Best Films of 2009: #5-1

#5: Broken Embraces

#4: Avatar

#3: Up in the Air

#2: A Single Man

#1: Inglourious Basterds

Friday For Your Consideration: Nicholas Hoult

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Friday For Your Consideration. As every year nears to a close, there are a number of actors nominated for Golden Globes, Oscars, and countless other awards. There are so many spots and there are so many deserving contenders, yet some inevitably get left out. Each week, I’ll be spotlighting one performance from this year which deserves a second look but might not get it. This doesn’t mean I don’t want Carey Mulligan and Christoph Waltz to get their first nominations. They don’t need my help. As luck would have it, these actors do. I’ll be running this feature until Oscar nominations are announced at the beginning of February, so leave your choices in the comments and I might feature them over the next couple of weeks! I’ve written at greater length about these performances in the reviews of the films, so make sure to read those for a more detailed look at why these actors deserve an Oscar nomination.

Nicholas Hoult, “A Single Man”
Where you’ve seen him before: The young British actor was a few feet shorter but just as great in “About a Boy” opposite Hugh Grant and Toni Collette back in 2002, and has since appeared on the TV series “Skins.”

Why he deserves it: Hoult is marvelously sedated and held back as a young student of George who expresses an interest in getting to know the depressed professor. He’s mature and intellectual, and immediately stands out from the pack of students as someone with his head on his shoulders. Hoult utters few lines, and it’s the looks that he gives George that really say the most. Most impressively, Hoult holds his own against established actors Colin Firth and Julianne Moore and delivers an exceptional performance that never quite breaks down his true intentions but is magnificently enrapturing.

Standout scene: (Minor spoilers) Hoult’s Kenny runs into George at a bar and listens to him talk about all the things he used to do and want to do. Not satisfied to sit around and talk, Kenny encourages George to throw caution to the wind and run into the ocean. It’s a marvelous scene that involves so much bonding through exchanged looks and shared joys.

Why he won’t get it: He’s not anywhere near close to a contender, tragically. For starters, “A Single Man” didn’t really catch fire with audiences as much as it could have. Sometimes when a lead actor is excellent, a supporting star slides in under the radar as well because the performances complement each other well. An example is Ethan Hawke in 2001 for “Training Day,” which was a film that didn’t otherwise do particularly well awards-wise but afforded Hawke his one and only Oscar nod for acting. Hoult also didn’t earn any kudos for “About a Boy,” despite delivering an incredible performance before the age of 13. Besides the lack of mentions for Hoult’s work in the film, the most significant reason he won’t make it in is that there are enough viable contenders in the running. Last year, bit player Michael Shannon slid in for “Revolutionary Road” because, well, there was no definitive fifth nominee. This year, that’s not a problem. There are five relatively safe bets, plus a few more who could take their spots, and unfortunately, Hoult won’t be one of them.

Read the review here, and come back next Friday for a look at another performer who deserves a shot at Oscar.

Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Wednesday Oscar Watch with Abe. Every Wednesday, I’m taking a look at the awards chances for all of the films released the previous week. Chime in with your thoughts on the Oscar chances for these films in the comments section. Also, don't forget to check out the Golden Globe nominations, announced yesterday.

Invictus
Clint Eastwood making a film about Nelson Mandela starring Morgan Freeman is a good way to drum up Oscar buzz. The Golden Globes yesterday snubbed the film for their top prize but still nominated Eastwood, Freeman, and supporting actor Matt Damon. They all seem quite likely to earn Oscar nominations, and the film should be able to get in with an expanded field of ten nominees which likely won’t include some of the Globe comedy nominees, like “It’s Complicated” and “Julie & Julia.” Eastwood has had three films nominated for Best Picture this decade – “Mystic River,” “Million Dollar Baby” (winner), and “Letters from Iwo Jima.” Expect him to add another film to the list this year. He also directed Angelina Jolie to an Oscar nomination for “Changeling” last year. It helps that “Invictus” is truly terrific as a film, and should also contend for Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.

A Single Man
One of the only solid “A” films I’ve seen this year should be set for at least one category at the Oscars, and that’s Best Actor, where a completely reinvented Colin Firth should have no problem getting nominated and maybe even winning. Hopes are high for costar Julianne Moore, whose flawless British accent should impress voters. I’m rooting for composer Abel Krozeniowski, and his Golden Globe nomination should help him along. The film should hopefully also earn nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction, and maybe even Best Makeup or Best Film Editing. Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture are probably long shots, in descending order of likelihood. I’d love to see it everywhere, though I’m very confident that it will get several technical nominations and recognition for its two fabulous leads.

The Lovely Bones
This film is no longer a serious Best Picture contender after receiving generally negative reviews, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the race completely. Never-nominated Stanley Tucci earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as a cold-blooded killer, and should be able to establish himself as the best part of the film and get nominated. Young lead actress Saoirse Ronan is an Oscar nominee already, and may well earn a second nomination if voters really like her performance. The film’s stunning visuals annoy as many as they astonish, and therefore the movie might be able to get nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction, but don’t bet on either one too much.

