Kick Ass

Director: Mathew Vaughn

Cast: Aaron Jonhson, Nicolas Cage, Mark Strong, Chloe Moretz

Year: 2010

Genre: Action

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 7.9
IMDB – 8.4
FilmAffinity – 7.2

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Why none has tried to be a super hero ever before?
This is what Dave (Aaron Johnson) has always wondered. He’s a commonly known as an outcast. His social life at high school can be summarized with never ending discussions about action comics with his equally nerd friends.

Until one day, a reckless idea comes up to his mind, become a super hero.

However his very first encounter with the crime will have an ending never expected as well as wished by the brand new world saviour.

Despite his first slip, Dave gets even more determined to achieve his lifetime dream. It’s then when he’ll discover that in fact there are real super heroes out there that struggle the bad guys with no fear and hesitation, such Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) and Big Daddy (Cage); as well as merciless villains with no scruples as Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong) that rules the city with heavy hand.

Cinema-Reader Review:

Another Marvel comic brought to the big scream. However now ain’t a classy such Superman or X-Men. This time is a comic newly released (just 2 years ago) which rights to bring it as a motion picture were sold even before to the comic was published.
Lately is quite common to find just with a simple eyesight a Marvel superhero on the scream as Batman (brought by Christopher Nolan), Iron Man or unfortunately the remake (the death) of Superman.

However this brand new kind of superhero brings along a new looking glass that update totally the genre. With no gadgets, no remarkable skills, no appeal at all and no powers or whatsoever but a imagination full of bullshits and banal ideas of how a hero should be, a guy closer to a nerd rather than the stereotype of the regular superhero, renew this genre that became typecast with the handsome secret identity of a powerful crime fighter.

The action scenes are awesomely filmed with a fast and effective move of the hand shot camera with a clear influence of Tarantino’s style, perfectly accompanied with a good choice on the sound track.
Great movie, that without being the finest movie ever on its genre (Nolan’s Batman is and will be my weakness), makes you fancy the world surrounding comic heroes.Parental advice: do not try to be superhero at home.

FAQ About Time Travel

Director: Gareth Carrivick

Cast: Chris O’Dowd, Anna Faris, Marc Wooton

Year: 2009

Genre: Comedy

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 7.2

IMDB – 7.2

FilmAffinity – 6.6

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Whilst drinking in their habitual pub, a group of 3 outcasts made up of a guy obsessed with time travelling (Chris O’Dowd), a frustrated scripwriter full of lousy ideas within his brain and a guy which main concern is to drink as much pints as possible; find a time hole in the toilet that will make them leap back and forward in time with no control.

Helped by a hottie time-leaks official came straight from future (Anna Faris), they will try to come back to their regular lives and time frame avoiding futuristic psycho killers, uncertain future situations and encounters with their past and future selves.

Cinema-Reader Review:

FAQ... is a smart comedy about time travel based on a chain of actions that will lead the starring (among which is the funny Irishman Chris O’Dowd known for his work on "IT Crowd" or "The boat that rocked" and the "Scary Movie" actress Anna Faris) to tricky situations with continuous leaps in time.
Nowadays comedies just look for a loud laugh among the audience; however this comedy tries to get (and gets indeed) a smile through the entire movie, with hilarious situations but with no silly humour (as the crap saw on such lousy films as "Scary Movie", "Spanish Movie" or all those "Bullshit Movies"...). Something to be happy of.

Low budgeted movie that works around a superb idea, with ups and downs but worth to be seen if what you are looking for is a different and fresh comedy in the same line of the unclassified and awesomely hilarious "Shaun of the Dead".

Clash of the Titans

Director: Louis Leterrier

Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton

Year: 2010

Genre: Action

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 5.2

IMDB – 6.7

FilmAffinity – 5.3

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Gods oversee human from the Olympus with a sense of disappointment. What Zeus (Liam Neeson) figured out when creating human kind is vanishing due to a growing feeling among mortals that Gods forsaken them long time ago.

