83rd Annual Academy Awards

Well, I did one worse then last year. If only I had changed one prediction to be right, I would have tied my record. Still, 16/24 is respectable enough I suppose. Here is the last of what I got wrong (because I don't feel like retyping everything).

Supporting Actress

Prediction: Hailee Steinfeld for "True Grit"

Winner: Melissa Leo for "The Fighter"

Art Direction

Prediction: Inception

Winner: Alice in Wonderland

Lesson Learned: Never bet against Tim Burton for Art Direction. Sweeney Todd upset three years ago.

Cinematography

Prediction: True Grit

Winner: Inception

Thoughts: It did look pretty sweet on IMAX.

Directing

Prediction: The Social Network

Winner: The King's Speech

Lesson Learned: Go with DGA

Documentary Feature

Prediction: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Winner: Inside Job

Original Score

Prediction: The King's Speech

Winner: The Social Network

Animated Short Film

Prediction: The Gruffalo

Winner: The Lost Thing

Live Action Short Film

Prediction: Na Wewe

Winner: God of Love

83rd Annual Academy Awards: My Predictions

So here we are, once again, another Academy Awards ceremony. Every year we go and make our picks for who is going to win what. This year is a particularly exciting race because we have The Social Network, the critics darling (and my favorite film of the year) against the more audience-pleasing The King's Speech. Its fun to not have a sure thing for the Best Picture (last year's Hurt Locker v. Avatar was a fun duel), but King's Speech is pretty much guaranteed to win. That said, there are only 10 categories that I'm certain of, and 14 I'm hesitant of. After last year's Up in the Air upset for Adapted Screenplay (Precious being the winner), I am now sizing up all the sure things (Toy Story 3 for animated, Christian Bale for Supporting Actor) and debating which one won't happen. It's a lot of speculation, so here it goes, my picks for the winners at this year's 83rd Annual Academy Awards:

Leading Actor

This one is a sure thing. If there is any category you should not bet against, it is this one. Colin Firth has locked this prize since, well, whenever the King's Speech debuted (I think it was at Toronto). Javier Bardem is the surprise nom for Alejandro Gonzales-Inarritu's Biutiful, and Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, and James Franco all did terrific work. But its the one J-name that will win this award, and though he should have won last year for A Single Man, Colin Firth still deserves the prize.

My Prediction: Colin Firth for "The King's Speech"

Supporting Actor

The last couple of years this category has been dominated by sadistic serial killers, from Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh through Heath Ledger's Joker and Christoph Waltz's Hans Landa. Jeremy Renner is the closest thing we get to a bad guy this year, and he's not all that bad anyways. Christian Bale was the emotional center of The Fighter, and provided the film with its best moments. He has cleaned house at every awards show, and rightly deserves to charge on to the Oscar. But many people have speculated Geoffrey Rush could upset in this category for his terrific turn as King George VI's speech therapist, Lionel Logue. It is difficult to imagine the film without Rush. That being said, I think the Academy will go with Bale, who gives the showier performance.

My Prediction: Christian Bale for "The Fighter"

Leading Actress

There are no sure things. But it would be foolish to bet against Natalie Portman's performance in Black Swan. It may not be the best of the year, but its the role that has the most acting in it, and thats all you need for the Academy. Michelle Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Annette Bening all give terrific performances in their respective roles, and some are even calling for a Bening upset (Nicole Kidman's performance remains unseen by me). But I don't see anyone else winning besides Portman.

My Prediction: Natalie Portman for "Black Swan"

Supporting Actress

Now HERE is where I am predicting an upset. Melissa Leo has been sweeping all the awards up, from guild to globe, and is the frontrunner and favorite to win the award. However, there is another nominee, one Hailee Steinfeld, who gives the best performance in True Grit (in fact, she is a lead character), and yet finds herself relegated to this category because she is young and doesn't stand a chance against the titans of the lead actresses (for my money I'd love to see her nominated in the leading category just because she would give Portman a run for her money). If the Academy goes for a King's Speech sweep, then Helena Bonham Carter could take this one, but I highly doubt it. I'm going with Steinfeld, a newcomer to be sure, but one who is nominated in the wrong category and deserves to be recognized for it.

