Cinema Eye Honors

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

There’s little parity between this year’s Cinema Eye nominations and the recently announced IDA noms. This kind of discrepancy is typical in the documentary world for many reasons, mostly diversity of opinions amongst groups, but also eligibility requirements and release dates. Only Searching for Sugar Man emerges in both groups’ listings, giving that film an inevitable, if somewhat unexpected, boost. It’s interesting to see both West of Memphis and The Central Park Five left out of every category. One has to wonder if we are putting too much stock in the name-brand attention of these films (non-fiction doesn’t usually work like that).  It’s very nice to see Detropia (my current pick to win the Oscar) pick up numerous honors. I have a feeling this one will have the legs to get more recognition – and maybe a legitimate release – down the line.

Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Feature Filmmaking
“5 Broken Cameras”
“Detropia”
“The Imposter”
“Marina Abramovic The Artist is Present”
“Only the Young”
“Searching for Sugar Man”

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Politics, Social Critics, Women Behind the Lens

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Having just seen back-to-back screenings of The Central Park Five and West of Memphis, only a week after seeing Middle of Nowhere, it struck me how loudly each film howls about the world we live in now. Besides certain contextual elements (Middle of Nowhere too deals with the judicial system) these films also share that they are anchored by three female filmmakers – Sarah Burns, Ava DuVernay, and Amy Berg. While their perspectives undoubtedly inform smart, unique choices, the strengths of these films go well beyond the genders of their makers. Politics and social critiques are nothing new to cinema and they’re certainly not revolutionary to any art form in the kind of social unrest that currently subsumes America. During an election year, mainstream politics especially come to the surface in movies, if only because they’re actually on our minds.

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UPDATED: Oscars 2013 Predictions

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

The premiere of Hitchcock was met with ecstatic reviews from some important critics and lukewarm responses from others. Most complaints seem to find the film thin, humorous, light, and plagued by conspicuous makeup. The consensus is that Helen Mirren has emerged as a major threat in the Best Actress race and Anthony Hopkins is all but locked for Best Actor. In some respects, the reviews threaten to confirm my fear that Hitchcock might be a frothy and timid portrayal of the renowned figure. Like The Artist, being non-confrontational and being about the film industry will likely propel Hitchcock into the Best Picture race.

In other news, Jessica Chastain, like Anne Hathaway announced earlier this week, will be campaigned as a Lead Actress instead of Supporting for Zero Dark Thirty. This confirms my sense that Chastain might be a dark horse for an apparently dynamic role. However, this news complicates my prediction of the actress in the Supporting category. Supporting Actress is looking increasingly light while Lead Actress, like Lead Actor, is becoming more and more overstuffed with exciting performers. Perhaps Nicole Kidman has a better, if still only slight, chance of sneaking into Supporting for The Paperboy.

Until further notice, I will keep The Sessions in here for Best Picture. As I wrote earlier, I have a sneaking suspicion that this film will appeal to more people than some might expect. Also,Flight has opened to less-than-amazing reviews. While Denzel’s a knockout, the film likely has no chance in most other categories.

BOLD = my pick to win as of today

Best Picture:
Argo
Silver Linings Playbook
Lincoln
Les Misérables
Life of Pi
Django Unchained
Moonrise Kingdom
The Sessions
Hitchcock
***********
Amour
The Master
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Anna Karenina
Zero Dark Thirty

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21 Films Named Eligible for Animated Feature

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Contrary to most years since its inception, the Best Animated Feature field feels wide open this time around. Expected favorites like Brave and ParaNorman were met with underwhelming reviews and no major studio had a box office knockout. Last year, the Academy proved again that it was willing to take risks in this category by rewarding two dynamic foreign features: A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita. This year offers a number of similarly obscure titles amongst the better known ones. This may wind up being one of the more interesting categories to follow in the coming months:

  • Adventures in Zambezia
  • Brave
  • Delhi Safari
  • Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
  • Frankenweenie
  • From Up on Poppy Hill
  • Hey Krishna
  • Hotel Transylvania
  • Ice Age Continental Drift
  • A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman
  • Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
  • The Mystical Laws
  • The Painting
  • ParaNorman
  • The Pirates! Band of Misfits
  • The Rabbi’s Cat
  • Rise of the Guardians
  • Secret of the Wings
  • Walter & Tandoori’s Christmas
  • Wreck-It Ralph
  • Zarafa
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Cloud Atlas Character Breakdown

