84th ACADEMY AWARDS BEST PICTURE(predictions)

1.War Horse

War horse a film directed by Steven Spielberg is based on the novel of the same name and the stage adaptation.This film is having lots of Oscar buzz with the big names like Steven Spielberg,Emily Watson and John Williams and more  attached to it and is the current favourite to win the Oscar.Its about a boy who decides to embarks a journey to find a his horse which he sold to the Calvary.Having read the novel,it has some touching moments and if portray well on screen ,definitely will bring tears to the audience.After watching the trailer which is well made ,screams Oscar buzz and I have this feeling War Horse will bring home the Oscar for Best Picture.

2.The Descendants

The Descendants directed by Alexander Payne staring George Clooney as a father who tries to reconnect with his daughters after his wife is down with a coma.The Academy loves family drama with some intense storyline and intense acting .For instance, critically acclaimed The Kids Are Alright last year which was nominated for four categories.George Clooney  is getting lots of Oscar buzz for both of his fims The Ides of March and The Descendants at the film festivals and  the Secret Life of the American Teenager, Shailene Woodley who plays one of George Clooneys daughter in the film is also getting rave reviews on her performance.

3.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Another film based on novel this year.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy directed by the Swedish director Tomas Alfredson and has a huge cast with huge talents like Gary Oldman,Colin Firth,John Hurts and many more.Tomas Alfredson is well known for his film Let the Right One In which was  one of my favourite film.He had the skills to insert humanity to a film about cold , cruel vampires and I cant wait to see his take on this novel.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is about finding the black sheep or the double agent at the top british  secret service.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is getting lots of rave reviews from the film festivals in toronto particularly about Gary oldman who could be seeing his first nomination of Best Actor.Gary Oldman plays the character George Smiley who is given task to find this double agent.A film with a good director with a different touch and good and talented cast screams Oscar Best Picture nomination.

4.Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a film directed by Woody Allen is the highest grossing independent films so far this year .Having a huge cast like Owen Wilson,Rachel Mcadams,Marion Cotillard and many more,it is the most successful movie of Woody Allen career in term of box office and many critics also claimed Midnight in Paris is one of the best of all his movies.The movie is about  a screenwriter turn novelist who goes for a vacation with his fiancee to Paris and what he experiences when he decide to take a walk in Paris and got lost.Gil Pender the main character experiences magical journey every night where he start to realise his relationship has some problem.Woody Allen being a favourite of the Academy and the movie receiving great reviews ,I definitely see it getting nominated.

5.The Help

The Help is one of the favourite movies released this year and did fetched both critical and commercial success.Directed by Tate Taylor it has ensemble of great talents like Viola Davis,Emma Stone ,Jessica Chastain,Octavia Spencer and more.The movie deals on the relationship of Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan  played by Emma Stone and her relationship with her two black maids played by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer.The Help is a Academy friendly movie and with good performance from the cast and a plot which infuse sensitive issues with comedy.Therefore,The Help could be nominated.

6. The Ides of March

The Ides of March is a film directed by the charming George Clooney  staring George himself along Ryan Gosling,Evan Rachel Wood,Marisa Tomei and more.The movie is about the events that happens during presidential selection in the point of view of a staff(Ryan Gosling) working to campaign the candidate(Clooney).The Ides of March has great chances to be nominated in the best picture as it is getting good reviews from the critics and has some good performance by Ryan Gosling and Philip Seymour Hoffman.Plus it also had the George Clooney factor.The AMPAS do love George Cooney and being a fourth movie by Clooney,it has bright chances to be nominated.

7.Extremely Loud and Incredibly Loud

Exremely Loud and Incredibly Close is another film to be adapted from a novel this year.Being directed by Stephen Daldry who is a three times Oscar nominee and three of his four films has been nominated for Best Picture.It has a well known cast with Tom Hanks,Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis and more it definitely screams Oscar buzz.I would move this movie in a higher rank  only after the movie is out .The trailer is good but we need to wait to see whether the movie lives up its expectation.

