Golden Globe Predictions

Best Picture (Drama)
Predicted Winner: The King's Speech
Possible Upset: The Social Network

Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Predicted Winner: The Kids Are All Right
Possible Upset: Alice in Wonderland

Best Actor (Drama)
Predicted Winner: Colin Firth - The King's Speech
Possible Upset: James Franco - 127 Hours

Best Actor (Musical/Comedy)
Preicted Winner: Johnny Depp - Alice in Wonderland
Possible Upset: Kevin Spacey - Casino Jack

Best Actress (Drama)
Predicted Winner: Natalie Portman - Black Swan
Possible Upset: Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole

Best Actress (Musical/Comedy)
Predicted Winner: Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Possible Upset: Anne Hathaway - Love and Other Drugs

Best Supporting Actor
Predicted Winner: Christian Bale - The Fighter
Possible Upset: Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress
Predicted Winner: Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Possible Upset: Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Best Director
Predicted Winner: David Fincher - The Social Network
Possible Upset: Christopher Nolan - Inception

Best Screenplay
Predicted Winner: The Social Network
Possible Upset: Inception

Best Original Score
Predicted Winner: Inception
Possible Upset: Alice in Wonderland

Best Original Song
Predicted Winner: "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque
Possible Upset: "I See the Light" - Tangled

Best Animated Feature
Predicted Winner: Toy Story 3
Possible Upset: How to Train Your Dragon

Best Foreign Language Film
Predicted Winner: Biutiful
Possible Upset: I Am Love

2010 Blog Awards

**winner**

Best Picture
Blue Valentine
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Inception
**The Social Network**
Toy Story 3

Best Director
Danny Boyle - 127 Hours
Derek Cianfrance - Blue Valentine
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen - True Grit
**David Fincher - The Social Network**
Christopher Nolan - Inception

Best Actor
Javier Bardem - Biutiful
Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
**James Franco - 127 Hours**
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine

Best Actress
Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right
Natalie Portman - Black Swan
**Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine**

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale - The Fighter
**Andrew Garfield - The Social Network**
Mark Ruffalo - The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech
Justin Timberlake - The Social Network

Best Supporting Actress
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Mila Kunis - Black Swan
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
**Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom**
Dianne Wiest - Rabbit Hole

Best Original Screenplay
Animal Kingdom
Inception
**The Kids Are All Right**
The King's Speech
Please Give

Best Adapted Screenplay
127 Hours
Fair Game
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
**The Social Network**
Toy Story 3

Best Animated Feature
How to Train Your Dragon
Tangled
**Toy Story 3**

Best Art Direction
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
**Inception**
The King's Speech
TRON: Legacy
True Grit

Best Costume Design
Alice in Wonderland
Get Low
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
**The King's Speech**
The Tempest

Best Cinematography
127 Hours
**Biutiful**
Inception
Robin Hood
True Grit

Best Film Editing
127 Hours
Exit Through the Gift Shop
**Inception**
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
The Social Network

Best Original Score
How to Train Your Dragon
**Inception**
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy

Best Original Song
"I See the Light" - Tangled
**"We Belong Together" - Toy Story 3**
"Shine" - Waiting for "Superman"

Best Makeup
**Alice in Wonderland**
Kick-Ass
True Grit

Best Sound Mixing
127 Hours
How to Train Your Dragon
**Inception**
Toy Story 3
TRON: Legacy

Best Sound Editing
127 Hours
How to Train Your Dragon
**Inception**
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
TRON: Legacy

Best Visual Effects
Alice in Wonderland
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
**Inception**
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
TRON: Legacy

Best Documentary Feature
Catfish
**Exit Through the Gift Shop**
Inside Job
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
Waking Sleeping Beauty

Best Foreign Language Film
Biutiful
The Good, The Bad, The Weird
I Am Love
Mother
**No One Knows About Persian Cats**

Top 10 Movies of 2010

That particular time of the year has come once again, when the celebration for the year’s best achievements start to roll in. Nearly all of the major critics have already given out their lists, but since I am not in their gracious company, I am obligated to wait a few more weeks until I can make my list. That point for me has now been reached, and I can give my own list. First I’ll give my picks for the films that would be in my bottom tier, the ones that would qualify as the #20-11 spots. Here they are in alphabetical order:

Biutiful, Catfish, How to Train Your Dragon, Inside Job, The King’s Speech, No One Knows About Persian Cats, Please Give, Rabbit Hole, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Winter’s Bone

Now onto the top ten:

10. Fair Game

This year, while having many good films, didn’t offer too many surprises. This was one of the few. Many people avoided the display of peering into recent political history, not helped by the master grandstander himself Sean Penn. However, I was completely taken in by this riveting, exciting, and even humorous film. Penn and Naomi Watts give incredible performances, and together with director Doug Liman, they work to create a film that engages the audience in a way that has so much relevance today. This may have been avoided by most audiences, but I hope people will seek it out later and give it a better chance than it ultimately got.

