My 2011 Film Awards
The following are who I would cast my vote for in each of the following film categories at the Oscars, if I had a vote.
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- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsBrad PittSean PennJessica ChastainThe story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents' conflicting teachings.Best Picture of the Year.
This film is an epic masterpiece, and I am totally blown away by it every time I see it. This is a film that reaches for lofty ideas, but at its core, it is one of the most moving and honest stories about a father/son relationship every put to film.
2nd: A Separation
3rd: Hugo
4th: The Artist
5th: The Descendants - DirectorTerrence MalickStarsBrad PittSean PennJessica ChastainThe story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents' conflicting teachings.Best Director, Terrence Malick
The sheer vision and force of will it took to bring such a unique and interesting film to life is utterly remarkable. There isn't any other film-maker working today who would even attempt to create something like this movie. To me, that is the definition of Best Director.
2nd: Martin Scorsese, Hugo
3rd: Asghar Farhadi, A Separation - DirectorSteve McQueenStarsMichael FassbenderCarey MulliganJames Badge DaleA sex addict's carefully cultivated private life falls apart after his sister arrives for an indefinite stay.Best Actor, Michael Fassbender
The manner in which he showed this character, not judging it, not explaining it, is remarkable. Just terrific.
2nd: George Clooney, The Descendants
3rd: Michael Shannon, Take Shelter - DirectorLynne RamsayStarsTilda SwintonJohn C. ReillyEzra MillerKevin's mother struggles to love her strange child despite the increasingly dangerous things he says and does as he grows up. But Kevin is just getting started, and his final act will be beyond anything anyone imagined.Best Actress, Tilda Swinton
I've never had much respect for her as an actor, and I still think her win in 2007 for "Michael Clayton" is a joke, but this performance was fantastic. The emotion that she displays, with such subtlety and little words was great.
2nd: Viola Davis, The Help
3rd: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady - DirectorAsghar FarhadiStarsPayman MaadiLeila HatamiSareh BayatA married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.Best Original Screenplay, Asghar Farhadi
Sure there are cultural, religious, and legal differences between us and the characters of this story, but it is universally relate-able, and always compelling.
2nd: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
3rd: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist - DirectorBennett MillerStarsBrad PittRobin WrightJonah HillOakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.Best Adapted Screenplay, Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin
How often do films with voice-overs win awards for screenplays? Almost never, because its lazy writing. That's why I give the nod to Moneyball over The Descendants.
2nd: Alexander Payne, Nate Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants
3rd: John Logan, Hugo - DirectorMike MillsStarsEwan McGregorChristopher PlummerMélanie LaurentA young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer and that he has a young male lover.Best Supporting Actor, Christopher Plummer
This is the best acting performance of the year, in my opinion. He just is this character, and he fills him with so much life, so much emotion, and so much depth.
2nd: Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
3rd: Albert Brooks, Drive - DirectorTate TaylorStarsViola DavisEmma StoneOctavia SpencerAn aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.Best Supporting Actress, Octavia Spencer
If your looking for loud, flamboyant acting, this is the performance of the year. I don't know what more to say.
2nd: Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
3rd: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAsa ButterfieldChloë Grace MoretzChristopher LeeIn 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.Best Film Editing, Thelma Schoonmaker
Piecing together this film in 3D was a tough task. This movie flows so well, and Schoonmaker once again brings one of Marty's films alive so well.
2nd: The Tree of Life
3rd: A Separation - DirectorTerrence MalickStarsBrad PittSean PennJessica ChastainThe story of a family in Waco, Texas in 1956. The eldest son witnesses the loss of innocence and struggles with his parents' conflicting teachings.Best Cinematography, Emmanuel Lubezki
If this doesn't win the Oscar for Best Cinematography, it will be the biggest mistake in the history of the Oscars, in my opinion. This is simply one of the most visually beautiful films ever made. Period.
2nd: Hugo
3rd: War Horse - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAsa ButterfieldChloë Grace MoretzChristopher LeeIn 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.Best Art Direction, Francesca Lo Schiavo and Dante Ferretti
Creating the sets that would work in 3D was also a tough task, but these two were up to the challenge. the sets throughout the entire train station were remarkable, and effort put forth should definitely be commended.
2nd: The Tree of Life
3rd: The Artist - DirectorRupert WyattStarsJames FrancoAndy SerkisFreida PintoA substance designed to help the brain repair itself gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising.Best Visual Effects
Andy Serkis and his motion capture talents. What more needs to be said?
2nd: Super 8
3rd: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II - DirectorDavid YatesStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintHarry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts.Best Sound
Harry Potter finally wins an Oscar! This is not the best film, but it does look and sound good.
2nd: Super 8
3rd: Hugo - DirectorDavid YatesStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintHarry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts.Best Sound Editing
Harry Potter wins another Oscar! I said it all above.
2nd: Super 8
3rd: Hugo - DirectorMichel HazanaviciusStarsJean DujardinBérénice BejoJohn GoodmanWhen George, a silent movie superstar, meets Peppy Miller, a dancer, sparks fly between the two. However, after the introduction of talking pictures, their fortunes change, affecting their dynamic.Best Original Score, Ludovic Bource
The music is the screenplay for this film and it sets the mood and pacing incredibly well.
2nd: War Horse
3rd: Hugo - DirectorTate TaylorStarsViola DavisEmma StoneOctavia SpencerAn aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960s decides to write a book detailing the African American maids' point of view on the white families for which they work, and the hardships they go through on a daily basis.Best Original Song, "The Living Proof"
Not a great song, but not a bad one. Overall not a lot of good choices, so why not this one. - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAsa ButterfieldChloë Grace MoretzChristopher LeeIn 1931 Paris, an orphan living in the walls of a train station gets wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.Best Costume Design, Sandy Powell
The costumes really help set the tone for this film that really captures the feel of what 1920s Paris might have been like.
2nd: The Artist
3rd: My Week with Marilyn - DirectorDavid YatesStarsDaniel RadcliffeEmma WatsonRupert GrintHarry, Ron, and Hermione search for Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes in their effort to destroy the Dark Lord as the final battle rages on at Hogwarts.Best Makeup
Harry Potter winning all kinds of awards this year. I'm actually surprised no Harry Potter film ever won this award before now, because the makeup in all of these films has been very good.
2nd: J. Edgar
3rd: The Artist - DirectorAsghar FarhadiStarsPayman MaadiLeila HatamiSareh BayatA married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.Best Foreign Language Film, Iran
It's not even close how much better this film is than any other foreign film that was released this year. Not only that, its number 2 on my list of the best films of the year. A truly great film.
2nd: Le Havre
3rd: The Skin I Live In - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsJamie BellAndy SerkisDaniel CraigIntrepid reporter Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor.Best Animated Film
This was a really disappointing year for animated films, considering the quality the recent years have given us, what with the likes of Toy Story 3, Up, and Wall-E. This film isn't bad, but it really isn't that great either.
2nd: Rango
3rd: Kung Fu Panda 2