The Film Thugs Movie Show

Best of 2012 Part 2: 15-11

Still slugging my way through the year that was 2012. These are still a little in the “what’s the difference category,” but a little more clarity begins to emerge at this point. Still, there is a basic interchangeability here, so take that as you will.

15) Queen of Versailles

The final documentary on my list.

This is an interesting one because a lot of people will like it for a completely different reason than I do.

It’s a documentary about a house, basically. Not just any house, though. It’s about the biggest house in the US.

In 2004, Jackie Siegel, wife of time share magnate David Siegel, began working on building her dream home. And let me be clear, her dream home is a little different than yours. My dream home is a decent sized thing with Connor MacLeod’s secret room hidden behind a fake bookcase in my office. Her dream home, on the other hand, is an 85,000 square foot, 10 kitchen, 13 bedroom, 23 bathroom mansion with a two lane bowling alley, an indoor skating rink, a video arcade, a fitness spa, two tennis courts, and a baseball diamond.

The thing looks more like a resort than a home.

The Siegel’s paid cash for it and owned the thing outright. Thing is, David is an old school businessman who believes that an asset that isn’t contributing to the business is a pointless asset. So, he takes a mortgage out on the property and puts that money into his business, which is time share property.

Then the real estate bubble burst.

His business faltered and suddenly he is at risk to lose the house before it is even completed.

What started as a documentary about extravagance turned into a document of the financial crisis at the highest levels.

What I gained from this doc is that the troubles of the rich and the troubles of the poor are not that different, but with the rich the odds are just a hell of a lot higher.

David started with very little and built an empire of over 20 properties. He made a ton of money and made a ton of money for a lot of other people. He is shown as very single minded and often prickly. But nobody gets as far as he does without a personality that is a bit obsessive and intense. Like Clarkson says, you don't get to the top of the mountain by saying please.

Jackie is shown in as sympathetic a light as possible, but is still a fairly easy target for people. She’s a bit ditzy, she has massive fake breasts, and is very privileged and entirely out of touch with the real world, but she isn’t by any means a bad person. She just lives a wildly different life than any of us could imagine.

This is a fascinating look at wealth, power, ego, privilege, and how the other half lives. Many people are dismissive of the entire family because of their wealth and somewhat clueless attitude, but they are people who are living the only lives they have.

Try watching it with an open mind. It’s pretty fascinating.

14) Looper

It’s about time we started to get more smart science fiction.

I went into “Looper” with really high hopes, maybe too high. Let me start by saying that I liked the movie a lot, but it fell into the trap that most time travel movies do. Let me explain.

When I’m watching a “smart” movie, which “Looper” is, I tend to think about it. You know, put in a little thought.

The problem is, it’s a time travel movie, and time travel movies rarely hold up to too much thought. If you put too much thought into this one it does start to implode a little bit. Now, that does not make it less enjoyable or less entertaining or any less of a good film.

This is a really cool and well made film that won’t insult your intelligence. It does have some problems. They are minor, but enough to keep it out of my top 10.

13) Skyfall

I was a little dubious when they announced that Sam Mendes was going to be directing the new Bond film. First off, Mendes isn’t exactly an action guy. Second, I didn’t think it was a good idea to have a name director on a Bond film. It’s an iconic series with a pretty set direction and not much room for “individuality,” as it were.

Now, I think that having more established directors take the helm might be a good thing. The old formula works, but it does feel old and too formula. This is the first time I’ve ever been aware of a directors stamp on a Bond film, and I really liked it.

There are a lot of people who are putting the “best Bond film ever” monicker on this, but I think that is a bit premature. It might well be, but we are too close to it now to really give it that title. But I can say that it is one of the best, without question.

Bond is much more human and vulnerable, we see a possible dark side to his future in intelligence. It does get a bit fantastical at times, but it’s a Bond film, that’s how they work. The rest of the film is firmly enough rooted in reality to make up for the few genre flourishes.

12) 21 Jump Street

This one surprised the hell out of me. When it was announced you could almost hear my eyes roll. Then it premiered at South By Southwest, and I didn’t go because, you know eye roll.

But people started talking about it, and I got curious.

Then it came out and people loved it, and I got more curious.

So I decided to rent it on Amazon, and the next night I bought it.

This thing is absolutely hilarious. Everything about it works beautifully. Who knew Channing Tatum was that funny? I didn’t. But damn! That guy can make the funny. the writing was really outstanding, the acting was great (especially my buddy Randall), and the cameos were among the best I’ve ever seen.

