2011 Academy Award Winners List

This year's hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco were all right (how many dresses did Hathaway HAVE?), but the nominations excited me the most.

I enjoyed seeing actor veteran, Kirk Douglas, crackin' a few jokes as he was on stage as he was truly brillant. "You know..."

Here's all the winners of the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony! Congratulations to all the winners!

Are you happy with the results? Who deserved it and who do you believe got snubbed?

Best Art Direction – ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Best Cinematography – INCEPTION

Best Supporting Actress – MELISSA LEO (THE FIGHTER)

Best Animated Short Film – THE LOST THING

Best Animated Feature – TOY STORY 3

Best Adapted Screenplay – AARON SORKIN (THE SOCIAL NETWORK)

Best Original Screenplay – THE KING’S SPEECH

Best Foreign Language Film – IN A BETTER WORLD

Best Supporting Actor – CHRISTIAN BALE (THE FIGHTER)

Best Original Score – THE SOCIAL NETWORK


Achievement in Sound – INCEPTION


Best Sound Editing – INCEPTION



Best Achievement in Makeup – THE WOLF MAN



Best Achievement in Costume Design – ALICE IN WONDERLAND



Best Documentary Short – STRANGERS NO MORE



Best Live Action Short – GOD OF LOVE



Best Documentary Feature Film – INSIDE JOB



Best Visual Effects – INCEPTION

Best Film Editing – THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Best Original Song – RANDY NEWMAN (TOY STORY 3)

Best Director – TOM HOOPER (THE KING’S SPEECH)

Best Actress – NATALIE PORTMAN (BLACK SWAN)

Best Actor – COLIN FIRTH (THE KING’S SPEECH)

Best Picture – THE KING’S SPEECH

Keep on watchin'
The Little Critic

83rd Academy Awards Nominations

Here's the nominations list in its entirety. I'm excited to see the outcomes of this year's ceremony! What are your personal favorites to win in whichever category?

Any films you feel like they ruled out unfairly or overlooked?

Either way, these are the official nominations of the 83rd Academy Awards:



BEST PICTURE


127 Hours

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The Kids Are All Right

The King’s Speech

The Social Network

Toy Story 3

True Grit

Winter’s Bone



BEST ACTOR

Javier Bardem, Biutiful

Jeff Bridges, True Grit

Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

James Franco, 127 Hours



BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christian Bale, The Fighter

John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone

Jeremy Renner, The Town

Mark Ruffalo, The Kids Are All Right

Geoffrey Rush, The King’s Speech



BEST ACTRESS

Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence, Winter’s Bone

Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine



BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter, The King’s Speech

Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom



BEST DIRECTOR

Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

Joel & Ethan Coen, True Grit

David Fincher, The Social Network

Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech

David O. Russell, The Fighter



BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Another Year, written by Mike Leigh

The Fighter, Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson

Inception, written by Christopher Nolan

The Kids Are All Right, written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg

The King's Speech, Screenplay by David Seidler



BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

127 Hours, Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy

The Social Network, Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

Toy Story 3, Screenplay by Michael Arndt; Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich

True Grit, written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

Winter's Bone, adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini



BEST SCORE

127 Hours, A.R. Rahman

How to Train Your Dragon, John Powell

Inception, Hans Zimmer

The King’s Speech, Alexandre Desplat

The Social Network, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross



BEST SONG

“Coming Home,” Country Strong, Tom Douglas, Troy Verges and Hillary Lindsey

“I See the Light,” Tangled, Alan Menken, Glenn Slater

“If I Rise,” 127 Hours, A.R. Rahman, Dido, Rollo Armstrong

“We Belong Together,” Toy Story 3, Randy Newman



BEST ANIMATED FILM

How to Train Your Dragon

The Illusionist

Toy Story 3



BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Alice in Wonderland, Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas and Sean Phillips

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1, Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz and Nicolas Aithadi

Hereafter, Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski and Joe Farrell

Inception, Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb

Iron Man 2, Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright and Daniel Sudick

