A ROTTEN TOMATO: Somewhere

OMG, what a snoozefest! This movie was just a lot of nothingness. I know this movie was about boredom, but did you really have to inflict it on the audience? Seriously, there were way too many extended scenes of the lead character doing various mundane activities (the film began and ended with 5 minutes each of him just driving....that's it). Why do people love Sofia Coppola (the writer and director) so much? She has made 2 of the most painfully boring films ever made (this and "Lost in Translation"). Stay far, far away from this one.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK/OSCAR WATCH: Black Swan

Darren Aronofksy is one sick man. Only he could have envisaged this twisted film. He is at the top of the game with "Black Swan", a truly gritty, visceral, melodramatic, terrifying, psychological masterpiece (this movie really is everything, and then some). With the aid of a prominent score and a brilliant script, the film itself was like a theatrical performance, pushing seamlessly towards its climax. This film was also a prime showcase for the talents of all its female stars, which included Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder (all truly deserving of their Oscar buzz). Of course, the real star was Natalie Portman, who absolutely owned her role. Her transformation was really astonishing. People, this woman needs to prepare her Oscar speech. That award belongs to her. This film is a sure contender for prizes in Best Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay, Editing, Costume Design, Original Score etc etc.

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OSCAR WATCH: The Music

With all the focus on acting, screenplays etc, we often forget one of the most important components of a good film - the soundtrack. For example, can you imagine "Titanic" without thinking of Celine Dion's iconic theme song? In fact, other Oscar winners such as "Chicago" and "Amadeus" could not have been made without the music. Music is so crucial to the tone and pacing of the movie. In recognition of the importance of this aspect, I've added a playlist (see sidebar at right) of music from recent Oscar winners for Best Original Score and Best Original Score. The playlist includes mainstream hits such as "Lose Yourself" and "Jai Ho", in addition to some of my personal favs like "Falling Slowly" and "Piano Variation in Blue". Also, be sure to check out the music from some of this year's outstanding scores:

The Social Network
Black Swan
The Ghost Writer
True Grit
Inception
127 Hours (check out "If I Rise" by Dido and A.R. Rahman)
Toy Story 3 (check out "We Belong Together" by Randy Newman)
The Ghost Writer
The King's Speech
Alice In Wonderland

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OSCAR WATCH: SAG Nominations

It has been a busy two weeks of awards, culminating in the just announced Screen Actors Guild nominations. Mostly much of the same, the only suprises being Hilary Swank and John Hawkes. Not amused by the absence of "Inception". The nominees are:

Ensemble (equivalent to the Best Picture Award)
Black Swan
The Fighter
The Kids Are All Right
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

Actor
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Robert Duvall, Get Low
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours

Actress
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Hilary Swank, Conviction

Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Fighter
John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush, King’s Speech

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

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OSCAR WATCH: Golden Globe Nominations

The Golden Globe nominations were just announced, and boy were they interesting! The Fighter is getting a real push now and is looking like one of the Top 5 for the Oscars.

Best Picture (Drama)
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network

Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are All Right
Red
The Tourist

Best Actor (Drama)
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

Best Actor (Musical/Comedy)
Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp, The Tourist
Paul Giamatti, Barney’s Version
Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs
Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

Best Actress (Drama)
Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Best Actress (Musical/Comedy)
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie, The Tourist
Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone, Easy A

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
David Fincher, The Social Network
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan, Inception
David O. Russell, The Fighter

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Rabbit Hole

Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart are excellent in this touching film about a couple struggling with the grief of losing their child. Due to smart choices by the director and a quality script, the film didn't turn into an over-dramatic "Lifetime movie"(though there was a lot of crying). Instead, "Rabbit Hole" was a realistic portrayal of the mourning process and its impact on family relationships and everyday interactions with other people. Somehow it manages to be ultimately hopeful amidst all of the depression. A lot better than some of the Oscar bait being thrown around this year.

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OSCAR WATCH: Critics Choice Nominations

The Broadcast Film Critics Association announced their nominees today and it seems they loved "Black Swan". Some highbrow Oscar pundits disregard the Critics Choice Awards, but they are important. This where the Sandra Bullock freight train took off last year.

