Scattered Frames: Philomena was frozen for 12 years in Nebraska
Hello everybody! Welcome to the latest edition of Scattered Frames, and the last one before Hollywood’s biggest night, the Academy Awards! I’m still watching as many films as my schedule allows me, and I’ve finally finished seeing all the movies nominated in the major Oscar categories!
Still, there are a few other notable 2013 releases that I hope I can get to before I turn in my yearly Top 10 (yes, in March). So, without further ado, here are my thoughts on four of the biggest award contenders of 2013.
12 Years a Slave: Culturally and socially relevant filmmaking at its best, 12 Years a Slave is a poignant history lesson and a harrowing account of a race’s suffering told through the excruciating (and true) experience of a man whose will to live never wavered. Told via superb writing, cinematography, editing and, most of all, acting, Solomon Northup’s story of survival tugs at the heartstrings and should make us feel ashamed for ever treating fellow human beings as objects. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Fassbender and Sarah Paulson are excellent. 4.5/5
Frozen: I’m very picky about animated films, and this one didn’t manage to thaw my cold heart towards them. Frozen is not a terrible film, but it’s definitely not at the level of the Disney classics and, while it does introduce a few tweaks to the formula, it’s nothing groundbreaking. Instantly forgettable. 2.5/5
Philomena: This little drama could’ve benefited from some trimming, but the slightly long running time doesn’t lessen the film’s impact. Great acting and two very solid performances –by Judi Dench and Steve Coogan- anchor this Best Picture nominee, which shows us the scary lengths some people will go to, motivated by greed or close-minded, hateful views. Also, it’s refreshing to see an atheist character portrayed as a normal human being (he’s an asshole, but that’s another story) and not as an evil hatemonger. 4/5
Nebraska: Leisurely paced though far from boring, Alexander Payne’s black-and-white Nebraska is a funny and engrossing road trip in the company of possibly the most callous, unfriendly, stubborn old coot (Bruce Dern) and the estranged son (Will Forte) who just wants to humor his old man before losing him forever. Beautiful cinematography, sharp writing and solid work from Forte, June Squibb and especially Dern are a huge part of this film’s appeal. 4/5
I agree on three of the four (I think Frozen very, very good and perhaps Disney’s best ever).
12 Years is especially amazing, what with it’s powerful thematic application to the modern world. Corrupt systems continue corrupting otherwise good people.
LikeLike
Glad we’re mostly in agreement. Happy you found lots to love with Frozen. As you can see, I didn’t think it was special.
LikeLike
I still need to see Nebraska and Philomena. I would rather poke myself in the eye than watch Frozen.
LikeLike
Those are very good! Hope you see them soon.
And yeah, Frozen is not very good. I remember you hating Tangled, so I’m guessing you’d have a similar reaction.
LikeLike
I fell asleep in Tangled. It was sooooo boring. The horse was kind of funny though.
LikeLike
Frozen was boring too. And for a musical, the songs were mostly forgettable.
LikeLike
I ALWAYS hate the songs…
LikeLike
LOL. Then you are DEFINITELY not gonna like this.
LikeLike
Glad you love Nebraska! That’s one of my faves from 2013, I like it more than I thought I would!
LikeLike
Totally the same here!
LikeLike
I’m really embarrassed to say I havent seen any of these 😦
LikeLike
Don’t be! Just watch them soon 😉
LikeLike
I was very surprised by Nebraska. Very funny and heart-warming. Much better than I thought it’d be.
LikeLike
Seems like many of us agree on that. I was pleasantly surprised too.
LikeLike
Man I really need to see Nebraska! Really annoyed I missed that one at cinemas. Shame you didn’t like Frozen though mate, I had a lot of fun with that one.
LikeLike
You really do. It’s a simple and surprisingly good. And yeah, I really thought I’d love Frozen but it was so bland, I thought.
LikeLike
I’d take a half star off Philomena because of slight repetition in its storytelling and I’d also give Nebraska top marks but a fine post all the same Fernando. Is that you all sorted now for the big day?
LikeLike
Thanks, Mark. We still like both movies 😉 And yeah, I managed to see all the major nominees before the big day. Bring on the Oscars!
LikeLike
Bravo sir! I still never got around to Captain Phillips and doubt I will now. Anyway, I nearly made it. Bring on the Oscars indeed! 🙂
LikeLike
Whatever, it’s only one. And not that good if you ask me, hehe
LikeLike
Aah! The reason i put it off was because it didn’t really grab me. I was only checking it out because some seemed to love it. That makes me feel a bit better now. 😉
LikeLike
The acting is great but I thought the film’s approach to good and evil was very black-and-white (literally).
LikeLike
Great Scattered Frame work man. I’m surprised to hear your reaction to Frozen, but pleased at the same time. I straight-up avoided it because i thought i sounded quite overrated. I’m not the biggest Disney animated film fan anyway. I don’t really think The Little Mermaid is great. Blasphemy? So be it. 😛
As for the others, good to see you hold Nebraska in high regard as well. I thought that was absolutely fantastic. 12 Years a Slave I didn’t like that much but appreciated it’s importance even if it was ridiculously overblown.
And Philomena I had no interest in, so I can’t weigh in on that
LikeLike
Thanks, Tom! I’m a HUGE Disney fan, but I didn’t dig Frozen. Hatin’ on The Little Mermaid, though… that IS blasphemy! haha
Nebraska was a great surprise and I was also surprised at how much I liked 12 Years a Slave. I almost wanted to dislike it and be against the majority or whatever, haha.
And I understand not wanting to see Philomena, but I thought it was pretty solid.
LikeLike
Pingback: Lock ‘em in: final predictions before the Oscars! | Committed to Celluloid
Pingback: My Top 10 of 2013 (yes, in March) | Committed to Celluloid