![]() Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology) was very clear. The performances in Paul Thomas Anderson's " The Master" are likely to win nominations for Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix (welcome back!) but I'm not sure the purpose of the story (said to be based on the life of L. ![]() Its story strands spanned centuries and traded genders, and I eventually realized it was the wholeness of the experience, not the plot details, that was important. " Cloud Atlas," by the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer, is considered a strong contender, although many audience members (including me) found it difficult to follow. Will the film make Best Picture? I haven't heard a lot of buzz, but it deserves to. This fine actor has produced high-caliber performances for year after year, and the Academy doesn't give him the praise he deserves.Īnother good bet for Best Actor is Denzel Washington in Robert Zemeckis' " Flight," one of his career highlights. Richard Gere should win a long-delayed Best Actor nomination for his focused, intense work in Nicholas Jarecki's " Arbitrage," a taut thriller about a financial wheeler-dealer who tries to escape his responsibility after a fatal car crash. They forge a relationship during a series of brilliantly-staged action sequences. Jake Gyllenhaal's image-transforming work as a very tough cop in David Ayer's " End of Watch" may help the film win a Best Picture slot, and Michael Peña is no less effective as his partner in a dangerous Los Angeles police district. The family is held together by Jacki Weaver as a resilient mom and wife who has long experience with such men. Russell's " Silver Linings Playbook," is an offbeat comedy with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro as son and father who are both manic Philadelphia Eagles fans, although only the son has actually been hospitalized with bipolar disorder. Also important is that at Oscar time the Academy likes to nominate the kinds of films that reflect well upon the industry.ĭavid O. Steven Spielberg's " Lincoln" is this year's most prestigious candidate, and its title performance by Daniel Day-Lewis is sure to win a Best Actor nod. Will public affection influence the Academy? Maybe.Īnother sure thing is Ben Affleck's " Argo," which is not only a terrific thriller but tells a true-life story sure to be enjoyed by Hollywood voters, about how the escape of a group of Americans during the Iranian hostage crisis was pulled off by a bold scheme involving the production of a fake sci-fi movie. I wrote a blog entry about it, and my often dubious readers embraced it all but unanimously. Among the contenders I have seen, the most warmly-loved by moviegoers seems to be Ang Lee's " Life of Pi." In many seasons as a critic, I can't remember a film more universally applauded.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |