7×7 Link Award

I am happy to announce that in the last couple of days, two of my blogger friends, Alexander (Cinemaniac) and Mark (the aptly named Marked Movies), recommended me for the “7×7 Link Award”. Thank you so much, guys! It’s an honor and I appreciate it. It really means a lot to me that people in different countries like what I have to say about movies, my favorite subject, enough to hand me an award for it, even if it’s just symbolic. There are three rules for accepting this award, though, and they are:

#1: Tell everyone something that no one else knows about you.

I bet it happens to some of you as well, but I haven’t discussed this openly before: my being a “movie snob” sometimes takes a toll on my personal relationships. Either my friends don’t want to go see a movie with me (be it at the theater or at home) because they hate when I get too critical or I personally choose to avoid company when watching a film because I feel like none of my friends and no one in my family has decent taste in movies. It sounds sort of depressing, but I’d rather go to the movies alone than suffer with someone that doesn’t have the same passion for cinema as I have or that doesn’t follow the same “rituals”. I hope I don’t come off as antisocial, it’s just that, for me (and I bet for some of you too) film is a religion, and it should be treated with respect, not just as a way of killing time.

#2: Link to one of the posts that I personally think best fits the following categories:

– Most Beautiful Piece: Like some of my blogger friends, I don’t really feel comfortable saying something that I wrote is “beautiful” but, if any of my reviews comes close to deserving that adjective, is the one I did for Midnight in Paris. An enchanting film and my favorite of last year, Woody Allen’s latest brought out the best in me.

– Most Helpful Piece: In Film Nist. This is a movie that escaped Iran inside a USB drive hidden in a cake. Clearly, it deserves a watch. I’m glad that, with my review, I contributed to bring a little more attention to this cathartic exercise.

– Most Popular Piece:  It’s a little ironic that my review for John Carter is my most popular review yet, since the movie wasn’t very popular itself (it’s actually a tragic flop that forced Disney Studios Chairman, Rich Ross, to resign). My review for The Hunger Games was pretty popular too, maybe due to the fact that I wrote more than just a paragraph and I included a pretty cool poster.

– Most Controversial Piece: My review wasn’t controversial per se, but a lot of my friends (on the Internet and in “real life”) think I’m crazy when I say that Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my favorite out of the eight films.

– Most Surprisingly Successful Piece: Pleasantville. Here’s a movie that, despite its quality, is not very well known nor does it feature any huge movie stars (Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon became idols years after this little gem). It’s at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes but didn’t win any Oscars or made much money at the box office. I was surprised to see that most of my followers seem to love this movie as much as me. I foolishly thought I was the only one. Now we have something else in common.

– Most Underrated Piece: When I first watched 12 Angry Men about a year ago, I started daydreaming about what I would do if I had absolute power over the casting of a present-day remake of that amazing courtroom drama. My casting suggestions post is still there, all alone at 0 likes and 0 comments.

– Most Pride-Worthy Piece: That’s easy. The review I did for my favorite movie and the one that started it all, Kill Bill, Vol. I, which was featured in the Australian site, SBS Film.

#3: Pass this award on to seven other bloggers.

First of all, I want to mention six bloggers whose work I really appreciate. I know for a fact that all of them are previous recipients of the “7×7 Link Award” so they’re not part of my seven, but I still love them, OK?

Mark Hobin: his blog is the first I followed and he was actually the one who inspired me to start my own. That man has an incredible way with words and his reviews should be published in print media and he should be getting paid big bucks for it. Alexander: he’s my most loyal reader and I am his. He loves “pimping out” his already very cool blog, just finished writing his own screenplay and even developed an app. Oh, and he’s just 14! Which brings me to Alec. He’s another young man with a lot to say. His latest review (The Debt) signals a great talent that’s just getting started. I wish I had that same passion and dedication at their age. They are the future of movie criticism. Mark Walker: a man that clearly loves cinema and isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. He hates Margaret Thatcher (as you can see in the comments section of my review for The Iron Lady) and loves The Big Lebowski. You can always count on him for a good movie discussion. Amy: she’s probably the nicest film critic out there but if she hates a movie, she’ll definitely let you know. She doesn’t stick to one genre or type, she watches everything from blockbusters to arthouse to animation. Plus, her site is so pretty. And last but not least, Andy, who is the busiest blogger I follow, writing one or two reviews each day. They’re smartly written, brief but insightful. He’s going to Ebertfest in a few days and I’m jealous.

Now for the 7 lucky winners:

Deryn (Silverscene): I’ve only read one of his reviews since I subscribed to his blog and he completely won me over. He’s a great writer and his love for film is evident. Follow him on Twitter.

Cory (Ancient’s Writing Portfolio): the only one on this list who isn’t a film critic. His short stories are inspired by anything that pops into his head. A talented storyteller, he writes about themes as diverse as vampires, pot dealers, haunted houses and the monster that lives in your shower. His tales are so detailed that you can’t help but be transported. He’s great at humor and suspense. Follow him on Twitter.

Steve (In The Frame Film Reviews): I wish Steven’s blog was on WordPress because that would make things certainly easier but it’s fine; he’s worth the trouble. He just wrapped up his 100 movies you should see before you die and still posts regularly. He’s a talented writer, great for discussion, he absolutely adores movies (and music) and our tastes are pretty similar. Follow him on Twitter.

Andy (The Film Oracle): it’s crazy how many “Andys” and “Marks” are on here, right? In all seriousness, Andy K. is awesome. He combines movie reviews with trailer posts. His opinions are well argumented and his style is fresh. He includes plot and other details in his reviews so you can get a clear idea of what the movie’s like without having to see it, but doesn’t spoil it. He always has great responses to your comments, as well. Follow him on Twitter.

Amon (AMONymous Blog): he always has something interesting to say about the latest wide release or blockbuster in his neatly designed blog. His reviews are brief but include everything you need to know about what works and what doesn’t in a movie. Amon Warmann also writes for Yin & Yang. Follow him on Twitter.

Dave (Flickers): I recently started following this blog and I’m already a big fan. Dave wants to educate his kids on the power of cinema, which I think is a great parenting decision. His “Musings Through Filtered Ears” are so cool. Follow him on Twitter.

Ben (Achilles and the Tortoise): he’s equally at home writing about popular movies and obscure titles you’ve never heard about. His “world cinema” reviews are especially amazing. The design of his site is simple and modern. He writes for Static Mass, too. Follow him on Twitter.