What could, and by all rights should, have been another embarrassing entry in the reboot/remake/re-imagined file ended up being one of the most genuinely enjoyable and funny movies I’ve seen in years.

11) Wreck-It Ralph

This is the best non-Pixar Pixar film that I have seen in YEARS.

When I say Pixar film, I don’t mean animated, I don’t even mean computer animated. What I mean is a movie that people say “Well, it’s a kids movie but it has stuff in it for adults,” about, when the truth is it’s a movie meant for grown ups that has stuff in it that kids will enjoy.

Make no mistake, Wreck-It Ralph is a movie for my generation. Yes, younger people will dig it but if you never spent your time at a convenience story, dropping your allowance one quarter at a time into a giant, primitive game cabinet, it’s not really something you understand.

I remember when Pac Man fever was an actual thing. I remember going to the Stop n’ Go to play Super Mario Brothers, the 7/11 to play Kung Fu Tournament (I believe that’s what it was called. It had two joysticks and no buttons. It was weird.), and the Circle K to play Golden Gun (A fairly flagrant James Bond rip off). I am genuinely embarrassed by how much money I spent on those machines. I remember getting an Atari 2600 and being blown away by the very idea of playing games at home. I remember when the only thing I wanted in the world was an NES.

Yes, kids have video games, but the gaming experience is so different.

Wreck-It Ralph nailed the idea of the classic arcade perfectly. No back story, no saving, no replays, just a pixelated hero and a villain that was a villain because you were told he was a villain. You did the exact same thing on basically the exact same screen over and over again with no end in sight and no goal other than the high score.

The arcade was a world in and of itself. I love how this movie captures that and so much more.

Ralph is one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve ever seen. Everyone can relate to being relegated to a role they don’t want and don’t deserve. For a game about characters we routinely see die, and often times kill, it is amazingly human.

Next time, the top 10 begins!

Best of 2012 Part 1: 20-16

I am breaking this down for two reasons. First, by breaking it down I make it a less massive, more manageable project. Second, by making it more manageable I allow myself more time on each part so that I am not rushing through it. You may not know this, but writing about 20 movies in one sitting is a bit of a chore, at least it is if you want what you write to be worth a damn. This way I can hit five at a time and put some thought into what I write.

Are you ready? Outstanding. Here we go!

20-16: This is the part of the list where the numbers are pretty irrelevant. Basically, until you get to the to 6 or 7, all the numbers are just a matter of semantics. Honestly, can I really quantify a difference between 20 and 11? Not really. So take that in with you when you read it.

20) Brave

This one is probably going to be the most questioned on my list. A lot of people didn’t like it very much. I almost omitted it in favor of “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” because of it. But then I decided to keep it for that very reason.

I understand that it’s not perfect and it is far from Pixar’s best. But, it’s not an awful movie as some people like to prattle on about. It’s different, and I think that’s the problem. It deviates from Pixar’s established story structure and I know that a lot of people don’t really cotton to that. Structurally it’s very much an old fairy tale that doesn’t adhere to a familiar outline. But if you give it a chance I think you’ll see that it does have all the hallmarks of Pixar films that people love without question.

19) Goon

I went into this thing thinking that it would be some really stupid nonsense that just existed to show some bad ass hockey violence. Shawn William Scott doesn’t have the best track record on this type of thing, so I was apprehensive.

I am really happy that I was wrong. This was a fairly by the numbers “loser gets a break and makes it big,” but it has a surprising amount of depth.

It’s more about teamwork, loyalty, and being true to your nature than anything else. The relationship between Liev Scrhiever and Shawn William Scott is so subtle and genuine and it really adds a nice weight and relateabiltiy to the story.

18)  Jack Reacher

A lot of people want to judge this film harshly because Tom Cruise blah, blah, blah. The title, blah, blah, blah. All this crap that has little to do with the movie itself.

The movie is very hard hitting, very adult, and very unflinching in pretty much every regard. Cruise is outstanding as a man with no flexibility who is there to do a job and nothing else. He is not a hero, but he is a man who does the right thing. His character is hard to like, but you know that you are happy to have him on your side.

I miss the days of the smart, adult oriented, hard boiled action/detective story. Everything is so watered down for family consumption that it’s almost refreshing to go, as an adult, to a move like this and see something that was intended for me and not for the family of 8 that was seated behind me at the screening (there were 3 kids under 10 with them, which gave me pause).

