Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Oscar indecision and I-love-Jennifer-Lawrence



I can't decide! I can't, I can't, I really, really can't.

Is it Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper in his open-at-the-throat tailored white shirt, cleaned up like a new jar of Javex and dancing like a Man, gawd help me, but you know what I mean, girls? Oh and Jennifer Lawrence, who deserves Best Actress just because of her eyes. Her eyes! So much goes on with a simple look, and you wanna be like her and you wanna be with her, but not like that, but maybe ... maybe when she talks about the girls in her office ... sorry, I digressed, but she was so fecking GOOD. I laughed and I cried and I laughed so more, then cried when Robert DeNiro was crying and his voice was all squirrelly, so high-tuned and pitchy that I thought Simon Cowell was gonna call him out. Lately De Niro has been nothing more than a caricature of his own De Niro-ness, but he pulls something gut wrenching and real out of his ... well, his gut, but who cares, because it's all about Lawrence and Cooper, but mostly Lawrence, who I think I am in love with. (Sorry, Dave, I'm just weird that way.)

Dave and I pledged to see every movie nominated for Best Picture at this year's Oscars. So far this has been the best movie-move we've ever made. For the last month or so we've seen nothing but GREAT movies and it's been awesome. No stupid comedies with Adam Sandler or Will Fecking Ferrell. No quirkless unimaginative odysseys, or actionless action movies where the best thing about 'em was the popcorn. Not that I don't like those movies sometimes, but sweet, geezly glory it's been simply FINE watching quality moving-pictures all in a row like that!

Trouble is, I cannot decide which one I like best! I just CAIN'T.

Saw Silver Linings tonight. Just got home (popcorn and Diet Coke still rancid on my breath). So right now, right at this moment, I think it's gawd's gift to Rom-Com-Droms.


However, last week we saw Zero Dark Thirty. Wasn't prepared to like that one at all but damned if I didn't fall in love with it long before the Twizzlers were gone. But I have no fecking idea what the title is supposed to mean. (Do you?) Jessica Chastain was some kinda wunnerful, she was. Fell in love at first sight when she played Lil Mizz Kooky in The Help but she was a cucumber kind of customer in the Zero Dark thing, completely different, and what the hell did she do to her boobs? Like Elvis they just left the building!

Now don't you worry, I'm not launching into a big ol review of all the movies we've seen. I just want to say I loved ALL of 'em, for all different reasons.


Life of Pi  *swoons* was the most beautiful movie I think I've ever seen. See it in 3D. Worth it. Suraj Sharma was robbed. He should have been nominated for Best Actor.

Argo? Phenomenal. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Ben Affleck, who I had written off a long time ago, was a big old jar of awesome sauce.

Lincoln was merely OK, probably because I was all hyped up to see it and when you're all hyped up, disappointment is sure to follow. I wanted it to be better, you know? But it wasn't. I actually had a much better time watching Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Well, maybe that's not true. (Yes it is.) Lincoln is worth seeing, for sure – it was just my least favourite of all the movies I've seen so far. But that's just me, being all Honest Abe about it.


Ladies, you want a new stud muffin to admire? Ya gotta see Jamie Foxx in Django Unchained. I know, I know, you're thinking WHO? Hey, I was never a great fan of Monsieur Foxx until Quentin Tarantino got a hold of him but now he's my favourite action hero of all time. Yep, even more than Jason Statham, Matt Damon and Bruce Willis combined. He ROCKED this movie. Sexy, strong, violent – whooo-weeeeeeee, when he rode that horse bareback at the end I was feeling those equine muscles ripple under my tender thighs! This is one mighty fine movie. It's hilarious, it's bloody (I love how bullets explode with freshets of blood!), it's Pulp Fiction meets The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Christoph Waltz, the bad Nazi dude in Inglorious Basterds, was awesome in Django. Just as good as Foxx, but for different reasons. (The tooth on top of the wagon slayed me.)

I haven't seen Les Misérables, Amour or Beasts of the Southern Wild and, because we live in a small town without fancy-pants obscure theatre outlets, chances are slim to none that we'll get a chance. Still, we are having a BLAST seeing all these phenomenal flicks leading up to the big night.

I just wish I could DECIDE!

So tell me, what movie do you think should win?


27 comments:

  1. Silver Linings Playbook is great. I love the scene where Lawrence tells off DeNiro-probably not too many actresses who could have pulled that scene off. I read the book after the movie and it was fun to see the differences between the book and movie.

