OSCAR WRAP-UP

By Ryan Muise

Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this past weekend's 85th Annual Academy Awards, I know I did, Seth Macfarlane did a fantastic job, great jokes, great singing, great dancing, just an overall great show, I particularly enjoyed Shatner as Kirk in full uniform and everything, he's getting a bit old and rounded but it was still a lot of fun.

I'd just like to take a moment to run down a few main categories.


Best Actor

Who won: Daniel Day Lewis

When you lok at his competition, Bradley Cooper is not by any stretch an Oscar worthy actor, he is convincing and charming and gave an entirely unexpected performance in Silver Lining's Playbook, however he had no chance, if he is as good as he is in Silver lining's then we will be seeing more of him in the Oscars the future.  With Joaquin Phoenix and Denzel Washington, these are both great actors who have turned in notable performances both past and present and undoubtedly in the future, so as worthy as they are to win, again, we will always expect to see them at Award's ceremonies going forward.

Who should have won: Hugh Jackman

I've got nothing against the man he gave a great acceptance speech, really heart felt and honest, I just don't appreciate his acting as much as everyone else seems to, don't get me wrong, I LOVED him in There Will Be Blood, he made that film as incredible to watch as it was, I just don't think he pulled it off in Lincoln and especially against Hugh Jackman's breathtaking performance as Jean Valjean was such masterful work it was a crime not to give it to him.


Best Actress

Who won: Jennifer Lawrence

Some see this as a controversial win, unlike Anne Hathaway being a shoe in and totally deserving her Oscar, some people feel Jennifer Lawrence was not the right choice here. I like Jennifer Lawrence, she's a good convincing charming actress, I've enjoyed her in all her films and Silver Lining's Playbook was definitely her best roll yet.

Who should have Won: Anyone except Jennifer Lawrence

Don't get me wrong, she did an exceptional job in Silver Lining's Playbook but only so far as to deserve the nod, NOT the win.  It was an interesting category to begin with very powerful and unexpected performances from powerful and unexpected movies, with leading ladies who gave far better performances than Jennifer Lawrence, I was hoping that coming out of her Oscar nomination we would begin to see more and more impressive performances from Jennifer Lawrence culminating in an Oscar win somewhere much farther down the line as I don't think anyone would disagree that she is an up-and-comer at best, but not an Oscar winner.


Best Director


Who won: Ang Lee 

The man is a super star, when eh makes a movie you better believe it will be monumental in awards season, he fully deserved the award back in 2005 for Brokeback Mountain and once again is accepting a duly deserved award for crafting an incredible motion picture as is his de rigueur.

Who should have won: Ang Lee

... and if not then David O. Russell, he's been making great films in his career so far and Silver Lining's Playbook is definitely the kind of movie you award and finally recognize a talented film-maker with, but it's ok that he didn't win, he has a long career ahead of him and I'm sure we'll be seeing his name on oscar nominations for years to come.



Best Picture

Who won: Argo

Argo was actually my Oscar pool pick, I figured it had the best chance, with Tom Hooper's film winning last year, Silver Lining's Playbook and Beats of the Southern Wild being just a tad too obscure, Amour being the shoe-in for best foreign language film (which it was, as it won.) Lincoln was my second choice (and Daniel Day Lewis my Oscar pool choice) as it seemed perfectly fit to the Academy's tastes, Django Unchained being too distasteful for most people but still a great film (and still honored via best supporting actor and best screenplay) I don't think Tarantino will ever win best picture or director until he makes a film a bit more maturely, and Zero Dark Thirty would have given awards to the same people so soon since Hurt Locker, in summation Argo was the likeliest pick.

Who should have won: Les Miserables

Personally I enjoyed Les Miserables immensely and have seen it 3 times now, incredible follow up by Tom Hooper after his Best Picture winning film The King's Speech (my choice for last year). I would have also been happy to see Life of Pi take it home as it was a glorious movie fully deserving any award.

Let me know what you thought of the Oscars, did you agree or disagree with my take I'd love to hear it. What film you you have given best Picture to? Did you enjoy Seth Macfarlane as a host? Even if not can we agree he was at least better than James Franco?

