Oscar Nominations 2012: Surprises and Snubs

This morning's nominations were a mixed bag of the absolutely predictable (my jaw would've hit the floor if The Artist and Hugo weren't swimming in nods) and some pleasant surprises (Rooney Mara, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, to name a few).  I think on the whole, though, and based on the films I've seen this year, I'm a little more satisfied with these nominations than I was with the Golden Globes.  Even with fewer slots for nominations, it feels like the spectrum of films being included has widened, and a few dark horses sneaked into the race.

Surprises

*Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids:  This performance has never screamed "Oscars" to me, but you know what?  It should.  These awards are supposed to be about rewarding people who perform at the very top of their game, and McCarthy did exactly that.  Just because her game happens to be outrageous, gross-out comedy rather than heavy drama doesn't mean she didn't give a hell of a performance.  I don't think she has the momentum behind her to take this award from Octavia Spencer, but I would love to see a shocker in this category come Oscar night.

*Jonah Hill in Moneyball:  Not necessarily surprising given the critical acclaim that has followed him since the film's release, but I'd like to assert my agreement with this nod.  Hill was, for me, one of the few compelling features of Moneyball, a film that on the whole was boring and a little too sure of itself.  If we must award this Brad Pitt vehicle, I'd like to see it in the form of an award for Jonah Hill as Supporting Actor.

*Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:  This is the nomination that shocked me probably most of all.  Yes, Mara gives an absolutely amazing performance, but it's in a gritty David Fincher film that barely squeaks by with an R-rating, and just doesn't seem to fit with the other nominees.  I love that she'll be going up against heavyweights like Meryl Streep and Viola Davis (the two women currently leading the flock) and the long-overdue Michelle Williams, but I don't think she'll win this one.  That said, I think it really says something about the Academy and what they're trying to do this year by branching out--and hey, I bet Rooney Mara isn't complaining.

*Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo, Best Original Screenplay for Bridesmaids:  Another nomination where I'll make the case for not discounting comedy simply because it's comedy.  This one was a little more predictable given the significantly smaller number of original scripts in the race compared with the overcrowded Adapted Screenplay race, but it's a fun addition nonetheless.

*Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Best Picture:  This film has risen and fallen in terms of buzz all year long.  It was an early contender with a lot of festival attention, then the chatter faded as the release was delayed again and again, and now it seems to be back on the map, despite a shutout at the Golden Globes.  I haven't seen this one yet, but it is an adaptation of one of my all-time favorite novels, so my hopes are very high. 

Snubs

*Ryan Gosling:  I was really pulling for Gosling to get a nod for any one of the excellent performances he gave in 2011, but given his dual loss at the Golden Globes, my hopes weren't high.  Sure enough, he missed out on both acting categories.  The upside, though, is that this will push him to keep striving for better, and hopefully we'll see him in the Oscars race again soon.

*Leonardo DiCaprio:  This is one dude who has got to be pissed he got up early to check the nominations.  The Best Actor award was supposed to finally be his this year, and he was thwarted again.  Can we all just agree that he gets a nomination next year for Great Gatsby, no matter how good or bad it is?

*The Ides of March:  Yes, this film slipped into the one category it unquestionably belongs: Best Original Screenplay.  But it should have been in the running for Direction and Best Picture as well.  I've been championing this film since it's release, and so it was a disappointment to see the Oscar voters leave it out.

*David Fincher:  I find it amazing this man doesn't yet have an Academy Award.  Maybe he and DiCaprio need to make a movie together to overcome their respective dry spells.  Make it happen, Hollywood.

*50/50:  Will Reiser's screenplay deserved a nomination, at the very least.  I also would have happily accepted a surprise nod for JGL.

2011: The Run-Down

Continuing with tradition, I've decided to rehash some of my favorite things in 2011 (mostly in pop culture, admittedly), and take a look back at the year that was.
*Fun fact: While compiling this list, I realized I might be one of the only people in America who earnestly did not pay any attention to coverage of the Royal Wedding.

Favorite Performers:

Ryan Gosling:  I think pretty much everyone else on the planet can think of at least one reason why he makes the list, but I’ll try to jog the memory of anyone drawing a blank.  First of all, he was everywhere at the movies this year, from Blue Valentine to Crazy Stupid Love to Ides of March to Drive.  He’s just plain awesome in 99% of his public appearances, from bringing his dog to Jimmy Fallon’s show for an interview to intervening in a brawl on the streets of New York.  Not to mention the unf factor.  I mean, seriously, have you LOOKED at the man?

