10 Things to Know Before the Oscar Noms

With the Oscar nominations coming later this week, I thought it would be fun to mention a few stats and reminders before they arrive. These are a random assortment, but maybe you'll find something interesting.

1. Host Seth MacFarlane could be nominated. Most likely, for Best Original Song ("Everybody Needs a Friend" from Ted).

2. Bryce Dallas Howard could be nominated for Best Live Action Short Film.

3. Auteur Michael Haneke could get his first nomination - for Best Original Screenplay. (Directors aren't credited in Best Foreign Language Film, so The White Ribbon's nomination doesn't count.)

4. If Cloud Atlas is nominated for Best Original Score, Tom Tykwer won't be a nominee. Only Reinhold Heil and Johnny Klimek are credited on the Academy's list of eligible scores.

Only 2 nominees?! No more!

5. No matter what the nominees are, there will be 5 songs nominated for Best Original Song.

6. George Clooney might be nominated this year in the Best Picture category, if he's credited as one of Argo's producers. (For instance, Brad Pitt was a credited producer on The Departed and The Tree of Life and wasn't nominated for either film.)

7. Another Coppola could be nominated. This time, it would be Roman Coppola for co-writing Moonrise Kingdom.

8. Composer Mychael Danna (Moneyball, Little Miss Sunshine) could get his first nomination for Life of Pi.

9. Editor William Goldenberg will probably be nominated twice - for Argo and Zero Dark Thirty.

10. Even if it doesn't receive a Best Picture nomination, newcomer Benh Zeitlin (director of Beasts of the Southern Wild) could get 2 nominations - for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.

If I missed anything interesting, let me know in the comments!

Let the Games Begin...

Awards season is kicking off with some of the first FYC ads. Amour is gunning for multiple nominations, which is a realistic goal at this point. Rust and Bone, meanwhile, will be lucky to get a Best Actress nomination. Having not seen either film, I can't speak to the quality of the films, but hopefully Rust and Bone won't qualify for an Oscar Campaign Bust post.

Images from AwardsDaily.

What Would "Drive 2" Sound Like?

In honor of the great amount of '80s throwback synthpop that I've been listening to lately, I've "written" Drive 2 to create a what-if soundtrack. Bear with me, as I usually don't care for sequels. But this is all in good fun.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Sequel!"

Synopsis: Having left his California life behind, The Driver (Ryan Gosling) is now living a low-key life as a part-time mechanic/limo driver in Miami Beach, Florida. Everything is going fine, until he and his boss's daughter are in a bad car accident in a limo he's driving. He escapes with minor injuries, but her face is busted up and some of her ribs are broken. As it turns out, his boss's brother is a crime boss, who has recently returned to the country. The men aren't happy about how she was treated, so they force The Driver to work for them. He does so partly because of what happened to the girl, but eventually he wants to get out and take her with him. To do so, he must take on her father, his brother, and company to ensure their safety.

"Just when I thought I was out..."

Now, what songs would be used in such a film? Five notable songs - "A Real Hero" (College ft. Electric Youth), "Nightcall" (Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx), "Under Your Spell" (Desire), "Oh My Love" (Riz Ortolani ft. Katyna Ranieri), and "Tick of the Clock" (The Chromatics) - were used in Drive, so I've throw out seven possibilities down below. These could be combined with Cliff Martinez returning with another brilliant score. Also, this is assuming that the sequel would be done in the same style as the first film.

Here are the songs (in no particular order):

*This last track was used in Nicolas Winding Refn's Bronson, but I think it could fit here too.

Thoughts?

I'm a LAMB!

After months of waiting, I'm proud to say I'm LAMB #1360! Not much else to add here, except thanks so much for sticking with the blog, readers! :D

Proper post coming tomorrow.

Top 10 Best Picture Oscar Winners

For the past 84 years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has held an annual awards ceremony honoring the "best" in film. Though, their picks are not always deserved, and many of their decisions - both contemporary and classic ones - are strongly questionable, to put it lightly. While films like Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, and Apocalypse Now have been nominated, they have been beaten by films like How Green Was My Valley, Ordinary People, and Kramer vs. Kramer. But the Academy occasionally makes the right decision, or at least a very good one. Check out some of the great picks after the cut.

Annie Hall (1977, Woody Allen)
Star Wars lost to the little film that could, and it was totally deserved. Well done, voters.



