Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Film Award Predictions

Screen Actors Guild nominations - TONIGHT!
Golden Globes nominations - TOMORROW!



SCREEN ACTORS GUILD FILM NOMINATIONS

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
01. Carol
02. The Big Short
03. Brooklyn
04. The Martian
05. Spotlight

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
01. Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
02. Johnny Depp, Black Mass
03. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
04. Matt Damon, The Martian
05. Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
01. Brie Larson, Room
02. Cate Blanchett, Carol
03. Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years
04. Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
05. Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
01. Christian Bale, The Big Short
02. Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
03. Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
04. Michael Keaton, Spotlight
05. Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role 
01. Jane Fonda, Youth
02. Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
03. Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
04. Rachel McAdams, Spotlight
05. Rooney Mara, Carol



GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD NOMINATIONS

Best Motion Picture (Drama)
01. Brooklyn
02. Carol
03. Mad Max: Fury Road
04. The Revenant
05. Spotlight

Best Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical)
01. The Big Short
02. Joy
03. Grandma
04. The Martian
05. Trainwreck

Best Director 
01. Alejandro G. Iñarritu, The Revenant
02. George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
03. Todd Haynes, Carol
04. Tom McCarthy, Spotlight
05. Ridley Scott, The Martian

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama)
01. Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
02. Ian McKellen, Mr. Holmes
03. Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
04. Michael Caine, Youth
05. Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Drama)
01. Brie Larson, Room
02. Cate Blanchett, Carol
03. Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road
04. Rooney Mara, Carol
05. Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical)
01. Bill Hader, Trainwreck
02. Christian Bale, The Big Short
03. Matt Damon, The Martian
04. Robert De Niro, The Intern
05. Steve Carell, The Big Short

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical)
01. Amy Schumer, Trainwreck
02. Jennifer Lawrence, Joy
03. Lily Tomlin, Grandma
04. Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
05. Meryl Streep, Ricki and the Flash

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
01. Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
02. Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight 
03. Michael Keaton, Spotlight
04. Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
05. Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
01. Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
02. Jane Fonda, Youth
03. Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
04. Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
05. Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria

Best Screenplay 
01. Carol
02. The Hateful Eight
03. Inside Out
04. The Martian
05. Spotlight

Best Original Score
01. Carol
02. The Hateful Eight
03. The Revenant
04. The Martian
05. Sicario

Best Original Song
01. Cold One, Ricki and the Flash
02. One Kind of Love, Love & Mercy
03. See You Again, Furious 7
04. Til it Happens To You, The Hunting Ground
05. Writing's on the Wall, Spectre

Best Foreign Language Film
01. Labyrinth of Lies
02. Mustang
03. Phoenix
04. The Second Mother
05. Son of Saul

Best Animated Feature Film
01. Anomalisa
02. The Good Dinosaur
03. Inside Out
04. Home
05. The Peanuts Movie

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

More of my Best of 2014 Films

So many things have happened this year that I wasn't able to finish my cheesy 2014 awards thing. Since I started reviving this blog 2 years ago, I planned on posting as many thoughts as I could mostly about films, music and Survivor, and other emotional stuff that I feel like writing. But like I mentioned, major things have happened and when it did, I had to sacrifice other stuff so I can focus with what life gave me. Priorities changed for me and it's bittersweet.

I feel like writing again though. This year has been my busiest and I'm not complaining but I really love films, and this blog is the only place where I can really post my thoughts about them. It's probably not solely "films", but more like posting my thoughts about things that I love. It just so happened that films is one of them. If only I'm a good writer because my mind is constantly moving.

At this moment, I'm inspired. But I know that this is probably just temporary. Maybe Brian Eno's The Big Ship in the background is the cause of this corny blog. It's the song they used in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl when Greg finally showed Rachel the movie he made for her. It's incredibly touching. And hey! It's appropriate that the film is about being a cinephile.

