Oscar predictions

Oscar night tonight, so here are my predictions on what I think will and what should win. Feel free to air your opinions and your own predictions!

Best Actor - Colin Firth (The King's Speech)

Hands down winner. No question, and totally deserved

Best Actress - Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Again, a hands down winner. Gritty role, played brilliantly. She'll never get a part like it again.

Best supporting actor - Christian Bale (The Fighter)

He went to extreme methods to prepare for the part in The Fighter and is no doubt superb but my vote would go to Jeffrey Rush in The King's Speech. He'll lose out mainly because he is already an Oscar winner. It's a disgrace that Andrew Garfield was not nominated for The Social Network. He was the outstanding actor for me in that movie and I just don't understand his omission from the list of nominees.

Best supporting actress - Melissa Leo (The Fighter)

She has it in the bag for sure and is a deserved winner. However, I would chose Hailee Steinfeld over her as she was incredible in True Grit. The only good thing about the movie and for a 14 year old to carry that off for 2 hours is no mean feat.

Best original screenplay - The King's Speech

Lots of competition here but as scripts go, you don't get much better than this.

Best adapted screenplay - The Social Network

Again, amazing script. So clever and a definite winner

Best director - David Fincher

He'll win it as it's his time. I personally don't think he deserves it, even though I am a huge fan. He'll be getting it for the wrong film. The best direction of the year should go to Christopher Nolan for Inception but he's not even nominated. Disgrace! It's the most intricate/ground breaking direction ever seen.

Best film - The Social Network

I reckon it will just pip The Fighter and The King's Speech to it. Deservedly so as it's a fantastic film.

True Grit

This review is going to be short and sweet!

When I heard that the brilliant Coen Brothers directed this remake of the heralded western 'True Grit' I was intrigued as to what they'd do to the old classic to put their mark on it. The result?
NOTHING...

There is no point in explaining the plot as I'm sure most people will have seen the original. It hasn't changed in this 2011 version.
Jeff Daniels portrays the character Rooster Cogburn, played in the original by the enigmatic (and rather annoying) John Wayne and the usually watchable Matt Damon is miscast in the Glen Campbell role.

I never seen the big deal with the original True Grit when I was a kid but watched this version with an open mind. There are no clever Coen Brothers quirks nor is the direction by any means outstanding. In fact, the whole thing is totally pointless. They have basically made an average update of an already average film. They could have done so much here as by the looks of it they were given plenty of money by the studio.

The only redeeming factor the movie has is the stunning performance by 14 year old newcomer Hailee Steinfeld as the gutsy Mattie Ross seeking the help of Cogburn to track down her fathers killer. She acts Daniels off the screen and carries the
film.

The Coen Brothers totally disappoint here and were obviously bored and killing time. I can't think of another reason. There are lots of good film makers out there crying out for a decent budget to match their original scripts but yet the studio execs continue to dish out big bucks to high end well known directors. It doesn't always work and True Grit is a prime example. No doubt it'll make money for the studio, especially in the States. The audience however don't gain from this.

Save your money for the next Coen Brothers offering and give this dud a miss!

Score: 3/10

Bleak Swan!!!

There are not many films that leave me totally lost for words when I leave the cinema. Black Swan is without doubt a very classy movie but is it any good?


Natalie Portman plays Nina the aspiring prima ballerina obsessed with getting the lead in her company's new production of Swan Lake. Nina lives with her mother (Barbara Hershey), herself a former ballerina who fuels Nina's passion for ballet in a domineering and controlled manner.

When the current prima ballerina Beth played by ( Winona Ryder) announces her retirement, Nina sets hers sights on taking her role regardless of the consequences.
After the company director Thomas (Vincent Cassel) announces Nina as his first choice, both Nina and her mother are ecstatic.
However, there is a new kid on the block in the shape of the beautiful Lily (Mila Kunis) which means Nina has competition.

The lead role requires the dancer to play both the roles of the white swan and the black swan. Nina is the perfect white swan but Lily is equally perfect as the black swan. Reluctantly, Nina becomes a friend of sorts with the effervescent and social Lily, much to her mothers disgust.

So intent is Nina on emulating her new ally's performance as the black swan and achieving perfection that she becomes totally paranoid and somehwhat schizophrenic with fatal results.



There is no doubt that Portman's performance is incredible and it's the role of a lifetime for her. She portrays the eerie character with such class and intrigue. The always watchable Hershey is excellent as the over protective, if somewhat creepy mother. Cassel and the stunning Kunis provide great support along the way.
The other plus points are the costume design, the music and the direction.


My problem with Black Swan however is that about 70% of the movie makes for very uncomfortable viewing. It's a lot scarier than expected but not in a good way, it's also quite gory. Many parts were stomach churning and some may argue that this was necessary to the storyline. Fair enough, but for me the whole thing was a bit of a mess.
I perceived it as film noir with classy A Lister's being brought to a bigger audience. What the creators ultimately give us, is a darkly confused 70's style horror B movie that leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.

What a shame!

Score: 5/10