The Apartment (1960, Billy Wilder)
This pick is hardly a surprise, but it remains one of AMPAS's best decisions ever. Wilder's film is a perfect consensus choice.



Casablanca (1943, Michael Curtiz)
Does this really need an explanation? Bogie and Bergman spout great dialogue with a fine supporting cast in tow. It's one of the best.



The French Connection (1971, William Friedkin)
This is a hard-hitting cop film that never ceases to thrill, and the Academy was kind enough to reward it (and Gene Hackman's fantastic performance).



The Godfather (1972, Francis Ford Coppola)
One of the greatest films ever made, and one of the finest casts ever assembled. Period.



Gone with the Wind (1939, Victor Fleming)
While this epic romance was probably never going to lose this award, it is, nevertheless, a great decision by the Academy.



It Happened One Night (1934, Frank Capra)
This screwball romantic comedy is one of the genre's best offerings, and rom-coms have been trying to reach this level ever since.



On the Waterfront (1954, Elia Kazan)
This classic drama features an iconic performance from Brando. It's just terrific, from the supporting cast to Leonard Bernstein's pounding score.



Platoon (1986, Oliver Stone)
I prefer Hannah and Her Sisters, but this is only one of the best war films ever made. A deserved win, no doubt.



Schindler's List (1993, Steven Spielberg)
The win wasn't going to anyone else, and it didn't deserve to. As a popular choice for the year's best, Spielberg's Holocaust drama is a fine choice.

Oscar Updates

"I'm turning 85 next year."

I don't post much of this because I don't want to waste one post on a quick tidbit of information, so here's what's happened since late June.

8/30 - Best Original Song will now have five nominees. Period. And Best Art Direction will now be called Best Production Design. Press release.

8/23 - Also, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who've produced Hairspray, The Bucket List (both 2007), and Footloose (2011), will produce the upcoming ceremony. Press release.

7/31 - Howard Koch (executive producer of Source Code) was elected as the Academy's new president. Press release.

7/25 - New campaign rules were announced. But, outside of the studios, who really needs to know those? Press release.

7/17 - The Academy's Board of Governors was joined by newcomers Lisa Cholodenko, Dante Spinotti, Bill Condon, John Knoll, Dick Cook, and Scott Millan. Press release.

6/29 - 176 professionals, such as Jessica Chastain, the Dardenne brothers, and Alberto Iglesias, were invited to join the Academy. Press release.

Bargain Bin Treasures

As I mentioned here (#18 and #19), I shop for bargain DVDs, which can yield some great finds for relatively little cost. Some awesome bargains I've found after the cut.

Godard Essential Director's Series set (out of print)
  Includes Breathless, Le Petit Soldat, Les Carabiniers, and Notre Musique
Amazon.com price: $299.00 (New) (Original price was around $55.00)
I paid: $4.00

The Beat That My Heart Skipped
Amazon.com price: $14.62
I paid: $2.00

Leon: The Professional (Deluxe Edition)
Amazon.com price: $12.99
I paid: $5.00

Magnolia (2 disc)
Amazon.com price: $17.99
I paid: $5.00

Saboteur
Amazon.com price: $11.07
I paid: $3.00

A Very Long Engagement
Amazon.com price: $14.97
I paid: $3.00

Atlantic City
Amazon.com price: $34.95
I paid: $3.00

New York, New York
Amazon.com price: $8.99
I paid: $3.00

Gattaca (Special Edition)
Amazon.com price: $10.47
I paid: $3.00

The Country Girl
Amazon.com price: $9.95
I paid: $3.00

These were all new, factory-sealed DVDs. I saved over $150 just with this list, paying $34 (tax not included) for what would cost $191 (plus S&H) through Amazon. (I calculated with the original price for the Godard set.) If you don't look in bargain bins, I'd highly recommend it because you never know what you'll find. And saving money always helps. 

2007: The Ultimate Year for Film?

No Country for Old Men

Back in May, I posted that My Movie Year would be 1954. Specifically, my all-time slate of five Best Picture nominees would be that year's lineup (Dial M for Murder, On the Waterfront, Rear Window, Sabrina, and Seven Samurai). But, in terms of the overall release catalog, 2007 stands out as, arguably, the best year for film ever. While many would name a year like 1939 or 1976 as film's pinnacle year, I have not seen enough films from those years to properly classify one of them as such. (For example, I've seen 17 films from 1939 and 159 films from 2007.)