Anyway, I searched for my "best of 2014 films" list and thought I should post them for records purposes. Looking back, my opinions have changed. Just proves how some films grow better with age and some don't match their hype as time passed. So to be fair, I won't alter anything. Just don't laugh at me when you find Jennifer Aniston as my 6th Best Actress.

As of 2/17/2015

BEST ACTOR
1. Michael Keaton, Birdman
2. Miles Teller, Whiplash
3. Ralph Fiennes, The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Oscar Isaac, A Most Violent Year
5. Matthew McConaughey, Interstellar
6. Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner
7. Sid Lucero, Norte, The End of History
8. Eddie Redmayne, Theory of Everything
9. Jack O'Connell, Unbroken
10. Jake Gyllenhaal, Nightcrawler

BEST ACTRESS
1. Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
2. Julianne Moor, Maps to the Stars
3. Essie Davis, The Babadook
4. Marion Cotillard, Two Days, One Night
5. Julianne Moore, Still Alice
6. Jennifer Aniston, Cake
7. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Nymphomaniac
8. Mia Wasikowska, Tracks
9. Angeli Bayani, Norte, The End of History
10. Hilary Swank, The Homesman

BEST PICTURE
1. Birdman
2. Gone Girl
3. Boyhood
4. Snowpiercer
5. The Imitation Game
6. Ida
7. How to Train Your Dragon 2
8. The Grand Budapest Hotel
9. Whiplash
10. Enemy

Wasn't able to make a Best 2014 Film Character list. :( Hopefully it'll return next year. I'm pretty sure Amazing Amy, Minister Mason, Havana Segrand, Terrence Fletcher and Monsieur Gustave are all up there. 

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Top 10 Supporting Actress of 2014


Time to continue where I left off with Supporting Actresses!

1
Patricia Arquette as Olivia Evans
Boyhood
As much as I am a fan of flashy performances, I'm also a huge fan of subtle yet authentic ones and that's how I would describe Patricia Arquette's performance in Boyhood. It's a real character associated with natural acting and the result? Poignant and amazing.


2
Jessica Chastain as Anna Morales
A Most Violent Year
Jessica Chastain continues to surprise as years goes by. After watching A Most Violent Year, Celia Foote is definitely not the most fun Chastain character anymore. Her turn in this film is such a joy to watch from beginning to end. The wig works for her!


3
Tilda Swinton as Minister Mason
Snowpiercer
Speaking of fun, here's Tilda Swinton as my 3rd favorite performance by a an actress in a supporting role. Snowpiercer is Tilda and this is what I'm talking about in my Arquette writeup that I equally love flashy character performances. Swinton managed to make a despicable villain an adorable one.


4
Keira Knightley as Joan Clark
The Imitation Game
Never a fan of Keira until last year when I watched Begin Again.A few months later I watched The Imitation Game and I think it sealed my love for her. Her accent is so likable, and she made what could be a boring character an enjoyable one.


5
Uma Thurman as Mrs. H
Nymphomaniac
Just watch Nymphomaniac and see for yourself. I mean look at that pic! It's such a crime that she was snubbed by almost every awards guild. I mean...




6
Naomi Watts as Lesley
Birdman
Birdman has a lot of great performances and as for the supporting actresses, in my opinion, Naomi Watts should have been nominated instead of Emma Stone.


7
Rene Russo as Nina Romina
Nightcrawler
Jake Gyllenhaal's performance wouldn't be as fun and effective if not for Rene Russo's character. Her character, even if she's supposed to be strong, was juxtaposed by her ignorance and Russo captured all of it. Her chemistry with Gyllenhaal is amazing to watch.


8
Meryl Streep as The Witch
Into the Woods
I thought Meryl did a great job as the witch in the movie. It's far from being her best but greatness is always expected and she delivered.


9
Adriana Barraza as Silvana
Cake
Isn't it funny that her name is Silvana in a movie called Cake? alol. Anyway, I thought she was nothing special in most of her appearance in the film until that one scene happened, and voila, she's in this list.


