Archive for Oscars
The MashCast, Episode 5: ‘That’s Really Gonna Help Him Against Aliens’
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In this week’s episode of The MashCast, Matthew and I chat last week’s Oscars, Project X, the latest Avengers trailer (including some skepticism on Black Widow and Hawkeyes lack of contribution to the group), Lindsay Lohan’s SNL appearance and some of the flicks we’re seeing this week.
Click play below to listen, and as always share your thoughts in the comments after the break and on Twitter: #MashCast.
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Matt’s Take on the 84th Academy Awards
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Well, another year at the Academy Awards marks another year of disappointment for me. I love the idea of awarding the best films and performances of the year, but lately I’ve started to notice that isn’t the case at the biggest awards show on the planet. A big part of that has to do with the demographics of the voting body of the Academy, which is comprised of mostly caucasian (94%) males (77%) with a median age of 62. Only 14% of the voters are under the age of 50. Now, it doesn’t surprise me that stupid Meryl Streep undeservingly won Best Actress for her bland role in The Iron Lady — most of the voters are as old as she is.
The MashCast, Episode 4: ‘I Just Wanna See Tom Hardy’
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Aaaaand, wer’re back. We’ve taken a couple weeks off, but are now back in full force with the latest edition of The Movie Mash podcast, The MashCast. In this week’s episode, Matt, Mike and I chat about some of the films we’ve seen over the last copule weeks, including: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, The Vow, This Means War and The Woman in Black. We also forecast our predicitons for the major categories of next week’s Academy Awards, specifically, who we think should win, and who we think will win for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture.
Click play below to listen. And be sure to join in the discussion in the comments after the break and on Twitter: #MashCast.
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Matt’s Take on the 83rd Academy Awards
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Of course, being a movie website, The Movie Mash has to have a follow up to the 83rd Oscars ceremony that took place last night. First things first, by a show of hands, who thinks Kirk Douglas should host the Oscars next year? Wouldn’t that be a lovely five-and-a-half-hour ceremony with Douglas rambling on quietly and sometimes incoherently. If he lives until next year, he has my vote, because he can’t possibly fair worse than Hathaway and Franco playing the hosts. This year’s Oscars was watched by four million less people than last year.
Hathaway portrayed an aura of enthusiasm while Franco seemed like he was backstage with Michael Phelps tag teaming a bong. The younger duo was asked to host the Oscars to appeal to the younger audiences. Mission failed. The coveted 18-49 demographic was down 12% from last year’s viewership. But really, I don’t care about the whole procession of the Oscars. I really just care about the winners and the beautiful women in all their fancy dresses.
Rob’s Take on Oscar Hopeful ‘The Social Network’
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Mr. Zuckerberg, do I have your full attention?
-No.
Do you think I deserve your full attention?
-I had to swear an oath before we began this deposition and I don’t want to perjure myself so I have a legal obligation to say ‘No.’
Okay. No, you don’t think I deserve your full attention.
-I think if your clients want to sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall, they have the right to give it a try, but there is no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie. You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. (then) Did I adequately answer your condescending question?
This exchange between Jesse Eisenberg and a prosecuting lawyer is just one of the reasons I believe The Social Network is the front-runner for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Rob’s Take on Oscar Hopefuls ‘The Kids Are Alright’ and ‘True Grit’
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The Kids Are All Right
This film is definitely a little hipper, but there are so many terrific things in the script that I had to overlook that. Beginning with a rich concept: two teenagers (fifteen, seventeen) being raised by two lesbians who seek out their biological father. The execution of the story is interesting and compelling, told with patience, honesty, and big-heartedness (is that a word?). All of the grown up characters are rich, textured, and wonderfully acted. You have three world-class actors -Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo – who I would watch perform the federal budget.
Rob’s Take on Oscar Hopefuls ‘Inception’ and ‘The King’s Speech’
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Inception
Dude, it’s like a dream within a dream (within a dream within a dream)! It sounds ridiculous when I say it like that, but Inception really is the most cinematic film of the year. Christopher Nolan creates an entire world from the intriguing premise – what if we could get inside someone else’s dream? Well, if you’re Mr. Nolan you’d get in there and steal something (extraction). Or, since that’s too easy, you’d want to get in there and plant something (inception).
Rob’s Take on Oscar Hopefuls ‘The Fighter’ and ‘Black Swan’
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Allow me this small indulgence. I want to give a bit of context for the brief and specific kind of reviews for most nominees of Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay. First off, I’d like to apologize for the films I didn’t get to. Winter’s Bone and Another Year, you deserve better. I really did mean to see you. Honest. It’s just that, well, um, the dog ate my homework. Apologies. 127 Hours is another story. I never intended to see you. My only defense is that I’m a cringer. When a character’s head gets chopped off, a blade slices through flesh and bone, a fist pummels another face to a bloody pulp, I cover my eyes AND close them AND look away from the screen AND still cringe.
The Movie Mash Podcast: And The Oscar Goes To…
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Hey there Movie Mashers and welcome to the first Movie Mash Podcast! Today Matt and I run down all the important categories and nominations for Sunday’s Academy awards. We’ll give you our picks on who will win, but more importantly, who SHOULD win. All the big statues are up for grabs: Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Score, etc. Click play below to hear Matt and I break it all down for you. If you are interested in jumping to our thoughts on a certain nomination (i.e. Best Score, Best Actress), hit the jump to see a timeline of the podcast.
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Nolan and DiCaprio Excluded From Oscar Nominees — Typical Academy Antics
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As many movie buffs know, the Academy Award nominations were announced yesterday for the 83rd Oscars ceremony set to take place on February 27th. Of course not all of our favorite movies, actors, directors, or writers can be nominated; but seriously, some of the snubs by the snobs on the nomination panel are starting to get a little sickening. This year’s list of nominees is not only missing a few notable names, but features an actress being placed into the wrong category. The list this year is so absurd in places it has infuriated me so much I will vent to anyone who says “Oscars.” Hit the jump to read my frustrations with this year’s nominees.
