Best Picture Nominees - Best to Worst (WIP)

Inception

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:39:22 GMT

My pick for Best Picture.

Rating: 10/10

"Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange."

Christopher Nolan's complex masterpiece ain't only my favorite of the last year, but also my favorite movie of all time. I've watched it six times, and I constantly see something new in it. The originality, the acting, the score and the multi layered action. What's not to love here?

"Never recreate places from your memory. Always imagine new places!"

The King's Speech

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:39:45 GMT

BEST PICTURE WINNER

Rating: 10/10

"If I am King, where is my power? Can I declare war? Form a government? Levy a tax? No! And yet I am the seat of all authority because they think that when I speak, I speak for them."

Yes, it is shouting out for Oscars and is predictable, but so what? Many of the greatest movies ever are somewhat predictable. It's so elegantly crafted. Everything with is fantastic. The direction, the cinematography, the art design, the score and not to mention the acting. I think Colin Firth should have won last year for "A Single Man", but he deserves it this year as well. And he better damn well win it. The rest of the cast is also terrific. Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce and Michael Gambon all delivers top-notch performances.

"Timing isn't my strong suit."

Black Swan

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:39:53 GMT

Rating: 9/10

"The only person standing in your way is you."

Natalie Portman with a mezmerizing performance. This is a nightmare of a movie. A movie that will leave you shaking. In many ways it's a freaking masterpiece, and it will propably grow on me when I watch it again.
And the sex scene with Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis is a masterpiece in itself.

"I just want to be perfect."

The Social Network

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:39:58 GMT

Rating: 9/10

"If you guys were the inventors of Facebook, you'd have invented Facebook!"

While some people were in doubts about a movie about "Facebook", I never doubted. David Fincher is one of my favourite directors, and he shows that he is capable of handling drama about friendship and betrayal just as much as chilling thrillers. This is the craft of a master, and while it benefits stronly from Aaron Sorkin's outstanding script, it is still Fincher's direction that drives this movie. Not to mention the excellent performances from Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield. Garfield got snubbed for an Oscar nomination!

"You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole."

The Fighter

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:08 GMT

Rating: 9/10

"I'm the one who's fighting. Not you, not you, and not you."

While being a typical story, it is exceptionally well-made and entertaining while being authentic. It rises above all the other movies with the same theme. Strong performances from everyone in the cast, specially Christian Bale who gives one of his finest performances of his career. Perhaps my favourite boxing movie.

"That guy did not just get off the fuckin' couch. If he did, I'm gonna get a couch like that."

127 Hours

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:20 GMT

Rating: 8/10

"You know, I've been thinking. Everything is... just comes together. It's me. I chose this. I chose all this. This rock... this rock has been waiting for me my entire life. It's entire life, ever since it was a bit of meteorite a million, billion years ago. In space. It's been waiting, to come here. Right, right here. I've been moving towards it my entire life. The minute I was born, every breath that I've taken, every action has been leading me to this crack on the out surface."

James Franco is excellent and his performace carries this movie. It is well executed and the flashbacks works amazingly. The amputation is gut-wrenching and intense, with a musical score that really adds to it making that scene perfect. Unfortently, I think that some of the 'fancy' editing destroys a tiny bit of the whole impression.

"Hey there, Aron! Is it true that you didn't tell anyone where you were going?"

True Grit

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:30 GMT

Rating: 8/10

"I can do nothing for you, son."

It's not like the other Coen-films, and that's a good thing. The usual Coen-style would not have suited this film, in my opinion. It stands on it's own as a excellent western with several strong performances. However, the last five minutes ruins some of the whole impression of the film. Those five minutes were not necessary.

"You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God."

Toy Story 3

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:40:36 GMT

Rating: 7/10

"C'mon. Let's go see how much we're going for on eBay."

It's a worthy final. No doubt about that. But, like the first one. I'm not getting the emotional connection, like I do with much of the other Pixar movies.

"Sunnyside is a place of ruin and despair, ruled by an evil bear who smells of strawberries!"

The Kids Are All Right

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:45:02 GMT

Rating: 4/10

"It's hard enough to open your heart in this world. Don't make it harder."

What the hell? This is it? When I were deciding for what movie I was gonna watch tonight, it was either this one or a take a rewatch with "Unbreakable". I wish I hade chosen the latter. This is, by all means, a wonderfully acted movie. The acting from everyone is top-notch, but that's all it offers. It could have a nice setting with the lesbian parents, but then they shouldn't have involved Mark Ruffalo's character. And since he is involved it just feels like a traditional movie. Nothing special at all. And when they then decide to not wrap up his character, everything feels so pointless. And that's what they mainly fail with. Concluding things. Now, I'm open to leaving things open, but here there are so many loose ends, so many plotpoints that never got more explored. Damn, I'm dissapointed.

"I wish you were gay, you'd be much more sensitive."

Winter's Bone

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:44:49 GMT

Not seen it yet

An Education

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:44:30 GMT

My pick for Best Picture.

Rating: 10/10

"If people die the moment that they graduate, then surely it's the things we do beforehand that count."

