Films of the Year: 2009

Here are my Top 25 of films that have been released in the UK from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009.

25. Kisses

Two of the films on this list feature juvenille relationships and this is the most traditional of the two. Set in and around Dublin this follows the journey of two children next door neighbours Kylie and Dylan both of whom have turbulent home lives and agree to run away together to find Dylan's brother. The film's central narrative is about them trying to find Dylan's brother who ran away from home and the difficulties they have in finding him. The film changes from black and white into full colour as Kylie and Dylan get to Dublin and changes back at the end after they return home. Dealing with themes of immigration, prostituion and homelessness, Kisses isn't an easy ride but the relationship between the two children is very sweet indeed and their chemistry is better than some of the big Hollywood romance pairings. At just over an hour it is a little short but then it may have outstayed its welcome if it had been any longer sweet-natured and gritty at the same time, Kisses is definitely one to check out if you haven't seen it yet.


24. Messrine: Killer Instict

One of the coolest films of the year, the first part of the Messrine double bill saw Vincent Cassell tackle the role of one France's most notorious criminals Jacques Messrine. This was reminiscent of old school crime films of the 1970s and 1980s such as Serpico and Scarface and even had a bit of Bonnie and Clyde in there for good measure. While Cassell's performances has to be one of the best of the year the supporting performances were good too notably from Ludvine Sagner and Gerard Deperdeu as Messrine's gangster contact. Tough to watch at times but always compelling Killer Instinct was superior to its sequel Public Enemy No. 1 which was still a cracker and both were better than this year's other disappointing crime biopic - Public Enemies.

23. Big River Man

This year's 'human interest' documentary was all about Martin Strel a Slovakian man who has made it his passion to swim. The big selling point of this film is that Strel isn't particularly athletic and is a heavy drinker. Strel is more a subject than an active part of this film as he is very monosyllabic and is often seen sitting down in his underwear watching T.V. when he's not swimming. His son is in awe of him and narrates the film while the only other main character is a slightly hickish admirer of Strel who thinks Strel is the last superhero. Strel is an extremely likeable character even though he does unlikeable things and oftern risks his own life just to swim while drinking whisky. A documentary is as only as good as its subject matter and Big River Man had a very good subject.

22. Broken Embraces

Penelope Cruz had a very good 2009, winning an Oscar for her role in Woody Allen's likeable but mediocre Vicky Cristina Barcelone but also reuniting with Pedro Almodovar the man who describes her as his 'muse' for this very good film about film-making. Mixtures of a revenge thriller with a farce and commentary about the film industry this is one of Almodovar's most commercial films yet while at the same time retaining his strong themes about sexuality and especially disability. As you would expect, Cruz dazzles in her role as a wannabe actress and trophy wife an old, rich man who begins an affair with a director. Lluis Homar is equally good as the egotistic director who is made blind by events that are narrated throughout the film. This being a film about film-makers there is also some good blurring off texts as we see the film-within-the-film Girls and Suitcases is shown in different ways throughout Broken Embraces and is just one of the treats of many of this little cracker of a movie.

21. Funny People

I have to say that if I was ranking the first half of Funny People it would be higher in the list but the film got bogged down in its second half. Saying that though this was Judd Apatow's most personal project to date and Adam Sandler's best since Punch-Drunk Love. A comedy about comedians wouldn't be everyone's thing but the first half of this film in which Sandler's comedy movie star finds out he's dying and hires Seth Rogen's junior stand-up to be his assistant. This was very funny and moving but its in the films second half in which Sandler pursues his old love that things get silly. The fact Apatow feels the need to cast his family again seems a little self-indulgent and even though Eric Bana pops up near the end and steals the show most of this felt forced. Apatow manages to reign it back to a satisfying conclusion but despite its faults this was still very funny, touching and original. Apatow just needs to learn to edit and his next film could be a comedy hit.

20. Fish Tank

Uncomprimisingly gritty and surprisingly heartfelt at the same time Andrea Arnold's second cinematic feature saw her hit the big time. Focusing on dis-satisfied teenager Mia and her aspirations to be a dancer this was a look at the dead-end lifestyle given to a lot of children in council estate Britain as Mia was destined to go to a special school and had a very dis-intereseted mother. Katie Jarvis was absolutely outstanding as Mia delivering a very real performance and great passion both in delivery and in the dance sequences. The film also succeded in its filming of a very bleak Britian with the block of flats where Mia lives being given an almost institution-like feel. While people are waxing lyrical about American female directors taking over the Brits can show that they can do it just as well.

19. 500 Days of Summer

Some people found this unbearably smug and others found in delightful I think I fell somewhere in the middle. This film was very clever in its approach of relationships blurirng the lines between happiness and misery. As we see Joseph Gorden-Levitt falling in love with the Zoey Deschanel's titular Summer and then be dumped by her in the space of five minutes. The skipping between days was a nice little neat narrative device and there were some nice stylistic touches as well as cracking soundtrack (although did they have to use The Temper Trap twice?) The film was held together by Levitt who finally shed the image of the little kid from 3rd from the Sun giving us a rounded performance as a normal guy in love like a kind of less neurotic Woody Allen.

18. Gran Torino

This is said to be Clint Eastwood's final feature which is just as well as he seems to be struggling to speak. But that's doing him a disservice as he plays almost Dirty Harry the senior years as a man who despises everyone but eventually gains respect for his Korean neighbours. Eastwood proves he still has it as we see a man whose prejudices are challenged as his emotional barriers break down and he forms a new family. Although the direction may not be as tight as on his previous three features this seems to be a much more personal project. Although one question Clint, Did you really have to sing at the end?

17. Thirst

First of two vampire films but that's not hard in the year we had the second Twillight movie: New Moon, Cirque de Freak: The Vampire's Assistant and Lesbian Vampire Killers. However this Korean effort form the director of Old Boy stands out for me for its impeccable cinematography as well as its themes about religion, lust and violence. Kang-ho Song is brilliant as the priest who gets a blood transfusino and turns into a vampire corrupting an unhappy girl in his plight. The film is sexy and shocking with some really brutal scenes and a heartbreaking conclusion. Not for the squeamish but this is a vampire film without any of the prentesion.

16. Anvil: The Story of Anvil

Almost like a real Spinal Tap this focused on the true story of the band Anvil, who were the fore-runners of the whole metal scene precedding Motorhead, Metalicca and others but this proves that what is really needed is timing. We follow Anvil as they try and get their fanbase back in a poorly organised tour around Europe and then recording a new album. At its heart is a film about friendship and hope, if the end of the film doesn't bring a tear to your eye then what's wrong with you?

15.Zombieland

Hands down the best straight comedy of the year. Twinkies, a gun-toting Woody Harrelson and Bill Fucking Murray this had it all. Jesse Eseinberg brings his nervous charm to a role that requires him to be the fall guy to Harrelson's fast talking zombie destroyer. But like with all good comedies it has a big heart behind the big laughs and it makes you question what being in a family means. The only criticism I have is it was way too short I could've at least done with fiftenn more minutes of laughs.

