Golden Globe Predictions

Today are the Golden Globe Awards. Normally, I'm excited about these, but the second I heard The Tourist was nominated for Best Comedy/Musical I knew we were in for trouble. So below I made my predictions about what will win (BOLD), what should win (Italics), and then add what should have been included. Not all categories will have all of that info, just the ones I feel like posting. Happy watching - and don't forget to watch the Patriots de-feet the Jets this afternoon!!

Best Motion Picture, Drama

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The King’s Speech

The Social Network

Should Have Been Nominated: 127 Hours

Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

Alice in Wonderland

Burlesque

The Kids Are All Right

Red

The Tourist (It's not the worst movie here, but it's NOT a comedy or a musical!)

Should Have Been Nominated: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Best Director - Motion Picture

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

Should Have Been Nominated: Danny Boyle for 127 Hours

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network

Colin Firth for The King's Speech

James Franco for 127 Hours

Ryan Gosling for Blue Valentine

Mark Wahlberg for The Fighter

Should Have Been Nominated: Robert Duvall for Get Low

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama

Halle Berry for Frankie and Alice

Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman for Black Swan

Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine

Should Have Been Nominated: Noomi Rapace for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy

Johnny Depp for Alice in Wonderland

Johnny Depp for The Tourist

Paul Giamatti for Barney's Version

Jake Gyllenhaal for Love and Other Drugs

Kevin Spacey for Casino Jack

Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy

Anne Hathaway for Love and Other Drugs

Julianne Moore for The Kids Are All Right

Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right

Emma Stone for Easy A

Angelina Jolie for The Tourist

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Christian Bale for The Fighter

Michael Douglas for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Andrew Garfield for The Social Network

Jeremy Renner for The Town

Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams for The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech

Mila Kunis for Black Swan

Melissa Leo for The Fighter

Jacki Weaver for Animal Kingdom (***I really want her to win, but I doubt enough people saw the movie, even though voters are supposed to see them all. She was the best by far!)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

127 Hours

The Kids Are All Right

The King's Speech

The Social Network

Inception

Best Animated Feature Film

Despicable Me

How to Train Your Dragon

The Illusionist

Toy Story 3

Tangled

Best Foreign Language Film

Biutiful

The Concert

The Edge

I Am Love

In a Better World

Should Have Been Nominated (and Won): The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Original Song - Motion Picture

Bound to You from Burlesque

Coming Home from Country Strong

I See the Light from Tangled

There's a Place for Us from Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

You Haven't Seen the Last of Me from Burlesque

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplot for The King's Speech

Danny Elfman for Alice in Wonderland

A.R. Rahmin for 127 Hours

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross for The Social Network

Hans Zimmer for Inception

Best Television Series, Drama

Boardwalk Empire

Dexter

The Good Wife

Mad Men

The Walking Dead

Best Televison Series, Comedy or Musical

30 Rock

The Big Bang Theory

The Big C

Glee

Modern Family

Nurse Jackie

Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama

Steve Buscemi for Boardwalk Empire

Bryan Cranston for Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall for Dexter

Jon Hamm for Mad Men

Hugh Laurie for House

Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama

Julianna Margulies for The Good Wife

Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men

Piper Perabo for Covert Affairs

Katey Sagal for Sons of Anarchy

Kyra Sedgwick for The Closer

Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock

Steve Carell for The Office

Thomas Jane for Hung

Matthew Morrison for Glee

Jim Parsons for Big Bang Theory

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hope Davis for Special Relationship

Jane Lynch for Glee

Kelly McDonald for Boardwalk Empire

Julia Stiles for Dexter

Sofia Vergara for Modern Family

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Scott Caan for Hawaii Five-0

Chris Noth for The Good Wife

David Straithairn for Temple Grandin

Eric Stonestreet for Modern Family

Chris Colfer for Glee

Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical

Toni Collette for United States of Tara

Edie Falco for Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey for 30 Rock

