The Tree Of Life And The Oscars

[Miriel]

I haven't seen Tree of Life yet, but I have a feeling I would like it. I tend to like evocative, moody films. And I kinda love Jessica Chastain. She has such an amazing fluid quality about her.

But I just have to say that I hated War Horse. I thought it was awful and it's unfathomable to me that it's getting the kind of recognition that it is. And this is coming from a person who adores animals and generally doesn't mind it when Spielberg gets all schmaltzy.

Of the nominated films, I think I enjoyed Midnight in Paris the most.

It's hard for me to think of movies that were cinematic game changers because more often than not, pure enjoyment factor is more important to me than a deftly crafted or innovative film that I may I have liked but not loved. Like for example, the camera work in Children of Men was great, but I pretty much forgot all about it after I left the theater. A lot of the movies that stick out in my mind are just personal favorites that may not be the best movies in an objective way.

But two movies that come to mind as impressive and innovative filmmaking... Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Inception.

EDIT: I just got through 3/4 of the movie and then I had to call it quits. Good lord.

I actually really loved the first 20 minutes or so. The imagery is stunning, and the non-linear, fragmented glimpses into tiny moments and thoughts really drew me in. And then it kept going... and going... and going. Jesus Christ it got repetitive and boring. I'm not someone who needs to be constantly riveted by action scenes or even dialogue. One of my favorite scenes of any movie, ever, involves the cracking of eggs into bowls in The Hours. So the fact that my patience ran so thin that I had to STOP THE MOVIE (I never stop the movie!!) really says something. It was like watching an endless Lana Del Ray music video. Sullen children are amongst the worst things ever in life, and to watch sullen pre-teen boys in a movie is not my idea of a good time. It was over-worked, way too self-involved and I had no idea why in the world I was supposed to care about ANY of this. It got to the point where I wished they'd all just die already so the movie would be over. No emotional connection whatsoever. And all that whispering? Uuughghg.

Jessica Chastain I must say is a marvel. She was the best thing about the movie.

This movie won't stay with me because I will actively force it from my mind. I don't want to think about it because I do not caaaare. I care more about picking up toilet paper at the store tomorrow than I do about ruminating on this film. I feel like this film was made by someone with way too much time on his hands.