Best Short Film, Animated

I said: Wallace and Gromit in a “Matter of Loaf and Death.”

The winner was : Logorama.

Best Documentary, Feature Film

I said: The Cove

The winner was: The Cove

Best Animated Feature

I said: Up

The winner was: Up

Best Visual Effects

I said: Avatar

The winner was: Avatar

Best Original Song

I said: “Almost There” (The Princess and the Frog)

The winner was: “The Weary Kind” (Crazy Heart)

Best Art Direction

I said: Avatar

The winner was: Avatar

Best Editing

I said: The Hurt Locker

The winner was: The Hurt Locker

Best Cinematography

I said: Avatar

The winner was: Avatar

Best Adapted Screenplay

I said: Up in the Air

The winner was: Precious

This was apparently quite the upset, and many people are bitter about this. Not seeing Precious myself… I wouldn’t know. All I do know is that Up in the Air was a beautiful film, and I would have liked to see it go home with at least one Oscar.

Best Original Screenplay

I said: Inglorious Basterds

The winner was: The Hurt Locker

Best Director

I said: Kathryn Bigelow

The winner was: Kathryn Bigelow

Best Supporting Actress

I said: Mo’Nique

The winner was: Mo’Nique

Best Supporting Actor

I said: Christopher Waltz

The winner was: Christopher Waltz

If this one didn’t happen, I would have cried. This was the most deserved Oscar of the night. Funny enough, it was the first one handed out as well.

Best Actress

I said: Sandra Bullock

The winner was: Sandra Bullock

Best Actor

I said: Jeff Bridges

The winner was: Jeff Bridges

Best Picture

I said: Avatar

The winner was: The Hurt Locker

I am very surprised by this one. I got it into my head that The Academy was going more mainstream, and would chose Avatar. I love The Hurt Locker, and feel it is very deserving. Yet, still, I feel like the Best Picture award should be given to a film for not only beauty and style, but for impact. Avatar will be remembered for much longer than The Hurt Locker will.

Out of seventeen predictions, I got 11 right, which is around 65%. Not too shabby…

Best Short Film, Animated - Wallace and Gromit in “A Matter of Loaf and Death.” This is not due to any foreknowledge or buzz, but the fact that I adore Wallace and Gromit. The rest of these guesses won’t be so unfounded. But, the pure, unbridled talent shown by Nick Park should never be denied.

Best Documentary, Feature - The Cove. Of all the documentaries, this is one I have heard the most about. Though I have not seen it, the trailer was absolutely captivating. Between that and word of mouth, this has quite a chance at a win.Best Animated Feature - Up. There is no denying it. Pixar is the favorite through and through. And for good reason. Their heart-warming films have brought families together for more than a decade. Up is no exception.

Best Visual Effects – Avatar. Has any other movie made such a stir in the entertainment industry like Avatar? Sure, there have been complaints. But, the effects were never amongst them. Visually stunning, this film was the marriage of effects and style. Plus, every movie on earth is now being made in 3D.

Best Original Song - Princess and the Frog “Almost There”. This film proved that Disney hand-drawn animation is not a thing of the past. With Randy Newman on board, beautiful music was the result. Though I think either song has a perfect chance, “Almost There” is my personal favorite. Hence, it has my support and my guess.

Best Original Score – Avatar. Avatar, without a doubt, is the crowd pleaser. Due to its large emotional appeal, and powerful ability to relate you to its world and the characters, the score will be given the credit and the Oscar.

Best Art Design – Avatar. Anyone who saw it will agree. It has imagination, and it has visual draw power. It will gain this Oscar as well.

Best Editing – The Hurt Locker. The critical darling will have its moment. The Academy Awards will be a battle between The Hurt Locker and Avatar. Yet, in editing, its intricate style and flawless ability, The Hurt Locker will bring it the win.

Best in Cinematography – Avatar. This category really could go either way. Though the cinematography is breathtaking in The Hurt Locker, Avatar won America’s heart, and was a visual playground. I think its popularity will be the clincher.

Best Screenplay Based on a Previous Work - Up in the Air. Firstly, it is well-written, a necessary detail for winning an Oscar. Secondly, this screenplay has been the favorite in many  of the other award shows. Thirdly, Jason Reitman gives the best award speeches. His passion is evident even in the vigor with which he runs his hands through his hair. I just hope we get to see him give another one.