My Prediction: Hailee Steinfeld for "True Grit"

Animated Feature

Now this category is a sure thing right? Right? How to Train Your Dragon beat Toy Story 3 at the Annie Awards (awards for animation), but Kung Fu Panda topped Wall•E two years ago and failed to win. Plus, TS3 is nominated for Best Picture, so it is pretty much designated the favorite. You never know, though. Still, I'm going for the sure thing.

My Prediction: Toy Story 3

Art Direction

A lot of prognosticators are predicting the King's Speech for this one, which I don't understand. Inception and Alice in Wonderland are two very visual movies that required a lot more imagination then the King's Speech, which hardly excels in any technical categories. While I like the Alice in Wonderland design, I felt it was too muddy and dark. Inception creates dream spaces, houses that exist on water, crumbling buildings, rotating hallways, and much more. It's a perfect marriage of visual and practical effects, and creates a fantastic city scape. The King's Speech, alternatively, was shot on a location previously used by a Gay Porn Film, so you decide.

My Prediction: Inception

Cinematography

Roger Deakins has been nominated 9 times now, for The Shawshank Redemption, Fargo, Kundun, O Brother, The Man Who Wasn't There, No Country for Old Men, The Assassination of Jesse James, The Reader, and now True Grit. He's never won. It's time.

My Prediction: True Grit

Costume Design

So I have learned to never bet against the costume drama. The Young Victoria, Elizabeth, and The Duchess have all won. The King's Speech in the common sense choice, but are the costumes really that impressive? Especially when you have a nomination like Alice in Wonderland, which excelled at the costumes designed for the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, and various other characters. The King's Speech is far and above the favorite, but I'm going to have to go against conventional wisdom. Alice in Wonderland is a close second, plus I don't feel the King's Speech to be a Costume Drama.

My Prediction: Alice in Wonderland

Directing

Now this is a big category. Tom Hooper is the obvious favorite to win, especially since he won the DGA award and The King's Speech seems to have everyone else's vote. But a lot of people are predicting a David Fincher upset here. The Coens have won before, and everyone else is new to this race. The only reason I can predicate a Fincher win is because he won at the BAFTAs, the British Oscars. Back in 2002, Rob Marshall won the DGA and yet somehow Polanski upset him for Director. Polanski had previously won the BAFTA for best directing. It's a long shot, and of course logically Fincher's win should indicate a Social Network win...but Fincher is a fantastic, interesting director, a complex man who knows exactly what he wants and knows how to get it. I truly think this is his award.

My Prediction: The Social Network

Documentary Feature

I'm probably going out on more limbs this year then others, but the voters DO have to see all the nominees in this category (and foreign language and all the shorts) if they want to cast a ballot. The clear favorite is Inside Job, a well made look at the financial collapse of 2008, what caused it, what was the result, and what greedy fat bastards people who run banks are. But there's another, much better documentary called Exit Through the Gift Shop, which details the street art movement and the man who documented it. Co-directed by the elusive Banksy (who is nominated), this is my favorite and one that clearly should win. I'm predicting with my heart instead of my head, so we'll see if it pays off.

My Prediction: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Documentary Short

I have no idea. Honestly. The most predicted is Strangers No More. I'll go with that.

My Prediction: Strangers No More

Film Editing

Now here is a category that I'm sure of. The Social Network has pitch-perfect editing, seamlessly moving us between two depositions explaining the current story, and the current story itself. Built out of thousands of hours of footage (Fincher likes to overshoot), they have constructed a perfect example of great editing. How can I tell? The best editing happens when you don't even notice there is editing. Its invisible. And the editing hear works seamlessly to build the performances, the music, and the plot. The only reason King's Speech will win is if it is going to sweep tonight.

My Prediction: The Social Network

Foreign Language Film

I have only seen Dogtooth, which is a highly disturbing film about homeschooled kids who never leave their property. I highly doubt the Academy will make this film the winner, and it probably doesn't deserve it anyways. The favorite is a Danish film called In a Better World, which I have not seen. I'll go with that.