The story is not extraordinary. But you don't always need an extraordinary story to make an extraordinary movie. But then, in order to succeed, you have to hit all the right emotions. And, "An Education" does that. This movie completely melted me. It made me forget everything, but what I was witnessing on the screen, and what was happening to the characters. Such an ensamble of wonderfull characters, played to perfection. With Carey Mulligan. Wow. I did fell completely in love with her. So naive, yet so wonderfully cute and charming. It's such a delight to be able to watch something as beautiful as this, with so much heart and emotion. It made constantly smile, and it even made me shed a tear. It even got me to take another look at my own life. Beautiful movie, and it went straight into being one of my favourites. It's just so right in every aspect, and is one of my finest movie experiences ever. Not to mention that it is, like the most "real" love story, ever.

"If you never do anything, you never become anyone."

Inglourious Basterds

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:41:50 GMT

Rating: 10/10

"You know somethin', Utivich? I think this just might be my masterpiece."

And this is indeed Quentin Tarantno's masterpiece. This fantasy war drama is carefully crafted into a modern epic, provided by Tarantino's eye for dialogue, the great musical score and top-notch performances from the cast. With Christoph Waltz delivering one of the greatest performances of all time. Tarantino has delivered some amazing movies in the past, but I doubt he will be able to top this epic salute to movies and moviemaking.

"What a tremendously hostile world that a rat must endure. Yet not only does he survive, he thrives. Because our little foe has an instinct for survival and preservation second to none... And that Monsieur is what a Jew shares with a rat."

Up in the Air

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:42:09 GMT

Rating: 9/10

"All the things you probably hate about travelling -the recycled air, the artificial lighting, the digital juice dispensers, the cheap sushi- are warm reminders that I'm home"

Jason Reitman's Up in the Air is filled with clever humor and emotion. Making it a really pleasent affair. It's three charismatic leadroles contributes in dragging the movie way above other movies of the same genre.

"I'm like my mother, I stereotype. It's faster."

A Serious Man

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:42:24 GMT

Rating: 9/10

"I'm a serious man, Larry."

Yet again the Coen brothers manage to deliver a movie that keeps the balance between comedy and drama perfectly. In A Serious Man, the Coen brothers plays with the stereotypcal jew, but without going to far. It results in dark and charming tale. And with the character Sy Ableman, they have perhaps created one of my favourite characters of all time. At least, one of their best.

"I fucked your wife, Larry! I seriously fucked her!"

District 9

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:42:33 GMT

Rating: 9/10

"He was an honest man, and he didn't deserve any of what happened to him."

District 9 is going to be a Sci-fi classic. It is a truly original piece of work, that is able to combine it's documentary style into the Hollywood formula in a perfect manner. It criticises the society, it got loads of dark humour, it's full of amazing visuals and action sequences. And it got one of the coolest transformation processes ever.

"Could you go a bit slower with the clicks there, it sounded like you said three years"

Up

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:42:59 GMT

Rating: 8/10

"This was her favorite candy bar. Because you sent her away, there's more for you."

Charming and funny from Pixar. And like most of their other works it's high on emotion connection. The opening is enough to make anyone cry. The animation is as always amazing.

"Oh! Mr. Fredricksen! If we happen to get separated, use the wilderness explorer call: "CA - CA! RAWRRR!"

The Hurt Locker

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:43:18 GMT

BEST PICTURE WINNER

Rating: 8/10

"There's enough bang in there to blow us all to Jesus. If I'm gonna die, I want to die comfortable."

While there isn't much of a straight plot or story into it, and much of it is just sequences. It works brilliantly well as a character study. A look into a man, whose only life is war. It's an intense movie that really shows how war is indeed a drug.

"The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug."

The Blind Side

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:43:28 GMT

Rating: 7/10

"The left tackle's job is to protect the quarterback from what he can't see coming. To protect his blind side."

Sandra Bullock is good, but nowhere close to being worthy of an Oscar. And while this is indeed an uplifting and warm movie, it is also not worthy of a Best Picture nomination. It's warm and sweet, but a bit to predictable and maybe to sweet.

"Who would've thought we'd have a black son before we met a Democrat?"

Avatar

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:43:34 GMT

Rating: 6/10

"I see you."

Yes, the visuals are outstanding and it is a feast for the eyes. (Eventhough, the aliens looks silly.) But it's filled with crappy dialogue, crappy acting, an predictable story that reminds how a mixture between "Pocahontas" and "Dances With Wolves". You got your typical war-stereotypes and it's way, way to long. But, the visuals are awesome. Can't deny on that.

"All I ever wanted was a single thing worth fighting for."

Precious

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:44:35 GMT

Rating: 5/10

"My name is Clareece "Precious" Jones. I wish I had a light-skinned boyfriend with real nice hair. And I wanna be on the cover of a magazine. But first I wanna be in one of them BET videos. Momma said I can't dance. Plus, she said who wants to see my big ass dancing, anyhow?"

This is a film that I can understand would relate to a lot of people in one way or another, and I can definitely understand the critical acclaim and all the praise, and such. The acting is extremely good, and it is dealing with dark, and important subjects. Still, it never gets to me.