Best Original Screenplay - Inglorious Basterds. I personally think it is a travesty how small a chance this film has at winning Best Picture. This is the year Avatar came out, so Inglorious Basterds will take a back seat. Yet, it will have a small moment in this category. It is so brilliantly ridiculous, it cannot be ignored. Being recognized at other award shows, I hope it will recieve the ultimate recognition of an Oscar.

Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker). This will be The Hurt Locker‘s big moment. This film had such vision and involvement, even to every single shot that was taken. The artistic hand used in this film is evident, and will not be ignored. Bigelow wins the battle of the exes.

Best Supporting Actress - Mo’Nique (Precious) . Her speeches are heart-warming and full of gratitude. She has won time and time again for the part, and will win again tomorrow night. (I do hope Anna Kendrick would win, so ridiculously funny in Up in the Air). Best Supporting Actor – Christopher Waltz(Inglorious Basterds). Watch Inglorious Basterds. Then try to imagine anyone else winning. Its pretty hard, right?Best Actress – Sandra Bullock (The Blindside). This is one that could go either way as well. All the actresses in this category performed brilliantly. It could so easily go towards Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) or Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). Yet, I believe Sandra Bullock went the extra mile, by connecting to the American audience in such a powerful way, with such a lovable role. For that, she wins the Oscar. Best Actor – Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart). The critics have been raving about this performance for months. He has won at almost all the other award shows. Enough said. Best Picture – Avatar. I’ve said it over and over again. This film has had such an impact on American culture and film. It will be shown for years over, and remembered for even longer. Though it might not be the most artistic of the films, it is the most loved. For this, James Cameron, the cast, and the producers deserve the Oscar.