My Prediction: In a Better World

Makeup

An uninspired round-up of nominees this year. The Wolfman is probably the most likely to win, since it has creature makeup and whatnot. Though I guess Barney's Version could win, since Paul Giamatti is aged significantly in it.

My Prediction: The Wolfman

Original Score

As much as I want Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross to win, this is one category that I know King's Speech will take. Alexandre Desplat is a terrific composer (his Fantastic Mr. Fox score was a nice touch to the film), and I see him winning this one. Reznor and Ross have composed a score unlike anything we've heard before, and the Academy usually shies away from that stuff. A shame.

My Prediction: The King's Speech

Original Song

Nothing memorable here. I don't even know the songs. Randy Newman and A.R. Rahman are both veterans of the award. How about Newman? I don't know. I'll go with him. I hope Country Strong doesn't win, because it is essentially Crazy Heart with Gwyenth Paltrow.

My Prediction: "We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3

Animated Short Film

I deeply regret having not seen any of the short films this year. I've seen Day & Night, which preceded Toy Story 3 in theaters. But I hear The Gruffalo is a favorite. This one's a crapshoot.

My Prediction: The Gruffalo

Live Action Short Film

Another crapshoot.

My Prediction: Na Wewe

Sound Editing & Mixing

Last year I was completely wrong here. Oops. The Hurt Locker when I predicted Avatar (I thought it would win one of the awards). Well, Inception seems like a sure thing here. It's technically a strong film, and its sound work helped to create an amazing dreamscape.

My Predictions: Inception

Visual Effects

Usually the easiest-to-call category. Inception will for sure win this one, if nothing else.

My Prediction: Inception

Adapted Screenplay

Out of all the awards of the night, this is the one The Social Network is guaranteed to win. Aaron Sorkin's terrific screenplay is the center of the film, as it is mostly about dialogue. All the characters talk at a rapid fire pace, and the opening scene is one of the finest examples of dialogue in a long time.

My Prediction: The Social Network

Original Screenplay

Here The King's Speech will win. Another Year is the best screenplay of the bunch, but The King's Speech will definitely win. No contest.

Best Picture

Here it is, the big kahuna. We have a distressed ballerina, a has-been boxer, a team that infiltrates dreams, lesbian moms dealing with normal people issues, a king who has trouble speaking, a man who gets stuck between a rock and a hard place, the invention of a social networking site, toys dealing with abandonment issues, a young girl hunting her father's killer, and a young girl looking for her father. The King's Speech seems to have been a lock for this award since the word go, and even though the Social Network posed a small threat, it has since receded into the background. The King's Speech will win this award, for sure. I know it is not a good idea to pick this for best pic when I have picked the Social Network for so many other categories, but that's the way I see it. This is how it will play out.

My Prediction: The King's Speech

The Awards start tonight, 8:30/5:30 ET/PT. I'll post my list of how well I did either during or after the show.

Ebert Presents...

The nightmare of the two Bens is a thing of the past. A.O. Scott and Michael Phillips had their brief moment in the sun. But inevitably, without Roger Ebert attached to the program, Buena Vista had no reason to continue the At the Movies show, with its decreasing popularity. Maybe if they had gone for Scott and Phillips first instead of the flash of the young Ben Lyons, but alas, no.

It has been common knowledge for those of us who care that Roger Ebert, who owns the thumbs trademark, has been shopping around the different networks to find a home for his version of the At the Movies show. Now he has finally found a home, at the old studio where he and Siskel, more then 30 years ago, began their At the Movies show.

The balcony is back, ladies and gentlemen. But of course our handicapped Ebert cannot himself be a co-host as he lacks speaking capabilities and thus could not enter into banter with his co-host. Instead, we get Christy Lemire of the Associated Press and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of Mubi.com. Lemire is a seasoned critic who guest-hosted with Richard Roeper back when the show was cycling reviewers during Ebert's illness. Vishnevetsky is a more curious figure. Born in the Soviet Union, he moved to America when he was 8 and then eventually to Chicago because he could find more movies here. He manages the Odd Obsessions video store and was offered this position when Ebert heard him speaking at the Lake Street Screening Room and was rather impressed by his eloquence and charisma.