14. Goodbye Solo

A film about the trouble that immigrants have finding work that doesn't involve driving taxis actually turns into a lovely film about friendship. The friendship here is between African cab driver Solo and long in the tooth Westerner William. This film isn't a big deal but it warms the heart without be particularly patronising and features two stunning lead performances.

13. Coraline

For fans of Nightmare Before Christmas everywhere as its director Henry Sellick adapts Neil Gaiman's gothic classic in all its stop-motion glory. Funny and scary in equal measure this was made for the cinema as it is visually stunning in an eerie way it is also has an excellent voice cast in among others Ian McShane, Teri Hatcher and French and Saunders.

12. In the Loop

The Thick of It comes to the big screen with the same amount of laughs but more Peter Capaldi swearing. Although it struggles for a feature-length story it still has the same magic that made the TV show such as success. Malcolm Tucker really suits the big screen and it helped that Capaldi had a brilliant foil in Tom Hollander. It was nice to see James Gandolfini doing farce as well as an American general.

11.Star Trek

JJ Abrams was always going to completely change the Star Trek format thankfully it was for the better. The young cast all boil down elements of the original characters and make them their own with Zachary Quinto's Spock a particular highlight. Although it falls down towards the middle there's enough action and decent storytelling for this to be the blockbuster hit of the year.

10. Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire actually managed to be an Oscar-winner that deserved it as it wasn't a traditional Oscar film neither was it 'the feelgood film of the year'. This story was so well told and the slums of Mumbai so-well shot that it was hard to put it this low on the list but it has lost some of its originality a year after its realease. Still this is still going to be touted as a modern classic and earned Danny Boyle a well deserved Best Director statuette.

9.An Education

A story of pre-Beatlemania slighty-stuffy Britain, this is alledgelly based on real-life events and shows the rebellion of a young girl who has been leading the same path for all her life and gives into the temptation of an older man and a new life. Nick Hornby's script is very witty but is also heartfelt at the right moments and there is a great support performance from Alfred Molina. But this was 24 year old Carey Mulligan's show as Jenny she captivates and holds the viewer's attention from beginning to end hopefully the Oscar buzz will pay-off because this performance deserves to be recognised.

8. Up

Up's first ten minutes are some of the best in cinema history as we follow the life of o man from childhood to old age in the space of a couple of minutes. Although there is still high quality in the film it becomes a standard Pixar film when the old man is forced to bond with boy scout Russell. Witty and heartbreaking and focusing on themes of love, loss and second chances this wasn't as good as Wall-E but still brilliant.

7. A Serious Man

The Coen Brothers are nothing if not versetile. After the thrilling No Country for Old Men and the broad comedy of Burn After Reading we get Jewish surburbia in the 1970s. Its a testament to the Coens that they can make the story of a very average middle aged man engaging and it was also very brave of them to have their first ten minutes completely in Yiddish. The non-starry cast is ably lead by Michael Stuhlberg who displays a cavalcade of emotions as the put upon Larry Gopnick. The real star of this though was the stylised nature of the small-close knit houses brilliantly filmed as ever by Roger Deakins. This is the best study of suburbia since American Beauty and this was a lot funnier as wlel.

6. Moon

This was the year of the sci-fi film as there was something for everyone and that was no more evident than in Moon. David Bowie's son Duncan Jones' first feature showcases one of the best male performances from Sam Rockwell as he plays Sam an astronaut sent on a mission that has taken too long. The film deals with themes of family, identity and isolation and also has a nice voice performance by Kevin Spacey as the ship's robot. For those who are fans of 2001, Silent Running and Logan's Run, Bowie Jr.'s film is for you.

5. Adventureland

This year's Superbad which isn't surpising as its by the same director. But Greg Mottola's third feature sees him grow up a little bit more as the original (not the new) Michael Cera, Jesse Eissenberg plays a high school graduate forced to work in an amusement park in the 1980s. While retaining some of the Superbad humour this is more heartfelt and clever and features some great supporting performances from Twilight's Kristen Stewart, Knocked Up's Martin Starr and shockingly Ryan Reynolds as the handyman who refuses to grow up. Not playing on the nostalgia element too much this was a funny and charming sleeper hit.

4. The Hurt Locker

We've had a lot of films about the Iraq war - Rendition, Redacted, Lions for Lambs but none of these felt like they captured the essence of the war. Thankfully Katherine Bigelow returned with a great story about the soldiers fighting the fight and whether war is addictive or not. The film was shot in a very realistic shaky style focusing on a bomb-disposal squad the tension duirng the bomb defusing scenes were incredibly tense. Casting three non-familiar faces in the leads was a stroke of genius and in this day and age this certainly strikes a chord and makes you think about what's going on in the rest of the world.

3. District 9

A film where South African soldiers fight giant prawn martians doesn't really sound that appealing but with its themes of unjust war and hints to the Arpetheid, District 9 gave us something special. Shot as a mock-documentary to start off with this later became a character piece focusing on a hapless company man forced to turn against his own and work with the aliens. Although not on the scale of say Star Trek or Avatar, District 9's action sequences still work within the confines of the story and Sharlto Copley became an unlikely star in the lead role. Just really enjoyable and engaging District 9 was a decent sci-fi yarn with something to say.

2. Let the Right One In

Juvenille romance meets the vampire craze in this Swedish masterpiece as we explore the life of 12 year old Oscar a boy who is bullied at school and ignored at home. He meets Ellie who he falls in love with but then finds out she's a vampire the story between these two kids is so sweet the vampire story almsot becomes superfulous. There are some cracking scenes most notably the swimming pool finale and both of the young actors are so natural they make the film seem even more realistic. It's a shame that the Americans can't leave well alone and have to adapt good European cinema because most audiences can't be bothered with the subtitles.

1. The Wrestler

One of the first films I watched this year and it stuck with me throughout. Mickey Rourke was completely robbed off his Oscar as Randy 'The Ram' Robinson was the part he was born to play. Completely authentic throughout Robinson was a performer who had his heydays in the 1980s and was constantly trying to recapture the wrestling magic he once had. Rourke was totally captivating as he tried to rebuild his relationship with his daughter and struggle to keep doing the one thing he knew how to do - wrestle. Rourke also had impeccable chemistry with Marissa Tomei as the stripper with a heart as well as with Evan Rachel Wood who played his daughter. The wrestling sequences looked great on screen especially the garbage brawl against the Necro Butcher. Well-structured and compelling from beginning to end, this film never once dips and tells a great story that rings a bell as there are so many ex-wrestlers who have to live this life. Lets just hope that Rourke can build on this and start his career again.

Okay I now its very belated but soon the film blog will look back at the noughties and the top 100 films of the previous decade.

