What will this year's Oscars look like? Who will be the major players? Does Harvey have the magic once again? All of these are just a few of the questions people are asking now, but with the season getting underway, and heavy hitters like Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, Nebraska, and Inside Llewyn Davis getting good press, there may be a lot of contenders already out there. Here are my very very early August predictions. Best Picture 12 Years a Slave American Hustle August: Osage County Blue Jasmine Fruitvale Station Gravity Inside Llewyn Davis Lee Daniel's The Butler Nebraska
Best Director Ryan Coogler, Fruitvale Station Joel and Ethan Coen-Inside Llewyn Davis Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity Lee Daniels-Lee Daniel's The Butler David O. Russell- American Hustle Best Actor Bruce Dern- Nebraska Chiwetel Ejiofor- 12 Years a Slave Michael B. Jordan-Fruitvale Station Robert Redford- All Is Lost Forrest Whitaker-Lee Daniel's The Butler
Best Actress Cate Blanchett- Blue Jasmine Sandra Bullock-Gravity Judi Dench- Philomena Julia Roberts- August: Osage County Kate Winslet-Labor Day
Best Supporting Actor Josh Brolin- Labor Day Michael Fassbender- 12 Years a Slave Harrison Ford-42 John Goodman-Inside Llewyn Davis Tom Hanks- Saving Mr. Banks Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams- American Hustle/Her Sally Hawkins- Blue Jasmine Octavia Spencer-Fruitvale Station Meryl Streep- August: Osage County Oprah Winfrey-Lee Daniel's The Butler
Best Original Screenplay American Hustle Blue Jasmine Fruitvale Station Inside Llewyn Davis Nebraska Best Adapted Screenplay 12 Years a Slave August: Osage County Before Midnight Foxcatcher Labor Day
Directed and Written by Neil Blomkamp (District 9)
Starring: Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, and Jodie Foster
Back in 2009 District 9 was one of the most inventive films of the year, science fiction or otherwise. Writer/Director Neil Blomkamp's District 9 subtle analogies created an original experience. Blomkamp not only proved adept in creating tense action packed sequences, but also showed the complexity of society, and the way this effects humanity. One of my favorite films of the year. Four years later Blomkamp is back behind the camera, but there is something different.
In 2154 the richest people live outside the Earth on a space station named Elysium. Life on the space station is portrayed as a Utopian experience. On Elysium there are only mansions surrounded by palm trees, and the biggest perk is the machines in everyone's homes which cure them from disease, while they have brain function. Life on this space station is truly paradise, even though we only "get to know" one character in this society Secretary of Defense Delacourt (Foster), who is both ruthless, and manipulative.
The focus of the film is getting to Elysium, and Max (Damon) who hopes that one day he can take his childhood love Frey (Alex Braga) to the station. Max lives on Earth, along with the rest of the 99 percent, which has become the third world, filled with crime, poverty, and disease . Max ends up in a life or death situation, with some cool Aliens like attachments on his body, which forces his hand to try and get to Elysium, save himself, and potentially save society on Earth from ruin.
There is something missing in this film, and I think most of that is the originality. It's never fair to hold up a film to a director's other work, because each film is a different passion project. You wouldn't compare Martin Scorsese's Hugo to Taxi Driver. Yet this is Blomkamp's second major feature, and within the same genre so the comparisons need to be made. While District 9 felt like this cool original project, Elysium feels like a major studio induced action rush, and been there done that experience.
The major problem within this film is in the script. Elysium has two problems running throughout this film, the cliche, and the heavy handed social message. Without giving much away, one of the last scenes has Max talking to Frey as the tension builds, Max should should taking action but holds what seems like a five minute conversation, my eyes rolled, and I wanted to yell a the screen, there is no need to make this drag out, your doing this and the emotional impact, which should be there is not, just get to what you need to do!
