I want to care about the Oscars

I love movies. Maybe too much, to the point where I'm not critical enough of the pieces that I'm watching. But often, I find no reason to not be entertained by the piece of escapism on my TV screen.

However, in the past I've always gone about the Oscars by simply rooting for the films that I'd actually seen, rather than what movies are actually best. This year, I have remedied the problem. I have obtained every film on the best picture list that I had not yet seen, and my goal is to watch them all by March 6th. If I find extra time, I'll look into the best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress lists to see if there are films there not on the other lists but thats a secondary priority.

My goal is simply to actually have an opinion about what movie is better than another, and to actually have seen the performances of the individuals up for the acting and directing awards as well.

The Best Picture list is as follows (X's mark the films I have already seen)

Avatar---------------- X

The Blind Side---------X

District 9--------------X

An Education----------X

The Hurt Locker------

Inglourious Basterds--X

Precious--------------X

A Serious Man--------X

Up -------------------X

Up in the Air----------X

I have all of them ready to go, including some of the ones I've already seen but I just want to re-watch and refresh.

One early prediction- I have almost no doubt in my mind that Cristoph Waltz will win best supporting actor for his role in Ingourious Basterds

I am really looking forward to seeing the films for this year. It looks like a pretty solid line-up and I am already having enough trouble choosing who I would pick just out of the handful that I've already seen (probably between Avatar and Ingourious Basterds, but Up in the Air is right there with the pack)

Update: Since the original date of this post I have finished up Blind Side, District 9, Precious, An Education and A Serious man. None affects my original contenders for best picture. The only one left to see is The Hurt Locker which I saved for last on purpose because it seemed the most interesting.

One Flew Over Shutter Island

It's been awhile. I know. My laptop charger broke and they mailed me a new one. But it's here now, just in time for me to tell you what I thought about Shutter Island. I'll fill you in on all the other stuff that's been going on over the past month some time in the near future.

Scorsese is a great film maker. Shutter Island only further showcases this fact. In the case of Shutter Island, he did what he could with what he was given. All of the pieces were there- the movie is well made, the acting is great, and the films 1st and 3rd acts are well written. Unfortunately, for those of you keeping score at home, that poorly written second act makes the whole film fall from what it could have been. The opening 60 minutes craftily build suspense while the final 45 minutes begin to tie the pieces together and have you at the edge of your seat. But the middle of the film lulls so heavily that it almost drops the ball for the entire flick.

DiCaprio is outstanding, and Scorsese creates an eerie setting and design that you won't soon forget. It's just too bad he wasn't handed a stronger script.

If you've seen One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, there are stark similarities. Now, Nicholson is a better actor than DiCaprio and Cuckoo is light years more well-written, but once you see Shutter, you'll see what I mean.

Now to be honest, I am simply being this critical because of the hype behind the film. Had I not seen a trailer or known the director, I would be pleased, and I am still pleased regardless. But it simply could have been better. But the bottom line is that it is worth seeing.