Review: 17 Again

A kind of reverse-Big this was Zac Efron's Post-High-School-Musical let-see-what-you-can-do vehicle. Although Matthew Perry puts in a very decent performance as the adult version of Mike a brow-beaten dad who out of duty married his high school sweetheart this is Efron's show. Although not meeting the same standard of Tom Hanks' performance in Big he still does quite well in capturing some of Perry's mannerisms. The script does Efron no favours being quite weird in that Mike's daughter and wife both fall in love with the teenage version of him and the bonding with the son storyline is often put on the backburner. The more likeable storyline is the sub-plot in which Mike's friend and faux-father Ned tries to date the principal (played by Jan from the Office).

Although there are some bright spots in the film and Efron gives it his all this is all too predictable and unfunny to be a great film in the way Big was. Leslie Mann phones it in as Perry's wife while the casting of 23 year old Michelle Trachtenburg as Perry's daughter pushing believability through the window. This will appeal to teenage girls everywhere but for anyone not obssessed by Zac Efron avoid this.

Review: Sugar

Having greatly enjoyed Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's debut Half Nelson, I was greatly looking forward to their second film Sugar. The film certainly starts well as young Dominican Miguel journeys to Kansas to play baseball. The first two thirds of the film play out like a traditional sports film with Miguel shown as a great pitcher in the Domincan Republic but struggling when he gets to the U.S. We are also presented with a fish-out-of-water type story where Miguel struggles to cope with his new host family an elderly baseball-obsessed redneck couple. I found it was the final third of the story where Fleck and Boden struggled to finish as Miguel leaves Kansas for New York after being frustrated with his playing.

Although I enjoyed the performances from the unkown cast of mainly Hispanic actors, it was the whole structure of the thing and Miguel's journey that troubled me. He was meant to be someone who loved and trained to be a baseball player but then found he was more at home playing baseball for fun and making tables. The love story between Miguel and his host families uber-religious granddaughter seems a little tagged on and although the message seems to be 'do what you love but don't let it take over you' it still seemed that there was something lacking in Sugar which was present in the great Half Nelson.

Review: Night at the Museum 2

Having quite enjoyed the first Night at the Museum film but at the same time hearing it on a loop at the video shop where I used to work, I was anticipating the second installment with trepedation. And this was quite justified thanks to the slapdash nature of it. In the first film at least Stiller's character was likeable and juvenille enough to sustain a film in which he was trying to deal with the supernatural nature of the museum while at the same time trying to reconnect with his son. However this time the film has scrapped any aspect of humanism from Stiller and instead gone for cheap laughs and a bit of history for the kids.

The characters from the first film played by Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Robin Williams and Ricky Gervais have been overshadowed by two new faces. The first Hank Azaria best known for his Simpsons voices here putting on another silly voice as an Egyptian leader. While Amy Adams as Amelia Earheart is incredibly annoying and the weird relationship she has with Ben Stiller is a little disturbing seeing as she is a waxwork. Fairing better are Superbad's Bill Hader as General Kuster and Christophre Guest as Alexander the Great while various actors from the U.S. Office pop up for one or two line cameos and Jonah Hill steals a very funny scene from Stiller.

Overall this is an okayish family film but it is no way as good as the first film which had heart and structure where this just has its eyes on the cash its going to get from large audiences who enjoyed Night at the Museum 1.

Review: Colin

Colin's reputation as a film preceeds it thanks to its meagre budget of just £45. Writer/Director Marc Price shot his film entirely on a hand-held Panasonic Mini-Dv Camcorder and found his actors on Social-Networking webstites. It is hard to judge Colin against other films because of its low budget but it does actually contain some good ideas. At the start of the film Colin is bitten by a friend and then he turns into a zombie. The first 20 or 25 minutes of the film are almost dialogue free as we see the zombie-stricken world through Colin's eyes. The second-half of the film then deals with Colin's family trying to get him to remember who he was before the film finally turns into a traditional zombie film with the survivors trying to kill the zombies.

Colin has a great central performance from Alistair Kirton who holds the film together vrey well giving Colin some character even though he has little dialogue apart from at the start and end of the film. The other performances feel a little amateurish but that's because they are but Price is a good enough director to get the most out of his actors. The main problem I have with Colin is not the filmic aspects, which are surprisingly good given the budget. It is in fact the script which is low on character development after 90 minutes of watching I feel I knew very little about Colin despite the introduction of his sister and mother. This is interesting seeing as the script would've cost nothing to make but is the weakest elment here.

Overall though for a debut director and given the money he had, Colin is an enjoyable low-budget horror movie which is actually better than some of the starrier horror films around today. The kind of community aspect of the film is seen at the end of the credits where Price thanks all the people who helped him out in various ways with make-up, food and locations (the scary house, the non-scary house). Based on this Price has a very promising future as a director but he might want to leave the script-writing to someone else on his second feature.

Review: Bride Wars

I basically watched this so I could take part in the Mark Kermode challenge to find ten films worse than Bride Wars released this year. After watching Bride Wars its hard to imagine that feat being made possible. The main problem with Bride Wars is that most of the characters are so one-dimensional that its hard to care. Anne Hathaway is a pushover and Kate Hudson is driven and they have to learn not to be. Their grooms are interchangeable while Hudson's brother played by Jake from One Tree Hill is a walking chiseled-jaw. In fact the only likeable character is the teacher played by Kirsten 'Third Rock from the Sun' Johnson who we're supposed to think is a self-involved slob but is actually the only person to show some depth. The worse character in the whole piece is the wedding planner/narrator played by Candice Bergen who claims that women are dead before they get married. It's like feminsim didn't even happen.

The so-called comedy sequences involving blue-hair and an oompa-loompa-esque spray tan are horrendous. Lessons are learnt at the end, but most of those lessons are learnt by the audience about ten minutes into the film. An ambigous ending means that a sequel possibly entitled Baby Wars could be next. I sure hope not. Deoid of any humour or emotion this certainly isn't a romantic (or any other) comedy. Unless you're watching it to take part in the Dr. K challenge avoid it like Swine Flu.

Feature: This Years Oscar Contenders

As we approach December that means that The Oscars are on the way. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin have been announced as co-hosts while the longlists for animation and documentary feature have been released. In this blog I'm going to look at some of the films that have been tipped for glory.