Anyway, this is a grown up action/detective/thriller that I absolutely loved and think that everyone should check out. Well... maybe not 7 year olds.

17) Paul Williams Still Alive

So, I met Paul Williams. No big deal. Just the guy who wrote “Rainbow Connection,” and played Little Enos in “Smokey and the Bandit.”

I met him after seeing the second screening of Steven Kessler’s “Paul Williams Still Alive” at South By Southwest and, given our brief interaction I would classify him as a good guy.

“Paul Williams Still Alive,” is a very interesting and superbly made documentary about someone who went from obscurity, to the heights of fame, to relative obscurity. It shows the pitfalls of fame and the embarrassing hubris that can go with it. It shows how someone can have too much of a good thing (booze and drugs) and then spend the rest of their lives letting people know that they really aren’t such a good thing. It shows the absolutely fickle nature of fame.

Paul Williams was a giant of a small man back in the 70’s. He was everywhere and everyone knew who he was. His fame was an absolute mystery. I mean, he was a songwriter. How many songwriters become famous. Not just industry famous, but famous famous. Because Paul Williams was a full blown celebrity. You damned near couldn’t turn on your television without seeing the guy. He had songs, movies, TV specials, concerts... the guy was an absolutely ubiquitous part of the cultural zeitgeist of the 70’s.

And then... he went away.

You learn why, but more importantly you learn who the man was and who he is.

Paul Williams Still Alive is not a picture of a faded star trying to reclaim his former glory, it’s an honest and warm hearted love letter to a man who has created some amazing entertainment and has found a much earned comfort and peace in life. From small club shows in the US to “The Phantom of the Paradise” fan festivals in Canada, to SOLD OUT STADIUM SHOWS ALL OVER THE WORLD, this movie gives you a look at a man who has done it all and is doing it again the right way.

Paul Williams Still Alive is an insightful portrait of a wonderfully charming man who has lived an amazing life and is lucky enough to have matured to a point of having complete perspective.

I started this movie liking Paul Williams, I ended it a full blown fan. I can’t really give it higher praise than that.

16) The Bitter Buddha

The second of three documentaries on the list!!! And the second documentary about a performer you should know more about. I was also lucky enough to get an interview with the director and the star of this film immediately following the premier of it at the Austin Film Festival, which means that you can hear the first interview done after the film premiered on this very site! Isn’t that exciting?

The Bitter Buddha is a documentary about Eddie Pepitone, a stand up comedian known as a “comic’s comic.” Eddie is a brilliantly funny comedian who doesn’t have time for any more of your bullshit.

There are a multitude of reasons to love this movie, but I am going to focus on two.

1- It provides a platform to one of the most inventive and original voices in the world of comedy today.

and...

2- It provides an actual, honest portrayal of stand up comedy.

Stand up is an art form just like any other. You have masters and you have hacks. The masters will have an audience, but for some reason the hacks always find a way to become bigger. Don’t believe me? Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” has sold more copies than any Beatles song. Ever.

Led Zeppelin, R.E.M., and Depeche Mode have never had a number one single. Rihanna has had 10.

The cast of Glee has had more songs chart than The Beatles and Flo Rida’s “Low” has sold as many copies as “Hey Jude.”

People love crap, but there is good stuff out there.

This movie gives you a look at a comedian that you may not have gotten a chance to see otherwise. Eddie’s comedy is fresh and original and different than what you will get from what you will get anywhere else.

The second point, stand up comedy is a rough fucking business. It’s just like any other popular art form, the most amazing talent is not always recognized the way it should be. This is not to say that Pepitone isn’t popular, he is. But he is nowhere near as popular as he should be. d

But we live in a world where Kim Kardashian has 17,000,000 Twitter followers, so is it a shock that someone who uses that medium for jokes like

"Whenever someone yells 'can I get a woot woot?' I like to yell 'only if you promise to read a book in your lifetime."

only has 49,600.

So, bottom line, check out Eddie Pepitone, see “The Bitter Buddha,” and look into getting some better taste, ya bastards!

This year I am going to do my best of a little differently. First off, instead of rushing it out before the new year I decided to wait until I saw everything I thought I would like to put on the list. This took a while. Second, instead of just doing one, I decided to do a few and break them down in categories. This is "The Two Movies That either almost, or could have, made my list. One of these films I really liked, but left off because of semantics, the other is one I really wanted to love and include in my best of, but just couldn't. Here you go.