So how do the hosts hold up? Lemire is good, and if you saw her episodes with Roeper, then she pretty much performs as expected. Vishnevetsky is everything ABC wishes Ben Lyons would have been: he's young, charismatic, but what is especially important is that he comes to the table with a deep knowledge of film. He's a smart guy who knows how to say something meaningful about a film, good or bad, whereas Lyons would always spit out really (un)witty taglines for the ads.

But the show still lacks the key element that made Siskel and Ebert so good: the way they would argue. The co-hosts are very cordial, which is to be expected as these two people, I assume, didn't know each other before Vishnevetsky was hired for the show. They are still getting to know each other just as we the audience are getting to know them. But what really drove the old show wasn't just seeing Siskel and Ebert declare their love for a film (my favorite examples of this are Hoop Dreams, Pulp Fiction, and Fargo), it was also seeing them go at each others throat. Of course, I don't want Lemire and Vishnevetsky doing this for the sake of our amusement, and I know they won't. I trust that as they get more comfortable with each other, they will build a rapport that will keep us coming back each week.

The show's other nice touch is additional segments from outside contributors, including bloggers, other critics, and political analysts. Since this program is being broadcast on public television, there are no bigwig producers weighing down on the show to keep it flashy. Instead, there are some terrific segments that you wouldn't expect from any show today. A mock-Citizen Kane trailer introduces the principal players in the show, as well as Ebert's wife Chaz. Its a hilarious and fun segment. Kim Morgan also provides a look back to The Third Man (1949) and shoots her review as if she was apart of the film. And just this past week, political analyst Jeff Greenfield provided a look at why the president, in political movies, always gives a speech at the end that causes the entire crowd to go wild. This is something, Greenfield assures us, that never happens in real life.

And of course, there's Roger's Office, a brief segment where Ebert himself reviews a current film. Of course since he can't speak for himself we get guest voices to convey his words to us. Werner Herzog supplies Ebert's voice for his review of My Dog Tulip, and in the past two episodes Bill Curtis has been taken over the role. We only glimpse Ebert briefly, at the beginning as he types and then at the end when we get his final opinion. These brief snapshots of Ebert are a nice reminder of the old days.

It's a satisfying, if safe, new show that will allow us to get our weekly reviews again, something I have been missing since Scott and Phillips signed off back in August. Recently I was watching TV and a review for the Mechanic came on. The ad was displaying reviews, and mentioned the film received "Two Thumbs Up." I smiled and laughed, because it feels good having those thumbs back after a long four year hiatus.

Top 10 of 2010

And here we are, once again, at that annual of annual traditions where one looks back over what was offered the prior year and evaluates what will indeed live on, for them, as a fantastic film. Of course all these lists were released in December, right? Well, yes, for the critics who get to see everything well in advance and are able to publish these lists. But I am just a common moviegoer, and must wait to see that latest foreign film or simply catch-up (as is the case this year) with films I missed because I was busy with life. But now I have seen the year's offerings and I can say that this turned out to be a better year then I initially thought. But before I release my top ten, I'd like to start off by naming the worst movie of the year:

And the worst movie of 2010 is...

The Human Centipede: First Sequence (2009)

It's grotesque, disgusting and pointless. Actually, I would half admire it if it lived up to its claim of depravity, but once you get past the idea of the premise, it is not a hard movie to swallow and becomes more frustrating with every dimwitted decision made by the principal females. The doctor (played by Dieter Laser) is very creepy, but the rest of the movie is unmemorable and doesn't even make the impact on you it wants too.

Sorry, I just figured it would be better to get the filth out of the way. Now, on to the top 10 of the year 2010!

