And while I'm at it, well done Jeff!

It's not that I haven't watched other movies since my last post, but why not stick with a theme? I gave Sandra her due, so now it's Jeff Bridges' turn.

I never miss the Oscars. I look forward to them really (and I know very few people share that opinion), and for me, Oscar night is a party! But I am often disappointed in them. Seldom in the nominations (though don't even get me started on the whole, 10 nominations for best picture thing!), but often in the wins. It has all become very political hasn't it? No. I suppose not. It has always been very political, I simply didn't notice when I was younger. At any rate, while the performances that win best actor or best actress are often exceptional, I too frequently find myself left with the feeling that the performance had considerably less to do with the award than other factors. Having now seen both of the films that led to these awards this year (Way to late--I know. I'm very ashamed.), I am left feeling refreshed, and with some of my lost faith in the Academy renewed!

Crazy Heart is a fantastic film. It's a better film than The Blind Side, really. That alone is reason enough to go see it.

I think it tells a common story: a man loses his way in life, only to find that it's never to late to start living right again. It's just that sometimes it's done so much better than others. That's where a performance like Jeff Bridges' comes in. I felt that I had been there for his entire life, and not just the little part of it that the film was showing me. Without tedious flashbacks, or out of place monologues, I knew everything that I needed to know about Bad Blake's (the main character) relationship with Tommy (played very well by Colin Ferrell)--a relationship that is central to the audience's grasp of who exactly Bad is, and how he got where he is.

The film's pacing is a little different from the standard Hollywood film. I think it follows the standard 3 act layout, but it takes its time. Those of you who need action and suspense, consider yourself warned. This film is a character study of the highest caliber, and it is in no hurry. This of course, is not say that it is slow. I felt riveted throughout.

I think that we enjoy these stories, because even if we haven't screwed up quite that badly, we see pieces of ourselves in these characters. No matter how young or old we are, it's nice to be reminded every now and again that life never stops being worth living just because we've fallen off the tracks. Crazy Heart in its entirety, and Jeff Bridges with his exquisite performance, remind you of these things. Maybe I'm speaking with the sentimentality of a person going through a rough patch, but I think that even those of you relaxing on easy street will find something to relate to in this film, because none of us sits there all the time. Anyway, it's not my job to get preachy, so I'd better end it there. Go see this film, whoever you are. You won't regret it.

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And if I can just add a quick P.S. Maggie Gyllenhaal? Awesome.

Oh Sandra, you deserved it after all.

Don't let the title of this post fool you. I'm not ragging on Sandra Bullock. You see, I've always rather liked Sandra Bullock. As a comedic actress, I think that she is impeccable. Sure she's made some crappy movies. I sometimes think that it just comes with the territory of being a comedic actor or actress that people want to pay more attention to your bad roles than your good ones. My theory is that it's because people expect more out of a comedy. They tend to attract wider audiences, and if they disappoint, more people will be talking about it. And comedies are not easy. Especially romantic comedies, (which Sandra Bullock seems to specialize in) because let's be honest: the formula for those is older than any of us (think It Happened One Night). But I digress. The romantic comedy issue is one to be addressed on another day.

No. Today I am not writing about a romantic comedy. I am writing about The Blind Side. Have you ever watched a movie, and just known that you were being manipulated? To be more specific, consider films like Message in a Bottle, or City of Angels (which is a bad example until you get to the end). I mean, did the director or writer or whoever even have a goal other than to make you cry? Did they sit there and tell themselves that they are talented simply because they could do that? I think about that sometimes when I'm watching a movie. Anyway, that's what happened during The Blind Side. I knew I was being manipulated. They designed that movie to make girls like me sit there, get all choked up and say "Aw..." And while the film was very effective at this (The number of times I said "Aw..." is embarrassing, and we won't discuss it here), I still felt just a little manipulated. I mean I guess that's what a "feel good" film is supposed to do, and certainly the real life story is inspiring, but in this case it could have been way over the top.

So why wasn't it? I mean, if I had to rate it I think I would give this film an enthusiastic 4 out of 5 stars. The answer is simple: it was Sandra Bullock. And before I launch in to a paragraph to sing her praises, let me say first that she didn't save a bad film. It had many other qualities to recommend it. It was well paced, and well acted all around. The story was good, and the delivery coherent. The film would have stood without her. But man, did she make it shine.

I must admit, in spite of the fact that I am fond of Sandra Bullock and her work, I was a bit skeptical when she one the Oscar (Because to my undying shame, I had not seen the movie yet. Gotta pin the blame for that one on Law School). I suspected we had, what I would like to title, another "Julia Roberts incident." Oh come on. You know what I'm talking about. I saw Erin Brockovich. She won that Oscar because somehow, and America's Sweetheart type of hype got built up around her, very Obama style (Not a reflection on my political viewpoints, fyi). It wasn't a bad movie, and she wasn't bad in it, but the Oscar was better deserved elsewhere.

Perhaps in my skepticism I overlooked the crucial contribution that Sandra Bullock offered to one of my all time favorite films, Crash. I mean, clearly the woman's talent is not limited to her comedic efforts. But still, based on the previews, I couldn't help but be suspcious. I was very wrong. Sandra Bullock delivered a performance that was so stunning, I didn't even care that I was being manipulated. The vigor that she infused into the character she played could not possibly have duplicated. When you sit to watch The Blind Side, you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are watching a film that would not be the same with a different actress. I don't know how else to describe it, though I wish I could. I think it's something that you just have to witness for yourself. To say that she "lit up the screen" sounds trite, (and I hate sounding trite) but it's accurate. You simply did not want to take your eyes off of her. I was so in love with her character by the end of that film, that it almost didn't even matter what the rest of the film was about.

So there it is--my brief but very sincere ode to Sandra Bullock. Watch The Blind Side because it's a good film, and not just because she's fantastic in it. But if there are other critics out there besides myself who were suspicious of her well earned award, take the time to find out how wrong you are. It is well worth your time.