SRC 02/10: Oscar Picks

Shaun’s picks = italics
Lori’s picks = bold
We had to guess with a few, as it’s not possible to have seen everything! Whoever gets the closest picks to the actual winners will have to decide on a prize.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Penelope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
MoNique in “Precious”

Best animated feature film of the year

“Coraline”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“The Princess and the Frog”
“The Secret of Kells”
“Up”

Achievement in art direction

“Avatar”
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
“Nine”
“Sherlock Holmes”
“The Young Victoria”

Achievement in cinematography

“Avatar”
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“The White Ribbon”

Achievement in costume design

“Bright Star”
“Coco before Chanel”
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
“Nine”
“The Young Victoria”

Achievement in directing

“Avatar”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”
“Up in the Air”

Best documentary feature

Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America
Which Way Home

Best documentary short subject

“China’s Unnatural Disaster”
“The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner”
“The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant”
“Music by Prudence”
“Rabbit à la Berlin”

Achievement in film editing

“Avatar”
“District 9”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”

Best foreign language film of the year

“Ajami”
“El Secreto de Sus Ojos”
“The Milk of S
“The White Ribbon”

Achievement in makeup

“Il Divo”
“Star Trek”
“The Young Victoria”

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

“Avatar”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Hurt Locker
Sherlock Holmes
“Up”

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

“Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog”
“Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog”
“Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36”
“Take It All” from “Nine”
“The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)”

Best motion picture of the year

“Avatar”
“The Blind Side”
“District 9”
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”

Best animated short film

“French Roast”
“Granny Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty”
“The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)”
Logoram (Autour de Minuit)
A Matter of Loaf and Death

Best live action short film

“The Door”
“Instead of Abracadabra”
“Kavi”
“Miracle Fish”
“The New Tenants”

Achievement in sound editing

“Avatar”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Star Trek”
“Up”

Achievement in sound mixing

“Avatar”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Star Trek”
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

Achievement in visual effects

“Avatar”
“District 9”
“Star Trek”

Adapted screenplay

“District 9”
“An Education”
“In the Loop”
“Precious”
“Up in the Air”

Original screenplay

“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“The Messenger”
“A Serious Man”
“Up” ), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

SRC 02/10: Hurt Locker

By the skin of my teeth, these reviews are making it online for February’s segment. Shaun was on time, but it has been a crazy week in my house, so please forgive the late installation for this month. -Lori

Shaun Gordon
Film review: The Hurt Locker (2008)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow

In preparation for the Oscars in March I decided to view The Hurt Locker, in order to have a broader understanding of what exactly constituted “the buzz” around this film heading into the awards. After viewing the film over two days and giving a lot of thought to the story, acting, and characters- I have to say that I am sorely disappointed as to the mediocrity that is The Hurt Locker.

War movies are a hard genre to master and put a stake in the ground, and I personally didn’t get much from the film. The grit, degradation, and sadness of war were very well portrayed by the cast of the film, but to what end? I didn’t walk away from this experience thinking that I had seen something truly profound.

The acting was superb, but it lacked focus and context. Jeremy Renner turned in a great performance as did Anthony Mackie, but in my opinion the true star of the film was Brian Geraghty- whose portrayal of Spc. Owen Eldridge showed a lot of depth and inspired interest in an otherwise uninteresting story.

Synopsis: The film follows the rotation of a bomb salvage unit in Iraq in 2004. The characters experience the destructive and catastrophic nature of the Iraqi insurgency post Hussein government, and exposes various ventures into life threatening situations which entail bomb diffusion in various settings. The film attempts to tell the story of the mental and physical decay of three specific characters who find themselves in the thick of war, and the ravaged remains of Iraq during the US occupation.

In summation, if you’re looking for a truly thought provoking film, this isn’t it! The acting is admirable, but the story is unfocused and somewhat pointless. The cinematography was well planned but poorly executed. The camera is often shaking and unfocused to give the impression of chaos and confusion, but in my opinion loses focus (pardon the pun) as to hitting the mark and drawing in the audience into the drama of war, and the hopelessness of the characters.

