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Post by Nickpick on Jan 10, 2011 0:12:27 GMT -6
Sounds fun! damn..i should do that one of these days!
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Post by spideyfan914 on Jan 28, 2011 16:57:27 GMT -6
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 27, 2011 16:39:02 GMT -6
THE OSCARS ARE TONIGHT!!!!
And I don't know about you guys, but I'm watchin' and can't wait! What will win, you ask? Well, I've heard The King's Speech, and I've heard The Social Network, but I pray to the God I don't believe in that it isn't The Social Network!
But here's the real question, and what I'm pretending you read my blog for - WHO SHOULD WIN??
I believe I promised this a while back, but here it is: DBJ'S TOP 10 OF 2010!!
First, just to get out of the way, a quick list of some major movies I haven't seen this year, based on award nominations and other acclaim. In other words, the following will be snubbed from this list simply because I haven't seen them: Blue Valentine Barney's Version Rabbit Hole The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Biuitiful Inside Job Unstoppable The Tempest I Am Love That's it. Now, I wonder how many of those you guys have actually heard of? Yeah, honestly, only the first two really stood a chance of making the list, methinks, so I'll let you know when I see 'em!
Honorable Mentions: True Grit, How to Train Your Dragon, Despicable Me, The Ghost Writer
10. The Fighter- Yes, a movie about sports actually made my list! Shocking, eh? The Fighter looks at the true story of a boxer who holds his family a bit too close to his career. It's a great, inspiring, and humble story about family and everything that comes with it, good and bad. Plus, Christian Bale's Oscar shoe-in performance as the meth-addict brother is truly the best of his career. Thus, I have no problem putting a so-called "sports movie" on my Top Ten. 7.1/10
9. Tangled- I think I put this higher after first seeing it, but whatever. It's the newest Disney movie, starring Rapunzel, as the drooping company continues to try to revamp it's once-upon-a-time greatness. And have they succeeded in besting Pixar and returning to the former greatness of Disney past? Well, I haven't listed Toy Story 3 yet, so obviously the answer is no, but regardless, this was a fun movie which I'll enjoy showing my kids someday! 7.1/10
8. Exit Through the Gift Shop- "OH MY GOD!! WHAT THE HELL IS A DOCUMENTARY DOING ON THIS LIST??" That's what you said, right? Okay, so you probably said "What the hell is Exit Through the Gift Shop?" but that's besides the point. This documentary features Banksy, infamous street artist whose identity has been successfully concealed for years. And it's still concealed - he blurs his face, remains in darkness, disguises his voice, etc. But if we win Best Documentary, no one knows just what will happen.... More than likely, Banksy will pull some massive stunt and make Oscar history. Heck, some people have even speculated that the whole doc is a hoax - which actually sounds quite possible, even probable, and maybe even makes the movie better as a whole. I can't quite put into words how a documentary could possibly be entertaining, so I'm just going to tell everyone: See it. 7.4/10
7. The Kids Are All Right- I know SGK thinks nobody's seen this, but I went and watched it, and it was actually a bit more than all right. A fun and intriguing dramedy, Kids made a great watch with great acting, great storytelling, and all that stuff necessary for a great movie. I've heard a little clamor about the ending, but in my opinion it was perfectly satisfactory and actually quite realistic. What really stand out here, though, is that it's the first movie I've ever seen featuring and gay characters and NOT making a fuss about it! It isn't homophobic, but it isn't preachy like Milk either. It just has a lesbian couple, treated the same way as any other couple. Finally! 7.5/10
6. The King's Speech- ".... .... T.... T-timing's not my strong suit." He's gonna be the king someday! And with the rise of the radio, he'll be able to talk to millions more than ever before! With the rise of Hitler, it will be up to him to inspire a nation through times of war! The only problem is, he's got a stammer. This was a brilliant, fun-filled movie which kept me smiling beginning to ending. Oscar fodder? Yeah, they love those inspirational tales about a guy with a disability. But still, it's truly a great watch! Highly recommended! 7.7/10
5. Inception- This one's been beaten to death with recommendations, so I'll be the guy who gives you the honest review. It's a great movie. Not Nolan's best, or even close. Not the best of the year, or even close. But it's still a damn good movie which action-y, comic-book lovers on sites like this will huddle around. Inception has been praised for its complex plot and philosophical questions. I, however, will praise for its simple story and lack of a need to go any farther. 'Cause, hey, what's it really about? It's a man whose lost his wife and blames himself, and now all he wants is to be reunited with his kids. In short, it's a story of redemption and forgiving oneself. What's complicated is the setting, not the story. Don't make it out to be some huge epic masterpiece - it's much better when you realize how truly simple it is! 7.7/10