Laura Linney for The Big C

Lea Michelle for Glee

Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

The Pacific

Carlos

Temple Grandin

You Don't Know Jack

The Pillars of the Earth

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Dennis Quaid for The Special Relationship

Ian McShane for The Pillars of the Earth

Édgar Ramírez for Carlos

Al Pacino for You Don't Know Jack

Idris Elba for Luther

Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television

Claire Danes for Temple Grandin

Hayley Atwell for The Pillars of the Earth

Jennifer Love Hewitt for The Client List

Judi Dench for Return to Cranford

Romola Gara for Emma

DVD Review: JOAN RIVERS - A PIECE OF WORK

photo © 2010 David Shankbone | more info (via: Wylio)If you've ever wanted to be in the public spotlight as an entertainer, you might want to check out Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work, now on DVD. I didn't go see this movie in theaters as I didn't know much about Rivers outside of her appearance (and victory) on Celebrity Apprentice. I knew she was a comic who tilted the way of the vulgar, but what I didn't know was that behind the loud voice and endless plastic surgery, there is a human being who can be hurt just as easily as us "normal folk". And boy is she hurting.

The movie opens at one of Rivers' shows - she tells a few jokes, and frankly I was ready to turn the movie off. The jokes, in my opinion, weren't funny, but were disgusting. I didn't want to waste my time listening to such "filth", no matter how well it was filmed. I'm no prude but listening to a woman who could be my grandmother tell jokes about anal sex is just not my cup of tea. Then the movie took an abrupt shift, and we learn that the movie is going to follow one year in the life of the comedy icon Rivers. This is where the movie becomes immensely absorbing. We learn that as popular a name as Joan Rivers is, she has a real hard time finding work due to newer, fresher comediennes. We also learn that Rivers lives extravagantly, making finding work not just a way to pass the time or fuel fame, but to maintain her luxurious life of choice.

I really didn't expect much from this documentary, but went away very glad I saw it. I was very sad ultimately, that money and fame dictate this woman's life as much as they do - although her honesty about this is to be commended. Rivers' daughter Melissa made one of the best points in the movie - that stand-up comics all have a disorder that causes them to need approval of the masses. I know people like this - not celebrities - but those who aspire to be and continuously make fools of themselves. This movie made me understand them a little better. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

Parental Take: There is quite a bit of comedy material that is vulgar, not to mention children wouldn't really have any reason to watch this.

If You Like Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work Try: One of the best films of the year, Exit Through the Gift Shop tells the story of street art like and is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.

The Ten Best Movies of 2010

The Best Movies of 2010

The movie year is weird. Some 2010 movies haven’t even been released yet. They screen in New York, LA, or some other city to qualify for awards and it takes forever for them to be released near where I live. So that being said this list is subject to change as I see the last few movies of 2010 that I haven’t gotten to see yet. I am still eager to see Somewhere, Biutiful, Blue Valentine, and Another Year. As of right now though, the following movies are the best of the year in my movie-going opinion. Out of the 121 movies I’ve seen from 2010, these are the ones that 1) stuck with me, 2) entertained me, and 3) added something special to my movie year. They may not all go in the exact order to which I ranked them originally - but they are how I see them now. This is my list:

10) Catfish

I keep going back and forth for the tenth slot on this list. It’s a virtual tie between Catfish and Let Me In. Both movies are great in their own ways, but I give the edge to Catfish because it’s original, not a remake like the other. The filmmakers claim their documentary is true, but I have my strong doubts - no matter - it’s totally interesting and the ending is both shocking and satisfying.

9) How to Train Your Dragon
It’s been a great year for animated movies, and in a year this wasn’t against such a great Pixar entry (Toy Story 3) it would be the best animated film. I love the simple storytelling, the well-drawn characters, and the colorful animation style which looked great in 3D.

8) Exit Through the Gift Shop

For documentaries, the topic of street art might not seem “important” in a sea of issue films. Who says documentaries HAVE to be important? They should tell a good true story, and this tells a great one. You won’t look at graffiti the same way ever again.

7) Black Swan
I didn’t expect to like this movie, but I found it completely riveting. Set in the world of ballet, this is suprisingly one of the most horrifying thrillers I’ve seen all year. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of the movie, and while many portions were hard to watch, it told an original story with intelligence.

6) Inception
Christopher Nolan makes great movies, and this one is no exception. While in my opinion the ending faltered slightly, the twisty and original flick was completely absorbing. It’s hard to explain exactly what this one is about, but it has to do with a new king of terrorism - the theft of one’s thoughts and secrets. Most people have already seen it, but if you are one of the few who haven’t, I would suggest it highly.

5) The King’s Speech
Call me a sucker for overcoming adversity stories, but because this one is true, I feel no guilt whatsoever. Colin Firth plays the man who will be king, King George VI, who has a stuttering problem. Geoffrey Rush plays his speech therapist. Their interactions are some of the most entertaining of the year, and the story itself is fascinating.

4) The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
photo © 2010 Sarah Williams | more info (via: Wylio)I have not read the popular book trilogy yet, but I did see the three movies. This, the first portion of the mystery saga, not only was made well, but stands alone as a film even if you don’t see the other two (which are also very very good!). Noomi Rapace deserves an Oscar for her portrayl of hacker Lisbeth Salander, and the supporting casting is also great. The movie is over the top brutal, which originally hurt it in my mind, but after seeing the entire trilogy, I understand the purpose (but still can’t help squinting during some of the most intense scenes.).

3) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
It might not be the traditional critic pick, but I am not a traditional critic. I go to the movies not just for Oscar bait, but also to have a heck of a good time. I cannot think of a more purely entertaining movie this year than SPVTW. Based on a set of equally crazy-amazing graphic novels, Michael Cera plays the title character facing a colorful cast of evil exes in his quest to win the girl of his dreams. I LOVED this movie.

2) 127 Hours
This movie connected with me on a level most movies don’t even come close to. I’ve seen it twice and will buy it when it’s released on DVD. There is something about the message - make the most of your life before it’s too late - that really hit home with me. James Franco gives a brilliant performance, and Danny Boyle’s direction is amazing considering this story is about a man stuck in a cavern. See it.

1) Toy Story 3

The year’s most emotionally driven film was one starring plastic play things. The story was original (especially for the third installment in the series!), the vocal talent was top-notch, and the pacing was perfect. The only people who don’t love this movie seem to complain that it’s too dark - but it needed the jolt to remain fresh and create an ending that is truly unforgettable. It’s great - and in my opinion - the very best movie of 2010.

photo © 2010 Steve Jurvetson | more info (via: Wylio)

Movie Review: COUNTRY STRONG

One of my biggest pet peeves with my friends and others that I talk to about movies is when they love a movie based solely on a great ending. They'll rave about some major twist, some great final sequence, but totally forget a bunch of stupid stuff prior. That being said, I am attempting not to be the complete opposite type of person while applying my same overall principle - because my instinct wants to completely pan Country Strong for what is certainly one of the worst movie endings I've seen in quite some time...maybe ever. I need to judge the film as a whole, so let's get to it then...

Country Strong is the story of three country singers. One, Kelly Cantor (Gwenyth Paltrow), is a seasoned singer whose part Faith Hill and part Lindsay Lohan. The movie begins with her leaving rehab (for alcohol abuse), forced to leave early by her angry husband/manager (Tim McGraw) who seemingly wants to see her back on the road making money. While in rehab, she met an up-and-coming star who worked in the facility, who coincidentally also knows another up-and-coming star who coincidentally Cantor's husband is looking into to be a new opening act, coincidentally. Coincidentally. Coincidentally. My word the beginning of this movie was almost as bad as the end. There is so much cooking here, and almost none of it is believable.