8.Carnage

Directed by Roman Polanski with cast like Jodie Foster,Kate Winslet,Christoph Waltz,John C.Reilly.Need I have to say more?The film is about two pair of parents who decide to talk after their children had a fight in school.The movie is getting great reviews and the scene where Kate Winslets vomits also created some buzz.

9.J.Edgar

J.Edgar a film directed by Clint Eastwood staring Leonardo Dicaprio,Judi Dench,Naomi Watts,Armie Hammer and many more.The movie is the biopic of the J.Edgar Hoover a controversial person in the american history and the movie also deals his alleged secrets  life.The trailer looks good and I feel the performance of actors based on the trailer is also good and if the movie lives up to the expectation,the chances to get nominated is very high.

10.Like Crazy

Like Crazy an independent film directed by Drake Doremus staring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones is getting great reviews and Oscar buzz.The movie which won the Grand Jury Price at Sundace Festival is about long distance relationship and how it affects both of them.Felicity Jones portrayal is  also getting great reviews and is being compared to Carey Mulligan in An Education.Its a touching love story with intense scenes and if campaigned well it will definitely get nominated for Best Picture,for instance  Winter's Bone last year and An Education the year before all simple story line with realistic portrayal.

Other films that could get nominated are :

11.The Artist
The Artist might get nominated because it deals with a different plot compared to other films in the list,silent cinema.However,the reviews and buzz are all toward the main actor of the film and some critics does feel that the film is quite dragging at some point.

12.My Week with Marilyn
I cant say much about this movie because not even a trailer is released. But .based on the poster and talented cast,I have included the film.However,we need to wait and see how the film is.

13.The Tree of Life
Directed by the critically acclaimed director Terrence Malick and staring Brad Pitt,Sean Penn and more.The film could get nominated as the reviews on this film are good .However some critics do also feel the film is quite confusing and hard to understand.

14.Drive
Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and staring Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan.The director won the Best Director in Cannes Film Festival for this film and great reviews for the film could make it a nominee.

15.Young Adult
Directed by Jason Reitman and staring Charlize Theron,the film is about a women who refuses to grow up.With performer like Charlize it could get nominated.



Friday's Best Actor

Noomi Rapace

Noomi Rapace played the bisexual anorexic Lisbeth Salander in the sweedish adaptation of the Stieg Larsson's best seller  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.Her potrayal of the  computer hacker with photographic memory recieved critical aclaim and she was nominated for many award including a BAFTA leading actress nomination.Noomi has a great future ahead her in Hollywood ,so all the best for Noomi Rapace ,the girl with the dragon tattoo.

Pure Talent- Michael Fassbender

As every Friday I dedicate a post  to a actor or actress who brings life to a character  from the pages of  novel  here,I have decided to use every Thursday to highlight actors and actress with lots of talent and have made me a fan of him or her by just of  their wonderful acting.

MICHAEL FASSBENDER

My first post of a actor of raw talent will be about my favourite actor Michael fassbender.Michael Fassbender who is 34 and of german irish descent  caught my attention when I was watching a film known as Hunger.I sat in front the television and didn't  leave my seat until the movie finished.I'm not the type who cries when watching movies but I have to admit I shed tears even after the credits.I was so impressed of his portrayal of Bobby Sands and he exudes pure emotions in every scene he is in.One of my favourite scene is of course the scene where the priest talks with Michael for non-stop 17 minutes.Michael Fassbender did his best in that scene and I couldn't help to just look at his bruised face.Another scene which affected me a lot is of course the scene where Bobby Sands dies.Michael Fassbender had lost so many weight for this particular scene and every second of watching it makes me think of the efforts he has taken  and that was the scene I cried for the first time watching a movie.From that day I was a fan of Michael Fassbender.



