Directed By: Quentin Tarantino
Written By: Quentin Tarantino
IMDB

Inglourious Basterds is a hellacious thrill ride through the Nazi Occupation in France circa World War II. When Lt. Aldo Raine and his Basterds are dropped into enemy territory they have only one goal: intimidation. Alternatively, in the words of Raine, "killin' Nazis." In the eyes of Raine, the more brutal the Nazi killings, the more fear will be spread throughout the Third Reich, which will possibly lead to their eventual surrender.

The scope of Basterds is grand, with Tarantino seamlessly blending French, German, and English languages with the characters on screen. The film is also multi-layered, showing different viewpoints from each side involved in the war. The chapter style narrative is classic QT, and the vignettes that separate the various points of the story only add to the drama. Thus, it's a bit hard to describe what the viewer is in for without a tremendous amount of spoilers.

"Who in the hell is Christoph Waltz?" That's a phrase that will never be uttered by anyone with the privilege of watching Waltz go to work as SS Colonel Hans Landa. I dare anyone to find a more definite Oscar winner this year. Pitt is entertaining as Lt. Aldo Raine, and the caricatures of the various infamous Nazi members are equally funny. Tarantino writes dialogue that actors dream of reciting, so none of this should come as a surprise.

Basterds is an original screenplay by Quentin Tarantino, so the film is a revisionist look at World War II. Those expecting any kind of historical accuracy will be sorely disappointed. Go in expecting to watch a master filmmaker exercise his creative muscle with wanton abandon. Inglourious Basterds cannot be missed. Thank Avatar in advance for snubbing QT at the Oscars again.

Final rating: 96/100

Directed By: Lee Daniels
Written By: Geoffrey Fletcher (screenplay) & Sapphire (novel)
IMDB

Precious, based on a novel titled "Push" by Sapphire, is a bleak look into the reality of 16 year old Claireece "Precious" Jones. Precious is poverty incarnate. She lives in Harlem and is uneducated, poor, a victim of sexual abuse, and not only pregnant, but already the mother of a child. When her high school learns of her pregnancy, she's suspended and recommended to join an alternative school for children who will attempt to meet the needs of her situation.

As stated, in a word, the movie is bleak. The film is being marketed as inspirational with some kind of uplifting story, but there can be nothing farther from the truth. The film may appear to end with a happy message, but what kind of life is Precious going to lead? She has two children, no family to lean on, and is just beginning to understand the basic concepts of most subjects in school. Perhaps the world has become too cynical to believe in a happy ending for Precious.

Most of the praise for this film comes from the acting, and rightfully so. The standout being the Oscar nominated Mo'nique, with such a mean spirit that it's startling. The justification she draws for her actions are equally troubling. Gabourey Sidibe is equally believable as Precious. Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey also lend supporting roles that do just fine.

Precious is Oscar worthy because of the acting and subject matter, but it's the most overhyped film at the awards this year. Though it's not an easy one to watch, and it's not inspiring nor uplifting, it's worth a look to see the reality that some people have to face waking up everyday.

Final rating: 85/100

With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.

Directed By: Jason Reitman
Written By: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner (screenplay), Walter Kirn (novel)
IMDB

The latest film from Jason Reitman stars George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a man who makes a living firing people for companies who are far too cowardly to face their own employees. Bingham believes his rambling man ways are the secret to happiness, and that getting attached and letting the weight and burden of having others in your life is a monumental waste of time. However, when a young gun in the company Natalie comes up with an idea to revolutionize the business by doing all the firing over the internet, Bingham takes a hard look at his life.

There is no more socially relevant film at the Oscars this year than Up in the Air. While the premise of Bingham's job sounds humorous, there is no real comedic aspect to the picture. Many times, the accurate portrayal of the collapse of the economy is a bit too realistic and will hit home with many Americans who have lost their jobs since the job market took a plummet. Reitman hired more than a few non-actors who have lost their job, and so what you'll see in this movie is real people who are facing a very real problem now that they are jobless.

Bingham is the kind of man everyone envies from the outside, but no one really wants to be when they understand the inside. The only connections he makes with people are the brief ones he is required to make when his job calls for it. He goes from town to town living out of a suitcase in various hotels, he's a stranger to his family, and has no wife or child at home. Faced with being grounded, Bingham begins to question what life would be like without the comfort of living behind the facade of his job.

There is nothing much to dislike about Up in the Air, though it falls victim to a few cliches and predictable events. The performances are strong, the story is solid, and what you end up with is a mature well-made film. It may not do anything at the Oscars, and it most likely won't crack my top 5 of the year, but it may land in the top 10.

Final rating: 88/100

Directed By: Neill Blomkamp
Written By: Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell
IMDB

This spectacular Sci-Fi extravaganza centers around an alien race stranded on Earth when their spaceship suddenly comes to a halt over Johannesburg, South Africa. The humans inspect them, and find out that the alien race is a contamination hazard due to their illness, and so they are sent to a slum-area labeled District 9. Humanity shows little compassion toward the alien race, only keeping them around to find a way to use their highly advanced weaponery and biotechnology.

