The 4th Annual GEeK Awards (2010)

This was a light year for my film viewing. Despite my best efforts, I was only able to take in 48 films that I had not previously rated. It was a tremendous mix though, hitting all but two of my rating levels. If you were following the Tour de Reviews, you know about half of the films I saw last year. But the Tour only included 23 films. That means there are 25 films in contention against those featured in the Tour.

Click the button below to view the full list of 2010's contenders. Nominees will be unveiled on Wednesday!

28 Weeks Later (2007)
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Avatar* (2009)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
The Blind Side* (2009)
Calendar Girls (2003)
Cinderella (1950)
Coco avant Chanel (2009)
Coraline (2009)
The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008)
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)
Far and Away (1992)
Get Smart (2008)
The Hangover (2009)
The Happening (2008)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1(2010)
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Hostel Part II (2007)
The Hurt Locker** (2008)
Inception* (2010)
Invictus (2009)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
It's Complicated (2009)
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Lady and the Tramp
Made of Honor (2008)
Milk* (2008)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
No Country for Old Men** (2007)
One Day in September (1999)
Peter Pan (1953)
Prince of Space (1959)
Rent (2005)
Rescue Dawn (2006)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Rocky V (1990)
The Room (2003)
Seven Pounds (2008)
Showgirls (1995)
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans** (1927)
Toy Story 3* (2010)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Tropic Thunder (2008)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
The Wizard (1989)

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

There was a little contraction with the awards this year. Having only watched 48 films, the field of nominees is slimmer and some categories were removed altogether (short films). We did add a new category for this year though- Best Documentary Film.

Once again, all films receiving a 3 out of 5 rating or higher automatically get nominated for the Genre awards. None of this year's crop broke the record for most nominations (Enchanted, during the 2008 awards) but one film certainly did come close to tying it.

On Monday, August 1st, the winners of the Genre and Overall awards will be posted.

Nominees for Best Action/Adventure Film
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Avatar* (2009)
Coraline (2009)
Far and Away (2008)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Inception* (2010)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Peter Pan (1953)
Rescue Dawn (2006)
Toy Story 3* (2010)
Tropic Thunder (2008)


Nominees for Best Animated Film
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Cinderella (1950)
Coraline (2009)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Peter Pan (1953)
Toy Story 3* (2010)


Nominees for Best Children’s or Family Film
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
Cinderella (1950)
Coraline (2009)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Peter Pan (1953)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Toy Story 3* (2010)


Nominees for Best Comedy Film
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
Calendar Girls (2003)
The Hangover (2009)
It's Complicated (2009)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Toy Story 3* (2010)
Tropic Thunder (2008)


Nominees for Best Documentary Film
Expelled: No Intellgience Allowed (2008)
One Day in September (1999)


Nominees for Best Drama Film
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
The Blind Side* (2009)
Calendar Girls (2003)
Coco avant Chanel (2009)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008)
Far and Away (1992)
The Hurt Locker** (2008)
Invictus (2009)
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Milk* (2008)
No Country for Old Men** (2007)
Rescue Dawn (2006)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Sunrise** (1927)
Toy Story 3* (2010)


Nominees for Best Foreign Film
Coco avant Chanel (2009)


Nominees for Best Musical Film
Cinderella (1950)
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Peter Pan (1953)


Nominees for Best Romance Film
(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Cinderella (1950)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008)
Far and Away (1992)
It's Complicated (2009)
The Jazz Singer (1927)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Lady and the Tramp (1955)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Sunrise** (1927)


Nominees for Best Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Avatar* (2009)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
Cinderella (1950)
Coraline (2009)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Inception* (2010)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Peter Pan (1953)
Toy Story 3* (2010)


Nominees for Best Thriller Film
The Hurt Locker** (2008)
Inception* (2010)
No Country for Old Men** (2007)

A total of 32 films were nominated for awards. Two out of three ain't bad! But which films missed out on Genre awards? Find out below...

