Quick Take on the Shorts Categories

March 7, 2010

Please note that I will be deleting this post within the next few days. I was hoping to type up my thoughts on the Live Action Shorts and the Documentary Shorts nominated for Oscars tonight, but I won't be able to do so until at least tomorrow. Still, I wanted to give you my star rankings on each and my prediction for what will win and why.

Live Action Short Films
The Door ***1/2
Instead of Abracadabra ****1/2
Kavi ****
Miracle Fish **1/2
The New Tenants ***1/2

Will Win: Miracle Fish doesn't stand a chance--not because I liked it the least, but because it's a semi-horror film that really makes little sense. I know the voting bodies for the shorts categories tend to be on the older side, and a film like Miracle Fish won't resonate with them at all. I don't anticipate The Door winning. It's smaller in scope than the other three. It's a good film, but it doesn't reveal it's true purpose (to show the effects of Chernobyl) until the closing credits. By that time, the resonance is a bit too late, leaving the film kind of forgettable. It's between The New Tenants, Instead of Abracadabra and Kavi. Both The New Tenants and Instead of Abracadabra are hilariously funny in ways that are pitch-black and twisted. The New Tenants boasts a familiar Hollywood actor (Vincent D'Onfrio), which can't hurt its chances. What does hurt its chances big time is its truly absurd and downright ridiculous ending which left a bad taste in my mouth. The voters won't choose this one as a result. Instead of Abracadabra is the best of the five, so if it wins, I'll be very pleased. It's vulgar and watching it is an uncomfortable, though ultimately rewarding, experience. The older voters won't warm to it in the same way they will warm to Kavi, the story of slavery in India as seen through the eyes of a little boy who just wants to go to school and play cricket like other children. It sounds gooey and manipulative, but it's not. Kavi is a really nice and sincere call for justice. The film is totally serving the purpose to end an injustice, which is admirable. At the same time, it really does work well cinematically. I think it will win the Oscar.

Documentary Short Films
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province ***
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardener ***
The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant ***1/2
Music by Prudence ****
Rabbit a la Berlin *1/2

Rabbit a la Berlin is a smug, stupid, sarcastic turd of a film. If it wins, I hate the world. Both China's Unnatural Disaster and The Last Campaign are competent films, but I don't see either one winning. China's Unnatural Disaster doesn't have the polish or sophistication of the others considering that the whole thing was shot on handheld camera by what I'd guess is an amateur. It's not well edited and it's a bit unfocused. That being said, the story behind it is the most profound considering that it focuses on the collapse of school buildings and the deaths of over 100 children. For that reason, I don't think anyone can totally dismiss its chances. Last Campaign deals with a former Washington state governor battling Parkinson's who fights for a referendum to allow patients the right to get assistance to end their lives. It's a dicey political topic, and the film doesn't know if it wants to be the portrait of a man or a tool for political activism or both. It's a nice film, but it doesn't quite feel as complete as some of the others. That leaves the two front runners in my view--The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant and Music by Prudence. Last Truck is well-made and really insightful. It's really showing a sad story without being too preachy. It's a little too long and a bit redundant. That being said, it's topical, American and the voters cast their ballots just as the Toyota mess made headlines. It could win, but I don't think it will considering that Music by Prudence is a really good little documentary about an absolutely amazing woman named Prudence who is a severely-handicapped Zimbabwean with the voice of an angel and a story that's so inspiring. This film almost completely bypasses manipulative sentimentality to present the story of a terrific person with the dignity she deserves. It's my favorite of the five, and I think it will appeal to Oscar voters in ways the other four can't. I think Music by Prudence will be an Oscar winner after tonight.

82nd Annual Academy Awards- Will Win and Should Win

March 7, 2010

Only about two hours until the Oscars. I'll be live tweeting and watching at a friend's house. Here are the films that I think think will and should win.

Picture
Will Win: The Hurt Locker
Should Win: Inglourious Basterds

Actor
Will Win: Jeff Bridges- Crazy Heart
Should Win: George Clooney- Up in the Air

Actress
Will Win: Meryl Streep- Julie & Julia
Should Win: Close one between Streep, Mulligan and Sidibe, but I'm going with Gabourey Sidibe- Precious.

Supporting Actor
Will Win: Christoph Waltz- Inglourious Basterds
Should Win: Christoph Waltz- Inglourious Basterds

Supporting Actress
Will Win: Mo'Nique- Precious
Should Win: Mo'Nique- Precious

Director
Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow- The Hurt Locker
Should Win: Quentin Tarantino- Inglourious Basterds

Documentary Feature
Will Win: The Cove
Should Win: I've only seen Food, Inc. and The Cove and The Cove is slightly better.

Documentary Short
Will Win: Music by Prudence
Should Win: Music by Prudence (yes, I've seen all five)

Animated Feature
Will Win: Up
Should Win: I've seen all but The Secret of Kells and Up is the best.

Foreign Language Film
Will Win: The White Ribbon
Should Win: I've only seen The White Ribbon, but it's absolutely amazing so it's worthy of accolades.

Original Screenplay
Will Win: Inglourious Basterds
Should Win: Inglourious Basterds

Adapted Screenplay
Will Win: Up in the Air
Should Win: Up in the Air

Cinematography
Will Win: The White Ribbon (going out on a limb with this one)
Should Win: The White Ribbon

Art Direction
Will Win: Avatar
Should Win: Avatar (though I haven't seen Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus)

Animated Short Film
Will Win: A Matter of Loaf & Death
Should Win: As of right now, I've only seen two of the nominees. French Roast was stupid, so out of the two, Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty is by far the better one.

Live Action Short Film
Will Win: Kavi
Should Win: Instead of Abracadabra (yes, I've seen all five)

Visual Effects
Will Win: Avatar
Should Win: Avatar

Costume Design
Will Win: The Young Victoria
Should Win: The Young Victoria

Film Editing
Will Win: The Hurt Locker
Should Win: The Hurt Locker

Sound Mixing
Will Win: Avatar
Should Win: Avatar

Sound Editing
Will Win: Avatar
Should Win: Avatar

Original Score
Will Win: Up
Should Win: (I really don't pay much attention to score so I abstain.)

Original Song
Will Win: The Weary Kind- Crazy Heart
Should Win: The Weary Kind- Crazy Heart (though I haven't seen Paris 36)

Best Makeup
Will Win: Star Trek
Should Win: Star Trek

I'll post the winners tomorrow. Enjoy the show!