This defying behaviour will cause Gods rage encouraged by Zeus’ brother’s tricks, Hades (Ralph Fiennes), who’s hiding second plans for human race and for his own brother Zeus.

However Perseus (Sam Worthington), a demi-god son of Zeus raised as a fisherman, will start a journey going all the way to hell in order to stop the fury unleashed by Titans over the city of Argos.

Cinema-Reader Review:

I define myself as an action kind of guy when talking about cinema. I do enjoy as a kid all actions movies with a sustainable plot. Coz I reckon a decent story is as important as frenetic and jaw dropping action scenes.
Something this movie lacks at all.

For all those who saw in a first place back in the 80’s the original Clash of the Titans, here is my piece of advice; try to erase out of your mind the idea of a remake which at least equal what we saw (at least I did) in that classy movie. Much more X effects but with an absolute gap in the plot.
A waste of a great story based in the always handy Greek mythology which has already risen in boxes worldwide same money that spent when filmed.

That means a fuck to me.

I felt like throwing away an entire evening (and 22 € of my pocket) on a movie with a disjointed script. Even more in a pointless 3D... (I should have followed the advice I read on TOTAL FILM Magazine that highlighted the 3D version was made against the watch with no a great outcome).

By the way, any of ye guys agree with me about how Sam Worthington plays in exactly the same way as in Terminator 4: Salvation?
Shame on my, I had forgotten robots in the far future acts in the same way like a demi-god in the ancient Greek civilization... He even keeps the same hair cut, quite suitable for that period of time...

She's out of my league

Director: Jim Field Smith

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller

Year: 2010

Genre: Comedy

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 6.7
IMDB – 6.7
FilmAffinity – 6.0

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Kirk (Jay Baruchel) is what commonly is known as a looser.
He still trapped in a job as a custom officer whilst his dream of being pilot start to vanish. And what’s more, his life time girlfriend just dumped him.

However, everything changes when in a boredom day in his workplace knows by change Molly (Alice Eve), a smoking hot Blondie that, in order to change her own life punished by loads of one night stands and awesomely gorgeous and random guys, decides to give a change to that skinny guy who seems of that kind which never let her down.

Ever since that encounter, Kirk freaks out with the possibility of having a steady relationship with his dreamt girl even if everybody wouldn’t bet on it.

Cinema-Reader Review:

First appearance of Jay Baruchel, a stand up comedian well-known among this circle that so far had had small roles in such movies as Tropic Thunder or Dollar Million Baby. A next door guy, really funny that from now on I dare to foresee will be in the spotlight due to his hilarious skills to make us laugh.

Beside Baruchel, the story ain’t a big deal. The story describes how a regular guy (looser in this case) that falls for an unreachable as well as insultingly beautiful girl, struggles against all handicaps to success with this odd relationship. Obviously this couple will end up working out living happily ever after.

However, countless funny and embarrassing situations take place in half way, making this movie being a good entertain that causes more than a laugh.

Shutter Island

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Max Von Sydow, Michelle William, Emily Mortimer, Jackie Earle Haley

Year: 2010

Genre: Mistery / Thriller

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 8.0

MDB – 8.1
FilmAffinity – 7.3

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

When US Marshall Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) lands on Shutter Island, a small island off the coast of Detroit used as a high security hospital for dangerous insane inmates in order to investigate the disappearance of Rachel Sorondo, he couldn’t imagine what he was about to be involved.

All nurses, guardians and the warden, an enigmatic doctor played by Sir Ben Kingsley, are hiding secrets from Daniels, something valuable enough not to allow anybody, including Daniels, to jeopardize it. Plus a storm affects the electric supply of barracks releasing all inmates out of control around the premises.

Therefore, Daniels will be pushed towards the edge of his own sanity making difficult any attempt of solving the mystery.

Cinema-Reader Review:

When Leonardo DiCaprio gathers Scorsese, ever since they worked together for their very first time a bunch of years ago, everybody expect a new great piece.

And is worth mentioning no feeling of disappointments could be felt between the audience after the projection.
Scorsese’s raid on mystery can be deemed as a great piece. Thus I still consider Shutter Island and despite being a great film is far from prior movies such overwhelming as The Departed, Casino or Goodfellas.