28 Weeks Later (2007)
The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
Get Smart (2008)
The Happening (2008)
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)
Hostel Part II (2007)
Made of Honor (2008)
Prince of Space (1959)
Rent (2005)
Rocky V (1990)
The Room (2003)
Seven Pounds (2008)
Showgirls (1995)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
The Wizard (1989)

The nominations were spread around pretty even and lightly for the most part. Only a handful earned more than three. Here are your nomination leaders:

6 Nominations: Toy Story 3* (2010)
5 Nominations: Peter Pan (1953)
4 Nominations: Alice in Wonderland (1951), Cinderella (1950), Coraline (2009), Lady and the Tramp (1955), The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

AND THE GEeK AWARD GOES TO...

This year's winners were pretty easy to choose. The honorable mentions were a little trickier though. Overall, I'd have to say that 2010 was a pretty darn good year for movie watching, even if I did have to sit through some lousy ones. Here are the winners:

BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE FILM
Inception* (2010)

Not only is this movie intelligent, but it contains some truly awesome action sequences. The mind is the ultimate adventure and director Christopher Nolan really plays into that. Gunfights and car chases are standard in action films but Inception goes the extra mile. While I’m not normally a big fan of slow-motion sequences in the middle of intense action, the car chase scene, coupled with the zero-gravity it inflicts on the characters in the next stage of their shared dream world is amazing. Nolan also strives for realistic looking action, which leads to my favorite movie sequence in years- the hallway battle between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and a few baddies. No strings or CGI- just choreography.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Rescue Dawn (2006)- POW escape films have a way of getting the adrenaline pumping. Christian Bale commits fully to all of the action, which is riveting and unnerving at the same time.

Coraline (2009)- I’m siding more on the adventure side than the action. This stop-motion picture is a fantastic trip into weirdness. Think Alice in Wonderland with sass.


BEST ANIMATED FILM
Cinderella (1950)

This is probably the last truly great Disney animated film. It contained the purity and lushness of Walt Disney’s vision for fairy tales. The animation is simplified a bit, a trend that would continue, but there is still enough ornate detail for this film to stand alongside Snow White and Pinocchio in the top tier of Disney’s work.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Peter Pan (1953)- Simpler animation than Cinderella takes away from its artfulness but it is still a colorful bunch of fun. Plus, the animators came up with a few tricks that wowed me even if the rest of the animation pales in comparison to the ‘glory years.’

Coraline (2009)- The blend of stop motion with some CGI effects is impressive. Unlike previous mainstream stop-motion films which used clay, you don’t notice any surface indentations with the models used here. At times its hard to tell which animation style is which- the sign of a great illusion.


BEST CHILDREN'S OR FAMILY FILM
Cinderella (1950)

It’s animated, full of cute characters, and it has several memorable songs. How could this film not win? Children love Cinderella for all of these things but they also love the story. What little girl doesn’t dream of becoming a princess? Boys will like this film for the rambunctious mice as well. Their parents and grandparents grew up loving this film, so the whole family will eagerly sit down to take this one in. It hasn’t lost any of the magic over the last 60 years, making it all the more worth watching.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Peter Pan (1953)- More kid-friendly than family-oriented but adults grew up with this film as well. Despite being politically incorrect by today’s standards, it’s flashy, fun and innocent.

Toy Story 3* (2010)- This one caters a little more towards older kids and adults, who will get more of the toy and cultural references, while also getting the double entendres. Colorful and heart-warming after all these years, the Toy Story gang has secured themselves as Disney classics for years to come.


BEST COMEDY FILM
The Hangover (2009)

Not only was this film hilarious but it was also a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t buying the hype nor the pre-release trailers (which made the film look dumb). After sitting through it, I stand corrected. In fact, don’t know that I have ever been so happy to stand corrected about a comedy. It’s got a heart amidst all the swearing and insanity, which sets The Hangover apart from the frat pack toilet humor we endured much of last decade.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
(500) Days of Summer (2009)- It’s clever, witty and fresh. It never stood a chance of beating The Hangover but when it turns on the funny, it delivers the goods.

Toy Story 3* (2010)- There’s a Venn diagram of funny going on here. There’s plenty of humor for the kids but there’s an equal, if not greater, amount of humor built in for grown-ups. Good times for all!


BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
One Day in September (1999)

I haven’t watched very many documentaries in my movie-rating lifetime, so this stands as the end-all be-all for documentaries in my mind for now. It claws away at your emotions without being manipulative and smacks you in the face with questions without trying to incite you to one ideology or another. Its straight and narrow approach seals the deal for me.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)- I need to watch it again to make sure it deserves the rating I gave it. It’s something of a guilty pleasure, which is totally unexpected from a documentary.


BEST DRAMA FILM
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans** (1927)

I have a soft spot for silent films. Without them, there would be no movies. Because they were first silent, films needed to have an added wow factor in the details to keep people fixated for over an hour. F.W. Murnau releases the camera from its static prison, making possible whole new levels of complexity, emotive capability, and a real sense of experiencing a film instead of just watching it. The story may seem simple, but it is one that many can connect to. A love story book-ended by intensity, Sunrise has enough human drama to merit this award.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Milk* (2008)- It’s such a powerful but honest story about the struggle for dignity. For a change, we get an underdog tale that doesn’t ham it up with clichés.

Rescue Dawn (2006)- You will be physically and mentally exhausted after watching this film. I love all the realism and lack of CGI that hurt most films in the war genre nowadays.


BEST FOREIGN FILM
Coco avant Chanel (2008)

The only reason it won is because I didn’t watch any other foreign films in 2010. It met the requirement for a nomination and I don’t have any rules pertaining to how many films must qualify in order for an award to be given out. It’s good but not what I would call enjoyable. If you like moody, European cinema, this is your bag. If not, steer clear because it will frustrate and deflate you.

BEST MUSICAL FILM
Cinderella (1950)

Just about every song in this film is memorable. Disney did the right thing by pulling out all the stops to have the best songwriters in the business working on this production. Some of the songs are designed for humor while others merely accentuate the emotions of the characters. Others yet are just rollicking good fun.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Peter Pan(1953)- “You Can Fly” is classic and “Following the Leader” is a sharp little tune in its own right. I was more impressed with the animation than the music but it is a solid blend.

Lady and the Tramp (1955)- One of Disney’s weaker films of the era, musically speaking, but the Siamese Cat song is fun and “Bella Notte” will always have us thinking of that spaghetti scene.


BEST ROMANCE FILM
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans** (1927)

Everyone goes gaga for films where characters fall in love for the first time. I think that may be part of why Sunrise is so impressive. The man and his wife have been married for some time but are given an opportunity to fall in love with each other all over again. All this before such a notion became more commonplace. The middle portion of the film is full of tender gestures, glances and touches that too many people miss in day-to-day observations of happy couples.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Cinderella (1950)- It’s may be cartoon love, but it’s still an undeniably heart-warming tale.

(500) Days of Summer (2009)- While the romance doesn’t end happily ever after, I like the fresh, realistic view of modern love and emotion from a guy’s perspective.


BEST SCI-FI OR FANTASY FILM
Inception* (2010)

It’s not way out there, futuristic sci-fi but getting into someone’s mind and sharing dream space is the essence of science fiction. The brain is also the source of all fantasy, making Inception a perfect fit for this category. It’s completely preposterous, but we are sold so convincingly from the start that what they’re doing is possible that we don’t doubt it for a second. Everything else feels normal and familiar, making it easier to believe.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Peter Pan (1953)- It’s one of the all-time classic children’s fantasy stories and Disney brings it to life beautifully.

Coraline (2009)- Also on the fantasy side of the spectrum, Coraline dazzles the eyes with its beautiful but dangerous other world.


BEST THRILLER FILM
Inception* (2010)

Not only is the action capable of keeping you on the edge of your seat, but you find yourself wondering to the end if the main characters are actually going to pull off what they’ve set out to do. All of this combines for a film that expands your mind while challenging your perception of reality. In the end, it boils down to one question- what will a man do to be reunited with his children? With stakes this high and emotionally resonant, you can’t help but tense up when the going gets tough.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Hurt Locker** (2008)- Several of the bomb-defusing sequences in this film will leave you nearly as breathless and sweaty as the characters on screen. It may not be perfect, but it helps hammer home the reality of these IED’s we hear about so casually on the news.

