Trailer Watch

I know, it's been a while. But hey, since we're on a role with blog posts anyways...ok, confession, it's midterm week and I'm having a hard time making myself study. You would too. Screw you 18th century lit. Anyways, I know it's been awhile so you might have already seen some of these. If not, enjoy.

Repo Man. Old story, but this time, with Jude Law and Forrest Whitaker. And lets on forget Liev Schreiber. I think it has potential.

In case you are living under a rock, this is a film which I'm pretty sure is going to be the best thing ever.

Ashton Kutcher is in a new movie called Killers which is basically him and Katherine Heigl trying to be Brad and Angelina in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Yeah, it looks as terrible as it sounds.

Edward Norton playing identical twins in a movie about pot? This has potential.

As far as Chloe is concerned, I love the cast, but I'm not sure.

Every now and then, a book series gets adapted in what is hopefully the right way. Get excited.

Ok, I can't wait to see The Ghost Writer. This movie seems exactly the sort of thing I love.

I'm not really sure what to make of The Losers. I can't shake this feeling that it wants to be The A-Team. See what I mean?

Now, as far as sequels go, I was unsure about Wall Street 2, but I think this trailer makes it look like it has potential. Time will tell.

As for remakes...screw you Hollywood for this crap.

~Lauren

Oscar Nominations - A Personal Reaction

This is a post I've been talking about writing for a month, but sadly I'm just getting to it. Here are the nominations, and here are my reactions.

Best Picture

Avatar

See upcoming post on Avatar for my reactions on this nomination.

The Blind Side

See my previous review for this one. I really can't think of a reason as to why this was nominated. This one took the spot that should have gone to Moon. Honestly, no way in hell this will win or deserves to win.

District 9

Brilliant, epic film. Thrilled it got nominated. Go scifi!

An Education

Good nomination, though expected.

The Hurt Locker

I also expected this to get nominated, and it's one of the ones I'm rooting for.

Inglorious Basterds

I have a feeling that if it weren't for this whole "ten nominations" crap this might not have gotten a nom, but yes, this one is well deserved.

Precious

Also expected.

A Serious Man

...Really? Where the hell did this nomination come from? Did anyone even see this movie?

Up

Yes!

Up in the Air

Again, expected

Best Director

Katheryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Good choice. If she wins, she'll be the first ever woman to win it.

James Cameron, Avatar

Expected. I kind of find it hilarious that this is turning into an "Ex husband vs Ex wife" contest. You have your oscar, Cameron. I'm rooting for your ex wife.

Lee Daniels, Precious

...What? Really? I'm pretty sure that this slot should have gone to Neill Blomkamp. Someone got robbed of a nomination and it was given to this guy? Fail.

Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

Fine director. Not gonna win this year. Katie thinks he could be the Dark Horse. I disagree.

Quentin Tarantino

My pick for Dark Horse contender of the year. I'd be pleasantly surprised if he won.

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

This year's The Wrestler - ish nom. Wonder if he'll loose unexpectedly to a gay performance. Doubtful, since it isn't Sean Penn this time around, but still...

George Clooney, Up in the Air

Expected. Probably won't win, but a deserved nomination.

Colin Firth, A Single Man

Could potentially pull a Milk on Jeff Bridges, but I doubt it.

Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Doesn't stand a chance. This nomination slot should have gone to Sam Rockwell for Moon.

Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

I really want him to win, but I still haven't seen Crazy Heart.

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Really hyped for a win and an expected nomination.

Helen Mirren, The Last Station

Huh, surprising, haven't even heard of this movie. Guess that's what happens when you live in another country for five months with no internet.

Carrey Mulligan, An Education

Expected and deserved nomination.

Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

Expected.

Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Well deserved nom for a delightful performance.

Best Supporting Actor

I'm not even going to bother giving a reaction for each actor, cause if Christoph Waltz does not win this something has gone horrible wrong in the universe. His is the only performance that mattered.

Best Supporting Actress

Again, I'm not going to bother listing the nominations because Mo'nique will win and that's that.

Best Animated Feature

Normally, I don't feel like this a category with a great deal of competition. It normally goes to Pixar. But this year...holy crap.

Coraline

Not my fav, but nicely put together film.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Haven't seen it yet, but Katie swears it's greatest film of 2009, seconded only to District 9.

The Princess and the Frog

I actually kind of hated this. I felt like Disney was trying to rewrite it's fairy tale dogma and failed in a sort of split personality way.

The Secret of Kells

Bwahahahahahaha!....Oh wait, you're serious? Crap. You have to understand, I lived in Dublin this fall and was hanging around in my Trinity College bookstore waiting to buy a shirt so I'd have something to wear while doing laundry and discovered this dvd on display. I watched a few minutes of it while waiting in line to check out and thought "my God that's the cheesiest thing I've ever seen." Now I'm wondering if I should give it another chance.

