01.29.09
Review: “Serbis”
Set in a family-run theatre showcasing primarily pornographic films, Brillante Mendoza’s “Serbis” premiered at last year’s Cannes film festival – only the third Filipino film to do so – and was met with a (mostly) violent outburst from detractors. “Serbis” is a distasteful, almost exploitive film where its point or poignant undercurrents are hidden by a constant flow of grungy, downright nasty visuals – giant, postulating boils, transsexual hookers and graphic fellatio to name but a few. Even though such unpleasant fragments are immediately striking, the significance of them take time to materialise, especially when thought of in terms of allegory and deliberate symbolism.
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Trailer: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck’s ‘Sugar’
“Half Nelson” was undoubtedly one of the best films of its year, for me at least, with Ryan Gosling’s performance still taking my breath away on subsequent viewings (of which there have been many). Naturally, I’ve been looking forward to Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s “Sugar,” bought by Sony Pictures Classics last year at Sundance when I still thought it had something to do with drugs (narrow mind…) – with a release date set for the United States set for the 3rd of April. “Half Nelson” was released in South Africa almost a year after its US release, so I will be holding my breath for “Sugar” to be released, even if it kills me. Or maybe not, but you get the idea.
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01.26.09
Review: “Doubt”
“Doubt,” adapted for the screen by John Patrick Shanley from his own award-winning play, is a film titled on the notions of doubt and certainty, how one can inevitably lead to the other, but moreover the ambiguity that lies somewhere in the middle. In fact, if anything, “Doubt” is a seesaw; a back and forth series of confrontations, illuminations and accusations and much of its power lies in the precision in which such situations play out. Stagy it may be, but at the same time it is because the film feels so perfectly staged that the conundrums at its very gray centre, in which the unspeakable stays as intended, are as startling and probing.
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Screen Actors Guild Winners
I loved “Slumdog Millionaire,” I really did. For what it was, minus its buzz and judged solely on its merits; I loved it. But winning the SAG for Best Ensemble just wasn’t in the cards and it wasn’t written; it isn’t fair or right. Over the likes of “Milk” and “Doubt,” it isn’t right. But of course, “Slumdog” is untouchable it seems. Unfortunately, the SAG awards don’t air in South Africa, unless they do and I just don’t know it, so I didn’t get the chance to join in on the festivities. I’m guessing quite a few jaws hit the floor when the ensemble award was given out, even if, if you think about it, it’s hardly surprising. It got a distributor instead of heading straight to DVD – isn’t that reward enough? Guess not.
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01.25.09
‘Slumdog’ Wins the PGA
Not surprising in the least, “Slumdog Millionaire” has won the PGA – something which, yet again, points to it being the frontrunner for Best Picture not that anyone is denying that. Of course, the PGA winner is not automatically a lock for a Best Picture win – just look at “Little Miss Sunshine,” for example. “WALL-E” took the PGA award for an animated film, and “John Adams,” “Mad Men” and “30 Rock” won in their respective television categories.
Mirrors the Globes, doesn’t it? And the Emmy’s in terms of the TV categories. For the most part. “Man on Wire” won in the documentary category. All deserving winners, in my opinion. I am no longer craving a surprise no matter how bored I get - I already got that with the Oscar nominations and I would be a fool to ask for the same ever again. [AD]
This pretty much leaves us with the DGA and the SAGS. The former, I think, will go to Danny Boyle although in my opinion Gus Van Sant is the most deserving of the nominees. As for the SAGs, aside from dissecting the potential individual winners which I have no desire to do, I think that if “Slumdog Millionaire” wins best ensemble I might just throw up. That award belongs to “Milk” through and through, and I think it has the best chance of winning all the same, I think.
01.22.09
81st Academy Award Nominations
I’ve always had a “love/like” relationship with the Academy. Always. Today marks the first time I actually dislike them, for various reasons. Of course, they manage to throw in just enough good things to hinder dislike from spiraling into full on hate. A few people saw the Sally Hawkins snub coming – I didn’t. Not by a long shot. But then again, I didn’t see the original screenplay nods for In Bruges or Frozen River coming – and I am thrilled for them both.
Didn’t expect Changeling or, to a greater extent, The Reader making quite the showing (5 nominations). Best Picture and Best Director for Stephen Daldry (making it 3/3 for him)? Good thing I am seeing “The Reader” (and Doubt) this weekend finally. As for “Changeling,” I guess I will have to see it before Oscar night, not that I really want to. A few people were anticipating Kate Winslet’s performance in “The Reader” to be pushed to Lead Actress, but if it is better than her turn in “Revolutionary Road,” consider me stunned. Also, I gotta see “The Visitor” soon! As for Brad Pitt over Leonardo DiCaprio or even Clint Eastwood…justice has yet again been sidestepped.