Amelia
Whats it about? A biopic about Amelia Earheart's flight around the world
What are its Oscar Chances?: Although the reviews haven't been favourable Oscar loves a biopic.
What is it likely to be nominated for?: I would say that Hilary Swank is in for a good chance of getting one of the five best actress slots if nothing else while are own Ewan McGregor and Christopher Ecclestone could be in for Supporting Actor nominations.
When can I see it?: Its out now

An Education:
What's it about?: See further down for a full review.
What are its Oscar chances? Pretty good to nab something, the performances and script are spot on and as the Best Picture category has been widened to include ten features this could well got on that list. This film is likely to be Britain's best hope for awards glory.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Alfred Molina is a dead cert for Best Supporting Actor while newcomer Carey Mulligan has a good shot at Best Actress while Nick Hornby could also grab an adapted screenplay nomination and as I said the film itself should be in the running.
When can I see it?: Its out now

The Boys are Back
What's it about?: This Australian set comedy drama sees a sports writer lose his wife in tragic circumstances and he is left to bring up their son as well as a son from a previous relationship.
What are its Oscar Chances?: Oscar likes a film based on a true story that features some kind of tragedy and its directed by Scott Hicks who was nominated for Shine in 1996.
What's it Likely to be nominated for?: This film seems to be Clive Owen's show so look for him to nab one of the five Best Actor slots while Hicks may be an underdog for Best Director and there may also be an Adapted Screenplay Nomination.
When Can I see it?: Its released in the U.K. on the 22nd of January

Bright Star
What's it about?: The three year romance between poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne
What are its Oscar Chances?: With An Education, Bright Star looks to be one of the Brits best hopes another true story with an accomplished director, The Piano's Jane Campion, at the helm.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for: While it may scrape in for Best Picture and Best Director is hopes lie in its central performances by Ben Whishaw and Abby Cornish both of whom may pick up Best Actor and Actress Nominations while Paul Schneider as Keats' best friend may get a Supporting Actor Nomination.
When I can I see it?: Its currently on general release

Broken Embraces
What's it about? A wheelchair bound film director recounts an affair with one of his former leading ladies
What are its Oscar Chances? Medium, Pedro Almodovar often fares quite well in the foreign language category so Broken Embraces is likely to feature there but he won't get a director nomination.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for? The main award that the film will push for will be Best Actress for Penelope Cruz even though Lluis Homar's performance was equally impressive. It may also feature in the screenplay category.
When Can I see it?: It's still playing in some places but you'd have to seek it out, I'd wait till 1st February to see it on DVD

Brothers
What's it about?: When his older brother goes missing while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Tommy Cahill comforts his brother's wife and child which leads to the beginning of an affair which is made worse when the brother returns.
What are its Oscar Chances?: War's big business at the moment and this boasts three fine performances from its twenty to thirtysomething cast as well as a dependable director in Jim Sherdian.
What's it Likely to be Nominated For?: Probably a lot there's chance for Best Actor for Jake Gyllenhaal or even Tobey Maguire with one getting a Supporting Nod instead while Natalie Portamn may get a Supporting Actresss Nomination and it may also be up for Best Director and Best Picture
When Can I see it?: Its out in the U.K. on the 22nd of January


The Hurt Locker
What's it about?: A bomb disposal unit in Iraq
What are its Oscar Chances?: Another outsider but another war-based film which looks to be a big trend. I'm not sure how Katherine Bigelow's realist approach will sit with the academy but it may be a surprise entry.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Probably will sneak into the Best Picture category and is an outside choice for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay but it is likely to feature heaily among the technical awards (Editing, Sound Mixing etc.)
When can I see it?: Its finished its general release and will be able to watch on DVD on the 28th of December

The Informant
What's it about?: The vice president of a multi-national company becomes an FBI informant
What are its Oscar Chances?: Another true story and another established director in Steven Soderbergh mean it will probably creep up in at least one category
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Matt Damon certainly has to be one of the favourites for Best Actor as he put on weight for the role and the academy always admires any chage in bodily appearance for a role. Meanwhile it may also crop up in the Screenplay category although it seems like it may be an outsider for Best Picture and Best Director
When Can I See it?: It's out today (20th November)

Inglourios Basterds
What's it about? An American Unit in World War 2 who specialise in scalping Nazis plaan to blow up Hitler
What are its Oscar Chances?: Very slim in the Best Picture and Best Director categories as the film was widely panned. Don't look for Tarrantino to be one of the five Best Directors this year.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: However there is a glimmer of hope in the Supporting Performances. Christoph Waltz as the charmingly creepy Nazi Interregator may be nominated and indeed win Best Supporting Actor while Melanie Laurent is an outside choice for Best Supporting Actress as the cinema owner intent on revenge.
When Can I See it?: Its available on DVD from the 7th of Decemeber.

Invictus
What's it about?: A look at Nelson Mandela's attempts to unite his country after the Apartheid during the Rugby World Cup in 1995
What are its Oscar Chances?: Excellent. A big time director in Clint Eastwood and big name stars this is a 'based on a true story' film that might actually go all the way.
What's it Likely to Be Nominated for?: Best Picture has to be a lock as does Best Director and Best Actor for Morgan Freeman as Mandela seems to be a cert. Matt Damon also might feature in the Best Supporting Actor Category if he's not nominated for The Informant.
When Can I See it?: Its on general release from the 5th of February

Julie and Julia
What's it about?: A modern-day blogger tries to cook all the recipes in a cook book by the legendary Julia Childs as we see Childs trying to make it as a chef in the 1950s
What are its Oscar Chances?: Its got Meryl Streep in it
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: This is Streep's Oscar hope this year and its another real person that helps. Stanley Tucci also looks like he may be nominated for Supporting Actor in one of two films this being one of them.
When can I see it?: Although still showing in some cinemas it is out on DVD on the 11th of January

The Lovely Bones
What's it about?: When a girl is murdered by a neighbour she watches her family try to solve the mystery of her murder
What are its Oscar Chances?: Very good. It's helmed by Peter 'Lord of the Rings' Jackson and has quite a big cast of familiar faces.
What's it Likely to be Nomianted for?: It has to be in the Best Picture category, Jackson may be nominated for Best Director and it'll probably also be nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. Of the actors Atonement's Saoisre Ronan is likely to follow her Supporting Actress Nomination with a Best Actress Nomination while Stanley Tucci may get a Supporting Actor nod for this film. While former winners Susan Sarandon and Rachel Weisz may crop up as Best Supporting Actress, Mark Walhberg is an outsider for Best Actor also and the film may pick up some awards in the Art Direction categories.
When Can I see it?: Its out on general release on the 29th of January

Moon
What's it about?: A spaceman starts seeing things after being on a long solo mission
What are its Oscar chances?: A bit of an outsider but with an interesting concept and a great central performance it may get the attention of some of the voters.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: A best actor nod for Sam Rockwell may come as a surprise to most but I think that this is one of the best male performances of the year. The script may also get nominated for Original Screenplay.
When Can I see it?: It's on DVD now.

