Scott "Oscar Snub" Pilgrim

The Oscars are tonight and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World-my pick for best movie of the year-has zero nominations. Travesty! Here's what it should have been nominated for.

Editing
Scott Pilgrim is so frenetic and crazy it could easily have been turned to mush in editing. But it wasn't, if anything the editing improved the movie and made it all the better. Should have at least got a nom.

Visual Effects
Okay, so it didn't have the folding city from Inception, the giant dragon from Alice in Wonderland or...whatever was in Hereafter, but Scott Pilgrim did something different. Rather than using visual effects to distract the audience, they were used directly to make it more like a comic book, and improve immersion. I don't think it should have one, but it shows a lack of vision that didn't even get nominated.

Best Supporting Actor-Kieran Culkin as Wallace
Scott Pilgrim didn't have any oscar-worthy performances, aside from Kieran Culkin as Wallace. The first third, before things really get wild, he pretty much carries the film. Toward the end he basically disappears, which is sort of a shame, because he brings so much to the role. Snubbed!

Best Adapted Screenplay
Okay, so it wouldn't win, but a nomination would have been nice.

Best Director-Edgar Wright
The day after the Oscar Noms were announced, the internet was flooded with the whining rants of Christopher Nolan fanboys. For those of you who don't know, the internet is full of those idiots. Christopher Nolan is not one of my favorite directors. He makes good movies, but he's not a fantastic director. Memento is probably his most balanced work. Batman Begins, Dark Knight and Inception all have pacing issues in the last third. His shots aren't particularly inventive, and he doesn't really do anything new from a directorial standpoint. Edgar Wright on the other hand, puts forth a revolutionary film, with literally dozens of shots a second that all need to work perfectly and flow from one to the other. And they all do. Much of this is due to the editing, but you can't deny that Wright does stuff that hasn't been done before, and he is vastly superior to Nolan on the directing front. This is probably the biggest snub of all.

Best Picture-Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Well, duh. Screw 127 hours. To heck with Winter's Bone. Fooey on The Kids are All Right. Forget about the King's Speech. Drop dead Inception. Bug off True Grit. Go punch yourself, The Figher. Molt and die Black Swan. Ignore friend request, Social Network. Burn and die Toy Story 3.

SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD is the BEST PICTURE 2010!

The Best of 2010 (A top 5 from what I saw)

Self-explanatory. If your favorite movie isn't on here, it's probably because I didn't see it. Or it sucked.

5. True Grit

Okay, so I've never seen the original, but who cares? This was amazing, not a moment I didn't enjoy. Okay, the ending was a little drawn-out, but seriously, who cares. The story was well-constructed, the characters well-developed, and it had all the elements of style you could every hope to expect. This one's still in theaters, go see it NOW if you haven't already.

4. Inception

What the What? Number 4? Yeah. I know. Let's just say it was a good year for movies. While Inception is a smart, tight and fun action movie, it isn't quite what the fan-boys would have you think. Upon further reflection, it is a bit silly. That's part of what makes it good though, that you don't think about it while you're watching it. Definitely worth seeing, at least once.

3. Toy Story 3

I thought a lot about this. There is an element of the film I don't appreciate. It's so commercial. It basically glorifies consumerism and reinforces a desire for more stuff. But how can you not love it for everything else? It's so much fun, and has a bit of bite to it too. Despite a few nitpicks, this deserves to be on every top 10 list, and I'm sure it will be. (except for Armond White, a major IRL troll, and everyone knows it)

2. The Social Network

Now here's a film with which I have no complaints. Everything is perfect. It tells a real-life story, but remains unpredictable and engaging. It has a great poignancy and raises big questions about the modern age, without actually raising them. Aaron Sorkin's script is beyond genius, and should be taught in film-school as a shining example of excellent screen-writing. All of the actors perform there jobs well, but Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield both deliver award-worthy work. Simply amazing.

1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

I think the reason I hated Tron so much was because I saw this movie first. It's smarter, faster, cooler, and just way way better. Funnier than Toy Story 3, more of a mind-frag than Inception and the most fun I've had all year. Is it really that good John? Yes, yes it is.

