The Contenders: A Review of the Best Picture Nominees

I decided that this was the year! I was going to see ALL of the best picture nominees so that I could actively root for SOMETHING during the Oscars. It gets way too boring when you haven't seen any of the movies. I felt I was up to this great challenge. Then I saw what was nominated:


THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS

Aw crap. I was not even remotely interested in seeing any of those movies. Why didn't anything that I saw and liked get nominated? Where was Meet the Fockers and I, Robot? Where was Ladder 49??? Damn. I hate the Academy. But I'm not one to run from a challenge. So here is what went down.

Nominated Flick: Sideways
Pre-movie opinion: A buddy movie without Mel Gibson and Danny Glover? Eh. At least it features wine.
Movie Companion: LP
Snacks: Huge travel cup sized m&ms (Snuck in.) and bottled water (Purchased. Damn.). Should have snuck in flask of wine.
Post movie opinion: It was pretty good. I enjoyed seeing how both the main characters were pathetic losers in different ways. It was fun to watch bad things happening to them. And I loved all of the stuff about wine, especially that great speech Virginia Madsen made. But I didn't believe for a second that someone like her would have been attracted to Paul Giamatti. Yeah, sure. This movie was clearly made by a man. Though LP completely hated it. It probably didn't help that I ate all of the M&Ms without sharing.

Nominated Flick: The Aviator
Pre-movie opinion: Sweet Jesus...a three hour movie with Leo? Oh just kill me. And the only thing that comes to mind when I think of Howard Hughes are huge overgrown toenails. Gross. I will need much alcohol.
Movie Companion: Lola
Snacks: Several Amstel Lights and a pepperoni pizza. Thank you Alamo Drafthouse!
Post movie opinion: Not bad. The beer didn't hurt. But for a three hour movie, it was relatively painless. The flying stuff was interesting, as was the stuff about HH's relationships with Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner. But Leo's performance as a man who is nearly paralyzed by his compulsions, and struggling to keep them under wraps was awesome. It's funny how Howard Hughes is always described as "eccentric." According to this movie, he was bat-shit crazy! Is it weird that I started to find him hotter, the crazier he got. Probably not if you know any of my exes...

Nominated Flick: Ray
Pre-movie opinion: I'm sure Ray was a hell of a guy, but I can't think of anyone's life story I am less interested in. Maybe Johnny Carson.
Movie Companion: Lola
Snacks: Coq au Vin and lots and lots of wine. (This was a rental, so we were snacking at home and celebrating Chinese New Year's Year of the Cock, er, Rooster.)
Post movie opinion: OK, Jamie Foxx amazingly channeled Ray Charles, the music was really good, and Regina King may be the sassiest actress around. She should be in so many more movies. And yet, zzzzzzzzzz. This movie seemed like it was about 10 hours long. Good thing we had plenty of vino!

Nominated Flick: Finding Neverland
Pre-movie opinion: Don't know why I'm not excited to see a movie about a childlike man that has "Neverland" in the title.
Movie Companion: LP
Snacks: Bag o' mixed nuts and bottled water (Snuck in!)
Post movie opinion: It was way better than I thought it would be. The story of JM Barrie's relationship with the Davies kids was touching without being sappy. Johnny Depp was really cute with his Scottish accent, and Kate Winslet is alway fabulous. But I have to thank Michael Jackson for making me unable to truly enjoy it, as I kept expecting Johnny to break out the "Jesus juice" and commence with the bad touching. Grrr....

Nominated Flick: Million Dollar Baby
Pre-movie opinion: This is the only one of the best picture nominees that I actually wanted to see. I love boxing, movies about boxers and Clint Eastwood. I have high hopes.
Movie Companion: Lola
Snacks: Mad props to the Alamo once again, for their bucket of ice cold Amstel Light.
Post movie opinion: Oh man, I felt like I'd gone a few rounds after this one. Not the most uplifting film. But Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman gave amazing performances. It was so much fun to watch Hilary kick ass in the ring! And Lola and I had a good debate about Clint's choices in the end. It gives you a lot to think about, but I didn't find it preachy. I highly recommend this one.

Post Oscars update!
With all of my road tripping I didn't get this article up before the Oscars. Ah well. I am very glad that I completed my mission of seeing the 5 nominees, as they were all worth seeing and it added so much excitement to my Oscar viewing experience. I will definitely try to see all of the nominees again next year. And I was very happy that Million Dollar Baby won best picture over the Aviator, even though it lost me $10, as I bet on the blockbuster to win. It was definitely the best movie out of the five.

Gigi 2.28.05