4. Shutter Island- Shame on me for not discovering Martin Scorcese sooner! Now, if you're looking for complexity, Shutter Island is a much better bet. Plus, this one raises at least as many philosophical inquiries as Inception, if not more. I am truly disappointed by the "Screw You" this one got from the Academy. SNUBBED! COME ON! 7.8/10
3. 127 Hours- Remember two years ago, when Danny Boyle sweeped the Oscars with Slumdog Millionaire? Yeah, that was good, but more overrated than Inception. But 127 Hours? Now, this is the one Boyle should be recognized for! Starring James Franco, a middle-of-nowhere daredevil who gets stuck literally between a rock and a hard place, 127 Hours follows the TRUE story of a man who was trapped miles from civilization for over five days. Nearly the entire movie takes place in this small, skinny canyon, with virtually no movement or action to speak of. And yet, it is intense. You can feel the man's despair, the tangibility of death. And it's all true. 8.3/10
2. Black Swan- Speaking of intense, that word is not big enough to describe Darren Aronofsky's new movie. Really, there's only one word that comes to mind which truly captures the feel of Black Swan: "mind-fuck." It's Natalie Portman playing a ballerina, who goes a bit off the deep end during a performance of Swan Lake.... just a little bit.... I may be a huge Aronofsky fan, but I have no qualms saying this is easily his best work! 8.5/10
1. Toy Story 3- Well, duh.... Toy Story 3 is the best movie of the year, no contest, hands down, by far. This is the one which brought tears to the eyes of the vast majority of its audience. This is the one which touched us all on a deep level which we will never forget. It brings you back to your childhood. It's a story of not wanting to be forgotten. It's one of the greatest movies of all time. It's neck-to-neck with Toy Story 1. It deserves beyond a shadow of a doubt to be the first animated picture to ever take Best Feature. Ever. It's Pixar's finest work, and if they're gonna get an Oscar, it should be for this one. Toy Story 3 is beyond comparison. It. is. Toy Story 3. 9.5/10
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Post by cradleman on Feb 27, 2011 16:56:36 GMT -6
hm. my top 10 with my ratings. I'll do a more detailed version in my blog once i've seen a few more.
1. Toy Story 3: 9.9 2. Inception: 9.8 3. Kick-Ass: 9.2 4. The Social Network: 9 5. Shutter Island: 8.8 6. Tangled: 8.5 7. Scott Pilgrim: 8.3 8. Red: 8 9. The Town: 8 10. Iron Man 2: 7.5
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Post by spideyfan914 on May 13, 2011 22:45:18 GMT -6
Wow. It's been a loooooooooong time since I updated my blog.... Hm.... I feel like that's a good sign in terms of my social life.... Anywhoo, I made a movie! Check it out! www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ekP7ks-K8oFreshman year of NYU is over now, and it's time for a long and dull summer. Looking like I won't have a job, but hopefully that'll change. I kinda wanna write a feature this summer, actually. But don't worry, 'cause before that I most certainly plan to finish up Heroes and Villains, finally! But sooner than that, because I'm a bored movie geek, I feel like doing a TOP FIFTY MOVIE COUNTDOWN!!!!It'll begin in a few days, probably under the games forum! Every day, I'll reveal a few more movies, counting down from #50 all the way to #1! So stay tuned! And in the meantime, watch that movie, like it, and tell everyone you know!
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Post by spideyfan914 on Dec 3, 2011 23:24:03 GMT -6
So I just posted this as my Facebook status:
"Ponder, for a moment, the old saying, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." A simple phrase to prepare our children for life, right? Wrong. This does not fall under the same jurisdiction as, "Slow and steady wins the race," or "Cherish every moment." It does not offer any sort of advice whatsoever. All it does is state that life is full of disappointment, and that no matter hard you try, no matter good things appear to be, you should never get too happy or settled, never get your hopes up, because there is a high likelihood that something will go horribly wrong all of a sudden which you are powerless to prevent, and you will lose everything. This is what we're teaching our kids. How depressing...."
And my sister told me it was well-written, and I should keep it in a journal or something to save it for when I write. This is the first place that came to mind.
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Post by spideyfan914 on Jan 4, 2012 20:07:24 GMT -6
Listen, I'm sorry I was late picking you up, and I'm sorry you aren't feeling well, but you could at least thank me for picking up your cold medication. Or maybe you could congratulate me on getting my first decent camera. Or tell me it's good that I'm helping a friend with his shoot, or show some concern when everything about it is going to hell before it's even begun. You have to realize that this was a big day for me, and that this week is going to be extremely important, and not just complain that you don't want to take a taxi home. The last thing I need right now is for you to be against me, but if you are, then fuck you.
