I Rank the Best Picture Nominations

10. The Kids Are Alright
An awful film that borders on being prejudice toward straight people.  The
writers clearly didn't care about their characters.  I am baffled as to why films
get Oscar nominations just because they have gay themes.  I know that gay
people should probably be offended by this blatant and unrealistic stereotype.

9. 127 Hours
Basically, you take the news story, some Danny Boyle visuals and James Franco's
fantastic acting ability and poof, you have a movie.  The question is: do you have a
best picture worthy movie?  I really don't think so.  It's an entertaining film but little
else.

8. Toy Story 3
A wonderful family treat with stellar animation and superb storytelling.
However, the problem with this film being nominated for the award is that
it is no where near as good as it's two predecessors.  Neither of those films
ever received a nomination like this.  

7. Inception
If you're reading through this list, you've probably realized that I don't agree
with most of this year's nominees.  Inception is no exception.  As a summer
blockbuster, it's incredible with non stop action and more than decent performances.
However, the lack of originality and overuse of cliche  action moments makes me confused
as to why this deserves to be considered best picture. 

6. True Grit
All the right intentions are here, barring what Steven Spielberg was expecting to
get out of it.  The reason this film fails is because it's too Hollywood and is missing
the "grit" that its title boasts.  It simply did not feel like Cohen Brothers movie and
that was a very big letdown.

5. The Fighter
Finally, the first film on the list that believe should be on the list.  I usually don't
enjoy biopics but the pacing of this one kept me entertained.  I would also like to
mention that Christian Bale's performance is arguably the best of the year.  This
is one you should see.

4. Winter's Bone
Dark, mysterious, disturbing and moving.  Winter's Bone takes you into its
world and doesn't let you breathe until it's over.  I was glad to see it on the
list and hope it urges more people to check it out.

3. The King's Speech
Most of the time, simplicity is the most beautiful thing a film can have.  The
King's Speech proves.  It is truly just a film about a king going through speech
therapy so he can give a speech.  The of this is that the filmmakers were able to
focus on the story and the incredible dialogue.  Not to mention, the actors were
unbelievable. 

2. Black Swan
As a classic horror fanatic, I was pleased to see such a dark and disturbing
film on the list.  It's easily one of 2010's best and any fan of the macabre will
be amazed.

1. The Social Network
Here it is, what I think is the best possible candidate for best picture.  This is
one of the best character studies I can recall and as a filmmaker, there have been
few films that have inspired me like it has.  The script, dialogue, story, direction
and just about everything else, except Justin Timberlake, is simply awesome. It
won at The Globes, let's keep our fingers crossed!

A Lot of New Reviews!

Falling Down(1993) - 8/10 stars.
A great movie in its own right.  Falling
Down shows the extremes that most of
us fantasize about going to when everyday
life becomes irritating.  

Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus(2010) - 2/10 stars.
Absolutely awful film.  I expected to at least enjoy
it because of how bad it was but nothing about this
Jaleel White(Steve Urkel) vehicle was fun.  I even
ended up having to fast forward so the illusive ending
would arrive faster.

Death Valley: The Revenge of Bloody Bill(2004) - 3/10 stars.
Unlike Mega Shark, Death Valley is one of the most entertaining
piss-poor films I've seen.  The acting, story and everything is
blatantly awful but you will love every second of it.  The people
That said Troll 2 was the best worst movie ever never saw this piece
of cinema trash.

The Craigslist Killer(2011) - 6/10 stars.
This is probably the best Lifetime movie ever
made but anyone who is familiar with this TV
station knows that's not saying much.  I enjoyed
it for what it is but the true story is so twisted on
its own that this film could have been much better.

Cyrus(2010) - 7/10 stars.
By no means is this either of the stars' best
film but it has enough charm, wit and offbeat
chemistry that it will keep you interested.

Daybreakers(2009) - 6/10 stars.
A very promising premise squandered by
its execution and over use of CGI and big-budget
Hollywood techniques.  Had George Romero made
this film in the 70's, it would have been a knockout.

