Happy Oscars/The Social Network (Film)

The Social Network, 2010
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Rooney Mara
Directed by David Fincher
Written by Aaron Sorkin

Summary: The creation of popular social networking site Facebook.

The good: First, Andrew Garfield is really hot in this! I had been seeing pictures of him on the awards circuit and I didn't quite get it but now I do and it makes me that much more excited about his performance in the new Spiderman.
Jesse Eisenberg is also good in an unsympathetic role; Zuckerberg seems to be fueled by spite and has little to no compassion for other people.
Rooney Mara, the American Lisbeth Salander, is also good in her handful of scenes as the girlfriend who dumps Zuckerberg and who he wants to prove himself to.
The script is also fantastic as you might have guessed from seeing that Sorkin wrote it.  It's very entertaining.

The bad: Justin Timberlake. I'm fine with JT in the music business but I do not want him in movies because he's awful.

While I mostly liked The Social Network, I definitely preferred The King's Speech and I'm rooting for it to win big tonight! What about you? Do you follow the Oscars? Will you be watching tonight?

The Hurt Locker (Film)

The Hurt Locker, 2009
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Starring Jeremy Renner and Guy Pearce
131 minutes
Academy Award Winner-Best Picture

Summary: A look at a team that disarms improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the brash team leader and his two compatriots in post-invasion Iraq, 2004.

Thoughts: I was so excited about this and I couldn't wait to see it, whether by buying the DVD or renting it from the library.  A couple weeks ago I finally had the chance to see it.  And well...I really didn't like it.  I don't know if I overhyped it in my head, if I was a bit worn out because I watched it right after Saving Private Ryan, or if it's just not the kind of film I like (quite probably all of those reasons).

It opened strongly with a suspenseful ten minutes that had me sitting on the edge of my seat (not literally, I sprawl when I watch movies).  And then it just went on and I didn't like it.  I really like Pearce (Memento-yeah!) and Renner (I loved him on The Unusuals which is on hulu for Americans who might be interested).  I didn't know the other actors but they were fine.  It was the story I didn't like.

I'm really disappointed that I didn't love this movie.  But it still counts toward me watching all of the best picture winners (remember I'm over halfway there!)

OSCARS! Best Dressed and Other Thoughts

So my favorite dress was worn by Penelope Cruz and you can see it in this picture.

Other dresses I liked:

Sandra Bullock-also great hair and makeup

Kathryn Bigelow

Kristen Stewart-and her posture didn't completely suck

Meryl Streep-duh

Mo'Nique, Gabourey Sidibe, Mariah Carey, and Oprah-all in gorgeous blue dresses. Do you think they coordinated?

Helen Mirren-double duh

Worst dressed:

Zoe Saldana-it's pretty from about the torso and then it's awful

Jennifer Lopez-it looks like she's wearing 1 1/2 dresses

Diane Kruger-I LOVED her SAG dress but am not a fan of this

Also did anyone else think Rachel McAdams and Elizabeth Banks looked somewhat similar with their blond hair and similar shaded dresses? I thought so.

My main thought from the Oscars though is YAY for the Ladies! Mo'Nique, Sandra, and Kathryn all triumphed with strong performances for the first two and in very tough categories for the latter. Congratulations on being the first female director to win an Oscar! I can't wait to see The Hurt Locker (hopefully before the end of March)

Also congratulations to The Cove for winning best documentary. One of my friends actually knows someone involved with this and said it was amazing! And congratulations to Logorama for best animated short-the clip shown looked really good!

I'm also very pleased that The Young Victoria and Star Trek won for best costumes and makeup respectively. I enjoyed both a lot and am glad they were recognized.

I loved seeing Neil Patrick Harris appear on stage (I actually guess that he would based on Ryan Seacrest's comment that someone else we'd seen at awards shows would be there). I mostly enjoyed Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin's banter. I loved Tina Fey and Robert Downey Jr (who looked really hot except for the tinted glasses; if they'd been normal glasses, it would have been perfect) arguing about actor vs writer. I enjoyed the dance to best score. I did not miss the performance of best original song. Good show all in all!