The other problem is the nature in which the message is delivered, shoved down your throat. There have been many articles that conservatives have slammed this film for being preachy on aspects like the 1%, immigration, health care, and on and on. While agree with the direction of the message the film hands the message on shovel, and not in the right dosage. Blomkamp's direction sometimes slows down to allow audiences to get a feel for what he is attempting to say, but the rest of the time the film feels as though it's too busy trying to fire on all cylinders. I miss the days of science fiction films, when "the message" was subtle to they did not try to hard to convey several messages. Blomkamp tries to hard to convey too much at once without letting you care about or understand the characters, and their surrounding.
While the character development was somewhat poorly done, Matt Damon is solid as Max. I think Damon is a great actor, and he was the saving grace for within this film; he knows how to carry the weight of a film like this on his shoulders, he did the same thing with Bourne. The only problem I have with his casting is that the film highlights the diversity of Earth, in fact most of the people on Earth, are Latino/Hispanic or black, yet a white man is meant to save them all? I can't help but roll my eyes at the thought of a film, which could have capitalized more on the the message, and rather a big name star who would live on Elysium.
I would have liked to explore more about Elysium, my guess is that Blomkamp, was highlighting that everyone was like Foster Delacourt, I hope not, with that terrible, I am guessing fake British accent. I am never one to side with one percenters, but you can't make all of your villains so one note, and cartoonish, it will come across as shrill. Speaking of one note, and cartoonish, Sharlto Copley who was the star of District 9 returns to work with Blomkamp in a very different role. Copley plays Kruger an off the books mercenary who works for Delacourt. Copley uses his South African accent, but heightened for some reason, and went way beyond the cliche villain with the mustache twirl. Copley was excellent at the subtle if District 9, he should have probably been Oscar nominated, but his character is a mess here, and is evil for the sake of being evil, again I blame the writing more.
The problems outweigh anything good in this film, from the cartoon like villains, the heavy handed messages, and don't get me started on the story of the meerkat and the hippo told by Frey's young cancer ridden daughter. Elysium tries to be cool, and feel important in the same breath, but can't seem to figure how to do both. The film does have some cool moments, and some great bombastic action sequences, but not enough to save this from collapsing under the gravity of the weighed down message.
This years Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards were what most fans Emmy dreams were made of, series nominees were fresh, and included shows like The Americans, Parks and Recreation, New Girl. To be fair most of the quality Emmy nominees were also nominated here including Louie, Veep, The Big Bang Theory, Game of Thrones, Homeland, House of Cards, and Breaking Bad.
The acting categories were also filled with many quality performances from actors snubbed at the Emmy Awards, which include: Jake Johnson in New Girl, Monica Potter in Parenthood, Matthew Rhys in The Americans, and Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black. Vera Farmiga is the one surprise nominee that made the cut here and at the Emmy Awards.
The TCAs decided they were going to spread the wealth, but the "big" winner was Breaking Bad, which won Program of the Year. While Drama Series went to Game of Thrones, Comedy Series was a tie for Parks and Recreation, and The Big Bang Theory, New Series went to The Americans. As the categories split winning Program of the Year is a clear sign of the respect this show has attained, and deserves.
Tatiana Maslany showed the Emmy Awards whose boss, and won the Individual Achievement in Drama Award. Maslany is the fourth woman to win this trophy, the other three were Edie Falco (The Sopranos) Julianna Marguilles (The Good Wife) and Claire Danes (Homeland). Maslany is one of few women to win this award, and she is the only winner who has never been Emmy nominated, this may change or prove the Emmys do not know a good thing. Louis CK won the Individual Achievement in a Comedy for a second year in a row.
