2002

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

*In the Bedroom
*Gosford Park
*Moulin Rouge!
*A Beautiful Mind
*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

AND "MY" WINNER IS.. A Beautiful Mind
And "The" WINNER IS.. A Beautiful Mind

A Beautiful Mind(2001) directed by:Ron Howard
Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Paul Bettany, Ed Harris and Christopher Plummer

While attending Princeton University in the 1940's, John Nash (Crowe) struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to the world of mathematics. He finally has a breakthrough, that will eventually earn him a Nobel prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, where he meets Alicia (Connelly) Whom he eventually marries. Meanwhile the government is asking for his help with breaking Soviet codes, which gets him involved in a terrifying cospiracy plot. Nash grows more and more paranoid until a discovery that turns his whole world upside down, and only Alicia can save him. Definitely worth checking out, I have this one in my collection, but if I didn't I would be making a special trip to buy it!

RATING: 10/10

BEST OF THE REST

RUNNER- UP:

In the Bedroom (2001) directed by: Todd Field
Main Cast: Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Stahl, Marisa Tomei and William Mapother

Matt (Wilkinson) and Ruth (Spacek) have a college aged son named Frank (Stahl) who is dating an older , married woman named Natalie (Tomei). Natalie and her husband Richard (Mapother) are seperated and living apart but, when he finds out she is dating Frank the unthinkable happens, that will tear everyones world apart. This was a great movie, the only one so far where I needed a box of tissues. I highly recommend you check it out. I will be adding In the Bedroom to my DVD collection as soon as possible.

RATING: 10/10

HONORABLE MENTION:

Moulin Rouge! (2001) directed by: Baz Luhrmann
Main Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent and Richard Roxburgh

It's Paris in 1899 Christian (McGregor) a young English poet comes to Paris to persue a career as a writer. However he soon meets a group of Bohemians who tell him he should write a musical show for them to be performed at the Moulin Rouge, the most famous underworld nightclub in Paris. The night they arrive at the Moulin Rouge Christian meets Satine (Kidman), the clubs star and a courtesan. He falls head- over- hills in love with her and though it takes a bit of convincing, she soon falls for him as well. Meanwhile the club's owner Harold Zidler (Broadbent), invest in a wealthy Duke (Roxburgh) to help pay for the club, however the Duke will only pay if Satine is his. The crazy love triangle takes some unusual twist and turns. Little does Satine know she has a deadly secret that could end everything. Terrific movie, definate for my collection!

RATING: 9/10

THE Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) directed by: Peter Jackson
Main Cast: Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, Viggo Mortensen, John Rhys-Davies and Sean Bean

The ancient ring that had been thought lost, has been found and now it has been given to a small hobbitt named Frodo Baggins (Wood), When Gandalf (McKellen) discovers the ring, he soon realizes it is the ring created by the Dark Lord Sauron. Gandalf tells Frodo the ring must be destroyed by tossing it into the Cracks of Doom, that is the only wat to destroy it! So Frodo along with Gandalf, Legalos the elf (Bloom), Gimli the dwarf (Rhys-Davies), Aragon (Mortensen), Boromir (Bean), Pippin the hobbitt (Monaghan), Merry the hobbitt (Boyd) and his best friend Sam the hobbitt (Astin). The fellowship of the ring faces danger at every turn, their quest to destroy the ring is the only hope to destroy the dark lords reign! This was a very long movie, but a very enjoyable movie from beginning to end. I recommend you see it for yourself. It is already a part of my collection, and if it wasn't it would soon be!

RATING: 8/10

THE REST:

GOSFORD PARK (2001) directed by: Robert Altman
Main Cast: Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas and Maggie Smith

The McCordle's (Gambon & Thomas) are hosting a weekend murder mystery party, Mr. McCordle actually ends up being murdered, no one really seems to have cared for the man. Take the journey to find out who really killed him and why, when everyone had reason to want him dead. Not really my cup of tea, certainly don't think this one will make it in the collection.

RATING: 2/10

So all in all 2002 was a great year for me, only one movie out of five I really didn't care for. Alot of these movies I will definitely be viewing again, some hopefully soon!

Rating for 2002 as a whole: 9/10

Next up: 1953- which includes The Greatest Show on Earth, High Noon, Ivanhoe, Moulin Rouge and The Quiet Man

2000

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

*Erin Brockovich
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
*Gladiator
*Chocolat
*Traffic

AND 'MY' WINNER IS...(TIE) Gladiator and Chocolat
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Gladiator

Gladiator (2000) directed by: Ridley Scott
Main Cast: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris

We have Rome, The Emperors, The Gladiators, sound good? Well didn't to me at first anyway. The Emperor dies and his son becomes the ruler, Maximus(Crowe) is a General who's son and wife are brutally murdered leaving him to seek revenge. Maximus is captured and becomes a slave who must fight in battle for the new emperors amusement. The battle scenes are great! This one is already part of my collection.

