I take it that Russell is the one outside of the four?
Absolutely not! The fact that I'm still unclear as to whether or not his name is Tom Hooper or Hopper says something to the relative anonymity and horrific visual style he presents in The King's Speech, a film that can have all the nominations it wants but I pray directing, cinematography, and editing fall by the wayside.
David O. Russell makes strange movies birthed of active choices, some of which pay off and some don't. He makes films that are either conceptual messes or messes of execution. I (heart) Huckabees has a wonderful spirit to it, but there's nary a scene in the film that isn't kind of a mess. Three Kings is a sublimely confidently executed film, full of wit and panache. Ultimately, I don't know what it's trying to say. It's exemplary work for hire. In a way, so is The Fighter, a movie that is centerless, has nothing to say, and isn't that powerful on the page. David O. Russell invests every margin of the film with a behavioral energy that keeps it invigorating. I wish he had reworked the script a little because arguably he's the most intelligent of the five nominated directors, but he DIRECTS it.
I don't know what Hoo/pper brings to the table per se, but I don't really agree with any of his visual choices, and he certainly had no foresight enough to instill a sense of dread for the onslaught of Naziism throughout his film, giving it the urgency that it needed. To contrast, Roman Polanski as writer and director very wisely shuffles Harris' Grisham-ian conceit until well into the second act such that for the duration of The Ghost Writer it truly feels as though we're watching vintage stylish Polanski.
I can't fault David Fincher's technical proficiency nor imagine a better fit for the myopic script. I think that the film is as entertaining as it is must be credit to his work, although I'd rank it below Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, and Zodiac. Likewise, Darren Aronofsky's movie has ignited a firestorm of "What Is It? Is It Anything? Do We Need It? Do These Questions Matter?" I think five sides are trying to ghettoize it into nine camps (some for Camp). But I like it as a dumb, gripping piece of work, combining The Fountain's wonkiness with The Wrestler's faux verité. Again: I'd rank it below most of his work.
I've been quite vocal about my disdain for Inception. Only the second half of Batman Begins is worse in Nolan's canon. I would argue that as a director, he is devolving. I read he is a fan of Michael Bay and this is becoming evident in the cut-cut-cut monotony of his recent films, however The Dark Knight thrives with an urgency that requires it. If every subsequent Nolan film has the same tempo, count me out. Inception is a failure of screenwriting, a half-failure of directing, and a total success of producing. Nolan the Director is the anonymous presence here, yet I hold so many of his films in high esteem that I can't help but be happy for the man and pissed at the work.
If the Class of 2010 includes Darren Aronofsky, David Fincher, Christopher Nolan, and David O. Russell, then count me shocked into support.
(rolotomasi99 @ Jan. 10 2011,4:25)
Debra Granik walks all over these boys. What she was able to do on such a small budget and with both professional and non-professional actors was amazing. I hope Focus Features or the Weinsteins snap her up and nurture her career.
Damn skippy, son. She's my date for the ball.
Edited By Sabin on 1294698614