Thumbs down. 5/10 stars

Lori Gordon
Film review: The Hurt Locker (2008)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow

I had to look up what a hurt locker is, because I’d never heard this term before. Urban Dictionary states: a period of immense, inescapable physical or emotional pain; A figurative place where someone is said to be or will be, if they are getting or expect to be getting hurt or beaten.

Opening with the quote, “War is a drug’, I was prepared for something forceful and possibly vicious. Set during the Iraq war in 2004, focusing on a team that was required to disarm IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices), the viewer is offered a fly-on-the-wall perspective of these soldier’s daily activities. The camerawork seems handheld for the most part, and this makes the viewing experience that much more intense. When I finished watching this film, my body actually felt tense and tired. Who else has a job this stressful? The doctors who put the victims of war back together? The relief workers trying to assist displaced citizens? Dismantling IED’s provokes a life-or-death scenario day in and day out. There is nowhere safe, bombs are present under trash and rubble, on the side of the road and sometimes on or in human bodies. How is a life prepared and trained for work like this? What kind of person wants to do this?

There are three main characters, portraying various archetypes of the American Solider during the Iraq war, and maybe the current war as well. Anthony Mackie’s Sgt. JT Sanborn is obedient, by the book, a team player. He has leadership qualities, but the job has worn him down and most of all he just wants to make it out alive and go home. Brian Geraghty’s Spc. Owen Eldridge is the conscience in the film. He is the only one truly questioning what he is doing, why he is there and what it will all mean afterwards. Geraghty has the ability to show emotion and doubt on his face without saying a word. His vulnerability and frustration make him more of a liability to his team, but inadvertently a reminder of how ‘unreal’ their lifestyle is – likely the most dangerous job in the world. At one point he plays a violent videogame once back at the base. It is clear that this is his release. How insane is his life that this brutal game is his respite?

Jeremy Renner is SSG William James. The renegade, the leader, the man moving forward with blinders. War is his drug and he pushes forward, intent on finding and dismantling bomb after bomb, with very little regard for his fellow soldiers. It becomes clear during the film that he does have a softer side, but keeps this very closely guarded. Not necessarily a self reflective man, he doesn’t think about his family, rather suppressing his feelings and making the work his focus. The level of stress and dedicated energy that Renner exudes as James is outstanding. He is muscle, sweat, grit and anger. He pumps his metal music loud, smokes after each mission and enjoys the initiated afterhours punching brawl on the floor while drunk with his colleagues. He is a testosterone bomb. Renner is the real deal, and I hope we will be seeing much more of this actor. The essence of this character is revealed when speaks with his son about how many things in life make a person a happy. He admits that for some men there may end up being only one thing that makes you happy. For James it isn’t clear if that’s the job he does or the outcome of his job – is it about dismantling IED’s or the lives he saves by doing so?

The bomb makers stand on balconies and watch as the soldiers dismantle their work. It is a game of cat and mouse. And I am frustrated by the perpetual tasks that exist between both parties. For all the soldiers that return, who have shot or killed others during war, can you ever come back from that? Can you ever escape that? How do you reconcile these actions? War on film may be gritty and violent, but it is often glorified. Hurt Locker spares us that. Even when they win, they simply walk away and prepare for tomorrow.

Thumbs up. 8.5/10 stars

Noah:1, Mom and Dad:0

So Noah is getting better, and Max and I are now getting sick. Yay.

For weeks we planned to have the babysitter come watch Noah this afternoon so we could have a day to ourselves. It was so crappy to wake up feeling sick, but we went out anyway. It is just too rare that have the opportunity, so we said screw it. We ended up going to see Crazy Heart, and it was so good. A slow, quiet story with tons of heart and heartbreak. The New Mexico landscape is unmistakable and there were so many moments where I couldn’t help but say, “Nice shot,” out loud. If you’re a Jeff Bridges fan, this film will not disappoint. He is charming, vulnerable, disappointing, gross, pitiful and beautiful all at the same time. It’s sort of like a Leaving Las Vegas country-style meets Walk The Line tale. The music is really good, and the supporting cast is just incredible. Maggie Gyllenhaal is enigmatic and breathtaking, showing her unusual talent of seeming strong and soft simultaneously. Bobby Duval has never been bad in anything – period. And the biggest surprise for me was Colin Farrell. I have always found him annoying and one dimensional in the films I’ve seen him in, but this time for me he shone bright. Like a true, gritty, manly music man. The music has stayed with me all day, and this film (unlike sooooo many) does not tank in the last 5 minutes. Bridges’ oscar nom is well deserved.

