By Meriha Beaton & Rebecca Spence
The Social Network
If director David Fincher held out a few more years to make this movie, it could have been much better. The idea was good in theory, but didn’t quite pan out on the big screen. Mark Zuckerburg’s life thus far has been extraordinary, but he is only 29 and there is more for him to experience. The development of Facebook, his legal battles and personal disputes were interesting, but don’t necessarily need a feature length film just yet.
Jesse Eisenberg was the most impressive part of the movie. He developed an engaging character of a man who is known for what he has done, but not necessarily for who he is. Eisenberg was powerful while being subtle with his performance. His performance, along with the dialogue made the movie shine when in reality it was a film about an average guy whose life is just getting started. (MB)
The Black Swan
Dark and twisted, this movie did not hold back. The concept was original and well executed. It was fast paced with no lulls, and ended at exactly the right time.
Despite the fact that it was a bit nauseating, Darren Aronofsky’s choice to use a hand held camera to film the majority of the movie was smart as it created a vicarious experience for the viewer. The viewer became crazy with Nina (Natalie Portman).
Portman deserves the acknowledgement she has received. There was minimal dialogue and Portman was alone in many of the scenes, yet she was able to uphold the suspense and drama of the film through her facial expressions alone. The movie is probably too indie to win Best Picture, but Portman’s performance could have her walking home with a little golden statue. (MB)
Inception
Leonardo DiCaprio is the best actor of his generation. This we already know. He has proven to the world that he is more than just a pretty face and has what it takes to be an excellent dramatic actor. But now it’s time to mix things up a little.
He will never win the Oscar he deserves if he continues to play these serious and pensive characters, because even though he is great at them, they aren’t enough anymore. The Hollywood Foreign Press seems to agree, as he is excluded from the Best Actor category. The other performances by Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard were strong but less memorable, because the film was more concept-based than character based. None of the actors received a Golden Globe nod.
The concept and visual effects of the film are why it deserves a Best Picture nomination but there was too much action and flashiness for it to be taken seriously enough to win the category. (MB)
The Fighter
Unless you’re a boxing fan, you might be a bit hesitant to pay for a ticket to see The Fighter. But this movie goes much further beyond the four corners of the boxing ring.
Based on a true story, Mark Wahlberg plays Micky Ward, an up-and-coming boxer living in the small, working-class town of Lowell, Massachusetts. Micky looks up to his half-brother, Dicky (Christian Bale), a washed-up boxer and crack addict who is still referred to as “The Pride of Lowell.”
The film is as much about working-class values, sibling loyalty and blurring the line between business and family as it is about boxing. Melissa Leo is chilling as Micky and Dicky’s mother. Amy Adams shows off her Boston accent and tough-girl attitude as Micky’s girlfriend.
With all four leading actors garnering Golden Globe nominations, *The Fighter* seems to be the film with the strongest cast. But even though the script and direction are phenomenal, it still may not be enough to make sure that *The Fighter* takes home the evening’s top prize. (RS)
The King’s Speech
This movie is about as close to perfection as it gets. It tells the story of King George VI (formerly the Duke of York) and his rise to the throne just before the starts of World War II.
More specifically, though, the historical drama showcases the relationship between King George (Colin Firth) and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The subject of this film may seem like a nitty gritty, unimportant detail, but the impeccable storytelling prevails as it zeros in on this personal battle within a much wider context that examines what it takes to be a great leader.
Firth’s portrayal of the King’s lifelong struggle with a stammer is absolutely flawless. If Firth isn’t awarded the Best Actor award, I’ll be speechless. (RS)
Honourable Mention: 127 Hours
Even though 127 Hours wasn’t nominated for Best Picture, its star James Franco still managed to grab a nod for Best Actor, which will hopefully draw more attention to this amazing film.
Director Danny Boyle takes on the true story of Aron Ralston, who was stuck “between a rock and a hard place” for five days until he freed himself by cutting off his right arm. Boyle turns this terrifying event into a tale of survival and a testament to the power of the human spirit.
Franco is the only actor onscreen for the vast majority of the 94-minute film (a bit shorter than the title suggests), and he commands his character’s agony with grace and honesty. For those of you who can’t deal with blood and gore, try your best to make it through the climactic action. You’ll likely find yourself cheering Franco on in his desperate measures, and the scene will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted rather than horrified and disgusted. I’ll bet my right arm on that. (RS)
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