Final Thoughts on The Oscars

Well another year has come and gone. In my opinion this Oscar telecast was much more low key than past years, which probably has something to do with the writer's strike. The only time it seemed out of place was when it tried to go big ie. those terribly awkward "Enchanted" musical numbers (I still love you Kristen Chenoweth).

There wasn't much of a sweep with every single best picture nominee winning at least one award, but as predicted by many "No Country for Old Men" took the Best Picture prize. I was pretty happy the film won, I do think it is a masterpiece and the Coen Brothers made very funny minimal acceptance speeches for their best adapted screenplay and best director wins.

My favorite moment was of course Glan Hansard and Marketa Irglova winning for "Falling Slowly", I almost didn't care about any other nomination. They were probably the most down to earth people there that night, and Hansard's speech about "make art, make art" was very touching to me, then there was the classy move by Jon Stewart to bring Irglova back after she was cut off.

Speaking of Jon Stewart, I thought he did a solid job making his usual edgy political jokes with some cheery cynicism towards Hollywood, I hope he's back next year, or perhaps they might go with Stewart's right hand man Stephen Colbert wouldn't that be great?

All in all I very much enjoyed last nights show, it seemed to move along and I didn't really have any major problems with who won so good on you Academy see ya next year!!!

Best Picture

Well I don't know how successful my polls were since this time I only got 2 votes. (Thanks to those two who voted.) What seems to be happening is that there is a "No Country for Old Men" camp and a "There Will Be Blood" camp building up between bloggers. Unfortunately there has to be one winner. If you saw my Top Ten list, you probably see that I am siding for "No Country for Old Men". I just saw the film for the third time yesterday, it has a certain quiet power I didn't get from the other four nominated films.

Perhaps I was a little too harsh with "There Will Be Blood" in my review, I want to see it a second time because I do respect the opinions of others who think of it as a masterpiece, as a whole it didn't work for me as well as "No Country". "Juno" would probably be my runner up choice for best picture and the one film I wish had more nominations in the acting categories. "Michael Clayton" and "Atonement" both have there merits but neither I thought were Best Picture contenders. When all is said and done, "No Country for Old Men" should take the prize and in my opinion deserves to.

Polls Pick: TIE: (THERE WILL BE BLOOD, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN)

JEREMY'S PICK: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

JEREMY'S PREDICTION: NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

OTHER NOMINEE PREDICTIONS:

Best Supporting Actor:

Jeremy's Pick: Javier Bardem (With a soft spot for Hal Holbrook)

Jeremy's Prediction: Javier Bardem

Best Supporting Actress

Jeremy's Pick: Cate Blanchett (for the coolest performance of the year)

Jeremy's Prediction: This is the one category that's up in the air for me but I'm thinking Amy Ryan since "I'm Not There" may be too out there for Academy members and although they may want to honor Ruby Dee, they have to see that her performance was just too small

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jeremy's Pick: Joel and Ethan Coen (With a soft spot for Sarah Polley)

Jeremy's Prediction: Joel and Ethan Coen

Best Original Screenplay

Jeremy's Pick: Diablo Cody (With a soft spot for Brad Bird)

Jeremy's Prediction: Diablo Cody

Best Director:

Jeremy's Pick: The Coen Brothers

Jeremy's Prediction: The Coen Brothers

Best Song

Jeremy's Pick: "Falling Slowly"

Jeremy's Prediction: "Falling Slowly" since the "Enchanted" songs will split the vote.

What Jeremy wants to see most.

I would love to see "Falling Slowly" win for best song since it's the only think "Once" was nominated for, I would also love to see "No Country" win in the best sound category since that was such a big element for telling the story.

And the Number One absolutely, Positively, No Doubt About it Best Film of 2007 (No matter What the Oscar Voters tell you) Is...

Was there any doubt? For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know I have loved this film since it was released. Very few films have the power to make me feel the way this film does, it's an inspiring love story that comes around once in a blue moon. It's a love story set to music but stripped down to give us the bare essentials, it's only 80 minutes long and at the end we feel no two people belong together more than this guy and this girl.

Here is my complete list...