Nine
What's it about: A musical adaptation of 8 1/2 sees a film director struggling to keep his life under control thanks to all the women in his life.
What are its Oscar chances?: Fairly good. Oscar has a good relationship with musicals and this one will probably be a choice for the Best Picture as its director Rob Marshall already experienced Oscar success with Chicago in 2003.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Apart from Best Picture, Daniel Day-Lewis has an outside chance of a Best Actor Oscar as does Rob Marshall for Director. There are also a bevvy of Oscar Favourite Actresses who may feature in the Best Supporting Actress shortlist these include Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard. As the screenplay was co-written by the late Anthony Minghella it may also be nominated. Obviously as its a musical it may also pick up some awards for the music.
When can I see it?: Its on general release from the 18th December

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
What's it about: An overweight teen, who is abused by her mother and pregnant with her second child, is asked to enrol in an alternative school to increase her chances in life.
What's are its Oscar Chances: Good. The Academy loves a triumph against adversity story and this has it in droves. This is likely to be this year's little film that could.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Lead actress Gabourey Sidibe's performance could be one of the five nominated in Best Actress but the smart money is on Mo'Nique, best known on these shores for he role in the sitcom the Parkers, to take home the award for Best Supporting Actress.
When can I see it?: It's out on the 29th of January

A Serious Man
What's it about?: A college professor whose life starts to fall apart when his wife asks for a divorce
What are its Oscar chances?: It has a good all-round pedigree in its acting and directing talents.
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: Best Picture is a certainity, Best Director for The Coen Brothers maybe and Best Actor for the previously unknown Michael Stuhlbarg are also possibilities as is a screenplay nomination.
When Can I See it?: It's out today (20th November)

A Single Man
What's it about?: After the sudden death of his partner an L.A. based English professor tries to carry on as normal
What are its Oscar Chances?: Fair thanks to the actors involved
What's it Likely to be Nominated for?: The smart money is on Colin Firth to land a Best Actor nomination
When Can I see it?: It's on general release from the 12th of February

Star Trek
What's it about?: Kirk, Spock and the rest of those guys but you know when they were young
What are its Oscar chances?: Surprisingly good. This year the Best Picture category has been widened to ten choices so more popular films can be included. As this was both loved by fans and critics don't be surprised if its nominated for Best Picture
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Most likely only Best Picture out of the big awards but it will more than likely clean up in the technical categories
When Can I See it?: It's on DVD now

Up
What's it about?: An elderly man tries to escape being put in a home by tying balloons to his house but he is unaware that a boy scout has snuck on board.
What are its Oscar chances?: As with Star Trek this is a commercial film that has been critically acclaimed and that's what Oscar is looking for this year
What's it likely to be nominated for?: It will feature in the Best Picture category but will probably win Best Animated Feature. It may also be up for Best Original Screenplay.
When Can I see it?: You can see it everywhere now and in 3D as well!!

Up in the Air
What's it about?: A man who travels around the U.S. to fire employees of multi-national companies is tasked with training an up-and-coming young businesswoman while evaluating his life and trying to collect as many travel miles as he can.
What are its Oscar chances?: Its this years indie darling in the vein of Juno which isn't surprising as its directed by the same man - Jason Reitman. It will most likely crop up as one of the 10 Best Picture nominees.
What's it likely to be nominated for?: Along with Best Picture there's rumours that George Clooney will finally get his Best Actor Oscar for this film. While Anna Kendrick of the Twilight Saga is also tipped to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Reitman may also be on for a Best Director or Original Screenplay Nomination
When Can I see it?: From the 15th of January

Where the Wild Things Are
What's it about: A boy creates a world full of wild creatures where he is the king
What are its Oscar chances?: It may be another favourite of the 'popular film' category and get in the Top 10 for the Best Picture category. With a known director like Spike Jonze behind it, it's chance are greatly improved.
What's it Likely to Be Nominated for?: Possibly Best Picture and Probably Best Adapted Screenplay plus a host of art and technical type awards
When can I see it?: It's on general release from the 11th of December.

You'll have to wait till next February to see how right I am but I will see how these films fare throughout awards season.

Review: Sounds Like Teen Spirit

When I started watching this film I thought the Junior Eurovision Song Contest looked kind of creepy with all the children made up to look like dolls almost like one of those horrible American beauty pageants. But Jamie Jay Johnson's film rises above that and explores four acts who are incredibly likeable. The Belgian band Trust have a slightly geeky lead female singer who just wants a cute boyfriend while the lanky boys in the band just want to learn how to dance. The Georgian girl really hopes to make her mother proud and put her country on the map. Marina from the Bulgarian group BonBon has become disenchanted with the idea of love following her parents divorce and the Cypriot boy wants to rise above the taunts that he recieves at school and put on a good show.

Where Smells Like Teen Spirit is at its best is in the candid interviews with the contestants a likeable bunch of geeks, dreamers and realists. This film was always going to be compared to Spellbound the American film about the Spelling Bees but this is different in its depiction of various European nations. There are some classic moments but none so entertaining as when the Georgian priest reveals his love of Heavy Metal music. Johnson's film is less succesful when trying to add a little bit of European history and explaining all the European conflicts that have effected the four acts we are following. This seems to be a completely different story however the main message seems to be make catchy pop-rock music not war. And if nothing else it has shown us that playing the accordian can be cool and that's got to be a good thing.

Review: An Education

Sometimes a film comes along that restores your faith in British cinema and An Education is that film. Set in a pre-Beatles Britain, Jenny's world is very dull and very boring until she meets David. The two worlds are represented by different scenery while Jenny's home and school are dressed in dull colours and shot bleakly, David's world is full of bright colours, fantastic lighting and great costumes. And this is where the brilliance of the film begins.

Nick Hornby's screenplay of Lynn Barber's memoirs is fantastic, Hornby is often unable to write believable female characters in his books but Jenny is a well-rounded teenage girl who has dreams and aspirations above her years but is still a child at heart. You have to wonder though how much of the script is from the memoirs, the scene with the banana especially seems too far-fetched to be true which means it probably is. Meanwhile Danish director Lone Scherfig proves why female directors should be as prominent as male directors. She is able to get the most out of every scene of the film and it is impressive seeing this only her second English language feature.

As Jenny Carey Mulligan, whose biggest role in cinema thus far was as Kitty Bennett in Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice, shines bringing an efforvecent spirit to the character and mixes the giddiness of the main body of the film with the heartache of the last quarter. Mulligan has recieved Oscar Buzz for her role but in my opinion the actor most deserving of awards for this film is Alfred Molina. As Jenny's father he is presented as a comic stick in the mud for most of the film but his heart-to-heart with his daughter at the end demonstrates what a fine performance this is. Peter Sarsgaard veers just on the right side of creepy and is often presented as a boy who never grew up while in their brief scenes Emma Thompson and Olivia Williams are brilliant as Jenny's headmistress and Engish teacher respectively.

There are some little niggles which means this film isn't quite perfect. David's friends Danny and Helen, played by Dominic Cooper and Rosumand Pike, are quite one-dimensional seeming existing to show how vapid some of the people who David associates with are. Even though Pike tries her very hardest with the limited material she is given ultimately she is nothing more than window dressing. I would have also liked to have seen more interaction between Jenny and Olivia Williams' teacher character in the first third of the film before it is explored deeply nearer the end. But these are little niggles, as this is a brilliantly written, finally directed piece of British cinema which deserves all the plaudits it must recieve in the upcoming awards season.

Review: Shorts

After trying the non-linear narrative structure out in his more adult works, Robert Rodriguez tries it out in his latest children's film: Shorts. Rodriguez has had mixed success with children's films from the great original Spy Kids film to the awful Sharkboy and LavaGirl. In my opinion Shorts falls in the middle of these two.

