3 posts tagged “awards”

Sean opines...

Paul Thomas Anderson is a director I rarely find fault with. His films Boogie Nights (one of my top 100 of all time) and Magnolia are two that I regularly visit and many of this flawed attempts like Hard Eight and Punch Drunk Love still are full of great moments.  That is why his attempt at the great American epic is painful to call a failure.

There Will Be Blood is an attempt to emulate Citizen Kane and The Godfather in so many ways. A strong male figure of notable success is the center of the film. Most of the man's life is taken on during the course of the film.  All have strained relationships with their sons.  Family does not necessarily mean kin. A preoccupation with greed over family is paramount to the direction of the man's life.  Citizen Kane succeeded because it truly was the first grand attempt and it has been emulated by all that followed. The Godfather, although not a favorite of mine, is a sage that led to devotion of billions around the world. There Will Be Blood collapses under the maniacal nature of its main character Daniel Plainview and the absurdity of the script's attempt to parallel the rise of Daniel and that of Eli Sunday (Paul Dano).  It is the battle of absolute corruption that noone wants to watch. You feel no sympathy for the character Daniel Day-Lewis commits to absolutely here.  Daniel's pure evil and insanity ultimately leaves the audience unenthused for the character's progression.  The famous scene of Lewis screaming about drinking Eli's milkshake just becomes laughable and puzzling - which is what a viewer walks away with. I would rather hear Kelis sing her famous song instead!

The film also is flawed in its pacing and attempts to move the story forward even in frame. I basically felt that I was watching the a documentary on how oil is drilled. The move begins with Daniel Plainview mining. No narrative hook, just a boring view of how to mine. This continues throughout. Sometimes it catches your interest but editing should have focused more on story and not on the how to. The score is a total failure. The score just made the film plod even in scenes! the cinematographer tried so hard to make this film visually stunning, but the score, script and director basically framed a scope that was dull.  I found myself leaving the theatre wondering why my director went wrong?

This is not a fun or interesting film to watch in my review. Daniel Day-Lewis' (a phenomenal actor) performance will be the Rain Man of our age if he wins the Oscar... lampooned more for its absurdity then his talent.  All and all 2 and 1/2 hours I wish I had back.

Sean opines...

Joel and Ethan Coen are one of the best director/writer teams ever. Their films have become ones that everyone remembers even though not always universally celebrated. Raising Arizona caught my attention first. "Son, you got a panty on your head." and "Now you take that diaper off your head and you put it back on your sister!" are quotes I regularly have walk through my mind on occasion because of that fun trip the bizarre mind of these two brothers created. Fargo was the next. Frances McDormand (Joel's wife) captured the attention of America in the bloody yet quirky film. Her "Thanks a bunch" is a staple in my day to day life. And I just caught O' Brother Where Art Thou? the other night, which was a pleasant surprise. Always the right amount of dark humor and brilliant cinematography from mainly Roger Deakins.  So why did I not like No Country For Old Men as much?

No Country For Old Men is a simple story about a man (Josh Brolin, in a great performance) who finds money in the desert and the clean up man who wants it back on principle. A modern western that pulls no punches when its time to kill and attempts to work off the addage that times have changed and with it the way and vigiliance of crime.  In a mixture of spaghetti and Sam Peckinpah westerns and Igmar Bergman reflection, No Country For Old Men pays homage to the Coen brothers inspiration.  They personify evil in Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem).  Bardem quietly and methodically walks and murders through this film with perfection. A villain for the ages, down from heaven almost to wreak God's vegeance or Hell reclaiming its lost souls. The first coin flip scene is a classic. No conscience only signs from God as to who deseves mercy and who deserves death are his leading indicators.  A performance worthy of honor. But does the movie deliver the entire goods? No.

The weakness of the film is the ruminations of the Tommy Lee Jones character, the sheriff of the county that all the violence began.  He stands back and observes the action from afar, relating his sage maturity and in the end abandoning the fight because it is too intense for his old sensibilities. Granted the expectation at a much more interesting ending led to the disappointment; but, the ending given just is unitelligible.  The film plugs along though only to be killed in the last 4 minutes that caused the audience I saw it with to audibly say "WHAT???"  It might deserve a second viewing but the mystery is gone and from what I can gather I am not alone in my anger with the chosen finish. In addition, the editing of the film allows for drama to unfold but in some areas it seems to linger to long and bore the viewer.  Am I being to critical? Sure!  Did I have expectations? Of course! But what I received was a film that is 4/5ths great with the last 1/5th spoiling the whole barrel.

Ultimately, this is a flawed film that just can't get me to like it.

Sean says...

As many of my long time friends and family know, I am a film addict.  And maybe foolishly I am doubly an Academy Awards addict.  Some hate the pageantry and the idea of choosing a "winner," but I enjoy it for what it is supposed to be - a celebration of film. They don't always get the "winners" correct, but in the long run people debate and find their favorites when they might not have found one before. Sure the whole process is getting old and the distribution of film in theatres is quickly being surpassed (or has been surpassed for a while) by home DVD viewing, on demand services on-line, or on your cable provider, and download. But to me the power of watching a film in a theatre is an amazing experience...cue creepy clip from Sunset Boulevard!

Now, five films have been selected from 2007 for the coveted and infamous Best Picture prize. I am not going to make a prediction here like I usually do because predictions this year for me have pretty much gone down in flames. And many of you will read this way after the prize is announced so why not focus on the film rather than the prize. So here is my take on all five (YES! I did get to see all five this year!) and a few samples of what each one has to offer. The next subsequent blog entries will capture my thoughts on each. Believe it or not I managed to personally see all five during the week of Feb 17 - 23, 2008!  Stefan saw two - Juno and Michael Clayton with me, the others just didn't catch his interest. Separate entries have been made to brake up my opinions so it is easier to read and manage by you.

The nominees are...

Atonement

Juno

Michael Clayton

No Country For Old Men

There Will Be Blood