No Country for Old Men** (2007)- The cat and mouse game played by the morally ambiguous leads is fraught with tension. I didn’t care for it as much as some but it is undeniably gripping at times.

BEST OVERALL FILM
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans** (1927)

Someday there won’t be a clear-cut top film of the year and I’m actually going to have to make a difficult decision. Not this year though. The beauty and inventiveness of this film shines through to me. It’s a simple story brought to life by technique, form, and design. Silent films don’t get taken seriously anymore but had the sound era been delayed another decade, this film would still be talked about today.

WORST OVERALL FILM
The Room (2003)

I hate giving this film any recognition because the director is a louse, feeding off society’s disturbing love of all things terrible. But, this is something that film professors will likely be showing their classes for years to come in order to point out how not to make a film. Its incompetence knows no bounds- the writing, acting and directing are terrible. The only redeeming quality about this film is that parts of it are so bad that they’re funny.

BEST FILM FROM 2010 THAT I SAW IN 2010
Inception* (2010)

Surprised? Silly you! I’ve been raving about this film ever since laying eyes on it. It may not have been Academy material but it’s going to be remembered long after some of the recent Oscar victors have been forgotten about. Christopher Nolan continues to carve out quite a career for himself as an inventive and thought-provoking director. If you haven’t seen this film yet, do it now! Otherwise, I won’t stop bugging you.

BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE
Rocky Balboa (2006)

The plot of this film is so utterly silly but I can’t help but love it. Rocky Balbo is given the swan song he always deserved. Was it necessary after all these years? Not really. But Rocky fans can rest easy knowing that the champ finally got to end his life on film with some dignity. It’s not the stupid happy ending you might expect from a Rocky movie, but it’s fitting, given the Italian Stallion’s roots.

BEST REVIEW OF THE YEAR
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2008)

This was a difficult choice to make. As always, I feel weird giving an award to myself, technically speaking. Reading back through my reviews this year I did find a few things to improve on, which is the point of this award. My review for Benjamin Button had a lot of good things going on- it didn't reveal too much of the story while focusing very well on the details that matter to a film. Yes, I got a little snarky with it but I wasn't doing so just for the sake of being clever. The overall flow and content of the review just feels right, giving me something to build off of for my 2011 films.

Not much in the way of diversity this year. The 2010 GEeK Awards saw the fewest number of winning films than any other ceremony to date. Sometimes a couple of films hog all the glory. It doesn't mean it was a bad year for films, just that I watched some truly great films that span several different genres.

2010 GEeK AWARDS BREAKDOWN:

Films Winning 4 Awards:
Inception* (2010)

Films Winning 3 Awards:
Cinderella (1950)
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans** (1927)

Films Winning 1 Award:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button* (2007)
The Hangover (2009)
One Day in September (1999)
Rocky Balboa (2006)
The Room (2003)

The 3rd Annual GEeK Awards (2009)

When I started the GEeK Awards in 2007, I thought I would be able to keep it consistent. The movie gods must have laughed good and hard, because this litle project has yet to become consistent. :-P

Thanks to a collection of short films, I managed to watch a total of 64 films during 2009. That's the most so far since setting up the awards.

The Abyss (1989)
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Ausreisser (2004)
Badgered (2005)
Batman (1966)
A Beautiful Mind** (2001)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Bowfinger (1999)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
The Broadway Melody** (1929)
Capote* (2005)
Cashback (2004)
Dracula (1931)
Eragon (2006)
The Fan and the Flower (2005)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Gandhi** (1982)
Ghost* (1990)
Gran Torino (2008)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Haute Tension (2003)
History of the World: Part I (1981)
I Am Legend (2007)
I Love You Man (2009)
Imago (2005)
It Happened One Night** (1934)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
Leatherheads (2008)
Legally Blonde (2001)
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Lola Rennt (1998)
Make Mine Music (1946)
Mama Mia! (2008)
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Melody Time (1948)
Minority Report (2002)
The Mist (2007)
The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation (2005)
The Mummy (1999)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
My Girl (1991)
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005)
Our Time is Up (2004)
Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Rocky IV (1985)
Sabrina (1995)
Saludos Amigos (1942)
The Simpson's Movie (2007)
Síðasti bærinn (2004)
Six Shooter (2004)
Slumdog Millionaire** (2008)
Swing Vote (2008)
The Ten Commandments (1923)
The Ten Commandments* (1956)
The Three Caballeros (1944)
Twilight (2008)
W. (2008)
Weird Science (1985)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)
Yes Man (2008)
Young Frankenstein (1974)

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...


