Extremely Desperate and Incredibly Obvious ...

Ryan McNeil recently wrote a review of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and, anyone who has seen our banter on Twitter, can see that I don't fully condone his actions on watching the film. He always watches the Best Picture nominations, whilst I am well-aware that some films simply don't deserve their position and I will not pay admission to watch them. My example is The Blindside which I didn't see at the time and now no one cares about it. I didn't miss out at all. At any rate, his review pretty much clearly shows how I would probably feel but I noticed how the story, interestingly, involves a boy coincidentally called "Oskar" ... which got my feverish mind racing; could there indeed be a story about winning an Oscar buried deep down in the story about Oskar?

I've used Ryan's synopsis of the story (Check out his full review here) in italics, whilst my interpretation - about what the film is really about is in bold...

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE is the story of Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn).

The Story is about a film-trying-to-get-an-Oscar ...

Oskar is very bright and quite inquisitive, however is also socially awkward.

It's a good film, but alas, it knows it is Oscar-Bait ...

For Oskar, the sun rises and sets on his father Thomas (Tom Hanks).

The film primarily relies on Tom Hanks to truly gain an Oscar - he has won so many, it's a sure thing.

As much as Oskar loves his mother Linda (Sandra Bullock), it’s his father that has a way of relating to him that both comforts him and pushes him.

We all know The Blindside wasn't great, so Sandra Bullock alone couldn't garner the film any success but she does add a weight of credability.

He encourages Oskar’s eccentricities, and yet challenges him to be brave and seek answers for bigger questions.

Tom Hanks will always guarantee a certain corner of the market - as strange as it is, people really do rate him as an actor. People watch Tom Hanks and they are challenged by him - "This is a really good film - I'm just not sure if Tom Hanks is what makes it good" some people think.

Sadly, Thomas is killed in The World Trade Center attack, leaving both Oskar and Linda adrift.

Unfortunately, the film includes a clearly Oscar-bait trait - a reference to 9/11 and the American Dream. Without Tom Hanks, Trying-to-get-an-Oscar and Sandra Bullock have very chance of truly being accepted in the Oscar Best-Picture Club

A year later, as Oskar is sifting through some of his father’s things, he comes upon a curious key. Without much indication what the key is for, Oskar sees it as one last challenge from his father.

But there is a slight chance that if a film is made, that is clearly begging for an Oscar, with a story so steeped in "heavy-handed, muddy, melodrama" (Thanks Ryan), then maybe - just maybe - the short cameo by Tom Hanks in the first act may be worth the money they paid him.

As he inspects the envelope the key is contained in, he notices the name “Black” written on it. He realizes that someone named “Black” must have once owned the key – and possibly met his father.

If there is any way to squeeze in a race-issue, then maybe it is possible that the Oscar is guaranteed. For gods sake, despite how bad Driving Miss Daisy is, it won Best Picture! If that can win Best Picture, then surely Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has a shot ...

I'm sure someone is having a joke here... even the poster is Oskar looking shocked that it is so friggin obvious!

2011 Year in Review on The Matineecast!

A long time ago, in February I think, Ryan invited Sarah and I to guest on his Matineecast End of Year 2011. It seemed a very, very early invitation but I would never decline a guest-spot on the Matineecast!

Ryan hosts the episode on his site so I merely set up the link and direct you to his site at www.thematinee.ca

Three Film Blogs I Thoroughly Recommend

In the past week I was exceptionally busy. I was leaving work late and getting in at a silly time in the morning - the weeked ended on a high as many things in the world of Art teaching were looking good.

The thing is, when I get home, I then think about blogging. I have to write something don't I? Anyone who has followed this blog will know that I am temperamental. Unlike some writers, I physically cannot write a post every day. I try, but I can't do it comfortably. And when I do, the typo's are appalling and show that I clearly haven't re-read the text before hitting publish.

This forces me to set myself challenges. Specific goals I'm working towards to ensure that I keep improving my writing and understand cinema on a larger scale.

This leads me to contribute to other sites. Contributing ensures that I manage a more work-ethic approach to film-writing. That doesn't mean I don't like it of course, it just means I need to prioritise and prepare on a weekly basis and this, in turn, ensures my approach is more professional.

Armond White highlights the difference between Film Enthusiasts and Film Professionals - and I could write a whole post about the definitive difference between the two. I aspire to be a Film Professional because I love cinema and, like any profession, it requires dedication, commitment and perseverance.

The following three sites are not in any particular order and are just a way for me to explain why I respect and admire these blogs - and are proud to contribute to their sites.

Flickering Myth - Back in the days of The Simon and Jo Film Show I first noticed this blog. Amongst other writers, Luke Owen wrote extensively on different franchises - Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th - and, most recently, writing about trilogies such as Scream and Jurassic Park. The site is UK-based, which means the films discussed are much more in line with my own interests and preferences. The site wrote extensively on the London Film Festival and, only in the last week, my first post was added to the site. My articles will be exclusive to Flickering Myth and are 'Comments on the Commentators' whereby I will be commenting in response to articles in the press. Thanks to Gary for taking me on board!

