The Entertainment Blog

We're in the midst of another award season, and with the Academy announcing their official Oscar nominations tomorrow night, I figured now would be a good time to post my long overdue entertainment (read: movies) blog. So, without further ado:

I'll start by correcting the Golden Globes' mistakes, that is selecting my own best movies and performances.

Best Picture: No Country for Old Men. The Globes went ahead made the expected pick, that is the overwhelming and boring Atonement. Don't get me wrong, it was a wonderful movie, beautiful, stunning. And boring. I'm not gonna fall for the heart-wrenching sort-of love flick, and pick the year's masterpiece in a year of fantastic variety and quality. I have to give a little nod to Juno, as well.

(On a side note: My desire to see No Country burned so hot that I didn't even notice the sub-40 degree climate of the theater I saw it in. The heater broke, and I was warned I might not make it the whole way through alive. It was 7 degrees outside, but I would've sat through a lashing to see it.)

The Ryan Leaf Award for Disappointment: Rescue Dawn. The movie had so much potential. In theory the story (a U.S. pilot is captured by, then escapes from, the Vietcong), the actors (Christian Bale and Steve Zahn), the director (Werner Herzog), the location (jungle POW camp) adds up to an Oscar frontrunner. But somehow, the movie fails to register a pulse. There was so little excitement, such a mundane score, and shoddy editing that not even Bale and Zahn's body transformation could save it.

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis. Is there any question about this? Just build him another case for the awards he reels in when he decides to step in front of a camera again in 2013.

Best Actress: Angelina Jolie. If you have any doubts about Jolie's acting chops, just watch her break down upon discovering her husband's dead in A Mighty Heart. Heart-stopping.

The Mel Gibson Award (Overdramatic to the Extent of Lunacy in a Bad Performance): Gerard Butler. Save me this crap about how 300 was ground-breaking and how it pushed grandpa into cardiac arrest with its relentless excitement. It was ridiculous. End of story.

The Christopher Walken Scene-Stealer Award: Shaun Toub. The critics like Sacha Baron Cohen's cameo in Sweeney Todd, and he was good for light laugh in a pretty dark movie. But anyone who saw The Kite Runner will remember Toub's inspiring and sobering performance for year's to come.

The Korean War Veterans Award (Forgotten/Overlooked Performances): Ethan Hawke and Don Cheadle. This should actually be called the Don Cheadle award. He might be the best actor of this generation, but doesn't ever seem to get the press he deserves. That holds true again for Talk To Me. As for Ethan Hawke, I've been critical over the years. I was told he was a great actor, just to give him a chance. Well, after watching his gutsy performance in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, I'm a believer.

The Spike Lee Award for Ballsy-ness: Cate Blanchett. It's one thing for an actor to take on the persona of the immortal Bob Dylan. It's a completely different realm to imagine a woman doing it. Bravo, Cate. Bravo.

The Number 23 Award for Worst Movie of the Year: The Number 23

The "Change" Award for Most Overplayed Theme/Plotline: The Dance Crew. This extends beyond the last year, actually, but its putrid monotony deserves some kind of mention. So, take a guess. To which recent movie (Step Up 2: The Streets, How She Move, Step Up, Take the Lead, Stomp the Yard, You Got Served, etc.) do I refer: A timid newcomer moves to a new town and is immediately taken by the scores of professionally trained dance crews. To fit in and prove something relatively unimportant to their self, newcomer joins the crew, which just so happens to be in preparation for the biggest dance competition ever. Newcomer is rejected at first, only to prove that he/she can really "bring it" (one established member usually vouches for newcomer). Newcomer's crew runs into their rival crew, which threatens to stomp them (a dance metaphor), and a training montage follows. The big day comes (accompanied by rain or fire or some dramatic element) and newcomer kicks ass. They win and everyone is happy.