Sorry, just needed to rant a little.
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 25, 2012 22:50:04 GMT -6
Hey everybody! What's new with you? Nothin'? Well, me neither! Okay, first thing's first - MY SIGHT AND SOUND FILMS ARE UP!!!! You can get the links on my Facebook profile or just go my YouTube and you can watch 'em there. Heck, here ya go: www.youtube.com/user/SpideyFan914/videosMoving on. As we all probs know by now, it's Oscar season! And tomorrow are the oscars! Hurrah! So, I'm gonna do two things: the first is a simple matter of predict-and-complain, in which I predict who will win each category based on my obsessive knowledge, and then I complain about it! In the second, I'll tell you who SHOULD win - and who SHOULD have been nominated! BEST PICTURE: The Artist will most likely win. I liked The Artist - liked it a lot, in fact. But it's not Best Picture-worthy. In fact, it'll be a more enjoyable movie if it does NOT win Best Picture! It's just so beautifully simplistic, giving it an award which usually goes to painfully complex/thoughtful movies just comes off wrong and it basically winds up in the category of "not what I was expecting...." Which is unfortunate. My opinion: The Descendants deserves it. I love Midnight in Paris just as much, but Paris has that same Oscar-pitfall as The Artist, and The Descendants is just so brilliantly understated. I've seen: 9/9 BEST ACTOR: George Clooney, I think, or else Jean Dujardin. Actually, Clooney's my top choice (out of the nominees). More on this later. I've seen: 4/5 (missing Demian Bichir) BEST ACTRESS: Viola Davis will almost definitely win. Don't get me wrong, she was great, but she doesn't deserve the Oscar.... Nomination? Fine. Win? Nope. I've seen: 2/5 (missing Glenn Close, Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Probably Christopher Plummer. He's good enough, I suppose. None of my top choices were nominated.... I've seen: 4/5 (missing Nick Nolte) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Octavia Spencer is a lock. And she was awesome. I'll be happy for once. I've seen: 4/5 (missing Janet McTeer) BEST DIRECTOR: Hardest one to call. Based on the director-picture ratio, Hazanavicius is the safest bet. Maybe Scorcese - he got the Globe, and he's my personal favorite of the nominees. I've seen: 5/5 BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Probably Midnight in Paris. Hopefully Midnight in Paris. I've seen: 3/5 (missing Margin Call, A Separation) BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: The Descendants, pretty sure. I've seen: 5/5 BEST ANIMATED: Rango, duh. I haven't seen the other contestants. I've seen: 1/5 (Rango) BEST FOREIGN: A Separation is a lock. I have plans to see it next week. I've seen: 0/5 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Tree of Life. Personally, I felt that, while it did look really nice, basically every shot was the same. Like, 70% of the movie was extreme close-up, slow zoom in, slightly spiraling. Hugo's my favorite of the nominees, but it doesn't stand a chance - War Horse is even getting more buzz, and IT doesn't stand a chance! I've seen: 4/5 (missing Dragon Tattoo) And now to the more minor awards where I really don't know what I'm talking about.... ART DIRECTION: Hugo? I've seen: 5/5 COSTUME DESIGN: .... um.... The Artist.... maybe.... I've seen: 3/5 (missing Anonymous, W.E. - those things have nominations?) MAKEUP: Anything but Potter. I've seen: 1/3 (Potter. Makeup in epilogue made the theater burst into laughter.) MUSIC: The Artist. I actually take it back - for this one, I'm certain. I've seen: 4/5 (missing Tintin) ORIGINAL SONG: Muppets. I'm 50% certain. (There are only 2 nominees....) I've seen: 0/2 SOUND MIXING: War Horse is bound to win something. I've seen: 3/5 (missing Dragon Tattoo, Transformers. damn, they go pretty low-key in these sound categories, don't they?) SOUND EDITING: War Horse? I don't know. I hope it's Drive, though, 'cause Drive really oughtta win an Oscar, and this was somehow it's only nomination. More on Drive later. I've seen: 3/5 (missing Dragon Tattoo, Transformers) VISUAL EFFECTS: Planet of the Apes. I'm pretty certain. I've seen: 3/5 (missing Real Steel, Transformers) DOCUMENTARY: Pina sounds vaguely familiar. I've seen: 0/5 SHORT DOC: Hell if I know! I've seen: 0/5 SHORT ANIMATED: Nope. I've seen: 0/5 SHORT LIVE-ACTION: Nada. I've seen: 0/5 And now, the moment you've all been waiting for.... THE SPIDEYFAN OSCARS!!!! In the next post!
