ApeDonkey Staff Official Oscar Ballots

Yes I'm officially upgrading Barry and I to the title of staff. Here is our official Oscar ballots and by official I mean, on record. Maybe one day Barry will be a member of the Academy and we can all say we knew him when. Until then the official ApeDonkey ballots will have to do.

Best Picture


Fidoz
My Pick: Black Swan
Prediction: The King's Speech

Black Swan was my personal favorite of the contenders but with no real dominant film the voters will default to historical importance.

Barry

My Pick: Black Swan
Prediction: The King's Speech

I don't have a problem with either of these two or The Social Network winning. All deserving.

 
Best Director

Fidoz
My Pick: Darren Aronofsky
Prediction: David Fincher

Fincher is thrown a bone as The Social Network is shutout in most of the other categories.

Barry
My Pick: David Fincher
Prediction: Tom Hooper

Both were faced with the daunting task of making something inherently not very interesting and making it extremely interesting.

Best Actor

Fidoz
My Pick: Colin Firth
Prediction: Colin Firth

Firth should have won last year for A Single Man and is this year's biggest lock.

Barry
My Pick: Colin Firth
Prediction: Colin Firth

This performance coupled with his snub of Single Man's performance all but guarantee him this win.

Best Actress

Fidoz
My Pick: Natalie Portman
Prediction: Natalie Portman

Portman's was far and away my favorite performance by any actor this year.

Barry
My Pick: Natalie Portman
Prediction: Natalie Portman

A lot of late steam for Annette Benning, but I just don't think anyone can watch both performances and put Benning over Portman.

Best Supporting Actor

Fidoz
My Pick: John Hawkes
Prediction: Geoffery Rush

I think either Bale or Portman are going to be upset. I'm putting my money on the actor in The King's Speech.

Barry
My pick: Christian Bale
Prediction: Christian Bale

Perhaps the biggest lock even with Rush winning the BAFTA.

Best Supporting Actress

Fidoz
My Pick: Hailee Steinfeld
Prediction: Hailee Steinfeld

Voters will split between Adams and Leo. The rest will be like me and moved by Steinfeld's ability to hold her own opposite Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon.

Barry
My Pick: Amy Adams
Prediction: Melissa Leo

Perhaps the most contested award. I wouldn't be surprised or upset with a Hailee Steinfeld win either.

Best Documentary Feature

Fidoz
My Pick: Restrepo
Prediction: Restrepo

I don't know how voters can not be moved to vote for Restrepo. Powerful Documentary.

Barry
My pick: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Prediction: Inside Job

I just don't think Exit has the substance necessary to win. Restrepo also great.

Best Screenplay Original

Fidoz
My Pick: The King's Speech
Prediction: The King's Speech

The King's Speech keeps rolling in the weakest of all the fields.

Barry
My Pick: The King's Speech
Prediction: The King's Speech

My thoughts on Inception are well documented so I would lament a win here.

Best Screenplay Adapted

Fidoz
My Pick: The Social Network
Prediction: The Social Network

Give Sorkin a very big trophy for making FaceBook interesting.

Barry
My Pick: The Social Network
Prediction: The Social Network

Sorkin desperately needs to thank Ben Mezrich for the work he put in. Also, what was Toy Story 3 adapted from? Or are all sequels put into the adapted category?

Best Cinematography

Fidoz
My Pick: The Social Network
Prediction: True Grit

I thought The Social Network was a beautifully shot film but Oscar voters love the expanse of western landscapes.

Barry
My Pick: Inception
Prediction: Inception

None of my problems with Inception have to do with its stunning visuals. And after it's ASC award, Inception is the clear leader to sweep the tech awards.

Best Scenes From the Films of 2010

It’s almost March 2011, but given that the Academy Awards have not yet taken place, I feel discussing movies from 2010 still to be relevant. The best pictures and actors and directors have been discussed and debated ad nauseum, so I thought I’d talk about something I think very interesting: what are the best scenes from movies in 2010? There are few great films, like The Social Network, where the sum is greater than the whole of their parts. While a great movie, it didn’t have that one scene that stood out. I will warn you, there will be SPOILERS. This post also lets us include great comedies in the “best of...” discussion. So without further adieu, in descending order, the Best Scenes of 2010:

12. “Wee Man Midget Fight”, Jackass 3D:
In one of the more enjoyable movies of 2010 this particular scene made me so excited because it utilized my two favorite things about Jackass scenes: story and outsiders reactions. Just great use of the “piling on” story telling technique. Enter scorned boyfriend, he brings in his midget friends, they fight, in come midget cops, and just when you think it’s over, midget paramedics! I just love that no body in the bar broke it up. You can’t break up a good midget fight. Law

11. “Gettin’ Her Daddy’s Bones,” Winter’s Bone:
I wasn’t completely sold on Winter’s Bone the movie, but this scene can not be denied. It fully encapsulates the world that is created. Seeing Ree reach down and grab the hand of her deceased father was haunting and moving. I wish the best scene from this movie included John Hawkes, but alas, chainsaw dismemberment wins out.