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Following the characters in Cloud Atlas wasn’t one of my bigger issues with the film. It seems some were completely left in the dark on who was who. This ‘infographic’ from Movie Fantatic nicely lays out all the basic character molds (click to enlarge):

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Silver Linings Playbook Clips

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

I once heard David O. Russell’s style described as “accessible free jazz.” I can’t think of a better way to explain the director’s  rhythms; always close enough to touch but also wild enough to spin out of control. Honestly, I’m not all that excited about his newest, Silver Linings Playbook, but then again I’ve never been excited about Russell’s films. Yet, they tend to surprise me. The Fighter was an especially interesting approach to a tried story. Three Kings remains one of my favorite films to come out of the mini-artistic renaissance of late-90s Hollywood.

Here’s a few clips from Silver Linings Playbook, starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. Already an Oscar contender, set for limited release November 21:

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Most Anticipated 2013 Movies: Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Bennett Miller has quietly been one of the most consistent filmmakers working in and
around Hollywood. His relative anonymity makes sense since he’s only made three fairly small features (The Cruise, Capote, and Moneyball) since 1998. But the direction of those films elevated them to something unique even though each possessed what might otherwise have been cliché in different hands. As far as The Oscars are concerned, Miller’s last two features have been well-lauded, picking up 11 total nominations and one win – for Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of Truman Capote. Foxcatcher may be the very early sight-unseen favorite for a Best Picture nomination.

Financed by Hollywood artistry savior, Megan Ellison (though some take issue with the ‘savior’ part), in conjunction with Columbia Pictures. Foxcatcher will remain highly anticipated for a while.

Here’s the synopsis:

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Lyrical Chaos: Cloud Atlas

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

“If God created all this then why do we have the right to change it?” – Adam Ewing, Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas, adapted from a difficult novel by David Mitchell, emerges as the most multi-dimensional film of many lately to promote the benefits of community and the disastrous effects of being incarcerated by subordination. At once infuriating and captivating, Cloud Atlas sets out to defy narrative conventions. It succeeds at being a cinematic tapestry to be explored rather than digested. Yet, the main message – “We are all drops that make up the ocean.” – feels too small to justify such a complicated movie. On first viewing, the aspirations for something grander are there, but the base of what’s being explored comes up limp.

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OSCAR FORECAST: Best Original Score 2013

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Best Original Score Predictions (as of 10-31-12):
Lincoln
, John Williams 
Argo, Alexandre Desplat
Cloud Atlas, Tom Twyker/Reinhold Heil

Life of Pi, Mychael Danna
Anna Karenina, Dario Marianelli
 

Every year Oscar contenders come and go, but one constant remains: John Williams. Coming off his 45th and 46th nominations last year, with Lincoln he’s ripe to pick up another. Lincoln has all the scope that Williams has made his forte, while also possessing seriousness, a darker undercurrent if you will, that reflects the psychological conditions that the film takes on. From what I’ve hear, this seems like a slightly toned back iteration on his familiar conceits. Williams has a penchant for the sappy, though voters never seem to care all too much. Lincoln gives Williams an opportunity to do something slightly different. Slightly edgier. He hasn’t won since 1993. As of today, I’d bet this will be his year again.

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The Two Scariest Scenes I’ve Ever Seen

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Zac Petrillo

Every Halloween it’s fun to see the hordes of “best” horror film lists that pop up across the web. Usually a mixture of slasher flicks and psychological thrillers, there’s a sick excitement that comes from finding those obscure gems illuminated by particularly acute bloggers or critics. I have no intention to try to top any of those. I will fall far short. For me, the two most terrifying experiences I’ve had watching movies came from films that are not generally considered horror: Peter Weir’s Picnic at Hanging Rock and Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up. Both of these films share a sheen of 1970s glee that rests as a thin layer in front of despair, chaos, and disdain. It’s that thin layer that separated hippie love from the Manson family or Easy Rider as a work of art from the realities of liberalism violently at odds with conservative thinking. Something about the aura that these films portray roped me in and then tore at my soul by providing psychologically haunting revelations. Here goes:

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