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 25, 2012 23:32:53 GMT -6
Hello, hello! Welcome one and all to
SPIDEYFAN914's OSCAR CEREMONY!!!!
To begin, here's an epic summary of the year: [youtube="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mEfsU0EPSQ&feature=g-like&context=G2644ffcALT0g7HwAEAA"]2011: The Cinescape[/youtube] - I wish I could take credit for that thing!
I've counted it out, and I've seen 46 movies this year (assuming I haven't forgotten any). Now, just like tomorrow's Oscars, let's begin with the smaller categories. (By the way, I'll be skipping any category where I don't feel confident enough to comment.)
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE The Artist The Descendants Hugo Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy War Horse
And the Oscar goes to....
THE ARTIST!!!! Not a very big surprise there. It's touching score was half the joy of the picture! While all the others had enjoyable tunes as well, none quite matched the classical feel.
BEST ART DIRECTION The Artist The Descendants Hugo Thor (what?) War Horse
And the winner is....
HUGO!!!!
Well, this isn't really my strong point, but I do know great scenery when I see it, and Hugo's visuals were certainly its strong point!
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Drive Hugo Melancholia Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy The Tree of Life
And the Best Cinematography goes to....
MELANCHOLIA!!!! How this failed to get a nom for tomorrow night is beyond me. Von Trier had strange direction, varying from a series of super-slow-mo shots in the beginning to whacky out-of-control handheld in the middle and then back to dramatic apocalyptic shooting toward the end. And it all looked great! The final shot of the film, in my humble opinion, made the entire 13 dollar admission worth it.
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 26, 2012 0:16:00 GMT -6
Now onto something more.... BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Berenice Bejo - The Artist Jessica Chastain - The Help Marion Cotillard - Midnight in Paris Elle Fanning - Super 8 Octavia Spencer - The Help And the second-highest acting award goes to.... OCTAVIA SPENCER!!!! The Help had a stupendous cast, led by Viola Davis and fan-favorite Emma Stone. And yet somehow, the most unknown member of the group managed to outshine them all in three simple words: "Eat. My. Shit." Never have I so readily applauded such an attitudal performance! Now for her to win tomorrow too! BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 30: Minutes or Less The Artist Crazy, Stupid, Love. Source Code Midnight in Paris What a strange and unexpected bunch of nominees! Is this to say that the Academy had it all wrong? Well, I haven't seen them all, but yeah pretty much - blockbuster comedies need more credit. On rare occasion, they are in fact good! But alas, the ultimate Oscar must go to.... MIDNIGHT IN PARIS!!!! It's been called Woody Allen's most lovable movie in years, and I agree! A witty, energetic script about a romanticization of the past, a nostalgia like no other. Granted, it may help if you know a little bit about '20s culture (or if you have your dad sitting next to you to explain the finer details), but even without there is rarely a beat lacking in enjoyment. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Albert Brooks - Drive Ryan Gosling - Crazy, Stupid, Love. Andy Serkis - Rise of the Planet of the Apes Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Christoph Waltz - Carnage My Lord! Hardly any of these are shared by the real Oscars! Well, y'know what? SCREW THE REAL OSCARS! The TRUE Oscar goes to.... CHRISTOPH WALTZ!!!! You may remember him from the last time he won an Oscar for Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, where he played a charming Nazi. Well, he's not quite as enthusiastic this time around, but he still plays the most beautiful sinister the movie world has seen in a long time! Now go make some more! BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Carnage The Descendants The Ides of March Moneyball We Need to Talk About Kevin Now this one was a hard choice. Like, a REALLY hard choice. Like I wish I could award two movies, but alas only may survive, and so I choose.... WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN!!!! Why? Because, plain and simple, it said what it needed to say, and never once let up. 'Kevin' was mercilessly dark and daring, while all the while challenging the viewer in ways most movies never approach. Runner-up, for the curious, was The Descendants. Yup, that was the hard choice - pretty hard to compare 'em....
