I caught three of the five short Documentary Nominees this morning.
Kings Pointe - This one is about one of those quintessential retirement communities in Florida. Some couples go and live out the last thirty years of their lives in what seems, to most of the inhabitants, a sort of sad and empty existence. They play bridge or mah jongg, visit the malls, learn a social dance or two and sit by a pool. It feels more like a waiting room to the afterlife than a life of any substance. The film itself meandered a bit. It was hard to care about subjects who appeared so numb themselves.
Mondays at Racine - Two sisters on Long Island open their beauty salon one Monday a month to cancer patients. They help women reclaim their bodies, pamper themselves, embrace their journey and feel beautiful again. Several of their clients are followed through portions of their treatment. At one point this was so painful to watch, I was kicking the back of the seat in front of me to try and distract myself from the agony. Sometimes I find myself thinking, "I hope I get a really curable cancer," instead of "I hope I never get cancer." It just feels inevitable sometimes. A very powerful documentary about amazing women.
Inocente - Inocente is a fifteen year old homeless girl with an unbelievably tragic past, difficult life and irrepressible spirit. She is a bright and talented artist who leans heavily on her dreams to carry her forward, from a bleak past to an uncertain future filled with precarious potential. We watch her first art show and hope beyond hope she finds her ticket out. This was a unique story with a dynamic subject and a topical political issue. This appears to be the front runner.
The other two nominees are screening tomorrow but I will miss them, as I will be at a bowling alley birthday party with seven and eight year-olds. Jealous?
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
A Word about the Editing Category
I would like to take a moment to express how much I hate it every year when I hear someone suggest that "those technical awards like editing" should be taken out of the Oscar broadcast because the show runs too long. Nope. Technical awards are given out on a separate night and include things like "the development of
the Spydercam 3D volumetric suspended cable camera technologies." Lumping editing in here is like suggesting that putting words on the page to form a script can be done by a computer.
In fact, I like to think of editing as the final rewrite of the movie. The previous revisions were made in words and the last version of the script is stitched together with pictures. It is half artistry and half logic. Editing plays with your emotions by making subconscious connections and omissions while insuring that you know how the characters get cleanly from A to Z. It is a top notch category, folks, so just take a bathroom break if you don't understand it.
I understand why this job is misunderstood. I am an editor and I generally do not see the editing in a movie the first time I view it. The editing work that stands out is either when it is incredibly flashy and stylized, or when the movie is really failing and you start to notice all the ways you hate the film you are watching. It takes a few more viewings for me to start to see the subtle kinds of genius at work in most good movies. But there is as much beauty and talent in fast-paced jump-cut laced action sequences as there are in powerful emotional moments where the editor is playing the actors performances like a finely tuned stradivarius.
I don't expect an average movie-goer to fully appreciate the editor's job. They don't need that knowledge to enjoy a movie. Just, please stop suggesting that William Goldenberg, Tim Squyres. Michael Kahn, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Dylan Tichenor don't belomg there on Sunday night.
Thank you.
In fact, I like to think of editing as the final rewrite of the movie. The previous revisions were made in words and the last version of the script is stitched together with pictures. It is half artistry and half logic. Editing plays with your emotions by making subconscious connections and omissions while insuring that you know how the characters get cleanly from A to Z. It is a top notch category, folks, so just take a bathroom break if you don't understand it.
I understand why this job is misunderstood. I am an editor and I generally do not see the editing in a movie the first time I view it. The editing work that stands out is either when it is incredibly flashy and stylized, or when the movie is really failing and you start to notice all the ways you hate the film you are watching. It takes a few more viewings for me to start to see the subtle kinds of genius at work in most good movies. But there is as much beauty and talent in fast-paced jump-cut laced action sequences as there are in powerful emotional moments where the editor is playing the actors performances like a finely tuned stradivarius.
I don't expect an average movie-goer to fully appreciate the editor's job. They don't need that knowledge to enjoy a movie. Just, please stop suggesting that William Goldenberg, Tim Squyres. Michael Kahn, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Dylan Tichenor don't belomg there on Sunday night.
Thank you.
The Avengers
I saw The Avengers a long time ago. What I remember is the Hulk having a life changing epiphany while falling to earth and two "normal" humans with awesome skill sets being able to hold their own against individuals with super powers.
Other than that I found it enjoyable enough. I don't think it will win.
Other than that I found it enjoyable enough. I don't think it will win.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Shorts!