Because it is all bit too sad and emotional for me, and I never feel the same sadness. It's just a bunch of sad scenes, some cliches and some dream scenes that adds absolutely nothing. For me, this was just a film with excellent acting. Nothing more.

"Sometimes I wish I was dead. I'll be okay, I guess, 'cause I'm lookin' up. Lookin' for something to fall..."

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:58:56 GMT

Rating: 10/10

"It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you."

David Fincher steps away from his thrilling thrillers and ventures into the world of adventure and romance. And does so with great succsess. It's an epic story of a different humanbeing and a fine love story. It provides some really great visuals and Finchers direction is flawless.

"My name is Benjamin Button, and I was born under unusual circumstances. While everyone else was agin', I was gettin' younger... all alone"

Milk

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:59:21 GMT

Rating: 8/10

"Without hope, life's not worth living."

Perfectly acted and interessting. As well as being entertaining. It's well-made, and the only thing I hold against it is that I would like to get more into Harvey Milk himself, and thoose around him. I don't think that territory was explored enough.

"My name is Harvey Milk and I'm here to recruit you!"

The Reader

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:59:06 GMT

Rating: 7/10

"It doesn't matter what I feel. It doesn't matter what I think. The dead are still dead."

Excellent performances, and much emotion is what lifts this movie up a bit. But in the end it's a bit too much of a Oscarbait, and it's not good enough to rise up to the more finer ratings then. It's good, but not good enough

"I was fifteen. I was coming home from school. I was feeling ill. And a woman helped me."

Frost/Nixon

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:59:10 GMT

Rating: 7/10

"I'm saying that when the President does it, that means it's not illegal!"

Wonderfully acted, and exciting as well as interessting. With some pacing problems, which might have been hard to avoid. Seeing as it is a movie about two people talking, really.

"I let them down. I let down my friends, I let down my country, and worst of all I let down our system of government, and the dreams of all those young people that ought to get into government but now they think; 'Oh it's all too corrupt and the rest'. Yeah... I let the American people down. And I'm gonna have to carry that burden with me for the rest of my life. My political life is over."

Slumdog Millionaire

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:59:15 GMT

BEST PICTURE WINNER

Rating: 6/10

"What the hell can a slumdog possibly know?"

What an excellent first hour! A realistic and gripping tale of the life in the slum, and the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" thingy works perfectly in setting up the movie. But it's mostly ruined by a cliched, and suger-sweet love story in the last half. Followed by an riddiculus Bollywood dance-sequence it's hard not to puke.

"When somebody asks me a question, I tell them the answer."

There Will Be Blood

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:59:53 GMT

Rating: 10/10

"I... drink... your... milkshake!"

A modern epic. Filmmaking at it's absolutely finest. Daniel Day-Lewis is huge, and this is a beautifully captured movie with a relaxing pace.

"So, ladies and gentlemen... if I say I'm an oil man you will agree."

No Country for Old Men

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:00:06 GMT

BEST PICTURE WINNER

Rating: 9/10

"Whatcha got ain't nothin new. This country's hard on people, you can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity."

Powerfull performances from it's three leads, and it is pretty much flawless. But, then the last scene arrives and drags the movie a bit down..

"What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?"

Juno

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:00:17 GMT

Rating: 7/10

"Yeah, I'm a legend. You know, they call me the cautionary whale."

It is funny and charming, but it is pretty much Ellen Page's delightfull performance that raises this above other movies of same genre.

"I need to know that it's possible that two people can stay happy together forever."

Michael Clayton

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:00:26 GMT

Rating: 6/10

"Do I look like I'm negotiating?"

It is well-made, well-acted, well-written and everything that should make for an excellent movie. But, I found to be rather boring from time to time.

"What can I tell you? Don't piss off a motivated stripper."

Atonement

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:00:35 GMT

Rating: 3/10

"I love you. I'll wait for you. Come back. Come back to me."

I hate movies like this. Tearjerkers that fails. It tries so hard to make me care and cry that it makes me puke. It doesn't help that it then feels so empty and hollow, and ultimately boring. While the performances are quite good, performances alone doesn't necessarily make a movie.

"Never trust a sailor on dry land."

Letters from Iwo Jima

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:01:20 GMT

RATING: 9/10

"I am determined to serve and give my life for my country."

Powerful and thought-provoking. It's a beautiful piece of film-magic, and does in a humanistic way show the perils of the war. One of Clint Eastwood's best films.

"If our children can live safely for one more day it would be worth the one more day that we defend this island."

The Departed

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:01:25 GMT

BEST PICTURE WINNER

RATING: 8/10

"When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?"

Featuring excellent performances from an outstanding cast, including DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson and Wahlberg. It's a rock solid gangster-flick with gritty violence, suspense, twists and entertainment.

"My theory on Feds is that they're like mushrooms, feed 'em shit and keep 'em in the dark"

Little Miss Sunshine

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:01:33 GMT

RATING: 7/10

"There's two kinds of people in this world, there's winners and there's losers. Okay, you know what the difference is? Winners don't give up."