Rating: 10/10

Chocolat (2000) directed by: Lasse Hallstrom
Main Cast: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin and Johnny Depp

Vianne (Binoche) a single mother with a six year old daughter they move to a small french town, where she opens a chocolate shop. The mayor is against Vianne from the very beginning, but most of the townspeople warm up to her quickly, she teaches the people about acceptance when a group of river drifters visit the town. Very good moral to this story, I loved it! If it was not in my collection I would definately be adding it!

Rating: 10/10

BEST OF THE REST

Runner- up:

Erin Brockovich (2000) directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Main Cast: Julia Roberts, Albert Finney and Aaron Eckhart

Erin Brockovich (Roberts) is a struggling, single, out of work mother of three, who convinces local attorney Ed Masry (Finney) to hire her. While filing cases one day Erin stumbles across a case that peaks her interest. Erin is determined to help the small town of Hinkley fight the PG&E Company for making over two hundred of them sick. Definately worth watching, I am very proud to say this one is already a part of my collection.

Rating: 9/10


HONORABLE MENTION

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) directed by: Ang Lee
Main Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang

Jen Yu is a prominent woman who is promised to marry a man she doesn't love. Yu Shu Lien is in love with Li Mu Bai but cannot be with him because she was to marry his brother who was killed, and if she lets her love be known it is a disgrace to her dead fiance. Jen Yu wants to be a warrior but women are not permitted to be warriors. So she must fight under disguise. Great action movie, althought some of the action scenes are so unbelievable. We have actors running up the sides of buildings, leaping across roofs come on I mean really!? Defiantely worth seeing, but not sure about adding it to my collection.

Rating: 6/10

THE REST

Traffic (2000) directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Main Cast: Benicio Del Toro, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle and Erika Christensen

Traffic and Erin Brockovich having both been directed by Steven Soderbergh totally surprised me, because I really enjoyed Erin Brockovich but must say I was extremely disappointed with Traffic. Traffic brings you four different stories of the war against drugs. It ends up all four stories are connected in one way or another. The plot did absolutely nothing to quench my enjoyment and I found nothing of enjoyment in this film. I just really hated this movie in every way! Certainly not something that will ever be part of my DVD collection!

Rating: 1/10

So I must say 2000 ended bringing me some new gems which I really enjoyed! Only one movie I vow to never watch again in my lifetime! All in all a pretty decent year!

Rating for 2000 as a whole: 7/10

NEXT UP: 2002- A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge!

1967

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

*Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
*A Man for All Seasons
*Alfie
*The Sand Pebbles
*The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming

AND 'MY' WINNER IS...The Sand Pebbles
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...A Man for All Seasons

The Sand Pebbles (1966) directed by: Robert Wise
Main Cast: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen and Mako

Went into this movie not expecting to like it. I must say I was extremely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I had never seen a Steve McQueen movie and now I can't wait to see more. Steve McQueen plays Jake Holman, a navy engineer on a battleship in Shanghai. I am going to be making a special trip to the DVD store as soon as possible for this gem.

RATING: 9/10

THE ACADEMY'S PICK

A Man for All Seasons (1966) directed by: Fred Zinnemann
Main Cast: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw and Orson Welles

This one was really not an easy task for me. Cardinals, Kings, Consulates, Queens...anyone bored yet? I sure was! The acting by Paul Scofield, I admit, was superb, but the time period in which the movie was set, just turned me off. This one will certainly not make it into my collection anytime soon, if ever.

RATING: 3/10

BEST OF THE REST

RUNNER-UP:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) directed by: Mike Nichols
Main Cast: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, George Segal and Sandy Dennis

This whole movie is based around a middle aged married couple, Martha (Taylor) and George (Burton). Martha is a crazy drunk who is never seen without a drink in her hand. She is constantly yelling at and belittling George. They both seem to hate each other and I do believe they both are a little crazy at points. An entertaining movie that kept me wanting more and wondering what would happen next. Not sure if I would add it to my collection, that's something I'll have to contemplate.

RATING: 8/10

HONORABLE MENTION
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966) directed by: Norman Jewison
Main Cast: Carl Reiner, Eva Mare Saint, Alan Arkin and John Phillip Law

A Russian submarine with a captain that had never seen America, is trying to get a closer look, when suddenly they go aground and are stuck. Nine of the soldiers come inland in search of a boat to free the submarine. Sound like trouble?I recommend you check it out. Not one I will be rushing out to buy, but one that I'd certainly watch on TV if I came across it.

RATING: 6/10

THE REST
Alfie (1966) directed by: Lewis Gilbert
Main Cast: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters and Millicent Martin

Alfie (Caine) is a womanizer who is seeing so many different women that it is hard to keep track. He doesn't care if they are married or not, as long as they give him what he wants. Alfie thinks his life is great until he meets Annie, then he starts to really care for her. Time for Alfie to decide between the life he loves and the woman he's falling in love with. Pretty average movie for me. Not something I will be buying.

RATING: 5/10

1967 at the Oscars certainly paled in comparison to 1983, but still gave me The Sand Pebbles and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, two movies I won't soon forget and two movies that will soon grace my DVD shelf, so for that I can't complain.

