She said all the energy is borrowed, and one day you have to give it back.

Avatar

I finally saw this phenomenon. Despite my misgivings after seeing the trailer, I shelled out fourteen dollars for the 3D experience. Avatar had its highs, but its low lows and I disagree with a lot of the recent awards it's won (cough cough Golden Globe for Best Picture: Drama). This if probably one of my most informal reviews, there might be strong language.

The special effects were unbelievable. Mind blowing. Beautiful, popping colors. Incredible detail. Sweeping shots, lush locations, epic CGI battles. 3D! I was and still am under Avatar's special effects spell. It was truly mesmerizing. James Cameron has my eternal respect (but he already had it). As for it being the future of film making, I really hope not. I think 3D is a treat now and then, but I don't want more and more movies shot in 3D. I find it distracting. It takes you out of the moment of the film, you are less immersed in the film's world because you are reminded of these glasses sitting on your face. It was especially weird for someone who has never worn glasses. Regardless of my qualms with 3D, I wouldn't have seen this in any other format. Cameron's Pandora is truly a sight to behold and the special effects are not to be forgotten.

Avatar had a good message. Anti-colonialism, pro-environmental. Studying colonialism in school used to make me feel terrible, so seeing it on screen was tough to watch. Cameron's environmental themes spoke true. Earth is the only planet we have, we can't ruin it. We might not be able to go to another planet to ruin either. Guys, let's just protect our natural resources, think green, stop building ugly mcmansions, okay? In addition to Avatar's political messages, I really enjoyed the film's discussion of family, energy, and so on.

Sam Worthington, he is quickly becoming Hollywood's go to guy for action. He turned in a decent performance in Terminator: Salvation and will be starring in the remake of Clash of the Titans next. His performance, like all the other actors', was predictable. These are all stock characters and all the actor's totally played into that. They brought nothing to these roles I hadn't already seen before. Maybe it was poor direction, or bad writing (most likely), but the performances were stale. After seeing Worthington with long hair throughout Avatar, I totally see his sex appeal. With a shaved head he looks like a douche but with long hair, wow, GQ mother fucker. I get it. Worthington still needs to prove himself to me. Later this year, he'll be in Last Night, a relationship drama with Keira Knightley and I'm really excited to see what he can do. I'm rooting for him.

Avatar's script and story was probably the most unoriginal piece of work I've seen in years. Not only was it unoriginal, but the script was bad. Painfully bad at times. This film is a soup, and the ingredients are Dances with Wolves, Fern Gully, Pocahontas/The New World with a dash of Lost and a splash of Jurassic Park. Blogs have called it Dances with Smurfs, rightfully so. The plot was totally predictable. Withing fifteen minutes I knew what the second and third acts would be like and how the film would end. No surprises. Cliche lines like "I became a Marine for the hardships. Told myself that I can pass any test a man can pass. All I ever wanted, was a single thing worth fighting for," made up the script. I lost count of the amount of times I rolled my eyes. As well, Jake Sully and Neytiri had no chemistry.

To give Cameron credit, he does know how to intermix physical and emotional devastation. Even though I knew what was going to happen, there were still some powerful moments, like the scene of environmental genocide on Pandora. Great intertextuality when the tree slowly fell atop fleeing Na'vi. Good shout out to Titanic.

I understand the argument for Cameron getting Best Director. The director controls and oversees everything. It's an incredibly daunting and stressful task. I repeat, Cameron did a great job creating and overseeing those special effects. But the acting was mediocre at best and the script was a ripoff, so Cameron only got half the job done. I maintain my stance on Katheryn Bigelow for the win.

Finally, I find it ridiculous that in 2154, people are still smoking, let alone on a foreign planet. I would hope we were advanced enough to eradicate smoking. It was unnecessary and gives our future a little less credibility.

Great job with the effects, Cameron and crew. Give Avatar all the technical awards, it deserves it. But nothing else. I think America is under the Jennifer Hudson spell. "Oh these special effects are awesome, Best Picture!" like "Oh, she did a great job singing that song, Best Supporting Actress!" Hopefully voters will find the antidote before March 7. And James, please, no sequel.



James Franco in Pineapple Express

James Franco has made some questionable career decisions. I mean has anyone seen his General Hospital work? Hilariously appalling. But he was so damn sweet, gentle, and believable as adorably clueless pot dealer Saul Silver. When Franco is good, he's good. I can forgive his mistakes for this endearing and hilarious performance.



Netflix

The Sound of Music-I have it taped on VHS at home. And I've never seen the non-TV/edited for time version. Plus nothing, beats Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews leading Austrians in Edelweiss as the Nazis sit idly by.
Cache-French film that is highly regarded in the states. Roger Ebert tweeted about it recently.
Footloose-Netflix Instant. Yes, I've never seen it.