1. Once
2. No Country for Old Men
3. I'm Not There
4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
5. Away From Her
6. The Bourne Ultimatum
7. Knocked Up, Juno, and Waitress
8. La Vie En Rose
9. The Simpsons Movie
10. 3:10 to Yuma

Thanks everybody, let me know what you think of my list, agree, disagree let me know.

The Absolutely, Positively, No Doubt About it Best Films of 2007 Part 2!!!!

5. Away From Her

I loved this film when it first came out, it was a real love story between two people and what happens when one of them gets Alzheimer's and forgets who the other one is. I recently watched this a second time with my mom and after watching it with her, she stated it gave her a better appreciation for what my Grandfather had to go through when my Grandmother got Alzheimer's, which should make it clear why this is as much the story of the husband as it is the wife. So where is Gordon Pinsett's Oscar nod? Sarah Polley is a promising director and after seeing again I was happy she got a Best Screenplay nomination, the words said are so poetic, and lyrical, and lovely. "All that we can ask for is a little grace."

4. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

A classic revisionist western containing some breathtaking imagery and poetry within those images. The final days of Jesse James were melancholy ones as he becomes sick of his own persona. It contains a great performance by Brad Pitt, and on the other side of the coin we have Robert Ford played by Casey Affleck who gains fame from killing Jesse but is ridiculed by the public who could never forgive him. It's a fascinating take on fame and great character study of these two men.

3. I'm Not There

Perhaps the most exhilarating, exciting, avaunt guarde piece of filmmaking I saw all year. The part bio, part mockumentary, part human drama, part felliniesque look at life all working with the steady hand of director Todd Haynes with some help from his editor (Where was the Oscar nomination for that guy?) Six Dylans, six different lives, so many stories to tell.

2. No Country for Old Men

A monumental picture, and one that will be discussed for years to come. This film has been called perfect and I happen to agree. There is not one false note from the direction, the writing or the performances. The Coen Brothers have always made different films, and this can be chalked up with one of their best. A lot of help came from the words of Cormac McCarthy. This is more than just a thriller, it's a meditation on violence, and the inevitability of death all wrapped up to embody one of the most horrifying characters in modern cinema. I have yet to wrap my full head around this movie.

Stay Tuned for My Number One Pick....

The Absolutely, Positively, No Doubt About It TEN BEST FILMS OF 2007!!!!!! PART ONE

It's here people, it's finally here, "The list to end all lists". Oh sure all those know it all critics released their ten best films at the end of 2007, and I somewhat agree with most of them, however I have researched, and researched and have found that my list is in fact the ultimate undebatable list of them all. It is the perfect list each film selected so delicately after months of long hard study and testing by yours truly. That is why it has taken me so long, and after months and months of long deliberation, I'm happy to say that all the blood, sweat, and tears are worth it. Therefore without further adieu and hype I give you Jeremy's ten best list.........BUT FIRST......a few more honorable mentions.

HONORABLE MENTION NUMBER ONE: THE KITE RUNNER : Marc Forster's inspiring and gripping adaption of the best selling book about two young boys who grow up in Afghanistan before the rise of the Taliban, and what happens years later when one of the boys now all grown up makes an emotional return for the love of his friend.



HONORABLE MENTION NUMBER TWO: EASTERN PROMISES: So close to being in my top ten, this is David Cronenberg's story behind the curtains of a Russian mafia. Viggo Mortenson is perfect in the role of the chauffeur of a head crime boss who is always put into question about where his loyalties lie. The film is a bloody, character study with some great set pieces but none greater than the fight in the bath house which will probably be discussed in years to come.

AND NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU THE TOP TEN LIST THAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT FOR AGES: JEREMY'S TOP TEN LIST:

10. 3:10 to Yuma



The first film I saw after the crazy summer months of movies, and after seeing it I was hoping that all movies would be as exciting as this film. Christian Bale plays a down on his luck farmer who feels he could redeem himself by delivering cold-blooded killer Russel Crowe to the 3:10 train to Yuma where he'll be convicted. I didn't have high hopes for this film since it was a remake of an already classic western, however it's safe to say this version is actually better. Bale and Crowe show why they are two of our best leading men, the action is swift, the bond between the two men become touching, and the ending from the original is cleaned up to make it better than before.