In the middle though, once we forgive all of the coincidences, the story hits it's stride and becomes, dare I say it, immensely entertaining. The music wasn't half bad for the amount of original material they made for the film. I actually began really liking the characters - the acting was very good, and I thought I might end up liking the overall experience. And then the last five minutes happen. My word. So terrible. I'm sorry, this review is not eloquent, but it's just that bad. The screenwriter/director, Shana Feste, should be utterly ashamed how she betrayed the overall message of the movie in the last few scenes. This was supposed to be a movie about redemption, not some bad soap opera. So I will give the beginning a 0, the middle a 7, and the ending a -2 for a final score of 5 out of 10. You may not hate the movie, but I will lose respect for you if you don't hate the ending.

Parental Take: Drugs, sex, and alcohol are themes, but never explicit. It probably wouldn't interest anyone under the age of 13.

If You Like Country Strong Try: Last year's Crazy Heart is so much better - it has a great beginning, middle, and end.

Movie Review: THE FIGHTER

photo © 2002 Kristin Wall | more info (via: Wylio)As loyal MMOM readers will already know, I'm not a huge fan of sports movies. Not because of my like or dislike of a certain sport, but my belief that every good sports movie has already been made. Rarely does a sports movie come along that isn't ripping off a million others. Going in to most sports movies, one will already know the ending will be one of two things - a win or a loss - and most often it is a win. So now we have The Fighter starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. Another boxing movie?! Being that Rocky is one of my all-time favorite films, the critic in me was ready to rip this to shreds.

That introduction will hint at my discontent over this film. From watching the trailers, it did exactly what I expected and feared it would. There were two musical training montages. There was the press conference scene with two opponents facing off. There was the girl who loved the fighter, then didn't, then did. There were the disappointed looks after the "hero" loses a fight. It was like the director, David O. Russell, took pages from every boxing movie and made The Fighter out of them. Now to the pivotal question - is it still worth watching? I would argue yes - but not for the story, but instead for the acting. If this were the first boxing released, it would surely become one of the greatest films ever made. Everyone who acted in this movie did so whole-heartedly. Bale and Adams were Oscar worthy, and Wahlberg and Leo were also memorable. They made the most of what they were given, and despite it all feeling familiar, I didn't hate watching "it" all over again.

My final score would be a 6.5 out of 10. You'll get what you're expecting as long as you're expecting a well told, albeit run of the mill, boxing flick.

Family Take: Profanity, drug content, and some violence earn the film an R rating. It's not for kids.

If You Like The Fighter Try: I love Rocky as I mentioned, but if you want to see a great sports movie that isn't really a sports movie, see Clint Eastwood's best picture winning Million Dollar Baby.

Movie Review: ALL GOOD THINGS

photo © 2010 David Shankbone | more info (via: Wylio)All Good Things is making it's way around art-house theaters now, but it's far easier to catch it on Amazon's video-on-demand feature. They occasionally allow you to pay a little extra (usually 6.99) to watch a movie still in theaters. Lately they are doing a promotion to save $5 on a movie if you 'tweet' one of their sales - so I did that, and decided to catch this movie as it isn't playing in my immediate area.

AGT's is the based-on-a-true story of the Marks family, primarily married couple David (Ryan Gosling) and Katie (Kirsten Dunst). Spanning about 30 years from the 1970's to early 2000's, the film gives us a very one-sided view of a partially unsolved missing persons/murder case.

The Marks family owned (maybe still does) much of Times Square - including old buildings that used to be known for prostitution and drug rings. As the clean up of this area began, these building owners, including the Marks family, had to scramble to keep up with the changes. One member of the Marks family, David (the eldest son of mogul Sanford Marks played by Frank Langella) didn't want in on the family business, but wanted to open a health food shop in Vermont calls 'All Good Things.' Pressured though, David eventually joins the family empire. This career path, along with past demons, cause home life to get a bit stressed to say the least, and that's where the movie begins to spiral out of control.