Honorable Mention

ESPN 30 for 30: Broke

This is an honorable because it is a made for basic cable/direct to video film, so I don’t really class it the same as the others. Call me an elitist or classist, whatever. “Broke,” is another fantastic entry in ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, which began as a series of 30 documentaries about sports stories that occurred during ESPN’s first 30 years on the air. It’s extending beyond that some, which I think is a good thing. I like sports and I like documentaries, so having a well made, film that gives me a new way to look at a story that I might be passingly familiar with is really cool.

“Broke” looks into one of the most puzzling phenomena in sports today. How does someone who ENTERS the labor market with a multi million dollar job go broke? It’s becoming surprisingly common. For every athlete who is smart with his money, who makes good investments and trust the right people to manage their wealth there are quite a few who go broke. This movie takes an even handed look at how that happens.

I like it because there is no big call for sympathy or pity for these men, but rather an even handed look at how it happens and how it can be avoided. People like Bernie Kosar, Andre Rison, Kurt Schilling, and Cliff Floyd tell how they went from millionaire to broke in a very straight forward way. They discuss the pitfalls of extravagance and mismanagement, from owning fleets of cars and mansions, to investing in real estate, steakhouses, and car washes.

This is something I’ve wondered about for years, being baffled by the stupidity and huburis that must go hand in hand with this type of business. But after seeing this and hearing the stories of these athletes presented in a “I really screwed up” kind of way, I realized that, were I in the same situation, I may not fare any better.

Not quite dishonorable, but just disappointing enough to merit a Mention

Les Miserables

I am a rarity in regard to this movie. Before seeing it, I knew nothing about it. I mean NOTHING. I knew the names Jean Valjean, Cosette, Fantine, Javert, and Eponie. I knew the song “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?” I knew there was something about jail, stealing bread, an orphan, and revolution. If you know the story, you realize I went into this movie as clean a slate as humanly possible.

When it was announced, I didn’t really care. All I saw was another movie musical, and I am not a fan of movie musicals. Stage musicals, those I’m ok with. There is an energy and a spectacle to the live versions that just cannot be captured on film.

Then I heard about the live singing. For the first time ever an entire musical was going to be released that captured all the actors singing LIVE ON SET! This might not seem like much, but it is really quite significant. I mean, this could solve my main problem with this type of film.

So, does it work? Well... kind of. More to the point, it could have worked.

The concept is solid, but it lacks a solid execution. The story of Les Miserables, while interesting, isn’t the strength of the show. The strength is the music and, more precisely, the singing. On this front... the leads just didn’t deliver. Russell Crowe has a decent enough voice, just not for Javert. Hugh Jackman can sing and I was expecting him to knock it out of the park, but instead he sang everything in the high end of his range and ended up washing his vocals out.

The women faired much better though. Anne Hathaway was amazing, and Samantha Barks was brilliant (but she damned well should be, being that she’s played this character on stage for years.

The rest of the company was fine. I though Sasha Baron Coen did a fine job, as did Helena Bonham Carter (although she is just going through the motions with the same character she plays in everything now).

After seeing it something felt off. I went in wanting to see the spectacle and be blown away by it. I went home and watched a bunch of clips from various stage productions as well as the anniversary concerts. Then I realized what the problem was. How is it possible that watching clips on a four inch video player could give me chills and make me choke up, and this massive, expansive production could leave me flat.

The highlights, for me at least (Hathaway not withstanding), were the stage actors reprising their roles on screen. I don't understand why they didn't use more of them. I know some of the iconic performers are too old for their roles (otherwise we would have had Lea Solange), but the rest?

The live singing was great, and I think that in time it could lead to a renaissance of movie musicals. But the spectacle and power of the live stage show was completely absent. It wasn’t electric, and it should have been.

I’m not saying this is a bad movie or a failure, just a disappointment, and  made more disappointing by the potential that was not achieved.

It’s Oscar time again.

Some times, the Academy screws up. Hell, we did a show about it. This year... Well, this year they screwed up so bad that I might not even watch.

Ben Affleck not being nominated for Best Director for “Argo” is a joke. Period. I will expound more on this later, but I am stating up front that this years awards is kind of a sham for me because of this omission.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Nominees:

Amour (2012)

Argo (2012)

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Django Unchained (2012)

Les Misérables (2012)

Life of Pi (2012)

Lincoln (2012)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

So far, based on what I have seen, Argo and Lincoln are the front runners. Les Miserables is good, but it just doesn’t really land the way it should. The music isn’t what it should be. That being said, I also haven’t seen Zero Dark Thirty, so my opinion is incomplete. Were I to vote today, Argo wins, no question.