In any case, the film is full of tension which peaks of maximum climax involves the viewer within the halo of mystery surrounding all happenings that take place in such a disturbing island.
In addition, a cast full of great names (DiCaprio, Kingsley, Von Sidow, Ruffalo, and Mortimer) helps holding the whole responsibility when gaps in the script (no big enough to screw the whole thing) show up.

Having said that, and alongside other releases which opened early this year and all those coming up, seems to be a great year within film industry, leaving behind a year to forget, 2009.

Green Zone

Director: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Said Faraj, Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson

Year: 2010

Genre: War / Thriller

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 7.6
MDB – 7.2

FilmAffinity – 6.7

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Chief Warrant Roy Miller (Matt Damon) is an US army official on charge of a squad which target is aim at the search of WMD (weapons of massive destructions) in Iraq.

After months of unsuccessful search, Miller and his crew are getting pissed. However a local gives them a hint of where to catch red-handed one of the most notorious personalities within Hussein’s army in a high level meeting of revels. Breaking on during the meeting, and despite the target manages to getaway, Miller gets a vital piece for the ingoing of the whole war; a notebook with spots and save houses of all revel’s high commands.

All of a sudden, Miller finds himself between a war full of lies and false patriotism that will push him to re-define his principles and in which side he’s.

Cinema-Reader Review:

Paul Greengrass, filmmaker that brought us the brand new Bourne saga (all but Bourne Supremacy, the only forgettable within the whole sequel), comes along with Matt Damon once again to barely adapt a novel describing the shameless fact of the lack of proofs and evidences of WMD within the arguments submitted by US High Command in order to justify the invasion carried on Iraqi soil.

Shot in a fantastic way that makes viewer enjoy the action of the movie (Greengrass trade mark which already shown in the frantic car scenes of Bourne both blockbusters), is worth saying the director doesn’t lose the aim of the plot diverting the looking glass far from what is really important, the complex web behind the reasons given to justify the US army intervention.

Besides what can seem at first sight, and after prior attempts that failed in the goal of taking Iraq conflict and all controversial along, Green Zone brings a different approach as well as an appreciable and uncommon point of view in which American and the white collar that command the power of the US army and where the good are at least as villain as the villain themselves.

About the performances, I must confess I do fancy Matt Damon more and more (no sexual meaning implicit at all!!!) due to his wide assortment of different performances and characters. However handling a rifle is even more credible.
Along comes Greg Kinnear normally seen on comedies (Little Miss Sunshine, Stuck on you, As Good as it Gets) but hardly ever seen within thriller/drama contest. And seems this genre suits on him quite well making a convincing role of a jerk US Army command trying to hide which are the real reason behind the occupation of Iraq.

Having said all these, here comes my open question.

Filmed with terrific technique and surgeon accuracy for action scenes, with a solid and credible script with no gaps on the plot in all movie, and with performances such worth mentioning as fulfilled by Kinnear, Damon and Gleeson; why this film ain’t as worth deserved for an Academy Award acknowledgement?

Is Hurted Locker a deserved winner? Or just acknowledged for the fact of being the only movie over the average in a year with no major and awesome film in which the only movie highlighted (for several and different reasons) has been Avatar?

The Lovely bones

Director: Peter Jackson

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon

Year: 2010

Genre: Drama / Thriller

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 7.9
IMDB – 6.7
FilmAffinity – 6.2

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Susie (Irish young actress Saoirse Ronan) is a 14^th year-old girl murdered under brutal circumstances by her enigmatic and sombre neighbourhood Mr. Harvey (Stanley Tucci). However, she remains in the in-between, a world full of magic and beauty from where she’s watching over her family and even her murdered which keeps haunting her even in the afterlife.

However, Susie’s devoted father (Mark Wahlberg) still determined to find out who’s her daughter assassin even if his marriage with Abigail (Rachel Weisz) falls apart due to the sorrows caused by the cruel happening.

When finally all fingers points towards Mr. Harvey, just a clue proving he was involved within Susie murder is missing.