PS. Biggest Upset: Les Miserables not sweeping EVERYTHING! ;-)

TOP 5: Romantic Movies

Hey everyone, Jasmine here.  From time to time I will be putting together lists of my top 5 anything.  This week, in light of the Valentine's weekend I'm giving you all my top 5 romantic movies to watch with your significant other to extend the love past the weekend :-)

#1.   P.S. I Love you (2007) 

Starring: Hilary Swank & Gerard Butler

Hilary Swank (Holly) was married to Gerard Butler (Gerry), But Gerry had passed away by an illness, Holly was devastated. Gerry knew his death would hurt Holly deeply, so he planned ahead and wrote many letters to guide her to ease the pain of losing him and to start a new life. The letters and guidance gave Holly a big push to move on.

This movie is so touching, made me reflect on losing people we love can leave us standing there alone helpless, refusing to move on without them.

#2.   WALL.E (2008)

Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard

The story of two very different robots falling in love, without the common language, they still found a way to connect.

Different species besides human falling in love in their own specific way; warm and touching. An animation that is truly wonderful to watch as a family or couples. Very inspiring.

#3.      50 First Dates (2004)

Starring: Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore

The love story of Henry and Lucy, when Henry finally thinks Lucy is the one, he realized Lucy has short-term memory loss and will forget him the very next day, and everything has to start all over again.

#4.      Eat Pray Love (2010)

Starring: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, James Franco

This movie is not only inspiring, it’s a way to guide us to changing our lives but do not know how to begin. Through a hard time divorce and few difficult relationships, Liz travels around the world to find her true self.

#5.      Going the Distance (2010)

Starring:  Drew Barrymore, Justin Long

This movie is very relevant to many of us, long distance relationships. Difficult and challenging relationship sets a hard time for this couple to keep themselves together.

Are you willing to go the distance for your loved ones?

Hope you all enjoyed my list, let me know in the comments what your favorite romantic flick is to enjoy with your special someone.

REPORT: Weekend Box Office FEB 15 - 17

Well the Valentine's Day weekend has come and gone and our top grosser this week is

A Good Day to Die Hard (I love these titles)

Taking in $24 million, making a 5 day total of $33 Million
Budget: $92 Million

In it's opening weekend the latest actioner starring Bruce Willis reprising his iconic role as John MacLean, the one man anti terrorist group along the likes of Jack Bauer or (pretty much) ALL of Arnold Schwarzenegger's roles.  I've seen it, naturally, thankful to have a girlfriend who enjoys Bruce Willis' antics as much as I, look for my review of it shortly.

Unfortunately, however, it seems there weren't enough lonely men or compromising girlfriends as Fox had hoped would find themselves in theater's over the Valentine's Day weekend, and that's not likely to change much in the coming weeks, does anyone out there think we have a chance to one day see a 6th Die Hard film? I know I'm loving these and hope for more.


Number 2 for the weekend:

Identity Thief

taking in $23 million, down from last weekend's #1 spot adding to it's already impressive take to a total of $71 million
Budget: $35 Million

Well, consider that budget marker hit, never underestimate the power of a comedy early in the year.  In a time typically reserved for an annual hit-or-miss Denzel Washington film and embarrassingly delayed sub par films there sits the perfect spot of an average comedy to come in and take everyone's money.

Is the film any good? Rotten Tomatoes doesn't think so, however people who have seen it tend to disagree, could be people are just desperate for anything from Jason Bateman to tide them over until Netflix releases the new season of Arrested Development

Note to self: Take the day off May 4, I think I'll be busy.


The rest:

Safe Haven - $21
Escape From Planet Earth - $15
Warm Bodies - $8

no one cares beyond this.


So, anyone else see the new Die Hard? What did you think? How about Identity Thief? Or how about anything else you want to chat about in the comments below.

Say Hello to Our Little Blog!

Well, "of all the movie joints in all the towns in all the world, you walked into mine."

Hey everyone, and thanks for dropping by, my name is Ryan, filling the role of the "1 Guy". My helpful companions playing the roles of the "2 Girls", will be Jasmine and Lilian.

This blog represents the first time either of us 3 will be engaging with others online about movies and really our love for all things cinema.

So sit back, grab some popcorn, your 3D glasses, your movie buddy, your computer, your dog, your favorite stuffed toy Hulk ;-) "hold on tight and away we're gonna go, go go."

Oh, and don't forget to share any posts with friends and help spread the word of this fun new movie blog.


P.S. 3 Internet points for whoever can guess the names of the 3 movie's I've quoted in today's post.