Pick- Argo

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees:

Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln (2012)

Hugh Jackman for Les Misérables (2012)

Joaquin Phoenix for The Master (2012)

Denzel Washington for Flight (2012/I)

Daniel Day-Lewis can do no wrong. But even with my love for him, his performance in Lincoln is simply next level. Jackman was good, even though I don’t think his voice was right for Valjean, but that aside he still wasn’t Day-Lewis.

Pick- Day-Lewis

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees:

Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Emmanuelle Riva for Amour (2012)

Quvenzhané Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Naomi Watts for The Impossible (2012)

I haven’t seen anything in this category. But, Chastain has been such a fixture in nominated films that I could see her taking it.

Pick- Not enough information to make a choice.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Alan Arkin for Argo (2012)

Robert De Niro for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master (2012)

Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln (2012)

Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained (2012)

Every one of these men has won an oscar already. How often does that happen? I’ve only seen three of these, and from what I understand the two I’ve missed have been pretty good. My call is, was, and ever will be Waltz, because he is the most naturalistic actor working today. I utterly believe him every second he is on screen. He is solid, consistent, and outstanding.

Pick- Waltz

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees:

Amy Adams for The Master (2012)

Sally Field for Lincoln (2012)

Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables (2012)

Helen Hunt for The Sessions (2012)

Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

More with the Silver Linings Playbook? I guess it’s better than it looked to me. That said, I think Hathaway will take it. She was one of the two overwhelming strong points of Les Miserables, and I think she absolutely deserves it.

Pick- Hathaway

Best Achievement in Directing

Nominees:

Michael Haneke for Amour (2012)

Ang Lee for Life of Pi (2012)

David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Steven Spielberg for Lincoln (2012)

Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Fuck this award. Fuck everything about it. I don’t care who wins, because it will be an asterisk award. Ben Affleck’s direction of Argo was beyond amazing. The others are fine, but Affleck was able to wring unbelievable tension and urgency from a story you already knew the outcome of. That is worth something in my book. Some people will be upset about Tarantino not getting the nomination, but that doesn’t bother me too much. I liked Django, but I don’t think it’s the movie that should win Tarantino an Oscar, that was Pulp Fiction. We will have to wait for him to hit that level again for me to get pissed off about him not getting nominated.

Pick- Ben Affleck... but Spielberg will win

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Nominees:

Amour (2012): Michael Haneke

Django Unchained (2012): Quentin Tarantino

Flight (2012/I): John Gatins

Moonrise Kingdom (2012): Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Zero Dark Thirty (2012): Mark Boal

I think it might be time for Wes Anderson to win one. Also, this would be the fourth Coppola to win an Oscar, so that’s pretty cool. But I haven’t seen it, so I can’t really say. I just have a gut feeling.

Pick- Moonrise Kingdom

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Nominees:

Argo (2012): Chris Terrio

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012): Lucy Alibar, Benh Zeitlin

Life of Pi (2012): David Magee

Lincoln (2012): Tony Kushner

Silver Linings Playbook (2012): David O. Russell

This one is always a tough call. But, I think that between Argo and Lincoln, which to me are the clear front runners, Argo will take it. If you want a clinic on how to write a suspense film, just watch Argo.

Pick- Argo

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Nominees:

Brave (2012)

Frankenweenie (2012)

ParaNorman (2012)

The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

Even though most people don’t love Brave as much as I do, I still see it as a front runner. However, of the two that I’ve seen, Wreck-It Ralph is the best. It’s fresh, funny, and completely original in execution. It reminded me of the first time I saw Toy Story in the way it created a new world for something I was very familiar with.

Pick- Wreck-It Ralph

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Nominees:

Amour (2012): Michael Haneke(Austria)

War Witch (2012): Kim Nguyen(Canada)

No (2012/I): Pablo Larraín(Chile)

A Royal Affair (2012): Nikolaj Arcel(Denmark)

Kon-Tiki (2012): Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg(Norway)

Have not seen any, but one of these films is nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. That’s kind of a give away.