Best Picture
127 Hours
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
The Town
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter’s Bone

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, True Grit
Robert Duvall, Get Low
Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network
Colin Firth, The King’s Speech
James Franco, 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine

Best Actress
Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Noomi Rapace, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

Best Supporting Actor
Christian Bale, The Fighter
Andrew Garfield, The Social Network
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Sam Rockwell, Conviction
Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech
Mila Kunis, Black Swan
Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit
Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

Best Director
Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan
Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, True Grit
David Fincher, The Social Network
Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech
Christopher Nolan, Inception

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AWARDS SEASON: What's Hot and What's Not

The awards season is about to kick-off tomorrow with the first major nominations. Nowadays there are many different awards groups, but for me the important ones are those that actually air on tv. So with that in mind, we kick off with the announcement of the nominations for the Critics Choice Awards, which will air on January 14th on VH1. Below are the 10 frontrunners for Oscar's Best Picture award. If, the Oscars were held today, these are the 10 films that most would bet on making the cut...

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OSCAR WATCH: Get Low

Apparently, this a Best Picture contender, but I don't buy it. I actually thought it was quite boring. Yes, Robert Duvall was good in the closing scenes, but this movie was so dreadfully slow that even when it finally got "interesting", I was just waiting for the film to end. The movie just barely missed my "Rotten Tomato" tag. Oscar-wise, I can understand a Best Actor nomination for Duvall, but that's about it.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: A Few Good Men

Yet another one of those iconic films that I somehow missed. Great performances all around by the cast (especially Cruise and Nicholson). Very thought-provoking and riveting story by the brilliant Aaron Sorkin. Can you handle the truth? Yes, I know that was lame, but I had to throw it in. Check out "A Few Good Men" if you haven't already.

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OSCAR WATCH: The Town

After hearing so many great things about this film, I expected something groundbreaking. Unfortunately, I have to say I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it was very entertaining and kept me engaged from start to finish, but I really can't say it was anything substantially superior to your typical crime thriller (though it was certainly above average). I would actually be disappointed if this was nominated for Best Picture, as there are so many good films this year. I did think however, that Jon Hamm was outstanding in his role (making use of his charisma from "Mad Men") and also Blake Likely showed off her acting skills as well. I really don't expect any Oscar nominations for this film though. Overall, it's a great "popcorn" flick, perfect for your next Friday night trip to the DVD store.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK/OSCAR WATCH: The King's Speech

"The King's Speech" is a sure crowd-pleaser. In fact, in my theatre the entire audience applauded at the end. The film features outstanding performances from Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter who were all a delight to watch. The film really flew by, as I was expecting at least another 1/2 hour at the end, a true sign of a good movie. According to the "smart-money" this film will go head-to-head with "The Social Network" for Best Picture. After seeing it, I can definitely see why (although I think "The Social Network" should be the frontrunner). Firth and Rush also deserve all their praise and Bonham Carter also deserves a nomination, although she faded away as the film progressed. Expect nominations to come in Directing, Original Screenplay, Editing, Art Direction and Costume Design as well.

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OSCAR WATCH: 127 Hours

"127 Hours" is another solid endeavor by Danny Boyle. Should definitely pick up a good spread of Oscar nominations. The directing was focussed, creating a very intimate atmosphere, as if you were stuck in the cave with James Franco's character. This character was the highlight of the movie, as Franco put in an outstanding performance carrying the movie all on his own. His performance in "the scene" (if you know the basic plot, then you'll know what I am referring to) was enough to warrant a Best Actor nomination. The short running time (94 minutes) of the film held the audience's attention, avoiding the mistake of trying to stretch out a very simple plot. I would consider this film a strong contender for Best Actor, Best Director and Editing. Should also be a lock for nominations in Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography, but I would be very surprised if it won awards in these categories. I recommend this film, but be warned. This film is not for the faint of heart!

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK/OSCAR WATCH: The Social Network

"Damn, that was soooo witty!" That's all I kept saying after watching this excellent film. I really didn't want this movie to end, when those typical "Where are they now?" lines came up at the end, I was actually in denial. This film was such a great collaboration. The screenplay was outstanding, such smart comedy in addition to some really gripping moments. The cast all worked beautifully together, with Jesse Eisenberg particularly giving a surpringly confident performance. This thing is a lock for Best Picture and I have no doubt that it will be in the top 5 for Oscar contention. This movie has a lot going for it. It is so representative of the "online" society of our generation (dating, shopping, entertainment etc.). Oscar experts always talk about the importance of the relevance and timing of a film and I can't think of a more current and relevant film. Eisenberg deserves a Best Actor nomination and Garfield was also good in his supporting role (even Timberlake did a good job). Certainly should get attention for Director, Adapted Screenplay, Original Score and Editing as well. I reccommend this movie to all my friends. I'm so excited to watch the other frontrunners (The King's Speech and 127 Hours) now.