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 26, 2012 0:28:36 GMT -6
And now, it's time to think BIG!!! Our next category is my personal favorite: BEST DIRECTOR Stephen Daldry - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Alexander Payne - The Descendants Lynne Ramsay - We Need to Talk About Kevin Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive Martin Scorcese - Hugo And now you get to hear it from a wannabe director! (Well, actually, I'm a writer too, so I guess I have just as much authority there....) It's always interesting with this category 'cause so much goes into the job: working with actors, choosing shots, determining the entire style and everything. And yet, the Oscar must go to.... NICOLAS WINDING REFN!!!! Because if Drive is not direction at its finest, I may as well hang my camera now! The opening scene alone, a car chase shot entirely from within the car, is enough to secure the win - but he doesn't stop there. The whole movie is shot brilliantly, and balances the absurd with the understated in a flawless back-and-forth. Refn deserves this more than anyone.
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 26, 2012 0:46:42 GMT -6
BEST ACTOR George Clooney - The Descendants Jean Dujardin - The Artist Michael Fassbender - Shame Thomas Horn - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Michael Shannon - Take Shelter A fine bunch of nominees for a huge category. And the winner is.... MICHAEL FASSBENDER!!!! Shame was a brilliant movie, and this is coming from a guy usually bored by social dramas. The true shame is that he was not even nominated by the Academy! It's utter proof that politics rule their world - let it be know that despite appearances, the Academy does not like controversial material!! Fassbender played the role to perfection, with the perfect blend of realism, anger, and a slither of sympathy just large enough to let the movie work. It's been a big year for Fassbender, and I'm going to say now that he is one of the greatest of his generation. BEST ACTRESS Viola Davis - The Help Jodie Foster - Carnage Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin Charlize Theron - Young Adult Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn Quick note: I have not actually seen Young Adult. I have, however, been allowed to watch the first twenty minutes, and eagerly await my chance to see the rest! That being said, the Oscar goes to.... MICHELLE WILLIAMS!!!! It's not easy to play an icon, especially one so layered and mysterious as Marilyn Monroe. Yet Williams is not only convincing in the role, she is dazzling. She steals the screen and makes you forget you aren't watching the real Monroe! She plays the inner life in such a way you can never tell just what is going on inside her head - exactly the way the real Marilyn would!
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 26, 2012 1:29:16 GMT -6
Now, all that remains is Best Picture. The Academy has a unique ruling for this category that allows for an undefined number of nominees - between 5 and 10. So, not knowing just what to do, I will give you a full Top Ten, in order. First off, some Honorary Mentions: Shame, My Week With Marilyn, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, 50/50, The Artist - you all came so, so close.... And with that: 10. THE IDES OF MARCH: A brilliantly written, excellently performed political thriller about a presidential campaign, and the one man forced to choose between his idealist views and the complete corruption. And if that sounds like a tagline, just watch the movie! Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman both just missed getting nominations for their performances tonight. 9. RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: You have no idea how close I came to nominated this for Adapted Screenplay. It's such a perfectly paced movie, and never loses focus. 8. CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.: Who says I don't like anything mainstream? This movie was truly hilarious and fun, and everything somehow manages to tie together even against all odds! Seriously, this thing wraps up pretty well.... 7. CARNAGE: Holy freakin' bleep, look at that cast!! And that director!! And that script!! I mean, everything about it just screams, "OSCAR! OSCAR! OSCAR!" And, um, it didn't get nominated.... by the Academy, anyway. I gave an award to Waltz, remember? 6. SOURCE CODE: A sci-fi so original and unique, it's like a lower-budget Inception! Only it makes sense! I can't say anything about the plot without giving things away, but let's just say it's like an Alfred Hitchcock version of Groundhog's Day, on a train, in eight minutes. And it's awesome. Now.... here's where things get serious. The next five movies are the ones I would actually nominate. TAKE SHELTER A hardcore movie about a man who believes he is going insane, but nonetheless begins to build a storm shelter he cannot afford in response to apocalyptic visions of disaster. And you thought my Ides of March tagline was good! This movie is beautifully envisioned, with a clear byline beginning to end, and a magnificently powerful performance from Michael Shannon. Definitely a must-see. DRIVE As I mentioned in my honorary to Refn, this is by far the best-directed movie of the year. It's a cool stylization, and Gosling again just missed my nomination. (Have I mentioned I'm a huge Ryan Gosling fan?) It's more about the style than it is the story, and it simply works on every level. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS What can I say that I haven't said already? Woody Allen writes one of his best scripts in years, and it truly hits home. A brilliant ensemble cast with a number of recognizable faces, this is a nostalgia flick for all those who sometimes prefer to live in the past - and really, who doesn't? THE DESCENDANTS I came VERY close to giving The Descendants Best Picture. And I will be rooting for it tomorrow night. This movie reminded me how badly I want to visit Hawaii. Though it's gotten a wide range of reviews, I for one consider easily one of the best movies of the year, and as a George Clooney fan one of Clooney's best as well, right up there with Up in the Air! (By the way, who here STILL hasn't seen Up in the Air, despite my numerous calls of praise? Be honest....) About a broken man about to lose his wife, only to find out she has been cheating on him, all the while he's being forced to sell his family's land with the whole state watching him. But that pitch doesn't quite do it justice - this isn't some teary-eyed drama, no it is light-hearted and even whimsical. It's the movie's ability to refrain from going over the tipping point, savoring every last drop, which makes it so brilliant and beautiful to behold. At times poetic, at times rather humorous, at times downright human, The Descendants is breathtaking. But alas, despite some brilliant competition (most of which somehow missed an actual Academy nomination), I must give my Best Picture Oscar to none other than....
