Tonight’s Golden Globes Awards launches the full pageant that is award season and the 2015 has perhaps the largest pool of award worthy talent in years. Never-mind that box office numbers hit a two decade low the quality of pictures and performances still remained high. As an average but dedicated moviegoer I was frugal with my movie dollars in 2014 but I am happy to report that even my worst choices were worthwhile.
Birdman
The press and the accolades have justifiably focused on Michael Keaton, who is nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe, his turn as a former box office star turned Broadway wannabe, Riggan Thompson as wry, poignant and tormented is visceral and satisfying. In spite of his stellar performance the true stars of the film are the original score and Edward Norton.
Edward Norton is a damn good actor who inhabits every role with precision and swagger. Since 1996 when he appeared in Primal Fear I have known that to choose a film with him attached as an actor would result in a satisfying experience. In Birdman as Mike Shiner, the capricious Broadway veteran, he steps forward from the impressive supporting cast by being both a villain and savior. The arrogance of his character is tempered by the sincerity he reveals in scenes with the other characters in the film.
The original score is nominated for a Golden Globe and out of the seven nominations for this film this is the only one I would want to call a sure thing. Visually this film seems to duplicate a roller coaster ride and adding to the illusion is the score for which the term “original” was meant. So perfectly unique and captivating is the work that the Academy of Motion Pictures denied that it fit into the criteria of it’s music categories. More on that snub in a future article.
See it?: Yes
Golden Globe Win Predictions: Original Score, Best Director
Into The Woods
The Thirty year old play became a major motion picture. A major hyped motion picture of a once successful play. A major hyped motion picture whose public relations team deserves nominations and awards for convincing selection committees that this is a fabulous film. Yippee-I-AYE cow patty.
You had me at Tracey Ullman and Meryl Streep, so of course I’ll spend my dime. Sondheim’s music and lyrics, yes, please. The $50,000,000 on full display with cast and production was not enough to stop this film from being a dud. There I’ve said it. No, I wasn’t expecting a “Disney movie” like several who left the theater early may have lamented.
All was going favorably until the lascivious arrival of Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf left a feeling of queasiness and creepy sex offender vibe. There began the downhill slide with characters going in circles for no reason, others disappearing, unexplained adultery and deaths. There was a sense that the play had been truncated for the film. Gaps in the story could not be saved by the talented cast performances or splendid music.
Half way through the picture people left the theater and in watching them leave I reflected on what a masterpiece Shrek 1 had been. Two-thirds through and I thought I should reconsider my negative opinion on Mel Brooks’ Men In Tights.
See it?: Wait for DVD
Golden Globe Win Predictions: No. Just no.
St. Vincent
St. Vincent felt like the neighborhood bar you’ve grown accustomed to visit because there’s nothing fancy and things never change. Predictable story, clichéd characters and a few zippy one-liners thrown in for guffaws. It worked.
The audience applause at the closing credits demonstrates how sometimes characters alone can satisfy. Bill Murray portraying a crusty Vincent was endearing as he navigated and took advantage of his caregiver status of his young neighbor, Oliver played by Jaeden Lieberher. Oliver’s almost-divorced-mom, Maggie could have been an over the top drama queen but remained brilliantly understated in the hands of Melissa McCarthy.
The breakout performance of the film though would have to be Naomi Watts who demonstrated an unfamiliar comedic range as the pregnant hooker Vincent has befriended. Her character, Daka, Russion accent and situation’s could have easily turned cartoonish but the gifted performer made her believable and appealing. The stark contrast with her role in Birdman only added to the awe of her performance in St. Vincent. Sadly she was snubbed by the Golden Globes but did garner a SAG nomination for supporting actress. Whether that translates into an Oscar nomination will being interesting to watch.
See it?: Yes
Golden Globe Win Predictions: No. Golden heart-strings would be nice.