The final countdowns started as his evil and perturbed mind has led him to set his eyes over a new victim, Susie’s little sister.

Cinema-Reader Review:

Lord of the Ring Director Peter Jackson is up again with a film based on a novel (Alice Sebold's bestseller). However, in this adaptation he rules out epic to focus on an inner story full of magic and imagination.

Although panned by both critics and public, his visionary conception of filming makes this movie stand out from other clapped previously by critics within the same contest.

For instance, last year Spike Jonze’s Where the wild things are also spins around an imaginary world that blossoms out of the imaginative mind of a child. Nevertheless this movie deals with afterlife and death, the magic of this in-between world made up by Susie (Saoirse Ronan) and captured by Jackson seems more fulfilled, more imaginative rather than Jonze’s.

Plus the performance on Stanley Tucci’s side (aka Devil weras Prada), acknowledged with Academy Nomination on Supporting Role category, boosts the whole movie to an upper level that no many people has been able to see so far.

For the record, by saying this I’m not saying that The Lovely Bones is a master peace and the audience is a bunch of yahoos with no clue about what cinema is. Nothing further than that.

However, I’d like to add that, and despite other comments posted by the one writing defending the value of a good script over the visual impact of a movie, here the visual beauty through Jackson’s glass deserves more than rotten tomatoes.

The Crazies

Director: Breck Eisner

Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Joe Anderson

Year: 2010

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 7.0
IMDB – 7.4
FilmAffinity – 7.1

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Ogden Marsh is a small town in Iowa in which everybody is friendly and life is peacefull and quiet.

However, Sheriff Dutton (Timothy Olyphant) and his deputy (Joe Anderson) discover a plane crashed onto the reservoir that supplies the whole town with water. Owing to this mysterious crash that no telly channel reported and nobody seemed to care about, people start behaving in a weird way; start going mad.

Since the first happenings, Sheriff noticed that a kind of biological disease contained on the plane and transmitted by the water supply is turning all Ogden Marsh inhabitants in psycho killers.
Is then when both law enforcements along Sheriff’s pregnant wife Judy (Radha Mitchell) begin a frenetic getaway from their former “lovely” neighbourhoods as well as the army which is trying to secure the perimeter and isolate the disease by using heavy hand methods.

Cinema-Reader Review:

Blur adaptation of film upon horror’s king George A. Romero classic of the same name (in which Romero himself takes part as co-writer).

Although this movie doesn’t bring nothing new to such an eyed nicked genre horror has became in recently years, is worth mentioning that this film is able to do something that previous “horror” movies (i.e. Dairy of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Resident Evil sequels…) didn’t get: scare the shit out of me.

Besides still far from the tension and anxiety created in moments by Danny Boyle in 28 Days Later, however overtakes what Fresnadillo made afterwards in 28 Weeks Later (despite the promising as well as thrilling beginning of the 28 sequel).

And this is because of the touch given by a genius of this genre; the person that set the standard on all horror movies that came up after him: George A. Romero.

And this might be seen in how the viewer feels the anxiety of the characters in some scenes. This might be noticed in how viewer is involved in the fear like being within the motion picture.

Summing up, this is ought to what George A. Romero means, an aurea of greatness printed within the perturbing script.

A Single Man

Director: Tom Ford

Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Mathew Goode

Year: 2010

Genre: Drama

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 8.0
IMDB – 8.0
FilmAffinity – 7.2

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

George (Colin Firth) is being drowned in a life full of sorrows and loneliness since his lover Jim (Mathew Goode) passed away in a car accident.

For him, life is no longer worth living, and therefore he prepares himself to join his beloved boyfriend in the afterlife with a suicide.

However, when life couldn’t seem more pointless and dark; is when one of George’s students, Kenny (Nicholas Hoult), shows up changing radically his point of view about future and fate.