    My wife and I try to see all the best pic noms every year, but I don't think we're gonna make it this year. Zero Dark Thirty is up next for us. And of course, as you know, Life of Pi is my favorite this year.

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    1. Oh yes! That scene was magnificent. Reminded me of My Cousin Vinny when Marisa Tomei talks about cars on the witness stand.

      When I left the theatre from seeing Life of Pi I felt wonderstruck; and then Dave and Sam and I had a deep and existential discussion based on the ending – and how many movies can inspire awe and deep conversations with 12 year olds, all at the same time? It was a fantastic movie, one of the few movies that was as good as or better than the book.

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  2. We've seen 6 of them, too. I think Lincoln was best, and Day-Lewis deserves best actor hands down. However, I loved Argo, and it's a very close second. Affleck did something amazing with that movie. I also loved Silver Linings. I'm glad Cooper got a nomination, because I've loved him since Alias, but he doesn't deserve the win for it. I think Lawrence probably doesn't deserve the win, either. Les Mis was excellent, but Crowe kind of ruined bits of it. Beasts was... I'm not sure why it's nominated. My wife liked Zero Dark more than me.

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    1. I think you have to be American to really LOVE Lincoln. That's not a putdown by any means because being Canadian, having pride in Canada's role in rescuing the Americans in real life, made Argo that much more special to me. The pride I felt about that event spilled over into my opinion in the movie and I'm guessing that the same thing happened with Lincoln. Americans must be very very proud of Abraham Lincoln (who was an amazing leader and well worth that due.) The acting was superb. Daniel Day Lewis is ALWAYS a force of nature and I am the world's biggest fan of Sally Field. Lincoln was a phenemonal movie, it was – but just not my favourite in this category. But heck, I don't HAVE a favourite yet.

      I'm almost scared to see Les Mis because there's been such a ta-doo about it. I hate it when that happens. I almost like finding a great movie by surprise. Takes the pressure off.

      Last night the theatre was filled for Silver Linings Playbook. The same theatre has been virtually empty for the other nominees we've seen so far. Perhaps that means there is a groundswell of support for this movie, which might make a difference come Oscar night. Or it might just means everyone in Bracebridge likes "light" movies rather than dramas. Who knows, right?

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  3. I've seen Les Mis twice (seen stage version rather more often...!) and am off to see Lincoln tonight. Don't fancy Life of Pi - bad feedback from friends who've see it. Considering half the movies weren't even released over here in the UK before the nominations were announced it's hard to feel enthusiastic about what may be a foregone conclusion. I'm just glad that travesty (aka Jack Reacher) didn't score anywhere!

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    1. Oh Sue, trust me, Life of Pi is a treat for the senses. It's beautiful and inspiring and has a reverence you don't often see in movies. Intellectually it will have you thinking. Artistically you will be amazed at the sheer beauty of the screen and the gorgeous special effects. The action scenes will have you holding your breath and the acting is superb. To not see Life of Pi on the big screen would be very sad. Go see it and see what you think!!!!

      Let me know what you think of Lincoln! (Check out my comments to Andrew, above ... I'm wondering if Americans love this movie more than the rest of the world.)

      I really really want to see Les Mis before Oscar night. We'll have to travel to find it, but I think I can work my mojo on Dave to get him down the highway!!!!

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  4. I am terrible about getting around to see the movies before the Oscars. Of all the ones you mention I think I want to see Django Unchained most. "Pulp Fiction meets The Good, The Bad and the Ugly" sounds awesome!

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    1. Harry, you will LOVE Django Unchained. Based on the stories you write and the kind of person I imagine you to be, it is totally up your alley! It's a brilliant movie. I don't think it will win because Tarantino isn't Hollywood's favourite director and because this movie is larger than life, but it deserves to win just as much as the other contenders. One of my favourites this year, a spectacular surprise. You'll adore it!

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    2. I remember when Pulp Fiction lost to Forrest Gump. Both were good movies and I thought Travolta's comeback roll was better than Hanks'(also grat!) but no way was Tarantino getting the nod. Doesn't matter, I don't go see movies based on the trophies they collect. Still haven't seen the one that won last year. The black and white silent one? Must be great but just doesn't appeal to me. It is fun though, to see what wins.

