Taye Diggs should have been Curtis. Bill Condon always goes for the big name to the detriment of the movie. How bad were Richard Gere and John C. Reilly in Chicago? And Queen Latifa as the Prison Matron? MISCAST.
I also thought Eddie Murphy was doing his James Brown shtick from old-school Saturday Night Live. “I‘m gonna get in the hot tub. Unh.” Good God. He was however, very affecting in the scene where he’s about to shoot up. One good scene should not an Oscar nomination make but hell Dame Judi Dench won an Oscar for Shakespeare In Love. And she has only 8 minutes of screen time! 8 minutes people!
Beyonce was good. Keith Robinson was fine as hell. Did you know he used to be a power ranger? And did you know they wanted Usher for CC, Effie’s brother? Ugh Usher. Jennifer was tremendous. And I loved the music.What the holy hell are they doing nominating Little Miss Sunshine for a Best Picture Oscar? There were like 20 movies last year that were better. I saw it. I liked it. The little girl was funny. Toni Collette was under-utilized. And Alan Arkin was annoying though funny. For me Steve Carell and Paul Dano, as the silent brother, walk away with the movie. Either of them could have garnered Oscar noms and I would have understood it.
Okay now let’s talk snubs! Matt Damon was even better in The Departed than Leo. And Leo was pretty friggin awesome. And he was better in The Departed than in Blood Diamond. A movie I hated BTW. Well I didn’t hate it, I was bored by it. I mean hasn’t the story of blood diamonds been told. The movie felt dated.
I hated The Departed. I don’t know why they said the word nigger in that movie so much when there were maybe 2 African Americans in the film and they weren’t major characters. African American groups should have been up in arms about the usage of that word in that movie. It was at best gratuitous. Aside from that it was the worst movie I saw last year. No that was Talladega Nights. But The Departed was a close second. Jack needs to retire. Alex just needs to go away. I have never liked him as an actor. He does nothing for me. Someone please tell me (other than playing a sociopath in Malice) what he’s been good in?
Matt was robbed. Between The Good Shepard and The Departed he should have a nom in Best Actor and Best Supporting. Where were his people? Agents? Publicists? Mother? Mark Wahlberg? I can’t. I won’t. What the…

What about Edward Norton? He starred in 2 of my fave movies of last year: The Illusionist and The Painted Veil. I loved The Illusionist. Yes, I knew the twist 2 minutes in but I love Edward and Jessica Biel is surprisingly good. And even that dullard Paul Giamatti was okay. The Painted Veil is one of the most gorgeous movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a tad long but the pay off is the eye candy. The cinematography is gorgeous. And perennially bland Nicole Kidman-lite Naomi Watts is actually wonderful. But this is Edward’s show from start to finish. It’s 2 flawed, damaged people in a crazy relationship trying to figure it out and to grow. Great script. Great. But Edward is always good. No, Edward is always great. And sexy as hell!

How did “as hell” become an appropriate simile? Cold as hell… Um mm… Makes no sense. I mean hell is a bad place. I digress.
If you haven’t seen Babel, see it. Don’t see another movie until you see it. It’s reminiscent of Crash in some ways. The director also did that dreadful 21 Grams but don’t hold that against him. Brad Pitt is a revelation in this movie. I love Brad. He is a star. Brad could be a movie star from any era. He has that aura. That glow. He has moments in this movie that break your heart. He makes it seem effortless. I cried. And I never cry in public. Only on TV. The fact that he isn’t going to be carrying home an Best something Oscar shocks me.
Supposedly Ken Watanabe is amazing in Letters From Iwo Jima. I’m going to see it this weekend. I love him. He has a dignified beauty and a grace you seldom see in modern actors. And I love Clint Eastwood. Though I hated Mystic River. Good God I hate Sean Penn. As an actor not a person. And please keep in mind I’m not bashing anyone as a person as I don’t know these actors. I am critquing their performances. Bashing someone I’ve never met or who doesn’t know I exist would make me as crazy as the idiot internet freaks that make YouTube tributes and bash… Okay I will try to stay on point. Sean is over-rated. Anything he is in would be better with Edward Norton in it.
I’m just saying…
M*
4 comments:
You hated RENT?!! What? I too hated it...until I heard the full musical version. Good stuff. I think Dreamgirls should have gotten a Best Picture Nom.
You are right, Keith Robinson is so cute in Dreamgirls. One of my favorite lines is when Effie says "You in this with them, CC?! They bought yo black ass too, huh?"
BTW, if you haven't already, you need to buy India Arie's latest album. It is phenomenal... and you know I wouldn't lie.
I just saw Dreamgirls for the third time tonight. Yes, I'm gay.
M*
the movie version of rent blew. i was not happy with it. at all.
dreamgirls was phenom. in certain ways, i can understand how it didn't get a best picture nod. there were a lot of underwritten stories (beyonce and her mom, larell and jimmie), but damn! i couldn't stop watching. it was a feast for the eyes and ears from start to finish. (my take on the movie was in this post: http://sovietinthecity.blogspot.com/2007/01/lots-of-holidays-lots-of-parties.html)
i hated mystic river, too. great performances, awful movie.
keith robinson ... so cute. i want to sing his song the way it should be.
(say it again! say it again!!!!)
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