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 26, 2012 1:36:48 GMT -6
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN A dark and brooding movie of relentless despair, about a mother and her devil child, We Need to Talk About Kevin will leave you very much unable to talk about anything for a good while. It's a good hard slap in the face, and impactful as hell! One critic said, "We'll be talking about Kevin for years." At least, we will be IF ANY OF YOU GET OFF YOUR COUCH AND WATCH THIS FLIPPIN' MOVIE ALREADY!!!!! DO I NEED TO POINT AN ARROW AT YOUR HEAD? ? THIS IS NOT AN OPTION - THIS IS MANDATORY VIEWING!!! The most unique of the bunch, the most powerful of the bunch, and by far the most spine-chilling movie in years. We Need to Talk About Kevin deserves every award it will not win. A cinematic masterpiece at its finest, it simply must take away my Best Picture Oscar, for what else is truly this qualified?
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 26, 2012 1:42:22 GMT -6
And that's a wrap!
Ceremony's over, boys and girls! Just for fun, here's my actual rankings for all the night's awards:
BEST ACTOR 1. Michael Fassbender - Shame 2. George Clooney - The Descendants 3. Jean Dujardin - The Artist 4. Michael Shannon - Take Shelter 5. Thomas Horn - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
BEST ACTRESS 1. Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn 2. Jodie Foster - Carnage 3. Charlize Theron - Young Adult 4. Viola Davis - The Help 5. Tilda Swinton - We Need to Talk About Kevin
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 1. Christoph Waltz - Carnage 2. Andry Serkis - Rise of the Planet of the Apes 3. Ryan Gosling - Crazy, Stupid, Love. 4. Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close 5. Albert Brooks - Drive
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 1. Octavia Spencer - The Help 2. Jessica Chastain - The Help 3. Marion Cotillard - Midnight in Paris 4. Elle Fanning - Super 8 5. Berenice Bejo - The Artist
BEST DIRECTOR 1. Nicolas Winding Refn - Drive 2. Lynne Ramsay - We Need to Talk About Kevin 3. Martin Scorcese - Hugo 4. Alexander Payne - The Descendants 5. Stephen Daldry - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 1. Midnight in Paris 2. Crazy, Stupid, Love. 3. Source Code 4. The Artist 5. 30 Minutes or Less
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY 1. We Need to Talk About Kevin 2. The Descendants 3. The Ides of March 4. Carnage 5. Moneyball
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 1. Melancholia 2. Drive 3. Hugo 4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy 5. Tree of Life
ART DIRECTION 1. Hugo 2. The Artist 3. Thor 4. War Horse 5. The Descendants
MUSIC 1. The Artist 2. Hugo 3. The Descendants 4. War Horse 5. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Hope you enjoyed yourselves! I guarantee that tomorrow night's Oscar ceremony will be much less accurate and much less diverse! I mean, you must have noticed by now that the Best Picture winner always wins ten other Oscars.... Seriously, aren't there a lot of other movies out there?
All in all, I wouldn't 2011 a great year for movies, but it was certainly good year. You wouldn't know that looking at the Oscar nominees, but it was, really! They just snubbed all the best movies! (Out of my Top Ten, five were snubbed entirely, three got one nomination apiece, and two got a fair share. So yes, I'm bitter.)