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  5. Oh I feel a little out of sorts here I have not seen one of these darn movies. As soon as they come out in Netflix (my new addiction) I live in the boonies I am so gonna watch all of them probably one after one:). Ben Affleck mmmm. Love your quirky sense of humour:) B

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    1. Buttons, I WISH we had Netflix! We really do live in the boonies, however, and don't have Wi-Fi yet (we use a turbo hub, which works fine except that we have a limited usage and live streaming anything, from You Tube to Facebook games to Netflix, would cost us a King's ransom.

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  6. Ack, I haven't seen any of these yet!

    It's funny because I remember seeing Jennifer Lawrence waaaaay back in "Winter's Bone" (she was excellent!) and thinking she'd make a great Katniss. I was about to say that to my husband when he turned to me and said the same thing! Then, lo and behold... :)

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    1. You're obviously too busy writing great stories to see great movies!!!!

      I saw Winter's Bone, I think, but I don't remember Lawrence. Will have to revisit and check her out. I think you guys are probably psychic... maybe the turtles are helping you foretell the future....

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  7. Hey Cathy! Great to meet you. Love your blog header. What a fab review of the Oscar lineup. I haven't seen ANY yet... so behind on my film watching but I do the same thing every year and watch all the best noms. I also watch the Oscars with Twitter every year and its a blast!

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  8. Wow. That's a cool idea to go see all the films. I haven't seen any of them, so I can't make a guess. Django Unchained is one I really want to see, especially since you say Foxx is better than Statham!

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  9. I didn't think Silver Linings was light. It did really well at the Golden Globes, so, along with the Oscar noms, I think it's getting people out to see it, which is creating a lot of word of mouth.

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  10. Haven't a clue. I'm so not a movie goer or movie buff so I am out of the loop on what's out there and what's been nominated. My fiance's ex-wife's boyfriend's son is an extra in Zero Dark Thirty. As for the other flicks, I have seen their names go by on my FB newsfeed as friends go see them. I only saw 'Ted' last year, and the 3rd Ice Age movie only b/c we had to kill a couple hours in town before a funeral and it was the only thing playing that held any interest for us.

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  11. I'm afraid I haven't seen any of them, nor am I likely to. Not a big movie fan over here although we did go to see Despicable Me in 3D when it hit Guelph. Ah that's us...no class.

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  12. I haven't seen a movie in a theater in so long...

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  13. We rarely go to movies, but the day before the awards show (which we usually don't watch either) we went to see Silver Linings Playbook. I had never heard of it, but I liked the storyline synopsis.

    Both Cary and I LOVED that movie! We are going to buy it when it comes out on DVD. It was so well acted, we both fell in love with "Tiffany". She certainly deserves to have won the award. And the subject matters of bi-polor and OCD was well done; for the people suffering from the diseases and those living with them. Love conquers all!

    Thank you for all of your reviews. I really don't want to see Zero Dark Thirty or Argo (my husband enjoys watching that kind of stuff at home), but it seems that everybody really loves them too.

    Kathy M.

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  14. I am so in love with J. Law. I love her curvy body and her amazing skill!! And that movie...it was perfection. I do the same Oscar thing with my friends every year. So far I still need to fit in Zero Dark Thirty. Don't feel bad about missing Beasts of the Southern Wild. It was a little, well, self-indulgent in places. The little girl was amazing, but I didn't feel like it was in the league as the other nominations.

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  15. Beasts of the Southern Wild is available on DVD here. Incredible movie, well worth taking in at home.

    I haven't seen Hunger Games. Really no interest. Lawerence killed it in Winter's Bone, though.

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  16. I haven't seen either one yet. I'm always way behind the times with movies.

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  17. I've only seen four of the nine nominated. I predict Lincoln will win, but Argo could steal - and is an excellent film.

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  18. Well, I've seen Lincoln. I think most of those movies are here now, or have come. No, I'm not a great movie watcher. I cannot take the dramatic tension; it does too many bad things to me.

    Blessings and Bear hugs.

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  19. I haven't seen the vast majority of them, but I'd like to see them all. Probably won't be before the Oscars, as it will be on video. Don't think I won't still be sitting there guessing which/who will win based on what I've heard around me, though! Used to be I'd seen every movie and knew who I thought would win, but the last few years it's been a guessing game based on outside feedback and online chatter.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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  20. For me, it's Lincoln. Hands down the winner. I did enjoy Argo, but Lincoln is in a league all by itself.

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