Don’t expect any kudos for The Slammin’ Salmon or a film starring Russell Crowe that you’ve never heard of, Tenderness. That’s it for notable films released this past week. There are only a couple of weeks in the year left! Come back every Wednesday for an analysis of the previous Friday’s theatrical releases and their Oscar chances. Thanks for reading!

Movie with Abe: A Single Man

A Single Man
Directed by Tom Ford
Released December 11, 2009

It’s always interesting to see a director’s first movie, especially when the director comes from an altogether different field unrelated to the world of film. What’s most intriguing about the crossover is that the new filmmaker often brings something crucial from his previous profession to his new career. In the case of former fashion designer Tom Ford, what he has to showcase for the world of cinema is absolutely astonishing, and that’s a major part of what makes his debut feature a must-see film.

Ford doesn’t waste a single moment in “A Single Man.” Every shot is extended and carefully caressed to show something unexpected, and his ability to dwell on the simplest things to make them seem extraordinary is reminiscent of the film-long charge of “American Beauty.” Ford has made an art film that doesn’t dismiss plot but rather makes every scene stronger by emphasizing the beauty he is able to find in each person and object on screen. The attention to detail only makes the story more intriguing. The 1960s setting utilizes colorful costumes and stunning set pieces that pop off the screen and make the film a visual pleasure.

The camera zooms in following the narrowing or widening eyes of a person’s glance, and there isn’t an instant that isn’t properly embellished to make it all the more fascinating. Accompanying these moments of slowed-down contemplation is the magnificent score by composer Abel Korzeniowski, which makes even the most seemingly mundane sequence of shots essential and heightens the dramatic meaning of every moment. It is certainly one of the best scores of the year, and without a doubt the most unique and original composition.

As if the daring direction and stellar score weren’t enough, the actors are unbelievably terrific. Colin Firth sheds his sheepish, neurotic antics and turns serious for the performance of a lifetime as George, a soft-spoken professor trying to deal with the sudden and unexpected death of his life partner. Firth is unrecognizable and brilliant, and his incredible dramatic turn indicates that the actor should consider breaking out of his shell more often. The lovely Julianne Moore is bold enough to don a British accent, and the result is simply wondrous. Moore’s Charley is excessive and hilarious while at the same time sad, lonely, and desperate. The interactions between Firth and Moore are divine. Matthew Goode (“Match Point,” “Watchmen”) makes Firth’s pain understandable as the charming late love of George’s life, seen in extraordinarily powerful flasbacks . The most surprising and marvelous performance in a film full of such feats is that by Nicholas Hoult, last seen considerably shorter in the world of film as the young kid in “About a Boy.” His turn as one of George’s brightest and most intellectually-stimulated students shows maturity and, above all, talent. This is one of the finest ensembles in recent history, one which makes every scene glisten just as much as the framing and direction do. “A Single Man” displays a staggering amount of creativity and artistic prowess from all involved, and that makes it simply irresistible.

A

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: A Single Man

Welcome to a new weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

A Single Man – Opening December 11, 2009



I’m breaking two unwritten rules I’ve been following thus far for this feature: not writing about movies I’ve seen already and not writing about trailers I hadn’t seen before I saw the movie. I’m letting those conditions slide this time because, ever since I first watched this trailer, I haven’t been able to stop playing it over and over. I assure that the movie is phenomenal and that all that is majestic and great about the trailer is applicable tenfold to the film. What really makes the trailer so undeniably incredible is the musical score by Abel Korzeniowski, whose music for the film is absolutely mesmerizing. The lack of dialogue or narration in the trailer reminds me of two recent trailers I really liked. One is the promo for the similarly-titled “A Serious Man,” which was primarily music-driven and showed the same scenes over and over. The other is the teaser for “Garden State,” which used Frou Frou’s “Let Go” and strung together image vignettes in the same way. All three use the same music in their trailers and feature films, but more importantly, the trailers establish a definitive tone and mood for their films. Had I not seen this film already, I think I’d probably be as excited as I was back in 2004 when “Garden State” was about to be released. This trailer, however, one-ups the preview for Zach Braff’s first film for the eye-popping colors and stunning cinematography it highlights in the film. Each scene is more dazzling and visually satisfying than the one before it, and everything looks majestic. Seeing Colin Firth in such an untraditionally serious role signals that this could easily be the breakthrough role of his career (and it is). Julianne Moore looks beautiful, and watching the expressions on her face is simply wondrous. Searching the names of the other two main cast members will produce much quicker results than my film-long attempts to place them. Matthew Goode recently starred in “Watchmen” as superhero Adrian Veldt, and also had significant roles in both “The Lookout” and “Match Point.” The 6’4” Nicholas Hoult may not look as familiar since he’s grown considerably since his breakout role as the kid in 2002’s “About a Boy.” Television stars Ginnifer Goodwin (“Big Love”) and Lee Pace (“Pushing Daisies”) also pop up briefly in the trailer, and this is one top-notch cast. This trailer is a fantastic glimpse of what the film has to offer, and it’s just as astonishing every time I see it. Check back on December 11th for my review of the film.