Check out some of 2007's great films after the cut.

30 Notable Films:

**** Films:

American Gangster

Washington and Crowe play cat and mouse in this modern gangster classic. 

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

A beautiful portrait of the outlaw and his relationship with his killer.

Atonement

This tragic love story has it all - iconic images, a haunting score, and great performances. 
 

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

A great little crime drama with a fantastic cast.

The Bourne Ultimatum

Greengrass and Damon don't disappoint in this slam-bang finish.

The Darjeeling Limited

A quirky, albeit forgotten, film that allows Anderson to do his thing almost perfectly.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

This is art-house cinema at its most colorful and its most moving.

Eastern Promises

Another modern gangster gem with a terrific ensemble.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

A heartbreaking abortion tale with a brave leading performance by Marinca.
 

Gone Baby Gone

A surprisingly mature directorial debut that poses some difficult questions.
 

Michael Clayton

Clooney leads a strong cast in this throwback legal thriller.
 

No Country for Old Men

A contemporary western with loads of suspense and great dialogue.
 

Once

This low-budget musical drama remains one of the best films in recent memory.
 

Ratatouille

Pixar does it again with its second best film (behind Nemo).

Rescue Dawn

Bale, Zahn, et al. give stellar performances in this survival story.
 

Stardust

A light fantasy that never ceases to entertain.
 

There Will Be Blood

A masterful epic of greed with one of the most memorable endings ever shot.
 

3:10 to Yuma

This western remake pits Crowe against Bale in what is a pairing for the ages.
 

We Own the Night

An overlooked crime film with style and some brilliant performances. 

***1/2 Films:

Across the Universe

A musical based on songs by The Beatles. Need I say more?
 

Disturbia

This loose remake of Rear Window is smart, tense, and, actually, good.
 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Wonderfully crafted with an ensemble cast to die for.
 

In the Valley of Elah 

A quietly effective film with subtle performances.
 

Interview

A showcase for the year's Best Actress runner-up: the fabulous Sienna Miller.
 

Into the Wild

Though overpraised, it is a beautiful tale of a man's struggle with nature and with himself.
 

Lars and the Real Girl

One of the year's best dramedies with a great ensemble.

Paris, Je T'aime

A collection of 18 shorts about relationships in the City of Light.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Depp and Burton return with a bloody brilliant musical.

Waitress

Russell gives a great performance in Shelly's unsung charmer.
 

Zodiac

Fincher's suspenseful serial killer film based on true events. 

Other Notable Films:

Death at a Funeral, Enchanted, Hot Fuzz, I Am Legend, I'm Not There, Juno, Knocked Up, The Lookout, Planet Terror, Quiet City, Red Road, The Savages, Superbad, 2 Days in Paris

Notable Films I Haven't Seen Yet:

Bug, Control, Death Proof, Lust, Caution, Paranoid Park, Persepolis, Sunshine, This is England, 28 Weeks Later

While I still have more films to see from 2007, it seems that anyone could compile a great top 10 list from the 30 notable films I listed above, or with the additional ones I listed. There's something for everybody. A solid pick like There Will Be Blood here. A surprising pick like Disturbia there. And that's just from the films I've mentioned, as there are probably other great ones that I've forgotten to include.

Sample lists: (Random possibilities)

1. No Country for Old Men
2. There Will Be Blood
3. Red Road
4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
5. Zodiac
6. The Savages
7. Michael Clayton
8. Enchanted
9. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
10. 3:10 to Yuma

1. Atonement
2. The Darjeeling Limited
3. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
4. There Will Be Blood
5. Once
6. American Gangster
7. Ratatouille
8. Waitress
9. Lars and the Real Girl
10. The Bourne Ultimatum

As a reminder, my current list:

1. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
2. Atonement
3. Once
4. American Gangster
5. There Will Be Blood
6. We Own the Night
7. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
8. Rescue Dawn
9. Gone Baby Gone
10. The Bourne Ultimatum

Some yearly top ten lists may feature a few great films, but can they boast such a broad catalog of fine work? (Yes, that includes Disturbia.) Though it's impossible to answer that question definitively, it seems like this is a tough year to top, even for years like 1939. Thoughts?