I Am Going to Let You Down

So, it turns out that the Oscars were a lot closer than I had anticipated.  To be able to watch all of the movies on the list would have been a major undertaking!   I hope that you will be able to watch the Academy Awards on Sunday.  They are on ABC.  I can't wait.  I hope The Hurtlocker wins.  I really, really, really liked it!

Sorry to let you all down.  Pretty & Smart doesn't mean perfect.

The Secret of Kells

One of the movies on my list to review is The Secret of Kells.  I have been searching for where to rent or watch this film.  I heard on the radio this afternoon that the film has not been released in the US yet.  What?!?!? How can it be nominated?

So instead of me reviewing it, I will share what Bob Mondello of NPR had to say.  I want to see this one! 

The Hurt Locker

This is another one that I saw on DVD.  James had been wanting to see this one for awhile, but we missed it in the theatre. 

Here's the recap:
The story takes place in Iraq.  We are following a team that disarms undetonated bombs.  One of the main team members has been replaced, with a tension that really likes to live on the edge.

This movie is intense.  You never relax, but I think that is proof that the film maker knew what she was doing.  We are constantly reminded that they are out to kill us--well at least on the "battlefield".  The team dos survive the part of the story that we are privy to. 

I did like this movie, and recommend it.  Just be ready to be sitting forward for about 90 minutes.

Jeremy Renner who plays the main character is nominated for Best Actor.  Kathryn Bigleow is nominated for Best Director.

Julie & Julia

Here is the first post on the road to the Oscars. 

I saw Julie & Julia via DVD.  I loved it!  This movie played a small part in why I started this blog.  If you don't know the basic idea here it is:

An office worker named Julie Powell needed to feel need in the world, and was inspired by Julia Child to write a blog about her adventure cooking of through Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  The movie chronicles the ups & downs of both women.  Julia Child as she persues her passion of writing a French cookbook for the American cook while living with her husband in Paris.  Julie Powell as she finds that she is able to make an inpact in the universe even though she is a lowly secretary working in a government agency manageing the September 11, 2001 tragedy for the victim's families. 

It was nice to see the history of Julia Child.  The movie showed that she had a great love affair with her husband. I learned that she was not perfect.  She struggled with jelousy of her sister when she conceives a child.  She struggled with pride over wanting to be not only the very best woman, but the very best student in the cooking school.  She struggled with not having enough be enough.  I was glad to see Julia Child was not perfect.  Julia Child was a real woman.  I really like Julia Child.

It was nice to see a woman like me in Julie Powell.  I often say that I work to live, not live to work.  It was nice to see that there was another woman that is searching for something more than just punching a clock. Julie Powell learned a lot about herself through blogging, and that also rings true for me.

I would recomend seeing this movie.

Meryl Streep who played Julia Child is nominated for Best Actress.

Let's Go to the Movies

As you may have already known, or just heard there are 10 best picture nominations. I am not sure how I feel about this increase from 5, but I am looking forward to seeing the ones that I have not seen yet. Over the next month I am going to be viewing these 10 movies as well as 13 other films that had actors nominated or were nominated in other categories, and share my thoughts.

Here are the 2010 Best Picture Nominations:

Avatar
(James Cameron nominated for Best Director)

The Blind Side
 (Sandra Bullock nominated for Best Actress)

District 9

An Education
(Carey Mulligan nominated for Best Actress)

The Hurt Locker
(Jeremy Renner nominated for Best Actor, Kathryn Bigelow nominated for Best Director)

Inglourious Basterds
(Christoph Waltz nominated for Best Supporting Actor,
Quentin Tarantino nominated for Best Director)

Precious
(Gabourey Sidibe nominated for Best Actress, Mo’Nique nominated for Best Supporting Actress,
Lee Daniels nominated for Best Director)

A Serious Man

Up
(also nominated for Best Animated Feature Film)

Up in the Air
(George Clooney nominated for Best Actor, Vera Farmiga &
Anna Kendrick nominated for Best supporting actress, Jason Reitman nominated for Best Director)

I would like to review these other films:

Crazy Heart
(Jeff Bridges nominated for Best Actor, Maggie Gyllenhaall nominated for Best Supporting Actress)

A Single Man
(Colin Firth nominated for Best Actor)

Invictus
(Morgan Freeman Nominated for Best Actor, Matt Damon nominated for Best Supporting Actor)

The Messenger
(Woody Harrelson nominated for Best Supporting Actor)

The Last Station
(Christopher Plummer nominated for Best Supporting Actor,
Helen Mirren nominated for Best Actress)

The Lovely Bones
(Stanley Tucci nominated for Best Supporting Actor)

Julie & Julia
(Meryl Streep nominated for Best Actress)

Nine
(Penelope Cruz nominated for Best Supporting Actress)

Coraline

Fantastic Mr Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

Sherlock Holmes

Wish me luck!  I have a lot to do in the next 32 days!