10. The American

This is oddly one of the most underrated films of the year, as critics and the general public alike seemed to be taken aback by this movie. What most people were expecting, I suspect, is an exciting actioneer starring George Clooney. What we get instead is a mostly quiet film about a hitman who must live his life in solitude (the opening scene alone defies hitmen convention). Clooney acts like a samurai for most of the film, as he hides in a remote Italian village building a gun for a final job. The ensemble is quite strong, and while the movies last moments are a bit telegraphed, the preceding build-up makes the whole film worth it.

9. The King's Speech

It seems like this will surely win the Oscar for everything now, and I'm not unhappy about this prospect. The King's Speech is a terrific film with a great ensemble (Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, along with the likes of Michael Gambon, Guy Pearce and Timothy Spall), telling the story of King George VI's rise to power and how he had to overcome his stammer to inspire his people to be strong during war. The film works because of the actors, especially Geoffrey Rush who breathes so much life into dialectical coach Lionel Logue. Its a film that inspires you and makes you happy, and we need that every now and then.

8. Animal Kingdom

I had the pleasure of viewing this film with a fiery latin beat thumping through the floors from our neighbors. But that did not alter this film's quality in the slightest (though I have never heard Surfin' U.S.A. played at a more inappropriate time). An Australian film about a teen whose mother dies and is forced to live with his uncles and grandmother, who also just happen to be a mafia-type family. Its a taut film that spends a fair amount of time establishing itself before it really takes off. Guy Pearce shows up here as a detective, and there is one terrific scene after another, building up to a Godfather-esque ending (no, not the executing the five families scene. The other one).

7. Toy Story 3

The long-awaited sequel to the most beloved animated franchise finally arrived and didn't disappoint. While it is a bit of a step-backward from the previous entries, Toy Story 3 still delivers on all fronts, equal parts hilarious, thrilling, and heartfelt. The film deals with that inevitable point in a toy's life when their owner grows up and gets more interested in...well, the internet these days. The toy's donate themselves to a daycare center where they feel all will be better, if not for the oppressive cuddly bear that rules over the place. If anything, the film is incredibly nostalgic for me because it brought me back to being a kid again, and remembering playing with my toys and watching these movies. I do not currently know where all my old toys and dolls reside, but the film's ending is an oddly touching scene (an almost-man bids adieu to his playthings) that leaves one with a sense of fulfillment about the Toy Story universe.

6. Another Year

Mike Leigh may be one of the best directors out there no one knows about. I mean, his films are distributed, but most of the people I know have never heard of Leigh. Its a shame because he turns out such terrific films, and writes them in such a wholly unique fashion (lets just say actors work extra hard on his sets) that I'm surprised hes not more widely known. Another Year concerns a happily married couple, Gerri (Ruth Sheen) and Tom (Jim Broadbent), and, well, a year in their life that takes through select days of the four seasons. Its a fantastic study of loneliness and relationships and connections. Really, I don't want to say too much about this film because I went into knowing the bare minimum (the trailer gives nothing away) and came out confident that there are still terrific filmmakers out there.

5. True Grit

Probably the Coens most straight-forward film...ever, this is a fantastic Western, set in the dying days of the West as technology and progress move in and take over. Jeff Bridges is expectedly great as 'Rooster' Cogburn, a role that one John Wayne his Oscar, and Matt Damon as the Texas Ranger is equally impressive. But the real star of the film is newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who plays the fearless and gregarious Mattie Ross with such verve that she lights up every scene. The simple story of a girl seeking revenge for her father's death is played out through many quiet scenes, punctuated by brief spurts of violence. It's a deeply touching movie, and is bolstered by Roger Deakins stunning cinematography.

4. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

I only liked this movie initially, but like Edgar Wright's other films (Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead) repeat viewings brought this movie to the front of my attention. Its a simple boy-meets-girl story, and plays out much like a musical. Except, instead of musical numbers, fight scenes where our protagonist (Michael Cera) must defeat his sweetheart's seven previous lovers ensue. The film is a hybrid of video games and graphic novels (it is based of such a graphic novel from a lover of video games). The movie is a kaleidoscope of effects that take some time processing, as various texts fly through the scene to accentuate actions. It's absurd and a lot of fun, and though its characterizations are slight (his girlfriend is quite literally the girl of his dreams), its something I never tire of. And those films are just as important as the prestigious ones, right?