10. “Hallway Fight,” Inception:
Another movie I wasn’t particularly high on, but it’s stunning visuals were just that: stunning. This fight was imaginative and innovative. Cut together with scenes from other states of dreams, it really showed the thought in the choreography. I’m pretty amazed JGL never hit his head on a boom mic or camera while flipping around.



9. “Fake Sex,” Easy A:
I’m not entirely sure why this movie didn’t get more run. Emma Stone delivers a comedic tour de force in this modern day retelling of Scarlet Letter. The inciting incident in this film is just top notch comedy. I particularly loved when Brandon , played by Dan Byrd, exclaims, “Can you smell that?” I just loved seeing two kids stumble through the sounds and motions of sex having never actually done it.

8.“Fall of Big Daddy,” Kick-Ass:
What is with awesome fights in hallways in 2010? Oscar snub Chloe Moretz as Hit-Girl, gives us not only one of the best scenes of 2010, but definitely the most “bad ass.” There’s just something about watching an 11 year old deliver merciless head shots to several henchman. This scene is made infinitely better coming off the heels of perhaps the best line of the movie, “Show’s over mother f*ckers.” I can’t wait for the sequel to come out.

7. “I Won’t Dance,” Step Up: 3D:
I think I’m going to lose some of you here, but hear me out. The Academy Awards honors, acting, directing, writing, original songs, etc. It’s long overdue to include a Best Choreography category. Dance is a vital part of entertainment and we shouldn’t dismiss it. This scene was absolutely perfect. Danced brilliantly by Adam G. Sevani and Alyson Stoner (of Missy Elliot music fame), they take us on a playfully journey of their entire relationship. Very smart choreography utilizing several styles and really giving us that throwback Fred Astaire/Ginger Rodgers feel of old movie musicals make it one of the best of 2010.



6. “Building of OP Restrepo,” Restrepo:
This scene from the great documentary really captures the dangers these men faced. Making such a bold move in the deadliest place on earth was breathtaking filmmaking. I still can’t believe these scenes were captured so vividly on camera.

5. “Final Dance (or Swan Song),” Black Swan:
I know a lot of people will say “the scene” from Black Swan was between Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman, and while that scene was all well and good, the final sequence was better. Black Swan had me on the edge of my seat the whole movie. Aronofsky weaved a tale of mystery and drama in such a thrilling way that when the film culminated in the brilliant fade to white, I was left speechless.

4. "Where it All Goes Wrong," Blue Valentine:
This whole movie was a sucker punch to my gut of emotions. We were lead to believe that this relationship was built on this primal sense of love, and it would carry them for the rest of their lives. But the flame of passion burnt out. During their romantic getaway to the "future room" we are hit such a real scene, were almost sick watching. We get to watch Ryan Gosling, in perhaps the best performance of the year, see his marriage slip away from and his reaction is spot on. He fights so hard for her, but she's already gone.

3. “Self Administered Arm Amputation,” 127 Hours:
I’m so glad I saw this movie in the theatre. The amount of uneasiness in the theatre during this scene was palpable. I must admit, even I got a little bit squeamish at the sight. First he has to break his arm in two directions, then use a poor excuse for a knife to basically tear his arm off? Ouch. I really like how he attempted it earlier, but even staring death in the face, he couldn;t tolerate the pain or sight of it. He basically had to die for a minute and come back to realize it had to be done. The sound effects and camera cuts make this scene so visceral and memorable.

2. “The Incinerator,” Toy Story 3:
Seeing those toys that we have come to love so much join hands in solidarity as they come to grips with their fate is easily one of the most memorable and touching scenes of 2010. Watching each toy struggle for a minute before they realize they’re out of options and the best way to go out is by being with your loved ones was so moving that I shed tears. Real ones. I don’t know how you did it Pixar, but you made you made me examine my own life and think who I would like to meet the incinerator with. Coming to grips with my mortality is not something I like to think about, but I was forced after this scene. Truly a provocative scene.