Best picture

-Avatar

-500 days of summer

-Hurt Locker

-District 9

-Inglorious Basterds

-Star Trek

-Up in the Air

-Fantastic Mr. Fox

-The Brothers Bloom

-Up

Best Actor

-Sharlto Copley – District 9

Max Records – Where the Wild Things Are

Sam Rockwell – Moon

Jeremy Renner – The Hurt Locker

Zachary Quinto – Star Trek

Best Actress

Zoe Saldana – Avatar

Rachel Weisz – The Brothers Bloom

Meryl Streep – Julie & Julia

Best Supporting Actor

-Christopher Waltz – Inglorious Basterds

-Brad Pitt – Inglorious Basterds

-Zach Galifinakis – The Hangover

-Jackie Earle Haley – Watchmen

-Paul Giamatti – Duplicity

Best Supporting Actress

Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air

Melanie Laurent – Inglorious Basterds

Best Director

James Cameron – Avatar

Spike Jonze – Where the Wild Things Are

Quentin Tarantino – Inglorious Basterds

Jason Reitman – Up in the Air

Neil Blomkamp – District 9

Marc Webb – (500) Days of Summer

Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker

Ensemble

The Hurt Locker

Star Trek

Inglorious Basterds

The Hangover

Zombieland

Watchmen

Up in the Air

Original Screenplay

-(500) Days of Summer

-Inglorious Basterds

-The Hurt Locker

Adapted Screenplay

-Up in the Air

-Fantastic Mr. Fox

-District 9

-Star Trek

-Coraline

Art Direction

-Avatar

-Sherlock Holmes

-Where the Wild things Are

-Inglorious Basterds

-The Brothers Bloom

-Nine

-Fantastic Mr. Fox

-Coraline

Best Animated Picture

-Coraline

-Princess and the Frog

-Up

-Fantastic Mr. Fox

-Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Best Voicework

-Anna Faris – (Sam) Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

-Anika Noni Rose – (Tiana) The Princess and the Frog

-Bob Peterson – (Dug) Up

-George Clooney – (Mr. Fox) Fantastic Mr. Fox

-Jason Schwartzman – (Ash) Fantastic Mr. Fox

-Eric Anderson – (Kristofferson) Fantastic Mr. Fox

-Seth Rogen – (Bob) Monsters vs. Aliens

-Paul Dano – (Alexander) Where the Wild Things Are

Best Score

-Hans Zimmer – Sherlock Holmes

-Ennio Morricone – Inglorious Basterds

-Michael Giacchino – Up

Costume Design

- Sherlock Holmes

-The Brothers Bloom

-Inglorious Basterds

Best Visual Affects

-Avatar

-District 9

-Star Trek

-Where the Wild Things Are

Best Cinematography

-Avatar

-Where the Wild Things Are

-Inglorious Basterds

-Fantastic Mr. Fox

-The Hurt Locker

-Star Trek

Best Chemistry

-Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days of Summer

-Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law – Sherlock Holmes

-Anna Kendrick and George Clooney – Up In the Air

-Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo – The Brothers Bloom

-Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto – Star Trek

Break Out Performance

-Sharlto Copley – District 9

-Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover

-Max Records – Where the While Things Are

-Melanie Laurent – Inglorious Basterds

Best Soundtrack

-500 days of summer

-Up in the Air

-New Moon

-Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Cameo

-Owen Wilson – Fantastic Mr. Fox

-Mike Meyers – Inglorious Basterds

-Bill Murray – Zombieland

-Ralph Fiennes – The Hurt Locker

- Guy Pierce – The Hurt Locker

Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is just an average boy. He is bored with school, struggles with dyslexia, ADHD, and a mother (Catherine Keener) who is married to a jerk (who is not his father). He blows off steam with his best friend Grover (Brandon T. Jackson) and by sitting underwater for long periods of time. Yet, when his teacher turns out to be a harpy (literally), he learns the truth: he is a demi-god, the son of Poseiden. Plus, the entire mythical world thinks he stole Zeus’s lightning. So, with Grover, and Annabeth (Alexandra Daddario), a girl from Camp Half-blood, they go on a quest to find the lightning bolt and save Percy’s mom from Hades (Steve Coogan).

Rule of thumb, do not mess with your female protagonist. She is who the little girls relate to, and who they come to see. In the book, Annabeth is described blonde, individualistic, and Percy’s age. Alexandra Daddario is a beautiful, talented girl. I have been quite a fan of her role as Kate on White Collar. But, who thought she, at 23, should play opposite a 17 year old boy? Though I believe she’s talented, the age difference is obvious, to a point of uncomfortableness. And again, while she is beautiful, she looks exactly like Percy himself! They have the same dark hair, same height, and same bright blue eyes. She looks like his older sister, not his love interest, which killed their chemistry. Lastly, Annabeth is supposed to be a sort of foil for Percy; someone who challenges and pushes him. Yet, instead, she falls for him quickly, and they make eyes at each other for the last two-thirds of the movie. It changes the relationship, and in turn, changes the entire story. I can understand changing a character, but the essence of the original character was completely missing.

This film had a stellar cast. Sometimes it helped, sometimes it didn’t. Rosario Dawson as Persephone and Steve Coogan as Hades were great. They were light, funny, added new twists onto the characters, and were just enjoyable to watch. But then you get Uma  Thurman as Medusa, and you want to scratch your eyes out. Medusa is such a rich character to explore; the ultimate victim who turned evil. Yet, Thurman played her flatly, as a one-dimensional character. It was just disappointing. Logan Lerman himself wasn’t too shabby. Though occasionally cheesy, his performance was funny and relatable. He was a smart choice for Percy, and I think he has quite a future for himself. Brandon T. Jackson, as Grover, was the strong comic relief. Though corny, his jokes were fun, and he helped keep the pace upbeat.

The writing was subpar. It was the sort of writing that makes you look at your friends and go “huh?” Yet, in that sense, it was so far off it made the film more enjoyable. One of my favorite moments is when Poseiden (Kevin Mckidd) looks at Percy and says, at the emotional climax, “I know I can’t see you, but I will always be there, in your thoughts, and in your dreams.” Equally creepy and hilarious.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians had its occasional moments. I will be the first to admit that I laughed occasionally. But, overall, the success of this film is not in the film itself, but as a perfect example how NOT to convert a book into a movie.

This was my luck on December 30th. Imagine my surprise to find the sign below on a large lawn, accompanied with a few visually striking, yellow tents. For the past two months, Little Fockers, sequel to Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, has been filming a very large scene at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.

The set was designed to appear very whimsical. Due to rain, many of the structures were covered with blue tarps, so they were partially obscured. Over the large, sprawling lawn were three yellow and white striped tents. Around these tents were large bamboo structures, decorated with colorful flags printed with images of Buddha. The theme seemed to be oriental/exotic.   But, the most interesting features were the large, topiary elephants with golden eyes.  They loomed above at around 8 feet high, and stood guarding what appeared to be the entrance.  Past the set, cranes were set up for cameras and lights. Also, large white tents for the cast and crew were set up with lights.

