Oscar contenders spark interest

By James Hill III

The winter holidays bring many special treats: time with family, a break from the rigors of school and numerous gifts. One of the things that I look forward to every year as a "gift" is the group of quality films released every holiday season. Hollywood begins their award season in December, as critics, actors, writers and directors award the films and people at the top of their art in any given year; 2009 was no different. With the Golden Globes fast approaching (Jan. 17) and the Academy Awards suddenly in view (March 7), my review of six of the most prominent films to come out while we were out on break will, I hope, serve as a guide for something to see at the beginning of this quarter.

Let's begin with a film I felt would be a shoo-in for multiple Oscar nominations at the beginning of the year: Rob Marshall's musical "Nine." Starring a laundry list of famous and award-winning actors (Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Sophia Loren, and the Black Eyed Peas' Fergie), and directed by Rob Marshall, who helmed the last musical to win Best Picture at the Oscars, "Chicago," "Nine" focuses on Guido Contini, an Italian director struggling to create his next masterpiece after a string of flops. The six women in his life serve as both muses and roadblocks and each character gets at least one song to themselves. However, despite the star-studded cast and admittedly quality acting, the songs and pacing of the film fall flat. Only Hudson and Fergie's performances leave any musical impression, and ultimately, this film was sadly mediocre and proof that a great cast does not necessarily make a great film.

I was excited about "Sherlock Holmes" as soon as I read that Guy Ritchie would be adapting a new film about the famed detective. I read all of the Holmes stories as a kid and wondered how Robert Downey, Jr. would handle playing such an iconic character. He did not disappoint. Though the movie was not one of those "great blockbusters" like "The Dark Knight," "Holmes" was a fine example of how to bring an old, familiar story into modern times. Downey is magnificent as the titular hero, Jude Law quietly excellent as his loyal comrade Watson, and it's nice to see the always-talented Rachel McAdams back on the silver screen. The plotline is entertaining and director Ritchie makes sure there's never a dull moment. "Holmes" is a near-perfect example of, quite simply, holiday fun.

Much like "Sherlock Holmes," "The Princess and the Frog" excited me from the moment I learned of its existence. Many years have passed since the last truly memorable hand-drawn animated film, and Princess, I hoped, would regain that legacy. In addition, I must admit being proud to see the first African-American Disney princess. I am happy to say that Disney succeeded in creating another wonderful film to add to their collection. Princess simply flies off the screen (despite "only" being in 2D), with bright and enthusiastic musical numbers far more entertaining than those of the other musical out this season. This fun re-imagining of a classic myth is great family fare that, much like Pixar's films, can also enthrall viewers of any age.

Morgan Freeman playing the legendary Nelson Mandela in a film directed by Clint Eastwood screams "Oscar bait" like few other movies can. "Invictus," however, is far more than a simple push for golden hardware. This true story of South Africa's post-apartheid triumph in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, also starring a pumped-up Matt Damon, shows in no uncertain terms the power that sports can have on a people. Though I consider myself a sports aficionado, I only had slight experience with rugby. It doesn't matter if you've never heard of the sport at all. Freeman seems to have been born to play Mandela, and Eastwood paints a sterling picture of South Africa, with tense rugby scenes that force even the biggest non-sports fan to notice and cheer. "Invictus" effortlessly expresses why I love sports: nothing else can bring people together so completely.

When your last effort was the best selling movie of all time, the expectations for your next film are immeasurable. James Cameron's follow-up to Titanic, Avatar, began powering up the hype machine in summer, providing a chance for interested viewers to see 15 minutes of the film in IMAX 3D. I attended the free "Avatar Day" and was quite impressed at the special effects touted as "revolutionary". The film as a whole is, basically, the most remarkable entertainment experience I have had at a movie theater. Is it the best film I have ever seen? No. The plotline is essentially, to express it in a film formula: {(Pochahontas + Apocalypto + Dances with Wolves) x (the future) -- (singing + excessive blood)}. But the storytelling and the unbelievably amazing effects serve as 160 minutes of sheer excitement, placing you in the fascinating world of Pandora and sending the theater through nature and interspecies war at an unprecedented level. I highly recommend seeing this film in 3D; however, based on the sales figures you may already have. In its first 17 days, "Avatar" became the fastest film to top the $1 billion mark worldwide. That already makes it the 4th highest grossing film ever (just over "The Dark Knight"); previously only four other films had made that ridiculous amount of money. But honestlyâ?¦it's entirely worth it.

The best film I saw in 2009 (and the only film I rank higher than "Avatar") is Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air." Reitman has improved with each of his three films (his last being my favorite of 2007, "Juno"), and "Up in the Air" continues his, well, upward mobility.

George Clooney delivers what may be his finest performance as Ryan Bingham, a man who practically lives in the air while firing people for a living on the ground (and yet is still incessantly charming), while Vera Farmiga shines as his sexy semi-girlfriend, Alex. But Anna Kendrick, previously best known for playing Jessica in the "Twilight" series, steals the show as the sharp, emotional Natalie, a young gun whose new system threatens to render Bingham extinct. As Ryan and Natalie travel across the country, Reitman intimately shows each destination before peering into the heartbroken people who are losing their livelihoods.

And yet, despite this serious subject matter, "Up in the Air" is quite funny, delivering line after memorable line. The story is realistic and heartfelt, and the viewer seems to grow a bit with these characters over the short time spent together in the theater. By the time it has reached its poignant conclusion, "Up in the Air" has established itself as a sublime "movie of the moment" that will be remembered as one of the best films of this or any year.

Contact James Hill III at jhill@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918.