The HP Trio (aka Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson):  True, it’s very possible that none of them will really have a career to speak of now that the biggest franchise of their lives has drawn to a close, but even if these three never do anything of note again, all the memories they’ve given us are more than enough to last a lifetime.  I know I’m not the only one who enjoyed every minute of growing up alongside them while they brought my favorite stories to life.  I’ll miss all the hype and the anticipation of a new HP film every two years, but it’s undeniable that these three absolutely went out on top.  So to Daniel, Rupert, and Emma—thanks for a decade of magic.

Amy Poehler:  Ms. Poehler has always been both hilarious and extremely innovate (and very underrated-ly so), but she really took 2011 by storm.  Parks and Recreation aired its entire flawless 3^rd season during 2011, and continued its winning streak in season 4.  As if that weren’t enough, Amy also delivered a commencement address at Harvard this spring, in which she imparted her unique brand of wisdom to an audience of young people who genuinely need to live in the same spirit of passion, determination, and kindness that is evident in everything this fantastic woman does.

People I’m Sick of Hearing About:

Anyone with the last name Kardashian (second year in a row, congrats ladies!). 
All the batshit crazy Republicans running for President in 2012. 
Anyone who is or has been a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.

Best Shows:

Parks and Recreation
How I Met Your Mother

Great Episodes:

Parks and Recreation:  “Road Trip” and “The End of the World”
Community:  “Remedial Chaos Theory”
Modern Family:  “Phil on Wire”
The Office:  “Goodbye Michael”
How I Met Your Mother:  “Symphony of Illumination”

Top 5 Films:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two
2. The Ides of March
3. Contagion
4. Bridesmaids/Horrible Bosses (tie)
5.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Disappointments:

Codes and Keys:  Death Cab doesn’t work when Ben Gibbard is happy.  There, I said it.  This album is boring and repetitive.  Additional note:  now that he’s divorcing Zooey D, maybe the magic of DC’s initial gloom will return (silver lining, yes?)

America/the American economy:  No jobs, no money, no concern from the men in charge; no wonder the 99% have taken to the streets.

Honorable Mentions (no category, but they kept me interested/intrigued/excited throughout the year):

ADELE:  Remember the first time you heard Someone Like You?  Did you cry in public a little bit, like I did?  This woman’s voice is magic.  Case closed.

Steve Carrell:  Since he didn’t get an Emmy, I’m giving him my equivalent.

The cast of Parks and Recreation (especially Aziz Ansari and Adam Scott):  Flawless, and the fact that they didn’t snag a SAG nod for their work as an ensemble is criminal.

Jason Sudeikis:  This is rumored to be his last season on SNL, and I’m psyched to see if the career momentum he’s had recently continues.

Alexandre Desplat:  If he doesn’t get an Oscar (or at least a nomination) for the DH2 soundtrack, I’m considering it a crime.

Arrested Development:  It’s coming back!!!

JK Rowling:  Always and always, because none of the magic would’ve been possible without her.

Seth Meyers:  Killed it at the White House correspondent’s dinner, head writer at SNL in his 11^th year, remains absolutely charming in everything he does.

That's all I've got!  Here's hoping that 2012 brings even more laughter, epic moments, and joy (and you know, not that pesky apocalypse).  Happy New Year, and thanks for reading!

Golden Globe Nominations 2012: Just Stick to Movies, Guys

Dear members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association:

I respect you.  I do.  In the past you've nominated some of my favorite performances and films, if only because you have more room for them than the more crowded Oscars, for which you also usually set the tone.  And this year you've come through again, giving praise to some films, actors, and actresses who haven't gotten all the credit they deserve for the work they've done this year.  I'm very happy with the film nominations, particularly the heavy presence of The Ides of March, which thus far has my unswerving vote for most well-crafted film of the year.  You've also confirmed my hunches about which movies I must see before awards season really kicks up, including (but certainly not limited to) My Week with Marilyn, J. Edgar, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Descendants, Hugo, and The Iron Lady. 

