OLDIE GOLDIES: Double Indemnity (1944)

On this week's Oldie Goldies, I give you the classic film noir - "Double Indemnity". This intriguing story set the standard for subsequent films in the genre.The film was nominated for 7 well-deserved Oscars (Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Score, Best Sound, Best Screenplay and the big one - Best Picture).

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: My Week With Marilyn

"My Week With Marilyn" is a splendid little film by director Simon Curtis. He assembles a fine cast, with all of them perfectly suited to their roles. It’s a great showcase for the talents of Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench. Williams is radiant as Monroe, giving a wonderfully layered performance that digs into the inner turmoil of the legendary movie star. Throughout the film she gives these subtle expressions that are absolutely brilliant. It’s a great career move for Williams, as I don’t recall her ever being so effervescent. Despite the melodrama surrounding Monroe, the film keeps a light tone due to Branagh’s delightful portrayal of Laurence Olivier. He really had me cracking up with some of his line readings.

And the Oscar goes to...The Artist

Well, it's all over folks. I must say, the awards weren't as predictable as I expected. I definitely didn't foresee Hugo doing that well. It was clear that Hugo was a close runner-up to The Artist, with both films earning 5 statues. I ended up correctly picking 19 out of 24, based on my official posted predictions (I had slightly different picks in various Oscar Pools). I really got lucky with the shorts and picking The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo for Editing. Overall, I thought the show was actually really good. Billy Crystal was a fantastic host. I'm really feeling the Oscar fatigue this year, so I don't feel like writing anymore about the show. Let's put 2011 behind and look forward to the possibilities of 2012! Here's the list of winners:

Best Picture
The Artist(pictured above)

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, The Help

OSCAR WATCH: Oscar Predictions

Here we go, the last stop on the awards season. Despite it being a fairly predictable awards season, there are quite a few categories that are ripe for upsets. I'm telling ya, the tech categories will make or break your Oscar pool this year. These are my final predictions for the Academy Awards:

Best Picture
The Artist

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress
Viola Davis, The Help

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best of 2011

At long last, here are my favourite films of 2011. If you asked me earlier, I would have said that it was a weak year for film. In the past few weeks though, I caught up with some wonderful smaller films which changed my perception. I gave my 5-star rating to 30 films in total. It was really tough to choose my #1 this year, as I loved "A Separation" and "Moneyball" with equal gusto. I finally decided on "A Separation" as it accomplishes so much for such a minimalist production (there isn’t even a single note of music in the film). So here's my top 30, starting with my #1 - "A Separation".




A Separation
Moneyball
The Help
Bridesmaids
Contagion
Attack the Block
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
X-Men: First Class
A Better Life
Drive

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Take Shelter

"Take Shelter" is a chilling, ominous film fired up by scintillating performances by the cast. Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain are truly on their A-game for this one. Even Kathy Baker is great in her cameo role as Shannon’s mother. The movie almost feels like a horror movie, as it had me jumping many times throughout. By the end, the movie grips you and start to feel uncomfortable as you join Shannon’s character in his apparent descent into madness.

OSCAR WATCH: Hugo

Martin Scorcese gives us a wonderful lesson on film history in his latest film – "Hugo". In his first children’s flick, he captures the awe surrounding early filmmaking with great panache. While the story is charming, it didn’t completely reel me in until the splendid final 30 minutes. The film is a technical marvel though, as Scorcese’s team puts all their skills on display. The cinematographer shows expert camera placement, the music sets the tone, the costumes were eye-catching and the sound design is excellent. Best of all is the art direction, as the film is filled with dazzling sets and intriguing gadgets. Come Oscar night, I expect the film to do well in the tech categories. Of its 11 nominations I expect it to easily win Best Art Direction and be a strong contender for the Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing prizes. If it’s not a complete love fest for "The Artist", there is also a strong case for triumphs in Best Costume Design and Best Original Score. The film is certainly in the top 3 for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing, but will probably come up short. Finally, Best Visual Effects seems like a long shot.

OLDIE GOLDIES: A Star Is Born (1937)

Oldie Goldies is back this week with one of the greatest stories ever put to screen – "A Star Is Born". This non-musical version (the original) really provides deep insight into the inner workings of Hollywood. The film was nominated for 7 Oscars – Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Assistant Director, Best Picture, Best Screenplay and winning for Best Writing.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade

"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" is my favourite installment of the franchise. It's Spielberg at his best. This film has it all - humour, great music, nonstop thrills and charismatic leads (Harrison Ford and Sean Connery).

OSCAR WATCH: BAFTA Awards

And with that, the precursors are over! Bet against "The Artist" at your own peril. The film cleaned up 7 awards, the same number as "The King's Speech" last year. As with last year's awards, I ended up picking 13 of the 22 eventual winners. Here's the full list:

Best Picture
The Artist (pictured above)

Best British Film
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

OSCAR WATCH: BAFTA Predictions

The last televised awards show of the season will air tomorrow (BAFTA), as the season winds down to a close. The Brits make up a sizable portion of the Oscar voters, so their choices could make a difference to the race. Here's how I think it will go down tomorrow night:

Best Picture
The Artist

Best British Film
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Actor
Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Best Actress
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Best Supporting Actor
Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

OSCAR WATCH: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" is a well-intentioned tearjerker that slightly misses the mark. Though it fails to build on it's promise, I think the film isn't as terrible as the reviews would have you think. I found it to be quite touching (yes, i cried), with a few really good scenes and a great score. Thomas Horn gives a very strange performance in the lead role, but I chalk that up to the writing. As Horn's expedition companion, Max von Sydow gives an adequate performance in a very limited role. The film has 2 Oscar nominations - Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (Max von Sydow), but I doubt any possibility of winning. I can totally see why this film was nominated for Best Picture, as it really tugs at the heartstrings and explores the beauty of humanity.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Melancholia

"Melancholia" is one hell of a film. It's a beautiful composition of artful cinematography, masterful ensemble acting and a smart script. The film tells the story of a young bride (amazingly portrayed by Kirsten Dunst) suffering with depression in the midst of her wedding and the subsequent apocalypse. Yes it's a downer, but one can't help but admire this well-structured production. With solid direction (possibly due to von Trier's own experiences with depression) and a superlative lead performance by Dunst, the film attempts to sink you into it's "doom-and-gloom". Dunst really owns her role, as she creates an annoyingly depressed character. Her character and the film as a whole seems to take strange comfort in the annihilation of humanity, building up to an unsettling, but enthralling climax.

OLDIE GOLDIES: Top Hat (1935)

This week on Oldie Goldies, we bring you the classic screwball comedy – "Top Hat". With a hilarious supporting cast, charming leads and fantastic dancing, this film is timeless. It’s a joyous experience. At the Oscars, the film secured 4 well-deserved nominations – Best Art Direction, Best Dance Direction(!), Best Original Song and Best Picture.