10
Jessica Chastain as Murphy
Interstellar
Jessica Chastain's 2nd sighting in this ranking. She's got a great year but none of her performances got nods in the Oscars. I thought she's one of the best things in Interstellar, both her character and her acting. 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Top 10 Supporting Actors of 2014


Not my favorite category this year but it has a couple of performances that I really love.

1
JK Simmons as Terence Fletcher
Whiplash
He's going to win the Oscar and it's very deserved. So intense, deceptively fun and thoroughly entertaining. We'll never refer to JK Simmons as Spiderman's boss ever again.


2
Edward Norton as Mike Shiner
Birdman
Thank God for his role in Birdman because we've never seen such a complex character Norton played ever since Fightclub. The level of douchebaggery of his character made room for Norton to address the rumors about him being hard to work with and I think it paid off. Mike Shiner is my favorite character in the film.


3
Ethan Hawke as Mason Evans Sr.
Boyhood
Sometimes I wonder if Ethan Hawke just played himself as the father of Mason Jr. Because he acted so naturally with so much charisma that you can't help but wish you have the same father as jolly as him despite his imperfections. Either way, it's a performance that's very likable that there's no way you'd put him out of this year's suppporting actors list.


4
Stellan Skarsgård as Seligman
Nymphomaniac
If only Nymphomaniac is a bit friendlier to the masses, Skarsgård will definitely be commended. His role as Seligman in Nymphomaniac is so subtle yet shocking and creepy.


5
Willem Dafoe as J.G. Jopling
The Grand Budapest Hotel
In a film with a huge ensemble and has lots of small roles, Willem Dafoe stands out as this bulldoggish character that is comically endearing in an ironic way. I love Willem Dafoe in this.





6
Josh Brolin as Det. Christian F. "Bigfoot" Bjornsen
Inherent Vice
It is appreciated when a serious actor like Josh Brolin acts in a silly way like Bigfoot in Inherent Vice. The film is definitely not for me but Brolin is one of the bright spots of this bleak and funny film and I would probably have not finished it if not for him.


7
Robert Duvall as Judge Joseph Palmer
The Judge
Robert Duvall, who is known for portraying bad ass, serious and grumpy characters actually made me a little teary eyed in this film. He's got some Vilma Santos in Anak skills.


8
Ben Schnetzer as Mark Ashton
Pride
In a sea of supporting male actors in this film, Ben Schnetzer definitely stood out. Of course he's got one of the flashiest role, but he disappeared in it. When I found out that he's the one who played Max in The Book Thief, I was shocked. He's a chameleon.


9
Mark Ruffalo as Dave Schultz
Foxcatcher
This is perhaps Ruffalo's second best performance to date, his first in The Normal Heart. Who knew Ruffalo got some depth? Here in Foxcatcher, he's so subtle and calm, no big scenes but he's so good nevertheless.


10
Logan Lerman as Pvt. Norman "Machine" Ellison
Fury
I don't think the role suited Logan Lerman in Fury, but his effort was highly appreciated. He showed some of his range and you just know that he's one of the actors to watch out in the future. He reminds me of a less intense young Christian Bale.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Top 5 Original & Adapted Screenplays


Original > Adapted obviously.


ORIGINAL

1.
Richard Linklater
Boyhood


2.
Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, Alejandro González Iñárritu & Armando Bo
Birdman


3.
Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness
The Grand Budapest Hotel


4.
Jennifer Kent
The Babadook


5.
John Carney
Begin Again




ADAPTED

1.
Graham Moore
The Imitation Game


2.
Damian Chazelle
Whiplash


3.
Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl


4.
Kelly Masterson & Bong Joon-ho
Snowpiercer


5.
Dean DeBlois
How To Train Your Dragon 2

Top 10 Cinematography of 2014


Cinematography of 2014 films is insanely stacked that I feel guilty including only 10 in my list. There's Under the Skin, The Homesman, Enemy, The Immigrant, Noah, Fury, Foxcatcher and the list goes on... some of these made my initial list, but eventually cut coz there's just so many amazing work last year. Hey, at least I consider these honorable mentions. :)