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OSCAR WATCH: The Kids Are All Right

"The Kid's Are All Right" is a simple, yet entertaining film. A good blend of drama and comedy. I agree with the Oscar pundits that Annette Benning and Julianne Moore were Oscar-worthy, but I don't get the hype about Mark Ruffalo's performance. He just didn't do anything spectacular to me. The 2 lead women (of which I think Annette was better) however, had some truly brilliant moments throughout the film. Overall, it was a good film, but I wasn't raving about it like I was with other Oscar contenders like "Inception". Still, I wouldn't mind if it picked up a Best Picture nomination. Should also stand a good chance in the Original Screenplay category.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Braveheart

Yes, I know it's strange that I haven't seen "Braveheart" until now, but I can explain. Back in the 90's I was too young to watch these movies(and I was a very disciplined child) and I was more interested in the next Pokemon movie anyway. By the time I really became a movie buff, I was more interested in the new releases. Anyway, back to "Braveheart". Really one of those genre-defining films (when you think of epic movies, how can you not have this on your list?). A bit overdramatic at times, but I guess it was appropriate for the context. Mel was surprisingly believable in his role too and really showed his talent as a director.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Primal Fear

Whoa, didn't see that one coming. Don't want to divulge any more, as it would ruin the movie if you intend to watch it. Awesome cast, especially Edward Norton who was really great in his role. If you haven't seen this, you should.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Pride and Prejudice

This film was a surprisingly fresh take on the Jane Austen classic. The cinematography was spectacular, the directing was creative, the acting was great (Keira Knightly fully deserved her Oscar nom) and it was even quite funny. A thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of such great source material.

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OSCAR WATCH: How To Train Your Dragon

First of all, I completely disagree that this movie should be on "Oscar Watch". Yes, it's highly entertaining like a good animated film should be, but Oscar calibre? I think not. There is no way this is beating "Toy Story 3), for a Best Picture nomination and there certainly won't be 2 animated films nominated for Best Picture (they have an animated film category for a reason). Good film though, worth renting.

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COMING SOON: For Colored Girls

This one has so much potential, but I feel like it has some serious issues with it. Firstly, it was directed by Tyler Perry. Anyone familiar with his films knows that they are pretty bad and formulaic. Why couldn't they just leave him as producer (which he is great at, since his movies always make serious bank)? Can you imagine Oscar voters checking off a movie attached to Tyler Perry's name? Another issue for me is the title (full title is "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf"). Who even uses the term 'colored' anymore? I feel like the white upper-crust film community will feel very uncomfortable talking about 'colored girls'. I do think this film could churn out a Best Lead or Supporting Actress nomination or two. To be frank, this year is a very white Oscar race and a half-decent performance and a good publicity team should be enough. I really hope this doesn't flop. Opens November 5th.

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OSCAR WATCH: Winter's Bone

It’s so great that we have a whole other independent film industry running alongside Hollywood. Films like “Frozen River”, “Fargo” and now “Winter’s Bone” remind us that there is a major cross-section of the US that is worlds apart from the glitz and glamour that typical Hollywood movies tend to focus on. This was the epitome of an indie film, with a simple story and most importantly, very realistic. Surprisingly, I was quite engaged with this film, unlike my experiences into other monotone, slow-paced indie movies. There has been much Oscar buzz surrounding this film, but imho this has little chance for the exact qualities highlighted above. Firstly, I think the movie was too simple for it to stand out against the wide selection of films this year, so I highly doubt it will get into the Best Picture game. Also, the “experts” say that Jennifer Lawrence is one of the top contenders for Best Actress, but once again, I don’t think her performance was “showy” enough for her to make the cut. This is a competitive year for best actress and while she did a great job, I can’t see her edging out the host of big names floating around (Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman, Diane Lane, Hilary Swank etc.). Overall, there wasn’t anything wrong with the movie, on the contrary, it was damn good. I do feel however that leads itself to be easily forgotten (like "The Messenger" and "Crazy Heart" last year) among the plethora of good films this year.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Boy A

"Boy A" is a relatively unknown film, but it's quite good. It's quite heavy as it centers around a young man newly released from prison for a murder he committed as a child. The film is anchored by a superb lead perfomance by Andrew Garfield as said young man. You couldn't help but feel sorry for him throughout the film. Watch out for this kid, with 2 big roles this year (The Social Network and Never Let Me Go) in addition to notching the role of Peter Parker in Spiderman reboot, he's the next big thing!