Dead Ringers(1988) - 9/10 stars.
David Cronenberg truly is the master
of psychological horror and this film
is a testament to that.  It will, without
question, get under your skin but not
in the traditional way.  See for yourself!

Defendor(2009) - 8/10 stars.
Defendor is not what most people will
expect when they pop the DVD in the
player but for most, it will be better.  It's
marketed as a comedy but the truth is it's
a very touching drama with a brilliant
performance from Woody Harrelson.

The Fly(1986) - 9/10 stars.
I know it's ridiculous to be watching David
Cronenberg's The Fly for the first time in 2011.
However, that's exactly the case here.  There's
not much to say other than you should probably
watch it ASAP.  

Sunset Blvd.(1950) - 10/10 stars.
The narrative and bizarre over tone of
this picture contribute heavily.  This is
now in my top 5.  It's too bad Billy Wilder
couldn't have lived forever!

Jolly Roger: Massacre at Cutter's Cove(2005) - 2/10 stars.
Another "gem" from the Asylum Company.
Much like Bloody Bill, it's great to laugh at
but has no credibility anywhere else.

Let Me In(2010) - 7/10 stars.
Surprisingly, this remake was very enjoyable.
Granted, it was pretty pointless to remake Let
the Right One In but we have to account for
all the lazy Americans that can't read subtitles.

Monsters(2010) - 8/10 stars.
A very low budget creature flick in the
vein of Cloverfield or The Host that I would
say is actually superior to those two.  Low
budget films have to focus on story and
character development and this one shines
at it.  Check it out!

Mum & Dad(2008) - 8/10 stars.
Unsettling and overly disturbing, to say
the least.  Mum & Dad plays out like the
British version of Leave it to Beaver meets
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  There is one
particular scene toward the end that haunted me
for days.  This is a necessity for any horror fan.

Puppetmaster(1989) - 5/10 stars.
While there are few moments of iconic
horror, this little scare flick mostly falls
flat.  The puppet effects are great but
just about everything else, including
the story and mostly the acting, is piss
poor.  

I Spit on Your Grave(2010) - 3/10 stars.
The original was terrible and now the remake
is terrible.  There are few things that make this
one a tad bit better than it's predecessor but
it's still not enough to make this worth watching.

Frozen(2010) - 8/10 stars.
Psycho kept you out of the shower, Jaws
kept you out of the ocean and now Frozen
will keep you far away from any ski lift.
Adam Green really shows his talent for
direction and his love for horror in this one.

The Ghost Writer(2010) - 8/10 stars.
A complete throwback to films like The
Man Who Knew Too Much or North By
Northwest.  Polanski proves once again that
filmmaking is what he does best and McGregor
gives a wonderful performance.

Winter's Bone(2010) - 9/10 stars.
Subtlety, to me, is the most beautiful thing in
film if it's used correctly.  Winter's Bone uses
that technique to its every advantage.  Not the
best film of the year, but I'm happy it got the
nomination.

New Reviews

Gone Baby Gone(2007) - 9/10 stars.
After seeing The Town, I really wanted
to check this out since it is Ben Affleck's
directorial debut.  I wonder why Ben
Affleck spends so much time acting
when he is clearly one of the best new
directors around.  Check this one out
and be amazed!

L.A. Confidential(1997) - 7/10 stars.
Over the years I have heard how awesome
and monumental this film is so I finally watched
it.  I have to say that I'm pretty disappointed in
it.  While there are plenty of good moments,
any Scorsese movie does it better.

Jingle all the Way(1996) - 10/10 stars.
This film gets a perfect rating mostly for
nostalgia.  My family and I watch it every
year during Christmas time.  That being
said, both Sinbad and Arnold are completely
hilarious.

Dead Snow(2009) - 5/10 stars.
I suppose this picture has a certain form
of entertainment value.  it, however, has
almost no story and some of the worst
effects and acting.  It probably could have
been a SyFy Channel orginal movie.

