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 "Illuminations" Vol. 1 | Col. 5.1
Here's the first part of an Oscar nominee guide to get you up to date and ready for the awards ceremony on Sunday. This is by no means extensive as to have watched all of the films on the nominee list would mean forking out more money than this lowly student can afford, but it should prove somewhat useful when placing your bets at your Academy Award party.
And the nominees are:
Granny Grimm's Sleeping Beauty
An absolutely hilarious reboot of the old fairy tale, Granny Grimm tells the tale of her own plight using the story of the elderly fairy who has had enough of sleeping all the time and not finding herself appreciated enough. I won't reveal the ending to you, because it's just so funny.
Frenchroast
A man who is unable to pay his bill ends up staying at a cafe ordering more french roast to stave off his having to leave. Chaos ensues in this charming little short which is sure to warm your heart in its last 15 seconds unless you're actually a first generation cylon.
The Lady and the Reaper
Opens like a 1930s black and white film, an echo of the past that the lady of this short yearns for. The saddest one of the bunch so far and extremely beautiful, yet still ends up being very funny! A smart, interesting look at the health system and the onset of death: the question that is asked here is what happens when someone is ready to die and the doctors refuse to let go?
A Serious Man
Calling God! This darkly humerous film takes on very personal topics such as marriage, personal space and religion. The Coen Brothers once again delivers a film you want to laugh at but feel awful doing so. An extremely mature, thoughtful piece of storytelling, and one I will definitely watch again.
The Milk of Sorrow
A harrowing, beautifully shot film that explores a culture unlike our own, one which has been ravaged by war and the threat of rape. Magaly Solier has a hushed, poetic face that calls for us to pay attention to the plight of Peruvian women. The belief that the terror and trauma of the women raped by security forces is passed on through breast milk means that the next generation are deeply affected by the violence, if indirectly.
The Blind Side
Not one of my favourites out of the nominees, but a surprising performance from Sandra Bullock. I would not say that her performance is not worthy of an Academy Award, I just wonder how much of her presence on the nominee board is due to the need for a come back story. That's probably the Meryl Streep/Carey Mulligan fanatic in me talking though.A story about hope against all odds, and the joy that can come from helping someone less well off than yourself—heart warming and a wonderful watch.
An Education
We follow Jenny through the fate of women during the 1960s in England--a time when there was a great clamour for recognition for women as equals and a curious hesitance of the culture to accept it. A coming of age tale supported by an amazing cast boasting the likes of Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina, and introducing Carey Mulligan in her first starring role (and definitely not her last). Mulligan graces the screen with the aura of a seasoned actress so it is surprising to find that she is only 24. One of my favourites from this year's crop.
Precious
Featuring staggering performances from Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique, Precious is a challenging piece of storytelling. Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Claireece Precious Jones is a 16 year old illiterate girl from Harlem who is forced to find a better life for herself and her kids. Many reviewers found this film too hopeful, but I find it just hopeful enough: although the story is not wrapped up neatly at the end it still presents hope for all who are trapped by their circumstances. If Mo'Nique does not win Best Supporting Actress I will be truly astounded.
Star Trek
Going where filmmakers have definitely gone before, J.J. Abrams sets this reboot apart from the franchise by delivering a fun, fresher approach to the much loved universe of Roddenberry's imagination. Nominated for Best Sound Mixing, Visual Effects and Make Up, it's clear that the stunning and crisp visuals have made their mark.
Avatar
Oh Avatar--do I really need to tell you what this film is about? I thought not. Watching this film was an absorbing and wonderful experience, and despite the very obvious borrowing from other stories--I'm looking at you Pocahontas--it still entertains and amazes enough for me to warrant it winning awards. Will it win Best Picture? It's hard to say: I did predict it doing so some weeks back, but I feel that The Hurt Locker deserves it much more. Only time will tell on that one.
The Hurt Locker
Kathryn Bigelow's masterful film follows the bomb disposal unit in the thick of Iraq as they disarm and detonate armoury to protect themselves and the public. Bigelow is careful with the way the film looks: everything is intentional, and points to the larger issues of the war in Iraq. It does falter a little in places when it seems to fall back on traditional approaches to war, but the film is so well crafted that all is forgiven. Watch out for this film on Sunday as it has been a big winner so far!
The Princess and the Frog
This film marks the long awaited return of classic animation by Disney and boy was it entertaining. I had heard some fairly negative things about this film before I finally saw it, but I did not really see the reasons behind those arguments. The songs are fun, the characters entertaining, and the story follows a brisk engaging pace to the point where you can't help but have fun watching.
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