Oscar Movies, Part I

The Oscar nominations are out. Seen some of them, still need to see some others prior to the telecast in February. Here's some comments on the ones I've seen, more to come later.

Best Picture nominee: The Social Network
At one time was a shoo-in for Best Picture, but may have gotten passed up by some others. This movie is all dialogue, absolutely no action; yet it is very fast paced and very interesting. I loved it. Does it stay true to the facts? Don't know for sure, but Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg is great (and was deservedly nominated for Best Actor). According to this movie, Zuckerberg was a combination geek-nerd-outcast-genius-manipulator who took/stole an idea in his dorm room and became a billionaire. The script was nominated for an Oscar too, and should win. The dialogue is kind of Quentin Tarantino-esque and you'll be hooked in the opening scene. Kudos to Justin Timberlake in his role as the founder of Napster. Note: the actress playing Zuckerberg's girlfriend in the opening scene is the new Lizbeth Salander (if you don't know who that is, you're not interested anyway).

Best Picture nominee: True Grit
For a movie overlooked at end of year top ten lists, this one racked up a lot of Oscar nominations. I liked it, but didn't necessarily leave the theatre with a huge WOW factor. But the more I think about it, yeah, it was well done. Jeff Bridges was nominated for Best Actor but he just won last year. However, he certainly did a great job with Rooster Cogburn. Hallie Steinfeld as Mattie Ross would be my choice to win for Best Supporting Actress (even though she was the lead). Anytime she's on screen, you are definitely paying attention.

Best Picture nominee: The Fighter
A true-life movie in which I admired the performances but overall didn't really like it a lot. It's a loud, frenetic, Boston movie (if that description makes any sense). Mark Wahlberg is an up and coming boxer whose brother once fought Sugar Ray Leonard but has since spiraled into drugs. Christan Bale as the brother (Dicky Ecklund) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. His performance is good, but boy is he hyper. Melissa Leo also was nominated as Best Supporting Actress. Again, I guess a good performance but it was very grating, if not downright annoying. Amy Adams also picked up a Best Supporting Actress nomination. She usually plays sweet characters, but not this time, and she is good. A very odd part of this movie were the boxers' 8 sisters, who usually just sat around and functioned as sort of a Greek Chorus, responding to everything else going on with "oh no you didn't" or "you go girl" comments or expressions.

Best Picture nominee: Black Swan
Okay, this movie was just downright weird. A psychological thriller/ballet horror movie. I guess I should admire Natalie Portman's performance, as she will likely win Best Actress. Suffice it to say she is a long way from Star Wars in this role. One of those movies where everything is not as it seems, so don't bother trying to figure it all out. More violent than you might be expecting and just an overall dark atmosphere. The only movie I've seen where even a fingernail clipping scene makes you squirm. Definitely NOT a movie for the little ones, especially if you ever want them to take up ballet.