Then I bought the DVD of Blood Creek.A role where Michael Fassbender only speaks in german and only shows his face for the first five minutes and the rest of movie covered with artificial makeups.It takes guts for a actor to appear in a film without showing his face  and Michael does have guts.in Fish Tank, Michael played another charming negative character.Its kinda hard to hate him even though he is playing a selfish guy who is married and has a daughter while trying to seduce the main character Mia and her mother.
His portrayal of  Edward Rochester brought him more female fans and his portrayal of Magneto in the First Class introduce him to the younger fanbase.

This year we saw him giving two award winning performance after Hunger and Fish Tank.In a Dangereous Method, we see him as Carl Jung the Swiss psychiatrist.Many recalled that Michael performance in this film was good and kinda subtle as the role is required to be subtle and show less expression compared to Keira's character.He managed to emote well and the scene where he looks at the building where the character Sabina lives,Michael managed to to emote lust and guilt all at the same time.

As many critic had predicted, Michael would be getting oscar buzz for A Dangerous Method before the release of both fims,I had  always had this feeling that if nominated he would be nominated for Shame by the master of unconventional fim Steve Mcqueen .And now I realised I was absolutely right.Michael's potrayal as the sex addict Brandon had made everyone talking about him.His bravery to act such a emotionally unstable person,a vulnerable character and  performing frontal nude scenes had made people talking in awe of this younger modern version of  Daniel Day Lewis.Michael Fassbender played the role Brandon so well and was in almost all scene and in fact the movie is about the shame of Brandon.I guess everyone had watched the train scene where Michael speaks and pours emotions through just his eyes(BRAVO!).Michael was able to portray this character so well that everyone who watch the film including my friend Laura who watched it in Toronto Film Festival said she forgot that she is seeing Michael and just saw the Brandon who was suffering from the inside.  I agree there is lots of  nude and uncomfortable scenes for some people in this movie but I have to say every  nude scenes in the movie  is placed and done because  the script demanded this (yes i have read the script) and therefore there is no wrong in it.Nudity/sex is another vital character in Shame.Its a invisible character where it  is crucial for the film as the film is about Brandon's difficulty of being a prisoner to this invisible character call sex  and I cant see how the director could cut it off the film.Michael Fassbender deserves an Oscar nomination for his wonderful portrayal of Brandon this year.He is a talent that people should be talking about and respect.I wish Michael Fassbender all the best and hopes to see his effort and talent to be appreciated from the academy this year.I'm looking forward of his upcoming roles and would like to see him doing both critically acclaimed movies as well as some commercial movies like X-Men First Class.So what next for Michael ....see him in the 84th Academy Awards!!Lastly ,i would like to dedicate this article also to all the fassys from Fassinating Fassbender....thanks for visiting.Next week ,Memonisma would be highlighting Jessica Chastain .

Games of Thrones - Amazing

I have watched last episode of the Games of Thrones and I have to say I'm a fan from today.I'm gonna go out now and get a copy of the Clash of the Kings and start reading .The performance of the cast of Game of Thrones is amazing.Sean Bean,Lena Headey,Peter Dinklage and many other actors gave memorable performance.Newcomer Maise Williams and Sophie Turner did amazing job. I cant wait for the season 2.However I dont have to wait for the for the copy of Clash of the Kings!! And together with this article ,i'm gonna attach the teser of season 2!

Trailer- Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The new trailer of the the adaptation of the best selling novel by the late Lars Stieg Larson directed by the master of films David Fincher has been released.Being a fan of the book,and watched the swedish version, I thought no one could play Lisbeth Salander like Noomi Rapace but everything changed as i watch this new trailer.Rooney Mara looked and suited well for the role and Daniel Craig as Mikael gives a british touch to it.

I cant wait for the film itself  and looking foward to see Rooney Mara  take on Lisbeth.

Friday's Best Actor

Its friday today and I want to start a tradition here in Memonisma every friday.I have decided to pay a tribute to  actor and actress who was born to play certain character from the pages of a book  and excels in it.

