Blog Archives

Movie Quote of the Day – Django Unchained, 2012 (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

django_unchained

Calvin Candie: White cake?
Dr. King Schultz: I don’t go in for sweets, thank you.
Calvin Candie: Are you brooding ’bout me getting the best of ya, huh?
Dr. King Schultz: Actually, I was thinking of that poor devil you fed to the dogs today, D’Artagnan. And I was wondering what Dumas would make of all this.
Calvin Candie: Come again?
Dr. King Schultz: Alexander Dumas. He wrote “The Three Musketeers.” I figured you must be an admirer. You named your slave after his novel’s lead character. If Alexander Dumas had been there today, I wonder what he would have made of it?
Calvin Candie: You doubt he’d approve?
Dr. King Schultz: Yes. His approval would be a dubious proposition at best.
Calvin Candie: Soft hearted Frenchy?
Dr. King Schultz: Alexander Dumas is black.

Oscar Vault Monday – Inglourious Basterds, 2009 (dir. Quentin Tarantino)

There is so much to write about with this film. Lots of production history and awards history, etc. But those are all things you can look up elsewhere, or watch on the DVD extras, so I am mostly going to stick with various impressions and favorite parts of this film. when taking screencaps for the post I somehow wound up with 177 images. I have whittled this down to 34. It was difficult. I’ll probably post the extras on Tumblr over the week. It’s just such a beautifully composed film. The first post I ever made on this site was about how Inglourious Basterds topped the SAG nominations, so this movie and this site are forever linked. I saw this movie when I managed to get a Friday off from a job that I hated. My mother and I drove 100 miles to Klamath Falls, Oregon and saw this and then got coffee for an hour and then saw (500) Days of Summer. I like to think of that trip as either Inglourious Summeror: (500) Days of Basterds. It was a good trip, if not a little emotionally draining. Inglouious Basterds was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning one: Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Supporting Actor Christoph Waltz (won), Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture. The other films up for Best Picture that year were A Serious ManAn EducationAvatarDistrict 9, PreciousThe Blind Side, Up and Up in the Air.

inglourious_basterds_poster

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The Oscar Locker – The Results of the 82nd Academy Awards Are In

I ended up getting 18/24 categories right, which is one of my best years of predicting in awhile. For the most part I am very happy with the results of tonight’s ceremony. Really the biggest disappointment for me was Sandy over Meryl. Someday will be Meryl’s day again, I just know it. 

But boy was it Kathryn Bigelow’s night. Two Oscars in five minutes and one glass ceiling shattered forever. 

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2009 Academy Awards – Final Predictions

Alright you guys, I’m sorry I haven’t updated in awhile, life’s gotten a bit stressful. That being said THE OSCARS are tomorrow. This has been one of the most stressful awards seasons since I started following the Oscars all those years ago. These are my final predictions and, as always, I’ll be live-blogging the show on my tumblr. So here goes nothing.

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My Oscar Nominations Predictions

The Academy Award nominations will be announced at 5:30AM PST tomorrow, February 2nd. I’ve got predictions for 10 of the 24 categories. I’m also going to supply some alternates. I love being able to predict what the nominations will be, but at the same time, it would be nice for some surprises to sneak in there too!

Best Picture:

  1. (500) Days of Summer
  2. An Education
  3. Avatar
  4. District 9
  5. The Hangover
  6. The Hurt Locker
  7. Inglourious Basterds
  8. Precious
  9. Star Trek
  10. Up In The Air

(Alternates: Up, Invictus, A Serious Man)

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15 Breakthrough Performers of 2009

2009 was a good year for cinema. So good I had to have a Top 15 instead of a Top Ten (and now, after I’ve seen a lot of the End of the Year fare, I feel like I’d need a Top Twenty). There were some newcomers who blew us away and some actors/actresses who have been kicking around Hollywood for years waiting for That Movie that makes them a household name, and for them 2009 was that year. I’m going to do this list in alphabetical order by last name.

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What We Learn From the SAG Awards

Well we knew one thing right off the bat, as Avatar did not have a single nomination. In fact, of the top five contenders right now only three were up for Best Ensemble. After tonight it’s clear that the actors are behind Inglourious Basterds

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Reflections on the Golden Globes

As shocking (and for many, upsetting) as  Avatar‘s win over The Hurt Locker and Inglourious Basterds is, it doesn’t mean it’ll take the top prize at the Oscars in March. It’ll be nom’d for sure, but that really is all that’s certain at this point. 

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precursors chart, frontrunners and tight races…oh my!

I’ve made a chart of all the precursors that have announced winners, various critics, the national board of review, etc.

 

click here to see full size

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