Initially a good idea, this film falls down in its final tbird when everybody decides to learn a lesson about themselves. However before that there is a lot of fun to be had and if your immature enough to laugh at animal poo and giant snot that comes to life then you'll like this. There are also some more mature gags for the adults watching.

The young actors all play their parts well and there is a nice ensemble of adult actors let by the wonderful James Spader as the odious Mr. Black and William H Macy as the germ-obssessed scientist. Less useful is Kat Dennings, who seems to be there just to fil time, as the sister of the main character and Jon Cryer and Leslie Mann have little to do as his parents.

As you would expect from a Rodriguez kids film this is visually extremely powerful almost too much at some points but overall I thought this was enjoyable enough to be watched at least once by everyone with an overactive imagination.

Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats

A film of two halves 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' starts slow and eventually picks up pace thanks to the use of some clever flashbacks. The first 20 minutes or so establishes Ewan McGregor as the lead - a cuckolded journalist who journeys out to Iraq to try and find some action and ends up finding Clooney's Lyn Cassidy a psychic spy on a mission. Clooney plays the part quite deadpan but it is in the story of the jedis that we get the real laughs.

This is thanks to the performance of the film from Jeff Bridges as Bill the leader of the group that trained Cassidy. Bridges is basically playing a version of The Dude character from The Big Lebowski but is damn entertaining and has much better screen chemistry with Clooney than McGregor does. As the villain of the piece, Kevin Spacey is given little to do which is a problem given his stature as an actor.

Although this film is often funny thanks to Clooney and Bridges. The chemistry between McGregor and Clooney isn't present which is a big problem as they are meant to be the lead duo of the film. Given its 84 minute runtime it is surprising that this film is still quite slow and dips in the middle where Ewan and George are lost in the desert. Although the final ending is quite uplifting it doesn't stop most of the film from being ultimately disappointing given the stature of the four lead actors.

Welcome to the Movie Blog

Yes that's right Matt's at the Movies now in this latest blog which will contain reviews, views and lists. I hope that you enjoy this as much as the movie blog.

3rd Annual Oscar Blog

Fans of the Oscar Blog be warned I didn’t stay up for the ceremony so there’s no toilet breaks or anecdotes about the Sky Coverage. Although I have watched a bit of the Sky Coverage on a streaming sight I haven’t watched that all the way through and this is based on just a recording of the ceremony that I found online. I just have to give a short credit to Stephanie Beecham who on the Sky Panel was hilariously frank from claiming that Penelope Cruz got her Oscar because she was pretty to almost saying that Heath Ledger shouldn’t win the Oscar. They’ll also be no red carpet malarkey, a shame I know but then again reading what Ryan Seacrest did to the Slumdog kids I didn’t really fancy watching it online. Anyway my blog this time will not be by time of me watching but by how far into the ceremony events occur.

25 seconds in: Hugh Jackman enters to the new stage which has the host nearer to the audience then ever before the backdrop is more like that seen at the MTV Movie Awards and there is no giant movie screen or anything like that.

2 minutes 14 seconds in: After talking about people putting on accents to get nominations Jackman starts on his opening number in which he plays on the recession by doing a Billy Crystal-esque performance on all the Best Picture nominees with crudely designed sets and props.

4 minutes 41 seconds in: Hugh drags a bedazzled Anne Hathaway up on stage to sing in his tribute to Frost/Nixon however she has no idea what she’s doing. But hey it was all a set-up and she’s a pretty good singer to boot.

7 minutes 56 seconds in: Jackman has finished his number with the words ‘I’m Wolverine’ its pretty entertaining and he put more effort in that recent hosts.

8 minutes 45 seconds in: Jackman sits on Frank Langella’s lap slightly disturbing.

9 minutes 30 seconds in: Jackman is contractually obliged to mention the Jolie-Pitts five times during the show, you think he’s joking but you can see it in Angelina’s eyes he’s really not.

10 minutes 34 seconds in: Jackman leaves the stage to introduce a montage of Best Supporting Actress winners.

12 minutes 21 seconds in: Post-montage former winners of said award – Eva Marie Saint, Whoopi Goldberg, Angelica Houston, Goldie Hawn and Tilda Swinton come out on stage. It seems that Oscar is bucking the trend of having last year’s supporting actor give the supporting actress award and vice versa by having these five women talk about a nominate performer each instead of showing clips which is a good idea in principal but let see how it goes.

14 minutes 38 seconds in: Its going well so far, Whoopi introduces Amy Adams’ tribute with the words its not easy being a nun, this Oscars gets extra points for a Sister Act reference.

17 minutes 8 seconds in: Penelope Cruz beats rightful winner Marissa Tomei to the Best Supporting Actress prize

19 minutes 20 seconds in: I’m surprised Cruz wasn’t cut off by the orchestra going back over her life story watching The Oscars blah blah etc. She also thanked Pedro Almodovar which was a nice touch but everyone clapped it for some reason.

19 minutes 50 seconds in: Jackman talks about the concept behind tonight’s show its all about the process of making a movie and I’m guessing that the non-acting awards will be presented in this kind of fashion.

20 minutes 56 seconds in: A screenplay starts to appear as Tina Fey and Steve Martin announce themselves via the written word.

22 minutes in: Martin and Fey’s banter is possibly some of the funniest I’ve ever heard – movies start with a screenplay, or a great idea for the poster.

24 minutes 17 seconds in: Second prediction in a row wrong as Dustin Lance Black wins for Best Original Screenplay even though Milk is based on real events while the other four are all completely fictional, tonight it seems is all about the gays.

25 minutes 57 seconds in: Black waffles on about gay rights, please don’t lets have a night full of issues speeches, Sean Penn is crying, hopefully at least Mickey Rourke will win and we’ll have a bit of ludeness in a speech.

26 minutes 34 seconds in: Fey looks at Martin as they start their Adapted Screenplay nominees, he looks into her eyes and says ‘don’t fall in love with me’, hilarious.

28 minutes 40 seconds in: Simon Beaufoy rightfully wins for Slumdog Millionaire.

30 minutes 30 seconds in: Jennifer Anniston and Jack Black appear, they’re waffling on about animations and Black putting all his money on Pixar films to win after Dreamworks has paid him.

31 minutes 30 seconds in: There’s a shot of Angelina Jolie trying to laugh at Aniston, painful.

31 minutes 47 seconds in: Throughout the night various genres will be put into a ‘2008 yearbook’ and first of his animation with a specially animated segment of Wall-E finding an Oscar he throws the Oscar away in favour of watching a video full of animated films of the year including Bolt and Kung Fu Panda.

34 minutes 30 seconds in: Wall-E wins best animated film, well what else really?

37 minutes in: Some Japanese film about cubes win Best Animated Short, This Way Up was robbed. The Japanese dude thanks his pencil and then does the Mr. Roboto lyric to please the crowd who are bored by his speech.

40 minutes 23 seconds in: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins best Art Direction despite The Dark Knight having much better sets.

