127 Hours

Hey guys! I just saw 127 Hours a few days ago, so while it's still fresh in my head, why not do a review! This is the first in the Best Picture nominees series.

127 Hours (2010)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: James Franco and James Franco

Can I start this review with an apology to Danny Boyle? After some hating on Slumdog Millionaire after it won Best Picture two years ago, I kind of jumped on the bandwagon. While I thought Benjamin Button should have won over Slumdog, it was still a great movie, and I'm sorry for bashing Danny Boyle.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the movie! Prepare yourself to be immersed in James Franco-y goodness. Like many moviegoers I knew the story of Aron Ralston before viewing the movie, but I don't feel like this detracted from my enjoyment. On the contrary, knowing what is supposed to happen, just increased the tension, (which is not a bad thing).

For the brief scenes in which James Franco interacts with other actors, you learn a few things about Aron. He's bold, adventurous, and seemingly knowledgeable about the outdoors. It's not until he becomes trapped that we actually get a sense of who this character is. He can finally recognize his faults and mistakes when he's all alone. This was one the most powerful part of the movie for me, as Franco was just so believable.

Favourite Scene:
How can it not be the arm scene? It exceeded my expectations by a landslide. I scoffed at the warnings of the scene not being for the faint of heart, but seriously: If you don't like blood... You've been warned.

One of the underdogs in the Oscar race, but definitely shouldn't be. James Franco for one wowed me beyond what I could have expected from him. In my books he's right up there with Colin Firth.

9/10 Scoops

I Has Blog? + Oscar talk

Oh hi blog! I actually sorta forgot you existed! But don't take it personally! Now that the musical is all done with, I might have some minimal time to spend on you!

Anyways back to the point. I love movies, and thus I love the Oscars! However stupid the Academy sometimes is, I still get excited over it. I try to make it a point to see all of the Best Picture nominees every year, just so that I'm well informed*. I've seen 8 so far, and will have seen them all by the time the awards come around.

So here's my plan: I will review each Best Picture nominee in the days before the awards, and hopefully I can come to some sort of conclusion. I will also post my picks for the rest of the categories the day before, as I'm in an Oscar pool, and you people keep me honest :)

Well that's all for this midnight ramble. Check back here soon! Hopefully I can bug you all with my strange opinions! I might even make a cool picture!

Good night, Substitutinites!

P.S. ugh. that was bad. I'll come up with a better name for you, don't worry

Double Indemnity

Hey guys! I'm going to do my first movie review. Don't expect anything spectacular. Every Tuesday you can expect one, as I watch a movie every week for my film class. If I feel like it, this may become more common. My ratings will be out of 10, and measured in scoops. Here we go!

Double Indemnity (1944)
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson

This film was brilliant from start to finish. From the opening credits with Fred MacMurray on crutches, to the great final scene in the doorway. MacMurray, known for being a fatherly figure on a family sitcom, gives an unexpectedly dark performance, yet he also he also delivers some of the funnier lines in the movie. The witty back and forth banter between the characters make this movie stand out. Some of the smartest dialogue I've heard in a long while. Kudos to the scriptwriters.

My favourite heart-stopping moment was when the door buzzer rang at just the wrong moment. That simple sound instilled fear into the audience's heart, for the dangers it posed to MacMurray's character.  Some of the scenes were tenser than most thrillers these day. I was literally on the edge of my seat for much of the film, and it's been a long time since a movie did this to me. The way the murders were portrayed on screen were truly creative, and worked perfectly. 

Favourite Scene: I have three. 
1. The opening scene where Neff sits down in his office and starts recording his story for Keyes. Fred MacMurray's pained expression, as well as his deliverance of the first few lines of the movie, intrigued me for the rest of it. 
2. The actual murder scene in the car all the way to the body being dumped on the tracks. I really felt like I was an accomplice in the crime, which invested me in the fates of the characters. 
3. Anytime Fred MacMurray lit a match with his thumb. So cool!

Very highly recommended for those of you  don't give black and white movies a chance. This will change your mind. It's a classic that has no trouble holding up to today's standards.

Double Indemnity, I love you too.
9/10 scoops

Late to the Party?

Just to be clear, I don't feel like I'm conforming to the whole blogging thing, because I didn't get a blog when everybody had one, but I waited until they weren't really cool anymore. Right? Does anyone even read these anymore?
*Note I read Frank Booth's blog, Saint Kitsch, and it is quite good. Check it out! http://www.saintkitsch.blogspot.com/  

Anyways, what I hope to do on this crazy thing is yet to be decided. What you could expect are: amusing youtube finds, opinions on things that matter, movie reviews and maybe an occasional poem. Probably more movie reviews than anything. I watch a lot of those. I don't pretend that I know what I'm talking about, but feel free to throw the virtual tomatoes.