Movie observers

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

SHUTTER ISLAND

Although it might be hard to see at times, films are inherently designed to entertain you. Of all the films I saw this year, these were the five that provided me with the best times and there was certainly no better time to be had at the movies this year than at TOY STORY 3. What was originally expected to be an unnecessary sequel ended up capping the series so perfectly and inspiring big laughs, incredible tension and a ton of tears as we all said goodbye to our toys of yesteryear.

NOMINEES

CATFISH

I AM LOVE

WINTER'S BONE

As a film critic, I see a lot of movies and some of the smaller ones inevitably get missed from time to time. There is no better experience for me than when I sit down to a movie, knowing very little about it, expecting just as little, and then being floored. All five of these films had varying degrees of this effect on me but none more than I AM LOVE. This Italian film by Luca Guadagnino is breathaking and unabashedly romantic, in both imagery and content. It is a grand experience and one that I want to get lost in again and again.

NOMINEES

CLASH OF THE TITANS

GREEN ZONE

JACK GOES BOATING

SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL

WILD GRASS

Obviously, I do not see everything that is released each year. I try to avoid whatever I think will be dreadful but some crap always manages to get past my filter, either because I have to see it to review it or because I make a horrible judgment call. Though it may be considered rude to spit on a home team player, Michael McGowan's SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL is as insipid as the title suggests it will be. If you're going to make such a ludicrous movie than do it right, man. Instead, what we have here is a bunch of forgettable, meandering songs, and a lot of crude, fumbling dancing on ice. There isn't even any great hockey playing in it! I left before the last number. I couldn't have cared less to see who won the big game if it meant having to watch them sing again.

NOMINEES

I AM LOVE

After a four-week voting session, the Black Sheep readers have chosen wisely. Although I did not love INCEPTION when it was first released, I have since seen it two more times and I am now a firm believer. And I am happy to get in line with my readers on this one as each year they choose a great winner amongst a stellar list of nominees. Thank you to all who participated in the survey and I'd like to extend that thanks further to all who read Black Sheep regularly. This one's for you!

NOMINEES

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

THE ILLUSIONIST

As it already picked up Best Big Movie, it is not a big surprise to see TOY STORY 3 take the Animated Feature category. I do truly love and admire the other two nominees for their passionate artistry but I consider TOY STORY 3 to be a near perfect film.

NOMINEES

I AM LOVE

There are always a few categories I get stuck on each year and this was certainly one of them. I love getting lost in the style of a film, from the cinematography to the editing to the art direction and costume design. Simply put, I like pretty things. And all of these elements come together to make THE SOCIAL NETWORK very, very pretty.

NOMINEES

I AM LOVE

If there is anything I like more than movies, it is music and all of these nominees have beautiful scores that incorporate a lot of innovation into their bold works. As much as I would really like to reward Hans Zimmer for his incredibly stirring INCEPTION score, I must give the prize to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their trippy electronic score to THE SOCIAL NETWORK. It works so symbiotically with the visuals that it often turns the film into a digital symphony.

NOMINEES

CHRISTIAN BALE in THE FIGHTER

ARMIE HAMMER in THE SOCIAL NETWORK

JOHN HAWKES in WINTER'S BONE

MARK RUFFALO in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

GEOFFREY RUSH in THE KING'S SPEECH

I have not found Christian Bale's work to be very impressive in the last little while. It felt like he was distracted, not really pushing himself. From the moment he first appears on screen though in THE FIGHTER, it is clear that Bale is about to give a revelatory performance. He looks thin, sickly and cracked out of his head. His grip on his past, and reality for that matter, is strained, but his devotion to his brother is always there underneath all of his own junk. It is very good to see him fight for something again.

NOMINEES

AMY ADAMS in THE FIGHTER

HELENA BONHAM CARTER in THE KING'S SPEECH

MELISSA LEO in THE FIGHTER

LESLEY MANVILLE in ANOTHER YEAR

DIANNE WEIST in RABBIT HOLE

Melissa Leo, a veteran character actor, seemed to come out of nowhere two years ago when she earned great acclaim for her lead performance in FROZEN RIVER. That recognition led to her being cast in THE FIGHTER, allowing her to solidify herself as one of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood today. As a mother torn between her sons and taken in by the allure of fame and fortune, her struggle to convince herself that she is still a good mother is being fought on her face in every frame. Judging from how much she actually says with her face, it could not have been an easy fight.