9. The Simpson's Movie

This was flat out the funniest film of the year. The pace was so fast, you had to see it twice to catch all the sight gags. The film contains a certain political cynical humour that was not found in other films this year. Along with some great gags, the film contains nice parodies of classic moments from Disney and Warner Brothers cartoons. "The Simpsons" has always been a bit of a cinematic show where it pushed the limits of tv animation, this is like getting a full on experience of what they have accomplished.

8. La Vie En Rose

A great musical bio that I think exceeds the usual Hollywood inspirational stories like "Ray" and "Walk the Line". Edith Piaf had a hard life but I was never depressed in the movie. This film contains one of my favorite moments in 2007 when Piaf imagines her lover in her room, but only moments later she is told of his death. But the person that brings this film to life is the great performance by Marion Cotillard as Piaf, who goes through so many transformations and had me believing her every step of the way. A tour de force in every sense of the word.

7. The Pregnancy Comedies (Knocked Up, Juno, Waitress)

It was a hard enough decision to come up with a top ten list I just couldn't part with these three films which I lazily put in a category together for the simple reason their main character are all carrying. But all three films are all highly different and original and funny, and sweet in their own way. "Knocked Up" is of course part of the Judd Apatow camp which makes it all that more hilarious with special mention going to Paul Rudd. But if you look at it closely, you'll find it's a film with many layers that honestly and openly examines what it takes to keep a relationship.

"Juno" of course is a critics darling that suffered a bit of a backlash. Is it too clever for its own good? Perhaps, but it works wonders because the balancing act of the performances makes it work. The film is less about giving birth and more about coming of age and finding out what kind of a person you are. I think Juno is a clever person but she sometimes uses it to compensate over how much of a really confused and frightened young girl she is.

"Waitress" is the final film by Adrienne Shelley and perhaps of all the three films listed here, it is the most underrated. While I suppose it does suffer seriously from "The Cutes" at times, I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters and the world Shelley creates. Keri Russell is all charm and charisma as a woman who finds out she's pregnant which she thinks will mean no escape from her mean spirited husband, but the movie becomes about finding ones own happiness with the little surprises along the way. It was perhaps the brightest film of last year that made you feel good.

6. The Bourne Ultimatum

Probably the best action series of the past decade, Jason Bourne is like a wind-up doll much like Indiana Jones, and the fun is seeing him get into and out of sticky situations, the film was directed with fierce assurance by Paul Greengrass, and unlike other films who attempt the hand held techinique, this one is done well, and that's because Greengrass knows composition and uses it to take the audience closer to the action. Nothing came closer to popcorn Hollywood entertainment than this film.

Stay Tuned for my TOP FIVE

Best Actor

Well although only 3 of you voted (2 if you don't count myself) it seems there was a split decision as to who you think should win best actor. One vote going to Daniel Day Lewis, one going to Johnny Depp, and one (my own) going to Viggo Mortenson.

This category is pretty much cut and dry, it would be just plain stupid not to vote for Daniel Day Lewis, he seems to be the shoe-in for sure. I don't doubt that his performance in "There Will Be Blood" was probably my favorite thing in the whole movie, however I never really felt anything for Daniel Plainview.

In my opinion the best male performance this year belonged to Christian Bale for "Rescue Dawn" but he was sadly absent on the ballot.

As for the other 4 males, I think they all brought something to the table that warrented a nomination. Johnny Depp has perhaps made his darkest creation yet with "Sweeney Todd", I was astounded at how unlikable and villainous he came to be. George Clooney again shows why he is perhaps the world's smartest movie star by picking another intelligent complex role that most stars steer clear from, it's a very Clooney role but no one does it better than him. My pick almost went to Tommy Lee Jones and no one was happier than I to see him get nominated for a role that I was afraid passed a lot of people by.

But I decided to go with Mortenson's performance as the cool calculated driver to the Russian mafia. It's a challenging role and Mortenson seems to be walking a very thin tightrope all the way through. We are never sure the motives of this man through the movie, he remains at a distance but we are intrigued with him and what will become with him. Mortenson's presence helps tell a story which has many twists and turns and he keeps us guessing as to what his next move will be, it's not as flashy or out there as Daniel Plainview, but it's just as effective perhaps even more. Plus he fights in the nude and that takes guts to let everything just hang out.

