Sunday Top Ten - People who need an Oscar... IMMEDIATELY

It's been great to take a nice long break from any Oscar-related discussion. It's mostly a source of negative energy, but I think I've had a sufficient layoff from my awards bitterness to survive an Oscary list. I'll try to put together an Oscar list with a more positive theme one of these days, but this week I'm drawing attention to those poor individuals who, for no good reason, have been unfairly slighted by the Academy a few too many times.

It shouldn't bother me as much as it does. After all, the brilliant work of these people speaks for itself. A rational person shouldn't need the Academy to validate one's admiration of these artists by bestowing on them the title of Academy-Award-winner. But the Oscars are hardly rational themselves, and they certainly bring out the irrational in me. Here, in my irrational opinion, are the ten (or more) people, still working at the top of their game, who need an Oscar IMMEDIATELY.

A few words on The Way Back

I've been kinda lackadaisical on film reviews the last couple of months (more important things to write about this time of year don'tchyknow). You can always catch my abbreviated thoughts on late-year releases here.

But I only just finally got the chance to take in Peter Weir's modest epic (if there is such a thing) The Way Back, and just thought I aught to make my advocacy known. It's a marvelous movie that excels on a structure of succinct, clipped scenes as opposed to an overt three-act plot construction. The objective is that we're to pay more attention observing the group dynamic, which is a less dramatic but more humanistic approach to storytelling. A true ensemble piece it may be, but I have to single out one of my new favourite performances of the year from Ed Harris, who delivers a master lesson in emotion by understatement. The whole thing is beautifully shot by Russell Boyd, and the Oscar-nominated makeup is remarkably detailed. (***1/2 out of ****)