Being unemployed and generally lame as hell, I've had time to watch a lot of movies so I have been mostly watching movies that got Golden Globe recognition in order to form accurate opinions on whether or not awards are deserved. Here are my quick opinions on said movies divided into the categories of "Movies I Really Liked", "Movies I Liked",
The starred ones are what I think should be the nominees for Best Picture (and screw the whole ten nominees thing; they should have never started that crap).
Movies I Really Liked
Black Swan*: This movie is a really brilliant psychological thriller with awesome acting, interesting cinematography, and it just sucks you in until you feel like you're going insane as well. I love how the mentality of Natalie Portman's character is revealed to you as she's unraveling so you don't even know what's real and what's fake.
Inception*: When the cinemas are dominated by remakes, prequels, and sequels, it's a breath of fresh air to see a truly unique movie. No one left the theater not feeling like their mind has just been blown. This is the kind of action movie the world needs. Also: love the cast in so many ways. Only thing I didn't like was the 'clever' ending.
The King's Speech*: This historical drama also manages to do a great analysis on a man burdened with title and his difficulties in life, tell a story about an unlikely friendship, and make you laugh. Hearing Colin Firth say "shit" over and over is hilarious. I was literally on the edge of my seat during the final speech even though I knew the outcome.
The Kids Are All Right*: It's about the modern family. It's funny and it's dramatic in equal amounts. It also has some really interesting points and ideas regarding sexuality that don't feel at all preachy. It's just a movie about family. And that makes it great.
Blue Valentine: Emotional roller coaster that I enjoyed riding. In the beginning Ryan Gosling's character says, "I feel like men are more romantic than women. When we get married we marry, like, one girl, 'cause we're resistant the whole way until we meet one girl and we think I'd be an idiot if I didn't marry this girl she's so great. But it seems like girls get to a place where they just kinda pick the best option... 'Oh he's got a good job.' I mean they spend their whole life looking for Prince Charming and then they marry the guy who's got a good job and is gonna stick around." and there's your movie!
127 Hours: An action movie with a guy who can't move. Another movie where the psychology is just so fascinating, you're always paying attention. Also, Danny Boyle movies always seem to entertain me whether it's an Oscar winner or a zombie flick. James Franco is win.
Temple Grandin: Claire Danes can act? I had no idea. Story of a woman with autism and how she became successful in her own unique way. Thoroughly enjoyable. Also, recommended to me by my mom (who would hate "Black Swan" if she sees it, haha).
The Town: Bank robbing action, Boston, and a romance with twisted origins! What's not to like?
Easy A: A truly funny and different teen movie (if the ultimate message is a little common). I watched it twice.
Toy Story 3: Arguably the best "Toy Story." I literally cried. The only thing is that I kind of wish the ending had gone in the other direction (you'll know what I mean if you see it).
Movies I Liked
Winter's Bone: A hick mystery. The noir elements were really intriguing but it was pretty darn slow-paced.
Alice In Wonderland: Colorful and fun. Not much more than that.
Despicable Me: Fun kid's movie of a likable villain. IT'S SO FLUFFY!
Movies That Were Over-hyped
The Social Network*: One good critique I heard of this movie is that people are mixing up a good story with a good movie. I agree. The story itself is interesting and, in movie form, could come out boring but it wasn't. Props for that. Otherwise, I found it really unnotable. The acting is acceptable, the source material is skewed as all hell, and really I think people are just losing their shit over the movie's unlikeable main character (which is not a new concept people!) and the sheer topicality of it. Also as Caroline said, "How long until there's a gay porn of this?" because it's literally a bromance breakup.
The Fighter: I have seen a bunch of Mark Wahlburg movies and I have yet to see him really act. In this movie he gets insanely overshadowed by Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, and Amy Adams who are all great. Honestly though? It's a standard boxing movie. It's no "Rocky" or "Million Dollar Baby." I think the movie would have been much better and more meaningful if it had been about Bale's character.
Red: Although this isn't as talked about as the other two movies in this category, the critics really did like this and I'm not too sure why. It's a decent action flick with tons of great actors in it. Not too memorable but a good movie for not thinking seriously. Golden-Globes-Trying-To-Fill-Categories movie.
Movies I Disliked
Burlesque: Let me save you time with this. E! plays "Coyote Ugly" a lot for no determinable reason. Watch that but replace bar with burlesque club, songwriter with singer/dancer and mentally add a big dose of "Keep It Gay" and some forgettable songs and you have this movie. The Oscars are going to pretend this doesn't exist except for the music.
I still would like to see "How To Train Your Dragon", "Rabbit Hole", "Love And Other Drugs", "Tangled", and "The Tourist" but I don't feel any sense of immediacy to do so. The rest of the movies mentioned during the Golden Globes I either don't care or don't know enough about them to want to see them.
No comments:
Post a Comment