We also tasted Teacake cupcakes for the first time today, and I was frightened by how good they were. I regret finding out that there is a location near where we live, and hope to find the strength to avoid driving there everyday when I take Noah to Gymboree classes.

Teach your children well

I love TedTalks. A few times a week, I sit down while Noah is napping and watch a few. They always leave me feeling inspired and amazed. So many interesting people and ideas. So may ways to help make this world better. This year’s conference just happened, and I enviously read the lineup of guests who would be speaking. I was surprised to read that Jamie Oliver would be receiving the TedPrize this year. What for? I was confused. The English chef? I don’t get it…

I just watched his talk. And it makes me weep. It makes me fucking weep. It was brilliant.

20 minutes in this day and age is a lot to ask of someone, but I implore you – you with children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews. Watch this talk. And imagine how you can make a change with the food these children in your lives eat.

From the day he arrived, we have always been emphatic that Noah eat well, he eat local and he eat organic. I don’t care what it takes, but this is non-negotiable. I will go without many other things in my life, but I will make sure this happens. Having watched this talk, I believe in that choice 200% more. And I’m not naive – I realize that we are VERY fortunate to be in a financial position to allow an experience like this for Noah, but his future health is paramount and for that I will not cut corners.

Sometimes

In grad school I created a text piece that read:

SOMETIMES I FEEL REALLY CONNECTED TO THE WORLD. THANKS WORLD.

My beloved friend Ashley has been making mixes for Ben and I for half a year now. She sends them every few months and then we respond with something – anything we want: art, letters, photographs. At some point in the future we will share all of these things in an exhibition. It came about while driving in her car last summer in Portland. We loved her ipod playlist so much, and kept asking, “Who is this? It’s such a nice song.” and the idea was born. She seems to know so much about music, and has impeccable taste. And everytime I get one of the CDs in the mail, I feel a little more connected to her. Bless the friends we have that make us feel good about ourselves, this world and life in general.

ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I can hear Noah snoring through the baby monitor. He has a cold. His 3rd ever. But he keeps smiling, laughing, playing… I have my heart in my mouth, worried about what-if and all that crap, but he is joyous and mostly annoyed by the green snot seeping down over his upper lip. Being a parent teaches you new things each day, but over and over it reminds you: BE GRATEFUL. This is an easy thing to write or tell others, but to actually take a break each day and genuinely think on the things that you have and the reasons you have to be grateful takes effort. And having a kid has forced me to take that moment and genuinely reflect.

Hello?

Oh blog, how I miss you. I used to write to you so often, especially during grad school and the days that followed afterwards. But that was many years ago, and even 2009 is now gone. Sometimes feeling so long, in other moments moving past in the blink of my eye. The year my son unfolded like a new flower: learning to roll over, look up, push up, sit up, crawl and walk. Amazing. The year we moved out of the 600 sq/ft apartment we’d been in for six years and into a 1500 sq/ft house: space, space, space. And now 2010 is in full swing. A year I never imagines in all my future daydreams as a youngster. This is the year Noah will learn to talk, and for this I am excited. Even though I know I should just enjoy today and all that it brings, because everything else has gone by so fast. I sometimes find myself watching him move and play, and feel dumbfounded by the fact that I grew him in my belly and gave birth to him. That he is literally of my flesh and blood… sometimes feels completely surreal. And being a parent brings many things to the surface. You are forced to make decisions each day about who you are and what kind of parent you want to be. To help your child find a way of being a gentle, kind, compassionate person may be easier than it sounds. When I get into bed I evaluate each day whether I felt I succeeded or failed. Many nights the sign flashes FAIL.

But that is the beauty of living at the pace my child sets. I follow his lead and get to try all over again tomorrow. This little life is a blessing.