The Artist & Best Picture Noms

I finally saw The Artist, partly because my mom pressured me into it and partly because it has 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. I really have a hard time reviewing this movie, mainly because it is so different from movies like Source Code or Raiders of the Lost Ark that I can't begin to draw the comparison. But out of all the Best Picture nominees for 2011, The Artist wins. I can't imagine a scenario where it doesn't win Best Picture.

Let's start this review off by saying that, if I were comparing this to my personal top 10 favorite movies, I would be writing a very different review. It barely even comes close to the pure awesomeness of certain other movies which shall remain nameless. That said, this was pretty f'n good. It's not easy to write a script that can be understood with no speaking, but the writers of The Artist hit the nail right on the head.

My main problems with this movie, unfortunately, can't be overlooked. First off, it is SHAMELESSLY derivative. It has virtually the same plot as countless other movies, from 'A Star is Born' to 'Singing in the Rain'. By the way, if these movies ever get boring for you, watch Mel Brooks's 'Silent Movie'.

Secondarily, the whole movie was supposed to be a silent film, but it completely betrayed that intention when they finally started talking at the end. It wrecked the authenticity of the entire thing. I understand the whole point of the change into a 'Talkie', but I wish they could have done it some other way.

Fortunately, it (mostly) makes up for its faults with its benefits, those being spot-on performances and a few truly intense moments. Also, it has a dog.

So: Final score for The Artist? Well, against the other Best Picture nominees, it would merit 10/10. Really, what's it going up against? Hugo? Please. But, like I said, if I were to weigh it against other movies (a-hem, The Hangover), it would not do nearly as well.

Moving on to the other Best Picture nominees-- I've only seen three of them, The Artist, Hugo, and Moneyball. And really, they're the only ones worth seeing; Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has no chance, seeing as it has only 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. And The Descendants is not in it to win it, it's only there for George Clooney to take a shot at Best Actor.

But the awards aren't over yet: Stay tuned for my personal awards, The Grahammies! The categories are:

Best Picture: Source Code, Limitless, 50/50, Super 8, and Paul.

Worst Picture: Green Lantern, Dark of the Moon, Deathly Hallows: Part II, Cowboys and Aliens, and Hugo.

Best Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Paul, Green Lantern, Cowboys and Aliens, and Dark of the Moon.

Best Sequel: The Hangover Part II, Ghost Protocol, Dark of the Moon, On Stranger Tides, and Deathly Hallows: Part II

Best Original Screenplay: Source Code, 50/50, Contagion, Moneyball, and The Artist.

Best Actor: Jake Gyllenhall, Simon Pegg, Zach Galifanakis, Eddie Murphy, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Best Supporting Actor: Seth Rogen, Nick Frost, Harrison Ford, Jeremy Renner, and Andy Serkis.

Worst Actor: Nicolas Cage, James Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Daniel Craig, and Shia Lebouf.

Best Actress: Berenice Bejo, Marion Cotillard, Michelle Monaghan, Tea Leoni, and Zoe Saldana.

Worst Actress: Kristen Stewart, Frieda Pinto, Penelope Cruz, Blake Lively, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Best Director: Duncan Jones, Neil Burger, Jonathan Levine, Brett Ratner, and Greg Mottola.

There are my nominations. Keep in mind, the nominees are only there because I either saw their movies or know enough about them to know they sucked. If I had seen every single movie this year, some of the nominees would look something like this:

Worst Picture: Jack and Jill, Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star, The Devil Inside, Abduction, and Cowboys and Aliens (anyway).

Worst Actor: Adam Sandler, Adam Sandler, Adam Sandler, Adam Sandler, and Adam Sandler. Note: This one is closer than the nominees suggest.

Bye!