All I Do Is "Win-Win"

(sorry, I'm really feeling clever today)

"Win-Win" is an incredible movie about a lawyer on the brink of bankruptcy who makes some interesting choices to save his family. These choices turn out to be way more complicated than he ever expected, but he reaps the benefits of the situation regardless. Taking a troubled kid under his wing turns out to be an incredible situation for his after-school wrestling team.

Let me say this: I love Paul Giamatti. I think he has really evolved as an actor, and is getting better with age and has consistently been finding incredible roles.

I really wanted this movie to be awesome. Since I've been blogging, I've realized that I want a movie to be awesome, so I see it and think it is awesome, come home and blog about how awesome it is, and then realize it may not have been that awesome. So, I hesitated a lot before writing this post. That being said, this movie really was awesome. I loved the story line and thought the acting was phenomenal. A big shout out goes to the writers who, I felt, really made the script like a family speaks. There is one really intense, pivotal moment, and the mom (Amy Ryan, Holly from The Office) says, "I just want you to know, We love you". And it just broke my heart and made me so happy at the same time. It seemed so real, and I really was cheering in my seat for everything to go the way I wanted.

This was seriously a great movie, I've offered to go see it again with anyone who doesn't want to be lonely thumbs.
But two of my thumbs are way, way up for this one!

the elephants were thirsty.

So, they needed some water!!

Water for Elephants, the new romantic/animal-cruelty/circus story starring everyone's favorite vampire was surprisingly good. As a disclaimer, I didn't read the book, so I may be full of crock and have no idea what I'm talking about.

The story line was original, sweet, inspiring, and a little bit "edge-of-your-seat" thrilling. By the end I really felt that I knew the characters, and I was super invested in what was going to happen to them. The generally consensus was that Reese Witherspoon was too old (sorry Elle) and that it made it a little harder to believe. I was pleasantly surprised with Robert Pattinson (he didn't even sparkle!) and the fact that he could in fact act, and didn't just look sexy and tormented for 2 hours. I loved all the animals, Hal Holbrook was a precious old man (shocker) and Christoph Waltz was superb! I didn't expect anything less from him, but it is always good to have your suspicions reinforced!

Go see this one! It will make you want a pet elephant and want to run away and join the circus. Which, in my opinion, doesn't seem like a bad side effect.

throwback thursday(s)

Okay, in the interest of space, here comes another double action post! Not one but 2 throwback thursdays!

Apocalypse Now: I'm not the biggest fan of FF Coppola, normally because I just don't get it. I had to watch this movie for a class, and the first viewing left me extremely annoyed. After doing a little more research, and understanding it was from the 70s (not as I expected, a 90s cheap filming) and hearing the infamous quote "I love the smell of Napalm in the morning" I was a little more into it. It doesn't change the fact that I think Martin Sheen is the redheaded step child of the family, and thus a terrible human. But it did make me think, and sort of made me want to watch it again in order to get all of the deep psychological understanding. Apparently it is based on Conrad's, Heart of Darkness (thus why we watched it in class), but it seemed like this movie was much better than that book.

Kingpin: This was freaking hilarious. I've always wanted to see it, and LUCKILY it came on tv and I had time to DVR it (i'm a genius, I know). Anyways, the plot was silly and many of the jokes blew past me, but I loved bill murray in an actually funny role, and it was nice to see woody harrelson not acting like a mentally challenged character. Definitely a good 90s comedy, that I wouldn't have understood until this point in my life. I also loved that the sport of bowling was taken so seriously, and I'm now really scared of the air vents at the bowling alley.

Lincoln Lawyer

WARNING: before you read this post, you should know that this review is about the new Matthew McConaughey movie about his law practice. It is NOT about "Conspirator" the new movie about the political and social circumstances surrounding President Lincoln's death. My poor precious mom was a wee bit confused, and I just wanted to nip that in the bud from the get go.

This movie was great! Matthew McConaughey did a great job doing something besides being hott. The plot was an interesting story, creative, and took you through the range of emotions. (i'm noticing that that is my main criterion in a movie, emotions. whatever, i am a girl)
Surprise surprise, Ryan Phillippe was also in this one-where did he come from? Regardless, he did a great job and was pretty attractive as well!