Polls Pick: (Tie: Daniel Day Lewis, Johnny Depp, Viggo Mortenson)

Jeremy's Pick: Viggo Mortenson

Jeremy's Prediction: Daniel Day Lewis

Favorite Best Actors

1. James Cagney for Yankee Doodle Dandy :I just rewatched this film not too long ago and there has probably never been a more energetic actor than James Cagney. Granted this is not one of his infamous gangster roles but Cagney fits right into the role of George M. Cohan just as well as his tough guys. His dancing always reminds me of a wind up toy only he never winds down and just keeps going.

2. William Holden for Stalag 17: Some people consider this to be a make up Oscar for not winning for "Sunset BLVD." I disagree, Holden was the perfect leading man for the cynical Billy Wilder world, he took the mantle from Bogart in the 50s with films like this playing a tough army officer who is accused of being a Nazi spy. In many ways he's the perfect Wilder hero, and Holden's performance balances the films humour, cynicism, suspense, and drama very nicely.

3. Marlon Brando for The Godfather: Probably the best "character role" Oscar given to anybody. Brando dolls himself up with cottonball cheeks, a soft raspy voice, and a cat on his lap to give us one of the greatest screen icons forever. Although I question that this role was indeed a lead actor one (It's pretty much Pacino's story even though he was given a supporting nomination) Brando's presence is greatly felt and one of his last really great performances.

4. Alec Guinness for Bridge on the River Kwai: Guinness was probably the best chameleon ever with his early comedic roles but in this famous epic film, he's the proper British soldier who is so preoccupied with building the perfect bridge by British soldiers, it doesn't occur to him till the tragic ending that he was helping the enemy. Was he mad or just completely oblivious? His courage, stubbornness, and madness made him, I think one of the most contradictory and fascinating characters in film.

5. Spencer Tracey for Captains Couragous: Tracey has probably had better roles, but I think my favorite performance by him is in this as the happy go lucky fisherman who teaches a spoiled brat the ways of the world. In many ways it's over the top especially the phony accent, but Tracey is able to find great truth and humanity in this character. This is one of the overlooked gems that should be considered a classic film for children up there with "The Wizard of Oz."

Is It Too Late to bring back Twin Peaks?

For starters I'm not much of a tv watcher anymore, there isn't much new television that interests me all that much. On a whim I decided to try out the new "Twin Peaks Gold Edition" which was released in late 2007 (I think I was attracted to the Gold Box).

I remember seeing the Pilot episode (European version) a long time ago and remember liking it very much, but other than that I never saw a single episode of the actual show. I just finished all 30 episodes last night and for the most part I was blown away!!!

"Twin Peaks" is probably up there with my favorite shows of all time, I loved it, I even loved the episodes after we find out the murderer of Laura Palmer (granted the quality did slip after that)

I remember when the show was on and having a vague recollection of the ad campaign about "Who Killed Laura Palmer?" but not understanding why it was such a big deal, now after watching the show I see why it was. The show was lucky enough to keep the suspense about the murderer going for as long as it did, and according to David Lynch when the network pressured him and co-creator Mark Frost to reveal the killer, "It was like having a goose that layed golden eggs and then suddenly someone came and killed the goose."

Yes the solving of Laura Palmer's murder was the show's downfall, it never really recovered, and the episodes after went from bad to crummy although I think the show gained a bit more momentum in the final episodes which leaves you with a cliffhanger with what would've happened if the show had a third season.

I feel like I'm just playing catch up since this show is nearly 20 years old now but what I wouldn't give to see Kyle MacLachlan's Agent Cooper (one of the greatest characters ever!!!) come back to life on the small screen some how.

What T.V shows which died prematurly would you want to live again?

My Hero's Back

Can't help but get a little excited.

FAMOUS SNUBS!!!!

My relationship with the Oscars can be summed up as love/hate, as in sometimes I hate myself for loving them. The reason for this is simple, the Academy are a bunch of boneheads who have made some of the worst choices for best films, actors, directors....etc. in history. Of course this argument isn't new, but it's always fun to point out a few of the blunders the Academy has made over the years, here's a few names.

