Everybody's Talking About... The Oscars!!!

Its that time of the year ladies and gents. No, its not Christmas. Nor is it my birthday. Instead, it is the biggest celebration of what I feel is THE best artistic form in the world - The Academy Awards. Even just saying those 3 little words makes one feel all gooey and gorgeous inside.

Every year I look forward to this particular award ceremony. Yes, I know there are the Golden Globes, and the Emmy's, but it is something particular about celebrating cinema, in giving it the stage for just one small night, that make me really appreciate my medium. Not only that, but I really feel it sets the tone for where the industry chooses to take itself for the rest of the year. Consider last year's achievements with The Kings Speech and look at how many amazing biopics were released last year - My Week With Marilyn, The Iron Lady, J.Edgar... the list goes on. This year is no different BUT with so many interesting nominees what direction cinema will take itself this year is anyone's guess.

It is about this time I need to mention the announcement I posted to my followers earlier today on Twitter. Each year, I make a vow to try and watch every single nominee that is selected for Best Picture. I used to think this was a feat in itself when the number was 6. When they raised it to 10, I honestly thought I didn't have a chance in hell. Last year, I managed to see just one of the films nominated (True Grit). The year before that I managed four (Up, Avatar, Inglorious Bastards, and District 9) This year thankfully, there are only 9. How hard could it be, you say? Well, let me spell it out for you.

Of this year's nominee list (full list below), I have managed to see just ONE film - The Help - which I didn't pay too much attention too because I honestly did not think it was going to be so well received (the fact I didn't find it THAT good a movie also had something to do with it). Anyway, so I've seen 1 film. That's 146 minutes of my time. I HAVE 10 MORE LIKE THAT TO GO. So based on the law of averages (I have no idea what that actually means but it sounds fun), my mathematical equation for this particular discussion goes something like this:

146 minutes x 9 = 1314 minutes = 21.9... hours

So basically I need a full day dedicated to watching all 9 of these films. Not a problem you say. Get your laptop, the DVD's, enough food and water for a day and don't move. Easier said than done. For one, The Artist and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close have not even reached Australian shores. And I know its almost blasphemous of me to say this but Moneyball, Midnight In Paris, War Horse, The Descendants, and Hugo are still in the cinemas and, well, I'm a little too poor right not to be forking out $18/movie. So for now that leaves me with The Tree of Life, a movie which I have to admit, has been on my radar for a while but, as with everything in life, my priorities got the better of me.

So here's the plan. I have 33 days to watch all 9 movies. I need 21.9 hours to do them. On average, based on the small income I earn per week, I can probably average 3 movies a week from now until the big day. As per usual, I shall be keeping you all updated with my various reviews which I promise, will try to be as unpersuasive as possible. You may be confused over my passion for this but my best response is, don't ask me why but rather, why not?

A Few Good Words about A Few Best Men

Fresh out the seats of Australia's latest "comedy", I am buzzing with too many adjectives to make this post worthwhile (a few to suffice include excitement, joy, mirth...you get the gist).

I was fortunate enough to receive a free double pass to Stephen Elliott's first cinematic production in a decade (courtesy of Bigpond Movies) and trust me, this is a film I would PAY to see again. Did just hear that right? She did just say she would PAY to see an Australian COMEDY?? Madness!

Precisely. You see, A Few Best Men is more than JUST a comedy. Its an exhibition. A statement. And most importantly, a revolution for the Australian film industry. Elliott and his team have blended pure innocence with stark-raving chaos, the likes of which we have not seen since Superbad. In a bid to contain myself, I will limit my evaluation of this beautiful, saving-Grace of a film to just 3 main points.

1. IT'S FUNNY!!!
Australia has actually made a few comedies over the past few years but of the ones we remember, only a few come to mind. Namely, The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, The Castle, and of course, Crocodile Dundee. The trend? Well, other than overly-clichéd characters and a lot of retro hairdos, all of these films are over 10 years old! No one (yes, I will make this claim) has managed to come up with a comedy that Australia has deemed worth watching (Ok Kenny, you may be an exception). A Few Best Men is Australian through and through but the main reason why is because Craig and Elliot have done what all Australians love to do - they have poked fun at their very own people through the bewildered eyes of their four leading men. From the perspective of Tom, Graham, Luke and most importantly, David (not Dave), we see our country the way the rest of the world sees it and God are we a funny bunch. More than that, they take the biggest mickey out of our favourite punters - The Brits - possibly the best part of the whole film. These four in their own right are legends but at the same time are utterly, hopelessly, and completely British. Through crafty dialogue (natural for both tongues), a quick pace to keep the audience on their toes, and a larrikin tone to not make things too serious (there may or may not have been a near suicide attempt), Elliott's comedy is just like his most famous film (Priscilla for all of you scratching your heads) - its brave, its bold and most importantly, "you better pull your socks up because you're about to have them knocked off."

2. You couldn't have a better cast.
Newton-John, Marshall, Bishop, Draxl and Le Marquand all take the Oscar for best performances in this film. Hilariously eccentric all with believable qualities, these characters are all integral to the speed and direction in which this film heads. Not to say that Samuel and Brent don't have their shining moments - they do - but their roles within the film are much more centred on, well, keeping everyone centred. We relate to this gorgeous couple, wish hopefully that yes, true love does exist beyond the hurdles and that maybe, just maybe, its a real thing too. Everyone in this film knew their place, what part of the play they were all destined to perform. There were no show ponies. No prize-grabbers. Everyone appeared to be having as much fun on screen as we are sure they had offscreen. It is a delight for an audience to associate themselves with such an experience. A big congratulations to everyone involved (Hear, hear!)