Animated Shorts:
Adam and Dog - Painterly, pretty and sweet. The story was a little thin.
Fresh Guacamole - Play dough with dice in it. Seems like an interesting exercise in perspectives but it's essentially empty.
Head Over Heels - The most conceptual piece, and it may have a shot because of that fact. It was an interesting depiction of a problem and a solution.
Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" - Maybe this was my favorite but only because I like the Simpsons. I don't know if that is enough to make it Oscar worthy. We'll see, I guess.
Paperman - This feels like the frontrunner because it's Pixar but I found it lacking. The "logic" of the piece seemed off and their shorts are usually spot on.
Live Action Shorts:
Asad - A seemingly pretty serious piece that ends on a joke. Weird.
Buzkashi Boys - I have a tendency to tune out when I see "children" and "Afghanistan" (or "Africa" for that matter) in the same film, because I assume it is going to be tragic and I don't want to get too involved. A feature length film has time to bring me around but this piece did not.
Curfew - My personal favorite. I love the opening of this short film...what an attention getting opening premise! I also enjoyed the overall tone of this piece, but the Academy may not because it reeks of youth.
Death of a Shadow - This one has a story idea that is original and inventive while also providing some stunning visuals. It has a Twilight Zone vibe, which I love, but which also led me to expect more of a twist to the plot. All in all, a really good short.
Henry - I think this one was supposed to be more of a mystery than it was. It was sad and seemed to drag a bit. I wonder if the old white guys will be touched by it.
Adam and Dog - Painterly, pretty and sweet. The story was a little thin.
Fresh Guacamole - Play dough with dice in it. Seems like an interesting exercise in perspectives but it's essentially empty.
Head Over Heels - The most conceptual piece, and it may have a shot because of that fact. It was an interesting depiction of a problem and a solution.
Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare" - Maybe this was my favorite but only because I like the Simpsons. I don't know if that is enough to make it Oscar worthy. We'll see, I guess.
Paperman - This feels like the frontrunner because it's Pixar but I found it lacking. The "logic" of the piece seemed off and their shorts are usually spot on.
Live Action Shorts:
Asad - A seemingly pretty serious piece that ends on a joke. Weird.
Buzkashi Boys - I have a tendency to tune out when I see "children" and "Afghanistan" (or "Africa" for that matter) in the same film, because I assume it is going to be tragic and I don't want to get too involved. A feature length film has time to bring me around but this piece did not.
Curfew - My personal favorite. I love the opening of this short film...what an attention getting opening premise! I also enjoyed the overall tone of this piece, but the Academy may not because it reeks of youth.
Death of a Shadow - This one has a story idea that is original and inventive while also providing some stunning visuals. It has a Twilight Zone vibe, which I love, but which also led me to expect more of a twist to the plot. All in all, a really good short.
Henry - I think this one was supposed to be more of a mystery than it was. It was sad and seemed to drag a bit. I wonder if the old white guys will be touched by it.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina was nominated for four awards; costumes, cinematography, production design and music.
I was immediately a fan of the production design as most of the movie was set in and around a theatre, with elaborate scenery changes taking place around the actors as they "moved" from place to place in the story. This effect was strong and stunning early on in the film and gradually fell by the wayside as some of the plot began to take place in the country. This made it feel less like a commentary and more like a device that grew boring for the filmmakers.
The costumes seemed to comment on the characters very strongly, with Anna's clothing often reflecting her inner state.
The cinematography was fine but Skyfall was better. And the music was pretty great.
As for the rest of the film, Keira Knightly seemed to struggle with balancing a calm, respectable Anna at the start with a bipolar mess at the end. Some scenes were so conceptual is was Baz Luhrmann-esque and others were terrifically straightforward. There were many strong elements but what the film lacked was cohesion. It wasn't a bother to watch it but I grew impatient for a resolution.
I was immediately a fan of the production design as most of the movie was set in and around a theatre, with elaborate scenery changes taking place around the actors as they "moved" from place to place in the story. This effect was strong and stunning early on in the film and gradually fell by the wayside as some of the plot began to take place in the country. This made it feel less like a commentary and more like a device that grew boring for the filmmakers.
The costumes seemed to comment on the characters very strongly, with Anna's clothing often reflecting her inner state.
The cinematography was fine but Skyfall was better. And the music was pretty great.