Rating for 1967 as a whole: 5/10

NEXT UP: 2001 - which includes Chocolat, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Erin Brockovich, Gladiator and Traffic

September 26. 2009 11:02pm

1983

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES

*Tootsie
*The Verdict
*E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial
*Gandhi
*Missing

AND 'MY' WINNER IS...Gandhi
AND 'THE' WINNER IS...Gandhi

Gandhi (1982) directed by: Richard Attenborough
Main Cast: Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen and Martin Sheen

I must say that I went into this one really dreading it. First off it is over three hours and secondly I am not much of a biopic fan. Well, for starters, I was unsure of what Gandhi had actually even done. I mean, of course, I had heard his name, but never really knew what he accomplished. Now after watching this movie I must say that I was totally shocked I absolutely loved it!! Gandhi was a truly amazing man, who deserves all the respect and admiration that he has gotten. This movie is a definite must see and will certainly be one of my favorites from now on. I do not own this movie, but that will definitely have to be rectified.

RATING: 10/10

BEST OF THE REST

RUNNER-UP:
Tootsie (1982) directed by: Sydney Pollack
Main Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr and Bill Murray

I had heard a lot of mixed reactions from a lot of different people regarding Tootsie. They say you either love it or you hate it. So I was very excited to give Tootsie a try. Just the thought of Dustin Hoffman (who I think is an amazing actor) cross-dressing as a woman to gain a role in a soap opera sounded priceless to me. Well I was NOT disapointed. Tootsie was a great movie that I would watch again anytime and I must say that if I didn't already own it, I'd be making a trip to my local DVD shop to buy it. If you have never seen it, it comes with the highest of recomendations.

RATING: 10/10

HONORABLE MENTION
Missing (1982) directed by: Costa-Gavras
Main Cast: Sissy Spacek and Jack Lemmon

I had never actually heard of this movie until I started this mission of mine. Missing is based on a true story about the disapearance of Charlie Horman while living in Chile with his wife. The movie shows her struggle, alongside his father (Jack Lemmon) to find out the truth surrounding his ominous vanishing and the quest to find out what actually happened to him, while constantly getting more of a runaround than help. I will definitely be adding this one to my DVD shelf.

RATING: 10/10

THE REST
E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial (1982) directed by: Steven Spielberg
Main Cast: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore

Well I remember I must've enjoyed this movie as a child, because I will never forget my E.T. stuffed dolls. However, about a year ago, my husband and I revisited this movie again and for some reason or another I really don't remember liking it that time around. But after having rewatched it for my new found mission, I must say I truly do think it is an excellent movie. The only reason it's included in "The Rest" catergory is because of the moment in the film when the mother first meets E.T. and she is running out of the house with the family and the men in space suits are swarming in, even through the windows. Sorry kinda creepy! Great movie though all in all, truly a must see!

The Verdict (1982) directed by: Sidney Lumet
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Jack Warden, James Mason and Charlotte Rampling

Paul Newman, of who I am a huge fan of, playing a down and out, drunk lawyer who pulls all the punches, even resorting to crashing funerals in search of clients, sounded great to me. The Verdict started off really slow and it took a while to get interesting, but once it got to the courtroom part of the movie, it became a little more exciting and pulled me in a bit deeper. All in all I would say kind of average, but not highly recomended.

So there you have it, 1983 at the Oscars. To sum it up 1983 was a great year for film, with many great directors on showcase. I got lucky with picking this particular year to kick off my mission.

RATING FOR 1983 as a whole: 9/10

NEXT UP: 1967 - which includes Alfie, A Man for All Seasons, The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming, The Sand Pebbles and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

September 20, 2009 9:41pm

Introduction

Recently, my husband decided to take on the mission of watching every movie in the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" book. After contemplating whether or not I wanted to join him on his journey through cinema, I decided that I really didn't think the path that he was taking, was suited for me. So I decided to take a path of my own, a path, that has lead me on a very exciting mission.

What is my mission, you ask:

After hearing that the academy, that is the Academy of Motion Pictures (aka the Oscars) have decided to nominate ten Best Picture nominees in 2010, instead of the standard five, it got me to thinking about all of the films that have had the honor of "Best Picture Nominee" bestowed upon them. So I've decided to undertake the mission of watching them all. That is, all the nominees and of course, the winners. But there's a twist, in the way that I'm going to pursue my mission.

While I had some free time on my hands, I got out my stationary kit and found myself some paper, scissors and an ink pen. I wrote down every year that there has been an Academy Awards ceremony. From there, I put all of the slips of paper into an old pretzel jar and decided that from there, I would randomly pick a year, watch all of the films that were nominated in that particular year and then blog about them.

In conclusion, this will give me a chance to give my own spin on what should've happened at the Oscars on any given year. I'll be able to give you a year, the films that were nominated and tell you what won, what should've won and what I thought of the rest.

I hope that you will find my blog informative, and hopefully it'll gear you up for the 2010 ceremony and leave movie fans craving for my opinions.