Pick- Amour

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Seamus McGarvey

Django Unchained (2012): Robert Richardson

Life of Pi (2012): Claudio Miranda

Lincoln (2012): Janusz Kaminski

Skyfall (2012): Roger Deakins

I’ve seen three of these, and think they all look great. But the two I haven’t seen are custom made for an award like this. I really think Life of Pi takes this.

Pick- Life of Pi

Best Achievement in Editing

Nominees:

Argo (2012): William Goldenberg

Life of Pi (2012): Tim Squyres

Lincoln (2012): Michael Kahn

Silver Linings Playbook (2012): Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers

Zero Dark Thirty (2012): William Goldenberg, Dylan Tichenor

Umm....

Pick- Argo

Best Achievement in Production Design

Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012): Dan Hennah, Ra Vincent, Simon Bright

Les Misérables (2012): Eve Stewart, Anna Lynch-Robinson

Life of Pi (2012): David Gropman, Anna Pinnock

Lincoln (2012): Rick Carter, Jim Erickson

Again, Anna Kerenina, and Life of Pi are the types of films that are designed for this type of award. The Hobbit might win, but it is just a retread of LOTR, so it’s not really a stand out.

Pick- Life of Pi

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Jacqueline Durran

Les Misérables (2012): Paco Delgado

Lincoln (2012): Joanna Johnston

Mirror Mirror (2012/I): Eiko Ishioka

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012): Colleen Atwood

Speaking of buttholes, I just wish that woman who casually slipped in how many of these she had won already was nominated again. Hell, she might be. I have no idea. But a costume drama, period piece will win this.

Pick- One of the costume drama period pieces.

Best Achievement in Makeup

Nominees:

Hitchcock (2012)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Les Misérables (2012)

Umm...

Pick- the Hobbit?

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Nominees:

Anna Karenina (2012/I): Dario Marianelli

Argo (2012): Alexandre Desplat

Life of Pi (2012): Mychael Danna

Lincoln (2012): John Williams

Skyfall (2012): Thomas Newman

Hard to say. No music really stood out to me this year. So...

Pick- John Williams?

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Nominees:

Chasing Ice (2012): J. Ralph("Before My Time")

Les Misérables (2012): Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer("Suddenly")

Life of Pi (2012): Mychael Danna, Bombay Jayshree("Pi's Lullaby")

Skyfall (2012): Adele, Paul Epworth("Skyfall")

Ted (2012): Walter Murphy, Seth MacFarlane("Everybody Needs a Best Friend")

I really wish the Thunder Buddys Song was up for this. But, Les Miserables is pulling an “Evita,” so figure that for the win.

Pick- Les Miserables

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Nominees:

Argo (2012)

Les Misérables (2012)

Life of Pi (2012)

Lincoln (2012)

Skyfall (2012)

Ummm...

Pick- Les Miserables

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Nominees:

Argo (2012)

Django Unchained (2012)

Life of Pi (2012)

Skyfall (2012)

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Ummm...

Pick- Argo?

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Nominees:

The Avengers (2012)

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Life of Pi (2012)

Prometheus (2012/I)

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

None of these did anything that really blew me away, but Prometheus seemed to have the big scale shit these people love, so... that.

Pick- Prometheus

Best Documentary, Features

Nominees:

5 Broken Cameras (2011)

The Gatekeepers (2012)

How to Survive a Plague (2012)

The Invisible War (2012)

Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

I haven’t seen any of these, so I can’t even hazard a guess.

Best Documentary, Short Subjects

Nominees:

Inocente (2012)

Kings Point (2012)

Mondays at Racine (2012)

Open Heart (2013)

Redemption (2012/V)

Again, can’t even guess.

Best Short Film, Animated

Nominees:

Adam and Dog (2011): Minkyu Lee

Fresh Guacamole (2012): PES

Head Over Heels (2012): Timothy Reckart, Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly

Paperman (2012): John Kahrs

The Simpsons: The Longest Daycare (2012): David Silverman

Can’t even guess, but since the Drafthouse will have a screening I will pick after I see them. But for now...The Simpsons? Yeah, probably that.

Best Short Film, Live Action

Nominees:

Asad (2012): Bryan Buckley, Mino Jarjoura

Buzkashi Boys (2012): Sam French, Ariel Nasr

Curfew (2012/I): Shawn Christensen

Death of a Shadow (2012): Tom Van Avermaet, Ellen De Waele

Henry (2011/III): Yan England

Again, can’t even guess. Will pick when I’ve seen them at the Drafthouse this year.