3. A Prophet

This foreign film was up for the best Foreign Language Oscar last year, but was not give a real release until February so it counts. A stark, harrowing look at life in prison, as a young Arab is sent there and soon ends up working closely with mafia kingpin stuck inside. The movie kicks off with a fantastic first thirty minutes, in which Malik (Tahar Rahim) must sneak a razor in his mouth to a meeting with a victim and then kill him. Everyone remembers the shot of him, as his mouth bleeds, pulling the razor out. The movie flows seamlessly and is one of the standout films of the year.

2. Exit Through the Gift Shop

I don't think I've every ranked a documentary this high before, but this is that good. It may be in part because the film could be fake (I don't believe Thierry, the frenchmen who is the film's subject, is made up). But one thing is for sure: it gets us close to Banksy, the director of the film, a famously elusive and anonymous street artist whose work includes the guantanamo prisoner at Disney Land and stencils on the West Bank wall. It's about street art, it's about a mad frenchmen who films everything about the movement, and its about how art can be exploited and people are so hungry to grab the hottest item that they'll pay outrageous money for something that isn't necessarily art at all, but imitation. Its definitely one of the finest documentaries, and finest films, I have ever seen.

1. The Social Network

Yes, I know, I know. I have now associated myself with the hive mind of critics out there that declared this the best film. But I have seen it four times and know that there is nothing better this year. The film is about Facebook, and part of what makes it so damn brilliant is how it takes what sounds like the most boring film of the year and makes it the most fascinating. Aaron Sorkin's brilliant dialogue is supported by an exception cast that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield (our new Spider-Man), Justin Timberlake (ironically playing the man that brought down record companies), Rooney Mara (the new Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and Armie Hammer (playing both Winklevoss twins). From the sumptuous cinematography (shot on the R3D no less), to the perfect editing, to the fantastic and utterly unique score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, there is no other film like this one. It is a film for out time, for our generation, our opportunity to turn to the world and say "Fuck you, I'm CEO, bitch!"

Golden Globes: Won vs. Predicted (2011)

Best Supporting Actress - TV

Prediction: Kelly MacDonald

Winner: Jane Lynch

Best Supporting Actor - TV

Prediction: David Strathairn

Winner: Chris Colfer

Best TV Actress - Drama

Prediction: Julianna Margulies

Winer: Katey Sagal

Best TV Actor - Drama

Prediction: Steve Buscemi

Winner: Steve Buscemi

Best TV Actress - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: Laura Linney

Winner: Laura Linney

Best TV Actor - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: Jim Parsons

Winner: Jim Parsons

Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Movie

Prediction: Judi Dench

Winner: Claire Danes

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or TV Movie

Prediction: Edgar Ramirez

Winner: Al Pacino

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie

Prediction: The Pacific

Winner: Carlos

Best TV Series - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: Modern Family

Winner: Glee

Best TV Series - Drama

Prediction: Mad Men

Winner: Boardwalk Empire

Best Foreign Language Film

Prediction: Biutiful

Winner: In a Better World

Best Animated Film

Prediction: Toy Story 3

Winner: Toy Story 3

Best Original Score

Prediction: Inception

Winner: The Social Network

Best Original Song

Prediction: "I See the Light" - Tangled

Winner: "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque

Best Screenplay

Prediction: The Social Network

Winner: The Social Network

Best Director

Prediction: David Fincher

Winner: David Fincher

Best Supporting Actress

Prediction: Melissa Leo

Winner: Melissa Leo

Best Supporting Actor

Prediction: Christian Bale

Winner: Christian Bale

Best Actress - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: Annette Bening

Winner: Annette Bening

Best Actor - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: Johnny Depp

Winner: Paul Giamatti

Best Actress - Drama

Prediction: Natalie Portman

Winner: Natalie Portman

Best Actor - Drama

Prediction: Colin Firth

Winner: Colin Firth

Best Picture - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: The Kids Are All Right

Winner: The Kids Are All Right

Best Picture - Drama

Prediction: The Social Network

Winner: The Social Network

Results: 13/25

So between this year and last year, I'm batting .360 in predictions, which is pretty good considering I dont' care about these awards. Though, I did much better in the film categories, where I got 10/14 right. Anyways, awards season has officially begun!