Cinema-Reader Review:

Technically a beauty for all senses, the very first raid into film industry of Tom Ford (fashion guru that boosted Gucci’s back in the 90’s placing its name once again within the Olympus of top fashion brands) left a work full of details that labels the viewer with a feeling of perfection in every frame that makes all candidatures on Academy Awards this year more than deserved. This perfection is clearly featured on the suits and clothes, and the obsession of Ford with the human beauty transmitted by the eyes, lips, gestures…

Plus, Colin Firth is on with his all time finest performance of a tormented medium age man seeking desperately for an exit of a world completely unbearable for him which dark and hopeless vision of future is changed by the appearance of a young, lively and adventurous Kenny (Hoult).

However, regular public has a division in opinions regarding the film. Although by moments a bit slow, I do believe this is the right speed for driving this esthetical master piece. An upper gear would have messed up the detailed way in which was shot that contains indeed the full beauty of this film.

The Wolfman

Director: Joe Johnston

Cast: Benicio de Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving

Year: 2010

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Rating:

Cinema-Reader – 6.3
IMDB – 6.6
FilmAffinity – 5.4

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) is forced to be back in his hometown after immigrating to the United States for the fatal and upon uncertain reasons lose of his brother.

Determined to find out who’s the responsible for his brother brutal death and urged by some feeling that blossom towards his brother’s fiancée Gwen (Emily Blunt), he ends up being beaten by a strange creature and thereafter carrying with a curse that transforms him into a Wolf man during full moon nights. Hunter becomes hunted.


Cinema-Reader Review:

New approach to the horror classic that unfortunately doesn’t bring anything new to former films.
The main reason to be blame for is the script.
A screenplay too straightforward that flights over the characters without even dive within the complexity of a man hunted by his own nightmares due to a tough childhood (mother assassination included) or a father with more than a secret to hide played by the always enigmatic and more than suitable for dark characters Anthony Hopkins.

It’s difficult to get some good from a film that bases all the interest over the shoulders of the visual effects (a bit shoddy by the way) ruling out anything else.
After the advertising and marketing campaign launched in order to promote this film, after a promising trailer that I must confess got my attention; a sensation of something good (not even great) was about to come seems now a hoax.

Invictus

Director: Clint Eastwood


Cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon


Year: 2009


Genre: Drama


Rating:


Cinema-Reader – 8.3
IMDB – 7.6

FilmAffinity – 7.3

(Click picture for Trailer)

Cinema-Reader Synopsis:

Film that describes the struggle of Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) to gather together a nation fallen apart owing to the apartheid endured for decades through using the National Rugby Team and the World Cup which took place within South African soil in 1995.

After attending a match, he realises that black people supports other teams, no matter which country they are, whilst just white people are behind the national team.

Therefore, and in order to do that, Mandela supports his effort on Francois Pienaar’s shoulders (Matt Damon), captain of Springboks, that will uphold for Mandela’s fight as his, focusing their target on the Rugby World Cup Championship.


Cinema-Reader Review:

Supported on stunning performances (both Freeman and Damon harvested Academy nominations) and a solid script (also nominated) based upon John Carlin’s novel Playing the enemy: Nelson Mandela and the game that changed a Nation; Clint Eastwood runs a breathtaking story of fight and faith.

Taking a game as apex for the story, Eastwood greatly develops both Mandela’s and Pienaar’s fights for different goals underneath the same aim.

The technically beauty of the rugby game frames is worthy to be highlighted. Eastwood used real rugby players to add a dose of realism to the game itself (Off the record, this is the reason Matt Damon doesn’t appear tackling or being tackled, passing the ball or even in a scrum) standing out from many previous attempts that failed notoriously. Cause there isn’t anything as fake as a guy kicking a ball, shooting to basket or whatsoever without a fucking idea of how to play (i.e. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in Bend it like Beckham or Madonna in A league of their Own).

Here, you can feel pain in every tackle as you were the one being tackled. The way in which the scrums were shot makes you feel within the middle of those huge animals rugby players are.

Despite has been panned by some critics that point out the fact that just Mandela’s life is barely touch instead of being squeezed deeply, is worth saying that the plot sets in the spotlight the game and develop all around (as secondary buy essential part) Mandela first years as South African first black president.