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Post by spideyfan914 on Mar 26, 2012 22:00:33 GMT -6
Well, it's been almost a month since our last update! In fact, in non-leap years, it has been a month! But alas, I learned how to play Texas Hold 'Em today - turns out I not only would have lost all my money if we were playing for money, but I also have a gambling problem! (That guy had the card I was pretending to have.... Yeah, didn't end well....) But alas, we got into a discussion of which is higher up: a Straight (when you have five-in-a-row, like a 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 for instance) or a Flush (when you have five cards of the same suit). Common sense would dictate that a Flush sounds easier to get than a Straight, but apparently it is the opposite and Flush is actually worth more. So, like a true geek, I decided to do the math. THE ODDS: After our discussion of flush vs. straight and which is better, I've decided to do some calculations. Now, to figure this, I've decided that rather than to calculate the exact odds (which would be different in different versions of the game, remember), I'm simply going to calculate the raw number of combinations of 5 cards to get either. So, the one with more combinations should be easier to get. I have my calculator by my side, not looking up anything else. Let's go! STRAIGHT: Five cards in a row, any suit. First, there are 13 basic straights (A2345, 23456, etc). Because you can have these cards in any order, multiply by 5! Now, what helps the most here is that the five cards can be any suit. So you multiply by 4 for each card, or 4^5 13*5!*4^5= 1 597 440 FLUSH: Five cards of the same suit. So the first card can be any arbitrary card - thus, we begin with 52. From here on out, the probability of drawing the same suit is increasingly small. Second card can be one of 12, third one of 11, etc. 52*12*11*10*9= 617 760 We're not done yet! Remember, these have a degree of overlap - STRAIGHT FLUSH: First step is same as Straight, 13*5! From here, however, instead of multiplying by 4^5, we simply multiply by 4. 'Cause there's 4 suits. 13*5!*4= 6 240 Of course, this also includes ROYAL FLUSH: Take the Straight Flush, except without the 13. 4*5!= 480 Thus, our odds are: STRAIGHT- 1 591 200 FLUSH- 611 520 STRAIGHT FLUSH- 5 760 ROYAL FLUSH- 480 1 591 200 : 611 520 : 5 760 : 480 Simplified: 3 315 : 1 274 : 12 : 1 Feel free to check.
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Post by spideyfan914 on Jun 22, 2012 12:13:49 GMT -6
HEROES AND VILLAINS, SEASON FIVE: COME THE APOCALYPSE begins.... tonight!!!
I'm sorry I didn't post the Previously on time, but it's up now, and I'll put up the next ep of Season Five tonight! Don't forget to go through Episode One again as well, cause that was not in the Previously at all. Spread the word, and enjoy!
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 24, 2013 13:48:14 GMT -6
Looking at this thread, it seems like just yesterday that I did my last Oscar vote. Probably because nothing has happened here since then. (I really should find a different place to post this.) First off, my unopinionated predictions. PICTURE: Argo DIRECTOR: Spielberg ACTOR: Day-Lewis ACTRESS: Lawrence SUPP ACTOR: Jones SUPP ACTRESS: Hathaway ORIG SCREENPLAY: Django Unchained ADAP SCREENPLAY: Argo? ANIMATION: Wreck-It Ralph? FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Amour CINEMATOGRAPHY: Life of Pi EDITING: Argo PROD DESIGN: Anna Karenina COSTUME DESIGN: Les Miserables? MAKE-UP AND HAIR: Les Miserables? SCORE: Life of Pi SONG: Skyfall SOUND MIXING: Les Miserables SOUND EDITING: Argo? EFFECTS: Life of Pi DOC: Searching for Sugarman SHORT DOC: SHORT ANIMATION: Paperman SHORT LIVE-ACTION: Now of course, I expect to be wrong about more than one of these - including the ones I'm more certain of. There are always a few surprises, let's hope they're in favor of a good show. So let's get on with it - what SHOULD win??? I'll go down the list, pick my top five for each category I feel worthy of commenting on, as well as the winner of the five. And, since this year is MUCH better than last year, it actually might be interesting!
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 24, 2013 14:27:37 GMT -6
Let's begin. I've seen 37 movies this year, including all the Best Picture nominees, many of the other Oscar contenders such as Flight and The Master, as well as a large number of movies that aren't up for anything - but should be!
So here we go:
SPIDEYFAN914's OSCAR CEREMONY 2013!!!
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS This category celebrates the richest movie made this year. Not rich in quality, but rich in the number of truckloads of money poured into the film in order to create the most awesome-looking CGI possible, which then becomes more money. It's sort of like that table in high school with all the white guys in suits.
The nominees are....
The Amazing Spider-Man Because superheroes aren't known for dominating this category.
The Avengers For creating a version of the Hulk which people actually liked.
John Carter Not as well known, John Carter consisted almost entirely of massive and beautiful alien landscapes.
Life of Pi Revolutionary to CGI, the tiger Richard Parker became a character, despite being non-existent.
Prometheus Another alien landscape, but this one also with a strange ooze.
And the Oscar goes to....