BEST ART DIRECTION

Alice in Wonderland, Robert Stromberg, Karen O’Hara

Happy Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1, Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan

Inception, Guy Hendrix Dyas, Larry Dias, Doug Mowat

The King’s Speech, Eve Stewart, Judy Farr

True Grit, Jess Gonchor, Nancy Haigh



BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Black Swan, Matthew Libatique

Inception, Wally Pfister

The King’s Speech, Danny Cohen

The Social Network, Jeff Cronenweth

True Grit, Roger Deakins



BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Alice in Wonderland, Colleen Atwood

I Am Love, Antonella Cannarozzi

The King’s Speech, Jenny Beaven

The Tempest, Sandy Powell

True Grit, Mary Zophres



BEST DOCUMENTARY

Exit Through the Gift Shop, Banksy and Jaimie D’Cruz

Gasland, Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic

Inside Job, Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs

Restrepo, Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger

Waste Land, Lucy Walker and Angus Aynley



BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Killing in the Name

Poster Girl

Strangers No More, Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon

Sun Come Up, Jennifer Redfearn and Tim Metzger

The Warriors of Qiugang, Ruby Yang and Thomas Lennon



BEST EDITING

127 Hours, Jon Harris

Black Swan, Andrew Weisblum

The Fighter, Pamela Martin

The King’s Speech, Tariq Anwar

The Social Network, Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter



BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Hors la Loi (Outside the Law) (Algeria)

Incendies (Canada)

In a Better World (Denmark)

Dogtooth (Greece)

Biutiful (Mexico)



BEST MAKEUP

Barney’s Version, Adrien Morot

The Way Back, Eduoard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk, Yolanda Toussieng

The Wolfman, Rick Baker and Dave Elsey



BEST ANIMATED SHORT

Day & Night, Teddy Newton

The Gruffalo, Jakob Schuh and Max Lang

Let’s Pollute, Geefwee Boedoe

The Lost Thing, Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann

Madagascar, Carnet de Voyage (Madagascar, a Journey Diary), Bastien Dubois



BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT

The Confession, Tanel Toom

The Crush, Michael Creagh

God of Love, Luke Matheny

Na Wewe, Ivan Goldschmidt

Wish 143, Ian Barnes and Samantha Waite



BEST SOUND EDITING

Inception, Richard King

Toy Story 3, Tom Myers and Michael Silvers

TRON: Legacy, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague

True Grit, Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey

Unstoppable, Mark P. Stoeckinger



BEST SOUND MIXING

Inception, Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick

The King’s Speech, Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley

Salt, Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan, and William Sarokin

The Social Network, Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, and Mark Weingarten

True Grit, Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff, and Peter F. Kurland


Keep on watchin'

The Little Critic

'The Social Network' Makes Me LOL, OMG, and WTF In All the Right Places

"You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies."

Release Date: October 1, 2010

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Andrew Garfield, Brenda Song, Rooney Mara, Armie Hammer

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Aaron Sorkin

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug and alcohol use and language.

Trailer
Official Movie Website

I remember the time I saw the first trailer for 'The Social Network.' I thought, in my judgmental mind, "Why the f!$k am I gonna watch that?! That's not gonna happen."

Months later, it happened, in the heat of grueling heartburn and the availability of the film in my apartment. Last time I eat microwavable chicken alfredo...

What made me change my mind?

'The Social Network' is director David Fincher's latest film spawn. When I found out Fincher was directing 'Network,' I couldn't help but wonder if it would be worth watching. I enjoy his work immensely. 'Seven' and 'Panic Room' are some of my favorite movies. We also cannot forget the self-proclaimed Official Movie of Testosterone, 'Fight Club.'

With so many great hits lying on top of Fincher's shoulders, I had to at least give 'Network' a chance. If Fincher was involved, then I at least knew the networking film wasn't about the occurance of Farmville.


Although both have chickens in them..they really do..

'The Social Network' revolves around the how and why the famous site that every hormonal teenager has exists.

