27 January, 2010

My Nominations For the Kermode Awards

Great BBC film critic and serious hair product consumer Mark Kermode has asked for nominations for his film awards. The usual top categories, but with the notion that we should nominate both the best, and likely to be ignored or unappreciated by the likes of the BAFTAs and OSCARs. (see his video blog here)

This has been a fairly slim year for films, and I've certainly missed seeing a lot of those that I'm hearing good things about. But the quality of the films I've really enjoyed has kept my faith. Anyway, in the spirit of waste not want not, I present the nominations I posted to the Kermode blog.

Best Film- Moon OR A Serious Man
Moon I simply enjoyed more thoroughly than any other film this year.A Serious Man might be the first Coen bros film actually about something other than their cleverness at making films.

Best Director- Duncan Jones (Moon)
A really solid debut.With the references to the likes of 2001 and Silent Running could have easily slipped into pastiche, which it never does. I think Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) ought to get the big awards, well deserved, and also to get one up on her ex and his pretty blue people. Also Terry Gilliam, even when he puts out an uneven film, it's a joy to behold.

Best Actor- Sam Rockwell (Moon)
I think this may be the most underappreciated dual role since Jeremy Irons in Dead Ringers. Andy Serkis (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) and Michael Sheen (The Damned United) are close favorites. Also agree with those who've mentioned Stephen McHattie's lynchpin performance in Pontypool. Matt Damon (The Informant!) and Michael Stuhlbarg (A Serious Man) were similarly essential in their respective films.

Best Actress- Charlotte Gainsbourg (Antichrist)
Whatever else you come away with from the film, a blistering performance, it's almost too much too bear. Close in the trauma stakes: Melissa George (Triangle).

Best Supporting Actor- Bill Milner (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll)
Serkis performance would have overpowered everyone else in the movie (much as Dury seemed to), but for the relationships portrayed excellently with his son.Olivia Williams and Naomie Harris also deserve praise within this ensemble.
Also Tom Waits (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassas), I could have done with more of him and Christopher Plummer and their feud in the past than the Heath and his regrettable understudies bits.

Best Supporting Actress- Anne Marie Duffy and Kristin Scott Thomas (Nowhere Boy) and only if they can share it.
OR Olivia Williams and Naomie Harris (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) with the same proviso
OR Meryl Streep (The Fantastic Mr Fox) her dead on performance grounded the quirkaholic Wes Andersons film on the enjoyable end of the spectrum.
Also, Milla Jovovich (A Perfect Getaway) -- perfect B movie acting, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin (Zombieland) another dual nomination, Kristen Stewart (Adventureland) maybe it takes a particularly good performance to make Jesse Eisenberg credible, Zooey Deschanel ((500) Days of Summer) don't quite understand why Mark slammed this cineliterate update on Chilly Scenes of Winter, he clearly dislikes certain American female inflections and the actresses who possess them.

Best Score - Clint Mansell (Moon) Honourable mention: Chaz Jankel (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll)

Most Disappointing Movies:Public Enemies and Inglorious Basterds
I know Mark didn't ask for this, but I saw these films with lowered expectations, which neither managed to rise to. Public Enemies unforgivably ugly videography from a director and cinematographer who should know better, and boring. Inglorious Basterds, too few good bits surrounded with boredom and pointless grandstanding, I hope its success doesn't prompt more of the same from QT. I was slightly disappointed by the excellent The Damned United, but only because it wasn't a zombie film.

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posted by Brian R Tarnoff @ 11:46 am

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