9. Animal Kingdom

An incredibly effective crime drama that is aided by its capable director. I’m quite amazed that this is David Michôd’s first feature film, and the way he builds suspense and tension within such a quiet atmosphere is astounding. His script is also a gem, unfurling this dense world that exists just beyond the public’s gaze. The entire ensemble delivers, with the standout being Jacki Weaver as the matriarch to the criminal tribe, who can deliver the sweet grandmotherly charm just as well as the sinister plotter against even those closest to her. In an incredibly Best Supporting Actress race, she rises as one worth singling out.

8. The Kids Are All Right

I really fell in love with this movie when it first came out, and while subsequent viewings have diminished my affection a bit, I still don’t deny that it’s still an excellent film. It still boasts probably the year’s best ensemble, with absolutely stellar performances from the likes of Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. Lisa Cholodenko directs this film with a steady hand, and the script by her and co-writer Stuart Blumberg captures every genuine emotion that comes with not only modern families but in all families living today. It’s not a perfect film, but it feels endearing in its message and a joy to watch.

7. True Grit

You’d be hard pressed to find a recent Coen Brothers film that doesn’t have something to like about it. They are in true form once again here, with their adaptation/remake of the classic story. Their touch as master craftsmen is felt throughout the entire film, and they continue to indulge in creating an engaging piece of suspense and tension while also giving way to that off-beat sense of humor that has permeated through all of their films. The actors also bring a lot to the table here, with Jeff Bridges carrying quite the charm and hard-edged gruff to portray Marshall Cogburn and Matt Damon as the deviously charismatic Texas Ranger. However, it is Hailee Steinfeld who steals the show here, always willing to carry her own weight with the big boys as well as most of the emotional weight for the entire film. Definitely one of the most entertaining movies of the year.

6. 127 Hours

Thank goodness Danny Boyle was the man who was given the task to direct this story. It seems that only a man whose entire career has been about characters constantly on the run could be the one made about a man who stays in one spot for the majority of the story. Boyle’s presence here has received charges of overcompensation, but I feel it a necessary task in order to not only keep the viewer’s interest maintained in the story, but also give an accurate representation of what Ralston is going through. James Franco topped off an incredible year he had with an incredible performance. It’s really up to him whether or not the film lives or dies, and his remarkable dedication never once feel disingenuous in its emotions. He’s utterly fantastic in an utterly fantastic film.

5. Inception

I’ll admit the film’s got issues, but returning to the film again and again, I still get caught up in the awesome spectacle. Christopher Nolan has now permanently cemented himself as one of the true visionary artists working today. His touch is all over this film, and he creates an exciting and wholly entertaining ride. His script might be a bit exposition heavy, but I still found it to unveil a plot that was still quite engaging to experience. The whole ensemble delivers well here, with all of them working well against one another. It’s hard to pick standouts, but Tom Hardy always manages to bring a smile to my face. It’s a film that has a good amount of ambition, and for me it paid off very well.

4. Toy Story 3

The folks at Pixar are some of the smartest people working today, and the reason is because they take so much time to hone their storytelling, and get it to the point where it feels just right. This is no different, and with even a decade-plus hiatus from these characters, there is still an emotional resonance that is struck. The movie finds plenty of humor, along with its incredible serious emotions. The film manages to find a sweet conclusion to this endearing series, and everyone involved managed to deliver an emotional ride that felt genuine in every moment, something that is rare and should certainly be appreciated.

3. Blue Valentine

If this movie is doing its job right, then it will make you squirm while watching it. However, you will get down on your knees and thank that the film for it. Derek Cianfrance, experienced in documentary films, captures such a quiet and intimate tone to the piece, making every scene feel so real and powerful. The two leads also deliver outstanding and incredible performances. Gosling disappears into his chameleonic habits and creates a man whose boyish charms wow us in the beginning and self-destructing habits destroys us in the end. Michelle Williams, pulling off the more subdued and trickier role, is absolutely devastating and she provides a compelling portrait of a woman trying to stay afloat in a world that is constantly trying to drown her. When you watch the two of them falling in love to an acoustic Elvis song and then see their relationship disintegrate before our eyes, you feel the right emotion for each, and the film earns it in every scene.

2. Exit Through the Gift Shop

Whether the film is all truth or fabrication, I couldn’t care less. No matter what degree of veracity, there still remains such in engaging and entertaining story. The setup feels too perfect to believe, but you end up going with it anyway. The hapless protagonist is such a loveable mess, and is quite the interesting avatar into a world that is hidden beneath the surface to most people. By the end of it, we are treated to an interesting satirical commentary on the world of art, how art is perceived in the popular culture and what ultimately defines the “good” art from the bad. I had never heard of Banksy until this film. Now I’m completely fascinated. Quite a nice bit of self-promotion while also creating a great movie.

