Sean's Run at the Oscars IV, 2-5-04
Feb. 5th, 2004 10:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kilroyAnd now with Mystic River, I have completed the set of Best Pictures still in theater. Still got Seabiscuit left to rent, and Big Fish if I have time to catch it before it leaves theaters.
This film was really good, but it was no work of genius. The cinematography was a touch sloppy, the direction was sometimes inconsistent, and the score was far too loud for this kind of movie. Every once in a while I found myself doing mental editing, cutting shots and re-placing the camera, adjusting sound effects and playing with the invariably ominous lighting. These are not signs of a classic to me-- a perfect 10 is a film that I can't imagine being better, and this film was not that.
However, in its defense, the Acting in this film was phenomenal. I use the capital "A" here because the subject matter is highly, highly emotional and charged with an emphasis you don't really get with, say, Lost in Translation. This is a powerful movie- it could not be otherwise given the subject matter. Sean Penn was absolutely bloody amazing, and literally everyone in the cast handed in top-shelf performances. Laura Linney's last scene gave me shivers. Kevin Bacon acted. And Tim Robbins was, as usual, a consummate artist.
So: any acting wins for Mystic River are good with me. I'd even let it slide for Best Screenplay. But if this one takes Best Picture or Best Director over the competition, I'll eat my hat.
This film was really good, but it was no work of genius. The cinematography was a touch sloppy, the direction was sometimes inconsistent, and the score was far too loud for this kind of movie. Every once in a while I found myself doing mental editing, cutting shots and re-placing the camera, adjusting sound effects and playing with the invariably ominous lighting. These are not signs of a classic to me-- a perfect 10 is a film that I can't imagine being better, and this film was not that.
However, in its defense, the Acting in this film was phenomenal. I use the capital "A" here because the subject matter is highly, highly emotional and charged with an emphasis you don't really get with, say, Lost in Translation. This is a powerful movie- it could not be otherwise given the subject matter. Sean Penn was absolutely bloody amazing, and literally everyone in the cast handed in top-shelf performances. Laura Linney's last scene gave me shivers. Kevin Bacon acted. And Tim Robbins was, as usual, a consummate artist.
So: any acting wins for Mystic River are good with me. I'd even let it slide for Best Screenplay. But if this one takes Best Picture or Best Director over the competition, I'll eat my hat.