My Thoughts On The Academy Awards

First, as pretentious as critics can be, I won't attempt to even say that I've seen every film nominated or can even pretend to recite each nominee's body of work. But, I know what I have enjoyed, and that is what I'm basing my thoughts on.

So, let's take a look at the Oscar Nominees, and really, let's just focus on Best Film because I'm too lazy to look at anything else. Shall we?

For Best Picture, we have the following:

The Artist - Thomas Langmann, Producer
The Descendants - Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close - Scott Rudin, Producer
The Help - Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
Hugo - Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
Midnight in Paris - Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
Moneyball - Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
The Tree of Life - Sarah Green, Bill Pohlad, Dede Gardner and Grant Hill, Producers
War Horse - Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

I have  to say that I have not seen The Help, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and Moneyball. So that rules those films out for me. Tree of Life, I absolutely despised on every level. Though I thought the flashback story had relevance and potential, I couldn't move pass... pretty much the rest of the movie. Unless you are Jurassaic Park, leave dinosaurs out of your movie. It was that bad for me. Don't judge.

Because kids who make zombie movies rule!

Now, with War Horse, will admit was very good, but not good enough to take home Best Picture. To be honest, if we are going to pick a Spielberg film, Super 8 should have been nominated instead. Visually, War Horse was picturesque and beautifully shot. However, plot wise, Super 8 had me because "Goonies never say die."

Because that street is gorgeous. My street has a pothole

the size of baby elephant. I'm just saying...

Midnight in Paris had me in the first five minutes with the gorgeous scenic shots of Paris, Sidney Bechet's Si tu vois ma mère playing in the background and the ridiculously awesome notion that a writer could be transported back in time to meet his inspirations, all at the stroke of midnight. If this film were not in the company that it was in, I would have to throw my vote in for Woody Allen, all the while sipping my champagne while eating some grandiose piece of cheese that I have no idea actually came from France. Sue me, I love all things française.

Personally, I wouldn't complain if Clooney was 

my husband. Hear that, George! 

I wouldn't cheat on you!!

The Descendants is a solid piece of work from Alexander Payne (even though I hated Sideways and people who insist that Pinot Noir is delicious). But, I have so many issues with this entire selection, I don't know where to begin. All lot of it stems from the Advanced Screening at HIFF. My line shifted so many times, that each time the line was moved, people had cut in front of me. By the time I made it in, I was sitting in the second row to the front. I was so over the screening, I had no energy to dedicate to this story. However, I did read the novel prior and my true complaint is really the lack of emotion I felt from the film, that I felt while reading the book. Really a simple case of book was better for me than the film, though George Clooney did do an amazing job of playing Matt King. I'll just add that it was wonderfully acted, I just preferred the book.

Ben Kingsley is amazing, enough said. 

Now, Hugo I absolutely adore but not for this category. I think hands down, Martin Scorsese should win for Best Director. Without his vision, this film would not have been so captivating. It was not just his use of 3D that worked for me, but how it was incorporated. It didn't become a gimmick, but an enhancement to the overall tone and direction of the film. For those who have read the book like I have, are thrilled that Scorsese saw something wonderful and magical and was able to bring the written and illustrated pages from Brian Selznick's story to life.

My choice of Best Film... The Artist. Why? Because it is a brilliantly told story that made you smile, laugh, tear up, and finally rejoice. Regardless of its homage to Silent Films, The Artist was absolutely everything I can ask for in a movie. It entertained me... I loved the characters... And I became enthralled in the story. Enough said, Best Film for 2011. And it wasn't the dog that had my heart. It was the relationship between the two main characters. Just a great movie overall.

Now how about films that were not nominated. Personally, in looking back I would have liked to have seen 50/50 with Joseph Gordon-Levitt get some attention. Whether it's for best actor for Gordon-Levitt himself, or best supporting actress for Anjelica Huston, the movie is really a heartbreaking but well told story of one man's journey, from the time he finds out he has cancer, to the changing relationships around him. It respects how life moves on, and gives you hope that regardless of the outcome, matters.

In addition, I'll say it again. Drive with Ryan Gosling was an extremely well made film. Couldn't it get a little love for maybe Art Direction, Cinematography or Film Editing? I bet it was because of that cheesy 80's soundtrack, huh? Yup, I'm sure that's why it was snubbed this year. Either way, Drive was thought provoking and Ryan Gosling made the film (with his shirt on, I might add). But damn, Albert Brooks stole every scene! I'm just going to say it. Drive was *&%$ing awesome!!

All in all, there were a lot of great performances this last year and I look forward to seeing who will win top honors at the Academy Awards *coughs The Artist*. I guess we'll find out this Sunday!