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Animal Kingdom

"Animal Kingdom" is a must-see, it is completely engaging from start to finish. From the first scene I knew this was going to be a good movie. Jacki Weaver deserves all the Oscar buzz for her portrayal as the matriarch of this Australian criminal family. She had such a scary calmness in the role, it was quite discomforting. I also thought Ben Mendelsohn was superb in his role. I actually thought the film was too short, in particular there was an important development in the end that I felt should have been shown. But I guess "more is less". At the end I was begging for more, I highly recommend this film.

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COMING SOON: The Oscar Slate (lots of new trailers!)

Well, we are over the hump of the summer movies and now we get down to the "nitty-gritty". It's Oscar season and with the 10-nominee format it's as busy as ever. Just to illustrate how important the timing of movies is, "Wall Street 2" was all set to be released in April, but after it got good reviews at Cannes, it got moved to September. I've already seen 2 of the big players (Toy Story 3 and Inception) and they are looking pretty solid. Also, "The Kids Are All Right" and Winter's Bone have already opened to rave reviews. Still not convinced Shutter Island will make the cut, but it's also one to watch Here's the full smorgasbord of what's to come in the following months(in order of release date):

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: 2012

This movie was a hot mess. I kept wondering if this was supposed to be a parody. The opening scenes where John Cusack managed to dodge buildings, fireballs, trees etc. was just hilarious. So predictable and the emotional scenes were so forced.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Let The Right One In

This is one of the best "horror" films I've ever seen. It really captured the creepy factor, through good use of cinematography, child actors (what's creepier than sadistic kids?) and music. Unlike the typical slasher films that Hollywood churns out every year, this one paid much closer attention to the small details. It was refreshing not to see 30 people people being hacked to bits in ridiculous ways. Rather, there were a few killings that were effective in that it was really what you didn't see that was most horrifying. Also, one of the most brilliant endings ever. I'm excited for the American remake, as I love the casting of Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz in the lead roles.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Quiz Show

Quiz Show is an impeccable "courtroom drama" from 1994 that exceeded my expectations. It really grabbed my attention and I couldn't wait to find out what happened at the end. Yet another good insight into what goes on behind the scenes in these corruption scandals. I would describe this as a weird cross between Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon, both Best Picture nominees from 2009. So if you liked those two, then I think you'll like this one.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Jerry Maguire

Strangely enough, I've only seen this movie in bits and pieces until now. It was a pleasant surprise, as I think it is the most heartfelt comedy I've ever seen. Such memorable scenes and great acting. In my opinion, they don't make romantic comedies like this any more.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Dances With Wolves

This is really one of the classics. You have to be patient though, because it's quite long and slow-paced. The pay-off is worth it though. Great study into such an important juncture in American History. Perhaps this is stale news to you, as it seems I am the only person who hasn't seen this.

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: Mullholland Drive

What a weird film. Totally pointless in my opinion. Bleh.

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OSCAR WATCH: Noomi Rapace

I know I've been harping on about "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" lately, but it's a hot topic right now. Word on the street is that the star of the Swedish version of the film (Noomi Rapace) is trying to get in on the Best Actress race. Her agent is comparing her to Marion Cotillard who won Best Actress for her performance in a foreign film. Considering her meteoric rise since then, it's easy to see why this is a big deal for Rapace. UPDATE: I saw the Swedish version of the film on the plane and it is good, but nothing memorable in my opinion. Safe to say Rapace will not be in the game.

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"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" is...Rooney Mara

It has just been announced that the title role in David Fincher's upcoming film will be Rooney Mara. She is clearly a personal favourite of Fincher, who has cast her in the highly-anticipated "Facebook movie" titled "The Social Network". Shooting for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" begins in September.