Up

Win. That's all I have to say.

Best Original Screenplay

The Hurt Locker

Good script, but I'm kind of surprised it got nominated.

Inglorious Basterds

Winner. Juggles four different languages and makes some many different story lines flow seamlessly together. Winner.

The Messenger

Didn't see it, so no comment.

A Serious Man

Ditto.

Up

Good, but not good enough.

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9

Heck yes! Please win!

An Education

Hornby, I love you but this was not your best.

In the Loop

Out of the country and didn't see it. No comment.

Precious

Expected.

Up in the Air

Also expected.

Best Foreign Language Film

This is going to go to The White Ribbon. I don't care about the others.

Best Original Score

Avatar

Have you lost your freaking minds? Of all the scifi scores of the year, this is what you choose? Epic, idiotic fail. This should have gone to Moon, you assholes.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Understandable, but I doubt it will win.

The Hurt Locker

I've seen this three times and I can't remember a thing about this score. Fail.

Sherlock Holmes

You're serious? Really, you're not screwing around with me? Thank you! My God, it's a score by Zimmer that doesn't sound like Pirates. Please let it win. Please.

Up

Good, but after seeing Sherlock is nominated, I'm not pulling for it.

Best Original Song

...............Hear that sound? That's the sound of me muting my tv for these performances, since all of these sucked, except for Crazy Heart. They sucked so much I refuse to list them here. I'm just grateful you didn't nominate Avatar, cause then I'd have to sit you down and make you listen to that damn song until you understood your mistake and begged me to tear your ears off.

Best Documentary Feature

It's going to The Cove, end of story.

I'm skipping the short film nominations, since I didn't see any of them. Moving on...

Best Art Direction

Avatar

No.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Possible. I saw the concept art.

Nine

Please, no.

Sherlock Holmes

If this one it would sort of make my life.

The Young Victoria

Heartily approve.

Best Cinematography

Avatar

Please, no. Does not deserve.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Um, what? Where did this nomination come from? Oh, I see, this is here because you decided to completely shut out (500) Days of Summer, which so deserved to be nominated for this.

The Hurt Locker

I approve.

Inglorious Basterds

Again, I approve.

The White Ribbon

Ditto.

Best Costume Design

I don't care enough about this year's nominations to comment. They are all well deserved.

Best Makeup

None of these deserve to win. Star Trek got nominated for Spock ears and painting a chick green, for crying out loud. This should have gone to District 9. Fail.

Best Film Editing

Avatar

No

District 9

Yes

The Hurt Locker

Yes

Inglorious Basterds

Yes

Precious

Excuse me, but what the hell? Should have gone to (500) Days of Summer

Best Visual Effects

Avatar

Probably will win.

District 9

Deserves to win.

Star Trek

Doesn't stand a chance.

Best Sound Editing

Avatar

No

The Hurt Locker

Yes, please

Inglorious Basterds

Yes, please, but probably won't win

Star Trek

Huh?

Up

Yes, please

Best Sound Mixing

Avatar

No

The Hurt Locker

Yes

Inglorious Basterds

Yes

Star Trek

Feeling kind of neutral.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

You're kidding, right? You're not kidding? Morons.

That's it for now. Later in the week I'll post my list of predicted wins and my list of what, in an ideal world, should win.

~Lauren

Movie Review Marathon

So I've seen a lot of movies recently and haven't had the time to post reviews, but I'm feeling guilty so here are some brief, mini reviews. Enjoy!

Legion

Ok, sometimes biblical action movies can rock. Constantine, for all of its faults, is a flick I find vastly enjoyable. This may come down to my love for Keanu's terrible acting (say what you want, but I think that Point Break pretty much embodies the 90s). Of course, the flip side includes films like The Reaping. Yeah, bet you wish I hadn't just brought that bad memory up. Legion isn't quite as bad as The Reaping, but it's still not by any means a great film. Katie hated it. I think I feel a little less hatred towards it since I watched Gamer first (I'll get to that in a minute). There are a few decent action moments. There is a bit with an improvised flame thrower that may show up in next year's Twigmans. Still, it's a renter.

Gamer

I only just saw this one since when it came out I was living in the UK and movies cost roughly 20 US dollars and I could not afford that nonsense. I was having a hard enough time paying for food. So finally, I see it. Um, yeah. Ouch. This video clip pretty much says all that you can say about this film.

Yeah. That's the level of bad we're talking about. Gerard Butler, you are too good looking to keep making these awful movies. Between this and The Ugly Truth, I hate to say it, but you're starting to make me hate you.