42 minutes 28 seconds in: Daniel Craig and Sarah Jessica Parker are still on stage I wonder if all the awards are going to be presented in twos this year. Anyway eventually after going on for too long about this theme, pre-production etc. The Duchess eventually wins Best Costumes well-deserved and its another British win.

45 minutes 40 seconds in: Parker and Craig are still on stage this time presenting Best Make-Up.

46 minutes 39 seconds in: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins Best Make-Up, that’s was my pick but I was secretly routing for Hellboy 2.

47 minutes 16 seconds in: The winner Greg Gannom is fighting back the tears not realising that nobody really cares about the make-up awards and we all just want to see the main ones.

48 minutes in: A thousand teenage girls go crazy as Robert Pattison takes to the stage to present the next award.

48 minutes 49 seconds in: It seems that Pattison and Amanda Seyfried are introducing another of these ‘Yearbook’ Montages this time about romance on screen in 2008.

50 minutes 31 seconds in: They should stop playing Coldplay over this otherwise emotionally manipulative montage.

52 minutes 21 seconds in: Natalie Portman comes out with Ben Stiller to present the award for Best Cinematography, Stiller has a massive beard in tribute to Joaquin Phoenix this amuses practically everyone in the audience but poor old Portman has to carry on regardless. Missing out her comic cues because of all the laughs.

53 minutes 48 seconds in: This is still quite amusing, Ben Stiller wants to ‘retire from being the funny guy’

55 minutes 36 seconds in: Another win for Slumdog as Anthony Dod Mantle rightfully picks up the award.

57 minutes 30 seconds in: Jessica Biel once again has the unenviable task of appearing at the boring technology awards and then reporting back to the people at the ‘Proper Oscars'

1 hour, 1 minute and 10 seconds in: The ‘Oscar Yearbook’ opens up this time for comedy as James Franco and Seth Rogen reprise their roles from The Pineapple Express to look at the comedy films of the year highlights include confusing The Love Guru for Slumdog Millionaire, laughing at The Reader and a tribute to Necro-Butcher in the Wrestler. Plus Franco getting amorous with Rogen when his scene kissing Sean Penn in Milk is shown.

1 hour 4 minutes and 2 seconds in: Cinematographer Yannis Kominsky appears in the scene clutching the two Oscars, they made me do it Mr. Spielberg hilarious!

1 hour 5 minutes and 54 seconds in: Kominsky, Rogan and Franco are now on the stage, Franco recognises that Kominsky is the first DP to ever present an award this is followed by the line, ‘Suck on that Andrew Dod Mantle’

1 hour 6 minutes and 48 seconds in: Franco mispronounces the German winner of best short film, Rogen laughs as all of Germany prepares to burn their copies of The Pineapple Express.

1 hour 7 minutes and 36 seconds in: Jackman appears wearing a suit in a tribute to the musicals as he starts singing Top Hat.

1 hour 8 minutes and 49 seconds in: To the tune of Hey Big Spender, Beyonce joins Jackman on stage for his musical montage.

1 hour 11 minutes in: Beyone and Jackman have now been joined by High School Musical starlets Efron and Hudgens as well as Mama Mia! Duo Dominic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried.

1 hour 12 minutes in 2 seconds in: The ensembled dancers and singers now perform a very odd staccato drum version of Mama Mia!

1 hour 13 minutes 3 seconds in: The medley is over, Penelope Cruz doesn’t look impressed either that or she just burped.

1 hour 13 minutes 23 seconds in: As Efron goes to bow his top hat falls off, idiot.

1 hour 14 minutes 14 seconds in: We get a Best Supporting Actor winner montage.

1 hour 15 minutes 44 seconds in: The former Best Supporting Actors presenting this year are Alan Arkin, Joel Grey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Kevin Kline and Christopher Walken.

1 hour 18 minutes in: Cuba Gooding Jr. comically slates Robert Downey Jrs’ performance in Tropic Thunder saying he stole all the roles for black men by blacking up. Hey stop complaining Cuba, Downey was never in Snow Dogs or The Fighting Temptations.

1 hour 18 minutes 55 seconds in: Christopher Walken bigs up Michael Shannon’s role in Revolutionary Road as if he’s writing him a love letter. Even though this is good for the man, no-one still knows who the hell he is.

1 hour 21 minutes 30 seconds in: Heath Ledger of course wins the award and the Ledger family give a touching tribute to their late member. With all the emotional baggage attached to it in can’t be forgotten that Ledger’s performance was truly great and he will be sorely missed.

1 hour 23 minutes 30 seconds in: The Ledgers are ushered off after making a lot of the crowd cry. Extreme close-up by the camera-people didn’t help either.

1 hour 23 minutes 45 seconds in: Another Yearbook montage this time on documentary, leading up to the Best Documentary Award.

1 hour 26 minutes in: Bill Mahr (whoever that is) comes to the stage to waffle on about not getting his documentary nominated before announcing the rightful winner to Man on Wire.

1 hour 28 minutes 51 seconds in: Phillipe Petit on which the film Man on Wire was based comes up on stage and claims to give the shortest Oscar acceptance speech ever saying just ‘Yes!’, but then carries on, he then does some magic.

1 hour 29 minutes 19 seconds in: The crazy Frenchman is now balancing the Oscar on his chin, I think that’s an Oscar first.

1 hour 30 minutes 13 seconds in: The short documentary award goes to Smile Pinki, a film about an Indian girl with a cleft pallet. The filmmaker Megan Melhan gives quite a passionate speech about the art of film-making and the girl involved in the making of the film.

1 hour 32 minutes 16 seconds in: Jackman brings us into post-production introducing the Action Yearbook of films.

1 hour 34 minutes 35 seconds in: Will Smith appears from the floor where he was sweeping or maybe burning the script for Seven Pounds. He then goes onto ramble on about Visual Effects.

1 hour 36 minutes 9 seconds in: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button beats Iron Man and The Dark Knight to the Visual Effects award this could’ve gone to anyone of those three films. Four men win the award but only one of them is allowed to speak and thank his family which seems a bit mean.

1 hour 37 minutes 49 seconds in: Will Smith trips over his words and says Outsounding instead of outstanding. I have noticed something that there does seem to be a bit of a recession as each presenter seems to be presenting two of the smaller awards each just to make these people not seem as important as the real stars who get five presenters.

1 hour 38 minutes 33 seconds in: The Dark Knight wins Sound Editing the only people who are excited are those sitting around winner Richard King.

1 hour 39 minutes 50 seconds in: Big Willie is still here presenting his third award this time for sound mixing.

1 hour 40 minutes 55 seconds in: Will Smith seems visibly excited to be presenting an award to someone to do with Slumdog Millionaire even if it is the Sound Mixer. And by the way conspicuous by his absence in this category is former 20 time nominee Kevin O’Connell I’m guessing his work on Hotel for Dogs didn’t sit well with the academy.

