AN EDUCATION*****

Every so often little movies, with unknown actors come along. They are hard to find in theaters and it takes courage and extra time to make the effort to see the film. An Education is this year’s hidden gem and Carrie Mulligan is the breakout star.

Set in England in 1961, the story follows a bright, beautiful and smart girl named Jenny (Carrie Mulligan). Jenny is the all-around academic scholar hoping to advance to University at Oxford. Until one day, while standing in the rain waiting for a bus, Jenny is approached by an older gentleman asking her if she needed a lift. What starts out as a quick ride down the block talking about music, turns into trips to jazz clubs, Paris and dog races.

A romance is ignited in a lovely adventure way, not creepy as you may assume. Jenny’s parents are middle class and want nothing but the best for their daughter and in doing so, are protective of her. However, when a man is willing to “watch over” Jenny and take her wonderful places, he creates a bond with her parents. His fabricated stories and lies work well in pursuing Jenny’s father that she is safe under his guidance. All of this may seem a tad unrealistic at times, but in the 1960’s when women were only looking to graduate so they could get married, parents were more concerned about who would take care of their daughters and not so much how their daughters would ever take care of themselves.

In a scene where Jenny and her teacher get into an argument about Jenny’s relationship with an older man, Jenny says, “If we are going to die the moment we graduate, isn’t it what we do before what counts? Jenny then confronts her parents about getting married instead of going to Oxford. It’s a startling scene that is the movies best moment. Her father dismisses her need for an education and the assumption that reading and writing are not necessary for Jenny to succeed is saddening and you begin to hope Jenny realizes this.

I was curious why the movie was called, An Education for the first half of the film. Was it about a curriculum? As the movie progresses, you realize that it’s an education on life, Jenny’s life. It is an education on travels and art and expensive taste. The education Jenny learns isn’t from the classroom, but from her mistakes and missed opportunities.

Like I said from the start, Carrie Mulligan is phenomenal as Jenny. The beauty, the sweetness and pure joy Carrie brings to this character is the best I have seen from any actress this year. Carrie plays an adolescent with such comfort and ease, there is never any awkwardness in her relationship with a much older man.

Peter Sarsgaard who plays David the older man opposite Mulligan also does an outstanding job. He creates a character that doesn't come across a pedophile, but a man finding love in the a girl looking to explore life.

A Oscar nomination for Mulligan is a definite and I can only hope that the film gets one of the 10 spots for best picture. What we have here is a film that keeps our attention from start to finish not by lavish costumes, sets or effects, but by a story of love, wisdom, experience and the adventure to finding out what matters the most in ones life.

INGLORIOUS BASTARDS****1/2

Watching a Quentin Tarantino film is like trying to figure out a strategic math problem. You look at it with uncertainty, go through the steps, think you have it figured out than to only realize you were all wrong….so you start over. Like any of Tarantino’s films, digesting the greatness of Inglorious Bastards is a process.

The movie begins in German-occupied France in 1941. SS Colonel Hans Landa (Christopher Waltz) arrives at the home of French dairy farmer Perrier LaPadite (Denis Menochet). In the phenomenal opening sequence, Hans tries to get Perrier to admit he is hiding the Jewish Dreyfus family. After interigation from Hans, Perrier breaks down and admits the hiding of the Dreyfus’s. Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Hans and narrowly escapes.

Meanwhile, in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in killing German servicemen. Known to their enemy as "The Basterds," Raine's squad is on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich.

How the stories unfold and how the paths of Aldo and Hans intertwine is pure Tarantino and an extremely intense experience, but would you expect anything less? Raine's squad joins German actress and undercover agent, Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) as the story of the bastards start to cross paths with Colonel Hans. The fun in watching Inglorious Bastards or any Tarantino film for that matter, is not knowing what the hell will happen next. So with that said, I’m going to stop my synopsis of the film here.

I will say the first twenty minutes of the film were perfection, the next twenty were more confusing, after that the next twenty were entertaining and so on and so forth. However, when the climax of the story started to unravel, I was sitting at the edge of my couch completely enthralled by the conclusion.

Brad Pitt was good in this movie. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say for him because of what a remarkable supporting cast that carried this film. First and foremost, Christopher Waltz was phenomenal as Hans. His demeanor, chilling dialog and realism were everything an Oscar winning performance is made of. Bridget Von Hammersmark was stunning as the German actress. Meanwhile, Melanie Laurent executes the role of a scared young Jewish girl at the beginning of the film perfectly, then grows into a dominating woman at the end, creating an Oscar worthy performance.