NOMINEES

BLACK SWAN

THE FIGHTER

I like to be surprised by the movies and David Seidler's screenplay for THE KING'S SPEECH is certainly an original one. Sure it is based on real events but it is a period piece that is devoid of stuffiness and pretense. In fact, it is often shockingly droll. The relationship between a king and his subordinate speech therapist is certainly a unique one and it is fascinating to watch as it goes from purely professional to personal, a gap that should be bridged way more often than it probably is. A screenwriter for many years now, Seidler has written about a man who finds his voice and thus finds his own in the process.

NOMINEES

My apologies to the rest of the nominees in this category. You are all excellent writers and have given us great works but there is truly no contest here. Aaron Sorkin's screenplay for THE SOCIAL NETWORK is a revelation. It is fast paced and runs around in so many circles, it is amazing we are able to keep up with it. Not only is the dialogue beautiful but it also stretches to such unexpected depths that it turns a movie about the creation of a website into a biting commentary on obsession, class, our dwindling privacy, our increased distance from each other and the ever evolving definition of what it now means to be someone's friend.

NOMINEES

JAVIER BARDEM in BIUTIFUL

JEFF BRIDGES in TRUE GRIT

JESSE EISENBERG in THE SOCIAL NETWORK

JAMES FRANCO in 127 HOURS

COLIN FIRTH in THE KING'S SPEECH

This was the other category I struggled the most with this year. I thought it was a no-brainer. Colin Firth is performing at a new level as of late but I recognized that last year when I rewarded him for his heartbreaking work in A SINGLE MAN. I wanted to give it to him again for THE KING'S SPEECH (and seriously considered Jesse Eisenberg as I suspect he will never be this good again in his career) but Javier Bardem is just too good to ignore in Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's BIUTIFUL. As a dying man trying to put his affairs in order for his children before he goes, Bardem gives a heavy performance that is stretched in so many directions but never feels thin. With a ton of weight on his back, he always walks tall.

NOMINEES

ANNETTE BENING in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

NICOLE KIDMAN in RABBIT HOLE

JENNIFER LAWRENCE in WINTER'S BONE

NATALIE PORTMAN in BLACK SWAN

MICHELLE WILLIAMS in BLUE VALENTINE

This is, in my opinion, the most competitive category this year. These five performances are all worthy of winning and the combined talent of these five women is overwhelming. To some extent, it puts the boys to shame. And so, as hard as it was to make a decision, I am throwing my bouquet of roses at Natalie Portman in BLACK SWAN. Her descent into madness is so palpable that you cannot help but feel like you're falling down that hole right alongside her. The weakness in her voice, the resolve in her face when she dances, the passion she exudes as she transforms on stage, all of it is completely transfixing - as beautiful and majestic as say, a swan.

NOMINEES

DARREN ARONOFSKY for BLACK SWAN

DAVID FINCHER for THE SOCIAL NETWORK

TOM HOOPER for THE KING'S SPEECH

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN for INCEPTION

DAVID O. RUSSELL for THE FIGHTER

David Fincher has been making great movies for years now. He is an innovator and he likes to push people with his films. His command in THE SOCIAL NETWORK is evident from that very first scene in the bar, the moment that unknowingly catapulted the world into a new era. Fincher knows where he wants to go, where he wants to take us and what he wants us to see at all times. The journey he takes us on is so smooth that we hardly realize we're being taken on any kind of ride. Fincher's direction is confidant, bold and just plain triumphant.

And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for ... or reading quickly in hopes of getting to anyway, I am pleased to announce the winner of the 2010 Mouton d'Or Award for Best Picture of the year ...

NOMINEES

I watched THE SOCIAL NETWORK for the third time the other day and I am still floored by how outstanding it is. It is such a self-assured piece of filmmaking, where all of the elements come together so seamlessly and with such masterful execution, that they make the film a modern masterpiece. Who knew a movie about Facebook could be so profound? The truth is no one really expected Fincher and friends to pull this off to begin with. I commend the entire SOCIAL NETWORK team for not only proving everyone wrong but for unexpectedly going one further and blowing everyone away as well.

Thank you all for joining me for the celebration of the best films of 2010. There were clearly a great deal of reasons to do so. As always, I appreciate your continued support and look forward to another great year of film and discussion in the year ahead. Bon cinema!

Black Sheep's Oscar Screening Guide

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Academy Awards are but three weeks away and, with 56 different films nominated for Oscars this year, if you have not started your academy screening yet, it doesn't seem likely you will be able to see them all unless you basically have nothing else to do between now and February 27. Fear not though, with a little planning, you can still catch all the likely winners in all the major categories. Those are the only one's anyone ever remembers anyway, right? (wink.) Allow me to demonstrate ...