Before Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) was the world's youngest billionaire, he was just a 20-something college student with problems. After a quick, brutal, somewhat well-deserved break-up, Mark gets drunk and starts angerily blogging about his ex, Erica Albright (the future, American 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,' Rooney Mara). He starts to form an idea of comparing pictures of women from several campuses with each other's and having visitors choose who is hot or not. He hacks into different Houses' student internet profiles and steals the pictures of all the females. This becomes FaceMash.


Dick.

FaceMash receives 250,000 hits in two hours and crashes the servers at Harvard. Zuckerberg is caught and creates some controversy for himself. He also manages to catch the attention of Harvard twins, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (both played by Armie Hammer). The twins ask him to be the programmer of a website idea that they came up with called HarvardConnection. Zuckerberg agrees, but after a moment of inspiration came up sometime in the next few days, he decides to work on his own idea and completely pushes off the responsibilities the twins had in store for him.

The rest of the film moves on with the initial evolution of Facebook, formerly called TheFacebook. Despite the fact that Facebook was meant to connect people to one another, Zuckerberg quickly begins to alienate himself from the people in his life, including best friend Eduardo Saverin ('The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus's Andrew Garfield), and finds himself under the strain of lawsuits.

I found the film particularly good for what it was about. Despite having my own Facebook (and The Little Critic having its own Fan Page, [hint hint, my dear readers]), I did not really think about how the site came about.

I know for a fact that much of this film was dramatized for the sake of drama. Even so, film-Zuckerberg was an asshole. An absolute asshole. 'Zombieland's Jesse Eisenberg did an amazing job with his role, although he did talk really, really, really, really fast. That fit the character though as it made it seem like Zuckerberg doesn't even need to think to say something quick, witty, smart, and.or rude.

It's not just Eisenberg I was impressed with, it was pretty much everyone else. Everyone's acting was not overdone or distracting, it was just the right level.

I enjoyed the interactions of the characters as well. I think Aaron Sorkin's writing was suberb at capturing human interactions and conversations, especially in the beginning of the film. I found myself really listening to what they were saying and felt like they all talked how many people converse in day-to-day life.

Trent Reznor of the famous band, Nine Inch Nails, is one of the composers for this movie. There was a big deal about that being the case and I found that to be modestly true. I wasn't appalled by it, nor did the score bring me "closer to God." Did it sound nice? Yes, it did. I think I want to hear more of Reznor's work in the future, which I know for sure, I will.

One last note: I enjoyed the cinematography. I like the darkness of scenes. I find it appealing.

I did have some personal issues with the film as I watched it, but it didn't distract me enough to stop watching. I wanted to start it and end it, and I did just that.

Unless you're a 14-year-old, you will appreciate this film and what it's about. Personally, it's not about the making of Facebook. It's not the billions of dollars Zuckerberg is making as I type all this out on my blog without pay. 'The Social Network' teaches us one thing: Don't f$#king screw your friends over.

3.5 / 5

Rent worthy? I think it's worth watching. It's not a terrible movie. Go rent it.

DVD/Blu-ray worthy? 'The Social Network' is not a movie I will go out of my way to watch over and over again. Once is good.

Oh, yeah...

Facebook me.
Keep on watchin'

The Little Critic

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'Tron: Legacy'

"The game has changed."

Release Date: December 17, 2010

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Garret Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Beau Garrett, Michael Sheen, Bruce Boxleitner

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Writers: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz

MPAA Rating: Rated PG for sequences of sci-fi action violence and brief mild language.

Trailer


Official Website
Disney's 'Tron: Legacy' is a fluorescent-light-filled orgy of a film that's enjoyable enough to space out to in the dark, sticky-floored theater while absent-mindedly stuffing popcorn down your throat.

Not necessarily a bad thing to do, however. The effects were pretty awesome and worked well with the classic world of 'Tron.'

'Tron: Legacy' is a sequel to the original, 1982 'Tron.' For the sake of not confusing you, I will reference the 2010 film as 'Legacy' and the 80's film as 'Tron.'