I won’t lie, I’m not a Tarantino freak. I couldn’t carry a conversation about Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill’s have since passed my mind. I will say that they were all great films. Inglorious Bastards deserves it’s position at the top of the list alongside those classics. Watch the movie once, sit on it for a couple days and watch it again, that’s what I plan on doing now.

THE YOUNG VICTORIA****1/2

Period pieces have never been much of my forte. I enjoyed The Queen and even Elizabeth (mostly because of Cate Blanchett). I wouldn’t call myself an Anglophile, but I’m always game for a Royal history lesson.

Emily Blunt stars as the young Victoria as we follow the early years of the monarch of Queen Victoria. Her uncle, King William (Jim Broadbent), is dying and Victoria is in line for the throne. We witness the royal power struggles she faces and the battling relationship with her mother.

Victoria lives in a very sheltered world. Her mother must hold her hand as she walks down the stairs and has no connection with friends outside the castle. This is all happening to a girl who is not yet 18. Victoria wants love, wants friendships and most of all, fun. King Leopold of Belgium (Thomas Kretschmann) hopes to marry her to his son, Albert (Rupert Friend). Albert has no interest for being used as a pawn. He is sent to meet with Victoria after being educated in her likes and dislikes. During a game of chess with Victoria, she realizes he's been coached about her tastes. When she calls him on it, he admits it. This begins the young love story, which eventually leads to marriage.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this film. I expected the usual prim and proper approach as stuffy and tight as Victoria’s corset. However, from the opening scene, I was loosened and relaxed at the humor and lightness being portrayed.

As we have seen in the past, many actresses gain much notice and accolades for taking on the role of a Queen (Helen Mirren and Cate Blanchett). Emily Blunt deserves great acknowledgement too. Her portrayal of Victoria is strong, demanding and humorous. The role is perfectly executed. Youget the sense of sadness and determination at times when you know Victoria just wants to breaks down the gates and run.

Rupert Friend is also wonderful as Prince Albert. Watching his frustration with the people around him wanting him to create a romance with Victoria and then realizing he is truly falling for her, is done with sincerity and truthfulness. Miranda Richardson as Princess Victoria, Dutchess of Kent and Harriet Walter as Queen Adelaide also have standout performances, that unfortunately will get overlooked come Oscar time.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the glamour of a period piece. The costumes, the locations, and the cinematography. Sometimes all of those spectacles can sugar coat how good a period piece can be. The Young Victoria is one of my favorite films of the years. It was interesting, well directed, a great ensemble cast and moved at a wonderful pace. Emily Blunt deserves an Oscar nod, but unfortunately the limited viewing audience could hurt her chances of a win. I'm sure though, that this young in her career, like Victoria, Emily has a long reign of Oscar nominations ahead of her!

BLIND SIDE***

We have seen movies like Blind Side before; Remember the Titans, Coach Carter, Miracle…or have we? Blind Side is the true story of NFL football star Michael Oher’s difficult upbringing from foster care to foster care, his introduction to a mostly all white Christian School and his adoption by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy.

To compare this movie to other dramatic sports movies is fine, but staring Sandra Bullock in the lead as adopted mom Leigh Anne Tuohy is putting this film in a whole new ball game. As Michael struggles to find his way through this world of rich folks and conservative surroundings, it’s not hard to predict what will happen as this movie evolves.

Leigh Anne is a tough talking, football mom with tenacity and strength in dialog alone. As she brings Michael into her home and under her wing, we see a young boy who jumped from inner city life to grow into a young man who is granted with privileges and opportunities. Not only is Michael cared for by Leigh Anne and her husband, but their also their young son SJ (Jae Head). The bond he creates with his big brother through football practices and video games is a pleasure to watch.

Usually when I review an Oscar movie I have a little more ambition in writing about a great movie. That doesn’t mean Blind Side isn’t great, it’s just not a movie that is Oscar worthy. I’ve added this review because Sandra Bullock will more than likely be nominated for best actress. I can’t agree with that nomination either, but I’m not part of the voting academy.