Hatchet II(2010) - 2/10 stars.
I actually enjoyed the first Hatchet quite
a bit.  It's hard to believe that this film
was written and directed by the same man
that did the first one.  It falls flat pretty
quickly and is ridden with cliches. 

Kick-Ass(2010) - 8/10 stars.
It's rare that a satire hits the mark in most
of the right places but Matthew Vaugn's
Kick-Ass does just that.  It is absolutely
hilarious and action packed.

The Other Guys(2010) - 7/10 stars.
The comedy team of McCay and Ferrell
has returned with The Other Guys.  While
it isn't quite up to Talladega Nights' or Step
Brothers' levels, there are plenty of memorable
moments.  Mark Wahlberg is a fantastic addition
as well.

Star Wars Uncut(2010) - 10/10 stars.
A brilliant fan made film made up of hundreds
of fan made clips reenacting the entirety of
1977's A New Hope.  It is wonderful to see
amateur filmmaking like this.  Be sure to check
it out at www.starwarsuncut.com

The Fighter(2010) - 8/10 stars.
I usually despise biopics because I feel
that creating a film out of a true story shows
a real lack of imagination.  In spite of that fact,
I really enjoyed The Fighter.  It's mostly thanks
to the performances from Mark Wahlberg and
Christian Bale but I felt this was a very enjoyable
film.

The Loved Ones(2009) - 6/10 stars.
This film is brutal and disgusting and
could have been a great horror film.
Unfortunately, the script and character
development went almost nowhere.
That being said, it's a good movie to
watch if you don't want to think too hard.

The Disappeared(2008) - 8/10 stars.
A fantastic British film that's atmosphere
is intense and frightening.  It looks like
The Brits are our best hope for horror films
since America really sucks right now.

Tron(1982) - 8/10 stars.
A classic in its own right.  After seeing
Tron Legacy, I had to revisit this and am
very glad I did.  The effects are great for
when the picture was made and I thought
the story was awesome.  It was also
interesting to see such a young Jeff
Bridges.  

Troll(1986) - 3/10 stars.
Troll is one of those really bad movies that
has a few memorable scenes.  A lot of it will
probably have you laughing.  Especially the
fact that the main character's name is Harry
Potter.

Troll 2(1990) - 2/10 stars.
It's not the worst movie of all time like
most people claim.  However, one thing
that people are right about is that it is kind
of hard not to watch more than once.  It's
awful but it's hilarious because of how
awful it is.  Watch with friends!

The Best Worst Movie(2009) 9/10 stars.
This is a sort of "where are they now" type
documentary all about Troll 2 and its
boasted infamy in the "underground
community."  It is actually worlds better than
Troll 2 and has a lot of heart.  

Cabin Fever(2002) - 2/10 stars.
Eli Roth is not the future of horror nor
is he a good director or writer for that
matter.  Cabin Fever is a piece of crap
that should have gone straight to DVD.

Cabin Fever 2(2009) - 1/10 stars.
After seeing Cabin Fever, if you had told
me that there would be a sequel that was even|
worse, I wouldn't have believed you.  I hate to
tell you that this is one of the worst movies I've
seen in my 22 years on this earth.  Don't watch it.
I beg you.

2010's Best(and Worst)

Ah, yes, another year has passed us by and that means thousands more films have been released.  I will take a look at the films that I felt to be the best and the worst of this year.  Anyways, in no particular order, here are my favorites...

TRON: Legacy
It is a rare, almost impossible, occasion when
a sequel comes out that gives the fans exactly
what they want.  This one did just that.  I was
completely blown away.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One
I am a fanboy, it's true.  But as far as the film series
has gone, this is definitely the best effort yet.
The script follows the book insanely close and
most of the best scenes are captured.  It's
enough to make any die hard Harry fan happy.

The Social Network.
Very few films have effected me in the way
that David Fincher's The Social Network did.
I was frozen and glued to the screen even when
the credits began to roll.  My only problem:
Justin Timberlake.