The film is set in South Africa, and District 9 draws many comparisons to the apartheid history of the country. The Prawns, the derogatory slang name for Aliens, are kept in isolation away from others, forced to live in lockdown and under the rule of the military. Their slums are drug havens, ripe with gun trafficking, poverty, and murder. It's easy to draw a human connection with the Prawns, because they value family and friendship, and display many human emotions.

What I love about District 9 is that while the concept may sound far-fetched in print, the story is completely believable. There was never a time where you'll have to suspend disbelief to let some things slide. There's no cheesy action here, because the special f/x blend in seamlessly.

Bottom line, District 9 delivers. I'd love to see this snag an Oscar, but the only one I believe it has an outside shot at is in the effects category, but that's most likely going to Avatar. Oh well. Check this one out.

Final rating: 90/100

Forced to play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse in the chaos of war, an elite Army bomb squad must come together in a city where everyone is a potential enemy and every object could be a deadly bomb.

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow
Written By: Mark Boal
IMDB

The Hurt Locker is just one film in a list of many about the war in Iraq, but it may be the best. What separates The Hurt Locker from various others of the same subject matter is that it never really takes a political stance. That is, the politics of the war and why we are fighting never come into fruition. Instead, we dive head first into the mind of a man who is addicted to the adrenaline of diffusing bombs.

Staff Sgt. William James (Renner) is the new blood on an elite bomb squad whose sole purpose is to find bombs, diffuse them (or safely detonate them), and then get the hell out of the way. The rest of the team are by-the-book soldiers, following the rules of the strict training they received before deployment. Sgt. James is a cowboy, who will play the odds and put himself in dangerous situations for the thrill of it all. Naturally, the rest of his team view him as reckless and a danger to not only himself, but others. However, James is the best at what he does, and he won't backdown for anyone. I wouldn't be shocked one bit to see him take home the Oscar for best actor.

The masterful cinematography creates a looming presence of danger at all times. The editing is frenetic, and when it's needed, the suspense is unrelenting. Most of the negative press for this film has come from e/x military or from those who have served in Iraq who have stated that the movie is "unrealistic." Look, this movie never claimed to be anything but an entertaining edge of your seat thrill ride. Does it deliver on that front? Absolutely. Is it realistic? I don't know, I'm not an expert on the procedural aspects of diffusing a bomb, and I doubt 99% of those watching with me are either.

With that said, the Hurt Locker delivers on all the promises it makes. Strong acting performances, heart stopping suspense, and an interesting look at a different side of the Iraq war. This one may win Best Picture.

Final rating: 94/100

Greetings all my fellow maniacs. This week, we'll be having a week long celebration of all things Oscars leading up to the big event on March 7th. Look for reviews of all current films in Oscar contention, our own Oscar predictions, and keep an eye out for the very first edition of the Reel Rewind!

For the major awards, here are the nominees:

Best actor in a leading role
* Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
* George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
* Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
* Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
* Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Best actor in a supporting role
* Matt Damon in “Invictus”
* Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
* Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
* Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
* Christoph Waltz in “Inglorious Basterds”

Best actress in a leading role
* Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
* Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
* Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
* Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
* Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

Best actress in a supporting role
* Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
* Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
* Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
* Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
* Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”

Best in Cinematography
*“Avatar”
*“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”
*“The Hurt Locker”
*“Inglorious Basterds”
*“The White Ribbon”

Best Director
*James Cameron for “Avatar”
*Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker”
*Quentin Tarantino for “Inglorious Basterds”
*Lee Daniels for “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
*Jason Reitman for “Up in the Air”

Best Adapted Screenplay
*“District 9″
*“An Education”
*“In the Loop”
*“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
*“Up in the Air”

Best Original Screenplay
*“The Hurt Locker”
*“Inglorious Basterds”
*“The Messenger”
*“A Serious Man”
*“Up”

Best Picture
*“Avatar”
*“The Blind Side”
*“District 9″
*“An Education”
*“The Hurt Locker”
*“Inglorious Basterds”
*“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
*“A Serious Man”
*“Up”
*“Up in the Air”

I still have a few more to watch before I make my picks, but Derek and I will have full Oscar predictions up before the big event. So be on the lookout and keepin' checkin' back, because we got a ton of stuff planned for this week!

I was alerted of Jeremiah from a sister site I've written for Benevolent Street, so when he asked me to watch and review his short film, I was more than thrilled and happy to do so.

Contact is a short film following a couple who score some kind of drug and get mega tweaked in their apartment, with a somewhat gory result! First of all, Jeremiah gets immediate points for using black and white, because I absolutely love any filmmaker who makes that creative decision.

While the direction is fun, and the short is Lynchian style weird, one of my favorite aspects of the film is the music. An eerie opening theme makes setting a table seem like a terrifying idea. I'm not sure if Jeremiah was going for an anti-drug message here, but it's a definite eerily resemblance to some trips I've had on drugs, (mom don't read this!) and the music makes it even more trippy.

It's an odd little short, and I'd love to see more from Jeremiah in the future. If you'd like to check it out for yourself then head here .

Remember, if you're an amateur filmmaker, shoot me an email and I'll watch your flick and post a review on this very site!