Listed below is a list of the nominees and winners, and all I can say is I wish the nominees and winners looked like this for Emmy, winners are denoted by * symbol:
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR The Americans, FX Breaking Bad, AMC* Game of Thrones, HBO House of Cards, Netflix The Walking Dead, AMC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA The Americans, FX Breaking Bad, AMC Game of Thrones, HBO* Homeland, Showtime Mad Men, AMC
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad (AMC) Vera Farmiga, Bates Motel (A&E) Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black (BBC America)* Monica Potter, Parenthood (NBC) Matthew Rhys, The Americans (FX)
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY The Big Bang Theory, CBS* Louie, FX New Girl, Fox Park and Recreation, NBC* Veep, HBO
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY Louis C.K., Louie (FX)* Lena Dunham, Girls (HBO) Jake Johnson, New Girl (Fox) Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep (HBO) Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation (NBC)
NEW PROGRAM The Americans, FX* Elementary, CBS House of Cards, Netflix The Mindy Project, Fox Orphan Black, BBC America
OUTSTANDING MOVIE, MINISERIES OR SPECIAL American Horror Story: Asylum, FX Behind the Candelabra, HBO* Downton Abbey, PBS Rectify, Sundance Channel Top of the Lake, Sundance Channel
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN REALITY PROGRAMMING The Amazing Race, CBS The Glee Project, Oxygen Shark Tank, ABC* Survivor, CBS The Voice, NBC
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN YOUTH PROGRAMMING Adventure Time, Cartoon Network Bunheads, ABC Family* Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, PBS Sesame Street, PBS Switched at Birth, ABC Family
NEWS AND INFORMATION60 Minutes, CBS Anderson Cooper 360, CNN Central Park Five, PBS* The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Comedy Central Rachel Maddow Show, MSNBC
HERITAGE AWARD All In the Family, CBS* Lost, ABC Saturday Night Live, NBC Star Trek, NBC Twin Peaks, ABC
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD James L. Brooks James Burrows Jay Leno William Shatner Barbara Walters*
Starring: Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Natasha Lyonne, Kate Mulgrew, and Jason Biggs
Netflix is at it again, this is their fourth original series, and this ranks as another creative success, so far. I am about four episodes in, and I feel as though this series hits all the right elements. Before I put the cart before the horse, let's talk about Netflix, and then get into the series, and what makes this show work.
Some people are on board with the Netflix model, while others view this "binge" watching as counter intuitive to the water cooler aspect of television. With Arrested Development, I binge watched, and wish I had stretch out the episodes a little longer. I was so excited for the show to be back, and just needed to watch and watch and watch. Arrested Development is a show I can watch over and over again, most of the shows fans do this. With House of Cards I watched the series within a week or two week span, I paced myself a little better, but the pacing of the show kept me wanting to go back for more, and I could when I wanted. The subject matter, and emotional intensity of Orange is the New Black has created a different pace for me.
Orange is about Piper Chapman (Schilling) is former wildling turned suburbanite who is engaged to her fiance Larry (Biggs), runs her own business, shops at Whole Foods, and lives in the world of white privilege. Before her life with Larry, Piper was in a relationship with Alex (Prepon) who ended up being a drug smuggler. Alex pulled Piper into her world, and this eventually caught up with Piper as the show follows her in jail interacting with her fellow inmates, and through flashbacks of her own life.
The show works on so many levels, Kohan who created Weeds, imbibes her snark, but also lays on the emotional weight of what prison is like for Piper, who is much like Nancy Botwin. Schilling is great as Piper; she is terrific with her naivete, and sarcasm, but sells the dramatic moments well. The true strength in this show is that this is a great ensemble, and explores the other inmates just as well. In the first few episdoes the show explores heavy concepts like race, and gender identity well. I almost cried in episode three as they explored gender identity, beings transgender, and the changes that occur. Don't get me wrong this show is not all drama, while it is a drama with hilarious undertones. Red (Mulgrew) and Nicky (Lyonne) are two of the best characters on the show, and they have some of the best lines.
This show explores being a women better than many shows I have seen on television, most of the characters are true to form, fleshed out characters. While these women are all in prison that takes nothing away from the identity they have developed, and you see this development within the flashbacks. I love that this show is not afraid to show men as secondary, and also within their piggish nature. Some will argue this is a one sided representation, while I argue, that things can't always be about the men! Kohan has created yet another representation which shows so many layers within female characters.