There is no denying that this is Bullock's best role to date. To see her in a dramatic role after so many comedies is refreshing. I enjoyed Bullocks performance in Crash and was excited she was taking on another serious role. A lot of critics are comparing her role in this movie, to Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich, I can’t help but disagree more. The difference is, Erin Brockovich was a full package film from start to finish, with a strong story and great ensemble cast. Roberts took on Erin in hurricane force, Sandra’s Leigh Anne was a strong wind.

As for the rest of the cast; we see a solid ensemble all-around. Tim McGraw was believable as Sean Tuohy, although toward the end of the film when you see the real-life Tuohy’s ,you realize Tim does not resemble the real Sean at all. This was obviously a casting choice more about youthfulness. Quinton Aaron was perfect as Michael and Kathy Bates was a great addition as Miss Sue.

Like I said, Blind Side isn’t Oscar worthy and to be honest Sandra isn’t either. However, I can accept a nomination, but a win would be disappointing, when so many other actresses have had a phenomenal year.

UP*****

What Pixar is able to bring to animation is something I don’t think anyone has really been able to explain. After every film, we are left thinking, did they really just do it again?! From toys to fish, monster to robots, Pixar keeps going up and up with their abilities to take animation to a level no other studio has been able to reach.

Up is Pixar’s tenth feature film. This time there aren’t any talking cars or rats, it’s about 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen. Carl has spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. But at his ripe old age, life seems to have passed him by. Until a serious of events involving thousands of balloons gives him a new lease on life.

As Carl goes up, he realizes someone may have accidently joined him for the ride. A persistent 8-year old Junior Wilderness Explorer named Russell and his dog. The adventure that Carl and Russell take as they land next to Paradise Falls is one of annoyance for Carl, but the friendship that evolves is one only Pixar can create.

Giving a synopsis of an animated film or a Pixar one for that matter is irrelevant to why we pay the money to see what masterpiece they have created. We now know after ten films, no matter what, we will leave happier than we arrived.

Edward Asner lends his voice to Carl. As always with Pixar voices, Asner is a lovely, if not grumpy counterpart to the character you grow to love throughout the movie. Christopher Plummer also excites audiences with his voice for the villain who tries to ruin Carl’s dream.

There are parts of this film I have not mentioned. The love story of Carl and his wife, who are presented in the first few minutes of film in one of the most touching and heartbreaking montages we have seen in modern day cinema. The music, the color, the extraordinary vision the animators of Pixar possess, is something you truly feel and are captivated by every second of the movie.

Every year there is a Pixar movie, every year there is an Oscar nomination and every year I don’t expect any other film to be any competition. I know that is the case again this year and pretty much for years to come.

PRECIOUS*****

As the credits rolled on the telecast of the 2009 Academy Awards, I went to my computer to write an email to friends who were part of my Oscar contest. The closing line said this, “Precious is the movie to watch this coming year, mark my words.” Eleven months later I sit wondering why I assumed Precious would be such a force before I even saw it?

Precious: Based on the book Push by Saphire, is director Lee Daniels extrodinary adaptation of a book that has left readers speechless for years. Clareece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidbe) is an overweight, illiterate, African-American teenager in Harlem. Having given birth to her first child, she is again pregnant from the same man, her father. With the abuse she receives from her mother, Mary (MoNique), Precious must try to continue getting her welfare if she has any hope of leaving her abusive home life. Also, she will need to know how to read and write.

Precious goes on to attend an alternative school. While there, she encounters Miss Blu Rain (Paula Patton) a teacher who will help her see herself as a beautiful girl who is loved. Precious also talks with a social worker, Miss Weiss (Mariah Carey) who helps give Precious a better perspective of the damage her mother has brought into her life and what Precious can do to grow above and beyond it.

The drama, the realism, and the heart wrenching scenes that unfold within this story are unlike anything you have seen on film. With the perfect balance of shock and humor, you are able to understand not only the deep stomach turning events, but also the kind hearted, beautiful person Precious is and always has been.

Director Lee Daniels has done some great movies in the past, Monster’s Ball and The Woodsman to name a few. What Lee has done this time however, is creating an existence that is so real and so touching that finally all the Precious’s in the world are given a voice, given hope that someone out there is hearing their story.

