially divided country.  Unfortunately, the story drags and the movie crawls along.    The rugby scenes got old. . fast. . and became a bit, much.  I found it to be tediously boring.

NINE

If you think I was disappointed in Invictus. . .you ain't heard nothin' yet!!

In 2002, Director Rob Marshall took the Broadway musical Chicago and transformed it into an incredibly entertaining and fascinating motion picture.  It won 6 Oscars, including Best Picture.  Marshall should have won Best Director but was edged out by Roman Polanski for The Pianist.  When I heard that he was making Nine into a movie, I was naturally excited. . .and even, more so. . when I heard of the all-star cast he assembled.  What a bomb!  Nine stinks!  For all of the hype concerning the all-star cast, including the incredible Daniel Day-Lewis the only performance that stood out to me was Marion Cotillard..  I hated all of the songs with the exception of the signature number, Italia.  The story was boring.  Not even the lavish sets and cinematography could save Nine.  Nine is a "1"!  I hated it. . can you tell???

AN EDUCATION

Sometimes in reviewing films when you least expect it one can be pleasantly surprised.  That was the case for me. . with An Education.  Directed by Lone Scherfig, An Education stars Carey Mulligan as a 16 year old English High School student who falls prey to the charms of an older man. . and thus, begins her education into young womanhood.  Mulligan is excellent, starting off as a naive inexperienced teen and evolving into a well traveled mature young adult.  She is convincing and believable.  I definitely foresee a Best Actress nomination, most deservingly. 

Playing her father is the multi-talented Alfred Molina.  If you've followed my movie reviews over the years, you are aware that I absolutely love Molina's work.  Once again, his role as Jack in An Education did not let me down.  On the contrary, he is tremendous.  He is so natural in making you laugh one minute, and then dive deep into serious human emotion.  In my opinion. . .a Best Supporting acting nomination is definitely deserving for this great talent.  I recommend. . An Education.

AVATAR

Before I saw Avatar, I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that I would love this movie as much as I do!  Oscar winning Director James Cameron  delivers. . Big Tme!

This 3-Dmasterpiece is the most breathtaking movie .. visually. . I have ever seen.   Besides the incredible special effects, little did I realize how immersed I would become into the aliens lives.  Avatar is almost 3 hours. . but you would never know it.  Viewing this film with those "funny" glasses on made me want for Avatar to go on and on.  I'm cheering for Avatar to garner many Oscar nominations. . including Best Picture.  However, I do have a few concerns.  Obviously I saw the movie in 3-D.  I feel obligated to see it in 2-D, to determine if it has the same impact upon me.  Seventy-five % of the money that the movie has made worldwide is because it has been viewed in 3-D.  Another concern I have is that the story has been told before.  It's a combination of Dances With Wolves and the ending reminded me of Lord Of The Rings, Return Of The King.  These two factors may indeed hurt Avatar's chances for Best Picture.

It is visually sensational!   I like this movie so much. . I think I'm going to frame my 3-D glasses!

PRECIOUS

Like An Education, I was pleasantly surprised to have liked this movie as much as I did.  Directed by Lee Daniels, Gabourey Sidibe gives a brilliant performance as an abused, obese teen in Harlem.  Sidibe is sure to earn a Best Actress nomination.  She portrays a pitiful, sorrowful figure and really nails it.  You cannot help. . but to care for her.  Playing her mother is multi-talented Monique'.  Monique' steals this film.  It's one of those rare performances where you can hardly wait for her next scene. . primarily because it's hard to rationalize that a human being could be so coarse, crude, vulgar, mean, vicious, loud, and piggish.  I thought her  best scene came toward the end of the movie when she layed her life out seeking forgiveness to a welfare representative played by Mariah Carey.  Not only is Monique' a shoe-in for a Best Supporting Actress nomination. . .but as of this writing. . I find it hard to believe that she can be beaten.  Paula Patton also gives a fine performance as Sidibe's teacher.  This film is one that stays with you. . for many days following your seeing it.

There are several Oscar contending films I have yet to see.  However, I will add those reviews to this entry in the near future.

With that being said . . .as of right now. . .I'm torn between 3 movies for Best Picture of the year:  Precious, Avatar and let's dare not forget Quentin Tarantino's   Inglourious Basterds. 

Love Ya' Cleveland!