Oscars Wrap-Up 

Marty winning Best Director
Well it was most definitely a big snoozer last night, although no real surprises there. The Oscars are always laborious and drawn-out and last night was no exception. Ellen fizzled as a host and I really felt bad for her. Those shadow human puppets were pointless, Celine Dion just plain scary, and the entire thing looked cheap compared to every other year (although that probably had something to do with everything been ‘green’ this year).

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Tuesday, February 27 2007
 
Film General
 

Oscar Predictions 2007 

Oscar Predictions 2007
Well I’m getting these up just before the awards are announced. Just like last year, I’m going to include which nominees I want to see win and which one’s most probably will win. Obviously some of these will be guesses as I haven’t seen every film nominated.

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Monday, February 26 2007
 
Film General
 

Short Reviews #25 

Babel
Babel (2006)
starstarstarstar_one

I was a complete wreck after watching Babel. A sobering mess. This is the film Crash wished it was. Intelligent, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, politically charged storytelling at its very best and cinematically a masterpiece. I can’t believe there is such a backlash against this film, particularly those who consider it pretentious and unfathomable. Well, if you’re one of those people then you may need to stop reading because this review serves as nothing but complete respect for what director Alejandro González Iñárritu and screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga have achieved. I think one’s opinion essentially comes down to director Iñárritu’s approach to the material. Some will find it one-sided but just like Paul Greengrass did with Bloody Sunday and United 93, it’s his own interpretation of the world and events that take place. For this reviewer, every situation made perfect and plausible sense and communicated its message powerfully. The film focuses on four interwoven stories playing with the themes of miscommunication, misunderstanding, chance and coincidence. The story that compelled me the most was that of Chieko, a deaf-mute Japanese schoolgirl who strives to make a connection with people. Iñárritu handles this storyline with immense compassion and care and relative newcomer Rinko Kikuchi is a revelation. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Gael García Bernal are good too but Kikuchi and actress Adriana Barraza playing the Mexican nanny are exceptional. Babel is a film I highly recommend everyone to see. A modern day masterpiece of drama.

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Thursday, February 22 2007
 
Film Review
 
Previous Ramblings