---------OSCAR 2010---------

For many of us, this year’s Oscar Ceremony Award will seem different. For the very first time ever, up to 10 films will struggle for getting the award of Best Motion Picture.

Also, for the first time in almost 20 years (last time was in 1987 with Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Paul Hogan, what an odd trio…) there will be 2 different host s running the ceremony, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin (again).

However, and despite all above, this year ain’t that different. Even more, still falling into same mistakes over and over (American society gets used to do more than frequently…)

Besides the 10 movies will be in contest, just after the first look you take to the nominees is enough to realize that something stinks in Denmark.

Best Film

Could seem reckless saying this, but just 3 out of these 10 films are worthy deeming as proper nominees with the quality supposed for. Avatar, Hurt Locker and Up are my favourites. A Serious Man and Inglorious Barters can follow them, by far, in the Olympus of the chosen.

All the other movies remaining don’t get the standards necessaries for being considered as a proper nominee.

As already highlighted in a previous post focused on Golden Globes Ceremony few weeks ago, this year will not be remembered as the finest year on film industry. Probably will be so as the year in which 3D won the battle against conventional cinema, a battle lost previously by other raids years ago with such unsuccessful attempts as Final Fantasy, Polar Express or Beowulf, which baton now has been taken by the best 2 movies this year (ruling out European cinema); Avatar and Up.

And this is a sign, a proof that the only way to battle back was unsuccessfully accomplished within the film industry warfare.

Imagination lost against visual impact.

Script lost against empowered animation.

Summing up, we all lost.

Leading Actor

For this year Leading Actor category there is a wide range of really good actors in where to pick that came up with impressive performances.

Personally, and mentioning I haven’t watched yet Invictus, I’ve got a predilection that inclines my vote towards the great Morgan Freeman. He is a fully deserved Oscar winner (besides the Oscar in a Supporting Role he already holds for Million Dollar Baby) for all memorable performances carried out ever since he shown up in the wide screen long time ago.

However, Jeff Bridges is another solid candidate for his role in Crazy Heart.

After countless nominations (up to 5 including this year for taking part of films such The Contender or Starman), The Big Lebowsky’s starring male has fitted more than perfectly into the shoes of a old rocker in this Scott Cooper’s film.

On the other hand, and I reckon far from the leading head, are Colin Firth (for his performance in designer Tom Ford’s very first movie A Single Man) and Jeremy Renner, unknown for the regular public but who has made his place among great actors this year after jumping from the independent scene passing through supporting roles in blockbusters (SWAT or 28 Weeks Later).

Is better if I don’t even name George Clooney and the fact that somehow the Jury didn’t bear in mind the superb and breathtaking performance Viggo Mortensen fulfilled in the biggest forgotten on this year’s nominations, The Road.

Leading Actress

Regarding women, I’ve got to say that in all categories is more of the same.

No surprises at all. Old names stand out from the crowd.

Meryl Steep (replacing this year the “old hand” role instead of Jack “the Great” Nicholson) is the glorious Queen of the ceremony with the permission of Helen Mirren, of course.

However, there is indeed a fact that should be pointed out.

Sandra Bullock (yes, you did read correctly) is nominated and considered favourite for her performance in The Blind Side.

For those that haven’t jumped through the window yet, is worthy mentioned she’s been nominated for Razzie’s Worst Actress Award for her performance in All About Steve, some doesn’t go off the schedules and would make her becoming the first actor/actress winning both awards the same year.

Best Foreign Film

Would be unfair just typecasting the Ceremony for those mistakes.

Good movies are in contest tough.

European cinema landed this year stronger than ever with 2 master pieces and other (i.e. Baaria) left out as diplomacy urged Jury to also rule in movies from all over the world.

French film A Prophet has shown that USA doesn’t have the franchise in such genres as thriller and mobster with a film shot in a way that barely reaches the perfection and that dives successfully into a genre that blossomed lately in the old continent as already proven by Gomorra, Romanzo Criminale or Mesrine.