Go see this one. It is an interesting role if you are a fan of MM, and it was a good story that was well told. Don't go see this if you want to learn more about Abraham Lincoln.

No, I'm not dead.

Have no fear blogosphere, i am not dead.
It has been an insane month and a half, and I'm back in the saddle. The good news is that I managed to watch a few flicks before my life spiraled out of control and, GASP, my DVD player broke.

First up: Cedar Rapids, with the triple threat bundle of joy that is Will Ferrel, Ed Helms, and John C. Reilly. The movie was really clever, and had many funny parts that let me chuckle. The general viewing audience was a bit older than me, and they definitely laughed harder than I did. I think this is because I don't have a real job yet (if you are reading...hire me!) so I haven't been to conferences and all that jazz. However, if I had, it would probably have been even more hilarious. Tim Lippe (Ed Helms) was a baller, and I loved the almost expected plot twist that still came out of nowhere! Its in dvd production now, but if you are seeking a glimpse into the working adult world, snatch this when it comes out on dvd!!

Next: Adjustment Bureau.
Gag me. I expected this to probably not be very good because it wasn't enough of a blockbuster to be released at a prime time (christmas, thanksgiving, may, or summer) and matt damon usually doesn't have two stellar movies in a row. Emily Blunt was good, but it was so predictable and the ending was less than exciting and didn't really make sense. Don't waste your dollar at the redbox. If you see a man in a trench coat and a hat following you around with what looks like a skinny scientific lab notebook from 7th grade science fair, then the people own your life. That was what I got from the movie. It did had some cool cinematography shots and techniques, but it wasn't even worth nerding out for.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards

First and foremost, it is a sad day indeed that award-season has come to an end. I've been working all year to be up to date and informed for the awards, and I think I did a pretty good job seeing most of the films and making education choices.
I want to say from the get-go that I thought the production of the Oscars was absolutely great. Although James Franco didn't do it for me as a host, I thought Anne Hathaway was great; precious, candid and beautiful, all the things a movie star should be. The Academy did a beautiful job weaving the history of the awards in with the presentation of awards, and the sets and changes were beautiful as well. The montage of memorable music to introduce "Best Original Song" was so amazing for a movie nerd, and then young-hip me really enjoyed the satirical versions of the songs. ("Tiny Ball of Light" anyone? Thank goodness HP7 got some sort of recognition)
The presenters were mediocre at best, and relied heavily on you understanding and knowing them as a person. I was uncomfortable with the presenters on numerous occasions and felt as though they didn't really know what they were doing there (read: j.timberlake and mila kunis' really awkward exchanges and her creepy grasp on his arm).

Now for the important part: AWARDS!
I'm only going to comment on the ones that I saw/was able to make an informed decision.

• Art Direction
• My pick: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part One
• Oscar: Alice in Wonderland

I've never really liked Tim Burton's films, and I didn't see Alice in Wonderland. I'm sure it was great. But it WASN'T Harry Potter; and this was the only award HP7 was nominated for. Whatever Academy.

• Cinematography
• Both Oscar and I chose: Inception.
  

How could you not? It defines what cinematography is and why not everyone can make movies and, why very few people make great movies.

• Best Supporting Actress
• My Pick: Amy Adams
• Oscar: Melissa Leto

I just wanted someone to win for "The Fighter". Although I thought Amy Adams did a better job, and went way outside of her normal character, Melissa Leto also did a stellar job. The acting in The Fighter was phenomenal, and I wanted them to be rewarded for it.

• Animated Short
• My pick: "day and night"
• Oscar: "the lost thing"

The only animated short I saw was "day and night", so that's why I picked it. However, the speech that the creators of "the lost thing" gave totally convinced me. It sounds like a wonderful premise, and I hope that I get to see it.

• Best Animated Picture
• My pick: How to Train Your Dragon
• Oscar: Toy Story 3

Oh whatever Academy; I understand that Toy Story 3 completed an epic trilogy and created a genre and style that has been influential to every animated picture from then on. HOWEVER, I thought the story was rather predictable, and How to Train Your Dragon was such a cute story. I also want one of those little black nugget dragons. They are so cute.

