Academy Awards
A few thoughts on tonight’s Academy Awards. This was a weak year.
Of the five Best Picture nominations, there is only one great film, Milk. Slumdog will probably win. It was entertaining, and one of the few movies this year that didn’t lull you into a depression so deep that you contemplated killing yourself after watching. The Reader is like a modern day retelling of the eighties classics Private Lessons and My Tutor, but with Nazi war criminals thrown in. Ben Button was visually impressive, but failed on the chemistry between Pitt and Blanchett’s characters. Front/Nixon had Frank Langella’s performance going for it, but nothing else that warrants as much praise as it’s gotten. It’s the most out of place on this list.
Tonight is the night that we wrap up talking about last year’s movies. So here were my picks for the best of 2008:
1. Milk
2. Vicky Christina Barcelona
3. In Bruges
4. Rachel Getting Married
5. The Visitor