1.
Ryszard Lenczewski & Lukasz Zal
Ida


2.
Emmanuel Lubezki
Birdman


3.
Robert Yeoman
The Grand Budapest Hotel


4.
Fredrik Wenzel & Fred Arne Wergeland
Force Majeure


5.
Mandy Walker
Tracks


6.
Hong Gyeong-Pyo
Snowpiercer


7.
Hoyte van Hoytema
Interstellar


8.
Dick Pope
Mr. Turner


9.
Robert Elswit
Nightcrawler


10.
Roger A. Deakins
Unbroken

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Top 10 Scores of 2014


3 Alexandre Desplat but outside the top 5, no Mr. Turner and a couple of randos that weren't even nominated anywhere. Here are my top 10 favorite scores of 2014.


1.
Marco Beltrami
The Homesman


2.
Joe Hisaishi
The Tale of the Princess Kaguya


3.
Mica Levi
Under the Skin


4.
Jóhann Jóhannsson
The Theory of Everything


5.
Ilan Eshkeri
Still Alice


6.
Alexandre Desplat
The Grand Budapest Hotel


7.
Hans Zimmer
Interstellar


8.
Alexandre Desplar
The Monuments Men


9.
Alexandre Desplat
The Imitation Game


10.
Ola Fløttum
Force Majeure


Friday, February 6, 2015

That Thing Called Tadhana (2015, Jadaone)

Director: Antoinette Jadaone
With: Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman

Glad that this got a nationwide release since I didn't catch this during the CinemaOne Originals festival last year. I am sort of shocked that people dug this since it's a talky film, but not so much since we Filipinos are hopeless romantics and one reason why this got raves is because this film is about, well not necessarily "love", but it's more of about "moving on". We are emos and most of us have been through that so it's definitely identifiable. I can see why people love this but I also know that this won't be received well by some. Aside from its subject, it didn't really expand to other areas so we're stuck with these two strangers whom we only found out their names at the end, talking about their exes and heartbreaks, trying to cope up and falling sort of in love with each other before fate surprises them with a twist. Many people have compared this to Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise, and I guess, I can see why. It's talky, it involves beautiful places and it also involves two strangers embarking in a "journey". I also see it going the Before trilogy route with the help (or not) of Star Cinema. I say, Ms. Antoinette Jadaone, stick to your guns and don't let film companies hinder you to express your filled-with-profanity-and-realness feelings.

I'm amazed that I did not like it so much but I sort of understand why since I think the film really communicates more to those who just recently had a break up, or had exes they cannot forget. Yes, funny Angelica Panganiban and charming JM de Guzman have undeniable chemistry, and Jadaone's witty and inspired script earned a few chuckles from the audience but it's also a bit contrived sometimes, and some circumstances were exaggerated. Either that or I just didn't really connect with the film.

I do appreciate its value for intimacy though. The film focused only with these two characters, shot closely together most of the time and I found that cute. Uneven sometimes but it captured some pretty establishing shots of Manila, Baguio and Sagada that kind of redeems some of it's bad shots. It kind of made you want to travel along with those two characters and I find that pleasurable especially for a traveler like me.

Still, I don't think the film is about filmmaking. It's more about the message, and the story, and the journey and the feeling rather than the cinematography, or the acting, or the direction, or the writing. Just like how we should view One More Chance according to Angelica Panganiban's Mace. Plus, it's the love month and I think it's perfect for the season so don't think your money would be wasted if you watch this. I got relaxed, entertained and discovered a new talented scriptwriter and director in town. Yeah I know, this is my first Antoinette Jadaone film and I look forward to seeing more of her in the future. Her short story "The Arrow With The Heart Pierced Through It" is incredibly well written and some of the most interesting, heartfelt and original things I've seen in this film. Very impressive.