Anthony Perkins for Psycho: I just watched "Psycho" again about a week ago and Perkin's performance just astounds me every time I see it. To think if it were not for this definitive performance as Norman Bates we would not have other monsters who have been up for Oscar gold such as Hannibal Lecter or Anton Chigurh.

Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers for Top Hat/Swing Time/The Gay Divorcee: The Academy doesn't seem to find it difficult to nominate stars such as Renee Zellwigger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp, or even Jennifer Hudson (Remember her, "the next big thing"?) but when it comes to the reigning King and Queen of the Hollywood musical, there was no love. Perhaps it was the fact most of their films were light romantic comedies but Astaire and Rogers made it seem so effortless and were able to transport us to a world only dreamt in movies. Rogers later received a best actress oscar for the ten hanky melodrama "Kitty Foyle" and Mr. Astaire's only Oscar nomination came 40 years later as Best Supporting Actor for the very non-musical "The Towering Inferno" (Say Whaaaaat?)

Cary Grant: One of the greatest Hollywood actors received only two Best Actor nods for films no one ever remembers. Not one nomination for his classic comedies ("Bringing Up Baby", "His Girl Friday",) or his dramas (Only Angels Have Wings, Notorious), or just where he's playing a little bit of everything (North by Northwest). For shame.

John Wayne for The Searchers/Red River: Wayne sometimes is not called that great of an actor, but look again you non-believers with these two performances in two of what are arguably the greatest westerns of all time. Wayne never shied away from being unlikable in his two most darkest roles, but I guess the Academy liked him better playing the more likable Rooster Cockburn in "True Grit" where he won his only Oscar.

Barbara Stanwyck for The Lady Eve: It's hard to state this since Stanwyck was nominated the same year for her other great comic performance in "Ball of Fire" and the margin of greatness between the two films is just too narrow to know which ones best, so why not just nominate her for both films. No one could do seduction like Stanwyck and make it so funny.

James Stewart and Kim Novak for Vertigo: Hitchcock's greatest film garnered zero love when it was released in 1958, but now most people would agree that both Stewart as the detective who tries to remake his dead girlfriend from another woman, and Novak playing the roles of said women are two of the greatest performances put on screen. Does anyone remember who did win that year? Didn't think so, long live "Vertigo"

Orson Welles for Touch of Evil/The Third Man: Welles was pretty much a force to be reckoned with anytime he was on screen but with these two films he created two of the most chilling villains (or anti-heroes depending how you look at it) in film history. As Marlene Deitrich said so well at the end of "Touch of Evil" ..."He was some kind of man."

Gene Kelly/Donald O'Connor/Debbie Reynolds for Singing in the Rain: Remember when the idea for a Hollywood movie was to entertain? "Singin in the Rain" is probably the purest form of entertainment ever put of screen and most of it is due to its trio of stars. Whether it's Kelly doing his famous dance in the rain or O'Connor killing him self to "Make em Laugh" or all three of them going all out with "Good Morning". These three performers gave it their all to entertain us.

Katherine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy for Adam's Rib: It's safe to say this famous duo both received their share of accolades and awards through their long career, but with what is probably their best movie together, no love was given. Tracy and Hepburn define the word chemistry in this film and it's a shame it wasn't taken as seriously as their other work.

Henry Fonda for mostly everything Post-"Grapes of Wrath" and Pre-"On Golden Pond": It was a long dry spell for one of cinema's greatest actors from his first nomination till his second and only win. In between these two films, they forgot "The Ox-Bow Incident", "My Darling Clementine", "Fort Apache", "Mister Roberts", "The Wrong Man", and "12 Angry Men" just to name a few. Perhaps it was because his acting was never showy, but it was always sincere.

Edward G. Robinson for Double Indemnity and Key Largo: In my opinion Robinson was probably one of the best actors ever to work in Hollywood. He was able to steal scenes so easily particularily in these two films. Although he wasn't the star, I think he pretty much got the best lines. Like his character Keys in "Double Indemnity" I'm sure his little man was saying to him "You were robbed my friend".