68th Golden Globes Predictions

I don't really care about the Golden Globes and will more likely then not end up watching them tonight. But that won't stop me from making my predictions. Call it a warm-up: I'm stretching my legs and testing the waters, seeing how well I do. Last year I think I got 5/25 right. So, I'm aiming to maybe doing better this year (though TV hangs me up because I rarely see any of the nominations in a category). So, what will be win this year? I'll list all the nominees, and put in bold my predictions

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Min-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Scott Caan - Hawaii Five-O

Chris Colfer - Glee

Chris Noth - The Good Wife

Eric Stonestreet - Modern Family

David Straithairn - Temple Grandin

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hope Davis - The Special Relationship

Jane Lynch - Glee

Kelly MacDonald - Boardwalk Empire

Julia Stiles - Dexter

Sofia Vergara - Modern Family

Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Idiris Elba - Luther

Ian McShane - Pillars of the Earth

Al Pacino - You Don't Know Jack

Dennis Quaid - The Special Relationship

Edgar Ramirez - Carlos

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Hayley Atwell - Pillars of the Earth

Claire Danes - Temple Grandin

Judi Dench - Return to Cranford

Romola Garai - Emma

Jennifer Love Hewitt - The Client List

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Carlos

The Pacific

Pillars of the Earth

Temple Grandin

You Don't Know Jack

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical

Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock

Steve Carrell - The Office

Thomas Jane - Hung

Matthew Morrison - Glee

Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television - Comedy or Musical

Toni Collette - United States of Tara

Edie Falco - Nurse Jackie

Tina Fey - 30 Rock

Laura Linney - The Big C

Lea Michele - Glee

Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical

30 Rock

The Big Bang Theory

The Big C

Glee

Modern Family

Nurse Jackie

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama

Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire

Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad

Michael C. Hall - Dexter

Jon Hamm - Mad Men

Hugh Laurie - House

Rationale: He won't win, but he's the only new face in this category this year, so...more power to him.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama

Julianna Margulies - The Good Wife

Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men

Piper Perabo - Covert Affairs

Katey Sagal - Sons of Anarchy

Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

Best Television Series - Drama

Boardwalk Empire

Dexter

The Good Wife

Mad Men

The Walking Dead

Best Original Song

"Bound to You" - Burlesque

"Coming Home" - Country Strong

"I See the Light" - Tangled

"There's a Place for Us" - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

"You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" - Burlesque

Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Alexandre Desplat - The King's Speech

Danny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland

A.R. Rahman - 127 Hours

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - The Social Network

Hans Zimmer - Incpetion

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

Simon Beaufoy, Danny Boyle - 127 Hours

Christopher Nolan - Inception

Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko - The Kids Are All Right

David Seidler - The King's Speech

Aaron Sorkin - The Social Network

Best Director - Motion Picture

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan

David Fincher - The Social Network

Tom Hooper - The King's Speech

Christopher Nolan - Inception

David O. Russell - The Fighter

Best Foreign Language Film

Biutiful

The Concert

he Edge

I Am Love

In a Better World

Best Animated Feature Film

Despicable Me

How to Train Your Dragon

The Illusionist

Tangled

Toy Story 3

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Christian Bale - The Fighter

Michael Douglas - Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Andrew Garfield - The Social Network