1. The Social Network

I apologize for joining the resounding chorus of critics groups right now, but even before the unstoppable avalanche of accolades, I had come to pick this film as the best of the year. This is a movie that stays with you long after you see it, and David Fincher’s meticulous and controlled direction pulls you in from the get go. His talents also work well with Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay, probably the best written script this year, and the zippy lines freely fly by while also maintaining their strict discipline and heavy tones. The performances are also outstanding from Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake and Armie Hammer. This is really an ensemble film, and everyone delivers. All the parts work together, and the finished product is the best film of the year.

There it is. In the next day or two, I’ll have my own personal awards, recognizing a lot of the categories the Oscars do. So be on the lookout for that.

Worst of 2010

Since there’s still just a few more films I have to see in order to confidently make a top ten list of the year, I’ll start out by giving my picks for the worst movies that I had the displeasure of watching. Since I don’t make a habit of seeing too many bad movies, I’ll just give out my bottom five, since extending it to ten would mean including some films that I didn’t like, but don’t deserve to be called one of the year’s worst.

1. The A-Team

This was the worst film I had seen even at the midpoint of the year, and no other film managed to take the title away from it. What is most offensive about it is probably how its horribly directed action just drags on and on in a never-ending, head-numbing, stupid mess. Nevermind that the acting is also atrocious, with only Sharlto Copley having some resemblance of entertainment. Overall, one of the worst experiences I’ve had at watching a film, and it suits the movie pretty well.

2. Jonah Hex

This could have been a fun, campy action western, as evident by the first ten minutes. What it eventually became was a sloppy, rushed film that rehashed a bad plot from Wild Wild West and featured subpar acting, particularly from Megan Fox in one of her worst performances, and that’s saying something. Jonah Hex is one of those perfect examples that not every comic book property deserves a film adaptation.

3. The Wolfman

The pedigree of the film had me very interested, and I though with Benicio Del Toro in the lead, this could be something very interesting. However, it all came crashing down horribly. The action is a cluttered mess with an onslaught of unnecessary gore, and the story is an uninteresting piece of junk that ends with a ridiculous climax it feels like it should be in an even sillier film. Everyone’s talent is wasted here in an embarrassing fashion, particularly Del Toro who finally gives a performance that made me want to divert my eyes from the screen.

4. The Tourist

Another film that had the potential to be really good, with a long list of very talented people working on it. However, it all comes together to create a big pile of nothing. Forget the fact that Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp are completely phoning it in. That would be forgivable if they had even the slightest bit of chemistry. The director, who won the Foreign Language Film Oscar for The Lives of Others, poorly directs both the grand-scale action as well as the intimate emotional moments. This is the product of Hollywood excess and the belief that having two big stars in your movie automatically translates to a sure thing. This film proves that it’s not the case.

5. Splice

The opinions on this film are pretty divided: you either love it or hate it. Obviously, I fall into the latter camp. I don’t deny that the film has originality, but that doesn’t matter when you don’t do anything with it. What bothers me most about the film is that these characters are so unlikeable and stupid, and not only stupid but aren’t even consistent in their stupidity. There’s no connection here to be made, and once we get into the bizarre horror territory at the end, all credibility is thrown out the window. I know the film has a lot of love, but the kindest thing I can say is it’s an interesting failure, and that is too kind.

Worst Picture: The A-Team

Runner-Up: Jonah Hex

Worst Actor: Johnny Depp - The Tourist

Runner-Up: Johnny Depp - Alice in Wonderland

Worst Actress: Sarah Polley - Splice

Runner-Up: Angelina Jolie - The Tourist

Worst Supporting Actor: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson - The A-Team

Runner-Up: Jackson Rathbone - The Last Airbender

Worst Supporting Actress: Jessica Biel - The A-Team

Runner-Up: Megan Fox - Jonah Hex

Worst Director: Jimmy Hayward - Jonah Hex

Runner-Up: Joe Carnahan - The A-Team

Worst Screenplay: The Last Airbender

Runner-Up: TRON: Legacy

Biggest Disappointment: Alice in Wonderland

Runner-Up: Shutter Island

Now that I’ve gotten through the muck, I can look forward to better and brighter things in the future. The top ten will be here in a couple days.

Most Anticipated in 2011

As another year has come to a close, the time comes to always look back as well as gaze into what the future might have in store. For 2011, there’s an interesting slate of films heading out, and these are the top eleven movies that currently have me intrigued.