'Legacy' starts off with ENCOM's CEO, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges, reprising the same role he played in the original) and his 7-year-old son some time after the events of 'Tron' happened. We see the two bonding together as the world usually expects a father and son to do. Most fathers would say, "Yes, we'll go play baseball someday and be a great team, son!" Kevin pretty much tells his son, Sam, "Sure, son...I'll bring you to the world where in my first film, a maniacal, Master Control Program tried to dispose of me with many, many dangers...but, we'll be a team, so that's okay."

After the heartfelt bonding time, Kevin leaves and mysteriously disappears for the next 20 years.

No, Sam is not another "Daddy didn't love you" sort of child.

Fast forward. Although 27-year-old Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) is a controlling shareholder of ENCOM, he takes little interest for any of it.

After a mysterious pager contact (heh..snicker..giggle..a pager!?) from his father's old office, Sam investigates Kevin's old arcade and after a series of events and an awesome rocking-to-Journey moment, Sam discovers a mysterious device. Upon more investigating/fiddling, Sam is lasered into a digital dimension of bright lights, lasers, and shiny things.

It is there, in the world of Tron, that Sam will find out what became of his father and must escape before it is too late.

So, what was awesome about 'Legacy?' Well, for the obvious starter, how about the graphics? Take a look at the trailer for 'Tron' and compare it to the trailer of 'Legacy,' provided above.

By today's graphic standards, you are legally getting eye-raped by the trailer of 'Tron' and being sweetly serenaded by 'Legacy.' To be fair, those were state-of-the-art graphics for the time, which makes me wonder how graphics will evolve in 30 more years. Maybe someday I will actually be able to feel and touch Bruce Willis' bald head the way I'm supposed to.


The only man whose head shines brighter than the sun...so..touchable..

Another pretty awesome quality to 'Legacy' was the music, composed by the French-duo known as Daft Punk. The electronic/orchestra-backed notes and sounds worked with, not against, the film. I really enjoyed the deep, pulsating bass tones creeping into my ears. I was impressed at how some themes, such as "Rectifier" were more orchestra-forward, and others, like "Derezzed" are more electronic. Two different styles, but they blend seamlessly throughout.

The acting was there, but nothing too amazing. When I think about it, I honestly was not concerned for any of the main characters' well-being. I kind of was just letting whatever happened happen without any complaint or concern. I'm kind of sad I didn't care more about them, but I just didn't. It was not like in 'Star Wars,' where you wonder what Luke would do after his Uncle and Aunt died, or in 'Up,' when Carl Fredrickson loses Ellie. I had no concern for Sam or his father. I know they're just movies, but sometimes people are so immersed with a story, we have to see if a character is going to make it all right/what happens. Don't tell me that that has never happened to you before.

Was it worth watching it in 3D? Sort of. I'm still waiting for the day when they really make use of 3D technology. So far, with the arrival of 'Avatar' and all those other films, 3D is just child's play. I think I'm gonna opt out of 3D films for a while. I can't wait for the day that 3D is so good, I can finally feel the smooth, bald head of Bruce Willis.

Rent worthy? It's worth watching once. Great for the big screen and amazing sound. It's not as awesome if you watch it on a small TV with no surround sound or whatever.

DVD/Blu-ray worthy? If you're one of those who REALLY enjoyed this film, go ahead. It's deserving of HD quality as well, so I recommend the Blu-ray release if you're into that. I don't know if it's something I would buy for myself. As cool-looking as it is, its story is "just there" for me.

Random Trivia: Cillian Murphy ('Batman Begins,' '28 Days Later') has an uncredited cameo in the film.

Daft Punk also have a cameo.

Journey's "Separate Ways" makes an awesome, loud appearance in 'Legacy.' The band also provided two songs to the original 'Tron's' soundtrack, titled "Only Solutions" and "1990's Theme."