The GEeK Awards have expanded this year! A total of 13 genre categories are up for grabs. This was an eclectic year for my movie viewing, so there are bound to be a few surprises. This time I've included links to all of the nominees. Feel free to make your own predictions but, as I said before, the higher rated film doesn't always win.

Also, there are five General Awards that I hand out each year (Best Picture, Worst Picture, Best Film I Saw in (insert year) That Came out in (insert year), Best Guilty Pleasure Film, and Best Review. I don't list nominees for these films at all. Good luck guessing these babies. :-)

Next Wednesday, all the winners will be announced! Until, then, here are your nominees:

Nominees for Best Action/Adventure Film
The Abyss (1989)
Batman: The Movie (1966)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Minority Report (2002)
The Mummy (1999)
The Simpson's Movie (2007)
The Ten Commandments* (1956)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)


Nominees for Best Animated Film
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Make Mine Music (1946)
Melody Time (1948)
The Simpson's Movie (2007)
The Three Caballeros (1944)


Nominees for Best Animated Short
Badgered (2005)
The Fan and the Flower (2005)
Imago (2005)
The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation (2005)
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005)
Saludos Amigos (1942)


Nominees for Best Children’s or Family Film
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
Make Mine Music (1946)
Melody Time (1948)
My Girl (1991)
Saludos Amigos (1942)
The Three Caballeros (1944)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)


Nominees for Best Comedy Film
Badgered (2005)
Batman: The Movie (1966)
Bowfinger (1999)
Cashback (2004)
Ghost* (1990)
History of the World: Part I (1981)
I Love You Man (2009)
It Happened One Night** (1934)
Leatherheads (2008)
Legally Blonde (2001)
Mama Mia! (2008)
The Mummy (1999)
My Girl (1991)
Our Time is Up (2004)
Sabrina (1995)
The Simpson's Movie (2007)
Six Shooter (2004)
Swing Vote (2008)
Weird Science (1985)
Yes Man (2008)
Young Frankenstein (1974)


Nominees for Best Drama Film
A Beautiful Mind** (2001)
Capote* (2005)
Cashback (2004)
Gandhi** (1982)
Ghost* (1990)
Gran Torino (2008)
I Am Legend (2007)
Leatherheads (2008)
Legends of the Fall (1994)
The Mist (2007)
My Girl (1991)
Sabrina (1995)
Síðasti bærinn (2004)
Slumdog Millionaire** (2008)
Swing Vote (2008)
The Ten Commandments (1923)
The Ten Commandments* (1956)
W. (2008)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)


Nominees for Best Foreign Film
Ausreisser (2004)
Imago (2005)
Lola Rennt (1998)
Síðasti bærinn (2004)


Nominees for Best Horror Film
I Am Legend (2007)
The Mist (2007)
The Mummy (1999)


Nominees for Best Live Action Short
Ausreisser (2004)
Cashback (2004)
Our Time is Up (2004)
Síðasti bærinn (2004)
Six Shooter (2004)


Nominees for Best Musical Film
The Broadway Melody** (1929)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
History of the World: Part I (1981)
Make Mine Music (1946)
Mama Mia! (2008)
Melody Time (1948)
Saludos Amigos (1942)
The Three Caballeros (1944)
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)


Nominees for Best Romance Film
The Broadway Melody** (1929)
Ghost* (1990)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
I Love You Man (2009)
It Happened One Night** (1934)
Leatherheads (2008)
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Mama Mia! (2008)
My Girl (1991)
Sabrina (1995)
Slumdog Millionaire** (2008)
Weird Science (1985)
Yes Man (2008)


Nominees for Best Sci-Fi or Fantasy Film
The Abyss (1989)
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Ghost* (1990)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
I Am Legend (2007)
Minority Report (2002)
The Mist (2007)
The Mummy (1999)
The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005)
Saludos Amigos (1942)
The Three Caballeros (1944)
Weird Science (1985)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)
Young Frankenstein (1974)