My problem, without giving anything away, is how one-sided this movie is. It was definitely made to make certain people who've been found innocent look guilty. Maybe this side is all true, and in that sense it wouldn't be one-sided as much as it would be accurate, but we don't know. That's problem number two - I feel like this story shouldn't have been told until more information was found. We really don't get a conclusion.

The story is somewhat interesting despite not having a real ending, but I will warn you - it's a heavy film. It's very depressing and dreary. A movie with these themes has to be, but it's really hard to watch. The acting is very good, and it's not a terrible movie by any means. I really just wanted more, and in this case that statement is not a compliment. I would give it a 5 out of 10.

Family Take: This is a very hard R movie, with violence, sex, profanity, and adult themes.

If You Like All Good Things Try: This movie wasn't as good as Zodiac which also didn't really have a solid ending, but was better constructed and a more fascinating crime saga.

Movie Review: THE KING'S SPEECH

photo © 2009 nicolas genin | more info (via: Wylio)First off, no, this is not a review for a movie about Martin Luther King, Jr. Very few people I know have heard of this film, and fewer still know what it's about. Let me set the record straight for my friends and random valued blog readers: The King's Speech is the true story of King George VI of Britain, chronicling not only his unconventional rise to his powerful position, but focusing more on his speech impediment and the methods taken to solve it. It sounds like one of the most boring, drab, and dry films ever. I can safely say it's not any of those things - it's one of the very best movies of the year.

Colin Firth (The King), Geoffrey Rush (The Speech Therapist), and Helena Bonham Carter (The Queen) all turn in Oscar caliber performances telling a very powerful story of overcoming obstacles both on a personal level and on a grand scale. The approach to this movie was very narrow - which was wise as this movie could have gone in too many directions. This movie is set at the time of World War II, during a controversial era in British politics, and at a pivotal moment in world history. Director Tom Hooper decides to showcase the biggest problem as the one the King is facing personally, his stuttering problem.

There are more laughs than I expected, more unpredictable turns in the story than I saw coming, and more good acting in one frame of this than during the entire Little Fockers mess. It's a movie you can take almost anyone to see, and I suggest you do. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

Family Take: There are about 40 swears keeping this movie from a "G" rating. And for once, I can say the majority of the profanity forwards the story and didn't bother me at all. I grew up in a very protective family, but I believe that after the age of 13 my parents would have been fine with me seeing this very mild "R" rated movie.

If You Like The King's Speech Try: The Queen starring an Oscar-winning Helen Mirren was a very well made movie about another British royal, but not nearly as entertaining as TKS.

Movie Review: TRUE GRIT

photo © 2010 Gage Skidmore | more info (via: Wylio)I like the Coen Brothers. I do. Sometimes though, I hate their movies. Lately, it's been love one, hate one, love one, hate one. I hated their last movie, the critically loved A Serious Man. I "got it", but hated it. So logic would say, if the pattern would hold true, that I should love True Grit. Well, I didn't - but I certainly didn't hate it either.

Westerns don't come out often, which is a shame as it's a great genre. The problem is there are so many classics, the news ones that are made are instantly compared to them. So what do the Coen Brothers do? They remake a classic - a very dangerous task indeed. They claim to never have seen the original starring John Wayne, they just went off of the source material, a book by Charles Portis. The story is very plain - which is why it lacked something for me, despite how well it may have been adapted (I haven't read the book). When a young girl, Mattie Ross (played exceptionally by Hailee Steinfeld) needs someone to avenge her father's murder, she turns to the meanest (and drunkest) Texas Marshall out there to get the job done - Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges). That's the movie. There are a few other characters (including one played by Matt Damon, who was good, but forgettable), but they are really distant to the relationship between the two leads.

