Our resident "know-it-all" film critic, Walter Ego, review Oscar contender, MILK.

First, let me get this out of the way: I think The Dark Knight was the best picture I saw last year. For such a high-budget film with an extraordinary amount of hype to not only deliver the action, but actually add depth to the Batman mythos, was a remarkable accomplishment. Why wasn’t it nominated for Best Picture? IMHO, much like the Heisman Trophy will never go to an offensive lineman, Oscar simply does not seem willing to hand over their little golden man over to a “comic book” movie, regardless of its quality (though they don’t seem to mind the cash flow these comic book movies bring in every summer).

That said, it’s time to focus on the films that are nominated, with my fearless predictions for who will walk away with Oscar come next Sunday, Feb 22:

BEST PICTURE


1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

   
2. Frost/Nixon

   
3. Milk

   
4. The Reader

   
5. Slumdog Millionaire

The nominations for Milk and Slumdog Millionaire are generally considered expected and deserved, as well as, to a lesser extent, Frost/Nixon. The two most “questionable” nominations (as well as the ones most viewed as “stealing” The Dark Knight’s spot) are The Reader and Benjamin Button. I think The Reader can be ruled out of winning because it has received some mixed reviews, as well as a bit of a backlash against its nomination (with some pointing out that it is becoming known more for Kate Winslet’s nude scenes than its Holocaust theme). Furthermore, there has also been a bit of a surprising backlash against Benjamin Button as well, with some critics dismissing it as “Forrest Gump 2.0” (from the director and star of Se7en of all things!).

Our resident "know-it-all" film critic, Walter Ego, returns to review Quantum of Solace.

“Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America.” Starring Gary Betsworth, Nicca Ray, Sally Conway and William Mahoney. Directed by Douglas Buck.

When I first heard about Douglas Buck’s cult indie film “Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America” and the extreme reactions it received from first time viewers (who seemingly either thought the film was brilliant or walked out), I knew I had to see it. I was not disappointed.

The three short films contained in the trilogy are all decidedly grim and show people trapped in a personal suburban hell-one usually of their own making. Furthermore, each film is centered on an act of shocking violence, either off screen or (particularly in the case of “Cutting Moments”) onscreen. Importantly, the violence is never used simply for shock value. Rather, it is used in conjunction with a recurrent, somber tone and themes of self denial and personal imprisonment in order to create an unforgettable, intensely moving experience.

“Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust” is a documentary by Daniel Anker. Narrated by Gene Hackman.

The nomination of “The Reader” for Best Picture brought again to the forefront an issue that has now long challenged filmmakers: how to tackle a subject that for many people is still un-filmable. How should Hollywood, or artists in general, tackle the Holocaust, that moment in world history generally viewed as humanity at its worst? Should the subject even be addressed at all?

This well done, gripping documentary traces how Hollywood has handled this enormous subject from the 1930s, when rumors of Nazi atrocities first started to spread, up until the 2000s. It interweaves documentary footage with clips from over 40 studio films about the subject and documents how portrayals of the Holocaust have evolved over the past 60 years.