Haven

Haven was an interestingf take on the comparison of street crime(and that culture) and corporate crime(and that culture). I was not too impressed with the flow of the film, even if Frank Flowers' strategy in directing this film was very original. I dont have too many opinions on this movie because i saw some big flaws and some big leaps aesthetically. The performances were good, but had some awkward moments. This is an average film for me. Structurally, i did not care about anything in this film.

Dreamland

This was quite an underrated film, with a sense of promise for all who were apart of it. The story is quite simple: Two young women are living in a "trailer park" and they both, in their own ways, fall in love with a boy. Their lives are similar, but their talents differ. Agnes Bruckner plays Audrey, a talented poet, who takes care of her widowed father, played by John Corbett. Agnes Bruckner was a true revelation in this film. Her best friend is "Carissa", a victim of Multiple Sclerosis played by Kelli Garner, who falls in love with Mookie, played by Justin Long. Audrey goes through a struggle of helping those she loves(mentally and physicall) and helping herself(so that she can go to college). She doesnt know whether her path in life is to grow into a successul poet or to stay in Dreamland to take care of those that she loves. The script does has some flaws in the later part of the film but was still solid. Director Jason Matzner was impressive in this film showing the juxtaposition of Dreamland as a "trailer park" and Dreamland as a world far from it. This was a very interesting try at a film.

Little Miss Sunshine

This is one of the most inspiring, touching, haert-felt, tearjerking, hilarious dramedy that has ever been made. I was LOL'ing throughout this beautifully written film. The story tells us of a somehwhat erratic, crazy, weird, sometimes-pathetic family that strives in the only thing that each of them can do: to love each other. Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette play parents to pageant-hunting daughter Olive, played by Abigail Breslin and once-mute son Dwayne, played by Paul Dano. Steve Carell plays gay and suicidal Frank. The cast is great and they all work so well together. I personally really enjoyed Paul Dano and Abigail Breslin, two of the great young independent stars around. I hope Michael Arndt can make more scripts like this because i never laughed this much in a movie since Woody Allen's prime. I hope this tremendous work by co-directors, Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton gains a lot of respect throughout the awards season.

Oscar Predictions

Best Picture

“Babel”
“The Departed”
“Dreamgirls”
“Little Children”
“United 93”


Or maybe: "Letters From Iwo Jima", "Little Miss Sunshine", "Notes on a Scandal", "The Queen"


Best Director

-Pedro Almodovar, Volver
-Bill Condon, Dreamgirls
-Paul Greengrass, United 93
-Alejandro Innaritu, Babel
-Martin Scorsese, The Departed

Or maybe: Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima or Stephen Frears, The Queen or Todd Field, Little Children

Best Actor

-Leonardo DiCaprio, The Departed
-Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
-Peter O'Toole, Venus
-Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness
-Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

or maybe: DiCaprio, Blood Diamond or Ed Norton, The Painted Veil

Best Actress

-Penelope Cruz, Volver
-Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
-Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sherrybaby
-Helen Mirren, The Queen
-Kate Winslet, Little Children

or Meryl Streep, Devil Wears Prada or Toni Collette, Little Miss Sunshine

Best Supp. Actor

-Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
-Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
-Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond
-Brad Pitt, Babel
-Jack Nicholson, The Departed

or maybe: Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls or Michael Sheen, The Queen

Best Supp. Actress

-Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
-Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
-Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
-Rinko Kikuchi, Babel
-Emma Thompson, Stranger Than Fiction

or maybe: Adrianna Barazza, Babel or Carmen Maura, Volver

Best Original Screenplay

-Guillermo Arriaga, Babel
-Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine
-Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden, Half Nelson
-Paul Greengrass, United 93
-Peter Morgan, The Queen

Best Adapted Screenplay

-Bill Condon, Dreamgirls
-Todd Field & Tom Perrotta, Little Children
-Patrick Marber, Notes on a Scandal
-William Monahan, The Departed
-Jason Reitman, Thank You For Smoking

The Devil Wears Prada

I was a bit dissapointed with this film. I thought that it dragged for the majority of the film and also had some unrealistic moments. The acting was good, obviously highlighted by Streep but i don't feel that it deserves too much praise in the awards season. The story tells us of a woman trying to get ahead in a tough, fashion business. The woman, played by Anne Hathaway finds herself the assistant to a very powerful, mostly bitchy fashion sensation, played by Meryl Streep. Hathaway conflicts with her need to progress and her need for integrity. The latter wins out in cliche style. This was not a terrible film but not very good either. It did have some bright spots later in the film. I didnt understand why Hathaway had any compassion whatsoever for Streep? I dont buy it.

World Trade Center

This tearjerker definately has its flaws, but i loved it anyways. I dont feel that it was as perfect as United 93 but i do believe that both 9/11 films were truly magical. The acting was great and good work from Nicholas Cage, Michael Pena, Maria Bello and the rest but the true light of this film is Maggie Gyllenhaal, who gives a great, powerful performance. I'm pulling for her throughout the awards period. This is a film that has many cliches and sometimes forced writing, but i do believe it is important and extremely moving.