Oscar Reflections

I didn't see any presentable movies to write about this weekend. Well, scratch that, I did watch on cable Roman Holiday for the umpteenth time. Such a grand movie if you have never seen it, do so, soon! Gregory Peck is regal and handsome and Audrey Hepburn is lovely and graceful. In fact, it’s hard to take your eyes of either of them. Well worth seeing. (see my list of favorite romantic comedies)

But I have wanted to spout my opinions about the Oscar nominations, mainly to say I am underwhelmed by the lack of greatness in the best picture nominees. The best picture nominations are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Frost/Nixon, and Milk. Maybe I am unenthused and a hypocrite because of the five, I have only seen Slumdog Millionaire, which is very entertaining but has a high cheese factor. Besides Milk, which I want to see, the rest don't interest me too much.

I am also disappointed that Sally Hawkins was not nominated for Happy-Go-Lucky. That seems like a huge oversight. And another favorite movie of mine this year is Vicky Christina Barcelona which only got one nomination and that was in the best supporting actress category for Penelope Cruz who was great, but I also thought at the very least the movie should have gotten a best original screenplay nomination. In Bruges did get a very well deserved nomination for original screen play, but both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson were not nominated for best supporting actor and they were AWESOME!

So, in summary, three of my favorite movies of the year did not get the kind of recognitions they deserve:
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Vicky Christina Barcelona
No Fair! :(

Happy-Go-Lucky

I knew I wanted to see this British movie although I heard so many divergent reviews of it.  Some people find the ultra-positive and chirpy Polly, played by Sally Hawkins, to be really annoying.  I was braced myself to be annoyed by her character and in the end really liked her.  She is so goofy and makes such funny comments, especially to the angry driving instructor that I could not help but be charmed by her.  There is not much in the way of plot in this movie -- it's more of a character study -- but I found there is enough to look at on screen to keep it interesting.  

My friend Julie and I are on the road in Madison, Wisconsin, to attend a Bat Mitzvah and saw Happy-Go-Lucky at the Orpheum Theater on State Theater.  The weird thing was that we were the only two people in this vast, somewhat decrepit theater.  Besides feeling strange about having a private showing, I was romanced by the beauty of this once great movie house and sad that it isn't taken care of any more.  The sound in the movie was bad and the connecting bar noises kept bleeding through making it even harder to hear the slurred British dialogue.  I am glad they are still using this theater as a theater, but hope some generous soul will pour some money into it and restore it.