Some Movies You may Have Missed
The Academy Awards were this past Sunday. I never watch the proceedings. I find the broadcasts long and boring. However, as a cinephile (lover of movies) I am fairly interested in what films win the awards.
I wasn't surprised that Heath Ledger won his posthumous award, though I feel like the award would have been better spent on boosting the ego of someone who's still alive. I didn't think his performance was all that special (I also felt like the Dark Knight was a mediocre film that didn't surpass Batman Begins). I feel like if he hadn't kicked the bucket the award would have gone to Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who's always a favorite.
Slumdog Millionaire raked in the most awards. It was an excellent film (that's totally undeserving of it's R rating). It's plot made a lot of references to Bollywood films, which probably went over the heads of American audiences. Still, if you're interested in a good love story where the "nice guy" gets the girl then I highly suggest seeing it.
I was really disappointed to see that Happy-Go-Lucky didn't get more recognition. The protagonist is a woman who is very upbeat (to the point of annoyance for some viewers). The film follows her through fairly normal days in her life as she interacts with the people around her. The film has a lot to say about living with fear. Fear of relationships, fear of criticism, fear of the future, fear of financial security. The foil to the protagonist is a driving instructor who is afraid of everything. You can see how this festers up in him, the driving force behind his anger at the universe.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdjb98LOuEw]
Bigger Stronger Faster is an excellent documentary that takes a good hard look at steroid use in the United States. It's very even handed about the issue, showing some of the moral issues with the drugs while also dispelling a lot of the negative stigma that has grown around it. Towards the end of the film it begins to pull out and look at how much medicated self improvement has become an ingrained part of our culture. Kids take ADHD medicine to gain an edge in education, U.S. pilots take speed, tons of people take anti-depressants.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8nOKJTL6Tg]
Also, check out Appaloosa. Usually when a Western comes out now it's at least interesting if not good. I liked this a lot better than 3:10 to Yuma. The gunfights are intense but quick, rather than drawn out like in a spaghetti western. The two protagonists aren't morally perfect, but they are interesting studies in commitment and trust between comrades. It's a good movie, go rent it.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h57n6R9pbU0]
February 27th, 2009 - 17:43
I never saw Slumdog Milionaire, but i think Robert Downey Jr. Should have won for his role in Tropic Thunder.
February 27th, 2009 - 19:37
Yeah he did a great job. People in comedic roles don’t usually get a lot of recognition at the Academy Awards. Which is sad, because comedy is a great provider of important truths.
August 18th, 2009 - 21:50
I hope you mean “Appaloosa was a lot better than 3:10 to Yuma (which seems almost impossible since Yuma was an amazing movie about what it means to be a man and so it is incredible that a movie has surpassed it.)” Not “because there wasn’t al that much there.”
Great blog so far Landan I am starting at the beginning.