Lauren Bacall for To Have and Have Not: I'm sure many men were practicing their whistling the moment Becall said those immortal words to Humphrey Bogart in this classic film that introduced the stars together for the first time. Of all of Bogart's women, from Mary Astor to Ingred Bergman, Bacall was the only one who could stick with him till the bitter end, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Her only nomination so far was for some Barbara Streisand flick no one remembers.

James Cagney for Public Enemy and White Heat: The two bookends in Cagney's amazing gangster career were his two strongest. In "Public Enemy" he pretty much showed a generation what it meant to act and be tough, and in "White Heat" he explodes (literally) with a certain psychopathic meaness not seen since. To think this actor got his only oscar for playing a song and dance man.

Humphrey Bogart for The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep: There isn't much of a difference between detectives Sam Spade and Phillip Marlowe, they're both clever, funny, and smarter than anyone else in the room at any given time. I suppose Marlowe does give a better impression of a bookworm than Spade does, but when we think private eye, these two names come up and that's because Bogart put his mark on both of them. The problem was he made it look so effortless the Academy probably didn't think he was acting.

More snubs with come later when I think of them, but right now tell me some of your snubs the Academy has chosn to ignore. I'd love to hear them.

You Know Something? I like Dances with Wolves!

The biggest crime "Dances with Wolves" did was be too long and beat "Goodfellas" at the Oscars. I could think of three other movies that would've been a bigger crime and they are "Ghost", "Awakenings" and "The Godfather Part 3", those were the other films that were nominated for Best Picture. So maybe "Goodfellas" was the best movie that year, but I think "Dances with Wolves" was a close second. Perhaps it's the fact that it was directed by a first time director who just happened to be a big movie star at the time. But looking back at it, Kevin Costner had some ambition in him, he also had a truly intimate way of telling an epic film. I was not overcome by the spectacle of "Dances with Wolves" but by the human element.

"Dances with Wolves" is long argued to be a white man's burdon film, and how one man comes to understand the native Americans. I think of it more as a man trying to find his place in the universe. When we first meet Costner's John Dunbar he fears his leg will be amputated and goes on a suicide mission. After he survives with his leg in tact, he gets his choice of assignment, he chooses to see the frontier before it is vanished forever. It is here where he chooses a life of solitude away from civilization living like Thoreau with only nature to surround him. He befriends a lone wolf and only after awhile he meets and is welcomed into the Sioux Tribe.

Looking at "Dances with Wolves" now, it's almost like an art film, there are many bizarre moments such as Dunbar's suicide attempt, or the murder of his guide Timmons (Robert Pastorelli) early on, or the unexplained suicide of Major Fambrough (Maury Chaykin).

The film carries themes such as rebirth, nature, and the ongoing spirit and survival of man. It's almost like a religious experience much more satisfying than say a Mel Gibson movie.

Watching it again one cannot deny the power Kevin Costner once carried. Obviously only one of the biggest stars in the world could get away with directing a 3 or 4 hour epic (depending on which version you watch.) that is half done in the Sioux language. But for a first time director, Costner was up to the task of making an ambitious epic. The running of the buffalo scene should be mentioned as one of the great moments in modern movies, and some of his uses of vast open areas would make John Ford stand at attention.

"Dances with Wolves" should not be looked down upon as a black mark in the history of the Academy Awards, (In fact the biggest crime that year was probably not recognizing the Coen Brother's masterpiece "Miller's Crossing") it's a film that's deeper and more interesting than many of its critics give it credit for.

R.I.P. Roy Scheider

I really liked Roy Scheider, he will probably be best remembered as Sheriff Brody in Spielberg's "Jaws", but he also appeared in other 70's classics as "The French Connection" (For which he received a best supporting actor award), "All That Jazz" (His second nomination this time as lead actor playing the legendary Bob Fosse), and "Marathon Man". It was a shame he was not seen in more films in his later years, he had a very tough gruff persona that reminded me of the great film noir actors like Sterling Hayden or Robert Mitchum. I would've liked to have seen him in more but I'm grateful for the films he's given us.