LIFE OF PI!! Life of Pi takes place almost entirely on a raft with a tiger, but neither the tiger nor any of the other animals in the film were ever real. And yet, the thematic question of whether Richard Parker was a mere beast or a creature with a soul was not lost: when you look into his eyes, it's easy to forget he is a computer-generated image and believe he has a soul.
BEST ORIGINAL SONG Sometimes people need to write songs for their movies, and by "write" I mean "rip off something someone else has done." So, when a movie actually decides to do something original, brownie points must be given! Now I can't say I remember everything, but I'll give out a few nominations.
Fuck You Thunder from Ted I had to nominate this.
Skyfall from Skyfall Juxtaposed over a gorgeously animated credits sequence, it pulls you into James Bond's world.
Suddenly from Les Miserables A new song from the same writers who did the entire book of the Broadway hit.
And the Oscar goes to....
SKYFALL!! I haven't heard many Adele songs, but when this started playing in a pub earlier today, I instantly recognized it. For 50 years, James Bond has taken credits to a whole new level, and Adele's song combined with beautiful and mysterious imagery makes Skyfall's possibly the best.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE It's that dramatic overture that comes in when the character realizes his father is in love with his daughter. And then the villain barges in with a gun and a big "BA-DAAAAA!!!!!" and he starts shooting and shooting and the music takes on a "RATATATATATA" to mimic it. And then the kills himself - and it all goes silent. Through the hard pitch of nothing, you hear a stir.... and then it picks up into a huge ovation as the lovers jump up and THEY'RE ALIVE and now there's a "LA-DA-DA-DADEE! DOO DOO-DA-DEY!" And we know it's all gonna get better because the music is so nice!!
The nominees are....
Beasts of the Southern Wild A fairy tale of a new form, the score has been oddly overlooked by many.
Life of Pi A form of the culture, Life of Pi's soundtrack reflects the serenity of the sea, as well as the danger.
Lincoln John Williams wrote it.
Moonrise Kingdom A camper's tune, the score here emerges from the childish naivety of the movie's young protagonists.
Skyfall Action movies can have the best scores and the worst scores. Skyfall hit all the notes with a touch of originality that stays in your head.
And the Oscar goes to....
LIFE OF PI!! By the end of this award show, I hope you all decide to go out and watch Life of Pi.
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Post by spideyfan914 on Feb 24, 2013 14:57:42 GMT -6
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE From the evil villain to the hero's sidekick, this is for all those guys who just didn't quite make the cut of the top bill. And yet, walking away, you couldn't stop talking about them.
The nominees are....
Alan Arkin for Argo A movie producer enlisted in a CIA mission, Arkin brought a touch of dry comedy as someone who was sticking his neck out and yet didn't really seem to give a damn.
Javier Bardem for Skyfall The role of the villain is not new to Bardem, but his role in this Bond film was so sinister and creepy that nothing else seemed to matter when he was on screen.
Russell Crowe for Les Miserables An overlooked, even mocked, performance, Russell Crowe has proven that nobody knows what they're talking about when it comes to acting and singing critique.
Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master Hoffman plays the double-edged sword, a mentor who can never entirely be told as truthful or a liar, it is never really clear what is going on in his head.
Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained Waltz's turn as a heroic version of his same character in Inglourious Basterds continues his reign as a beloved, charismatic, and unpredictable star.
And the Oscar goes to....
CHRISTOPH WALTZ!! Previous deserved Oscar winner for his role as Hans Landa, and 2nd-time winner of my "should have been" awards for last year's Carnage, this marks the third time I've offered Christoph Waltz a Best Supporting Actor win, out of three movies I've seen him in. May the tradition live on!
BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE The counterpoint of the Supporting Actor, the Supporting Actress award is meant for love interests in movies that are not romances, and mothers.
The nominees are....
Judi Dench for Skyfall The boss of James Bond has never been quite as interesting as when she is forced to maintain her authority amidst her emerging past sins.
Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables Did anyone know Anne Hathaway can sing?
Helen Hunt for The Sessions A sex therapist, not a prostitute, who is entirely happy with her place in the world, even against all other's understanding, Hunt plays to make you fall in love.
Scarlett Johansen for The Avengers Why not? The same role with which she soiled Iron Man 2, Johansen now brings back with much improvement.
Jackie Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook I needed five. She was funny.
And the Oscar goes to....
ANNE HATHAWAY!! As Les Miserables opened in theaters, it was at first strange to see and hard to adapt. But when Anne Hathaway comes on, the whole movie falls into place, and as she reached her large number in one massive uninterrupted shot, I knew I would like the movie. She gives an excellent performance, and shows off a powerful voice, and steals the show with only thirty minutes of screen time!
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