Gentry’s 5 Best Picture Nominees…

Let’s face it, the Oscars hardly ever get it right (Ordinary People one best picture instead of Raging Bull for starters!). So Gentry are taking on the Academy and selecting their very own five best picture nominees…

Arguably not the greatest year for Hollywood, with an endless band of sequels, prequels, re-imaginings and mediocre comic book adaptations, there are still just enough polished gems to make the list…

FROST/NIXON

Although this bravura effort from the pen of Peter Morgan feels like it would be more at home on HBO, it’s a stunning piece of work. Ron Howard’s direction and period design are spot-on and Michael Sheen puts in yet another spectacular turn. But this is Frank Langella’s film, without question. His Richard Nixon is covered in doubt, regret and shame. Yet he also translates the fallen man’s irresistible self-belief. The whole affair leaves you breathless. trial pack cialis $38

GONE BABY GONE

Probably the best American thriller since The Usual Suspects, Ben Affleck’s adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s masterful potboiler couldn’t be more engrossing. The film moves through several jolting gear shifts, to great affect, centrered always around Casey Affleck’s firecracker performance. Perhaps it twists in on itself one time too many, but by its close, it’s already knocked your socks off with a series of unforeseen revelations that deepen the intrigue scene-by-scene.

GRAN TORINO

What could be Clint Eastwood’s final film as an actor has been scandalously overlooked by the dunderheads who make these decisions. As usual, Clint directs with his own particular and peculiar sense of grace. This tale of heroism, fatherhood and modern guilt rings true emotionally level than any of the director’s recent spate of films. Taking a young gangbanger under his wing, the ageing war veteran laments the lack of respect left in the world. A world he no longer cares to fight for, or against. In years to come, this might be considered a masterpiece. To the wise, it already is.

VALKYRIE

Ignore the bitter chill that runs through your soul as you read this. Forget the senseless hype about how crazy Tom Cruise is. So what? Marlon Brando was certifiably insane. And Steve McQueen could be practically unhinged. But what they all have, including Sir Tom, is star power. Cruise is one of the few genuine, old-school big hitters left. And he is an undeniably compelling on screen force. This ambitious and precisely executed thriller deserves more credit that lazy film critics have given it. There are not many mainstream American films out there as fundamentally interesting as this one. Don’t believe the hype. Or believe the hype. I’m not sure. Just watch it and decide for yourself.

THE WRESTLER

Darren Aronofsky is a very strange director. He seems to have been humbled since his ambitious (and I dare to say terrific) The Fountain. Gone are the visual flourishes of his earlier efforts and in comes a raw, down and dirty aesthetic. Of course, the whole thing hangs on Mickey Rourke’s stunning, muted performance as Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson. Easy, tawdry parallels have been drawn between the two men. The fact is, neither Randy nor Mickey are making comebacks. The point is that both have never been away. The tragedy is that they’re still trucking. Randy has always been slamming himself into the canvas, to a diminishing audience. As has Mickey, appearing in at least one movie a year since 1979. What else have they got? This is a flawed but powerful film.

And the Academy Award for Best Picture goes to…

FROST/NIXON

The most compelling, perfectly judged and well-crafted film out there for some time. Manages to keep its light touch, despite its weighty subject. Sidney Lumet couldn’t have done a better job. And that’s the highest praise of all. Bravo.

Think we're right? Wrong? Crazy? Tell us your five best pic picks….

Mr Paolo Cabrelli

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Category: Art & Culture