Oscar Nominees 2010: The Social Network

I was reluctant to see “The Social Network.” Admittedly, I was turned off by the hype surrounding it. I will also admit that I would rank it in my top 5 of 2010 now that I have seen it. It’s a well-paced, carefully written, and very well acted film that paints Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg in an interesting way. He seems to fluctuate between pitiable genius and blatant jerk. Jesse Eisenberg portrays the varying shades of Zuckerberg quite beautifully. When the film ended, I still hadn’t decided whether I liked him or not.

Andrew Garfield (soon to play Peter Parker in “The Amazing Spider-Man”) is also great as Zuckerberg’s friend and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Justin Timberlake, I’m shocked to discover, is a charismatic actor, and he steals every scene he’s in as Napster founder/Facebook investor Sean Parker. The whole movie revolves around who truly invented Facebook, and whether the concept was stolen. Most of the scenarios aren’t crystal clear, and Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay doesn’t give us all of the answers. David Fincher directs a movie that is ultimately fascinating and engaging. I honestly can’t wait to see it again, although I could do without Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ atmospheric non-score. That being said, such a timely movie is a must for anyone with their own Facebook profile. Unquestionably top-notch.

Oscar Nominees 2010: The King’s Speech

Colin Firth is so darn likable. He’s played villains before, but I tend to remember him in films like “Love Actually” where you just want to see him succeed. In spite of the often UNlikable nature of his character, the same is true in “The King’s Speech.”

Firth shines as Albert, Duke of York and second in line to his father’s throne. We meet Albert as he is about to speak publicly over the radio for the first time. This is a huge deal. You see, Albert has an awful stammer. The speech is a disaster.

Albert’s wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), seeks out Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), a speech therapist who uses unorthodox methods to get results. Albert is resistant at first, but eventually begins to trust Logue. The back-and-forth that evolves into a shorthand banter between the two is truly delightful to watch. Firth and Rush are both so invested in their roles that it’s easy to be fully engaged in their scenes together. They are literally the heart and soul of this movie, and they illustrate this crucial relationship so well that I didn’t want to leave them as the movie ends. Firth deserves the acting Oscar, and I would love to see Rush win, although Christian Bale is also deserving.

I recommend seeing this movie before Oscar night! It’s a very deliberately paced movie, but the pacing feels appropriate for the story. Firth’s Albert is prickly at first, but I found myself empathizing with him as he faced ridicule from his own father and brother, and as he repeatedly overcame his frustration with his impediment. Rush’s Logue is sympathetic, yet determined to stick with Albert. It’s a friendship of the truest kind.

Oscar Nominees 2010: Toy Story 3

I saw “Toy Story 3” on opening day. It’s a hard movie for me to write about, because it hit me emotionally exactly where John Lassetter and company intended it to. It’s for my generation and all of those since.
I’m going to offer a bit of a flash into my past. I had friends as a kid – sort of. I never really felt close to most of my friends. In my pre-kindergarten years, outside of my parents and grandparents, my pals were my toys. I had great adventures with them in my mind’s eye. It was truly the best of times, because I knew nothing better.
I remember giving up my toys at age 12. I say I gave them up loosely, because I still buy them. But I knew I had to change how they fit into my life if I was going to function in the world. It’s still a bittersweet memory, thinking about the realization hitting me that I had to leave these guys behind. Sure I could visit them, but I had to grow up.
This understanding is what Andy is faced with at the beginning of TS3. He’s about to leave for college, and his mom has decreed that he must decide the fate of Buzz, Woody, and the gang. You see that the boy is conflicted, and that the toys themselves are doing their best to adjust to the situation.
I’m going to purposely avoid plot detail. All I want to say is this: Everything ends. The only thing we can do is to try to find a way to reconcile that end, even if it’s a bittersweet reconciliation. If you have yet to see TS3, I recommend that you do. Fans of the first two will not be disappointed. TS3 will not win Best Picture, but it should win Best Animated Feature.

Oscar Nominees 2010: Winter’s Bone

I have to tell you upfront that my least favorite kind of film is one in which everything is oppressive, both the characters and the environment, and in which the end gain doesn’t seem to have been worth the strife required to attain it. Unfortunately, “Winter’s Bone” is exactly that sort of movie.

Based on a novel by Daniel Woodrell, “Winter’s Bone” is the story of Ree (Oscar Nominee Jennifer Lawrence), a 17 year old who is thrust into the role of family caretaker when her mom has a breakdown and her unreliable drug dealing father disappears, sometimes because of stints in jail, sometimes for other reasons. Ree is especially concerned about providing for her younger brother and sister. When her father goes inexplicably missing, Ree attempts to pick up the trail, much to the chagrin of certain residents of her small town.

The rural setting (somewhere in the Ozarks) makes for a somewhat disquieting mood. I was reminded of my small-town upbringing, where no one can have secrets without falling out of favor with the locals. The authenticity of this dynamic is arguably the strongest part of this movie. Less impressive for me was the manner in which the weight of the film is made to feel. I understand that the source material is inexplicably bleak. What I didn’t like was the constant oppression. This is realistic, I assure you. Perhaps it reminded me of the area I grew up in a little too much. I would have found it more effective if the film were ten to twenty minutes shorter. As it is, certain scenes feel thrown in for the sake of adding “character.” While I admire the craft and care invested in the making of this movie, it left me cold. Maybe that’s the point. If you like this sort of film, by all means, watch it. Just know that it’s highly depressing, and perhaps a bit overhyped.