The Matinee - Ryan seems to listen to alot of podcasts. Whenever I tune into Reel Insight or Frankly, My Dear there is always a mention of Ryan's letter during the week. Ryan became the only guest on The Simon and Jo Film Show when we reviewed Green Zone and then, again, reviewed the film on his podcast The Matineecast. Following the end of my own podcast, Ryan approached me to co-host a short 12-part series on different directors and I gladly accepted. This ensured a more analytical approach to directorial styles, approaches and interests in my favourite medium of podcasting. Suffice to say, we enjoyed the first bunch and are in the process of creating a few more episodes so stay tuned for that ...

Man, I Love Films - Six months ago, Dylan of Blog Cabins and Kai of The List joined forces to create the blog Man, I Love Films. Dylan was one of the first listeners and supporters of The Simon and Jo Film Show podcast - indeed, I am sure that his praise and highlighting of the podcast on his own blog is what garnered us The LAMB following we eventually built. Suffice to say, Dylan asked me to write Classic Film Reviews and initially providing an opportunity to explore context of films pre-1975 and then analyse a films meaning, recently over the last two months, I have taken the same analytical approach to Classic Film Franchises - specifically Star Wars and Rocky. My continuing interest in film-analysis is cemented in this regular writing and I always look forward to watching - and then writing - about films for the Classic Columb.

These are great sites that I am proud to place on the site and support where possible. I am sure that if you read this blog, you must be aware of a few of these sites but make sure you check out the others.

For me, and now my writing, they all offer different focus-points on cinema that will ensure you learn and become more literate in the world of cinema.

Nb - It seems that The Simon and Jo Film Show is what links all these eventual connections ... maybe its a sign...

Across the Blogosphere...

I've been busy this Half-Term. Covering a few films at The London Film Festival, continuing the Star Wars posts for Man, I Love Films, managing to watch a special screening of The Matrix and even squeezing in an analysis on the new Tintin film! I have also tried to re-organise some of the scroll-down menu's if you wanted to see some analysis of some other films - in fact, I wanted to re-release the analysis of the Saw films, but decided against it.

But, blogs continue to build with posts coming from every angle so of course I have been reading a few and I thought I'd highlight a couple...

Across the Blogosphere ...

I wrote about Star Wars on Man, I Love Films and I have spent all of this week listening to the Nitrate series from The Hollywood Saloon. I paid for it and wrote about why here, but for those who still have yet to experience John and Andy at The Hollywood Saloon you have a new episode, free of charge, available whereby they discuss Tintin and the importance of the foreign market - are we going to get better or worse films now that Hollywood are focussing their attention on winning over the world-market rather than merely the US-territory.

I only watched Drive last night and it seems that Ryan Gosling is everywhere - Drive, Crazy Stupid Love and The Ides of March. In the first instance, Films from the Supermassive Black Hole compared Gosling to another similar actor whilst Ryan reviewed The Ides of March.

I found an older post on Anomalous Materials and, upon commenting, I feel like I have made an enemy in Ben Cooper. He wrote his Top 5 James Scores - and I disagreed ...

On Big Thoughts From a Small Mind, a post summarised why Pete Posthelwaite was so important to Hollywood. On watching a section from In the Name of the Father I was reminded about how great he is too. He will be missed.

One more? Nick has now seen all three Godfather films - and, as everyone, he was underwhelmed with The Godfather Part III...

Across the Blogosphere ...

I haven't created a post like this for a while. But, when there is some good stuff out there, you blow the horn and let people know. Taking a leaf from Andy Buckle's 'Links' Page, I'll first link to posts you may have missed that I have written before telling you others I recommend. A huge bunch has been written as analysis-posts for Man, I Love Film with reviews of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Guard, but exclusively on Screen Insight I have covered the American Pie trilogy: American Pie, American Pie 2 and American Pie: The Wedding.

Elsewhere, Ryan - of The Matinee - has covered extensively on the Toronto Film Festival. Last year I used his TIFF coverage to help me choose my own choice films from the London Film Festival - indeed, this influence will continue this year...

Kai has also been a busy-bee with his own coverage of the TVIFF festival in California. I believe that during his time covering this festival he managed to nab an interview with actor Mike Wiles (Fight Club and Magnolia to name a few)!

The Kid in the Front Row always delivers with some great content and, only recently, he collected together a bunch of articles he has written on The West Wing. I know he loves it, but alas, I do not. Which reminds me, Jess from Insight into Entertainment also placed up her Top 5 West Wing episodes. I don't like The West Wing - let's just clarify that again.

I have been absolutely loving the LAMBcast of recent months - specifically due to the Rants and Raves of the Week. In fact, if I tune out with the 'main feature', I will skip ahead to the rants and raves. The passion, the frustration ... brilliant!

And finally, Ben Cooper at Anomalous Materials wrote a brilliant write-up about his love for John Williams Schindler's List score. It is incredible and I only wish that more people wrote about soundtracks ... that reminds me... I really should do another Incredible Soundtrack post ...