Jeremy Renner - The Town

Geoffrey Rush - The King's Speech

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams - The Fighter

Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech

Mila Kunis - Black Swan

Melissa Leo - The Fighter

Jacki Weaver - Animal Kingdom

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

Johnny Depp - Alice in Wonderland

Johnny Depp - The Tourist

Paul Giamatti - Barney's Version

Jake Gyllenhaal - Love & Other Drugs
Kevin Spacey - Casino Jack

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right

Anne Hathaway - Love & Other Drugs

Angelina Jolie - The Tourist

Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right

Emma Stone - Easy A

Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

Alice in Wonderland

Burlesque

The Kids Are All Right

Red

The Tourist

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama

Jesse Eisenberg - The Social Network

Colin Firth - The King's Speech

James Franco - 127 Hours

Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine

Mark Wahlberg - The Fighter

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama

Halle Berry - Frankie and Alice

Nicole Kidman - Rabbit Hole

Jennifer Lawrence - Winter's Bone

Natalie Portman - Black Swan

Michelle Williams - Blue Valentine

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Black Swan

The Fighter

Inception

The King's Speech

The Social Network

At some point later tonight I'll post how I did. This is more a mixture of what I think will/should win (more should, though I gave score to Inception because I feel Social Network's is too odd for the HFPA).

The Human Centipede: First Sequence (2009)

This movie came out a while ago, and while I normally don't review films that are not currently in theaters, I feel this one kind of merits a review. Maybe.

I never actually planned to watch this film: I heard so much about it through various reviews and friends that I decided there was no point. But, ultimately, curiosity won out and I sat down with a group of friends to review what is one of the most talked about films of the year.

For those of you that really don't know, The Human Centipede tells the story of two American girls (Ashley C. Williams and Ashlynn Yennie) on a eurotrip who find themselves stranded in the middle of Germany at some creepy guy's house when their car breaks down. They are drugged and awake on a make-shift hospital room in the man's basement, who happened to be Germany's most skilled surgeon (he is Dr. Heiter, played effectively creepy by Dieter Laser). They learn they are to be joined, ass-to-mouth, with another man (a Japanese guy played by Akihiro Kitamaru) to create a human centipede. Why? Who knows, but let's just say you don't want to be stuck in the middle.

When I went into this film, I was expecting to be completely grossed out, revolted, and slightly shaken by the movie. And you know what? I wasn't. True, the film displays some horrific acts against humanity, and the sheer depravity of the whole idea makes one sick, but the film achieves this through what most will agree is very little violence. That's not to say what happens isn't sick; the good doctor makes the human centipede a sort of pet, and the graphic nature of the attachment is gross. But there are no ruthless beheadings, or endless torture scenes. Once you get over the idea of the human centipede, it becomes easy to swallow.

Speaking of swallowing, the films most sickening sequence involves one member of the centipede swallowing excrement (with the good doctor yelling, "Swallow it, bitch!"). Yet this scene is achieved by the actors performance, not by actually watching someone swallow make-shift poo.

The movie frustrates, however, as characters make key idiotic decisions where, if they had made a different decision, they might have gotten out of the situation. Por example: one of the girls actually frees herself and the good doctor goes to attend to a power surge issue. But instead of running away, she rescues her unconscious friend and drags her out of the house (I should also mention she is bleeding profusely from a recent injury). Once, out the door, though, the good doctor finally shows up and tranquilizes her (and decides to make her the middle piece).

Now, on the one hand Tom Six, the writer and director, is most likely just making a commentary on most horror films, where characters make incorrect key decisions. That's all fun and good, but the Scream films have already made this pitfall of horror very well known, and so these character decisions come off as lazy writing.

Overall, I wasn't moved by the film either way. I actually forgot about it and have only just now returned to pondering it. It's technically well made, and there's no doubt the Human Centipede will become an iconic monster, at least for the midnight crowd. But I dislike these movies so much because I don't see the point in their existence. Who honestly finds this entertaining? Who will actually admit to looking forward to films like these? I don't want to know you. There are people who like the gross out stuff, and we all know this isn't real. But honestly, what's the point?

On one final note, Tom Six is making a sequel that is due out at some point this year. You'll notice the secondary title is "First Sequence." The next one is the "Full Sequence," and I guess we are going to get a 12-person centipede. There's already an amusing teaser online in which Six speculates about all the hate he's gotten from people calling it the most disgusting film ever made. Well that's giving this film too much credit.