Golden Globes Un-researched Response and Predictions First off... Buy your Christmas shit here: Awards shows are kind of stupid. They are little more than a chance for very rich people to pat other very rich people on the back. They are garish, insider affairs that are essentially the same as your offices awards at the end of the year, except a whole lot of people whose lives are not impacted in the slightest by the outcome really, really care who win. As this is a movie site, and we are in the business of talking movies, I will give my two cents worth. However, it should be noted that adjusted for inflation, my two cents are worth about .75 cents. So take it for what it’s worth. The red headed stepchild is back, and for some reason people care. As I am in the custom of giving the people what they want, here are my completely off the cuff predictions of who will win an award that doesn’t really mean that much. MOVIES

• Picture, Drama: "Argo," "Lincoln," "Life of Pi," "Django Unchained," "Zero Dark Thirty."

I totally agree with splitting this category. Drama gets so much more respect than comedy and I think it’s important to recognize comedy, so good on them. That being said... I think Argo should win, but most likely it will go to Zero Dark Thirty or Lincoln. I haven’t seen either of them, but I have seen and love Argo and think it’s a stretch that either of these is qualitatively better. But I think they will go for one of these based on director.

• Picture, Musical or Comedy: "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "Les Miserables," "Moonrise Kingdom," "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," "Silver Linings Playbook."

I don’t get combining musical and comedy. Just include the musical in whatever category it belongs in. From what I hear, Les Miserables is HILARIOUS, so it only makes sense to put it in a category paired with comedy. Haven’t seen any of these, but it will go to Les Mis.

• Actor, Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"; Richard Gere, "Arbitrage"; John Hawkes, "The Sessions"; Joaquin Phoenix, "The Master"; Denzel Washington, "Flight."

I would love nothing more than to see John Hawkes win this. That would truly make my day. However, one does not go up against Daniel Day-Lewis in this type of matchup and win. It just doesn’t happen. I might be wrong, but I think this is double D’s year again.

• Actress, Drama: Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"; Marion Cotillard, "Rust and Bone"; Helen Mirren, "Hitchcock"; Naomi Watts, "The Impossible"; Rachel Weisz, "The Deep Blue Sea."

I have not seen any of these and know nothing at all about it. Any prediction would be a blind guess. That being said... Helen Mirren?

• Director: Ben Affleck, "Argo"; Kathryn Bigelow, "Zero Dark Thirty"; Ang Lee, "Life of Pi"; Steven Spielberg, "Lincoln"; Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained."

Ummmm.... Les Miserables redefines the movie musical... but the director gets ignored. Of course. Have only seen Argo and thing that deserves it, hands down.

• Actor, Musical or Comedy: Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"; Jack Black, "Bernie"; Bradley Cooper, "Silver Linings Playbook"; Bill Murray, "Hyde Park on Hudson"; Ewan McGregor, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen."

Again, haven’t seen anything here, but it’s Jackman in a musical. That’s his wheelhouse, so I predict he takes it.

• Actress, Musical or Comedy: Emily Blunt, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"; Judi Dench, "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"; Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"; Maggie Smith, "Quartet"; Meryl Streep, "Hope Springs."

I have not seen any of these and find most of the titles off putting. But I really think it’s time that a really hot lady won one of these things. So I am pulling for Blunt, Lawrence, or Dench.

• Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin, "Argo"; Leonard DiCaprio, "Django Unchained"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "The Master"; Tommy Lee Jones, "Lincoln"; Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained."

I could honestly see this going to any of them. But I love Waltz, so I want him to win.

• Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, "The Master"; Sally Field, "Lincoln"; Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"; Helen Hunt, "The Sessions"; Nicole Kidman, "The Paperboy."

From what I’ve seen this is Hathaway’s year. The bits of her from Les Miserable that I’ve seen have been amazing. I mean, the woman outright claims the song, “I Dreamed a Dream,’ which is no small feat. So, I am pulling for her.

• Foreign Language: "Amour," "A Royal Affair," "The Intouchables," "Kon-Tiki," "Rust and Bone."

No idea, but I’d like “Rust and Bone” to win, because it has the word “Bone” in the title and I am apparently 12.

• Animated Film: "Brave," "Frankenweenie," "Hotel Transylvania," "Rise of the Guardians," "Wreck-It Ralph."

