"I'm just ahead of the curve"

So Sid Ganis at AMPAS (the folks who bring you The Oscars) finally admitted--sort of-- that they screwed up in not nominating The Dark Knight for Best Picture earlier this year. So, to make up for that huge snafu, the Academy is extending the Best Pic nomination slate to ten. Great. So Star Trek or Watchmen (God help us) can get the nod that TDK deserved more. I hope that Chris Nolan has made Ganis' face into a dartboard!

Requiem for The Dark Knight pt. 2

(SORT OF SPOILER ALERT)

It’s not enough that The Joker is caught; The Joker himself even says that in the final exchange with Batman. Gotham’s reckoning begins and ends with Harvey Dent. He has gone off the rails and seeks revenge on everyone who led to his disfigurement and the death of Rachel Dawes. Even with The Joker’s capture, his “piece de resistance” is Harvey Dent’s turn to the dark side, his complete descent into madness – the birth of “Harvey Two-Face.”

As Harvey goes, so does Gotham City – as well as its hopes and its need for a better tomorrow. This is why his murdering spree can’t be brought to light, so Batman takes the rap and goes on the lam. This isn’t a new story: it’s as old as Jesus dying on the cross (and no, I’m not comparing Batman to Jesus, I’m just making a point). The Dark Knight hinges on the need for hope in society (sound familiar?); in this case, hope trumps even justice and truth.

Why is this confusing? How is this cold?! Maybe after two hours and the absence of Heath Ledger some people lost interest and stopped paying attention. Some people think that a “comic book” movie should solely be entertaining, so for them the third act – and possibly the entire film – would be a turn off. Frankly, those are not the limitations of the film. Those are THEIR limitations! This film set out to tell multilayered, compelling stories, and it succeeded. This film set out to be entertaining and visually spectacular – check. Christopher Nolan, his cast and crew didn’t settle to make a run-of-the-mill “superhero action flick” that would be a cash cow for Warners (which they could have done – they got paid either way). Their mission was to elevate a popcorn movie into a timely and timeless work of art – CHECKMATE. And as its reward, The Dark Knight made even MORE money than expected! To quote a line from another popular film: if you build it, they will come.

I write this sentence in all seriousness: The Dark Knight is the Citizen Kane of the 21st century. For those of you who didn’t get it – especially all of the AMPAS voters that couldn’t place it on your Best Picture ballots – YOU SIMPLY WEREN’T READY.

**me throwing down mic and walking off the stage**

Requiem for The Dark Knight pt. 1

This will be my final post about The Dark Knight, unless something crazy happens between now and the Oscars.

I saw the film again when it was re-released in theaters last weekend. The film holds up, even in its third viewing in a theater. The narrative is still compelling, the action sequences still thrill (esp. the 18-wheeler flipping over in the middle of Chicago’s LaSalle St.) and the acting is top-notch.

Could the film had been shorter? Sure. I agree that the film could have benefited from having 15 to 20 minutes shaved off. Are there slight plot holes with the film? Sure, as with nearly ANY film, esp. action flicks. Was Christian Bale’s voice affectation annoying? Not to me at first, but yes, it can grate after a few viewings, I admit. Do any of these things lessen the impact or the brilliance of the film? In my view, absolutely not!

I specifically want to address those people who have issues with TDK’s third act. David Carr, aka The New York Times’ Carpetbagger, has numerous times complained about the film’s final act, and eluded that the “cold and confusing” ending is the reason that Oscar voters failed to embrace the film. I disagree wholeheartedly. The third act is not only coherent and thoughtful, but the entire narrative is buoyed by it.

AMPAS can suck my dick!

I called Kate Winslet in lead for "The Reader," didn't see Michael Shannon coming (but it's a good pick), but none of that matters now. I will turn off the Oscars this year after the supporting actor category! They're dead to me now.

And now ... my picks for the Oscar nominations!

I will go into more details later about what films I've seen and what I think about them. But here's what and who I think will earn Oscar nominations tomorrow morning:

BEST PICTURE:

"The Dark Knight" -- yes, I think it will make it in. :-)

"Milk"

"Slumdog Millionaire"

"Frost/Nixon"

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- although I think this film has lost a lot of steam. If one of the early frontrunners gets left out for say, "WALL-E"  or "The Wrestler," I think it will be this film.

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle - "Slumdog Millionaire"

Christopher Nolan - "The Dark Knight"

Gus Van Sant - "Milk"

Ron Howard - "Frost/Nixon"

Andrew Stanton - "WALL-E" - I think this will be one of the surprise nominations...their consolation prize for the film not getting a BP nod (like Paul Greengrass for "United 93"). Despite his DGA nod, I think Fincher is weak enough to get knocked out.

BEST ACTOR

Sean Penn - "Milk"

Frank Langella - "Frost/Nixon"

Mickey Rourke - "The Wrestler"

Clint Eastwood - "Gran Torino" - because they have to nominate him for SOMETHING!

Richard Jenkins - "The Visitor" - Jenkins is a veteran actor that's been around the block. His performance has gotten buzz, and the "Benjamin Button" fade out will be enough to take Brad Pitt out of the running.

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway - "Rachel Getting Married"

Meryl Streep - "Doubt"

Sally Hawkins  - "Happy Go Lucky"

Angelina Jolie - "Changeling"

Kate Winslet - "The Reader" - AMPAS will ignore "Revolutionary Road" and bump her up to lead for this performance.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR (Does it even matter, really?)

Heath Ledger - "The Dark Knight" - They should have sent the Oscar to his family last summer!

Josh Brolin  - "Milk" - personally, I think James Franco deserves it more.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman - "Doubt"

Robert Downey, Jr. - "Tropic Thunder"

Dev Patel - "Slumdog Millionaire" - The "Slumdog" love will carry him over for this nom.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz  - "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Viola Davis - "Doubt"

Marisa Tomei - "The Wrestler"

Taraji P. Henson - "...Benjamin Button" - The "Button" backlash won't rub off on her. People like her performance and like HER.

Rosemarie DeWitt - "Rachel Getting Married" - She will be the other SHOCKER acting nomination, with Winslet's absence in this category letting her sneak in (and it will be deserved).

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

"...Benjamin Button"

"Doubt"

"Frost/Nixon"

"The Dark Knight"

"Slumdog Millionaire"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

"Milk"

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

"The Wrestler"

"Burn After Reading"

"Rachel Getting Married"

We'll see how right I am in less than 10 hours!

Hello world!

I'm a blogger now! Well, actually I have a blog on MySpace, but I don't know if that really counts. Anyway, welcome! I guess better late than never.

Because it's late, let me cut to the chase...

1) Today saw the swearing in of President Barack Hussein Obama! WHOO fucking HOOO!!!! Finally, some competency and compassion in the White House! I broke out in a huge smile while watching him take the oath and give his inaugural address. It was a good feeling, and made me realize that I don't smile enough. But that's another thought for another time.

2) It's about 32 hours until the Academy Award nominations are announced, and I can't wait. I am so emotionally invested in The Dark Knight... if the film is not nominated for best picture, I will a) likely because physically ill and b) destroy something in my apartment. To prepare for the worst, I will probably set aside some inexpensive items that I won't be concerned about bashing to shreds if necessary. And I'm sorry, I don't even want to hear it about Slumdog Millionaire. Saw it this weekend: great film, heart-tugging rags-to-riches/finding lost love story. I really get why people are in love with this film. But this film is NOT BETTER than The Dark Knight. Not by a mile. Sorry Danny boy, but Batman's got you by the balls. Hopefully, the Oscar voters will agree.