tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post2145042664661868398..comments2023-12-26T05:26:08.512-05:00Comments on The Cinematic Spectacle: 2004 CinSpec AwardsJoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-30050605779795191722015-01-26T22:03:04.161-05:002015-01-26T22:03:04.161-05:00McAdams is a brilliant choice, and Corbet is an in...McAdams is a brilliant choice, and Corbet is an interesting winner. I didn't really care for that film, but the performances were the best part. Great to see The Aviator get two more noms. I under-nominated it, but I love that film.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-59769608733445281262015-01-26T21:57:59.504-05:002015-01-26T21:57:59.504-05:00I love Eternal Sunshine, but I do think it's s...I love Eternal Sunshine, but I do think it's slightly overrated. I watched Before Sunrise/Sunset a few years ago, and I didn't know much about them, like when I watched the Three Colors trilogy for the first time. I'm guessing my limited knowledge benefited my viewing experience, but maybe not. Hope you get a chance to check out Closer, Sideways and Maria Full of Grace.<br /><br />I haven't seen Saved!, but your Best Picture lineup is wonderful. Great to see Scorsese win. Love your acting winners as well. DiCaprio is probably my #6 this year. Really pleased to see Damon on here too. The Bourne Supremacy is my favorite Bourne film, and Damon nails that performance the second time around.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-19680252130372731192015-01-25T12:56:06.905-05:002015-01-25T12:56:06.905-05:00Supporting Actor:
Alan Alda-The Aviator
Eric Bana...Supporting Actor: <br />Alan Alda-The Aviator<br />Eric Bana-Troy<br />Brady Corbet-Mysterious Skin-Winner<br />James Garner-The Notebook<br />Freddie Highmore-Finding Neverland<br />I liked Troy a great deal as a pageant and adventure but it provided scant chance for characterization which makes Bana's ability to flesh out Hector all the more impressive. Alda is terrifically oily as the scheming Senator in Aviator and Garner manages to cut through the sugar coating of The Notebook to give add emotional resonance to his character and Highmore excellent at creating a recognizable troubled child as the inspiration for Peter Pan in Finding Neverland. The little known Corbet's somewhat somnolent performance at first seems off kilter until you get deeper into the film and it reveals itself to be exactly right, a powerful piece of work.<br /><br />Supporting Actress: <br />Cate Blanchett-The Aviator<br />Julie Christie-Finding Neverland<br />Cloris Leachman-Spanglish<br />Rachel McAdams-Mean Girls-Winner<br />Sissy Spacek-A Home at the End of the World<br />Not the strongest year but decent performances. Cloris jolts life into the ambling Spanlish whenever she appears and Julie's autocratic, hard grandmother would be a caricature if not for her skill at showing the care that is behind the defensiveness in subtle looks and gestures. As a very different kind of mother Sissy, full of warm understanding and grace notes, takes what again could have been a standard role and makes it memorable. I enjoyed Blanchett's performance as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator but that's the problem with it, it always feels like a performance. McAdams though feels very real and is a scream as queen bee of The Plastics, power mad and tyrannical but not wholly without virtues. joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-19277716395979391082015-01-25T12:55:23.908-05:002015-01-25T12:55:23.908-05:00Hadn't realized that I'd never gotten arou...Hadn't realized that I'd never gotten around to watching Sideways and Closer until I started this, have to remedy that. Maria, Full of Grace is one of the few best actress performances I've yet to see. I know many love it but Eternal Sunshine was a film I hated I also never warmed to the Sunrise/Sunset films either.<br /><br />Picture: <br />The Aviator-Winner<br />Bad Education<br />Finding Neverland<br />Saved!<br />A Very Long Engagement<br />I liked the others but The Aviator is by far my favorite Scorsese film, all his excesses are reigned in and he elicits wonderful work from all. <br /><br />Director: <br />Pedro Almodovar-Bad Education<br />Brian Dannelly-Saved!<br />Marc Foster-Finding Neverland<br />Jean-Pierre Jeunet-A Very Long Engagement<br />Martin Scorsese-The Aviator-Winner<br />As I said this is my favorite work of Scorsese's so to chose him as my winner was easy.<br /><br />Actor: <br />Gael Garcia Bernal-Bad Education<br />Matt Damon-The Bourne Supremacy<br />Leonardo DiCaprio-The Aviator-Winner<br />Colin Farrell-A Home at the End of the World<br />Joseph Gordon Levitt-Mysterious Skin<br />This was a tough choice. Bernal and Damon are sharp in their films and though Mysterious Skin is one of the saddest, most emotionally devastating films I've ever seen Levitt's performance is incredibly powerful in it. This was a two way race however between Farrell and DiCaprio. These are my favorite performances by both actors, I'm going with Leo because of pure scope of the character but Farrell's gentle, compassionate work is equally fine just on a smaller scale.<br /><br />Actress: <br />Elizabeth Banks-Heights<br />Jena Malone-Saved!