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Who is "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"?

As the search continues for the actress who will play the title role, some of the other cast is already being filled up. This highly anticipated film is relevant to me as I am currently reading this book and I must say, the cast(in addition to accomplished director David Fincher) has me very excited so far! It has just been revealed that Robin Wright (State of Play) will play Erika Berger, Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) will play Mikael Blomkvist, while Stellan Skarsgard will take on Martin Vanger (Good Will Hunting). If it's as good as the book and the original film(from what I've heard), then we are in for a treat!

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: What's Eating Gilbert Grape

What a great movie, a simple story portrayed beautifully. An outstanding performance from Leonardo DiCaprio (and at such a young age too! If you haven't seen this yet, go rent it now!

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: The White Ribbon

I started falling asleep 5 minutes into this movie! Ok, maybe I was a bit tired from a long night, but I also think it was just really boring. Maybe I should watch it again for a second opinion, but I don't think I can put myself through that torture again. Quite overrated in my humble opinion.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK/OSCAR WATCH: Inception

Yep, I've been "Incepted". What a brilliant film. It really got inside me and I don't know if I liked the feeling. I felt like it took my mind to a scary place that it didn't want to go. After the movie was over, I felt slightly tired after the rollercoaster that this film took me on. It was like a jolt back to reality when I left the theatre. This is definitely a prime pick for the Oscars. Brilliant production from Christopher Nolan yet again. It takes great imagination and vision to concieve a film like this. For me, the backbone of this film were the performances of the cast. Leo, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page in particular were impeccable. Leo has done remarkable work this year (with his perfomance in Shutter Island) and is certainly due some recognition. To quote another blogger, Cotillard was "alive" in the film. I totally agree, she was absolutely radiant and some of her scenes were just so heartbreaking. I expect acting nominations for both Cotillard and DiCaprio, Page will be a hard one to sell, but her performance was equally outstanding. The score was also excellent (it's by Hans Zimmer for crying out loud!), playing like a constant pulse for the film. So in Oscar terms, this should score in Acting, Directing, Score, Editing, Cinematography and some of the other technical categories. Somehow, I'm not too convinced that the screenplay will be a major contender, but it was also quite good.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Ghost Writer

A lot of people have decided to not go anywhere near this film, since it was directed by Roman Polanski (he's an alleged child rapist, if you didn't know), but I thought I should separate the man from his work. This was a great film, such a taut thriller. You really don't know what's going on until the end. Great directing, great screenplay. You'll also notice some real-life parallels to Tony Blair and all involved in the "war on terror". Not sure if we'll see another Polanski film anytime soon, so I'm going to relish this.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Matrix

Yes, I know it's downright shameful that I haven't seen "The Matrix" (I watched the sequels), but I just never got around to it. This was too cool! It had everything you could ask for in an action flick, even good acting(which is often lacking in action movies)!

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: Hunger

I had high expectations for this film, but it was really lacking. It seemed like it was the first draft/outline of a potentially decent movie. However, it needed some serious editing (too many long scenes and extended periods of silence). A richer script would have been more effective, as although I was queasy (there was lots of vomit and blood and feces) for the whole hour and a half, I still felt quite uninformed at the end of it. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Fargo

This is the original “Burn After Reading”, only far better! After watching both films it’s inevitable that you would compare them. In the typically quirky Coen brother style, this film really works. As I said in my review of “A Serious Man”, their style is so “out-the-box” that you either love ‘em or hate ‘em. The absurdity of the events that take place make for a humorous film, even though it’s quite violent and tragic. These talented directors really captured the essence of a small, Midwest town, with great support from the cast. The actors really committed to their roles and made the characters believable, rather than making them into caricatures. I lost count of the number times they say “yah” in the movie but surprisingly, it never got annoying. Finally the cinematography was excellent. It was simple but powerful, as the blanket of white snow really allowed to feel the atmosphere of a cold, restrictive, isolated town with dark secrets underneath. M

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Ajami

The first line of this film is “I know I can feel what is about to happen” and it really sets the tone for the rest of this movie. Throughout the film, you are so tense knowing that something bad is about to happen, but hoping that it won’t. This movie was so exceptional, I kept saying in head through the whole film, “Wow, this is a good movie.” Set in the region of Ajami in Tel Aviv, the film explored the instability of the day-to-day lives of people involved (often indirectly, as is the case with young children) in conflicts regarding religion (Christians, Muslims, Jews) and nationality (Israel, Palestine, Iraq). The non-linear plot really takes you for a ride as you get different perspectives and understand the bigger picture as the events unfold. To me, this should have been the clear winner at the Oscars for Best Foreign Language film. Amazing!