Back to Netflix. Does their model work? I have talked to a lot of people who powered through this show the way I did with House of Cards. I think there are flaws, but I disagree that this eliminates the buzz factor. More and more people are signing up for Netflix, and more people are starting to watch their shows including this one because they have heard great things. I like Netflix's "choose your own adventure" viewing style, and I think it fits with this new generations viewing patterns. This show is is a winner!
Wow, July went by in a whirl wind. The biggest success of July, and its no surprise, was the animated sequel Despicable Me 2. The first film was a sleeper hit at the box office, and only grew in popularity on DVD. Even though The Heat was released (June 28th) most of its business came in July, and is proof Melissa McCarthy is good for business, way to go Sookie St. James!
In other news July was a slow domestic month, Pacific Rim proved to be too much of a genre film, and the excitement from Comic Con, turned out to be hot air. Rim has only grossed 85 million domestic is on the same track as Cowboys & Aliens in the States. The Conjuring scared up a large box office with a small budget, it's at 86 million, and counting. In fact many of the smaller films did quite well, look for July releases Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, and The Way Way Back to perform solidly.
While Rim's box office was not as impressive as expected, nothing could be more disappointing than The Lone Ranger, and R.I.P.D.. Ranger has barely grossed 100 million and cost 250 million, who thought this nostalgia was a good idea? Depp has proven he is no longer box office magic; his only major successes of late were the fourth Pirates and Alice in Wonderland. Someone also needs to tell Ryan Reynolds to stop trying so hard, with two flops in one weekend R.I.P.D., and Turbo he needs to assess to future of his career. Let's just hope neither of these film studios have had money withheld from them from China. Now to August, and to be honest I am glad I do not have much free time this month the movies look bad.
August 2nd
2 Guns
Hard to pick which movie looks like the biggest joke this month, but this film, which was originally intended to reunite Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, but instead has Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg. This movie looks pointless, and not pointless fun.
The Smurfs 2 (July 31st)
The first looked bad, and made a lot of money. I dread having to take my children to such terrible movies. If this is what is passing for "family entertainment, I weep. Nostalgia is both a good and bad thing, you make the assessment, I know how I feel with these films.
The Spectacular Now
This looks like a great look at the realistic nature of young teenage love, which is ambitious, heart felt, passionate, and sometimes misguided. Shailene Woodley is a star to watch; she just needs to shed that crappy ABC Family show. Everyone has their baggage.
The Canyons
Lindsey Lohan tries yet again, the trailer looks so bad, that it will be a camp classic for years to come!
August 9th
Elysium
I am looking forward to this film the most this August. Matt Damon looks bad ass, and Neil Blomkamp's District 9 was a shot of adrenaline to a boring August 4 years ago. This should be a solid film, with great action and story, sold.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
I was puzzled why they made this sequel, the first did not make much money, but this book series has a massive fan base. The first one isn't good, but it was fun enough.
Planes
Has Pixar gotten this lazy? This looks worse than Cars 2 and that's saying a lot, I am sad this once great animation company has faltered so much, and become a lazy sequel machine.
We're the Millers
This looks like a movie that gives away all the best jokes in the preview, with that said I thought that about The Heat, and was wrong. This could just be a fun comedy. The cast is solid, and Aniston looks better than ever.
August 16th
Kick-Ass 2
I think I would have been happy without a sequel, I really enjoyed the first film, after watching the extended look on this film from Comic Con I am less worried, but without Matthew Vaughn directing this film has some ground to make-up, and Jim Carey has not been in a good movie in almost 10 years.
Paranoia
This could be a really fun thriller, Gary Oldman and Harrison Ford going at it as moguls, using Liam Hemsworth as their pawn? How does that sound bad, the book it's based on is pretty fun, and hopefully they capture the same basic elements in the film.