1. “Holding Court on the Streets,” The Town:
There was something so absolutely perfect and human about the moment Jeremy Renner takes a sip of the discarded soda before he meets his fate. I can’t fully comprehend what it would be like to get one last pleasure of this world before I die. I’m sure most people would think sex, or a delicious steak, or a smile from their spouse, but Renner couldn’t have seemed more pleased with the taste of that flat old soda. I wonder just how hightened your senses are the moment before you die. The act is so simple, yet in that most human of moments, it made the scene completely memorable and unforgettable. Congratulations Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner and The Town you have earned the Best Scene of 2010 award from me!

Iron ApeDonkey 2: The Rise of the Documentary - Netflix Reviews 12/8/10

 Read these reviews and you should agree with me that since Hollywood has sacrificed its story/writing soul to the gods of big budget special effects, the documentary is the only place to find consistent compelling story telling in today's movie business.

Iron Man 2 - See it - I'm only giving this a "see it" because I am assuming you like the superhero genre and If you plan on seeing The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor and The Avengers anyway you should your full arsenal of build up movies. Otherwise, I would say to skip this movie. Robert Downey Jr. is increasingly annoying as Tony Stark. I still don't know why Terrence Howard was replaced by Don Cheadle an Scarlett Johansson has taken giant steps backwards as an actress. Then we come to Mickey Rourke. I have a pretty vivid imagination and can suspend reality to accept just about anything but Mickey Rourke as a genius physicist is beyond my imaginative abilities. Although when we really look at Ivan Vanko, maybe he wasn't much of a genius after all. This is supposed to be a brilliant guy on the level of Stark himself and what does he come up with as a weapon? A freaking whip. You know why armies don't go into battle with soldiers armed with whips? Because paper beats rock, rock beats scissors and gun always beats whip.

Robin Hood - Don't See - I learned a lot of interesting things in Ridley Scott's interpretation of the Robin Hood legend. Robin was the person that first put the seeds of the Magna Carta in the heads of the English Barons. He was committed to teaching orphans about hygiene. Little John was proportional to his size. Robin turned away King Phillips invading French army. Overall, a bad movie that tried to tell too many stories and didn't tell any of them well.





Fix - Don't See -This is one of those movies I went into really wanting to like. It's a fictional story shot as a documentary. Director Tao Ruspoli plays Milo a documentary filmmaker desperately racing around LA with his brother, Leo and partner Bella trying to raise the funds to get Leo into rehab in order to avoid going to prison. The movie is shot by Tao Ruspoli on a hand held camera and we get to see some interesting parts of LA rarely visited on film but the film fails to sell us on the slightest relationship between the brothers or Milo and Bella. Every character is so completely disconnected from anyone else in the film it's difficult to believe any one of them would go through this much trouble for another.


William Kunstler - Disturbing the Universe - See it - Disturbing the Universe is a documentary made by William Kunstler's daughters in and effort to understand the choices made in his professional career as a lawyer. For those who don't know, William Kunstler was a lawyer both revered and reviled for representing people like The Chicago Seven, The Weather Underground, the Attica prison rioters, America Indian Movement as well as infamous clients such as Omar Abdel-Rahman, El-Sayyid Nosair and the Gambino crime family associates. The documentary ultimately paints Kunstler as a radical who started out defending those who stood up against the US government but may have gotten too caught up in taking on cases for the fame rather than the principle. The documentary is aided by the daughters' unequaled insight and access to friends, family and associates. It's well worth the hour and a half to get to know a man you may not agree with or even hate but have to respect his willingness to choose a side and put himself on the line for a cause.

Restrepo - See it - I watched this documentary last night after reading about it on Danny Vera's blog. I spent a long time in bed thinking about what I wanted to say about this movie. The movie was equally moving, disturbing and enlightening. The filmmakers were embedded with Battle Company in Afghanistan to capture the soldiers camaraderie, fears, struggles and the realities of life in a war zone. They got all that and more. They also captured the emotional and mental scars carried by those who survive. The saddest part of this film is that I'm sure you could make a hundred more with a hundred other groups of soldiers and if would follow a similar arc. Regardless, your opinion of the US involvement in these wars, the one thing we should all be able to agree on is our respect and empathy for the soldiers involved.