Do you think he was just some kind of substitute for real love?

A Single Man

Did Tom Ford wake up one morning and say, "I think I'll make a movie today"? When I heard he was making his directorial debut with a feature, I raised my eyebrows. He is notorious for having a very large ego, and I figured this was just another way to stroke it. FALSE. A Single Man was a moving love story that turned out one of the best (and one of my favorite) male performances this year. Ford has an artistic vision and it completely translates into cinema. Not only did he direct, but he wrote the screenplay. Ford is a jack of all trades and has made a memorable cinematic debut with A Single Man.

As George, Colin Firth is a ghost of a man, going through the motions on the day he has chosen to end his life. He is truly haunting. He is utterly tormented and heartbroken, but remains composed and calm. If I were George, I'd scream, cry, thrash. Firth plays him very controlled, having to suppress and hide his feelings, the way he must also do as a gay man. He is intense and reserved. He expresses so much with a slight tightening of his lips or a flicker of curiosity in his eye. He brings lightness and color to a world of beige, but he sees everything as beige. As an audience member, one wants to reach out, cup George's cheek and tell him everything is going to be alright. It takes an impeccable performance to arouse such reaction in an audience. Firth was masterful. He even purposely infused comedy into a potentially disturbing scene.

At first I didn't like Julianne Moore, but with careful reflection, I just didn't like her character. She was wonderful. She elicits pity though she is a pitiful and at times disgraceful woman. She has great chemistry with Firth. If Mo'Nique weren't such a sure thing at the Oscars, I'd think Julianne Moore were going to win. She is certainly long overdue.

A Single Man is photographed beautifully. I love when film's make a distinguishing use of color and A Single Man utilizes color in creative ways. Ford uses color to reflect George's mood and state of mind. Most of the film is photographed as if black and white were mixed together, with a little pink, light yellow and some brown: very dreary and lackluster, much like the way George feels. But when he has a memory or moment of clarity and happiness, the colors emerge and pop. The opening scene is also brilliant. What a way to make an entrance.

Ford designed George's world so perfectly: the look, feel, etc. are all posh and desirable. What a powerful reminder that things are not always as they seem and lives are never as charmed as one thinks.

A Single Man probably has one of the most devastating endings in recent memory. No question. My reaction was reminiscent of my viewing of The Pianist, I was completely numb. I couldn't cry, I couldn't talk. I could just sit there stunned, internally a wreck.

I am completely curious as to what Ford's next film will be, or if he'll even direct again. I certainly hope he does. He has found yet another calling and it would be a shame to lose a talented director. I hope he finds the right project. He has directed one of the greatest romantic tragedies of all time. A Single Man is a crowning achievement, it's impeccably designed and tailored. I have a feeling it will be overlooked come Oscar and that's a travesty. I cannot speak more highly of this film.

Steve Martin in It's Complicated

Yes, Meryl is a goddess. Yes, Alec stole the show. But I commend Martin for his roped in, understated, sympathetic and charming performance. He's exactly the kind of guy a woman who has been hurt wants to end up with. I never thought I'd say "Aww" over Steve Martin but the man won my heart. You were the extra special part of this comedy.


Netflix

Three Kings-Love Clooney. Love Wahlburg.
Defiance-Really wanna see it again. Hopefully I'll love it as much the second time.
Monsters, Inc-Netflix Instant. Yes, I still haven't seen this. Next, Finding Nemo.

Golden Globes

Just finished watching the Golden Globes. Usually the Golden Globes bend to my will and produce outcomes I deem acceptable. This year, not so much. Here are my thoughts on categories I care about.

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique in Precious
She totes deserved this win. This is a very strong category this year, all brilliant performances. Mo'Nique for the win. This performance was terrifying.

Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series: John Lithgow in Dexter
As much as I love Michael Emerson, John Lithgow was brilliant as the Trinity Killer. Dexter doesn't get enough love.

Best Animated Feature: Up
To be fair, I haven't seen Up yet. I'm sure it's great. But Fantastic Mr. Fox was beautifully filmed and incredibly entertaining.

Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama: Michael C. Hall in Dexter
FINALLY!!!! Thank goodness he's on the road to recovery.

Best Actress in a Comedy Film: Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia
Marion Cotillard was the only good thing about Nine and she was great. But if Meryl was gonna win, I wish she'd won for It's Complicated.

Best Screenplay for a Motion Picture: Up in the Air
I'm so glad at the Oscars they have adapted and original. The writing categories are gonna be tough to pick. I'd be happy for Up in the Air to take adapted at the Oscars, but PLEASE (500) Days of Summer for original.

Best Drama Series: Mad Men
Mad Men, I love you. But where was Lost this year?