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK/OSCAR WATCH: Toy Story 3

The second Oscar contender of the year is Toy Story 3. Definitely one of the best animated films I've seen in a while. I thought they were exaggerating when they said it was making grown men cry, but alas, my eyes did get a bit watery. Those toys are just so damn loveable! I even felt bad for throwing out my own childhood toys! A true testament to power of this film. Like 2009's "Up", this installment also had a slightly deeper plot, as it explored the dilemma of kids growing up (and of course, outgrowing toys). Haven't seen "How To Train Your Dragon", so can't say it's a sure win for Animated Feature. I can also see some Oscar love in the Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay categories. I liked it, but don't think I'm on the bandwagon yet to see an animated film win Best Picture.

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OSCAR WATCH: Shutter Island

And the Oscar season begins! Not too convinced that this will be a Best Picture contender (especially with such an early release), but the wise people at Awards Daily seem to think so. Expectedly good acting performances, with Leo in the lead role and a stellar supporting cast. To be honest, I only expect this to be a significant contender for a Cinematography nomination. I really liked it, but I don't think it was memorable enough to be remembered come Oscar time.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Shawshank Redemption

Yet another masterpiece from the early 90's. Saw this a long time ago and thought I should re-visit it. I am glad I did, as it reminded me how great a film it is. What an amazing script, with such a good flow to it. Keeps you interested from start to finish. The acting was exceptional, such a refreshment from the over-acting that is often prominent in today's dramas. Freeman and Robbins approach their roles with such subtlety and realism that you feel like you are watching true events being played out right before your eyes. No wonder it is ranked #1 on IMDb's Top 250 Movies.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Silence of the Lambs

Wow, they really don’t make thrillers like this anymore! After watching “Seven” and now “Silence of the Lambs” I realize I really need to start watching some of these older films. What a tour de force! The editing was perfect, as every scene was important. The screenplay was exceptional and was well laid out. The acting was superb – Anthony Hopkins is the ultimate creeper and Jodie Foster’s performance was vital in creating the suspense-filled atmosphere. The music was good as well, but the acting and script was such that music wasn’t even required to set the tone of the film. Simply amazing! It’s easy to understand why it swept the Oscars (Best Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay and of course, Best Picture). One of the best movies I’ve ever seen.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Nowhere Boy

Really struggled to find a new "Movie of the Week", so I chose one that I saw a couple weeks back. "Nowhere Boy" tells the story of a 15-year-old John Lennon (the same actor who plays Kick-Ass!) and is entertaining from start to finish. The entire cast is marvelous, especially Anne-Marie Duff who really gives an exuberant performance.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Seven

I'm glad to say I finally watched Seven. It's been long overdue. In my opinion, this movie was flawless. I was totally engrossed. 2 hours never went by so quickly. Top-notch.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Mother and Child

There really is no love like a mother’s love. That’s what this film beautifully portrays. “Mother and Child” explores various mother-daughter relationships that really get to the core of how deep this connection is, especially when it is impacted by adoption. The cast is exceptional, as this really is an actor’s film. I must single out Kerry Washington, as I feel she finally landed a role that truly allowed her to show the talent that I knew she had all along. Annette Bening is also brilliant and so is Naomi Watts. It is way too early to call, but I think Benning and Washington could be in line for some Oscar buzz. It’s a shame that this wasn’t released later in the year during the Oscar season. I highly recommend this film, especially for women. So far, this is my favourite film of 2010.

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: Lost in Translation

This movie is called "Lost in Translation". Well, that's exactly how I felt.

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COMING SOON: Inception

I am too excited for this!! A fellow youtuber sums it up perfectly..."This trailer is so many kinds of epic that I had to shit my pants to make room in my body for it."