First things first, get thee to ye olde video shoppe, if one still happens to exist in your neighborhood. One quick visit and you can pick up half the Best Picture nominees. Better yet, don't even get up. Order them all on demand. In one weekend you can knock off INCEPTION, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, TOY STORY 3 and WINTER'S BONE.

INCEPTION is a serious contender in the Original Screenplay category, as well as in Art Direction and Cinematography. It is also practically a lock in both Sound Mixing and Editing as well as the Visual Effects category. I see it walking away with 3-4 and it is an awesome good time so definitely see it if by some freak accident, you have not already done so.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK has lost serious steam in the Best Picture race after it's win at the Golden Globes but it still remains the biggest competition for the big prize. I don't think anyone has ruled it out just yet and rightfully so. Aside from a potential Best Picture triumph, David Fincher is still tipped to win Best Director despite his loss with the Director's Guild. Also, Aaron Sorkin is all but guaranteed to win the Best Adapted Screenplay prize and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are the favorites in the Original Score category. I don't see it taking home any more than 3-4 prizes but what it does take will be big. Must see before Oscar night for sure.

TOY STORY 3 will almost certainly win Best Animated Feature but it will likely stop there. Annette Bening is the biggest threat in the Best Actress category and the best hope for THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT to take home an award. I don't see WINTER'S BONE unfortunately taking any of the four categories it is nominated in but you should see it regardless. There are very great reasons this little movie got so much recognition from the Academy and, if you aren't able to see it before the ceremony, be sure to watch it afterward.

If you have any extra time on your hands, you can also catch Best Supporting Actor nominee Jeremy Renner in THE TOWN, surprise Best Supporting Actress nominee, Jackie Weaver in ANIMAL KINGDOM and Best Animated Feature and Original Score nominee, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. All are available to rent now. None will actually win but if you want to be thorough, you should see them.

Now, next weekend is Valentine's Day weekend and this year's romantic offerings at the movies are insulting - an Adam Sandler mess, Shakespeare retold with animated gnomes and Justin Bieber in 3D. If your first Valentine's Day movie is any of these, you are guaranteed to break up, I'm sure.

Ladies, why not show your men you can take things a little rough and bring him to THE FIGHTER? You will get to enjoy Marky Mark and the numerous cat fights and big hair while he will be amazed you chose to "suffer" through a boxing movie just for him. And fellas, why not bring your gals to the ballet? BLACK SWAN may take place in a ballet company but you get to see Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis make out and the film is so intense, no one will want to be sleeping alone that night. As an added bonus, you will see the likely winners for Best Supporting Actor and Actress (Christian Bale and Melissa Leo) as well as the likely Best Actress winner (Portman).

127 HOURS and TRUE GRIT are still both playing in theatres and you could easily see them if you had the time but I honestly don't see either film walking away with any gold. The Coens might surprise me with a Cinematography win but if you miss either of these, I can't see it having too big an impact on your Oscar night.

What does that leave? Oh right, the official front-runner, Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH. After taking home the Producers, Directors and Screen Actors Guilds' top honours, it seems unstoppable. The good news is that it is a fine piece of filmmaking and well deserving of all its praise. Why not see everything you can before Oscar weekend and save this one for last? Treat yourself to a royal dinner and then enjoy the film that is poised to take Best Picture and Best Actor for Colin Firth. It could also easily walk away with Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design and Art Direction. I have a distinct feeling Oscar night will be a regal affair so if you miss THE KING'S SPEECH, you might as well not bother watching.

Black Sheep will be posting reviews for all the Best Picture nominees in the days to follow and will also post an interview with Oscar nominee, Javier Bardem (Best Actor for BIUTIFUL), next weekend.

Thanks for reading and enjoy your screenings!

Tis the Season: The Academy Award Nominations

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

(Scroll over any film title for the full Black Sheep review.)

I know it's late but I just got in not too long ago from that meeting. I have now seen the nominations for the 83rd edition of the Academy Awards, which I recorded so I could pretend like I saw them live. This actually worked. I was tense as Mo'Nique called out the nominations and thrilled to hear that many of my secret hopefuls made the final cut. Shall we break it down then?

THE KING'S SPEECH leads the Oscar tally with 12 nominations, including nods for Best Picture and Best Direction of course, as well as one for each of the principal cast members. TRUE GRIT follows closely in second place with 10 nominations, thanks to an unexpected direction nod for Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. THE SOCIAL NETWORK and INCEPTION, then come in third place with 8 nominations between them. I was expecting a stronger showing for these two films and slightly less for the Coen Brothers picture to be honest, but in general, I am very happy with the direction the Academy went in this year with their nominees. There were a number of surprises and snubs, which is inevitable, but for the most part, I think Oscar got it right. Shall we break it down even further then?