Lee Daniel's The Butler
Talk about Oscar pedigree. The cast has 17 Oscar nominations and 5 wins. I think this has bait written all over it, with the President's throughout the years, and the man who served them, and finally getting to see the first black President elected. Remember the Weinstein's are behind this, and got Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close two Oscar nominations. Oprah is also touted as strong front runner for Supporting Actress.
Jobs
I take Lindsey Lohan more seriously than Kutcher as an actor, I can't take this film seriously, watch the trailer, and see if you can, I dare you
Ain't Them Bodies Saints
Lots of buzz from Sundance with strong performances? I trust Sundance with these small films, they always steer me right, and I will be checking this out.
August 23rd
Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Is this the next Hunger Games, or more in the vein of Percy Jackson and The Host. My guess is the latter, I have not seen much with regard to publicity for this film, and even though the book is popular, I feel like film studios are not waiting long enough to make books into films, or should let this practice breath a little bit more.
The World's End
Simon Pegg and Nick frost for the final part in "Blood and Ice Cream" trilogy. I love Shaun of the Dead and Hott Fuzz, and depending on my mood, it's a tough pick as to which I like better. Edgar Wright is back as director, and I am beyond excited for this film.
You're Next
This trailer honestly scarred the shit out of me, and I think I would nightmare for weeks from this film, enter at your own risk.
August 30th
One Direction: This is Us
If someone had a gun to my head and they asked me to pick between this film, and Getaway, I would seriously consider the bullet (kidding....). Enough with these concert movies, put them on HBO and be done.
Getaway
Selena Gomez, in action film playing a "thug" girl, nuff said, this film looks like a sure fire Razzie contender, and gets the award for film that looks the worst this month.
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, and Octavia Spencer
There have recently been many discussions about the role race play with regard to the arrest, death for people of color, especially black young men. Most of these conversations have come from the Trayvon Martin death, trial, and verdict. This one case has recently represented the way in which black people are treated by the justice system. The socially constructed paranoia of race, has intersected with crime, and there are two realities, within this paradigm. The first is centered on privilege and the lack of opportunity for poorer people, predominantly poorer people of color to escape their societal confines. The second is based on the stereotypes, in which men of color particularly black men are seen as antagonists. Fruitvale Station explores both.
On January 1st 2010, Oscar Grant was shot and killed in the Fruitvale Station BART train stop in Oakland California. The film opens with the real cell phone footage taken from numerous passengers on the train. After watching the footage we see Oscar (Jordan) in bed with his young girl friend Sophina (Diaz) at the beginning of what is the last day of his life.
Throughout this last day there are glimpses of the good and flawed nature of Oscar. Oscar is a young father who loves his daughter Tatiana; he is a loving son shopping for his mother Wanda's birthday, which is that day, and he is trying to turn over a new leaf, and no longer smoke and deal drugs. There are flashbacks to Oscars time in prison, and the challenges for his mother and family. There are also glimpses of anger, and his temper. First time director/writer Ryan Coogler has created a well balanced, a heartfelt character study of a young man stuck in a position trying to do the best while struggling with all of the bad around him.
Some people are going to argue this film is one sided, but I think this a great representation of the way in which society keeps people down, and unfortunately we have to view this through the death of a young man. Coogler's first time direction and writing, with feature films, has proven to be an incredibly successful, and impactful film. Coogler knows how to emphasize the good, and flawed aspects of Oscar well. The way he uses the real time text messaging helps emphasize the emotional level of the communication, and sadness for this person. Coogler knows how to give you hope, when you know there is none.You want Oscar to succeed especially after running into the man with his pregnant wife, there is hope for work. Coogler also knows how to hit you where it hurts especially in the final scenes while the cops wrestle Oscar to the ground. Coogler hits every emotion, and creates a brilliant character study.
