It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Oscar Season

It's that time again...awards season in Hollywood!  Studio execs often choose release dates in the late fall/early winter for their Oscar-hopefuls in an attempt to garner buzz and be fresh on Academy members' minds as the nomination ballots come out in January.  Having worked FOR the Academy the past two Oscar seasons, I've grown especially fond of the excitement, anticipation and (usually) really legit movies that come with this time of year.  While I'm not working for the Academy this year, the feeling is admittedly a bit subdued, but I'm ready to see some good movies, nonetheless! 

Here are my personal ratings/reviews of some new releases I've seen recently.  Some of which may indeed receive a coveted golden statuette (or several, for that matter)... and some of which most likely will not.  ;-)

EASY A

• One sentence synopsis from IMDB: A clean-cut high school student relies on the school's rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. 
• Annie's Amazing Approval Rating: A (and not just because that's the letter in the title).   
• The Review: This movie is just FUN to watch.  Its hilariously witty screenplay is well-written and superbly acted by its star, Emma Stone.  Another major highlight of the movie: Penn Badgley's extreme hottness. YOWZA! I laughed out loud many times, including my favorite scene featured in the video below (which I'm willing to venture is a scenario ALL-too-familiar to the majority of us...) 
• Do I want to see it again? Yes.

 

NEVER LET ME GO

• Two sentence synopsis from IMDB: As children, Ruth, Kathy and Tommy, spend their childhood at a seemingly idyllic English boarding school. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them. 
• Annie's Amazing Approval Rating: B-
• The Review: Starring the very talented Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley, and based on what has been considered one of the best novels of the decade, this film has some major Oscar buzz.  Ergo, I went in with high expectations, and sadly, those were not met.  I recognize some very redeeming features about it, but overall, the slow-moving story did not grab me and I was bored.  I think Stephen Farber's review in the Hollywood Reporter puts it perfectly: "Expertly acted, impeccably photographed, intelligently written, even intermittently touching, the film is also too parched and ponderous to connect with a large audience."  
• Do I want to see it again? No.   

THE SOCIAL NETWORK 

• One sentence synopsis from IMDB: A story about the founders of the social-networking website, Facebook. 
• Annie's Amazing Approval Rating: A+++++
• The Review: This is by far the best movie I've seen in 2010.  Incredible writing, acting, music, directing, ETC.  Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer, and Andrew Garfield, (who I really did not enjoy in 'Never Let Me Go' but who I looooved in this), were all exceptional.  I was honestly so engrossed in the story that I was legitimately disappointed when 2 hours had passed and it was over. It was such a unique experience to watch the fascinating back story of a phenomenon to which our generation has witnessed the birth and  explosive growth. I also had the unique experience of watching this HUGE Oscar buzz movie AT the Academy member screening which Nikki Finke wrote about here. The theater was full of excited chatter and applause as the film ended, and I definitely predict numerous nominations for this incredible film. If you only see one movie this season, make it this one. Fo'real. 
• Do I want to see it again? I think the answer to that is fairly obvious, given my rave review... yes, yes, yes. ASAP, please. 

LET ME IN

• One sentence synopsis from IMDB: A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian. 
• Annie's Amazing Approval Rating: A-
• The Review: I should preface this by saying that I am an abnormally large 'scaredy cat' (for lack of a better term) who very much dislikes scary/suspenseful/thriller type movies, which caused me to cover my eyes through approximately 30-40%  of this film.  However, even with that handicap in my viewing experience, I can fully realize that this movie is very well-done and I do indeed recommend it.  The young leads Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz give stunning performances.  As far as the vampire fad goes, the overall quality of this film puts the Twilight franchise to absolute shame (sorry Mar), so if you're into the vamp thing, it's a must-see. 
• Do I want to see it again: No (because I am scared little baby).

There you have it. Some great new movies worth seeing (and one worth skipping).  Happy Oscar season! 

Currently listening to:  Mumford and Sons

Why: The top two reasons I am listening to this amazing band today: 1.) McKenzie and I are going to their concert in Hollywood in a couple weeks and  2.) they are awesome. A friend of mine recently described them with this analogy: "Mumford and Sons are to feeling like fall like The Beach Boys are to feeling like summer."  It's true... this English quartet's banjo-driven tunes just make me want to curl up in a big comfy sweater beside a blazing fireplace with friends on a crisp autumn evening and drink spiked apple cider. :-)  Cheers. 

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