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By Suzanne Clinton, Maiden Alley Night at the Oscars: Sunday, March 7
It’s that time of year again, folks. The nominations are in; the frantic frock dash has begun. Fire up the spray-tan guns; top off the Botox syringes; schedule that mid-facelift you’ve been avoiding; lay off the carbs. And, for God’s sake, DO NOT forget the flash test!
That’s right, people, the 82nd Annual Academy Awards is coming our way on Sunday, March 7, and you do not want to miss it.
What’s that you say? Nothing to do with you, you say?
Au contraire, mon frere!
Our own Maiden Alley Cinema is gearing up for Paducah’s own fabulous Oscar Night Gala Fundraiser bash, and we’re all invited. And if we’ve learned anything over these past few years, it’s that Landee Bryant and the MAC crew know how to throw a red carpet party.
Bask in the reflected golden glow of the Oscar telecast on the big screen with a few hundred of your closest friends at Paducah’s most fabulous theater venue. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the pre-Oscars party, with the awards rolling on the big screen at 7 p.m. Send your $30 check ($50 for two tickets), payable to Maiden Alley Cinema, to 112 Maiden Alley, Paducah 42001. Email Landee Bryant to let her know you’re coming!
Still protesting? Don’t know anything about the nominees?
We can fix that too. This year’s roster boasts more nominees for best picture than ever before in the history of Oscar. (This would be a great observation to make over your Oscartinis at the event. See? You’re already talking like a pro.)
Let’s take a peek:
Best Motion Picture of the Year Contenders
Avatar (20th Century Fox)
Plot Synopsis**: A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora populated by funny looking blue people on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. Much of this film is computer-generated; it is often shown in 3-D.
My Take: This movie is brought to you by Director James Cameron, same guy who directed Titanic, winner of the 1997 Oscar in this same category. Basically, Hollywood has been sitting around waiting for Cameron’s next move ever since the Titanic sank. A huge contender, but one that I don’t believe is deserving. Audiences are quite divided about this film either loving the touchy-feely message or dismissing it as high-dollar pandering (which is what Titanic was, IMOP).
The Blind Side (Warner Bros.)
Plot Synopsis: The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a sassy southern woman (played by Sandra Bullock) and her family.
My Take: Everyone familiar with my online personae knows by now that I object to this movie on its very premise which is basically, Oh my gosh! A southern family takes in a black man! HOW unusual! Seriously, have we not gotten beyond this? Another touchy-feely offering with A LOT of audience support. A sentimental favorite that I don’t think should win. (Okay, so it’s based on a somewhat true story.)
District 9 (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Plot Synopsis: An extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on earth suddenly finds a kindred spirit in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology.
My Take: An innovative sci-fi thriller with Alien-like buzz and familiar themes. Good enough for an Oscar-nod, but not going all the way.
An Education (Sony Pictures Classic)
Plot Synopsis: A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age.
My Take: Powered by Nick Hornby’s (High Fidelity, About a Boy) deft screenwriting, An Education is a smart ensemble piece (Peter Sarsgaard—raaaar). The real story here, though, is the break-out performance of newcomer Carey Mulligan.
The Hurt Locker (Summit Entertainment)
Plot Synopsis: Iraq. Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad unit must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.
My Take: An unflinching look at the reality of war in Iraq and the gut-churning work of living under the constant threat of either being blown to smithereens or otherwise killed more traditionally with just, you know, a regular bullet. Beefy cast. This film is notable for its un-Hollywoodized treatment of this explosive (can’t help myself) subject matter. A serious contender but, still, only my runner-up pick.
Inglourious Basterds (The Weinsten Company)
Plot Synopsis: In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis.
My Take: I love me some (director) Quentin Tarantino! (Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.) That said, Basterds is not his best work. Brad Pitt turns in a juicy performance as Lieutenant Aldo Raine and the film has its moments but…no. The thing just doesn’t all together gel. That said, I will say it is viscerally satisfying to see the Nazis as terroriz-ees instead of the other way around. (Better luck next time, Q!)
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (Lionsgate)
Plot Synopsis: In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
My Take: This gritty (to put it mildly) look at the life of an obese inner-city girl with an absolutely horrifying secret is my pick for the Best Picture Oscar. The subject matter here gives new meaning to the word “heavy” and the film is groundbreaking in its merciless depiction of one hellacious existence under unimaginable circumstances.
Still, the theme here is (very tentative) triumph over (extreme) adversity. This is just the sort of film Oscar likes to — and should — honor and one that you shouldn’t miss. I think it’s going all the way. Not to mention the brilliantly brutal performance of Mo’Nique, the actress who portrays Precious’ mother. Trust me when I say every acting gut this actress has got shows up on the screen in this film. If Mo’Nique doesn’t win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress? We might as well pack it in.
A Serious Man (Focus Features)
Plot Synopsis: A black comedy set in 1967 and centered on Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern professor who watches his life unravel when his wife prepares to leave him because his inept brother won’t move out of the house.
My Take: Ahhh….The Coen Brothers (writer/directors). Gotta love ‘em. So reliable! So talented! While it’s arguably true that, for the most part, the main theme of the majority of their movies is “hapless,” poor Larry Gopnik of ASM just might take that particular cake.
In the same way that O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a modern-day version of The Odyssey, this film is the Biblical tale of Job revisited. In a very, very Jewish setting. Possibly the nebbishest movie ever. Good work, but a bit too specific.
Up (Walt Disney)
Plot Synopsis: By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.
My Take: Where would we be without Pixar? Up is but the latest in a series of incredibly successful high-quality animated feature films that will join its older siblings Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and Monsters, Inc. as the latest award-winning work from this brilliantly innovative studio. While the computer-generated imagery is amazing, Pixar never forgets the most important ingredient: the story. Not just for kids and certainly deserving of the nomination.
Up in the Air (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
Plot Synopsis: With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: grounds him.
My Take: Yes, folks, it’s George Clooney in all his super cool glory as a hard-boiled corporate exec eschewing all personal relations. Could there fail to eventually be a woman involved? I think not.
Yet, Up in the Air manages not to descend into just another fluffy romantic comedy. The film visits some darker corners while still making us laugh. Again not a Best Picture, but good enough to make Clooney a contender for Best Actor Oscar (he won for Best Supporting Actor for Syriana in 2006).
So there you have it. Please join us at Maiden Alley Cinema’s Oscar Party. It will be incredibly fun, featuring Paducah’s own celebrities: All of us!
Here’s the link to more details — plus, cast your own Oscar votes! Pick all the winners (or the most!) and you’ll receive your own prize!