1 hour 43 minutes in: As Will Smith says they’ve still got him because Hugh is napping.

1 hour 44 minutes 26 seconds in: Slumdog Millionaire wins another one this time for Best Editing.

1 hour 46 minutes 5 seconds in: Oh God Eddie Murphy’s here I didn’t think they’d let him back after he stomped off halfway through two years ago after not winning Best Supporting Actor. I wonder if he had a fist-fight with Alan Arkin in the back.

1 hour 47 minutes 9 seconds in: Eddie Murphy is actually presenting a humanitarian award to comedian and yes humanitarian Jerry Lewis. The man responsible for the original and funnier Nutty Professor. I don’t know what’s going on though because they’re using Coldplay in a second montage this time about Lewis’ life.

1 hour 49 minutes 10 seconds in: Jerry Lewis comes out to a standing ovation his speech is thankfully short unlike most of these old-timers who win special awards and then thank everyone.

1 hour 51 minutes in : Finally Jackman is back and he introduces a medley of Oscar nominated score performed by the orchestra.

1 hour 55 minutes 10 seconds in: The odd pairing of a newly quaffed Zak Effron and a remarkably dressed Alicia Keys present the Best Score Award to Slumdog Millionaire.

1 hour 57 minutes 5 seconds in: Effron and Keys now present the infamous Best Song nominee montage that famously Peter Gabriel snubbed because he didn’t want to cut his song down obviously the action montage was more important.

1 hour 58 minute 18 seconds in: No Peter Gabriel but in his place John Legend, who is a bit of a sell-out really.

2 hours 1 minute 3 seconds in: The juxtaposition between John Legend singing the Wall-E song which worked quite well and the Slumdog songs doesn’t seem to fit. And also notable by her absence is M.I.A. who was obviously too pregnant to sing.

2 hours 2 minutes 20 seconds in: A.R. Rachman knocks up two awards in a row winning original song for Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire.

2 hours 4 minutes 20 seconds in: Liam Neeson appears with Frieda Pinto to present Best Foreign Language Film, so they’ll let Frieda up but Dev won’t present an award because he was in Skins.

2 hours 5 minutes 18 seconds in: One of the surprises of the night as the Japanese film Departures trumps both the favourite Waltz with Bashir and the Sundance Winner The Class.

2 hours 5 minutes 40 seconds in: Its hard not to notice that these two guys look like Hiro and Ando from Heroes, they’re both very very happy.

2 hours 6 minutes 38 seconds in: Queen Latifah comes out to introduce the in memorium section.

2 hours 7 minutes 2 seconds in: What’s she doing? She’s singing over the montage of dead actors. Can’t we just mourn in silence like normal?

2 hours 13 minutes 40 seconds in: Why can’t the directors get five different former winners of their award to present them with it. But I’m guess none of the men are complaining as the winner will get to kiss Reese Witherspoon.

2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds in: Yes good old Danny Boyle, another one for the Brits lets hope he’s not bought his son along again.

2 hours 15 minutes 48 seconds in: Danny Boyle does something for his kids though and receives the award in the style of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, the Americans give this only a slight titter.

2 hours 17 minutes 40 seconds in: Best Actress montage so the award is on its way.

2 hours 19 minutes 13 seconds in: The five presenting the actress award are Sophia Loren, Marion Cotillard, Shirley MacLaine, Halle Berry and Nicole Kidman.

2 hours 20 minutes 51 seconds in: As Cotillard bigs up Winslet in The Reader it is clear that most of the audience has forgotten who she is since last year.

2 hours 23 minutes 13 seconds in: God, Sophia Loren’s weird isn’t she, she seems to be constantly putting one arm on her hip as if she’s doing an I’m a Little Teapot routine.

2 hours 25 minutes in: Kate Winslet predictably wins for The Reader, hugging Sam Mendes and then hugging all the actresses up on the stage which takes at least a minute.

2 hours 26 minutes 38 seconds in: Oh God Winslet’s welling up is she going to cry?

2 hours 26 minutes 45 seconds in: Kate Winslet’s dad whistles at her probably the oddest moment of the night.

2 hours 28 minutes 2 seconds in: Winslet is now dedicating her award to Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella she still hasn’t cried yet come on Kate!

2 hours 28 minutes 45 seconds in: Hey at least that speech was better than either of the ones at The Golden Globes, we’re cracking straight on now with a Best Actor Montage.

2 hours 30 minutes 22 seconds in: The Best Actor Presenters are De Niro, (Sir) Ben Kingsley, Anthony Hopkins, Adrian Brody and Michael Douglas.

2 hours 30 minutes 43 seconds in: There is a sense among the five actors now of who’s going to do mine? Especially in the eyes of Brad Pitt. The fourth in a row of Actors/Actresses and its starting to ware a bit now but at least it’s a bit different.

2 hours 36 minutes 2 seconds in: Sean Penn beats rightful winner and as Kingsley called him ‘returning champ’ Mickey Rourke. Penn was okay in Milk, but Rourke was on a different level I think its just mainly politics that prevented him from winning the Oscar.

2 hours 37 minutes 12 seconds in: Penn is even not being his usual typical serious self and is cracking a few jokes. But why if he didn’t think he was going to win does have a speech prepared?

2 hours 40 minutes 15 seconds in: Hey Jackman’s back haven’t seen him for ages, as a host he’s been a lot less present than previous hosts who are mainly comedians. Anyway last award of the night and here’s Stephen Spielberg.

2 hours 40 minutes 55 seconds in: As they’ve been doing all night they try and put the nominees in contrast with nominees past therefore they try and link in other films with this year’s Best Picture nominees from the easy Frost/Nixon with Apocalypse Now and All the Presidents Men to the tricky Milk with Braveheart and Network.

2 hours 45 minutes 40 seconds in: The rightful winner of Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire wins the award.

2 hours 46 minutes 23 seconds in: The cast and crew of Slumdog storm the stage even the little kids which is really nice.

2 hour 48 minutes 45 seconds in: Jackman bigs up the movies that may be Oscar winners next year and closes the show.

So that was it the 2009 Oscars and it was another year that the Americans did quite poorly in, only one of the four acting Oscars went to an American (Penn) the rest to a Mexican, an Australian and a Brit. The biggest winner was a British film set in India and there were also awards for the Brits in Best Documentary and Best Costume while America triumphed in some of the smaller awards and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The show itself was more vibrant than in recent years but it felt a bit rushed at times having presenters present multiple awards (Will Smith presented four by himself). While the show’s real host Jackman as I’ve mentioned before had a lot less screentime. When he was on screen Jackman was charming and effervescent starring in two big musical numbers which were too of the highlights of the show. Others including The Pineapple Express short, Ben Stiller as Joaquin Phoenix and Tina Fey and Steve Martin’s great one-liners.

The acting awards presented by five former winners seemed like a bit of a chore and although good at first quickly became dull although it was nice to see that actors enjoy films too. Overall I would say it was different from last year but not necessarily any more entertaining just a bit of fun.