Oscars 2015

I'm telling you, this year's nominations and potential winners are really going to make you pull your hair out because of how close it will come down to this year. Oh and Barney is hosting it too (weird).

We are quite lucky this year with the amount of credible nominees and talented performers all gunning to be the best in their respective categories. Having said that, there have been some real crabby nominations in the past that just makes you wonder how little it must take to win an Oscar.

So what do we have to look forward for this year's event? Look at Birdman and Boyhood compete with each other in its respective category (best film, director, actor). Or will Eddie Redmayne overpower everyone else by taking the best actor role? Mind you staying in one position as Stephen Hawking requires some amount of talent. If you haven't seen Whiplash then you are surely missing out. Simmons role as a sadistic music teacher will have you squirming of your own personal experiences with such a person.

Hang on to me dear, we are nominated after all.. 

Birdman, even the undies fighting scene is noteworthy 

you m*ther &#^@%*#

Boyhood is amazing and we will never see anything like this again 

It says we may win lads..

So kick back, put your feet up and have a go with your friends on who you may think might win. Nothing to lose except gloating from the victor and a bruise to the ego for the losers. 

Goodbye 2014

Alas we say goodbye to another year of thrills, spills and kills. "May the following year brings us more ups and downs!"... that's what they will usually say. Here at M!D! we think this year of movies has been pretty decent actually, given some previous years. But what actually took place this year? Have we been more ZEALED up than before? Why all the questions??

So I've picked the best for their respective categories...

Best Blockbuster At The Movies

Interstellar

There have been a lot of possibilities in this one as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Captain America: Winter Soldier could easily have beaten this. But how could you say no to the brilliance of Chris Nolan? Some may argue that this is just another love story + time + space but I think the simplest of storyline makes the most intriguing one. Add that the crazy score you get from Hans Zimmer and you'll be following our heroes through time and space looking for hope wherever it may be.

Alright Alright Alright....

Best Sequel

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Ok really? I wanted to give Best Something to this movie mostlty cause very rarely does a sequel do as well as the first. If you followed the first one, you see Ceasar's transformation from a timid ape (monkee of some sort) to a leader of the primates. It doesn't get more intense than that. The humans get their ass kicked but not with the apes suffering some losses too. All this sets up a great 3rd film I'm sure.

Come with me if you want to live..

Best movie with a disease 

The Fault in Our Stars

Yes this was an amazingly sappy film which i thought wasn't as bad as it may have been. I think there have been better more grownup realistic ones (50/50 with JGL comes to mind) but we are seeing the disease through the hearts and minds of young people. Love conquers all and it will take you to places further than you ever think. 

Hi there, I'm dying..... young

Best movie with a b*tch

Gone Girl

This movie was absolutely mad. It starts you questioning your own relationship and the possibility that you too may be living with a psycho. Besides that it's always good to see Ben in a movie where he still plays himself (haha). This is a must watch movie for 2014 if i may add. 

Something about the way you look tonight dear..

Best film to make you Scream (in frustration)

Transformers 4

By far the worst film from all the Transformers (and I actually loved the first one). This movies offers you nothing for the mind and soul and shockingly there will be another film after this. You thought the offering of Dinobots would be an excellent tool to get the loyal fans back in the Transformer euphoria, but NO it doesn't. This was the worst way to spend time, effort and money and I hope you don't suffer the same fate as I did watching it.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE??

Okay I think I've covered the important ones. If I feel like it I'll cover a few more. 

Here's to 2015!

Oscars 2014

Well the awards show is just about a moment away so we thought we'd just run through some of the nominees for this years 86th Academy Awards. At least this year the competition is slightly more open as compared to before and really it could be anyone's Oscar come the end of the night. Good luck to all!

 American Hustle's zany crew. Can they hustle their way to a win? Even the Sheik would be happy!

 No Problem Irish. We try to win something ok

She's got a BAFTA, now she can wrap it up with an Oscar. Carry on talking to yourself Cate.

We've got our very own "HER" up for best film. Oh boy oh boy

 This is a strong film to sweep everything this year. Who can forget the memorable song they sing?

Leo is cool but the Academy hasn't been kind to him. Outside chance if you ask me.

Surely best Director for the immense GRAVITY. Don't lose hope Sandra!

 Mathew Alright Alright Alright. Best pick for the Actor award.

Just in case you didn't know here are some of the categories and nominees for this years 86th Academy Awards.

