OSCAR LEAD UP: Part Two - The Others

In this section I wanted to talk about my three favorite movies that weren't recognized this year with heaps of awards and attention (ie: The Kings Speech and The Social Network). 

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Never Let Me Go was my favorite movie this year (despite being dubbed not only pretentious but also the worst movie of the year by one of the critic at Time Out New York - but I think they never seem to have strong views on anything). It was one of those movies I was so excited to see and it didn't let me down unlike mostly everything else I saw this year. The plot, in short, is a dystopian Britain (stay with me, really) where children are cloned and raised to harvest their organs. They start "donating" around 30 and "complete" after three donations. The story centers around three friends (Keira Knightly, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield) who grow up together, separate in their twenties and finally reconnect a decade later. Unlike most dystopian society movies there are no heroes or villains in this movie. There are no grand gestures and people running while holding hands away from authorities trying to escape their fate. These are good British children. They do as their told. The movie is so beautiful because of that. There are moments of silence and sadness that pack more punch than any line a writer could draft. Glances fill in what we know about two of the main characters relationship. Why this movie didn't get as much attention might just be that these people aren't trying to escape their lives and totally quiet desperation. We work our boring 9 to 5s where not much happens and only dream of doing something great - that's where the movies usually fit in. Movie character "should" be bolder than us. They "should" kick and scream and wail and cry at the moments we only wish we could. If you want that, Never Let Me Go isn't your movie. There are no happy endings and only once does one of the character release their emotions in the form of a primeval scream (a fantastic scene with a fantastic lead-up, just flawless in my opinion). People probably don't like it because it only reminds us just how much we are probably wasting our lives. And not wasting it by not saving the world, but by telling people how we truly feel about them or doing the things we really want to do. Technically I think it's great as well, the cinematography is both in the muted tones of the English country side and lush, it moves seamlessly thanks to notice-less editing (that's a good thing), the script is poetic and not worn down with stereotypes or unnecessary language, and acting is so, so, so subtle and powerful. I know I'm writing all these things and you think, yawn, dull, quiet British movie but take my word, please, it's not. It's human. It raises questions about what makes us human and what makes us feel real. It'll really stick with you. I couldn't stop thinking about this movie for...well, I'm still thinking about it! I loved it and I hope you'll put it on your queue.

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Exit Through the Gift Shop cannot be explained. It's a documentary about a guy who wanted to make a documentary but it was so awful he was encouraged to make art and took it too far. Something like that. It comes from the mind of Banksy who, if you remember my blog posts from three years ago (but why would you?) I love even if I don't think his work should be on gallery walls. Nobody knows who Banksy is but he still makes a great narrator in this tale of art world over self promotion. Unlike many other movies about the art world, every one can "get" this movie - it just happens to hit like a punch to the stomach to those of us who are. And just like Banksy's work and career, doubts have been made about almost every aspect of Exit Through the Gift Shop. Is it a hoax? Who are these people? Did any of this really happen? All valid. There is no one answer. Like any great documentary it makes you think, but unlike others where you question the way you live your life and then ultimately go on living as you were before, Exit... doesn't ask that from the audience. It laughs and walks away and whether you're laughing with them or looking around confused if your own damn problem (just like a jerk at a party you insult and they just laugh in your face). I also really, really, really look forward to seeing what happens if (when) it wins Best Documentary on Sunday night. Will Banksy be there? (he's been banned from wearing his new signature monkey mask on stage by the Academy) Will there be a great to-do on stage? Or will nothing happen at all? Either way, it deserves any praise it gets even if the filmmakers don't give a rat's ass.

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Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. I know what you're thinking. Really? Yes, really. But I will give you this, I heard somewhere that no one over the age of 30 thought this movie was great (despite the director, the amazing Edgar Wright, is 36) and it's probably true. It's a hipster movie. It makes constant references to video games played on a Nintendo 64 and is pretty much done in the form of comic book (because...duh, it's based on a comic book series). Michael Cera is doing his typical Michael Cera thing but for the first time since Arrested Development, it's been charming and perfect. The dialogue is both sharp and self-referential. I laughed more throughout this movie than I have at any other movie that's been released in the last three or so years. So there. I'm in my 20s and I loved Scott Pilgrim. I'm probably going to keep quoting it for awhile too. So there! You're pretentious, this club sucks, I have beef. Let's do it! and I don't think I can hit a girl. They're soft. 

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Tomorrow I'll talk about my personal Oscar picks because I'm awesome  and I want to be right about everything.