Nominees for Best Thriller Film
The Abyss (1989)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
Ghost* (1990)
I Am Legend (2007)
Lola Rennt (1998)
Minority Report (2002)
The Mist (2007)
The Mummy (1999)

Notice a few missing titles? There were 12 films that failed to meet the criteria for receiving a nomination. These are the films failing to earn a 3 out of 5 or better in 2009:

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Dracula (1931)
Eragon (2006)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Haute Tension (2003)
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
The Killer Shrews (1959)
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
The Mummy Returns (2001)
Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Rocky IV (1985)
Twilight (2008)

None of this year's films topped last year's record for the most nominations but several did pick up a hefty haul. How many of these nominations will become wins? Find out next week. ;-)

Most Nominations for 2009:
5 Noms- Ghost* (1990)
5 Noms- The Mummy (1999)
4 Noms- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
4 Noms- I Am Legend (2007)
4 Noms- The Mist (2007)
4 Noms- My Girl (1991)
4 Noms- Saludos Amigos (1942)
4 Noms- The Three Caballeros (1944)
4 Noms- Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
4 Noms- The Wizard of Oz* (1939)


AND THE GEeK AWARD GOES TO...


Well, 2010 is almost over but it's not too late for the 2009 GEeK Awards! The winners are in the books and two honorable mentions have also been selected for each of the genre categories. Some of the winners were obvious choices but I did labor over a handful once again. Enjoy!

BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE FILM:
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)

Typically you think of explosions and shootouts with the action/adventure genre. The Wizard of Oz clearly has neither of these but the Internet Movie Database (which I use to determine my genre award nominees) listed this film as an ‘adventure’ film. Given the breadth of what an adventure can be, I had only the scantest of reservations about giving Oz the win. Dorothy’s journey is a remarkable one and filled with diverse characters, locations and perils. It definitely stands in contrast to past winners of the category but I think it’s worth it.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and The Ten Commandments* (1956)

Both of these films are more ‘traditional’ in terms of what we think of action/adventure flicks. The third Bourne film is mostly action and Commandments is mostly adventure. It’s also interesting that, despite being separated by half a century, they’re both prime examples of this category.

BEST ANIMATED FILM:
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)

Working through Disney’s dry period of package films of the 1940s made 2009 a weak year for this category. Nothing I watched soars to the heights of Disney’s glory days. I went with this double feature because it shows Disney gearing up to its comeback in the 1950s. The animation is consistent and, though not as lush as the early days, there is still plenty of detail to marvel at.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Fun and Fancy Free (1947) and The Three Caballeros (1944)

Again, this was a weaker year for animated films. I didn’t want to honor any of the Disney Fantasia-esque package films but I also didn’t feel that The Simpson’s Movie deserved an award either. That left me with these two. Both are enjoyable and have pretty good animation. Sometimes that’s all there is to it.



BEST ANIMATED SHORT:
Badgered (2005)

I just love this short film. Through simple animation and subtle humor, there was never a point where I wasn’t at least snickering. It’s just a badger doing what he has to do to get some sleep. I could have gone for the artistic side of things but I feel a short film is supposed to tell a story and keep it light. This fits the bill

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Fan and the Flower (2005) and Saludos Amigos (1942)

The Fan and the Flower has a charming story set to simplistic animation while Saludos Amigos pushes a few boundaries and features a few popular characters. Both of them get the job done and I picked them out of a subjective favoritism over the other nominees. They’re not as preachy, or artsy-fartsy as the rest. In fact, I was surprised that Saludos Amigos is actually considered a short but that’s how it goes.



BEST CHILDREN’S OR FAMILY FILM:
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)

Was there any doubt? Oz is one of the greatest films of all times and it has delighted audiences for decades. Kids love this film and adults love sharing this film with their children and grandchildren. While parts of it might be a bit spooky for the youngest of the lot, it’s right for any child who isn’t a total wimp. It’s colorful, it’s got great songs and it’s entertaining as all get-out. Need I say more?