• Original Screenplay
• My pick: The Fighter
  
• Oscar: The King's Speech

This was the point during the show that I knew "The King's Speech" was going to sweep it. The Academy and the public got super involved with the story, and decided it was going to be the love of their lives.

• Adapted Screenplay
• My pick: 127 hours
• Oscar: The Social Network

I obviously wasn't sipping on the social network's kool-aide like everyone else was. I thought it was good, yeah. But not THAT good. Jeez Louise. Later on in this post there will be a violent tirade about the social network. Hold onto your hats.

• Foreign Film
• My pick: Biutiful
• Oscar: In a Better World

I don't even have words for the Academy on this one. I was shocked and appalled that Biutiful didn't win. This "In a Better World" is saved on my Netflix queue, and when it comes out on DVD and arrives in my mailbox I will watch it immediately. If that movie doesn't subsequently melt my face off with awesome artistic expression and meaning and emotion, then I will let you know by an even angrier post. You can read my post about Biutiful lower in the blog, but I will tell you that it goes into the top 5 movies of all time for me. Just watching the clip they showed for Javier Bardem's Best Actor nomination made me start to tear up. It was phenomenal, and I'm completely flabbergasted that it didn't win.

• Best Supporting Actor
• My pick: Christian Bale and the OSCAR pick --> CHRISTIAN BALE

Thank goodness Christian won, especially because it came right after the announcement of foreign film. I was going to have to turn it off right then and there. He did such an amazing job, I'm just confused about the terrifying leprechaun beard he's been sporting lately.

• Original Score
• My Pick: The King's Speech/Inception
• Oscar: The Social Network

I'm sorry, WHAT? The music in The Social Network was absolutely awful. It was just notes, back and forth. A four year old made up that same music on their "my first keyboard" but didn't get a pretty gold man statue. As I said, I wasn't sipping on their kool-aide; that and I thought the music was freaking terrible.

• Live Action Short
• My Pick: The Crush
• Oscar: God of Love

This marks the second time during the program where I was not only offended but insulted. When I saw the shorts, I was embarrassed that "God of Love" was the only submission from the united states, and that it was so terribly cliche and just plain bad. The Crush, Wish 143, and The Confession were all original stories that told a complete story using not so many words, pretty imagery, and an imaginative plot. However, this trash from the US was cliche and dumb and total hipster crap. Also, it came from the Tisch Academy, and I'm still a little bitter that they took Vanessa over Dan Humphrey.

• Documentary

The only one I saw was Banksy's "Exit through the gift shop" which I thought was great and possibly completely made up. However, I'm sure that "Inside Job" was a much better film. Adding it to the list.

• Actor in a Leading Role
• My Pick: Javier Bardem
• Oscar: Colin Firth

I wasn't surprised at all that Colin Firth one, and I definitely think he deserved it. I was just very upset that Javier Bardem and the team that created "Biutiful" didn't get the recognition it deserved. Javier, if you are reading, I think you were fabulous.

• Actress in a Leading Role
• Natalie Portman, Duh.

I don't think this was a surprise or anything for anyone. She was a BAMF in Black Swan, and she was rewarded for it. How it should be.

• Best Picture
• My Pick: The Fighter
• Oscar: The King's Speech

As I said, I knew early on that The King's Speech was going to take it all. I personally was just more affected by The Fighter than I was the other. I know many people found it inspirational and uplifting, and I don't disagree, I just felt more connected to the acting and story in The Fighter.

That's all folks. I would like to thank The Academy for a wonderful evening and reminding me why I love movies and films so much. This officially marks the beginning of my quest to see all the nominated Foreign, Best Picture, Live Action and Animated Shorts, and Documentaries for the 2012 Award Season.

One Please.

• 
  

Throwback Thursday

On a Friday. Whatever, its the premise people.

This week's choice is: "History of the World Pt. 1". A Mel Brooks film, it was considerably raunchy and inappropriate. Had some funny stuff in it, but I wasn't super in awe. I know at the time it was super innovative and different and probably considered pretty racy. But this is 2011.
This is becoming a common theme on Throwback Thursdays...I'm sure it was innovative at the time, but these days it wasn't too special. I definitely appreciated the Mel Brooks style and comedy, he is a founding father of comedy and successfully achieves ridiculous puns and tongue-in-cheek comedy.
It gets one lonely thumb up. Good job.