The Race is On!
January 6, 2009
The award season has begun, and I’m scrambling to catch all the SAG-Award nominated performances.
In years past, I’d receive a stack of DVDs in the mail, which I’ve always considered a perk of union membership! Alas, most of the nominees this year are in films currently playing in theatres.
I won’t mark my ballot until I’ve seen them all, of course. But so far, here are my impressions:
Milk: The one to beat for me, and not just because I saw it first, am a “team player,” and have a history myself with the beautiful City by the Bay (before it became “Manhattan West”). Sean Penn simply transforms himself without make-up or SPX; Josh Brolin inspires fear, hatred and compassion, often all at once, as Dan White. I’m sad to see James Franco overlooked – he’s such a large part of the film’s “heart.”
Curious Case of Benjamin Button: A beautifully crafted, well-acted, breathtaking fable of a film. It’s a 20th-century fairy tale – which is both its strength and, at least for me, its flaw. Because it was so utterly fantastic, I found it hard to connect emotionally with the characters. I was too busy marveling at the special effects, the vast scope of the film’s history.
Doubt: Hmmmmm. Great performances and held my interest, but it felt more like an ambitious, 1970s CBS TV movie-of-the-week than an adaptation of an award-winning play. However, Viola Davis is perfection in a very short, yet very powerful, Beatrice Straight-esque (i.e., award-winning) appearance.
In fact, the tough choices are in both the supporting categories. I’ve loved every single supporting actress nominated so far, so I may have to say “f’ it” and draw straws. Robert Downey, Jr. was so brave and absolutely brilliant in Tropic Thunder. And then, there is Heath Ledger.
More screenings to go, with Richard Jenkins in The Visitor coming up on Friday. I’m glad this year’s crop is so much less-violent than last. The only film that feels like a obligation/chore is The Wrestler – but I will get through it!
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