I loved “Brave,” but a lot of people had issue with it, which I understand. It deviates from form and goes in a really different direction that may not be your cup of tea. I would love to see it win, but “Wreck-It Ralph” has gotten so much play that I think it qualifies as a front runner. -Screenplay: Mark Boal, "Zero Dark Thirty"; Tony Kushner, "Lincoln"; David O. Russell, "Silver Livings Playbook"; Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained"; Chris Terrio, "Argo." Argo is an amazing script that balances human drama, political intrigue, and re-donkulous amounts of suspense with absolute mastery. I don’t even see a competition here, but who knows. Could go anywhere, but my money is on Argo.

• Original Score: Mychael Danna, "Life of Pi"; Alexandre Desplat, "Argo"; Dario Marianelli, "Anna Karenina"; Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimek and Reinhold Heil, "Cloud Atlas"; John Williams, "Lincoln."

I don’t know... John Williams?

• Original Song: "For You " (music and lyrics by Keith Urban), "Act of Valor"; "Not Running Anymore" (music and lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi), "Stand Up Guys"; "Safe & Sound" (music and lyrics by Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams and T Bone Burnett), "The Hunger Games"; "Skyfall" (music and lyrics by Adel and Paul Epworth), "Skyfall"; "Suddenly" (music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyrics by Schonberg and Alain Boublil), "Les Miserables."

I want Jon Bon Jovi to win, and don’t really care other than that. But I think the new song from Les Miserables will win. TELEVISION

• Series, Drama: "Boardwalk Empire," "Breaking Bad," "Downton Abbey," "Homeland," "The Newsroom."

In my mind there are two dramas on TV right now. Breaking Bad, and shows that AREN’T Breaking Bad. I liked Homeland season 1, but season 2 is garbage, so that screws it up for me. If this doesn’t go to Breaking Bad, then this farce of an awards show will be a farce... But Homeland will probably win, because it is a very good show and ever so topical.

• Actor, Drama: Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"; Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"; Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"; Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"; Damian Lewis, "Homeland."

Again, there are two lead performers in TV dramas. Bryan Cranston, and not Bryan Cranston. Again, I call shenanigans on any award he doesn’t win. But Damian Lewis will win because he is very good, and also... see above.

• Actress, Drama: Connie Britton, "Nashville"; Glenn Close, "Damages"; Claire Danes, "Homeland"; Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"; Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife."

Claire Danes will probably win this one.

• Series, Musical or Comedy: "The Big Bang Theory," "Episodes," "Girls," "Modern Family," "Smash."

I don’t get combining musical and comedy. Just include the musical in whatever category it belongs in. However, we are living in Modern Family’s world, everyone else is just visiting. Oh, but Louie should win based on the strength of the three part episode.

• Actress, Musical or Comedy: Zooey Deschanel, "New Girl"; Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"; Lena Dunham, "Girls"; Tina Fey, "30 Rock"; Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation."

I want Poehler to win. She is incredible on Parks and Rec. I don’t know the others very well, but I don’t think they stack up. That, and Zooey Deschanel makes me feel like killin’.

• Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"; Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"; Louis C.K. "Louie", Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"; Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory."

Louie became something more than a sitcom this year. It was the best comedy out there, hands down.  But, Jim Parsons is the reason Big Bang is still around, so he will probably win.

• Miniseries or Movie: "Game Change," "The Girl," "Hatfields & McCoys," "The Hour," "Political Animals."

This is going to be a tough one. Not really. Game Change wins.

• Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Nicole Kidman, "Hemingway & Gellhorn"; Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"; Sienna Miller, "The Girl"; Julianne Moore, "Game Change"; Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals."

People in the entertainment industry LOVE Sarah Pailin impressions. They LOVE THAT SHIT! So, Julianne Moore will win this one.

• Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"; Benedict Cumberbatch, "Sherlock (Masterpiece)"; Woody Harrelson, "Game Change"; Toby Jones, "The Girl"; Clive Owen, "Hemingway & Gellhorn."

Benedict Cumberbatch. There is absolutely no competition in my mind. But who knows.. probably Woody Harrelson for Game Change.

• Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Hayden Panettiere, "Nashville"; Archie Panjabi, "The Good Wife"; Sarah Paulson, "Game Change"; Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"; Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family."

Game Change, Downton Abbey, and Modern Family in the same category... because that makes sense. This is a complete toss up.

• Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Max Greenfield, "New Girl"; Ed Harris, "Game Change"; Danny Huston, "Magic City"; Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"; Eric Stonestreet, "Modern Family."

Game Change, Homeland, and Modern Family... seems about right. I want Danny Huston to win, because he is a total bad ass.  But this is between Patinkin and Stonestreet. Could go either way. That’s all I have to say about that.