11. Thor

I’m not a huge fan of many comic book properties, and this one is no different. I know very little of the source material, and the lead actor here has yet to impress me in anything he’s been in. However, the only reason why I am looking forward to this at all is because Kenneth Branagh is directing. It’s an interesting notion, and I’m curious to see what a distinguished filmmaker of Branagh’s pedigree can do with a big-budget action picture. Many are predicting failure, and they’re probably right, but I’m intrigued as of now.

10. Cowboys and Aliens

I was pleasantly surprised at how well Jon Faverau was able to competently handle the first Iron Man outing, especially considering nothing in his past signaled anything as such. I thought he was on track to become the next great action director. Iron Man 2 notwithstanding, I still believe that to an extent, and with such a, shall we say, “unique” premise, this ought to be one helluva ride.

9. Source Code

Duncan Jones’s Moon is a well shot work of art that impressed many, including myself. His follow up looks just as interesting. First, it’s got a great cast featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Vera Farmiga and Jeffrey Wright. Then you’ve also got a pretty interesting premise, even if it bares a resemblance to Tony Scott’s Deja Vu. Add to it a homefront location and it all adds up to a pretty good film. At least a film that has potential to be good, and one I’m very much looking forward to seeing.

8. Rise of the Apes

Call me crazy for looking forward to yet another chapter in the already worn out Planet of the Apes series, but often times the spoils from the past year have away of bleeding into less worthy projects of the next. It happened last year when Jeff Bridges’s performance in Crazy Heart amped up my anticipation for TRON. After seeing James Franco give two really good performances in 2010, I’m ready to see him in just about anything. Between this and Your Highness, I’d much rather see this, and the fact that the cast also includes Frieda Pinto and Andy Serkis doesn’t hurt either.

7. The Thing

I have a lot of respect for the original classic, and John Carpenter’s re-imagining is one of those few remakes that approaches on being better than the film it took inspiration. I’m not exactly sure why this story calls for further attention every thirty years, but I’d agree that there’s always room to dive deeper. If the film can harken back to the vision that Carpenter had while also giving trying to execute the original film’s origin storyline, then that sounds quite promising. Hopefully the film can follow-up on that promise.

6. X-Men: First Class

The Wolverine movie that came out a couple years ago may have made Fox a bundle of cash, but it sure did stink like nobody’s business. This is a project that, I’ll admit, doesn’t sound very interesting on the surface. Yet another prequel in this franchise that is quickly losing steam doesn’t sound promising. However, having a stylish director like Matthew Vaughn and an incredible cast that includes the names of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Kevin Bacon, that sounds a little more promising.

5. Moneyball

This has been a notoriously dogged production, facing many financial issues as well as creative ones which eventually led original director Steven Soderbergh to abandon the project. That many problems out the gate is never a good sign. However, there remains a sliver of hope, as Soderbergh’s replacement is Bennett Miller, handling his first film since his incredible debut with Capote. I’ve been awaiting for another Miller film for many years now, and this is the next one coming up. And the cast is pretty nice too.

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

I’ve enjoyed nearly all of the of the films in the Pirates trilogy, even though the first sequel was an overstuffed mess, and the second sequel was an overcomplicated mess. However, it appears that this one is trying to return to the simple roots that made the first film so enjoyable. Losing Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly helps a bit as well, and, like Thor, I’m interested in seeing what a prestigious director like Rob Marshall can do with such an action heavy film.

3. Hugo Cabret

Even though I was underwhelmed by Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island, I am still excited by his projects, and eagerly await any film he’s got lined up. He still remains a master filmmaker, and always allows incredible actors to work with him. Chloe Moretz is an incredible new talent and surrounding her is the likes of Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley and Christopher Lee. Plus, I’m interested in seeing what Scorsese’s first venture into the digital 3D process will heed.

2. The Tree of Life

I’ve been hearing talk of this film for at least three years now, and I even had it as one of my anticipated films for the fall of last year when it was still tentatively slated to be released then. I stick by what I said then: I’m still not a huge Terrence Malik fan, but the buzz surrounding this project has me in interested. Plus, the newly displayed trailer has a beauty and elegance to it that is quite difficult not to be dazzled by.

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

The grand finale has finally come. After a decade of films, the enormous series will see it’s fantastic conclusion. The first part of the finale was a tad underwhelming, but everyone was told that all that wandering through the forest was just a necessary pretext for the epic battle that was to come. From a literary standpoint, that much is very true. Having been with the series for this long, I see no reason to abandon now, just as the gettings gettin’ good. It will be a notable day when it all ends, and I will be right there to see it with billions of others.

Honorable Mentions:

Red State

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

In a few weeks, I will attempt to assemble my top ten of 2010, as well as my annual personal awards. Until then, let’s hope the new year will bring a bit more joy than the one before it.