So that criticism aside, I really loved the acting in this movie. Jeff Bridges was great (but he may have been playing more of himself than we'd like to think), but the star making role of Mattie played by Steinfeld is why this movie is a must-see. She steals every scene she's in, despite being slightly Juno-esque (oversmart for her age, but we don't care because she's do darn entertaining.). The movie is also paced very well, and at under two hours, just flew by. I would give this movie a 7.5 out of 10. It may be slightly overrated, but it's still worth seeing.

Family Take: Not good kids, and best for older teens on up. There is one violent scene that really made me question how this got the PG-13 rating in the first place.

If You Like True Grit, Try: My favorite western, a oldie but a goodie, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Movie Review: THE LITTLE FOCKERS

photo © 2010 Jonathan Tommy | more info (via: Wylio)The Little Fockers is one of the year's worst movies. It's a painful exercise in what not to do when making a comedy. With a talented cast only being able to produce a handful of laughs, this is one film that doesn't take much to review - it's bad - very bad. It makes one wonder if DeNiro, Hoffman, and Streisand even have agents anymore. I can understand Stiller, Wilson, and a bunch of lesser knowns making a bad comedy - they still need the exposure - but when the veteran's want to let loose and have fun, I'm sure there is some better way to do it.

While the film is titled The Little Fockers, the progression from the also dreadful Meet the Fockers is basically "let's add two kids to the cast, have them say a few silly things, and make the same movie we did with MTF." I must add that I am a huge fan of the original, which many people thought was overrated. I still like to think of that movie as having no sequels - it stands alone well, and didn't need them. Money is the root of all evil, and this is a prime example.

That's all I'm going to say about this movie - I feel like I have wasted too many words already. I'd give it a 2 out of 10 - which is probably 2 too many.

Family Take: Kids will probably like the humor best, but there are too many sexually related themes to make it permissible. Teens and the grossly immature may find more here than I did to enjoy.

If You Like The Little Fockers, Try: Watching AFI's 100 Best Movies, as you need to develop some skill in determining what a good movie is.

Movie Review: HOW DO YOU KNOW?

photo © 2010 Joe | more info (via: Wylio)Reese Witherspoon, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, and director James L. Brooks (As Good As It Gets, The Mary Tyler Moore Show) team up for the the romantic comedy (?) How Do You Know?. I have tried to write this review a few times but have just stopped as it's kind of hard to assess. Since I do this blog for fun, and am fighting no deadlines, I just decided to think it over a while longer. One moment I hate the pretentiously named, annoyingly directed, and overlong film. Then another moment comes where, while I still don't love it, I think back fondly on a few of the scenes and a few of the characters. Brooks has always known how to develop characters, but here he seemed to completely forget to structure a worthy story around them. Some of the dialog in this movie is so boring you could save yourself the money and just observe a conversation in the lobby of the theater. I struggled to stay awake.

Witherspoon plays a softball player who is cut from her team as she is too old. She begins to engage, almost at the same time, in two less than perfect romantic relationships. One of these is with Rudd's character, a man being accused of financial crimes that he claims he didn't commit. The other, more odd and unbelievable, is with a baseball sensation played by Wilson. I didn't like this latter relationship at all - everything about it was forced. Witherspoon and Wilson have about as much chemistry as Witherspoon and a vacuum cleaner. Throw in a couple of run-on scenes with Nicholson, and that's really the movie in a nutshell.

As I mentioned, this movie is long. It feels longer. It drags and drags, but then occasionally has a really sweet moment. My favorite scene, the one that really saved it from the worst of the year list for me, was when Witherspoon's character unexpectedly calls Rudd's character to see if she can come over...from his doorstep. He sees her, but doesn't let her know he sees her, and it's a really nice scene and funny conversation. Is it worth seeing the movie for this scene? Absolutely not. So ultimately I would give this movie a 4 out of 10.

Family Take: I can safely say there is nothing here that kids would want to see this movie for - there are a lot of adult conversations - too many that go nowhere. You might try it as a punishment for them.

If You Like How Do You Know Try: As Good As It Gets - it's classic Brooks and so much better.