Most of the Best Picture nominees were considered locks this year. Really, it seemed as though three films were fighting for the ninth and tenth slot when it came down to it. Those three films would be 127 HOURS, WINTER'S BONE and THE TOWN. Ultimately, it was THE TOWN, Ben Affleck's critically acclaimed dramatic thriller, that missed out. It actually only garnered one nomination, in the Supporting Actor category for Jeremy Renner, when it was considered a strong contender in the Best Picture race, as well as the Adapted Screenplay category. Both 127 HOURS and WINTER'S BONE fared much better than expected and will certainly benefit from these nominations. 127 HOURS, which scored nods for its screenplay as well as the lead performance by Oscar host, James Franco, rolls into 600 theatres this weekend and could use the boost at the box office. WINTER'S BONE meanwhile, is already available to rent or own. This fantastic indie picked up well deserved nominations for it's star, Jennifer Lawrence, and supporting actor, John Hawkes, as well as a nod for its screenplay.

The lead acting categories played out exactly as I wanted them to. The most triumphant success amongst them may be Javier Bardem's seemingly miraculous nomination for his incredible performance in BIUTIFUL, a Mexican film that has not been seen by many at this point. The Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu directed picture, also nabbed a Best Foreign Language spot. Michelle Williams scored her second career nod for her performance in BLUE VALENTINE. This was also not a lock so I am thrilled to see her get this well deserved accolade, as it will also drive more people to see this bleak film. Her co-star, Ryan Gosling, did not make the cut finally.

The supporting acting categories provided some of this morning's biggest surprises. The biggest of those would certainly have to be Jacki Weaver, nominated for her performance in the little seen, ANIMAL KINGDOM. She was always a contender but there was a great deal of confusion in this category this year. Ultimately, Hailee Steinfeld, scored her nomination for TRUE GRIT in the supporting category, when there was much debate over whether she would end up in the lead actress race. Lesley Manville, in ANOTHER YEAR, had a similar confusion and ended up not being recognized in either category, not that she was a shoe-in for either really. A notable absence here would have to be Mila Kunis, in BLACK SWAN. I never saw her performance as award worthy but it was certainly being talked up quite a bit in recent weeks and I thought she would end up on the list. On the men's side, it was the aforementioned nod for Hawkes in WINTER'S BONE that blocked out another young hopeful, Andrew Garfield, in THE SOCIAL NETWORK.

Perhaps the biggest snub amidst this morning's nominations is Christopher Nolan being locked out of the Best Director race once again. He did earn his second nomination for writing INCEPTION today but he was considered a sure thing is the directing category. He has been nominated three times by the Director's Guild of America, including this year, but is consistently shut out here. Instead, the fifth slot went to the Coen Brothers, as mentioned before. Aside from THE SOCIAL NETWORK director, David Fincherm and the Coens, the remaining three nominees are all here for the first time. They are Darren Aronofsky for BLACK SWAN, Tom Hooper for THE KING'S SPEECH and David O. Russell for THE FIGHTER.

The rest of my shocks and disappointments are as follows. While I am thrilled to see Mike Leigh score a nomination for the beautiful original screenplay, ANOTHER YEAR, I am surprised not to see BLACK SWAN there. In fact, I am a little surprised that BLACK SWAN only managed 5 nominations in total the way that film's momentum has been building. I didn't truly expect Daft Punk to score a Best Original Score nomination for TRON: LEGACY but it would have been a hoot if they did. I was very happy to see the progressive Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score for THE SOCIAL NETWORK make the list though. Oh, and I know BURLESQUE was bad but you could have found at least one song from that the film to round up the Original Song nominees to five. There was another glaring INCEPTION snub in the editing category. I thought for sure that was a lock. I'm very pleased to see great films like Banksy documentary, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP and Pixar animated short, DAY & NIGHT, earn their spots in their respective categories. Speaking of Pixar, TOY STORY 3, picked up five nominations of its own, including Best Picture and Original Screenplay. And finally, represent Canada! Denis Villeneuve's INCENDIES scored Canada a nomination in the Best Foreign Language race.

I've done the math and I was 87% accurate in my predictions. I got all the lead acting nods right (even Bardem!) and suffered one wrong answer in each of the other categories I made predictions for. Look for reviews of many of the nominated films to come in the weeks ahead on Black Sheep Reviews and I invite you to share your opinions on the Oscar nominations below.