As for the rest of the film, Keira Knightly seemed to struggle with balancing a calm, respectable Anna at the start with a bipolar mess at the end. Some scenes were so conceptual is was Baz Luhrmann-esque and others were terrifically straightforward. There were many strong elements but what the film lacked was cohesion. It wasn't a bother to watch it but I grew impatient for a resolution.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Get out of your Iron Lung...and into some Helen Hunt!
Just a little marketing idea I came up with. You're welcome, Hollywood.
The Sessions was poignant and moving with some lovely messages; don't give up on yourself and don't underestimate the power of love. The acting was strong from Helen Hunt, William H. Macy and John Hawkes, as well as the minor characters, such as Moon Bloodgood and Annika Marks.
I enjoyed the story very much and oddly it was the priest I felt sorry for as he was the only one not getting any physical love. This one kind of throws me for a loop, as far as a nomination. Helen Hunt was great but I think there were a lot of great performances over the course of a year in film. Usually Oscar is looking for astoundingly good bits of work, or at the very least, an actor who made a complete physical transformation. I'm guessing she is getting extra points for the full frontal, but I don't know. Maybe as I come to the end of all of these Oscar-worthy performances I am getting numb to really exceptional work. Perhaps I need to palette cleanse with Houseguest before my final push.
The Sessions was poignant and moving with some lovely messages; don't give up on yourself and don't underestimate the power of love. The acting was strong from Helen Hunt, William H. Macy and John Hawkes, as well as the minor characters, such as Moon Bloodgood and Annika Marks.
I enjoyed the story very much and oddly it was the priest I felt sorry for as he was the only one not getting any physical love. This one kind of throws me for a loop, as far as a nomination. Helen Hunt was great but I think there were a lot of great performances over the course of a year in film. Usually Oscar is looking for astoundingly good bits of work, or at the very least, an actor who made a complete physical transformation. I'm guessing she is getting extra points for the full frontal, but I don't know. Maybe as I come to the end of all of these Oscar-worthy performances I am getting numb to really exceptional work. Perhaps I need to palette cleanse with Houseguest before my final push.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Partial Prometheus
What a fascinating topic for a movie, right? Discovering the aliens that seeded our planet and somehow unraveling the mystery of their demise? AND it's connected to Alien? Great! I'll just fall asleep during that movie then. Not only because it is dark and quiet and slow to progress but also because Ridley Scott somehow doesn't want you to know for sure about anything that is happening during the film.
Listen, I don't mean to be so American about movie watching and seethe so about ambiguity and open ended plot devices, its just that I have a hell of a lot of movies to watch right now and I don't have time for re-watching and admiring this amazing gift for nuance. IF that is what is happening. I love a layered movie that I can continue to enjoy and make greater discoveries about on subsequent viewings. I even love some films that leave me with a "what the hell" feeling such that I become intrigued enough to follow up and try to unravel the mystery.
Prometheus felt like neither one to me. It just felt like a lot of hard work. I read several blogs and websites after trying to watch it to figure out what I had missed. Many of them told me that the film is only fully understood and enjoyed by spending hours hashing it out in conversation with other scifi fanatics. Oh? I need to return to my twenties to enjoy this? I'll skip it, then. Another site revealed (if this is true) that Ridley Scott shot scenes that answer all of the questions that would make this a much easier film to ingest and then cut them out of the movie and put them on the DVD version. I guess I watched the wrong version.
I will give this movie another try in the future, but I do resent the extra effort it requires. The VFX were just fine.
Listen, I don't mean to be so American about movie watching and seethe so about ambiguity and open ended plot devices, its just that I have a hell of a lot of movies to watch right now and I don't have time for re-watching and admiring this amazing gift for nuance. IF that is what is happening. I love a layered movie that I can continue to enjoy and make greater discoveries about on subsequent viewings. I even love some films that leave me with a "what the hell" feeling such that I become intrigued enough to follow up and try to unravel the mystery.
Prometheus felt like neither one to me. It just felt like a lot of hard work. I read several blogs and websites after trying to watch it to figure out what I had missed. Many of them told me that the film is only fully understood and enjoyed by spending hours hashing it out in conversation with other scifi fanatics. Oh? I need to return to my twenties to enjoy this? I'll skip it, then. Another site revealed (if this is true) that Ridley Scott shot scenes that answer all of the questions that would make this a much easier film to ingest and then cut them out of the movie and put them on the DVD version. I guess I watched the wrong version.
I will give this movie another try in the future, but I do resent the extra effort it requires. The VFX were just fine.
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