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Kick-Ass

I had a feeling I would enjoy this. This movie certainly lived up to its title, it really kicked ass! This was pure entertainment from start to finish. I haven’t had that much fun at the cinema all year. It was audaciously violent and crude, but I loved it. The fact that they weren’t superheroes at all (although Hit-Girl was quite extraordinary for an 11-year old) made it even cooler. I could definitely watch this movie again.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Paranormal Activity

OMG! This movie was SCARY! Hands-down, scariest movie I have ever seen. I had chills throughout this whole movie. Seriously, I was shaking. During the end part I was frozen in shock, with my hands covering my mouth. I just finished watching this and right now the strong Cape winds are blowing and my door was just moving on its own. I hope I can get some sleep tonight. FML.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Big Fish

How did I not know about this movie before? What a beautiful story. The movie was a great mixture of romance, fantasy and comedy. For some reason, throughout the film I kept thinking of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and inevitably began to compare the two films. At the end, I believe this one to be far superior. In my opinion, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” attempted to be a serious, emotional film, but lacked the substance to really have an impact and ended up being quite average. Basically, I feel like it took itself too seriously. “Big Fish” however, used Tim Burton’s usual quirkiness to great effect, with the epic fantasy adventure combined with the more serious romance, creating a much more engaging story. The acting was great, but strangely enough, I appreciated Ewan McGregor’s lead performance the least, solely due to his annoying “Little House on the Prairie” southern accent. But that was the nature of the character, so I guess I can’t fault him for that.

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: Fish Tank

How do these movies win awards!? This movie (winner of this year’s BAFTA for Best British Film) was unapologetically emo. Pretty much all the characters were unlikeable. The family was completely dysfunctional, screaming and cursing all the time for no reason. Even the younger sister of the protagonist was cursing and smoking! Not cool at all. Final rating: 2 out of 5 stars.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Secret In Their Eyes

Sorry if I've been bombarding you with foreign films lately, but I feel like I've exhausted all Hollywood movies of interest for now. I wasn't raving about this film, but it's definitely a good one and it's the best movie I've seen recently. It had some good camera work and had one of the best endings I have ever seen. In fact, I think the ending pushed it over "The White Ribbon" and "A Prophet" for the Oscar, much like the flashback montage in "Up" pushed it to a Best Picture nomination and the win for Animated Feature. I don't want to divulge any more, in case any readers plan on watching it. If you like a good murder mystery, check this one out.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Last Station

I didn’t see anything worthy of “Movie of the Week” this week, so I chose a movie I saw a couple weeks back – “The Last Station”. This movie left a lasting impression on me, I am still thinking about it. A major reason was the performance of Helen Mirren. Damn, that woman can act! She really threw herself into this character and you cannot help but feel for her. You really experience the intense frustration of someone who feels their life is being taken away from them and no one seems to care. In addition to Mirren, the rest of cast is superb, including an equally strong performance by Christopher Plummer and expectedly good performances from Paul Giamatti and James McAvoy. I really don’t understand how this film didn’t get more attention in the Oscar race. To me, this film had everything – great scrip, excellent cast, art direction, costume design. “The Blind Side” was nominated for Best Picture. Enough said.

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A ROTTEN TOMATO: House of Flying Daggers

Well, it seems I’ve been plagued with bad movies recently. Here’s another “rotten tomato” for you. When I realized that the movie wasn’t actually in its original (it was dubbed in English) language, I let out a big groan. If you’ve seen a dubbed martial arts flick, you know what I’m talking about. The dubbing always makes the lines sound so corny. That being said, I don’t think the dialogue would have been that much better in subtitles. I lost interest halfway through the film. I am now certain that kung fu/martial arts flicks aren’t my style (I kinda hated “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”). I must say however, the fighting scenes were damn cool. I wish they would skip all the dramatic parts and just fight for a ½ hour.

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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: The Stoning of Soraya M

The title says it all. If this movie doesn’t bring you to tears (or at least close to it), you have no heart. This is one of the most powerful films I have ever seen. I had to stop and take a break twice during the movie and almost threw up once. The images really are that strong (the film begins with Soraya’s aunt collecting some of her bones by the river!). I respect the actors simply for being able to participate in this movie! It definitely achieved its goal of bringing to light some of the atrocities that happen in our world. It was a well-executed, engrossing film. I can’t call it “good”, because I felt so horrified and sick by the end that “good” was too bright of an adjective. Worth a watch, but proceed with caution!

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