Best Actress Oscar

Well the polls are in and it looks like the majority of you have picked Julie Christie as your choice for the best actress Oscar. I don't see that I blame you, when I first saw "Away From Her" I called the Oscar race officially over since I didn't think anyone could come along and beat Julie Christie, and in my own innocent way I thought Gordon Pinsett was going to pick up some steam for his performance as well. Truly if Christie does walk away with the Oscar I won't be upset one bit.

However before I get to my persoanl preference for Best Actress I just want to mention how strong this usually weak category is this year. I could very well give Oscars to both Ellen Page, Christie, and Marion Cotillard, I think all three of them deserve it. I have not seen either Cate Blanchett's performance nor Laura Linney's who are both actresses I've admired before, but this really is a three way race between Page, Christie, and Cotillard. If the evening does in fact turn into a "Juno" upset than you may very well see Page pick up the award, and I wouldn't count out Cotillard too soon since she has snagged a few acting prizes already, granted that would be most of the ones Christie hasn't one already.

When it comes down to it, I think the oscar will go to Christie and as I have said above I wouldn't be upset, however as I think more about it my heart is leaning toward Cotillard. I'm usually distracted or annoyed by actors playing real life people, particularily when the film tries to span that person's entire life, however I believed Cotillard was Edith Piaf from the very beginning as a young girl singing on the streets of Paris, to the arthritic cripple she came to be in later life. I suppose it's what some people would call a tour de force. I also think "La Vie En Rose" lives and dies with Cotillard's performance, and she turns the film into something more special than it would've been.

Polls Pick: Julie Christie

Jeremy's Pick: Marion Cotillard

Jeremy's Prediction: Julie Christie

My Favorite Best Actresses

To start off our month of oscars I thought I would talk about my top five favorite performances from leading ladies that have grabbed the top spot.

1. Katherine Hepburn for "The Lion in Winter" Hepburn is the Academy's most honored actor male or female with 4 wins to her name, even though some of her best performances ("Bringing Up Baby", "Adam's Rib") were never recognized with a nomination. But in "Lion in Winter" she is a gigantic force to be reckoned with as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine who has a battle of wills and wits with her husband King Richard II about which one of their sons should succeed him on the throne. Hepburn is always best when she is coupled with a great leading man, and in this film she is given the great Peter O'Toole in what may be his best performance. Hepburn herself has never been so cunning, manipulating, and elegant all the same time.

2. Olivia De Havilland for "The Heiress" This is one of the great unsung performances that is not really talked about. De Havilland who is best known for her role in "Gone with the Wind" is stunning in this period piece about a wallflower who is dominated by an over bearing father and is duped into marrying a gold digger. De Havilland does wonderful in showing off both naive sweetness and later bitterness.

3. Diane Keaton for "Annie Hall" I don't know anyone who doesn't love Diane Keaton. She is one my favorite actresses working today, but it was with her early Woody Allen films where she created such a unique on-screen persona. Annie is a smart, funny, neurotic mess of a girl but someone you just can't help but love.

4. Frances McDormand for "Fargo" McDormand's Marge Gundersson may be the most memorable police detective in modern movies. The great thing about all the performances in "Fargo" is how they never seem to dip into parody but are all funny and sincere, but Sheriff Gundersson is the no nonsense heroine who gives the film its conscience.

5. Claudette Colbert for "It Happened One Night" Of all the great screwball comedies, this one was the only one ever honored so highly by the Academy which is part of the reason I'm adding Colbert's performance. Along with Myrna Loy, and the great Barbara Stanwyck, Colbert was the screwball queen, but here along with her co-star Clark Gable she gives a very natural performance as a runaway heiress on the road with a tough talking reporter. Perhaps it's the chemistry between the two that make it look so effortless whatever it is it's magic.

Don't forget there is only one day left to vote for who you think should win best actress this year!!!

Tooting My Own Horn: I'm in a Play about the movies.

Last night was the first rehearsal of the new play that I'm in called "Dreamland Saturday Nights" Now normally here at "Jeremy and the Movies", I keep all entries and discussions restricted to movies. The tie-in here is this play is actually about movies.

The play is about two lonely hearts who meet in an old movie theatre and they spend their time watching the old classics like "Citizen Kane", "Casablanca", and "Double Indemnity" to name a few. Magically we get some classic actors like Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis appear in the mix as well. I'm very excited about being in the play not just because it's a paying gig, but it seems like it's going to be a lot of fun. You'll probably hear me dish more about the play in the coming weeks so stay tuned for that, but just thought I'd mention it now.

