And The Oscar Goes to...

So, 2011 is officially over then. Off course, some of us(including me) still have few movies to watch yet but I don’t think that cycle will ever be over. With Last night’s Oscars, we can call 2011 is Over and start new page of 2012.

I was almost absent from all the predictions and other games prior to the Oscars because I am not at all good at predicting. But after skipping on so called mandatory post on these predictions, I am not skipping the second mandatory post. So, here is the list the winners and my thoughts on some of the categories. I haven’t included the categories I don’t really know much about like shorts.

Results: First of all, ABC's English Presenter(I think her name was Louise). I loved her accent. I just want her to stand in front of me and keep on talking. I don't care what she talks. Just keep on talking. That is it. Here we go !!

Best Picture: The Artist
No surprises here. The Artist repeated The King's Speech from last year. Hopefully, it will be more sustainable in the long run.

Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
With all the technical awards to Hugo, I thought they will give this to Scorsese as well. But, then again Hazanavicius was the one to beat and he won it.

Best Actress in Lead Role: Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Why did they just do that ?? I have utmost respect for her but they did not just do that? Viola Davis was way more deserving this time. They had so many better opportunities in the past to award her. Worst decision of the Night !!

Best Actor In Lead Role: Jean Dujardin for The Artist 
As much as I wanted Clooney to win, Dujardin was the man to beat and he has one more award and nice acceptance speech. Some other time Clooney, some other time.

Best Actress in Supporting Role: Octavia Spencer for The Help.
Deep down somewhere, I was hoping for an upset. But that was not to be. Anyways, Congratulations are in order.

Best Actor In Supporting Role: Christopher Plummer for Beginners
Another Lock and we have oldest Academy winner !! and what a speech.

Original Screenplay: Woody Allen for Midnight In Paris

I seriously do not have anything against The Artist. I just haven't seen it yet and I wanted Woody Allen to win and he did. Brilliant !!

Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash for The Descendants 
This really was the toughest category to call and I am more than elated to see The Descendants win. Alexander Payne Rules !!

Animated Feature: Gore Verbinski for Rango 

Chris Rock did Great Job presenting it. I wanted Tintin to win, but hey it wasn't nominated remember !!

Documentary Feature: Daniel Lindsay, T.J. Martin and Rich Middlemas for Undefeated
I have only seen Pina and I wasn't expecting it to win but from the buzz, I was expecting Paradise Lost 3. Still I won't call it rubbed since I have not seen it.

Foreign Language: Asghar Farhadi for A Separation (Jodaeiye Nader Az Simin) (Iran)
Thank God for no Surprises here.

Art Direction: Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo for Hugo
If you ever doubted it, you were wrong all along. Hugo had this in bag.

Costume Design: Mark Bridges for The Artist

Makeup: Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland for The Iron Lady 
I wouldn't have had any problem if this was the only award The Iron Lady won. But it was not to be either.

Cinematography: Robert Richardson for Hugo
Not really an Upset since Hugo looked equally lovely but I would have loved to see Tree of Life win here.

Film Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Nice!! Nice !! That is all I have to say.

Visual Effects: Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning for Hugo
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes or Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2 or Hugo. Anyone would have been fine. Hugo is just a tad better.

Original Song: Bret McKenzie for “Man Or Muppet” from The Muppets
I am trying not to rant about the nominations. So, No Comments !!

Original Score: Ludovic Bource for The Artist
Haven't seen The Artist yet but I have seen so many people predicting this win here. So, I will assume it was deserving.

Sound Editing: Phillip Stockton and Eugene Gearty for Hugo 
Ok. So, Drive won't any Oscars this year then.

Sound Mixing: Tom Fleischman and John Midgley for Hugo
Not much to say here really. Just happy Hugo is winning a lot here.

So overall, Billy Crystal did quite a good job. No complaints there. Also, not all the awards were predictable like Globes. In many categories, people who I wanted to, did win - Alexander Payne for The Descendants and Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris. So, surprisingly, I am quite content with it except Meryl Streep winning off course. Maybe, having absolutely no expectations worked.

So, what do you think about it? How many did you predict right? How many do you think were deserving and how many snubs?