 Anthony Hopkins



Anthony Hopkins was born to play the role of the canibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter in the film Silence of the Lambs based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris.His  facial expression and that smile was so scary and cold that even after many years now when we see him in a event show,we dont see Anthony but Hannibal.Anthony scored a nomination for Academy Best Actor for this role in the year 1991.

Top 15 Harry Potter Character

It has been 5 years since the last book of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  was released and few months since  last installment of the Harry Potter film was released.So as my first post, i would like to pay a tribute for the best characters created by J.K Rowling which will last in our minds and hearts forever.


                                                           15. Peter Pettigrew

Peter Pettigrew  or also known as the traitor who told lord voldermort regarding Harry's parents out of fear and eventually cause both of them to die.Peter Pettigrew is one of the character the readers hated the  most .However ,at the same time there is a little pity we felt toward this character.He is like the spare wheel of the marauders and always treated  like a squib.He is never appreciated by anyone and even though  i don't want to admit this he had also done some bad but great things.Although we hated him to our core ,in a weird way we do feel he wanted to be appreciated even by doing something bad.His hesitant to kill Harry Potter at the malfoys manor made us feel he might have some remorse for his bad deed towards Lilly Potter.

                                                            14.Remus Lupin

Remus Lupin the quiet  and mysterious werewolf .He was the father figure for Harry during his third year at Hogwarts and became one of Harry's  most loyal adult friend.He was so brave and loyal to Harry and lost his life for Harry leaving behind his son Ted Lupin.It is a sad thing that Remus Lupin is one of the underused character in the film series.However his loyalty toward Harry and the order and to sacrifice of his and tonks life deserve a spot in our top 15.

                                                
                                                                   13.Dobby

Dobby the free elf.Dobby used to be house elf of the malfoys and proved itself to be a loyal friend to Harry ,Ron and Hermione.The kindness and sense of humour made Dobby leap into our hearts.The death of Dobby was one of the painful part in the books and made readers to shed tears.Dobby will always be in our heart.

                                                         12.Lord Voldermort  

Tom Marvolo Riddle  also known as  Lord Voldermort made up into my list for being a soulless villain.Lord Voldermort is one of villain you don't want to mess with.Unable to feel remorse or sympathy made him a cold hearted person.However,its his flashbacks in the half blood prince that made him memorable.His dark past as he was growing up and how charming and manipulative he can be make us wonder if he didn't lose the second wizarding war, what is the fate of the  magical world.


                                                            11.Draco Malfoy

Draco Malfoy,one of J.K Rowlings dark character with grey shades.Draco Malfoy is the spoilt rich brat who also grows internally as the series progresses.Unlike his tough personality outwards,Draco Malfoy is actually the complete opposite inside.Although he is a bully ,and loathes muggles first,he did hesitate to identify the trio at malfoy manor and did stop Goyle from shooting spells toward Harry in the room of requirements.Draco Malfoy sensitive nature that comes to surface as the series goes on made him worthy to be in the list.


                                                    10.Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom the  underdog at the beginning of the series and grows into a brave leader at the end of the series.He is the other boy who Trelwaney referred in the prophecy and if Severus Snape had stayed longer that day when the prophecy was made,he could be the boy who lived.However he did also get his own moment when he killed Nagini  bravely.Neville transformation from a boy who is bullied and taunted to a leader with courage is of course worthy to be in  the list.



                                                               9. Sirius Black

Sirius Black,Harry's rebel godfather also known as padfoot towards his close friends made to the list for his sarcastic attitude.He is a kid at heart even though he is a man.His love and care towards Harry is so moving for the readers as we know they both had lost their loved ones.The part where Sirius dies is also one of the saddest parts of the whole series.Sirius Black will be always remembered as the sarcastic rebel with a golden heart.