Blood Spilled

Your appreciation for the film "There Will be Blood" may depend on your tolerance for its main character Daniel Plainview played ferociously by Daniel Day Lewis. Plainview is an opportunist hell bent on getting his own way, he's also a man who loves no one (except perhaps his adopted son) and despises most people, and this isn't an assumption, this came right from the horses mouth. The problem with "There Will be Blood" is it offers no explanation as to why Plainview came to be this way .

The film starts off with Plainview seeking his fortune, he is alone in a mine digging for silver. This whole sequence is a tour de force in film making containing no dialogue, and we follow Plainview's hardships as he crashes down into the mine breaking his leg and then crawling on his back all the way to civilization again to collect his fortune. Soon afterwards, Daniel's vice turns to oil and we see him create his first oil well where he will gain his vast wealth. However it is here that we see an accident occur that kills Daniel's partner who had a son. Daniel adopts the son as his own and names him H.W. The child becomes a partner of sorts, but Daniel uses him more as an exploitation tool for buying up oil bearing land from the local owners.

One day Daniel is approached from a young man named Paul Sunday (Paul Dano) who tells of his family ranch which has an ocean of oil underneath it. Daniel pays Paul for the information and he and H.W. trek their way to the location. There Plainview meets the Sunday family which includes Paul's identical brother Eli (Also Dano) who is described as a religious faith healer but is as every bit as ruthless and oportuistic as Daniel is. There is quite a clever battle of wills between the two men and the grasp of power over the oil well. Eli wants a $5000 donation from Daniel that will go to his church and also that the pipeline be drilled towards it.

Many plot elements arise including an astonishing sequence when the drill finally hits oil and causes H.W. who was sitting close by to lose his hearing, and we also get a long lost brother of Daniel's arrive as well. These scenarios all play into Daniel Plainview's character some how and shape him into the man he becomes at the end of the film, but there is something lacking in it all.

I didn't find myself enjoying "There Will be Blood", I felt like I was kept at a distance from Daniel Plainview, it was as if the film was telling me I wasn't suppose to like this guy, and therefore I had no emotional stake in the story. The film seems to be too muddled in places, and once the motives of Daniel Plainview are revealed, it loses all the mystique and you know where the story and this character are headed.

Daniel Day Lewis has a wonderful uncanny way of disappearing into a character, and he does a great job in this. There is no doubt that this is definitley a performance, you can see it with the mannerisms, and the voice, but it works within the context of the film. Dano is almost Lewis's equal as the little manipulating weasel Eli Sunday.

There are many good things about "There Will be Blood" in a film making aspect, but my admiration can only go so far before I start asking for more. The themes of greed, and hypocracy of the American dream, and religion are all present, but it seemed like it was building to something larger than what it delivered. The ending, which will probably be debated for years rang false to me and just left me further alienated than before.

Paul Thomas Anderson is no doubt a very talented director and I've enjoyed his past films, but perhaps this time his ambition just got the better of him.

I realize this film has a lot of fans some of whom have campared it to "Citizen Kane" which is a bold statement to say about any film. I just didn't buy into Daniel Plainview's world, or maybe I didn't want to, but that's not to say that some day perhaps I might.

2.5 stars out of 4

February is Oscar Month!!!

Normally I would have my usual Director Spotlight announcment at the beginning of each month, however it being the month of Oscar I figured to focus the majority of my posts on the awards show that we all wait for every year. The oscars are upon us and is full of so many unique and fabulous nominees. The big question is will the actual ceremony go on as planned, or will it be some kind of half assed clip show? We'll poke through Oscar history and look at some past winners and past losers, and have a whole lot of fun doing it, well at least I will have a whole lot of fun. Plus I know you all have been waiting for it, but I am very close in revealing my top ten list of 2007, but like I mentioned before it will be a long drawn out process because that's what I'm all about, the anticipation!!! Don't worry February is the short month so it won't last long. I just hope you stay with me throughout!!! This is gonna be a great month I can feel it!!!