Reflection on Golden Globes

Golden Globes last night were mostly what everyone of us expected to be or at least I thought so. Few surprises - few pleasant, few unpleasant but mostly acceptable. Until today, many of us have talked a lot about who should have been nominated and who should not have been. Now that winners are announced, let me focus solely on nominees and Winners rather than complaining about who should have been here. So let me get down to business. These are some of the last night's winners from the categories I had something to say about.

Best Supporting Actor - Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

As expected. Not much more to say (See!! I am not complaining about Nick Nolte not being nominated.)

Best Television Series: Drama - Homeland

Soo happy for this. Homeland is Incredible for all the twists and turns in its very first season. I never saw any of those coming.

 

Best Original Score - Ludovic Bource (The Artist)

Since I haven't seen The Artist yet, I won't complain. Some of the other nominees were brilliant(Hugo and The Girl with Dragon Tattoo). So, I will assume that it is better than them. Many others fellow bloggers seem to think so as well.

Best Original Song - Madonna for 'Masterpiece' from W.E.

SERIOUSLY ??

Best Actress: Comedy/Musical - Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn)

There should not have been any doubt in anybody's mind that anyone else would have won this. And she did.

Best Supporting Actor in a Series or Mini-Series - Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
I am currently reading Third Book of the Series and Dinklage's Tyrion Lennister is by far my favorite character of the Series. After watching Game of Thrones 1st Season, every time I read, I picture him saying those lines. He is just made for this role.

Best Animated Feature - The Adventures of Tintin

I actually have not seen any of the nominees. But the other option was Rango and Jonney Depp is doing the same characters for many years that I am bored now. So, Good Job !!

Best Screenplay - Midnight in Paris

Many expected to The Artist to win. Not Me. I WANTED Midnight in Paris to Win. So, I am delighted to see it happen.

Best Foreign Language Film - A Separation
Makes me want to see this even more. It beat The Skin I Live In.

Best Actress, Television Series Drama - Claire Danes (Homeland)

Whoot !! Whoot !! Brilliant...Simply Brilliant !!

Best Supporting Actress - Octavia Spencer (The Help)
I really don't have anything against Spencer. She did great in The Help. I just think Jessica Chastain or Shailene Woodley were just a tad better. (Again, No Carrey Mulligan but not complaining.)

Best Director - Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Wow. Even you thought that Hazanavicius had this in bag, Right? Me too. But I am happy for Scorsese. Hugo was brilliant. My no.2 of the Year!!

Best Actor: Comedy/Musical - Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Well...Almost No Contest here.

Best Actress: Drama - Meryl Streep (The Iron lady)
Nooo. It actually was a two way between Viola Davis and Meryl Streep. But still Nooooo.....

Best Picture: Comedy or Musical - The Artist

Again. As Expected. Not that I am disappointed. I am really happy for The Artist even though I haven't seen it. Yet.

Best Actor: Drama - George Clooney (The Descendants) 

Brad Pitt was amazing and so is Michael Fessbander(as they say) but still it is completely expected. Did you listen to his speech afterwards ? I would have given him one more for that. He was brilliant in The Descendants too.

Best Picture: Drama - The Descendants

Either Hugo or The Descendants. I would not mind.

So, overall Very much what I expected them to be. What do you think ?

Best of 2011

If I remember it correctly, First Movie released in 2011 that I saw was Harry Potter and Deathly Hollows Part 2, in July - almost the same time I started U, Me and Films. So considering the backlog of 6 and half months, I think I did good - finishing 2011 with close to 50 movies so far, including Documentaries. It isn't a big number Yes, but even though I know I still have a lot to catch up on, I don't think there is any point in post-phoning this post any further. Then there is usual issue of the release dates. So, I am considering all movies which got theatrical release in 2011, Film Festivals do not count. So I will start with the movies that I still haven't seen and from the word of it, might have made their in this list. Some of them are: Shame, Take Shelter, A Separation, The Artist, We Need to Talk about Kevin.

And you will realise that I have 2 movies at number 10. Actually, I was almost ready to publish this few days ago. Then, just yesterday, I saw The Descendents and it was so good that I had to put it here. So, since I had everything written, instead of taking something out, I have 2 movies at number 10. I know I am cheating here but Let us get into best of what I have seen:

10. Warrior: Warrior takes the beaten down path of many Sports movies before it. However, despite the cliches, the reason it works is because it focuses on what happens outside the ring to make what happens inside the ring more exciting. It invests richly in the characters so that we care about them. With Great performances from Tom Hardy, Joel Edgarton and Nick Nolte, Warrior is not the one to miss. Full review very soon.