                                                            8.Luna Lovegood

Luna Lovegood the dreamy eyed ravenclaw is one of the most amusing and favourite characters of the  fans.The opposite of the logical Hermione,Luna always speaks something weird but funny all the time.Fans love the part where she commentates the quiditch match.As for the films goes,the scene where Luna orders Harry Potter at the ravenclaw stairs in the DH part 2 and the thestrals scenes in the Order of Phoenix is good.The dreamy Luna definitely is worthy to be in the list.



                                                         7. Dolores Umbridge

Dolores Umbridge one of my favourite character.While having a physical appearance of a girly ,soft woman wearing pink clothes which might remind some of Reese Winterspoon in legally blonde,but Dolores Umbridge is the total opposite inside.While is looks like the legally blonde outwards,personality she is the subtle female version of Hannibal lector.As dolores umbridge says "I must not tell lies",she is definitely worthy to be in the list.



                                                          6.Belatrix Lestrange

Bellatrix Lestrange ,the crazy and only known female death eater is also another character that fans love.Her blood lust and weird affection towards Lord Voldermort describes her personality.She is a sociopath and might be a psychopathic woman too.Her wild and cold nature  will be always remembered as the crazy cruel woman in Harry Potter series forever.


                                                         5.Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore the most powerful wizard of all time made in my list for being one of J.K. Rowling's doubtful characters.Although we knew Dumbledore is a good man and fights the evil from the beginning of the series,we do doubt him after his death.We doubt his intentions and his past made us to wonder whether is Dumbledore a good man.However, he remained to be good as everyone predicted and was one of the bravest man Harry knew and to us too.


                                                             4. Harry Potter

The boy who lived himself made into my list for being so different than the other protagonists we knew.Harry Potter the protagonist of the series is so different compared other heroes that made their presence in the literature world.Unlike other protagonist who is good like an angel,Harry Potter  had some negative qualities .He tends to get angry quite fast and can be sometimes seen as arrogant.However,fans love Harry the orphan who longs for love and willingness to die for others.Harry Potter vulnerable personality enable us to connect with him. We were happy for him when he found love at Hogwarts through his best friends and cry with him when he is ready to sacrifice himself at the end for the sake of his friends and supporters.Harry Potter will be remembered always in our hearts.


                                                         3.Hermione Granger

Hermione Granger,one of Harry's best friend made into my list for her wits and bravery.Hermione was one of the toughest and independent female character to grace on the pages in this decade.Her bookish personality and 'know it all' attitude made her to be closer to all the readers and others male and female who had been called 'know it all'.We no longer feel shame to be called 'know it all' due to Hermione.Hermione proved to be so useful to Harry and Ron during their search of hocruxes.In fact,Harry and Ron could be dead under many circumstances during the hunt if Hermione was not there.Plus,her subtle romance toward Ron always make us to  have a smile on our face when we read it.For being one of the most bravest female character written,Hermione Granger definitely deserve to be in the list.


                                                           2.Ronald Weasley

Ronald Weasley ,Harry's best friend made into my list for his courage and being the most matured character as the series progresses. Ron's sense of humour brings his friends and the readers relaxation and laughter even at a serious times.Rons insecurity and low self esteem made him so relatable to all the readers.As the series progresses Ron grew more mature and  overcome his doubts about himself and became a brave man.His bickering and romance with Hermione also make him to be loved by the readers.In conclusion  as the song says "Weasley is indeed our king".


                                                                1.Severus Snape

Severus Snape is indeed my most favourite character.How can someone hate Severus Snape?Severus Snape made into the list because he is the most mysterious character in the series.We only knew his true intentions at the end of the series.His flashbacks,his love towards Lily potter in the prince tales is so touching and will be always remembered.His courage should be applauded .Severus Snape awkwardness in his arrogance in the beginnings and then to be revealed at the end that he loved Lilyy and spend rest of  his life protecting  the son of the women he loved and even lose his life for this make us to love this character.Severus Snape is definitely the best character written in the series and is one of the best character to grace its presence in the literature world.Severus Snape,the half blood prince will  always tattooed to our hearts.