I hope 2010 is better
March 19, 2010So I haven’t written a real post since I published my rant on Avatar and I was feeling guilty. Then, I watched the Oscars. It’s true, I’ve been feeling uninspired to write about the things I loved, and I’ve now realized why. While skimming through the 10 Best Picture nominees (a problem that could deserve its own post) I realized there wasn’t one picture that I desperately wanted to win. So I moved onto other categories. No one wowed me much in the acting department and there wasn’t much in terms of music or writing either. And then I got depressed.
It’s not that I didn’t try to love movies this year. I did clap when the Up in the Air credits began to roll (more because of its relevance and honesty than anything else). And I was entertained enough by Inglorious Basterds. And despite the unoriginal and lacking writing of Crazy Heart I fell in love with Jeff Bridges (but man, have you heard the soundtrack? did Bridges do all the writing? It’s the same lyrics over and over again.
But then I look at last year’s winners. To me, last year was one of the best years for movies in a long time. And it spilled into the summer (thank you (500) days of summer and Away We Go for that).
Sean Penn won for Milk. A movie that had me on my feet and moved me to tears. Sad but true, Harvey Milk’s story still has great relevance in our society…and that sucks. And Mickey Rourke didn’t win. And that made me happy.
Best supporting was stacked…with the questionable nomination to Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder. I mean, we all knew Ledger would take it for the Joker, but I though Michael Shannon was the only person who could give a dead man a run for his money.
Kate Winslet finally snagged an Oscar after taking home two globes for two of my favorite movies of 2009 – The Reader (and Rev. Road)
And then there was Slumdog – which I hated. But apparently I’m the only one so f. that. I didn’t hate it as much as I hated Avatar this year, so that’s something.
For the most part the nominated movies last year had one thing in common, they all revolved around story and character. Not special effects, not hype, not thrills – just story. It was filled with good writing and better acting. Doubt, The Reader, Revolutionary Road, The Visitor, Frost/Nixon, Rachel Getting Married, Vicky Cristina Barcelona – all gems in my mind!
I can’t help but think politics (of our country, not the academy) played a big part in The Hurt Locker. I thought it was ok…but it really didn’t blow me away (pun initially not intended but kept because I felt like it). Avatar was stupid…I can’t say it enough. The Blind Side was a Lifetime movie brought to the big screen. District 9 was unique and original but was missing that Oscar sparkle…it only got in because of the extended category. An Education was gorgeous and the more I think about it- it was my favorite movie of the year – it had everything I love in a movie: killer acting, great timeless energy and dialogue with twists and turns (some filmmakers really underestimate the power of words). I did like Inglorious Basterds but could never sit through it again. Precious was too depressing for me to like and I never felt an ounce of charm from the story or the characters…it made me feel dirty…I still need to see A Serious Man, but I do love a good Coen Bros. movie (not bad Coen Bros movies ie Oh Brother Where Art Thou. Up was adorable but belonged only in the animated category. And Up in the Air was so honest and true, yet it was missing something and I can’t put my finger on it. I loved when I saw it, and I still speak highly of it now but…I don’t know, I’ll let you know if I figure that out.
So there you have it, a long winded excuse to why I haven’t been writing. I’ll write again when something inspires me to do so. I hope a great movie comes along…I could use a nice, deep cry about now.
