Oscars

Oscars 2010

This Sunday sees the Oscars been given out for the best films of the year. Here is my alternative awards and look at the best film nominees that I have seen.

Best Supporting Actor: Peter Calpadi

In The Loop was the funniest film I saw last year and it was made by this man’s amazing performance. I have no idea why he did not get at least a BAFTA nomination.  Also Michael Fassbender’s performance in Inglorious Basterds was very good.

Best Film:

The Hurt Locker

A great film that really keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, it also portrays the grim realities of being a current wartime solider and makes you never want to be in the position of them.  9/10

Avatar

Yes the film looks amazing but in order for a film to be great in my eyes it has to have more than one amazing aspect. The story line and the dialogue were sub-standard. The film went on far too long and I feel it could have done without the final battle scene which tried to emulate Lord of the Rings but failed like almost every big Hollywood film has done when trying to do the same thing. But it is unlike every film you have ever seen before hence the rating out of ten. It was the first 3D film I saw I was impressed but I don’t like the glasses and I got headache and I don’t think many films need to be filmed in 3D bar these sorts of films. Therefore the future of Cinema is not 3D.  7/10

Precious

Wow what a tough watch. Normally I like a film that is uncomfortable and tough to sit through but Precious was too much even for me. Well acted, directed a solid effort and it really left we in a weird state of mind afterwards for quite a while.   8/10

Up

The best cartoon film I have seen in a while. The ten minute montage at the start of the film is moving and the best part of the film. After that it fails to match that excellent standard but is still enjoyable. 7/10

Inglorious Basterds

A film that excels in every part: acting, dialogue and look. There are a few flaws but once again Tarantino produces a film with scenes that truly are great.    9/10

District 9

Again a film that is very different to any film I have seen before. The lead actor turns in an amazing performance and the film looks great even though it did not have a Hollywood budget. 9/10

Up in the Air

Funny and extremely well written film with George Clooney at his best. Only problem was that I could see the twist coming a mile off. 8/10

An Education

A great film that I thought was amazing. All the acting was brilliant especially Mulligan, Molina and Saarsgard. Funny dialogue and with a twist at the end. Just an excellent film and my pick out of the nominees 10/10

Although I have not had the chance to see A single Man yet due to my big workload. Also I don’t really understand how In the Loop was not included in this category. Also a film not even including best foreign language film never mind best film is “Let the Right One In”. It was the best film I saw in 2009 and if you have not seen it yet go get it on DVD.

Film Reviews: 2012, Children of Men, Die Hard 4

2012: New disaster film by Roland Emmerich the same director of The Day after Tomorrow. In many ways it is almost the same film as that and the standard disaster films. But the main reason for going to see this film is not for the plot but the very good special effects which you have to make the most of by seeing the film in the cinema. Other than that there is not much to mention apart from a few funny jokes from the fat Russian Billionaire. *Plot Spoiler* I would like to see in these big budget special effects more invention. For example i would like to see some main characters die instead of them all surviving and living happily ever after. 6/10

Children of Men: I finally got round to watching this film after it been recommended by many people and critics for many years. I really enjoyed it. It is fairly dark which I tend to prefer. Its director is Alfonso Cuaron who directed the darkest of the early Harry Potter Films ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban’. Clive Owen gives his best performance in a film I have seen and it was a performance that changed my mind about his abilities. It looks great set in and world twenty years from now but not over technological advanced like most Hollywood films portray the future as. It kept gripped throughout and left me wanting more at the end which is always a good sign 8/10

Die Hard 4: I watched on Channel 4 the other weekend with mates and it is a god, but nothing special, action film. i.e better than transformers but not as good as the Bourne films. I didn’t really rate Timothy Olyphant as the bad guy but apart from that is was fairly watch able although Bruce is getting a bit old for these films. 7/10

Film Reviews: Twilight, District 9 and Point Break

Here my first film reviews on this blog of mine. These are three films that I have seen in the past week. I am going tokeep my reviews fairly short in length and give a rating out of 10 at the end.

1) Twilight – A fairly slow paced film which really draws you in. Although popular among teenage girls I did not find it soppy or unoriginal. The action sequences were fast paced and good. 7/10

2) District 9 – A really different film to anything I have seen before. Shot like a documentary and this gives it a completely different edge to other sci-fi films. The lead actor Sharlto Copley gives a very good performance and made me laugh as well. Also the graphics are very good the Aliens and there ship look realistic.  I read that the film had a smallish budget of £20 million and I hope other big action film-makers realise that sometimes less is more (Michael Bay). I heard a rumour that an US remake will be on the cards and this would really anger me as there is no point. Also you can read so much more into the film but it does not force you to. 9/10

3) Point Break- It was on TV the other day as Patrick Swayse died recently. I thought his performance in the film was good but felt the film was not. It contains a Keanu Reeves performance where he cannot deliver even the simpliest of line and also the film is incredibly silly and ridiculous and felt very outdate. Although some of the surfing scenes and bank robbery scenes where good. 5/10