Premiere's Picks: [link]

Normally I dislike Leo. I thought he was laughable in Titanic. But I've been warming to him, and I didn't mind him at all in Aviator. But I had no empathy for his Hughes. Maybe Leo's all dead inside.

The only movies on Oscar races I loved unreservedly are "Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind" and "Sideways". Both MDB and "The Aviator" left me feeling like I should respect the craft that went into the movie-making process, without really engaging me emotionally. I should really see "Vera Drake", but my days have been so exhausting and kind of shitty of late that I couldn't work myself up for "yay! Depressing British abortion drama!"

I'd give more credence to that "it was just a bad career choice" spiel from the Razzies guy if Berry hadn't been the worst thing in two X-Men movies in addition. I mean, Stewart and McKellan can be counted on for great performances no matter what, but when stuntmen, professional wrestlers, and fashion models in body paint are out-acting you, you can't blame it on the script or the director.

Still, props to her for having the guts and sense of humor to show up for the award in person.

I'd give more credence to that "it was just a bad career choice" spiel from the Razzies guy if Berry hadn't been the worst thing in two X-Men movies in addition

Yeah, that's why, although I laughed, I can't like her much more than before. She has stunk joints up before.

Also, "When I was a kid, my mother told me that if you could not be a good loser, then there's no way you could be a good winner," would ring a bit truer if she was actually taking the blame on herself.

David Poland's pick's: [link]

B) Several comments as to Scorsese's heart just wasn't in The Aviator.

Really? I mean, compared to Gangs of New York, sure, but I thought it had his hands and heart all over it, in the best ways. I hope he wins tonight. I don't think he will, but I think he deserves to.

I watched the first half of Troy last night. On the theory that if you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all: Sean Bean was pretty good, and looked great (if skinny).

Sean Bean was pretty good, and looked great (if skinny).

His lean physique is exactly why I thought he was all wrong for Boromir when I first heard he had been cast. Of course, my mental image of Boromir had been damaged by the animated LotR, which had Boromir as a Viking Warrior type, so I always pictured him as both taller and broader than Bean. His clothes helped to disguise the skinniness in FotR, but that Grecian tunic couldn't hide anything.

Troy was pretty. And had an excellent script.

The movie was disappointing, but okay. Not particularly impressive, but there were certainly parts I enjoyed. I don't have any particular hate for it.

The Aviator was interesting. I don't think I saw any other big nominees. (Oh yeah, I saw Hotel Rwanda.) I don't know. The thing about this year's Oscars is just that none of these movies, while all great examples of craftsmanship, I'm sure, have really snagged my interest at all. Watching them feels like homework. They are spinach movies.

Watching them feels like homework. They are spinach movies.

Like or dislike Finding Neverland, I don't think it's fair to characterise it as spinach. Its failing is likely to be that it doesn't have enough nutrients, rather than having too many, and not pleasing to the palate.

Although I didn't much like Aviator, it was that I was disappointed in it. Sideways was the only best picture nominee I didn't really want to see. And still haven't, so there you go. I was actually surprised and pleased to see that I was that interested in that many of the movies under discussion. Last year, I picked lazily yet wisely (ha!) and only saw RotK.