There are some specific nominations I'm very happy about and/or intrigued by, and most of them are the ones I know will evaporate just in time for the Oscars.  I love that you nominated Joseph Gordon-Levitt and 50/50, which is one of the more underrated movies of the year-- the only icing on the cake would've been if Seth Rogen could have sneaked into the Supporting Actor mix.  I love that Ryan Gosling is nominated twice; I think we can all agree that he just deserves some kind of "Best Human Being" award for everything he's done on and off screen this year.  Putting Rooney Mara in there for Dragon Tattoo is bold, and if I weren't already planning on seeing the film at midnight next week, I'd be even more inclined to watch it now.  Overall, I think you guys pretty much nailed it on the films front, with the only outrageous robbery being of Alexandre Desplat for the Deathly Hallows Part 2 musical score. 

Let's talk about television.  Namely, the burning question of whether we're watching even remotely the same shows.  Have you actually seen New Girl or Glee, or were you merely blindsided by the cuteness of Zooey Deschanel (who you nominated for best actress in a completely incomprehensible move), and the iTunes sales of Glee?  As two of the most overrated and wildly inconsistent shows on TV right now, there is no way either of those shows should be within 18 miles of a nomination for any kind of award, let alone one of the most prestigious in the bunch.  And on top of that, you refused to recognize anything about Parks and Recreation (with the exception of the brilliant Amy Poehler), which is currently in the midst of the television equivalent of a no-hitter.  There is so much wrong with this that I can barely articulate it. 

Therefore I move that the HFPA stop pretending it knows anything about quality television, and just play to its strengths, which is acknowledging movies that deserve recognition.  Just consider it, ladies and gentlemen; it might save you some time in the future, and fans of shows that are actually good a lot of needless frustration.

Sincerely yours,
Andrea

Movie Review: The Ides of March

This is by far the most outstanding film I've seen this year.  All the elements are in place, and it is clear that George Clooney and company are not fucking around this time.  They are gunning for an award (or ten), and this movie makes an absolutely compelling case that they deserve one.

First, let's talk about the fundamentals.  This is one of the most well-written movies I've seen in a very long time.  I honestly don't remember the last time that thought rang so thoroughly through my mind while I was in the midst of watching a film, but it did this time on several occasions.  The script does a brilliant job of plowing right into the meat of the plot, no time for dumbing-down or explanations.  Words are rarely, if ever, wasted in this script, and the various twists and turns are set up with such careful precision that they are unexpected and yet completely logical.  No one is going for sheer shock value or flash here, just plain good storytelling. 

The cast of this film is impeccable, starting with the supporting players.  Phillip Seymour-Hoffman and Paul Giamatti play campaign advisers on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but who both have the same brand of sleaze just oozing from them.  Both play their parts perfectly, giving the audience a simultaneous disgust for their tactics as well as a dull appreciation for their cleverness.  Evan Rachel Wood also has a surprisingly impressive turn in this film as a young intern working on the Mike Morris (the character played by Clooney) campaign alongside Hoffman and Ryan Gosling.  She is perfect in this role, and it is far and away the best performance I've ever seen from her.  And of course, George Clooney plays the handsome, good-natured politician in a part it seems he was born to play.  Though his performance as Morris is somewhat understated (though no less compelling for that), his influence on the film is pervasive, not merely in credit (he directed, produced, and co-wrote the film), but in style.  It is clear that he has pushed everyone, including himself, to be their very best in this film.

And speaking of performers at their best.. no one is more on top of their game in this movie than Ryan Gosling. It is possible that I actually have too many good things to say about Gosling's performance in this film.  I have said in the past that he gets better with each film he appears in (well, the serious ones, anyway), and Ides of March does nothing to disprove this theory.  Gosling's character Steven goes on an incredible and nuanced journey in this film, and capturing the essence of his transformation would be a challenge for any actor, but Gosling makes it look effortless.  And his success in this role can't even be attributed to the fact that he's got a fabulous script to work with; I'm convinced a deaf person could watch this film and read the story in Gosling's face and eyes, and leave with the same overwhelming sense of awe as those of us who could hear his lines.  What is even more impressive is the fact that, among this all-star cast, Gosling genuinely stands out.  He plays well off of all the other actors, but none more so than George Clooney-- they have a confrontation in a kitchen near the film's climax that will just about blow your mind--and Gosling comes out the stronger performer of the two, which is no small feat. 

Overall, this film is everything I've come to want from an Oscar contender.  Actors turning in the performances of a lifetime; a thought-provoking and intriguing script; and perhaps most importantly, a story that is startlingly relevant to our current state of affairs.