Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts

Thursday, February 26, 2009

I'm making a list, checking it twice!


Howdy. I feel sufficiently over the rage (that's right, actual rage) that overtook me when Mickey Rourke was denied an oscar to blog again.
While browsing one of my favourite sites, rottentomatoes.com, I came across a list they had made of the best films to win best picture at the oscars.

I've recently gotten really interested in films and the whole process of how they're conceived and made.Everything about them fascinates me. I don't care if it's black and white, has subtitles or involves Tim Curry in fishnets ( might I add...hubba hubba?Can't me only me?). It doesn't matter what the film, I'm all over it.

To foster this new enthusiasm (or obsession, take your pick) I've been watching a lot of old movies. The masterclass. It is a pleasure to see how films used to be made and just how fantastic some of them are. Films like "Taxi Driver" (admittedly not that old), "Some like it hot", "Rebel without a cause", "Breakfast at Tiffany's", "The Seven Year Itch", "An American in Paris" and others have completely blown me away. Despite being made a long time ago, most have a timeless humour and they are beautiful to look at.

It saddens me to see how diluted and basically un-funny films in general are nowadays. (See "You don't mess with the Zohan" for evidence). Obviously there are still absolutely brilliant films being made (The Wrestler, la Haine, Slumdog millionaire and the Usual Suspects to name a few) but the sheer quantity of films being made means that less time and care is being spent on them and the vast majority of them are pretty sub-par. Very rarely do I leave the cinema having really enjoyed a film. A lot of the time, you find yourself saying something to the effect of "well, it was alright. Nice way to waste away and hour".

To rectify this wrong, I decided to make a list. With the help of rottentomatoes, I found some films that are universally touted as "to see before you die". As I get through them I will let you know what I think and I would love any suggestions you have to bulk up my list with.
Here are the first few that I plan to watch soon.
P.S. Don't be mad at me for never having seen the Big Lebowski", I apologise!

The list:
  • The Godfather (Part I and II)
  • Rear window
  • Citizen Kane
  • Casablanca
  • All about Eve
  • On the waterfront
  • Annie Hall
  • It happened one night
  • In the heat of the night
  • Gone with the wind
  • Amadeus
  • The Big Lebowski
Let me know if you've seen any on the list or if you have any more you think I should get my film education with!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

My Oscar predictions 2009

Best picture: Slumdog Millionaire. Will and should win, I think. The ommission of "The Wrestler and "Wall-E" in this category have upset some however.

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke. Couldn't deserve it more but I have a niggling feeling that Sean Penn could sneak in there and take it from him.

Best Actress: Kate Winslet. Meryl could steal it from her, as could Anne Hathaway but I think this is Kate's year.

Best supporting Actor: Heath Ledger. No-brainer, and well deserved.

Best supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz. I would really like Marisa Tomei to win this one and think she is a definite dark horse. *fingers crossed that it doesn't go to Cruz*

Best Director: Danny Boyle. I'm fairly confident about this one and am happy with it.

Best animated film: Wall-E. Another winner in this category would cause uproar.

They're my main predictions for this year, I would love to hear yours!