3. The importance of collaboration.
You would be very hard-pressed to say that this is JUST an Australian film. So too would you be to say it is JUST an English film. What the creators of this story have done is set aside their desires to lay claim to this magical piece and accepted that no one needs to attach a label to it. I believe wholeheartedly that this is the only way our (Australia's) industry is going to flourish - by accepting that we are not big enough to take on the world (America) by ourselves and therefore we need to offer our crew, our locations and our ideas to the rest of the world (the rest of the world) in order to make films with them - film which will then be sent on to the rest of the world (I'm not going to continue with this but you get the drift) and have a much better chance of seeing the inside of a theater that doesn't resemble your grandma's living room.

I have high hopes for this film. I really do feel that 2012 is the year of the Australian film, what with news of Blue-Tongue films recently well-received premiere of Wish You Were Here, as well as planned future collaborations for production companies (such as See Saw Films with Shame), and A Few Best Men is a great way to start the new year. We're taking the time to perfect our craft and its paying off. I really hope Australia gets their wallets out this Australia Day (A Few Best Men opens January 26) and pays their fine cents towards this awesome little film.

PLUG!

Just saw this new trailer from some of the guys who brought you "Bridesmaids". I didn't like the first concoction they dreamed up but this looks much more promising.
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36 days, 53 episodes, 2,438 minutes.

It's not everyday that you are given 4 full seasons of a television series. Nor is that you have the time required to watch said seasons. Further still, one could argue, it's not everyday that you get to bear witness to one of Fox Network's most successful series to date. I am talking, ladies and gentlemen, about my life for the past 2 months which has been completely, utterly and totally consumed by the amazing Sons of Anarchy TV series.

I first discovered the show thanks to a good friend of mine who assured me it was a winner. I was not convinced. The brief he gave me was the series followed a group of bikies in California who's days were filled with selling guns to the IRA, fighting off rival gangs, whilst also dealing with some pretty nasty American government agencies. You're typical outlaw day. I had no interest, despite my obsession with all things out of the ordinary, purely on the basis that it was about an MC (or motorcycle club for you non-conformists). It is amazing how quickly my tone changed. Kurt Sutter's brilliance in his creation of SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original) stems from his ability to balance the violent, messy world of underworld crime with the heavily relatable Government vs. Individual, Family vs. Career type conflicts that most of us have probably experienced now and again. Even if you know nothing about Harleys, haven't touched ink since you last picked up a pen, and couldn't fathom the idea of burying a guy in the ground only to try knocking his head off with you front wheel, there is still PLENTY for you to get excited about with this series.

Firstly, you've got Jackson Teller, or "Jax" as he is more widely known. Those dirty, long blonde locks. That grubby golden goatee. Those gorgeous blue eyes. And THAT attitude all make the insides of this passionate fan quiver with delight on sight. From Soprano to House, we've all had our fair share of anti-heroes. But Jax's charm (pun intended for those who know where the show is set) and genuine heart of a lion hold him out above the rest.

So we have our sexy star. What else? Try tons and tons of naughty, ooh-I-shouldn't-be-watching-this honest to goodness action. From bloody fist fights, to gyrating porn stars, Sutter pushed all the boundaries that the Fox producers would let him and probably gave the old farts at the FCC a few hearts attacks (and stiffies) whilst he was at it. The timing and editing, performances and deliveries of every action scene I can conjure in my head for all seasons were brilliant executed meaning that you are literally on the edge of your seat like you would be were you watching a Jason Statham movie. Action like this on TV is usually heavily confined to one or two scenes, if that. But Sutter gives us one punch after another after another until you're dying for breath at which point, he brings you that too. Which leads me to my next point.

Sutter and his writing team have got their dramatic timing down to a tee. Thanks to having access to all 4 seasons (legitimately I promise), I was able to analyse the progress of each episode in relation to the last and look at the way the writers have managed to sustain their audience. A general tool that is used really well I feel is the "cool-down period". It happens every now and again within a season just after something heavy is about to happen or has just happened. Sutter understands his audience well and knows how a break in action can be just as effective as an acceleration. Because of this, action-whores have a chance to build their suspense, schoolgirls and stay-at-home mums get a chance to go change their underwear, and the newly-acquainted get a chance to catch on. In a nutshell, you have one very well-balanced first season; a very-hectic, edge-of-your-seat, thriller of a second season; a much slower, more contemplative third season; and a round-house kick to the head of a fourth season which finished off with an awesome cliffhanger that has everyone counting down the days till Sutter premieres Season 5.

I can come up with a thousand other reasons why you should watch this show. From the Son (member of the club) who has a doll phobia and sex addiction, to the bent cop with a penchant for the President's Old Lady, to the general detail of this world that Bikie gangs around the world have so successfully kept away from prying eyes. You'll fall in love with each and every member of the crew, laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry, and want to punch the f***ing balls out of any guy that steps in their way. I seriously suggest you get to your local Blockbuster now, set aside 36 days of solid TV viewing, and open your eyes to the amazing world of the Sons of Anarchy.