King Colin reigns!

Well, what a fantastic night for British cinema. I am over the moon to see Colin Firth walk away with Best Actor, and The King's Speech to have won 3 other awards. Very very well deserved. Damn good bloody good job!

For those of you living in some kind of bubble, here's how it went down at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards:

Best picture - The King's Speech
Best actor - Colin Firth, The King's Speech
Best actress - Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best supporting actor - Christian Bale, The Fighter
Best supporting actress - Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Best director - Tom Hooper, The King's Speech
Best Original Screenplay - David Seidler, The King's Speech
Best Adapted Screenplay - Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Well those are the biggies (as it were) although I should mention Inception which walked away with 4 awards, and The Social Network which picked up two others. Toy Story 3 (which I found a little disappointing) won Best Animation. I suppose there wasn't any real competition, but I would have literally jumped for joy if How to Train Your Dragon could have pipped Pixar!

I was a little surprised not to see the Coen's True Grit there. Maybe they didn't understand Jeff Bridges either!

All of that aside, the most important thing is that it would seem that Britain, the Monarchy and speech impediments are still cool. Kate and Wills: The Movie, anyone?...

http://www.oscar.com/

Oscars night!!

Drumroll please...
The winner is...

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Films: True Grit (2010)

Dir: Joel and Ethan Coen

Cast: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld

I found it really hard to even understand a word that Jeff Bridges' character 'Rooster' Cogburn was saying for a good portion of this movie. But the lines I did get were utter genius! All three of the lead characters in the film are portrayed superbly, and major props must be given to little Hailee Steinfeld who is already a superstar, and a complete bad-ass.

The film is shot with the sepia glaze of a Coen brother's romp through the Wild West, and scattered with some completely off the wall, animal impersonating characters. They saved big bucks on soundtrack - featuring delicate little piano renditions of 3 old church hymns throughout - but some incredible production design, and sweeping location shots provide their own beauty to this dark and rugged film.

My rating: **** 4/5 stars

Recommendation: A good old cowboy ride in the mountains. Bridges is excellent. Inintelligible but excellent.

Films: The Social Network (2010)

Dir: David Fincher
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake


I grew up in the Facebook age. I used Facebook right through university and still, four years later, religiously check 'My page' daily. When Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook (and let's, for arguments sake, say he did), he discovered Atlantis.

I feel like I use the phrase 'pleasantly surprised' too much. It certainly applies to my reaction to this movie. Eisenberg's Zuckerberg is neurotic, arrogant, hilarious, mond-bogglingly intelligent and speaks at an unbelievable rate. British star-on-the-rise, Andrew Garfield, plays his much maligned best friend and colleague, with a gutsy and likeable performance. And, Justin Timberlake? Yeah. Pleasantly surprised. Add the fast paced dialogue (Aaron Sorkin at the helm) and masterful direction, and you have a serious Oscar contender.


My rating: ***** 5/5 stars
Recommendation: Don't sneer at 'the Facebook film.' It's a brilliant film about a once-in-a-generation life-altering invention.

**Later note: That one took me 3 minutes. Is that allowed? **

Redeem the Time...

I've been challenged by a friend who thinks that I am too verbose and use too many commas in my blog posts. They reckon it should take 60 seconds to review a film, book or CD. 60 seconds cuts out the crap, waffle, and jargon. 60 seconds gives a clear idea of the pros and cons. 60 seconds is long enough to make up your mind about something. If I can't convince you of a film's brilliance, a band's ineptitude or a writer's genius in 60 seconds, it's not worth your while to read it.

So, the gauntlet is thrown.

Stopwatch at the ready...

OSCAR SEASON: Films: The King's Speech (2010)

Dir: Tom Hooper
Cast: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Geoffrey Rush

Dang it. I could discuss this film for a whole day, never mind 60 seconds. Still...

There is a very good reason why almost every single person involved in the making of this movie is up for an Oscar this year. It is quite simply an exquisite piece of cinema. From the script, to the music, to the beautiful acting performances and the evocative score, this is a wonderful film.

Following King George 'Bertie' VI whirlwind journey to the throne, the films gives us the story of his struggle to overcome a speech impediment at the time of wireless and World War 2. The country needed a King who could speak with strength, conviction and eloquence. Through the surprisingly funny, tender and normal relationship which Bertie struck up with his charistmatic Antipodean speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Rush), this is just what the country got.

My Rating: ***** 5/5 stars. This will win big at the Oscars. Or I'll eat my stopwatch.
Recommendation: Incredibly moving, witty and sensitive. Even Queen Elizabeth II is rumored to have enjoyed it. We are most definitely amused.

It's Oscars Week!

That's right, the countdown has officially begun. The Oscars are in 6 short days and I would not like to be a nominee up against Colin Firth or Natalie Portman right now.

You can get a full list of the nominees in every category over at The Official Oscars Webpage.

Now, I'm not normally the gambling sort but if I was, here's where my money would lie:

Best actor - Colin Firth, The Kings Speech
Best actress - Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Best film - Inception
Best Supporting actor - Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

Pretty standard, all. I'd like to see The Social Network get some recognition because it really is an excellent movie, but not enough to defeat King Colin and company! Sorry.

Coming up this week:
Movie reviews - The Social Network (saw it ages ago but forgot to blog), The King's Speech, True Grit
Music Reviews - Gungor, The Shelter (Jars of Clay)
Book reviews - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Alchemaster's Apprentice, Billionaire Boy.

What? It's half term, of course I'll have time for all of these! Well, okay, I'll see how it goes.
Be back soon!

films: Remember Me

Quick catch up blog for y'all..
1. Yep, i'm still still an avid film watcher and part time insomniac.

2. I have just watched Remember Me, and would like to say on record, wow.

Okay, if im completely honest, my only interest in this film originally came out of a desire to catch Twilight heartthrob, Pattinson, not being able to act. Well, i couldn't have been wronger! This film was a total revelation for me. He is charismatic, sincere, natural and effortlessly charming (even when he's terrifying 10 year old school girls!).
On first appearances this film seems like an over analysed piece of self indulgence. However, in reality, it is gritty, painful and unsuspected. The cast of actors is well chosen; natural and likeable. The story builds to a climax which had me literally gasping in shock. Infact, it is so brave an ending that the film almost cannot carry it and, sort of, fizzles out in a sequence of short poignant scenes.
That aside, this is a deeply real and saddening story acted and executed expertly.
British boy Robert can be pleased as punch that there is life after vampirism.

My rating: **** 4/5 stars
Recommendation: Give it a chance - not too much pouting to be seen!

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