Honorable Mentions:

-How to Train your Dragon
-Let me In

Breaking Even in Film

It's a generally understood fact in Hollywood, that to make money on a film you have to surpass the budget. Usually, if the worldwide gross is twice the film's budget, it is considered to have broken even, and is typically considered successful, considering the money that will be made on DVD. Why double? Due to marketing costs, and the fact that about 50% of the gross actually goes back to the studios. Considering that, even films considered successful often don't make money until the DVD comes out. I consider breaking even the most important thing for a film to achieve, so I'm going to list the films this summer that have done so, and in future posts I may include more of them...just cuz I wanted to. Note: While production budgets are readily available, marketing costs are usually kept under wraps, so that part will be conjecture on my part. Usually there's one wide release every week that manages to actually make money.

Iron Man 2
Production Budget: $200 million
Domestic Gross: $308 million
Overseas: $303 million
Worldwide: $611 million

Even when marketing is taken into account, you can't deny that this movie made money. Despite a weaker overall performance domestically, this has surpassed the first film worldwide.

Letters to Juliet
Production Budget: $30 million
Domestic Gross: $51 million
Overseas: $8.9 million
Worldwide: $59.9 million

Okay, this technically has not broken even, but it will within a few days, and then some once the overseas market kicks in (it has yet to be released in most markets). This is a good example though of how difficult it is to break even on a film, even with a modest budget. Taking into account marketing costs, this movie probably won't make money till the DVD comes out, but I think the studio was counting on that.

Shrek Forever After
Production Budget: $165 million
Domestic: $233 million
Overseas: $137 million
Worldwide: $370 million

Despite performing far below the other Shrek films, (although it has better legs than Shrek 3) Shrek 4 has managed to more than break even, and is still just getting started on the foreign side of things. With marketing, it still has a ways to go but will probably make it by the time all the foreign markets are tallied.

Sex and the City 2
Production Budget: $100 million
Domestic: $93 million
Overseas: $172 million
Worldwide: $265 million

Another movie that did below expectations domestically, Sex and the City 2 has managed to make money, despite a bloated budget and horrible reviews. The DVD will have to recoup most of the marketing costs, but (sadly) a third film is not entirely out of the equation...blech.

The Karate Kid
Production Budget: $40 million
Domestic: $155 million
Overseas: $24 million
Worldwide: $179 million

A run away success, which I predicted. No matter how much was spent on marketing the studios have made a boatload of cash on this picture, and it will only increase, since it has yet to launch in many major overseas markets, and is still playing strongly here in the US.

Toy Story 3
Production Budget: $200 million
Domestic: $301 million
Overseas: $151 million
Worldwide: $452 million

Who didn't expect this? Even with a $200 million budget to conquer, this is one of the most recent films to make it's money back. It's still playing strongly here, and has yet to launch in many places overseas. When all is said and done on the box office side, this will probably be the highest grossing film of the summer. Almost certainly.

Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Production Budget: $65 million
Domestic: $175 million
Foreign: $100 million
Worldwide: $275 million

After only six days of release, Eclipse is one of the most profitable films of the year, having made more than 4 times its budget back. In the end its profits will be unimaginable, proving that a big budget is almost always a hindrance more than a help. Take notes Hollywood, and you can all make money. (preferably however, have better stories than Twilight, my point is special effects and big names do not box office make)

Searching for Meaning (Grasping at Straws)...in Toy Story 3.

People certainly know how to find whatever they're looking for wherever they want to. I don't really have much to say except...geez people. Read on. Warning: If for some reason you still haven't seen Toy Story 3 (acceptable reasons: You have cancer, are trapped under a pile of semi-trucks or are being held captive by terrorists) there are spoilers ahead. Abandon all hope those who enter here...and all reason.


"Andy is seventeen and about to leave for college. These toys are left behind, just as host nations left behind the Jews as the Third Reich conquered Europe.

Woody holds a meeting, where the assembled toy family discusses possible outcomes for their new position in the world. Change a few words and it is the same exact scene at the train station from Roman Polanski's award winning Holocaust drama "The Pianist."

"No, we won't just be abandoned. Surely we can be useful to them somehow. Yes, we've lost friends (Bo Peep), but surely that can't happen to us." Buzz Lightyear stands forward and suggests sanctuary IN AN ATTIC. Are you kidding me?

