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Comment by George Napper on January 28, 2012 at 10:17pm

This is why there are so many OBVIOUS snubs this year:

The way the Oscars work is, Academy members are not critics. They are not required to see everything. They are sent a list of every film that's eligible and then see what they want or have time to see. My theory is that this year had SO MANY good movies that most voters tried to save time by just seeing the stuff that had the biggest names behind it, had the most buzz behind it, or were the most easily seen by them. As a result, not all films that were great from this year are represented like they should be (and neither are great songs... I have nothing to explain that) and films like Take Shelter, Submarine and We Need to Talk About Kevin are not represented whatsoever. And that's also how we end up with nine nominees. Two movies probably tied for tenth place and they didn't want to nominate eleven films. 

It's really quite sad. I think something about this system has to change.

(And yes, the ONLY reason Meryl Streep is getting ANY attention at all for The Iron Lady is because it's a Weinstein production. Michelle Williams has that award all wrapped up, though. And yes, that's a Weinstein production, too, but a MUCH better one.)

Comment by DesertPunk on January 28, 2012 at 9:01pm

Cant wait for Mad Men season 5, but I can never recommend it to anyone because

Season 1 = Boring

Season 2 = Slightly more interesting, but still very boring..

Season 3 = still boring but picks up at the end

Season 4 = Brilliant!!

Comment by ScottPilgrimJDP on January 28, 2012 at 8:51pm

I'm so glad to see Looper being mentioned; it's the second on my list of most anticipated films of 2012, behind The Dark Knight Rises. I am definitely seeing it Friday of release.

Comment by ScottPilgrimJDP on January 28, 2012 at 7:55pm

I'm starting to get the impression that you all hate The Tree of Life.

Comment by ScottPilgrimJDP on January 28, 2012 at 7:49pm

I like the extended number of Oscar nominations for Best Picture, because when you look in 2004, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind wasn't nominated for Best Picture, which is a complete disgrace.

Comment by ScottPilgrimJDP on January 28, 2012 at 7:47pm

If there is ever a day where Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil is nominated for Best Picture, I will bow down and ask for forgiveness for all my hate of the Oscars.

Comment by Joshua Williams on January 28, 2012 at 6:46pm

I watched I m still here all the way through and I m not proud of it but after I watched that film I did not what to feel. It was like watching red state I just thought wow okay that was a movie.

Comment by Brandon Parker on January 28, 2012 at 6:36pm

Dominic cooper from the devils double should be in there somewhere 

Comment by Dr. Detfink on January 28, 2012 at 4:38pm

Comic Books

Winter Soldier: I'm sorry to say this, Ed Brubaker has peaked on Captain America. However, his WWII stories in Cap & Bucky are still strong stuff. Bucky Barnes has been his muse since the beginning. If I may be so bold, it was too soon, giving Steve back Cap. May we commence with the man without a country serve as an unknown soldier in off the books missions to serve the country that left him for dead.

Saga: Is Brian K. Vaughan our Alan Moore (but less unstable and bitter)? Not fair to say of course. However, even Scott Snyder went on record at the Monthly Midtown Comics Monthly book club yesterday pointed out how good he is and how writers are constantly trying to measure up to him...including himself. What I like about Vaughan, he's the anti-Bendis. He won't water down his writing saying "YES!" to every title. No, this guy when he decides to do something...he puts every thing in it. Can he deliver? Odds are, Yes he can. 

Wonder Woman: I'm going to boldly say this character is going to become DC's second favorite hero by the time 2012 concludes. There's just something special about Azzarello & Chiang's work that is building Diana into a 21st century character. Great move, taking her off NYC and putting her across the pond in London. Even Better move ending the costume controversy by having her open up her wardrobe and picking out what she's going to wear. Hey, a woman can change her mind. Finally, the best move was tweaking her story to open up all kinds of possibilities. My Warren Buffet tip, by the conclusion of 2012, Wonder Woman property will be more appealing than Superman....

Great analysis all around gentlemen. Hand shakes all around. 

Your loyal listener,

D.d. 

Comment by Dr. Detfink on January 28, 2012 at 4:27pm

Edit: Wow, for the first time I reached the text limit. My apologies. 

Thanks to the LEOG for adding to my growing grocery list of fun....

My 2012 manifesto for movies:

1. No more "the gov't betrayed them" action films. After A-Team, Losers, Bourne series, etc. I just need a break.

2. "Found footage" genre always makes it sound so intimate and provocative. I understand this is a media driven age but I want to see a movie where cops say "we have found footage from the event in NYC..." and in the back, there's a guy swimming in VHS, Beta, e-mailed movies, and every format of the same event. It's become the new "voice over" device in story-telling. Again not completely against them, I am just going to avoid these types of films for a while.

That said...

2012 Films NOT named Avengers, the Dark Knight Rises, Prometheus, Amazing Spider-man, or blockbuster:

Gravity: I wasn't the hugest fan of his adaptation of Great Expectations. Since Y tu mamá también, Cuarón has been a tour de force in directing incredible films with no signs of regressing as a director so far. Sandra Bullock is an enigma. I can't think of an actress who can go Best/Worst consistently throughout her career. 

Moonrise Kingdom: Bottle Rocket was one of those films that continued to keep me interested in films that were different, not the generic Hollywood vehicle. Though I think to say, there was a lot of dynamic directors breaking out during the 90s to substantiate it as something undervalued today. Wes is up there with Coens as a particular brand of film...like him or not, his work always has a particular finish that is recognizable and enjoyable but most importantly has heart in it. 

The Cabin in the Woods: Joss Whedon is one of those John Singer Sargent kind of guys who not only got to experience life abroad but the guy had the drive and support to do his thing. Born in NYC, did a couple years in England, moved out to LA. What truly makes Joss work, that internal dialogue when characters are stripped bare at their weakest moments and have to be true with themselves. I don't think we'll get that in the Avengers BUT...I am soooo hoping Avengers is a success so he'll have the freedom that Nolan has in doing his thing. 

TV Shows

Game of Thrones Season 2: to coin a favorite line, "Now is the winter of our Discontent!" A good man gets his head chopped off and now, all hell is going to break loose. We're going to see Robert's dickhead brother Stannis Baratheon assault King's Landing, Jaime Lannister POW life from hell, Snow's trip beyond the Wall, Tyrion Lannister as Hand of the King facing off against the Spider & Little Finger in a three player chess match. The shit hitting the fan. 

Breaking Bad: Whenever the new season begins, I'll be right there. I will confess...at first I said to mysel, "Oh here we go again...man down on his luck forced to break the law for the betterment of his family and how it all backfires..." But the writing, acting, and characterization has been SO AMAZING that it's RAISED the bar for these kind of "It all goes wrong..." genres. Perhaps no other line is apropos, "Either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain..." I give you Walter White, arguably the best character in TV? 

Luck: Ok, this has a high potential of backfire but I've said it before and I'll say it again, Deadwood is screen writing genius. It's modern Shakespeare for a Western with "cock sucker" as a Sonnet. David Milch (Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, Deadwood) has that knack for gradations of inner conflict. Can he deliver with top cast, direction, etc? I'm TERRIFIED that my hopes could be demolished..

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