Scott Freeman

There Will Be Oscars

My beloved wife gave me a trip to Tulsa on Friday to catch up on nominated films.

First off, I was able to finally take in There Will Be Blood, PT Anderson’s latest classic. It is based on an Upton Sinclair novel and is a compelling look at greed and hypocrisy. There is a powerful parallel drawn between the expansive quest for oil and religious hucksterism that should give each of us pause.

Daniel Day-Lewis gives one of the strongest acting performances in recent years. I haven’t seen Clooney or Jones in their performances yet but the statuette should be his. For a great review of the movie check out my buddy Shane’s take.
Grade: A

Next, I drove to Tulsa’s destination for Art House fare to see all the Oscar nominated short films, both live action and animated. This is the first time I’ve been able to take in all the short nominees.

Each of the live action nominees were riveting and it’s a shame that there is not a greater venue for mass consumption of these titles. From the cancer ward solemnity of At Night to the raucous comedy of Il Supplente (The Substitute) each entrant brought something different to the table. As the lone English speaking entry, The Tonto woman makes a strong argument for the Oscar and most likely will win. It is based on an Elmore Leonard short story and is a captivating look at love, commitment and being able to see beyond the surface. However, my favorite short was Tanghi Argentini. In just a few short minutes you are able to witness the true spirit of giving in a fresh and surprising way.

The animated shorts were not as riveting and often downright boring or too vague to truly enjoy. My favorite of the bunch was I Met The Walrus, a novel characterization of an interview conducted by a 14 year old in 1969 of John Lennon. It is a great segment focusing on nonviolence.

Last week I was also able to catch a Casey Affleck double feature at the Casa de Freeman.

Affleck is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford. If you think the title is long you should check out the movie. Affleck does an admirable job playing Ford and you can easily tell that he has the acting talent in the family but that is not enough to offset the languorous pace. Clocking in at just under three hours the movie is unable to maintain any urgency or enough prolonged interest in the characters to maintain any enthusiasm. My biggest quibble is that he waited so long to pull the stinking trigger. The upshot is that Brad Pitt is killed and Casey Affleck did it. Grade: C-

An hour into Gone Baby Gone it was obvious to me that Affleck was nominated for the wrong film. As the moral center of this kidnapping tale Affleck becomes a stark character study of moral clarity in the midst of ambiguity. In a short period of time he is able to embody a sense of uncertainty at the same time that you know that the decisions he has to make are almost foreordained. Amy Ryan was nominated for her turn as the mother whose daughter is taken from her. However, the performance of the movie is not hers, but Affleck’s. Grade: A-

I also watched Adam Sandler and Kevin James in a movie together and have come to the conclusion that they should be docked at least 5 movies apiece. Grade: D-

And I tuned in Jodie Foster in The Brave One, a yawner of a vigilante flick. I liked it better when it was titled Death Wish. Grade: C-

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