by Chris_Xa » 12 Mar 2014 14:44
12 YEARS A SLAVE (6.25/10, logarithmic scale)
Ok, can see why it won the best film Oscar this year, and the script was very good. Have not seen American Hustle so I don't know if that was better, but from clips of the latter I'd go with this. Deserves the Oscar for adapted script, probably likewise for film (but have only seen GRAVITY and NEBRASKA from the nominees - but would not say it's THE best film of 2013); and even though it lost for editing, it also did a very good job there too. Cannot agree with the best Supporting Actress Oscar though - Lupita did ok but did not have enough presence in the film; Squibb (NEBRASKA) was better, and from clips I saw perhaps it should have gone to Lawrence (someone here saw Roberts in August: Osage County and said she was good in that too). As for the males, Fassbender did a very good job and Chiwetel a close second, though none were Oscar winning performances (haven't seen the respective winners in their respective films, so cannot judge). Good direction and ok cinematography, but GRAVITY deserves those category wins.
As for the film, a good look of a journey through slavery in the USA. Beginning seemed like an unrealistic premise to me, but the end advises it was a true story and what happens at the start DID infact happen (a case where reality is stranger than fiction). Also got me thinking about capitalism and many other "-ism"s, human nature, the root of American industry, exercising control and power, ruling through fear, why education is important, the power of organisation, and more. Is it a cinema film though? Well it uses the wide screen very well, so perhaps - but only if you don't have a big screen at home; the sound is nothing special though.
MONUMENTS MEN (4/10, logarithmic scale)
Misleading trailer suggesting action, which is not. Ok drama, average direction (that feels somewhat wayward) & script. If you expect battles, action, capers, heists, etc - forget it - but not a bad mini-history on what happened to the art during WW2. Not for the cinema though.
, it's an ambitious movie, imperfect yes, but really different and that deserves much praise IMO.