An Education

I made sure to catch this one since it's up for Best Picture. I was really excited to see this one. I love Nick Horby's work, although Katie loves him more than I do. While this is a very nicely put together film and definitely something I would recommend, I doubt it will win best picture. Regardless, this is a nice little coming of age story with some excellent acting that I highly recommend.

The Blind Side

To be honest, I had no desire whatsoever to see this film. Really, I didn't. I didn't care about the hype. I'm burned out of the whole inspirational sports movie thing. This could have something to do with the fact that I have a running count of seeing Remember the Titans twenty-five times in my life (it was forced; there are some films I watch obsessively, but not this one). I had a similar reaction to all Disney films involving animals as central characters after my sister went through a Lion King 2 phase and watched it, I'm not kidding you, for nonstop three days straight until my mother pulled an intervention on her six-year-old. Finding Nemo restored my faith in animals. The Blind Side did not restore my faith in sports movies.

Granted, it's a nicely put together film that does inspire you to be a better person. I have a few issues with it since I'm from East Tennessee and hence view Memphis as the enemy (Tennessee interstate relations make an interesting sociological study). But honestly, this film is nowhere nearly good enough to merit a Best Picture nomination. As for Sandra Bullock's hyped performance, she'd good, I'll give her that, but I don't for a second think that her performance was the best of the year.

The Boondock Saints 2

Ok, for the record, I LOVE The Boondock Saints. Freaking love it. It's a movie I watch over and over again and laugh every time. I was thrilled at the prospect of a sequel. But then I saw it. Fail. I hate the character Romeo. Hate him. He irritates me to no end. The movie would have been about a billion times better if he wasn't in this. Also, I like Julie Benz, but I feel like they wasted her in this movie. First of all, i think she looks kind of crap, which is really hard to do with someone that attractive. Also, her southern accent seems supper gimmicky and distracts from every scene she's in. She's underused and underdeveloped. Basically, this movie should have been better than it is. It's watch-able I guess, but it's not a movie I'd buy and watch over and over like the first one.

Whip It!

This is another film I missed while living across the pond. For the record, I kind of adored it. I didn't expect to, since I kept hearing about how "Juno" it was. It isn't. It's nothing like Juno, a film which, despite what people tell me, I've never managed to sit through. I know, I know - I'm inhuman since I can't make myself like Juno. Anyways, Whip It! Like I said, I kind of adore this film. I think it's a delightful coming of age flick with some swell acting and some snappy lines. It's a film I can relate to pretty heavily. A teenage girl living in the middle of boring nowhere feels like her mother pressures her into being someone she's not sure she wants to be. One day she lucks out and finds something that she unexpectedly loves. This thing changes her life. And of course, her mother doesn't get it. Every teenage girl has this experience to some degree. I'm still stuck in this experience in many ways. Perhaps this is why I love this film, but you can't fault it for much. The script, acting, and directing are all solid. Go out and rent this if you don't believe me.

That's all for now!

~Lauren

We're alive, we swear!

Things have been uber crazy around here. We had sworn to ourselves we were going to be better this semester. Turns out that was a lie. We could give you excuses. Part of it had to do with the fact that we were so excited to see each other after my five month stint of living in another country that we forgot about this site. Part of it also has to do with my hellish class schedule, rush consuming my life, Katie's new job, and Katie's grad school apps. But we're here. We swear.

We've honestly been spending much of our time on the two most important events of the month of March: The Oscars and The Twigmans.

The Oscars have thrown us this year. The nominees...well, I'll analysis this in another post. I've been spending over a month trying to figure out the logic of some of the noms and I just can't. Also, the new ten best picture nominations thing has seriously destroyed us. Our bank accounts are bitching at us. We don't have enough time to see all of these, and we're trying to cram them all in. Keep a look out for my predicted wins and my win wish list (these are two very different things; screw you, Avatar).

I know, get excited. The Twigmans are back. For the record, we've bee putting a lot of hard, hard work into getting the nominations put together for this site's awards. However, we've been coming up empty on some categories, so if you have any ideas for awards, feel free to give us suggestions. Really, please help us out. We do have some awards already sealed: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Makeup, Best Use of a Previously Written Song in a Movie, and Best Drop of the F-bomb. We're still debating some categories. We'd love to hear your nominations for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress (desperately lost on this one), Best Technical Explosion, and Best Use of Pyrotechnics. We've also been debating on adding some new categories, so if you have any ideas let us know.

We're also excited to announce the inception of something new. This currently untitled thing will be our way of expressing our disgust/horror/hatred of certain movies/people as a result of movies that came out in the year 2009. If you know us, you can guess who we'll be slamming this year and who will not win a single Twigman.

Keep an eye out for posts. We may even Live Blog the Oscars.

~Lauren