Buried
I know I didn't put these in any sort of order
but if I had, this would have been my pick for
the best movie of the year.  The entire movie takes
place inside of a coffin and it is still one of the most
intense, gut-wrenching films of all time.  Not many
filmmaker are able to pull that off.

The Town
Ben Affleck may not be the best actor
of all time but he is one hell of a director.
Somewhat in the vein of The Departed,
The Town is one of the craziest crime
thrillers of the year and definitely the best
one.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
I had my doubts about this film.  Okay, I
confess, I thought it was going to suck
completely.  Thankfully, I was totally wrong.
Edgar Wright is one of this generation's
best directors and it really shows in this one.
Not to mention, this is one of Michael Cera's
best movies in what feels like ages.

Cherry Tree Lane
You all knew a horror movie would be
popping up in this list sooner or later
and if you didn't, then you don't know me.
This is one of the best films of its kind to
come out in years.  Think Funny Games
meets Rear Window.  It's a winner in my book.

True Grit
It is one of the year's best, but it is not
THE best.  I really enjoyed the story, the
acting, and especially the dialogue.  However,
I think I was expecting much more than I actually
got.  All in all, it's a great film, but it isn't quite up
to par with No Country for Old Men or The Big
Lebowski.

Black Swan
Anyone who tries to say that Black Swan
is not a horror movie, clearly does not know
what a horror movie is.  I loved this film.  It
felt like a throwback to 70's Italian cinema.
It still doesn't take the place of Buried for me
but honestly, it's a close second.

Devil
A very promising start to a three-part
series of films entitled "The Night
Chronicles."  This one reminds me a lot
of some of Hitchcock's earlier work.  Oh,
and no matter what anyone says, I still
love M. Night Shyamalan.

Catfish
As a filmmaker, this was definitely the most
inspiring film of the year.  Made for nothing
and shot mostly on cheap retail cameras,
Catfish is one of the best and most real
documentaries I have ever seen.  In my
opinion, every aspiring filmmaker should see
this.

Shutter Island
Martin Scorsese is the man.  There's not
much more to say.  His new films is a new
direction for him.  Shutter Island will twist
and turn your mind until you have no idea
what just happened to you.





And now the part you've probably all been waiting for.  The worst films of 2010.  I won't go as all out as I did for my favorites but here they are...

• Alice in Wonderland - This was easily one of the biggest letdowns of the year for me.  I usually am a big fan of Tim Burton's work, even though it's rarely original, but Alice went no where.  There were so many amazing ways the story could gone but instead it played out like a knock off of the Narnia series.
  
• Skyline - Written and directed by the two geniuses that came up with Aliens vs. Predators: Requiem.  Need I say more?
  
• Twilight: Eclipse - Now, I know most women are going to see this film on the list and say something like "you just don't understand it because you're not a girl."  However, I do understand that this series has turned a classic horror icon, the vampire, into a girly, neutered version of itself.  It also plays out like a Disney Channel Movie.  I knew girls liked romance, I didn't know they like moronic movies.
  
• A Nightmare on Elm Street - Yay, another unnecessary horror remake brought to you by Michael Bay!  No, but seriously, this movie take all the subtleties that made the original a beautiful film and urinates all over them.  I truly wish Michael Bay and all his friends would be beaten to death in the streets.
  
• The Lovely Bones - Talk about high profile, Hollywood garbage.  This picture has one of the sloppiest scripts I've ever seen translated to film.  It jumps too quickly between disturbing violence and the main character's overly happy world.
  
• Saw 3D - This would be my pick for the worst movie of the year.  I honestly hope this is the last entry in the Saw series because this one was unbearable.    

Here are some honorable mentions.  Movies I liked but didn't think were groundbreaking...

• Toy Story 3
• Predators
• She's Out of My League
• Kick-Ass
• Star Wars Uncut
• Inception
• Machete
• The Fighter
• Get Him to the Greek
• The Other Guys