Keep on watchin'

The Little Critic

'Tangled' Is Far from a Cinematic Mess

Release Date: November 24, 2010

Starring (Voice Overs): Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy, Ron Perlman, M.C. Gainey, Jeffrey Tambor

Director: Nathan Greno, Bryon Howard

Writer: Dan Fogelman

Trailer


Official Website

Disney's 'Tangled' is a 2010 computer-animated film loosely based on the Grimm Brother's fairy tale, 'Rapunzel.'

When I say computer-animated, that doesn't mean it's  Pixar. One of my pet peeves is when people think a computer-animated film is Pixar; almost as much as I hate it when people think 'Anastasia' and the like are Disney films (DON BLUTH, PEOPLE!) I believe in giving credit (or extreme dislike) where credit is due.

Now, back to 'Tangled.'

Many of us are familar of the story of Rapunzel, the poor girl who is locked in a tower by a witch for many years of her lonely life.

'Tangled' changes up the Grimm Brother's story a bit and puts in new elements to make up a more exciting movie. In the trailer, you can see Rapunzel leaving her tower to go off on her own adventure. Can you imagine 'Tangled' if it stuck to the original story?

We'd basically see Rapunzel...in a tower...for the whole movie...until...the end.

Where's the fun in that? Another good addition to 'Tangled' is how Rapunzel ended up in the tower in the first place. In the original story, a random peasant's idiot, radish-craving pregnant wife wants him to risk his life to go into someone else's garden and satisfy her own hormonal urges.


Enjoy your vegetables, b*tch.

As with many husbands with a pregnant wife, he keeps his mouth shut and goes into the garden. As we all know, this was a witch's garden and she catches the peasant, makes a deal, wants his child after she is born, blah blah blah.

This is a major difference from 'Tangled' for Rapunzel was born of royal blood (any excuse for Disney to make yet another Princess, I suppose). Instead of being a b*tch like the peasant mother, the Queen was sick while pregnant with Rapunzel and the loyal subjects of the King did their best to find a magical golden flower out in the wilderness. Yes, there is only one.

This flower glows like a swinger at a rave party, so you'd think it wouldn't be hard to find. Unfortunately, it is being hidden by a mysterious woman who selfishly uses it to restore her youth, making it harder to find. One night, the witch knocks over the basket covering the flower, and the Kingdom's subjects find it and take it to their Queen. She becomes better, a baby girl is born, and everyone is happy.

Except for the witch. She sneaks into the castle one night and steals the baby. Instead of not looking for their daughter like the peasants, the King and Queen search for their poor daughter for the next 18 years.


Apparently, peasants are not good for much of anything, let alone have children.

This adaptation of 'Rapunzel' is wonderful and delightful; the writing of the origin of Rapunzel is well-done and well-thought out.

Another aspect of 'Tangled' that was pointed out to me by my boyfriend, was the fact that the main villain was almost approachable. The witch has a human-side to her character and she wasn't a complete, crazy maniac, like in other Disney films. She actually has an affectionate side, but that became watered-down due to her selfishness. Really, that is actually a common problem with people nowadays.

The animation was beautiful and I was thinking that throughout the film. Very colorful, very bright, and made me wonder what kind of conditioner Rapunzel uses.

The songs were not all-too-amazing, but I think if I listened to them more, I may take a better liking for them. I did enjoy "Mother Knows Best" however, which was sung by the witch.

So, all in all, this is a pretty amazing movie, especially since Pixar was not involved this time around. I enjoyed it a lot and you can still check it out in theaters now! I don't care how old you are, go out and watch it. I watched 'Tangled' with 3 strapping young men, so there is no excuse for you to not watch it.

Rent worthy? If you can't catch it in theaters, go and rent it when it is available. It really is a cute film, especially one to watch with the family and children.

DVD/Blu-ray worthy? I think I might buy it. It's a nice movie to have on hand if children ever come around. But then again, I'd still probably end up watching it by myself while sipping on a hot cup of tea.

Keep on watchin'
The Little Critic