Film and Theatre Lover!
The 10 films I found the best from the year 2010. I think overall it has been a pretty good year for film, so I probably could have had more than 10 on this list! I have managed to see 41 films from the year 2010, so picked my 10 best from those!
A couple of the films which have made the list managed to surprise me as I might not have been expecting very much from them before watching them.
Well this year the approach from the Academy was to have two young actors to host. This called upon nominee James Franco and Anne Hathaway to add a different edge to the Oscars ceremony.
The main theme of the evening seemed to be looking back at the past of the Oscars, taking into consideration how times have changed. Including music and some scenery from different Oscar winning films of the past. Obviously all eyes were on Franco and Hathaway, who in my opinion were very disappointing. Hathaway was given the over the top, in your face excited role while Franco just stood looking slightly upwards. Which made the audience feel awkward, he did not look comfortable on the stage at all!
The main part I actually thought was amusing from Hathaway had to be seeing “On My Own” claiming that Hugh Jackman would not do a duet with her this year. (After she done one with him when he was the host). Personally I would have liked to see Jackman host again! Or even Alec Baldwin who I thought was fantastic with Steve Martin last year. Baldwin was involved in the opening segment which poked fun at Inception and going into his dreams to steal hosting tips. This let us see Franco and Hathaway in many of the nominated films.
Yes whilst this opening was was amusing, it seemed to all go very downhill from that point. I didn’t even manage to stay up and watch all of the ceremony. The tiredness and boredness really did take over and I went to bed, didn’t think I would miss very much as no shocks had occurred with the supporting actor/actress awards. Have to mention Kirk Douglas who was rather heartbreaking to watch as he really struggled to get his words out, yet managed to still be so funny and likable.
In my opinion I found the show quite a flop.
What does everyone else think?
Live updates with my thoughts on the 2011 Oscars!
I have managed to achieve what would seem impossible and watch all ten of the best picture nominations before the Oscar ceremony. Usually this is not possible due to UK release date. But this year a lot of the films seem to have been earlier than usual in the Oscar race. With the help of LOVEFiLM for a couple of Blu Ray’s to make sure I achieved the goal of seeing each film before the ceremony. I am still no further forward in being able to predict the winner the Academy will choose. I mean we know they have made some mistakes in the past.
This is the second year in row which has seen 1o films being nominated for Best Picture. Which allows a few films into the category which would not make the final 5 in the old format. I guess this is just a way to make some films more well-known. Or for the more seen films to receive a nomination. Who can really tell . . . but does that mean they have a better chance of winning? Probably not.
The ten films which have been nominated this year all bring something very different to the Oscar stage. I have to say out of them the ones I have enjoyed the most have to be Black Swan and Inception, with True Grit and The King’s Speech following them.
Black Swan and Inception both had very similar impacts on me as I was still thinking about them days after seeing them at the cinema. They really get into your head and stick in there too. Make you really think about the film, and keep you trying to figure out how you perceive them.
127 Hours (Review)
Stuck between a rock and a hard place. A man must keep himself alive by any means possible after having his arm trapped by a bolder.
Black Swan (Review)
A Ballet dancer trying to take on the difficult role in Swan Lake, whilst trying to deal with her life at the same time.
The Fighter (Review)
The rise of Micky Ward as a boxer, looking into his family life and relationships with his brother, mother and girlfriend.
Inception (Review – not yet written)
A very interesting look into what could happen if you could plant ideas or take them away, by entering someone’s dream.
The Kids are All Right (Review)
A look into how the family dynamics differ in a same sex marriage with children.
The King’s Speech (Review)
A look into how King George VI overcame his speech problems after his older brother abdicated the thrown.
The Social Network (Review)
A look back at how Facebook came into being during Zuckerberg’s time at Harvard and the lawsuits which followed.
Toy Story 3 (Review)
We go on another adventure with our favorite toys, when Andy is now leaving for college.
True Grit (Review)
A remake of the classic John Wayne film, but with the Coen Brothers edge on it. Brilliant story of retribution.
Winter’s Bone (Review)
A young woman trying to find out what exactly happened to her father, leads her into very dangerous territory.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn in ‘True Grit’
Bridges is just incredible as Cogburn, he really is just incredible. After his win last year, he has followed it up with another nomination. He mumbles and acts drunk brilliantly. Manages to be so likeable at the same time!
Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg in ‘The Social Network’
Exhausting is the word I find best to describe this performance. Eisenberg is brilliant as Zuckerberg who is just way too smart for his own good, and likes to use an incredible amount of words in his general conversations. Must have been very difficult to really nail this character but that was more than achieved.
Colin Firth as King George VI in ‘The King’s Speech’
We keep hearing that it is Firth’s time, well I thought that should have come for his role in ‘A Single Man’ last year! But his performance in this film really is just incredible, we feel sorry for him, we want to help him. All just so incredible!
James Franco as Aron Ralston in ‘127 Hours’
Possibly the most difficult performance from all of the nominee’s considering it is just Franco in the film for about 80% of the time. He really takes us on the journey with him and the emotions to being trapped. Incredible performance, if it wasn’t for Firth I would have thought Franco would be walking away with the Oscar!
One last look at the five actresses up for the supporting role Oscar! I am Team Steinfeld for this one!
Amy Adams as Charlene Fleming in “The Fighter”
Tough talking girlfriend of boxer Mickey who is not afraid to stand up to his mother or sisters. Is very much behind Mickey is his fight to really make it as a boxer. The Academy seem to like Adams who has a few nominations to her name now.
Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth in “The King’s Speech”
A very good solid performance from Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth who is the rock to King George VI and really helps her husband when he becomes King, and must deliver the important speeches at a very difficult time for England.
Melissa Leo as Alice Ward in “The Fighter”
Melissa Leo has been picking awards up left, right and center for her role as Alice Ward in the Fighter. Being the pushy manager and of course mother to Mickey and Dicky. Not taking no for an answer from anyone, including her husband. She has been the front runner for this award from the start.
Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross in “True Grit”
Incredible performance from the 14 year old in such a good film. She owns the film and should never been in the supporting role category after leading the film the way she did. But apparently the studio figured this the best approach! I really do hope that she picks this Oscar up tonight, fantastic performance.
Jacki Weaver as Janine Cody in “Animal Kingdom”
This film has not come out at my cinema yet. Therefore I cannot comment on the performance.
U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Bridges) helps 14 year old Mattie Ross (Steinfeld) track down her father’s murderer Tom Chaney (Brolin). With the help of Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Damon).
It was certainly the King’s night at the BAFTAs when they picked up pretty much every award it was nominated for!
The Winners are:
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Alexandre Desplat for The King’s Speech
SHORT FILM: Until The River Runs Red
SHORT ANIMATION: The Eagleman Stag
SOUND: Inception
EDITING: The Social Network
MAKE UP & HAIR: Alice in Wonderland
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
COSTUME DESIGN: Colleen Atwood for Alice in Wonderland
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Inception
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS: Inception
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Helena Bonham Carter for The King’s Speech
OUTSTANDING DEBUT: Chris Morris for Four Lions
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM: The King’s Speech
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Geoffrey Rush in The King’s Speech
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: David Seidler for The King’s Speech
OUTSTANDING BRITISH CONTRIBUTION: The Harry Potter Films
ANIMATED FILM: Toy Story 3
ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR: Tom Hardy
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Roger Deakins for True Grit
DIRECTOR: David Fincher for The Social Network
LEADING ACTRESS: Natalie Portman for Black Swan
LEADING ACTOR: Colin Firth for the King’s Speech
BEST FILM: The King’s Speech
FELLOWSHIP: Christopher Lee
The annual Oscars Luncheon took place on Monday with a lot of the nominees showing up to be part of the event. As usual plenty of the nominee’s turned up and they had the usual photo with everyone squashed in. So squashed this year that Annette Bening had to sit on Jeff Bridges knee for the picture!
20 Days to go until the 2011 Oscar ceremony, so I thought it was about time that I made the effort to actually post the nominations and my predictions for the awards as well. Looking forward to it this year and will be making the effort to stay up late to watch all the drama unfold!
Prediction: The King’s Speech
I think it has gained the most momentum leading up to the Oscars over the last few weeks. So I fancy it to pick up the big award.
Let's Go To The Movies 