Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I know this is a little different, but I really enjoyed "Step Into Liquid". This is a surf film documentary from 2003, done by Dana Brown, the son of Bruce Brown who made "Endless Summer". If you need a change of pace, I highly recommend adding it to your netflix queue. It's really well done, and the footage of Cortez Banks (100 miles off the coast of San Diego) is spectacular. It does a good job of capturing the essence of surfing and its lifestyle.

I suggest watching Mickey's "Hawaiian Holiday" as the cartoon before the main feature.

[CoasterMatt]

Step Into Liquid was filmed in 1080p, and looks FABULOUS.

[Gemini Cricket]

I saw 'Venus' with NA and the Euro man tonight. I liked it. Peter O'Toole was amazing in it. He's a magnificent actor, I love him.
I think the Academy may just give him the Oscar for this. More so for the body of his work I think.
So very frustrated with the director of this film though. He recites Shakespeare and the entire monologue is focused on his co-star. Bleh. I wanted the camera to be fixed on him.

[Not Afraid]

I couldn't take my eyes off of O'Toole the entire film. He was so wonderful to watch and incredibly expressive. Great film! I hope he gets the Oscar.

[Alex]

Forrest Whitaker seems to have a lock on it but without having seen Venus I'm willing to defer to a non-impersonatin role.

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, then I'll just have to get out to see Last King ... because Peter O' Toole was magnificent ... and I'm getting a little tired of these real-life immitator roles.

One thing I think Alex and I have agreed on is that these types of roles, with unknown quantities of impersonation mixed in with the performance, come into the game with a handicap.

So, I'll have to see Scotland, Volver, and I think Notes on a Scandal and I'll be the most "prepared" non-Academy voter I think I've ever been ... and that's not to mention I'm likely to see programs of the nominated live and animated short subjects. Sheesh!

[Gemini Cricket]

Still need to see:

Notes on a Scandal
Babel
Blood Diamond
Volver
The Last King of Scotland
Half Nelson

[LSPoorEeyorick]

We're done with the major noms. We just have to get to the lesser-known foreign and documentary films now. And the short films!

Also, I know that the "impersonation" performances come with a handicap for Alex and iSm, but it hasn't seemed to hamper AMPAS lately. O'Toole might have a shot, but Whitaker is highly favored at the moment.

[Alex]

As far as it goes, they actually did a good job this year with only 3 of the 20 acting nominations going to characters that were real people: Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker), Chris Gardner (Will Smith), and Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren).

Sorry for what follows, research bug popped up and I might as well share.

Last year it was eight out of 20 nominations: Truman Copote (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn), Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), Laura Henderson (Judi Dench), Lois Jenson (Charlize Theron), Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), and Harper Lee (Catherine Keener).

The year before it was 8 as well: Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx), Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp), Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), Owen Brewster (Alan Alda), Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), Tatiana Rusesabagina (Sophie Okenedo), and Clara McMillen (Laura Linney)

So, considering the relative paucity in this year's nominations, it is somewhat ironic that it is almost certain that th maximum number possible will win.

[€uroMeinke]

Saw Rocky Horror Picture Show last night, for what must be the first time in 15 to 20 years. After getting over the personal Horror of realizing that I first saw the film when Morigoon was 1, I was amazed at how it has evolved over time.

Back in the day, we just saw the movie, threw rice, toilet paper, toast, and bantered with the film. Nowadays, there's an elaborate pre-show. Last night included a band, an animated short, previews for the Princess Bride, not to mention complete choreographed announcement and virgin ceremony all with their own sets of scripted call and responses. (honestly, this old-time was starting to wonder if they still watched the film) It seems the film now has every pause filled with some comment of other, many completely new to me. I'm still also not used to the on stage actors, which result in rules about throwing things on stage, though I did enjoy the stripper for the credits.

All in all still a fun show/experience, though the abundance of scantily clad 16-year olds did make me feel like a bit of a pederast, it's still something one should do at least once to see what all the fuss is about.