Best Supporting Actor: Christophe Waltz in Inglourious Basterds
Least shocking win of the evening. This brilliant, sexy man deserves everything he will get.

Best Director: James Cameron for Avatar
Yes, you managed this epic picture, which I'm sure was a challenge. But it's 2010 and a woman STILL hasn't won Best Director. Katheryn Bigelow deserved this.

Best Film, Comedy/Musical: The Hangover
Yes I loved The Hangover, it was high-larious. But (500) Days of Summer, please!

Best Actress in a Drama Film: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Okay, I guess I really need to see this now. Sandra is cleaning up. But Carey Mulligan was a revelation. To be fair, this girl has a long career ahead of her. But she was magnificent in An Education. I'll be a little heartbroken if she doesn't get the Oscar.

Best Actor in a Comedy Film: Robert Downey Jr in Sherlock Holmes
I disliked Sherlock Holmes but RDJ was entertaining. I'm happy he won just so I could hear his great speech and I love the guy. Joseph Gordon Levitt didn't stand a chance, but I would've liked to have seen him win. Or Michael Stuhlbarg for A Serious Man. That film hasn't gotten the love it deserves.

Best Actor in a Drama Film: Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
The Wrestler with country music. I've seen The Wrestler and it's amazing, I don't need to see it in another form. George Clooney was great, he deserved the win. Colin Firth was a revelation, he deserves every award for an actor this year. This is a category I am particularly irked about. I will only see this on Netflix if Jeff Bridges wins the Oscar. Please God no.

Best Picture, Drama: Avatar
SERIOUSLY??? I haven't even seen Avatar and I'm fairly positive they were all better than this. This will be the next movie I see in theaters. I need to see what all the hype is about. Shoulda been Up in the Air or Inglourious Basterds.

The stars will wheel forth from their daytime hiding places; and one of those lights, slightly brighter than the rest, will be my wingtip passing over

Up in the Air

A perfect film to wrap up this decade and speak volumes for the past couple of years, Up in the Air has become the film to beat at award ceremonies this winter. The story of a corporate jet setter resisting connection and ultimately falling prey to it, Up in the Air is a very special, distinctly American film.

Clooney turned in one of his better performances. Much of the time he was playing himself; cool, suave, fast talking and devilishly charming. When his character, Ryan, speaks of not believing in marriage, I found Clooney winking at the camera. But as the film goes on, Clooney portrays a vulnerability we are not used to seeing from him. In one of his best scenes, Ryan has convinced his future brother-in-law not to flee from the altar. Ryan knows he needs to step up because he has been absent from his sister's life, too wrapped up in his jet setter lifestyle. As Clooney watches his brother-in-law and sister reconnect, his eyes subtly well up with tears. He is completely exposed and ready to make changes in his life. This film really showcases Clooney's range.

Anna Kendrick has a star-making performance as a young go-getter whom Clooney must educate. She performs the role very naturally, a young girl wanting to be successful but who has bitten off more than she can chew. She one of Clooney's two catalysts for change. Vera Farmiga turns in a very sexy, seductive, and mysterious. She's rightfully earned many praises for her performance. These two women breath life into the film. Clooney could not have carried it alone, the way he would have if the movie stayed more faithful to the book.

This film's characters are some of it's strongest points. These characters are completely dimensional. They have all different sides and these sides shine through and develop as the movie goes on. Some appear at first to be stock characters but end not as they began. Watching these characters blossom and change, for better or worse, was one of my favorite parts. Even the minor characters, like Zach Galifinakis and J.K. Simmons are memorable.

This film left me feeling very sad. I think back to the cliched phrase "Tis better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all." Ryan loved, and he lost. Badly. He didn't gain an optimistic, better luck next time outlook. He was coldly lied to and rejected. He becomes the fired employee. But unlike the advice Ryan gives let go employees, I don't think Ryan will look back on his failed connection and feel glad that it happened. I don't think he'll ever recover from his leap of faith.

The realism the runs through the film makes it very enjoyable. Losing one's job and the psychological effects, isolation vs. commitment, these two themes play a large role in present American lives. If this film had been released earlier in the decade, it wouldn't have had the impact it has. I expect to see this movie clean up come Oscar night.

Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie

If you know me, you know I love Dustin. He makes an excellent man and an excellent woman. His female physicality is pretty spot on. It takes a real man to comfortably put on woman's clothing and wear them proudly. Dustin Hoffman must be all man. Hoffman always gives his whole heart to a performance and results are always good. I love him more everyday.

Netflix

Apocalypse Now-I think it's time I see this.
Adam-Cute rom-com with a twist.
The Big Lebowski-Netflix Instant. It's been so long since I've seen this cult classic, I feel I should get reacquainted with it.