<br />Imelda Staunton-Vera Drake-Winner<br />Hilary Swank-Million Dollar Baby<br />Kate Winslet-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind<br />Malone anchors the wry satire of Saved! with a gratis that keeps the more absurd elements of the story grounded and Winslet, even though I hated her film, is terrific in it. Swank is all grit and determination but I felt manipulated by her film and performance more than moved. The real dark horse is the under-appreciated Banks who has one of her better showcases in the low budget Heights, anyone who can compete with Glenn Close as their mother and still stand out is worthy of praise. Imelda in the role that brought her to prominence is simply astounding as Vera Drake. It's the lack of flash in her performance that makes it so memorable. joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-62903308864071952202014-05-19T00:29:23.470-04:002014-05-19T00:29:23.470-04:00"Believe" was very close to making the c..."Believe" was very close to making the cut, and I would've nominated it in a weaker year for the category. Even "When Christmas Comes to Town" was close to being nominated.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-81610815700036515682014-05-18T14:41:59.846-04:002014-05-18T14:41:59.846-04:00No "Believe" for Original Song?No "Believe" for Original Song?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-12706634524358385262014-03-14T13:36:07.787-04:002014-03-14T13:36:07.787-04:00Yeah, there are several films I love or really lik...Yeah, there are several films I love or really like from that year. Glad you dig the Closer wins. Owen and Portman give two of my favorite performances, period.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-84308890385330982322014-03-13T18:30:54.833-04:002014-03-13T18:30:54.833-04:002004 was a pretty great year. Love the wins for Cl...2004 was a pretty great year. Love the wins for Closer, a film I really adore. Owen and Portman killed it. Alex Withrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15887018476048271594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-36475133001109735772014-03-11T16:16:45.157-04:002014-03-11T16:16:45.157-04:00Ha, it's one of my all-time favorites!Ha, it's one of my all-time favorites!Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-31276182105262873072014-03-11T16:14:44.887-04:002014-03-11T16:14:44.887-04:00Haha, glad you approve of my Linklater, Hawke and ...Haha, glad you approve of my Linklater, Hawke and Delpy wins. Hope you get a chance to check some of these films out, Ruth, especially Before Sunset (and Before Midnight, of course).Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-43644988548799152212014-03-11T16:13:07.989-04:002014-03-11T16:13:07.989-04:00I was thinking the same thing about Owen. He needs...I was thinking the same thing about Owen. He needs a comeback badly.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-76504902594747651952014-03-11T16:12:05.970-04:002014-03-11T16:12:05.970-04:00Yay! More love for Mean Creek! :)Yay! More love for Mean Creek! :)Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-39027054189133399322014-03-10T10:43:24.492-04:002014-03-10T10:43:24.492-04:00I think we have a clear winner!I think we have a clear winner!keith71_98https://www.blogger.com/profile/07815219499754051198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-80661269848566710012014-03-09T14:56:47.195-04:002014-03-09T14:56:47.195-04:00There are tons here I haven't seen yet, I'...There are tons here I haven't seen yet, I've only seen Before Sunrise so far but it's cool to see Richard Linklater winning Best Director as well as the two leads, seems that an unabashedly romantic films don't get recognized as often. Well they're also pretty rare these days as Hollywood prefer rom-coms than straight romance drama.ruthhttp://flixchatter.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-39906061664295238772014-03-09T11:27:24.819-04:002014-03-09T11:27:24.819-04:00Awesome to see 2 acting wins for Closer - Owen was...Awesome to see 2 acting wins for Closer - Owen was really amazing in this one, shame he seems to be in such lousy films nowadays.s.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13987831438787776712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-31280022573199832282014-03-07T12:20:22.049-05:002014-03-07T12:20:22.049-05:00I love that you included Angel on my Shoulder. Mea...I love that you included Angel on my Shoulder. Mean Creek is such a great little film!Brittani Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07975067259283007280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-89809398232098327422014-03-07T11:41:33.000-05:002014-03-07T11:41:33.000-05:00Thanks pal! Winslet is my #2, and Bridges is proba...Thanks pal! Winslet is my #2, and Bridges is probably my #3 behind Garcia Bernal.<br /><br />It's a great film. I wish I could've found more room for it. :(Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-27280529654874488622014-03-07T10:52:52.712-05:002014-03-07T10:52:52.712-05:00Great batch of nominees!!! I'm sad that Winsl...Great batch of nominees!!! I'm sad that Winslet and Bridges lose, but at least they were nominated. <br /><br />ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER!!!!!! Mean Creek is such a marvelously underrated film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com