Since new, watchable television continues to dry up, I'm going to turn my attention to the cinema (as Warren Cheswick would say) for a post. To help ease my depression about tonight's lack of an actual Golden Globes awards show, I'm going to bestow some film awards of my own.
It seems that there are about a billion different organizations that hand out film awards every year, so I thought I'd go ahead and throw my hat into the ring. With a little more publicity, perhaps my awards will expand and in a few years maybe the nominees will be showing up at my door in fancy outfits. (By then I suppose I will have to actually make some sort of physical award to give them, but we can worry about that later.)So, here's my list of the first annual Stuff Ann's Seen Awards a.k.a. the SAS Awards a.k.a. the Sassies! To be nominated or to win, the work must be in a movie released in 2007 that I actually saw...so obviously that limits the competition significantly. The list may have to be eventually revised if/when I catch up on some of the films I wanted to see but didn't.
Best Film Nominees:
- Atonement
- August Rush
- In the Land of Women
- Knocked Up
- Juno
- Spider-Man 3
- Waitress
Analysis: In retrospect, I think my favorite parts of Knocked Up were the fake outtakes with James Franco and Michael Cera that were posted on the internet. I liked In the Land of Women, but more because of my love of Adam Brody/Seth Cohen than for any particularly great aspect of the film itself. I also enjoyed Spider-Man 3, but acknowledge that it isn't exactly the best film of the year. August Rush and Waitress were both well-done, likable and moving (Waitress's main flaw was expecting me to hate Jeremy Sisto, which takes an awful lot of effort on my part). But this is a two-film battle between Juno and Atonement. Atonement was classy, creepy and beautiful and seamlessly produced feelings of great paranoia and disparagement. The film was certainly a masterpiece of using performance, music, cinematography, etc. to instill a single, unifying mood. But, I'm going to give the win to Juno. Although I didn't like it as much as last year's powerhouse small indie comedy Little Miss Sunshine, Juno was still funny, smart and surprisingly touching without being sappy or over-the-top. And, come on, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner and Michael Cera in the same movie. Enough said.
Best Actor Nominees:
- Adam Brody, In the Land of Women
- Jon Heder, Blades of Glory
- Freddie Highmore, August Rush
- Tobey Maguire, Spider-Man 3
- James McAvoy, Atonement
Analysis: I doubt I'll ever tire of the Adam Brody/Seth Cohen shtick, Tobey got to display a new range in the Spider-Man trilogy as a less-likable Peter, Jon Heder did a solid Johnny Weir impression (!), and Freddie gave a powerful, believable performance as a music prodigy. But, coming as a surprise to basically no one who knows me and my film tastes, the Sassy goes to James McAvoy for his work in Atonement. And fantastically good work it was, as he proved (yet again) that while he could rely solely on his hotness and very blue eyes, he doesn't have to. His work in the war scenes was harrowing and he was downright scary (good) in the reunion scene with older Briony.
Best Actress Nominees:
- Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up
- Keira Knightley, Atonement
- Ellen Page, Juno
- Keri Russell, Waitress
Analysis: First of all, props to Keira for being the only actress in the category to NOT play a character dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Also props to Keira for her turn as Atonement's Cecilia, my favorite performance of hers ever. Heigl held up well amongst the bawdiness of Knocked Up, but the race here is between Ellen and Keri. Ellen was great as Juno--truly carrying the film with her combination of searing wit and vulnerability. But the Sassy goes to Keri (often overlooked by other awards) for her engrossing turn as the bitter, desperate and sarcastic pregnant pie-maker. Her hilarious "Dear Damn Baby..." voice-over cemented her win.
Best Supporting Actor Nominees:
- Michael Cera, Juno
- James Franco, Spider-Man 3
- Andy Griffith, Waitress
- Justin Long, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
- Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, August Rush
Analysis: There are quite a few of my favorites smushed together in this one category. Justin provided my favorite part of Walk Hard with his spot-on George Harrison impersonation, Michael Cera was awkwardly irresistible as always in Juno, Andy Griffith was funny and touching as the sage pie store owner, and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was desperately hot and quite a good singer in August Rush. The Sassy goes to James Franco for (presumably) Harry's last hurrah. I mean, there was a scene where he made and omelet and did the twist--come on, no one else had a chance.
Best Supporting Actress Nominees:
- Jennifer Garner, Juno
- Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
- Jenna Fisher, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
- Michelle Pfeiffer, Hairspray
Analysis: Jenna Fisher did a good job with her very anti-Pam Beesly over-the-top character and Pfeiffer's evil blonde was about the only thing I liked about Hairspray (I guess it was a problem that I usually agreed with her nasty assessments of the other characters). The real race here is between Jen Gar and Saoirse. Saoirse was a revelation in Atonement, playing the creepy little girl so well that she came dangerously close to stealing the show from James McAvoy (no easy task) and Keira Knightley. Saoirse's performance was all the more brilliant because I really couldn't tell if she was just confused or actually pure evil. The Sassy, however, goes to Jennifer. Obviously already a favorite of mine, Jen freaking broke my heart with her work in Juno--making her character somewhat unlikeable in the beginning only to turn her into the person I most wanted to be happy at the end.
Best Musical Performance:
- Michael Cera and Ellen Page, "Anyone Else But You," Juno
- Hugh Grant, "Pop Goes My Heart," Music and Lyrics
- Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova, "Falling Slowly," Once
- John C. Reilly, "Royal Jelly," Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers, August Rush
Analysis: Yep, I saw Hairspray and didn't nominate it in the Best Musical Performance category. There's a reason for that. Jonathan Rhys Meyers (with the help of Mick from Moonlight!) performed well as an Irish rock singer and Michael and Ellen's version of "Anyone Else But You" is adorable. The hilarious Bob Dylan spoof song was my favorite musical number in Walk Hard and it is awesome that even after achieving a large amount of success in the movie business, Hugh Grant is still willing to make such a fool of himself. But the category's winner (perhaps on a technicality) is "Falling Slowly" from Once, which I have not seen, but I think the song is pretty great.
