Surprise! I'm back, after (gulp) seven months. The explanation for my absence is simple: This year I've been a total loser when it comes to get out to the movie theaters. Part of it was the crop of movies just wasn't as appealing as last year's. But I was also just lazy. I meant to get out to see No Country for Old Men ... didn't. I wanted to see Michael Clayton ... didn't. I ordered No End in Sight from Netflix ... it's been sitting on my TV stand for two months. So, I hereby relinquish the title of "movie buff."
The number of Oscar-worthy movies I did get out to see this year totaled ... two.
Ratatouille: Amazing, amazing animation. Good story, and good voice-acting as we've come to expect from our friends at Pixar. Only thing I didn't like was none of the characters endeared themselves to me as much as in other Pixar films, especially the Toy Story films. But still, it's deserving of the Oscar for best animated film.
Juno: Yes, the dialogue can be a little too cute by half, but who really talks they way they do in Coen brothers or David Mamet movies either? Yes, it's not a realistic depiction of the perils of teen pregnancy, but it's not supposed to be an ABC After-School Special. So what? It's a great film. My only quibble: As a Minnesota native, I wish the movie (which is set in Minnesota but filmed in Vancouver) had a little more sense of place about it.
I considered just dropping this blog entirely and not live-blogging the Oscars, but what the heck? Let's do it. As Jack Buck once said: We'll see you tomorrow night.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
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