That being said, there are still four whoppers left on my list that I will need to see before the season's over—Invictus, The Lovely Bones, Nine, and Avatar. Of course, there are likely others that we are still unaware of at this point, hidden behind studio doors.
Reviews are slowly trickling in for the first three, but many bloggers whose sites I frequent (again, my links on the side should be a sufficient citation), have been asked not to technically review the films yet. They can talk about them, mention them in passing, etc. (I'm still not really clear on the rules of this "embargo" many of them have been complaining about), but they cannot draft a full-fledged review. However, some thoughts here and there have made it through the gate...
Invictus
Seems to be a solid contender for Best Picture and Best Actor (Morgan Freeman). Anne Thompson of The Hollywood Reporter (a critic I've admired for years) appears to be very touched by the subtlety Clint has managed here, but she says that that may backfire for him in the Director race.
The Lovely Bones
Kris Tapley called this one "dangerously close to a masterpiece," which makes me very excited. However, he appears to be in the minority, as the others have asserted that the film is overproduced and perhaps too much of a departure from the original source (sign me up). Seems like Best Picture is looking less likely for this one, but Ronan and Tucci are as strong as ever for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.
Nine
All style, no substance (which is what I'd feared since the beginning). Looks like another Memoirs of a Geisha for Rob Marshall.
...and then there is Avatar, which NO ONE has seen, perhaps not even James Cameron himself. This is an interesting marketing approach for a film that some reports show cost its studio a couple billion dollars to make. I'm still getting to know this film (expect an analysis of the trailer sometime soon), but I have a feeling this has disaster written all over it. Regardless, its surrounding mystery has kept it in the running.
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I also think that Avatar is probably going to end up being horrible. But I read an article discussing the special 3D camera that was invented for this movie so I'll probably see it in spite of any bad reviews.
ReplyDeleteHi Amber,
ReplyDeleteMy judgment of Avatar is unfair, really, considering I haven't given it so much as a trailer watch yet. But given plot lines and a very inconsistent director, I don't have very much confidence in the project. But again, that's a shot in the dark.
You are correct, though, in pointing out the new technology brought in for filming. That is definitely worth looking into, and I'm planning to write a review of the trailer on Tuesday. I should also mention that when a sci fi film is done right, I tend to fall in love with them. I'd love for Avatar to surprise me.