Luckily, a few people connected to the film were able to share, so I was able to gather a bit of information about the film. Warning, some spoilers lie ahead. We were informed that much had been taken down, including a bounce house, ball pit, a spit to roast a pig, and a large stage.

Of the plot, we were told the following:

- No Dustin Hoffman. Sad, but true.

- The tents are for a carnival-theme birthday party is thrown by Kevin Rawley (Owen Wilson) for the twin children of Greg and Pam Focker (Ben Stiller and Teri Polo). This is due to Kevin’s desire to “out-do” Greg.

- The party has hundreds of extras, including flame throwers.

-  Rawley (Owen Wilson) performs on the stage for the kids, partaking in acrobatics. In the process, he hurts himself.

- Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) end up in a huge fight, beginning in the ball pit, and ending with Greg hitting Jack repeatedly with the head of the roasted pig.

Overall, a grand set up for a hopefully comedic scene. It has all the possibilities of humor. Yet, it does seem that it is trying possibly too hard. Nothing ruins comedy more than striving.

Lastly, as we walked through the set, we were given a sneak peak under one of the tarps. In the entrance way, between the two large, topiary elephants, were two giant plastic heads of the twins. Both were around six to seven feet long, and absolutely terrifying. For the life of me, I have no idea why children would like such a thing. I, personally, would have run away in terror. But, they do leave the impression of extravagance, which is supposedly the goal of the party. So, in that, they are successful.

This Weekend: See Up In The Air. The next feature by director Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking). The story of a man who is constantly traveling for his job, and hopes to rack up 10,000,000 frequent flyer miles. Starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, and Danny McBride. Already getting an INSANE amount of buzz, this film is promising to be an Oscar contender. And seriously, after seeing Juno, does anyone need any more reasons? Only issue, this is a limited release. But, it looks so good, that really shouldn’t stop you.

- If this isn’t your cup of tea: Everybody’s Fine. Though the plot isn’t terribly promising, it has a cast of Robert Di Niro, Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale. Even an alright movie is bearable for them. Oh, and Sir Paul McCartney wrote a song for it!

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December 11th: See A Single Man. Now, this is not going to be a mainstream hit. But, I am putting it at the top because it has one of the most breathtakingly beautiful trailers I have ever seen. Starring Colin Firth, Matthew Goode, Julianne Moore, Lee Pace, and directed by the famous designer Tom Ford. Just… watch and absorb the beauty.

- If this is not your cup of tea: Princess and the Frog. It is a retelling of the classic fairy-tale. Though surrounded by controversy, good reviews are starting to show. It is Ron Clements and John Musker, who directed many Disney Classics, including Aladdin. It looks promising, and I hope Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation is a successful one.

-If this is not your cup of tea: Invictus. There are just too many good movies being released to not show them all! Clint Eastwood’s new film is not only family friendly, but moving. With Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, it tells the story of how Nelson Mandela used rugby to bring South Africa together. If its Clint Eastwood, it is good. Enough said.

- If this is not your cup of tea: The Lovely Bones. Based off of the famous novel, it is directed by Peter Jackson. Again, enough said.

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December 18th: See Nine. Directed by Rob Marshall, who is known for the film Chicago. Daniel Day Lewis (!!!) plays a film director, who needs some inspiration. He searches for it amongst the nine women in his life. These women are played by Marion Cotillard, Dame Judi Dench, Fergie, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, and THE Sophia Loren. Is there any way this could be awful?

- If this isn’t your cup of tea: See Avatar. James Cameron (Titanic) is back with avengence! Excited that technology has advanced enough for him to tell his story of the alien planet Avatar, he has used ever trick in the box. From 3d to CGI, this is going to be an interesting film to say the least. With Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, and Zoe Saldana.

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December 25th: See Sherlock Holmes. Alright, I am bitter that this film has pretty much destroyed one of the great British characters ever written. But, BESIDES that, it looks great. As a Guy Ritchie film, it promises fast talking, fast action, and a fast pace. Its gritty feel is intriguing, and the action sequences look wonderful. Starring Robert Downey Jr. (can he do a British accent?), Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, and Mark Strong. We will see!

- If this isn’t your cup of tea: See It’s Complicated. Nancy Meyers’ new romantic comedy. I personally adored the Holiday, so I am very excited about this one. Starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, and John Krasinski, it takes a look at relationships which have weathered over time. A divorced couple deal with lingering feelings, and end up having an affair with each other. I personally love a story when the original wife becomes the “other woman”. I am feeling very good about this one.

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Thats December!