10. The Guard: Though a little incomprehensible at times because of the Irish accent, it is a Beautiful little Irish Comedy. Brandon Gleeson is wonderful in it, rather only reason I saw this was his Golden Globe Nomination. I did not even knew about it then. But, it is totally worth it. Thank you very much for making my New Year's Eve.

9. Drive: Ryan Gosling is at his best in this nearly dialogue Free Performance. Albert Brooks and Carrey Mulligan also deliver equally great performances to aid Gosling. However, apart from the stunning performances, what makes this film a great visual experience is Nicolas Wending Refn's stylish direction from Gosling's Scorpion Jacket and 80's synth-pop soundtracks to hot pink titles and stunning cinematography.

8. The Skin I Live In: With this, Pedro Almodovar has officially become the Master of making me uncomfortable. Except Broken Embraces(2009), every Almodovar movie I have seen makes me so uncomfortable. But, that is no reason to deny the greatness of it. What makes it great is Antonio Banderas' excellent Portrayal of lead role, Elena Anaya's breathtaking beauty and concept which is far more haunting than you realize while watching it.

7. Beginners: It is easy to like or relate to Beginners if you are of certain age. I am NOT of that age but I still love it. Why? Maybe because it portrays relations beautifully, maybe because of those montages of different years or maybe because of Christopher Plummer's liveliness, Ewan McGregor's sadness and Melanie Laurent's quirkiness. But more than that, Beginners is about saying it is never late to begin something. Yes!! Definitely Yes!! That is why I like it.

6. Senna: Since my college days, when I started following Formula 1 racing, I have been always been in the awe of phenomenon that Ayerton Senna was. Even today, my heart sinks a little whenever someone mentions the race Senna was killed. It was great to know one of the idols of his time with this beautiful documentary, made completely through the archival footage. Sports fan in me could actually feel my pulses rising like I am watching an actual race.

5. Melancholia: Most accessible of Von Trier's Film is what it is called. I wouldn't really know, since it is the only one I have seen yet. But, I have never seen depression looking so beautiful and so harrowing with the dialogues like "Earth is an evil place. We don't need to grieve for it. No one will miss it". Kirsten Dunst embodies the depression to the perfection. First 8 and 1/2 minutes of imagery and that ending alone should warrant it's place here in this list.

4. The Descendants: My first thought after watching it - Run Clooney Run !! Run Like Wind !!. On a serious note, The Descendants is extremely honest and genuine piece of art, in its direction as well as in performances. Alexander Payne, George Clooney and Shailene Woodley deserve special mention for this. And for someone who hasn't even seen his family for one whole year, that last scene was just too perfect. Full review, very soon too.

3. Midnight in Paris: Traditionally, I have been very selective about Woody Allen. Though there are movies he made that I simply love(Match Point(2005) and Manhattan(1979)), I usually find him pretentious. However, in case of Midnight in Paris, I was intrigued right from when I heard about it first and thankfully, it was on par with my expectations. By the end of this nostalgic trip through the 1920's Paris, I was beaming with excitement. If nothing else, it is worth watching for the sight seeing of Paris. 

2. Hugo: When I watched Hugo, it was only because we did not have any other option. Since I saw first trailer, I was never excited about it basically because I hate 3-D(I have glasses, wearing that stupid goggle over them feels like someone is pulling my nose down). But by the end of it, I was taken by it mainly because Scorsese made it so personal, so nostalgic. And for a change, I loved the 3-D aspect of it too. Maybe, it just needed a master like Scorsese to handle it properly.

1. Incendies: One of the regional Indian writers I have admired once wrote that 'When you ask a question, it's not an Answer that we are looking for. But, it is satisfaction that comes with that answer. Answer which does not give you that satisfaction will be more unsatisfactory than the question itself.'  Incendies is going to linger in my mind for a long, long time because it does not give you that satisfaction. This movie has become an epitome of Shock for me. I was awestruck, dumbfounded.

Others worth mentioning: The Help, Martha Marcy May Marlene, 50/50, The Ides of March, 13 Assassins.