This may be it...

As far as my Oscar posts go. This upcoming week/weekend somehow filled up and I just don't know if I'll make it to anymore movies. One thing I noticed this year is that not many of the nominated films are out on DVD. Last year there was a much more steady stream from week-to-week leading up to the awards. Either way, we've had a productive go since I last posted.

Last...Thursday, I believe, we rented "Frozen River." This was the one movie nominated that had not been on any of my previous lists and I didn't know if we were going to get a chance to see it. It's up for Best Actress (Melissa Leo) and Best Original Screenplay. It takes place in UPstate New York, and by that I mean - on the Canadian border. It follows two single mothers (one white, one Mohawk) as they become entangled and seek to provide at all costs for their children. It was only and hour and a half, but it was a little slow-moving. I did like it, though. I would categorize it with "The Visitor" - definitely could be classified as a commentary on immigration as well as tribal rights (something I know very little about). The two main characters move from the US, Mohawk land, and Canada across, you guessed it, a frozen river. Melissa Leo was great and the story was very original.

The next day we went to the Arbor (every movie they are showing right now is Oscar-nominated and most of the films we have set out to view are only being shown there - way to go, Arbor! Great and friendly staff, too.) to see "Frost/Nixon." I'll be honest with you, I was not that pumped to see this movie. It was lowest on my Best Picture list and it only won out because it was the only Best Picture film we had yet to see. I was actually going to go see it by myself until a friend who had seen it convinced my husband he should go with me. I was VERY pleasantly surprised!!! The movie was great. Outstanding performances - especially by Frank Langella (nominated for Best Actor). I was entertained the entire time and loved having this sort of window to look back on this event (I missed it the first time around). I would highly recommend it - it definitely moved up on my list.

Sunday we rented "Wanted." My husband had actually already seen this one in the theaters and I had pretty much vowed not to see it. But then it got nominated for the two sound awards and I am not one to discriminate. I still didn't like it very much. I really did try to be optimistic, but I generally don't like action movies that are made for the sake of being action movies. The violence was way too gratuitous, you pretty much dislike James McAvoy's character the entire time (or at least, I did), Morgan Freeman is a villain, and Angelina Jolie's range as an actress is way underused. Then there is this Loom of Fate subplot, could have been cool, not fleshed out at all. Overall, a disappointment with no real commentary on anything. But if you love action movies, this is your film.

So...what's left to even see, you ask? If I had it my way, we would really push to see "Rachel Getting Married," "The Wrestler," and "Revolutionary Road" in the the theater by Sunday evening. And if I was pressed to pick one it would be "The Wrestler" - I have heard nothing but raves about Mickey Rourke's performance and I feel like that's the only way I could accurately have an opinion on Best Actor. As far as renting goes, our only options are "Changeling" and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." I have already seen "Changeling," and although my husband hasn't, it's kind of long and I don't think Angelina Jolie is going to win Best Actress. As I said earlier, I'm trying not to discriminate against films I generally wouldn't go see, but I didn't see the first "Hellboy," so...we'll see about that one. I may post my picks before the show, but if not I will definitely blog about it all afterwards.

TOTAL side note - anyone watch "The Bachelor" last night? I am embarrassed to admit that I do watch it, but it is my guiltiest of pleasures - I kind of love it. The elimination shocked me, but what I really want to discuss are the teasers for the finale and the "After the Final Rose" special. First - DeAnna - lame plot twist. We don't like her anymore, ABC! Second, Chris Harrison (who may have the best job in the world) and his "intimate, too dramatic" taping announcement kind of got to me - and I have to wait 3 weeks to find out. No thank you, but I will be watching. Dang it.