Best Picture American Hustle Captain Phillips Dallas Buyers Club Gravity Her Nebraska Philomena 12 Years a Slave The Wolf of Wall Street Best Actor in a Leading Role Christian Bale (American Hustle) Bruce Dern (Nebraska) Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street) Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club) Best Actress in a Leading Role Amy Adams (American Hustle) Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine) Sandra Bullock (Gravity) Judi Dench (Philomena) Meryl Streep (August: Osage County) Best Actor in a Supporting Role Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) Bradley Cooper (American Hustle) Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave) Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street) Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) Best Actress in a Supporting Role Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine) Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle) Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave) Julia Roberts (August: Osage County) June Squibb (Nebraska) Best Directing American Hustle (David O. Russell) Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón) Nebraska (Alexander Payne) 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen) The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)

HER

 

Well here we go, another year another round up on probable winners for Best Film at this years Oscars and to start it off we have Spike Jonze's Her. It tells the tale of Theo (yes a common man) who works at a greeting card company specializing in love letters, embarks on a journey of friendship with his newly downloaded Operating System (or as we like to call it, OS) through the ups and down of modern life. Ironically despite working at a place composing all things romantic, Theo's love life and marriage itself is in total shambles. Ignoring the fact that he hasn't been on a proper date in ages, Theo downloads the virtual operating system, capable of self learning (just like a real person). Curious and probably a tad been lonely, his relationship with his new found friend, Samantha (the OS) blossoms from BFF to WTF. Could these feelings be real? Is it just another program to manipulate the human mind? Will he ever shave that mustache???

 Theo 0 Sad Life 1

I really like this film. You really can't go wrong with a good simple storyline. Maybe we are all just suckers for something plain and simple. Life itself is easily complicated enough so watching a film quite genuinely down to earth is somewhat refreshing. It has an overload amount of indie-likeness shots which I think most independent movie-goers would enjoy. This movie is beautifully shot in a timeless context, which means that you have no idea what year it is, where it is, or why their pants are so freaking high. Whatever it is, it works and adds a certain persona to HER.

 WEEEEeeeeeeeeee

Her is a wonderful film and I urge everyone to give this one a watch first before you catch the other nominees this year. It is fresh and original and I hope like me, you will be able to connect to Theo's world with open mindedness. 

 

 Reply, Reply all or Shut Up Samantha

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Production Design

Ratings - 4/5 (HERe we go go go go!)

Also I'd like to give a shout out to 14 Ukraine people who seem to be visiting this site consistently. Either this site must mean something to cinema watching in Kiev or you are trying to figure how to hunt whales in your backyard. Whichever it is, привіт !

It's Oscars 2013 time!

Hey Ho everyone! Yup once again we are at odds with each other trying to figure who is gonna win what at this year's 85th Academy Awards. I have to say that this year is probably the most open contest we've had in a long time (let's not even talk about Avatar or The Hurt Locker). We've got a healthy competition going amongst our resident MobieDicks but what do you think? Yay Or Nay? (Hope you've seen Lincoln to get this one)

 Amour - Will the only foreign film in the Best picture category take it all home?

 Life Of Pi - Ang Lee's masterpiece and he is also up for Best Director

Lincoln - He freed the slaves but has it done enough for its categories? 

Les Miserables - Anne Hathaway dream a dream of winning an Oscar 

Zero Dark Thirty - Kathryn Bigelow's hunt for Osama 

Django Unchained - Christoph Waltz represents in the Best Supporting Actor category

Silver Linings Playbook - Crazy Jennifer Lawrence might just bag the Best Actress category 

Beasts of the Southern Wild - Outside chance with 4 nominations

Argo - AR GO F*CK YOURSELF might top it all

So here we go....

Best Picture

1) Amour

2) Life of Pi

3) Lincoln

4) Les Miserables

5) Zero Dark Thirty

6) Django Unchained

7) Silver Linings Playbook

8) Beasts of the Southern Wild

9) Argo

Dahlia : Anything else except Argo.. coz I'm biased like that

Aprilsky : Zero Dark Thirty (but sure Argo)

Shen : Lincoln (Zero Dark Thirty maybe..)

Best Director 

1) Michael Haneke for "Amour"

2) Benh Zeitlin for "Beast of the Southern Wild"

3) Ang Lee for "Life of Pi"

4) Steven Speilberg for "Lincoln"

5) David Russell for "Silver Linings Playbook"

D: -inconclusive-

A: Ang Lee

S: I'll take Ang Lee.. the Academy love him.. I think

Best Actor

1) Bradley Cooper in "Silver Linings Playbook"

2) Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln"

3) Hugh Jackman in "Les Miserables"

4) Joaquin Phoenix in "The Master"

5) Denzel Washington in "Flight"

D: Daniel Day-Lewis is a shoe-in for this

A: DDL for the win

S: Think we all agree on the same person

Best Actress

1) Jessica Chastain in " Zero Dark Thirty"

2) Jennifer Lawrence in "Silver Linings Playbook"

3) Emmanuelle Riva in "Amour" 

4) Quvenzhane Wallis in "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

5) Noami Watts in "The Impossible"

D: Emmanuelle Riva! Sorry J Law but we need to restore Europe's confidence in US films

A: J Lawrence Fuh Fuh

S: Jessica Chastain if Zero Dark Thirty don't win Best Picture

Best Supporting Actor

1) Alan Arkin in "Argo"

2) Robert De Niro in "Silver Linings Playbook"

3) Philip Seymour Hoffman in "The Master" 

4) Tommy Lee Jones in "Lincoln"

5) Christoph Waltz in "Django Unchained"

D: Robert De Niro sorry Christoph if he doesn't win he'll probably make another Fockers film

A: Tommy Lee Jones

S: Christoph Waltz.. he won an Oscar before right?