The cattle car comes for the toys in the form of a horrible garbage bag - but they don't go straight to extermination. They find themselves alive and at Sunnyside where they are put "to work."

Once there, they meet the toy version of Sonderkommando, toys who live the stay fed and well-sheltered (like Ken in his dream house) while leading other toys to a certain death. Newcomers are bashed and abused in the "Caterpillar Room" by non-age appropriate children until they resemble Muselmann and are eventually thrown into the trash chute.

The trash chute leads to a systematic sorting of metal (e.g. any last valuables) until, eventually, the fiery crematoria.

Our heroes get saved at the last minute, of course, and they find themselves a new homeland. It is a place where many of their kind already live and have an established foothold, and it would appear that security, finally, is at hand if they are vigilant." -UGO.com

Well, was the Holocaust metaphor too much for you? Maybe twisting a few things there? Brace yourself.

"Simply incredible. I'm 18 and going off to college soon. I couldnt help but notice this movie is pure symbolism. From the begining I could tell that it was meant to stand out against our soon to be materialist postmodern culture.The parallels this movie displays with Christian theology are ingenious. Andy's departure to college was meant to catch the attention of the generation who grew up watching the toy story movies, we are now also going away to college.

But this whole movie is a metaphor for the present and the future of Christians, try to follow me on this thought. Andy represents Jesus/Christianity. The toys have an interesting choice from the very begining, follow Andy, or give in and follow the easier path that leads to uncertainty, but also a possible sense of freedom (follow christianity/Jesus, or take the easy materialist approach to life).

Interestingly enough one toy says "we can become masters of our own destiny", This represents the antibiblical worldview that is recently in full bloom which questions tradition, authority,and the moral absolutes rooted in the Christian religion. The outcome that corresponds to their actions leads them to a place that seems dream like at first, but proves to be no more than a deception. I dont want to spoil any more but see if you also find some type of metophor that ultimately leads them to "heaven" from their decision to follow Andy. Hint: the rapture is included" - Chistiananswers.net, viewer comments section.

What's next? Apartheid? Global warming? Cloning? Stem-cell research? Or maybe it's just a good story and doesn't stand for anything. Ever think of that?

In conclusion, people are idiots and go see Toy Story 3.

More Box Office Predictions...and Why I didn't predict last week

So last week before the weekend came up, predictions for the Karate Kid were in the $20-$30 range. I had planned to predict in the $50-$60, considering all the buzz I've seen from it, not online but from, you know, real people. After seeing the "professional" predictions however, my self-esteem was shattered, and I thought, "I really must know nothing about the box office business" and decided not to do a predictions post. Hindsight is 20/20, but I should have stayed true. No one was predicting Karate Kid to do as well as I said, but it turns out I was right and they were wrong. I just wish now that I would have said I was right, as now no one will believe me anyway.

There is a silver lining though, as I was going to predict A-Team in the $30-$40 range, but it underperformed. Still, that's where most people were predicting, so I would have been okay on that level.

Moving on, let's look at next week, and this time I won't back down.

Toy Story 3
Opening Weekend Prediction: $120-125 million
Predicted Total Gross: $400 million +

This week I'm predicting much of what helped the Karate Kid, on a much larger scale. Where do I begin? 1. This is the animated event picture of the summer, after Shrek 4 disappointed, this is going to clean up in a big way. 2. All the kids who grew up with Toy Story are going. This is now a full two generations of kids. 3. Everyone seems extremely positive towards this film. I'm convinced that even the most hardcore "Godfather" fan, is secretly going to see this, and the critics will be positive even if it sucks. Look out Karate Kid, you're about to get pwned.

Jonah Hex
Opening Weekend Prediction: $10-20 million
Predicted Total Gross: $50-60 million

Can you say, bad buzz? Fans of the comic books show about as much interest as the rest of us in this movie, and that's a bad sign. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone excited about this film. While counter-programming Toy Story 3 seems like a good move, I think it will ultimately back-fire since Toy Story 3 will have extremely broad appeal. Maybe Jonah will find some life on DVD, but in the theaters I'm not expecting much at all.