Oscar Film Critique

Benjamin Straits

Period 2

Film class

Oscar Film Analysis

The Oscars is its own type of film critic that uses the ideas and opinions of bored, over paid critics. The Academy Awards have given now over eighty-three best picture awards, along with many other different awards, but who has a say in this? Not the millions of viewers and fans of these movies. But this is where we have a say, and this is mine. No I cannot say that I am a prestige’s movie critic, nor do I have a degree in film analysis, but I am a movie fan, just like the rest of the world. Three of my most favorite movies this year were, The Social Network, Inception, and Toy Story 3. And this years best picture award goes to…. Inception! I don’t believe that I need to fight for this movie but I will. Every one of these movies has its ups and downs. Even with that said, its hard to judge these movies against themselves due to their wide variety of genera’s that they cover.

My choice for Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, to win the academy award for best picture isn’t only because of its incredible use of CG and amazing cast, but it did play a role in my decision. The incredible use of angles and lighting to portray emotion, suspense and drama, truly blew all the other movies out of the water. The most outstanding part to this movie was the scene when they have to get the “sleeping” bodies out of the hotel, in order to “kick” them back to save them. The dark lit lights and outstanding use of angles make the scene so memorable. The dark lighting makes the scene feel full of suspense and dramatic drama. The curious use of oblique angles gives the sensation of constant confusion and angst. As you watch eh scene unravel in Real D 3D, you feel as though you are being rushed out of the room as well with the characters. The constant illusion of reality sucks you into the formalistic world. At the end you search for closure in one of the most blood pumping cliffhangers, but its nowhere to be found. These are just a few reasons for my opinion to choose Inception. But what about the competitors?

As I said above some of my more favorite movies this year were, Toy Story 3, and The Social Network. As I watched The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, for the first time this weekend, the reality of the movie struck me even more when I opened my computer and hit the Internet application and Facebook opened up. That was when the true impact of the movie hit me. All six hundred million people in the world, including the two hundred and twenty two countries that are a part of the Facebook obsession, can feel some sort of connection to this movie due to the impact that this website has made in our everyday lives. One of the most memorable scenes for me was when the CFO Eduardo, finds his stock has been diminished, goes into a rage at CEO Mark, as he screams at mark the low-angle shot gives Eduardo the power in the shot as he threatens Mark for tons of money. Toy Story 3, directed by Lee Unkrich, also delivers a great fight for best picture. In the end it couldn’t compare to the other two movies. The bright upbeat lighting in Toy Story offers a great picture for everyone to see. This movie was an excellent way to add to the great series of Toy Story movies. The great Formalistic CGI movie takes the gang of lively toys on an excellent adventure as their beloved own heads out to college, and its time for the toys to go. On their adventure they are donated to a local children’s school where at night the toys rule. The leader of the toys, Lotso, seems to be friendly but turns out to be the villain, in one epic scene with Lotso, and Woody. The dark lighting and low angle shots involved in this scene show Lotso as the dominant, larger toy. But n the end Lotso ends up attached to a truck. Overall, all three movies are great nominations for best motion picture.

Inception gets my vote for best picture for the 83^rd annual Academy Awards. The overall drama and suspense, mixed with the awesome use of film elements makes this the best movie of the year. Inception gets an overwhelming five stars from me. It does need a little bit of a warning for the use of violence and language. All three of these movies are a must watch. Though I am not a film critique, I truly believe Inception is the best film. I believe that the best film award should go to the viewers, not the critics, and this is one viewer’s bid.