Although the favourite (as proved winning the Golden Globe) is the German film The White Ribbon which continues with the legacy built up by former German productions (Goodbye Lenin, The life of Other, Der Undertgang) as probably the most prolific film industry in Europe for its quality being acknowledge by both public and critics.

Supporting Actor

The other category blessed this year is Supporting Actor.

The entire list of candidates has a fully right in order to place the golden statue over the fireplace of their house. Well-known and acknowledged actors included into this section that brought fully enjoyable actings.

A poker of Kings made up by Stanley Tucci, Matt Damon, Woody Harrelson, Christoph Waltz and Christopher Plummer.

No clear favourite for the most challenging section despite I decline my vote towards Waltz.

Supporting Actress

Another disappointing section in which Mo’nique stands out from all the other contestants. The comedian has overwhelmed critics and public with her role of a tough and heartless mother in Precious.

Director

Seems a direct and closed fight between the ex couple Bigelow-Cameron as well as I bet it will happen within Best Movie contest if nothing goes off the schedule.

The self-claimed “King of the World” Cameron came up with a futuristic piece after a long time missing behind the cameras meanwhile Bigelow fulfilled with a movie which copes with such a controversial topic as Iraq war without falling into overused hackneyed.

Bigelow’s nomination, whose work so far can be summarized as simply a fucking crap, is based in a script (my favourite as Original screenplay). The direction isn’t that superb. At least to be award-worthy.

There we have the eternal discussion. Whether a filmmaker is good thanks to a script that ended up handling or because is able to drive that script in the way to not to screw it?

	Nominees	Cinema-Reader Favourites
Best Picture	AVATAR	***********
	THE BLIND SIDE
	DISTRICT 9
	AN EDUCATION
	THE HURT LOCKER
	INGLORIOUS BASTERDS
	PRECIOUS
	A SERIOUS MAN
	UP
	UP IN THE AIR
Actor in Leading Role	JEFF BRIDGES (Crazy Heart)
	GEORGE CLOONEY (Up in the Air)
	COLIN FIRTH (A Single Man)
	MORGAN FREEMAN (Invictus)	***********
	JEREMY RENNER (The Hurt Locker)
Actor in a Supporting Role	MATT DAMON (Invictus)
	WOODY HARRELSON (The Messenger)
	CRHISTOPHER PLUMMER (The Last Station)
	CHRISTOPH WALTZ (Inglorious Basterds)	***********
	STANLEY TUCCI (The Lovely Bones)
Actress in a Leading Role	SANDRA BULLOCK (The Blind Side)
	HELEN MIRREN (The Last Station)
	CAREY MULLIGAN (An Education)
	GABOUREY SIDIBE (Precious)	***********
	MERYL STREEP (Julie & Julia)
Actress in a Supporting Role	PENELOPE CRUZ (Nine)
	VERA FARMIGA (Up in the Air)
	MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL (Crazy Heart)
	ANNA KENDRICK (Up in the Air)
	MO’NIQUE (Precious)	***********
Animated Feature Film	CORALINE
	FANTASTIC MR. FOX
	THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
	THE SECRET F KELLS
	UP	***********
Directing	JAMES CAMERON (Avatar)	***********
	KATHRYN BIGELOW (The Hurt Locker)
	QUENTIN TARANTINO (Inglorious Basterds)
	LEE DANIELS (Precious)
	JASON REITMAN (Up in the Air)
Foreign Language Film	AJAMI (Israel)
	EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS (Argentina)
	THE MILK OF SORROW (Peru)
	UN PROPHETE (France)	***********
	THE WHITE RIBBON (Germany)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)	DISTRICT 9 (Neill Blomkamp)
	AN EDUCATION (Nick Hornby)
	IN THE LOOP (Jesse Armstrong)
	PRECIOUS (Geoff Fletcher)
	UP IN THE AIR (Jason Reitman)	***********
Writing (Original Screenplay)	THE HURT LOCKER (Mark Boal)	***********
	INGLORIOUS BASTERDS (Quentin Tarantino)
	THE MESSENGER (Alessandro Camon)
	A SERIOUS MAN ( Coen Brothers)
	UP (Bob Peterson)