Best Supporting Actress

1) Amy Adams in "The Master"

2) Sally Field in "Lincoln"

3) Anne Hathaway in "Les Miserables"

4) Helen Hunt in "The Sessions"

5) Jacki Weaver in "Silver Linings Playbook"

D: Anne Hathaway

A: Anne Hathaway

S: Anne Hathaway 

-all start crying to I Dream a Dream- 

So there we have it... Happy hunting guys.. And may the best (Wo) Man win!

Les Miserables (2012)

Les Miserables is an epic tale of the journey of Jean Valjean (a common thief) through the years as he battles from the clutches of the relentless Inspector Javert after he breaks parole. Indeed, Valjean's life takes a turn when he meets Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a poor girl living on the streets and upon taking pity on her life, agrees to help and raise her child Cossette. Les Miserables is brought to life from the very popular musical (which was also adapted from a book, my that's alot of adaptations) to the movie screen and brings together an all star-cast from Hugh Jackman to Helena Bonham Carter.

I'm Jean Valjean.. say ma name!

Comparing the earlier remake of Les Miserables (1998) I have to say that the current musical remake is way more enjoyable compared to the more serious tone of the previous one as this one stays true to the musical. It is amazing how they bring to life the iconic scenes from the musical onto the big screen. The movie is shot on a rather large scale and has you following the life of Jean Valjean, eager to find out what will become of his journey. The heartwarming performance of Anne Hathaway will surely stand as a strong contender at this years Oscars no doubt. Being a big fan of the musical, I'm probably a bit bias to how good this movie really is. How would non musical fans feel about this movie?

You may cry...... NOW

Well firstly this movie is pretty long. Not long as in "oh that's kinda past the hour mark.." but more like "Lord of The Rings" long. If you do decide to watch this do go to the toilet early or if not every song sung in the movie will sound like they are singing to your bladder. It is as long as the musical, except for the musical you would get a worthy intermission for snacks and ice cream. Hmmmm don't think we have them here. 

 From Angry Birds to Angry Men

The songs are catchy, and are well shot to suit a more Hollywood approach to the musical. Each actor/actress delivers his/her version of the songs and will no doubt leave a lasting impression. I think that's what makes a good remake/adaptation actually. Being able to deliver the exact replica but still making it your own. Les Miserables is a wonderful story which will have you singing the song.. the song of angry men.

Ratings - 4/5

Life of Pi

Life of Pi is a remarkable story on the journey of a boy shipwreck at sea on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He is however, not alone on this lost voyage as his fellow survivors are a Zebra, an orang utan, a hyena and a tiger by the name of Richard Parker. The film is taken from the critically acclaim book by Yann Martel and directed by Ang Lee. Will he be able to survive together with these animals or will the open sea claim another life?

Dammit I said YOU go left! Left left!

How do you make such a dire/mundane book come to life and have you reeling in every scene? 3D MY FRIEND! Instantly watching this film in 3D you feel in awe of the visual spectacle that is Life of Pi. I knew slightly what the story was like (okay I didn't finish the book) so my expectations were quite low for this one. Once you get into the film and listening to the story (narrator is Irrfan Khan; older Pi), it will open your mind and eyes to this amazing adventure that Pi has to endure. Having animals in the boat has complicated his situation and even so with the tiger lurking around hoping to have him as his next meal. It is Pi's relationship with Richard Parker which grows from scared as hell to shipwreck companion that keeps the story going from scene to scene.

WEEEeeeeeee!

Do you remember the film Poseidon? That luxury cruise that tips upside down and the survivors has to make their way to the other side that is above water? Or maybe the film Alive where everyone has to eat each other so they don't have some sort of chronic gastric? There is something about survivor films that really gets you into the mood I think. You start to feel sorry for the survivors and you're cheering them on even if they are a huge man-eating Bengali tiger. Probably in a strange way Pi represents anyone of us, lost at sea and just clinging on to survival. Yeah maybe I can relate to that a bit more.

 We're gonna need a bigger boat..

So if you didn't know the movie is kinda trippy (visually) and it tackles the whole religion issue as well. What is the one true religion and what is the meaning of life? Don't think I'm going to go into too much detail on that, but if you keep an open mind about what Pi sees out in the Pacific Ocean and what he goes through I think you will enjoy this film. A good film by Ang Lee and already Oscar Nominated for Best Picture this year. Wow it's going to be quite a tough fight this year.

Rating - 4/5 (Pie-tastic!)