This study of young Oscar could not be possible, without the brilliant performance from from Michael B. Jordan. Jordan is such a natural in this role; he embodies every aspect of young Osc (nickname), all the way down to his smile. Jordan played the young drug dealer Wallace in the television series The Wire, and based on an interview at Sundance, Coogler stated that the role was tailor made for Jordan. Jordan conveys the balance between have that dark edge, and being that love able guy brilliantly. Jordan conveys this best while his mother Wanda visits him in prison. You can't help but feel the depth in this moment.
One of the most tragic things about the story within this film is that Oscar died almost exactly on his mother's birthday. Octavia Spencer has shed even the minute comedic shades of her role in The Help, and past acting experiences to channel the depth and love of Wanda. Wanda is a loving mother who wants to do the best for her son; she wants him to succeed, which is the general tone of this film.
Station is about a young flawed man, who you want to see succeed; he tries hard throughout this film film, to be the best he can be for his mother, girlfriend, and daughter, but he never gets the opportunity, which is one of the greatest aspects of this tragedy. Fruitvale Station is a raw emotional journey that provides an broad perspective on a young man with prospects who never got to live to meet his potential.
Written by Chad Hayes, Corey Hayes (The Reaping, House of Wax)
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, and Lili Taylor
I rarely like or see horror films, I think this is one of the hardest genres, if not the hardest "to get it right." There are few horror or suspense films, which are both scary, and good films, have character development, or any of a variety of elements which make a film good. The last "scary" movie I saw in the movie theatres was The Woman in Black. The film fit too much of a formula, and the scary moments felt predictable or planned. While The Conjuring does not break new ground within the world of possession or exorcism, the film is both scary, and measures up within every other aspect.
The Conjuring follows two families, the first is a family who moves into a new house after some hard times financially, and the second is a family with two "demonologists." The film opens with Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine (Farmiga) Warren the two demonologists who laughingly describe their titles in a variety of manners, and are meeting with two young girls and their friend after they encounter a demonic possession in a doll they found. Let me tell you, Chucky is a Barbie compared to merely the look of this doll. This encounter along with one with a their explanation of what an exorcism or possession look like set the scene for the role this plays within this specific case within this film.
The second family is the Perron family, led by father Roger (Livingston), mother Carolynn (Taylor) who have five daughters. As the family has moved into their new home they start to notice little things that appear odd or out of the ordinary. Without giving much away these families paths soon meet, and there is an intense exploration of demonic possession, and what that means, in general and for this family.
Again without giving the plot away, this film succeeds at connecting you with the characters, their lives, and making you feel true terror for everyone involved. The actors are great, make a note horror directors/writers/producers getting better actors can help elevate the material (not a guarantee). Farmiga, Wilson, and Taylor are major stand outs, each of them adding to their character, and the plot of the film. Farmiga and Wilson not only make you believe in their characters, the script uses them wisely, never over doing the fact that this paranormal activities expert (Ed), and his clairvoyant wife could be crazy ghost busters.
Wan who directed Insidious, and Saw steps further into the "haunted house" genre, but never gets weighed down by the script or the material. The film is set within the 1970s and Wan balances the quick cut horror edits with a well paced story development to add to the thrill. The script, and direction adeptly blend the stories of these two families, and the times of the early 70s well. There was a paranoia surrounding this era, and the combination of these families mixes well to create one of the scariest stories to date.
As stated above creating a truly scary well made film is tough, and most of the time its about being "the first" Halloween, Carrie, The Exorcist, Rosemary's Baby all of these were popular films which scare, and haunt dreams. Most of them were not the first of their kind, but they became the benchmarks. The Conjuring may set a benchmark, but it lives up to the creepy well told story within all of these films. Mr. Wan allows the shock, and thrill to exist creating the perfect aura for this film. To put it bluntly, this is one scary movie.
What will this year's Oscars look like? Who will be the major players? Does Harvey have the magic once again? All of these are just a few of the questions people are asking now, but with the season getting underway, and heavy hitters like Fruitvale Station, Blue Jasmine, Nebraska, and Inside Llewyn Davis getting good press, there may be a lot of contenders already out there. Here are my very very early August predictions.