To even try and explain the phenomenon of what this cast brings to Precious is hard to put in words. Let’s start with newcomer and the fabulous, Gabourey Sidbe! When I read the novel "Push", I envisioned an actress like Gabourey and what she was able to bring to the character of Precious. The magnitude of hope that flows through her, is Oscar worthy without a doubt. MoNique is a force to be reckoned with and probably the best performance by an Actress in the past ten years.

Mariah Carey and Paula Patton are great in their respected roles. Mariah shines in a role that could not have come at a better time for her. Forget Glitter, her turn as a dowdy social worker is Mariah’s career changing role, one that deserves every bit of accolades she receives. Sherri Shepard and Lenny Kravitz also do marvelous in their smaller roles, ones that definitely can’t go overlooked.

Precious is everything an Oscar winning movie should be. A great ensemble cast, a story that rips you apart and leaves you with an open mind and direction by Lee Daniels that is flawless. As Miss Rain says, “People do love you, Precious”. Here’s hoping that Oscar does too!

UP IN THE AIR*****

A movie like Up in the Air doesn’t come around to often. Through dialog alone, Up in the Air does something most movies struggle with. I knew this movie wasn’t going to pull out the bells and whistles to attract an audience, I mean it had George Clooney, what more did it need?! However, as the movie moves along you realize it’s the remarkable performances by the whole cast that really make this movie fly.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert that loves life in the sky and has a goal of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles. His life doesn’t consist of much turbulence, from LaGuardia to JFK, he rolls his suitcase and walks the terminal as if it’s his job.

The women who Ryan encounter bring a sense of uncertainty to what he is use to. He meets another frequent flyer, Alex (Vera Farmiga) who over swapping hotel keys and airport jargon begin a relationship that builds from quick layovers to a weekend vacation.

The other woman in Ryan’s life is less romantic and more personal. Natalie (Anna Kendrick) is brought on board to let Ryan know that his company will be grounding it’s employees and layoffs will be conducted over the internet. As you can guess this puts a huge bump in Ryan’s ordinary life and his only way of living.

As the story unfolds you see Ryan create to friendships with two very different women. Natalie and Ryan explore the benefits of firing someone in person vs. over the internet. Alex and Ryan explore the benefits of having a relationship in hotels connected to airports vs. one outside their normal lives.

George Clooney has never been batter as an actor. Although, overshadowed by his own personal celebrity most of the time, Clooney truly shines as Ryan and you couldn’t imagine a better person to playing the role. However, with much Oscar buzz, it’s hard for me to really push for George considering I have never been one for rewarding actors with Oscars when they don’t have to stretch further than their own life to portray a character, but maybe that is the significance to it all.

Vera Farming and Anna Kendrick are both pretty and powerful in their respected roles. They should both get Oscar nods. I found Vera’s character more appealing and memorable than Anna’s, but most critics are saying the opposite.

Up in the Air, is just a damn good movie. It’s an adult comedy that doesn’t go further than it needs, to make you feel your trip was worth the price. As for if Ryan reaches his flyer miles goal? It’s worth the price of admission just find out.

A SINGLE MAN***1/2

Note to self: Don’t watch a movie that has undertones of your own reality. However, maybe having the opportunity to watch a film that connects on some level with your own life makes the viewing experience that much more memorable.

A Single Man is a movie about a man who is grieving the death of his boyfriend of 16 years. Set in 1962 in Los Angeles, George Falconer (Colin Firth) takes us through the day where he is preparing for his own suicide. Let me just make note that I did not lose a boyfriend to death or ever contemplated my own suicide, however having any form of loss in your life and being homosexual, you can’t help but connect with George on many levels.

George lives a pretty much perfect life from the outside. Beautiful home, secure job and has a close friendship with the obnoxious Charley (Julianne Moore). George plans his day accordingly and goes through the motions of someone making sure everything is in place so that after his death everyone he leaves behind(which doesn’t seem like many) understand that life will go on as planned once the dust settles.

As a professor George is admired by a young student Kenny (Nicholas Hoult) who for most of the movie stalks George in an attempt to connect with someone who may understand the struggles of living a closeted life as a gay adolescent. The friendship that unfolds and the encounter George has with a Spanish prostitute (Jon Kortajarena) pave the way for a ending I won’t reveal here.

Every year we are introduced to a movie that touches us in a way that’s different from most mainstream films. Last year we had Oscar nominated films The Visitor and Frozen River, this year it is A Single Man. Colin Firth gives a career moving performance that is truly sentimental and extraordinarily touching. His simple demeanor he portrays throughout the films connects you to the grieving of a man who just is trying to find meaning after what we all can imagine would be truly painful.