I had anticipated more nominations for The Dark Knight, but a snub for it in the major categories – Best Picture (ala the equally buzzed Dreamgirls) and Best Director – shouldn’t really be considered a surprise, after all it was wishful thinking that got it onto many a prediction list in the first place. It may not be a surprise, but it is safe to say its a pure and utter shame (and no love for the film’s score? How’d they get that one right?). Getting 8 nominations – all technical save for Heath Ledger’s nom – puts it in the same light as “Milk,” which fortunately did score a Best Picture nomination. At least AMPAS aren’t homophobes (much), but they are still a stale, old-school bunch.
I don’t know if I am just imagining this or not, but I am pretty sure there was some hoopla about a film scoring more than one nomination for Best Original Song – I probably dreamt it up though. I am stunned that Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wrestler” didn’t make the cut in that regard, as it is the best song from a motion picture last year no contest. But I do love the nominated songs (M.I.A is an Oscar nominee…hell yes!), so I cannot complain too much. So we have “Benjamin Button” sitting on 13 nominations – just like Forrest Gump, “Slumdog Millionaire” on 10 – thank God Michael Shannon got in over Dev Patel. Our frontrunners, not surprising in the least. So I am happy, I am unhappy, AMPAS will look back years from now and release just how shortsighted they truly are. Not really different from any other year, now is it?
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01.21.09
It’s That Time of the Month Awards Season…
…and I have stomach cramps. I’m excited and nervous for the unveiling of the Oscar nominations tomorrow. I know some people are “meh” to the awards season this year citing a lackluster crop of films being championed and getting all the attention as the major reason. As for myself, I’ve more or less bitten (and somewhat smitten) by more than a few Oscar-bait films this year, so gazing at the clock, knowing that in less than twenty-four hours AMPAS will unleash the result of their judgments on the films we have been talking about ad museum this year; I am sweating.
Months and months of predicting mean zilch when the adrenalin-induced “second thoughts” grab the reigns, don’t they? What were considered locks now don’t seem that way to me anymore. What I considered to be on-the-money predications now seem like total outsider speculations. In both regards; that’s because they are as such. We can keep things in check, study precursor results, try to balance bias with common sense, trade in the guts with the hopes of getting the glory, and at the end of the day, hope like hell your favourites somehow make it on top. Seriously though; we know nothing.
I could study charts, of yore and of late, but I wouldn’t be any more confident in my picks. But mine they are, listed below – the major categories only because else things just start getting messy (of course, all predictions can be viewed here), with an alternate + wishful thinking pick added below each category because you just never know. Ever.
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Sony Classics Gets ‘An Education’
After a hot and heavy bidding war at Sundance for Lone Scherfig’s touted “An Education,” the likes of Fox Searchlight et al lost the North American rights to none other than Sony Pictures Classics for a cool $3 mil. SPC had a trio of pics that at one point or other seemed like perfect Best Actress candidates (“Frozen River” (bought at Sundance last year), “Rachel Getting Married” and “I’ve Loved You So Long”), and we will see tomorrow just how well their campaigns pay off. As for “An Education,” SPC plan to release the film this fall with the hopes of igniring some award season love. Based on some Sundance reviews/rough thought pieces, its no surprise why.
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01.19.09
Visual Effects Society Nominations
The usual suspects are conjured with the Visual Effects Society’s nominations this year, with a few unusuals for extra flavour, while some of the films that made quite the showing here were nowhere to be seen on the Oscar shortlist – like “Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” and “Cloverfield” – while “Australia,” on the Oscar shortlist, is most absent here. “Iron Man” scores the highest here with five nominations, followed by “The Dark Knight” (two in the same category) and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” with four apiece. Bring on the Oscar nominations already…my patience is starting to wear pretty thin. [Variety]
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects Driven Motion Picture
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Hellboy II The Golden Army
Cloverfield
Iron Man
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01.15.09
BAFTA Nominations
The BAFTAs can die. Between them trying to honour the best in the business, be it Stateside or British, and get stars to attend their ceremony they continue to come up with some totally odd inclusions over equally bizarre exclusions. For example, “Changeling,” the least loved Clint Eastwood film of the year, scored 8 nominations while “Happy-Go-Lucky” didn’t even get a nomination for the luminous Sally Hawkins. Likewise, another fantastic European import “Hunger” managed to scrape by with one nomination – and it wasn’t Best Actor for Michael Fassbender either. He did get a nomination for Rising Star…but that’s a forgettable category really.
“Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” raked in the most nominations of all – 11 apiece, but the former even scored a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Freida Pinto which doesn’t make much sense to me. In the same category, Tilda Swinton was nominated for “Burn After Reading,”…right, and Amy Adams bagged a nom for “Doubt” while Viola Davis didn’t. But at the end of the day, it’s the BAFTAs and what are you going to do? Full nomination list including the fore-posted Foreign Language and Rising Star nominees below. [In Contention]
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01.14.09
Costume Designers Guild Nominations
While the likes of “Hellboy II,” “The Fall” and “Australia” are continuously shout out of the Guilds, “Revolutionary Road,” as deserved, just keeps on raking in the nominations. The film’s understated, neutral palette is one of the most visually arresting of the year and much of it has to do with its simple yet detailed costumes, so I am thrilled to see it nominated here. Of course, in the period category, I would be surprised if “The Duchess” didn’t take home the win. The costumes are always the highlight of films like those. Sadly, “Happy-Go-Lucky” fabulous costumes by “Atonement”-costumer Jacqueline Durran were shut out, which kind of bugs me because “Iron Man” got in. I just don’t get it. [Awards Daily]
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01.13.09
Foreign Oscar Shortlist, In Which “Gomorrah” Is Snubbed
Well, there goes me predicting “Gomorrah” for the win – and everyone else thinking it was a lock for a nomination. Sure its tough, harsh and gritty but it is also brilliant filmmaking and I would have liked to see it awarded as such. As it stands, I think the final five to be nominated will be “The Class,” “Three Monkeys,” “Waltz with Bashir,” “Everlasting Moments” and “The Baader Meinhof Complex” but you never know with this category, do you? [Oscars.org]
- “Revanche” – Austria
- “The Necessities of Life” – Canada
- “The Class” – France
- “The Baader Meinhof Complex” – Germany
- “Waltz with Bashir” – Israel
- “Departures” – Japan
- “Tear This Heart Out” – Mexico
- “Everlasting Moments” – Sweden
- “Three Monkeys” – Turkey
Review: “I’ve Loved You So Long”
Philippe Claudel’s “I’ve Loved You So Long” is a filmic equivalent of a stack of cards. Delicate and fragile, layer upon layer of mystery meshes with what seems to be a familiar narrative at first, held together with equal measures of directorial patience and performer restraint. As the secrets are revealed one by one, the weight of the story’s fragility impacts in unusual but nonetheless compelling ways because the power of what is shown on screen is just as effective as what is implied rather than stated.
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ACE Eddie Nominations
The nominees for the American Cinema Editors Eddie dramatic feature award match up with the nominees for the DGA and the PGA perfectly, which is cause for a yawn if I ever saw one. This is our Best Picture lineup too, hope something messes it up though. [Variety]
Feature Film (Drama):
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – Angus Wall & Kirk Baxter
“The Dark Knight” – Lee Smith, A.C.E.
“Frost/Nixon” – Mike Hill, A.C.E. & Dan Hanley, A.C.E.
“Milk” – Elliot Graham
“Slumdog Millionaire” – Chris Dickens
Feature Film (Comedy or Musical):
“In Bruges” – Jon Gregory, A.C.E.
“Mamma Mia!” – Leslie Walker
“Tropic Thunder” – Greg Hayden
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” – Alisa Lepselter
“Wall-E” – Stephen Schaffer
Documentary:
“Bush’s War” – Steve Audette
“Chicago 10” – Stuart Levy, A.C.E.
“Man on Wire” – Jinx Godfrey
01.12.09
Golden Globe Winners
Who said the Golden Globes were pointless? I did. What a stupid thing to say, and what an easy 
thing to say – after all, it’s easy to forget what a spectacle they can be since we were stripped of the pleasure last year. You know what else is stupid? Me saying I only watch the GGs for the “star power.” Sure, they are what makes it great but that’s too broad a statement.
Watching the likes of Kate Winslet, Mickey Rourke, Sally Hawkins, Colin Farrell and the late and great Heath Ledger take home the gold – seeing them overwhelmed, seeing their peers stand and applaud in their honour, the tears, the stammering, nothing can beat that. I’m pretty overwhelmed with stupid right now, and emotion, and I never thought the Globes would have that effect on me but here we are. Elated. And helluva glad I didn’t live blog this year, watching 
the show with more or less zero distractions definitely was the only way to go this year I think.
This year’s theme was, more or less, that of the underdog. Current Oscar favourite “Slumdog Millionaire” took home four wins – Best Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Score – which doesn’t happen all that often at the Globes. And the films with the most nominations – “Benjamin Button,” “Doubt” and “Frost/Nixon” – were total no shows. Can’t say I am too surprised though. “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” as predicted, proved to be too intoxicating for the HFPA to ignore and won the award for Best Comedy.
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