The 83rd annual Academy Awards will be presented on February 27, and hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway. This is the full list of nominations:

BEST PICTURE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Javier Bardem in BIUTIFUL

Jeff Bridges in TRUE GRIT

Jesse Eisenberg in THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Colin Firth in THE KING'S SPEECH

James Franco in 127 HOURS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Nicole Kidman in RABBIT HOLE

Jennifer Lawrence in WINTER'S BONE

Natalie Portman in BLACK SWAN

Michelle Williams in BLUE VALENTINE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale in THE FIGHTER

John Hawkes in WINTER'S BONE

Jeremy Renner in THE TOWN

Mark Ruffalo in THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

Geoffrey Rush in THE KING'S SPEECH

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams in THE FIGHTER

Helena Bonham Carter in THE KING'S SPEECH

Melissa Leo in THE FIGHTER

Hailee Steinfeld in TRUE GRIT

Jacki Weaver in ANIMAL KINGDOM

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING

Darren Aronofsky for BLACK SWAN

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen for TRUE GRIT

David Fincher for THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Tom Hooper for THE KING'S SPEECH

David O. Russell for THE FIGHTER

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

THE FIGHTER

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

THE ILLUSIONIST

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

BIUTIFUL

DOGTOOTH

IN A BETTER WORLD

INCENDIES

OUTSIDE THE LAW

CINEMATOGRAPHY

EDITING

ART DIRECTION

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

TRUE GRIT

COSTUME DESIGN

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

I AM LOVE

THE TEMPEST

MAKEUP

THE WAY BACK

ORIGINAL SCORE

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

ORIGINAL SONG

"If I Rise" from 127 HOURS

"Coming Home" from COUNTRY STRONG

"I See the Light" from TANGLED

"We Belong Together" from TOY STORY 3

SOUND MIXING

SOUND EDITING

UNSTOPPABLE

VISUAL EFFECTS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND

HEREAFTER

IRON MAN 2

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP

GASLAND

INSIDE JOB

RETREPO

WASTE LAND

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

KILLING IN THE NAME

POSTER GIRL

STRANGERS NO MORE

SUN COME UP

THE WARRIORS OF QUIGANG

ANIMATED SHORT FILM

DAY & NIGHT

THE GRUFFALO

LET'S POLLUTE

THE LOST THING

MADAGASCAR, A JOURNEY DIARY

LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

THE CONFESSION

THE CRUSH

GOD WE LOVE

NA WEWE

WISH 143

For more information on the Academy Awards, please visit their website at Oscars.org.

Black Sheep presents The 2010 Mouton d'Or Awards

Saturday, January 22, 2011

It is my pleasure today to announce to you the 2010 Mouton d'Or Award nominations. This is the sixth year Black Sheep Reviews has produced this list and this year's nominees are some of the strongest contenders we've ever had. Leading this year's charge is David Fincher's THE SOCIAL NETWORK, with a total of eight nominations, including of course Best Picture and Best Director. Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN is second in the tally standings, with seven nominations, also including Best Picture. The rest of the Best Picture race is rounded out by multiple nominees, THE FIGHTER (6 nods), THE KING'S SPEECH (6) and TOY STORY 3 (5). This year's Best Picture nominees are all masterful films, each a personal best in its own right. It will be difficult to pick a winner but worth it if it means getting to watch all these fantastic works one more time.

I am also very happy with this year's Reader's Choice nominations. Once again, the Black Sheep readers have voiced their love for some great films and this year's five nominees include some wonderful surprises, including an Italian art film and a dark horse movie about the maddening world of ballet. Thanks to all who participated by submitting lists of their favourite films from 2010. Voting is now open to decide the winner of the category. Just cast your vote in the poll at the top of the sidebar. Voting will remain open until midnight on Thursday, February 17.

The winners of the 2010 Mouton d'Or Awards will be announced on Saturday, February 19. And so, without any further delay, here are the 2010 Mouton d'Or Award nominations ...

(Scroll over any film title for the full Black Sheep review.)

BEST BIG MOVIE

EASY A

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD

SHUTTER ISLAND

BEST LITTLE MOVIE

CATFISH

I AM LOVE

WINTER'S BONE

THE WORST MOVIE I SAW ALL YEAR

CLASH OF THE TITANS

GREEN ZONE

JACK GOES BOATING

SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL

WILD GRASS

THE BLACK SHEEP READERS CHOICE AWARD

I AM LOVE

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

THE ILLUSIONIST

BEST LOOKING MOVIE

BIUTIFUL

BLACK SWAN

I AM LOVE