Julianne Moore shines yet again playing a woman from the 1960’s. Unlike her roles in Far From Heaven and The Hours, Moore takes a more alcohol infested ride of makeup and hairspray to reveal a women also looking for answers and love. Nicholas Hoult also deserves mention for playing Kenny with unquestionable desire to also want affection.

A Single Man isn’t a best picture contender; however with the recent addition of five more movies it could easily take the last spot. This movie though shines on the acting alone, like most indie movies do. Firth is a shoe-in for a best actor nomination and Moore for supporting actress.

The point of A Single Man is to let everyone know it’s ok to grieve and in some cases it may take longer than expected. We can’t assume that everyone moves on at the same speed to recovery, but it puts in perspective that everyone around you is dealing with their own inner pain, we all just cover it up in the best way possible.

AVATAR ****

Let's get one thing straight right from the start, I don't do Sci-fi. I haven't seen a Star Wars and couldn't tell you what makes it any different then Star Trek. However, I DO love epic's, I DO love 3D and I DO love that James Cameron is back in all his Titanic glory!

Avatar is everything I hoped it would be an more. We are introduced to the world of Jake Scully a former marine who is bound to a wheelchair. He is recruited to travel light years away to Pandora, a land that holds a mineral that could solve the Earth's energy crisis. Now, why Jake is chosen and what it takes to get to Pandora is for you to find out when you go see the movie. I can't give all the fun away!

Now the atmosphere of Pandora is toxic, they have created the Avatar Program, in which human "drivers" have their consciousness linked to an avatar, a remotely-controlled biological body that can survive in the lethal air. These avatars are a mix of human DNA with DNA from the natives of Pandora called the Na'vi.

Like I mentioned in my "Welcome" post just before this, I'm not going to focus so much on the story in my reviews but more on everything that went in to make this movie good or bad. I will however at least give you an idea of what you will actually have to sit through. I mean does the story matter as long as I say it's good or not!?

Let me just say, this movie is unlike anything you have seen before. However, pay close attention to how I said SEEN, as in your eyes have never witnessed film making in this form. The story is another whole issue and I'll get to that in a minute. James Cameron hasn't done much since Titanic and u had to start to worry what exactly was happening to his directing career and would he be able to pull another blockbuster off?....he did.

Now about the story, it's interesting and it's got undertones of politics, religion and war. Some will hate it, some will like it but I don't think many will love it. Just like Titanic, the love story of Jack and Rose vs. Avatar's Jake and Neytiri come across as just washed up love. I found myself finding many similarities between the two couples and was wondering if anyone else in the theater felt the same.

The acting is actually quiet believable. Major props go to sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver. Her addition to the film was a great casting choice and it was nice to see her back in a movie where she fit like a glove. Sam Wirthington was great as Jake and Michelle Rodriquez was great as Trudy a security force pilot.

Avatar has a running time of close to three hours. As we learned with Titanic running time doesn't matter as long as you are entertained and James does it yet again with Avatar. I gave this movie five stars not because it's the greatest story ever told or that it even deserves to win best picture at the Oscars. I'm giving it a great review because it has changed the way an epic blockbuster will be made, the same way Titanic changed movie making in 1997. So if you see Avatar in 3D which I recommend, sit back and enjoy a visually stunning movie because it might be another 12 years before James Cameron is king of the world again.....and I'm willing to wait!

OSCARS 2010!

I'M BACK!!!

It's hard to believe it's already Oscar season again! This blog was in hibernation for a little while, but now it feels good to have the chance to share my Oscar nominated movie reviews with all of you!

Now I know the nominations don't come out until February 2nd, but trust me after many years of obsessing over the Oscars, I have a good idea on who and what will be nominated.

So over the next few weeks I will be adding all of my reviews and giving you a good idea of what needs to be at the top of your list before March 7th(Oscar Day).

When I write my reviews this year I'm going to focus more on my views then explaining the actual story to you. I find it boring to write about the story without getting to the point. I will let you know if I love it or hate it and do my best to give a generalized idea of the movie, but will focus more on my view.

So make sure you take a good look over all the reviews and I look forward to sharing my predictions with you!