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) and Fun and Fancy Free (1947)


Initially I had given an honorable mention to Where the Wild Things Are. Then I re-read my review for it. This really isn’t a children’s movie. It’s a movie about childhood. Harry Potter 6 was too dark and Batman uses too much comical violence to deserve merit. That left me with the Disney double features. Kids will watch just about anything Disney and these are both decent films.



BEST COMEDY:
Young Frankenstein (1974)

This is one of the funniest films of all time. Gene Wilder’s performance is astounding and sets the bar almost too high for those who followed him. Mel Brooks was still sharp as a tack and knew how to make a spoof. It helps that the source material had become something of a joke but who cares? Everyone enjoys a good send-up and this is a great one. There’s something to laugh at in every scene and that is the hallmark of comedic greatness.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
It Happened One Night** (1938) and Our Time is Up (2004)

It was a close call between Young Frankenstein and It Happened One Night. In the end, subjectivity won out. One Night is referenced far more but Frankenstein packs a lot of funny into its runtime. Our Time is Up picks up a steal because it is a short film. But what a short! Situational hilarity at its best. It may have been a weak year for animation but 2009 was a great year or comedy.

BEST DRAMA:
Slumdog Millionaire** (2008)

Cynics can say whatever they want about this underdog story but I love it. It really is everything we love about cinema. Action, adventure, romance, thrills, chills- it’s got it all! Heck, it’s even got a closing dance number that rocks the house. The unrelenting journey through India’s poorest communities breaks your heart and builds up your support for the main character. Once Slumdog Millionaire gets its hooks into you, it never lets up.

HONROABLE MENTIONS:
Gandhi** (1982) and The Ten Commandments* (1956)

Both of these films are epic in scope. Gandhi is all character driven and The Ten Commandments is fueled by set pieces and visual effects. It doesn’t hurt that they were the only other films I rated as ‘great’ among the nominees. But they really do deserve the honor because of their artistic achievements.

BEST FOREIGN FILM:
Lola Rennt (1998)

It’s one of my all-time favorites and I saved it to be my 500th rating. There was never any doubt that it would take this category. I don’t watch many foreign films each year but I do try to take a few in. In fact, this is the first foreign film award winner for the GEeK Awards. Lola Rennt makes you think while also keeping you on the edge of your seat. Any film capable of doing that while also requiring you to read subtitles will stand out among the crowd.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Ausreisser (2004) and The Last Farm (2004)

Both of these are short films. That fact didn’t necessarily hold them back in the category but they were also up against a truly great film in Lola Rennt. Both of these shorts are moody, intellectually challenging films. Ausreisser is more of a mystery while Last Farm has social commentary galore. Both are worth watching if you can find them.



BEST HORROR FILM:
The Mist (2007)

Creating a good horror film is difficult. Too much gore and you lose me. Put forth a weak story and you lose me. If you try to make me care about loser characters, you will lose me. The Mist does it mostly right. The effects betray it a tad but I love how the audience is left to wonder about what horrors lie in the mist than actually seeing them. Fear of the unknown always gets the scares better than blood and guts.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
I Am Legend (2007) and The Mummy (1999)

Only I Am Legend really strikes me as a remotely legitimate horror film but I’ll take what I can get. I’m just glad to actually have more than one ‘horror’ film qualify for the GEeK Award this year!

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT:
Our Time is Up (2004)

Yes, it’s the highest rated of the short films but it also wins because it was absolutely hilarious. All of the supporting characters are pleasantly goofy and nobody feels like an extra wheel. It’s compact and efficient. How can you not appreciate that in a short film?

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Last Farm (2004) and http://lsrmovies.blogspot.com/2010/07/six-shooter-2004.html


The Last Farm is worthy because of the social issues it draws on. Six Shooter, on the other hand, is something of a deranged guilty pleasure. Neither one brings out the warm fuzzies but that’s okay. Not all stories need a happy ending.

BEST MUSICAL FILM:
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)

Surprise! Okay, maybe not. For future reference, any film that earns a 4.75 on my rating scale is more or less bound to win every single award it is up for. There are so many songs in The Wizard of Oz that have become standards. Sure, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion all sing the same basic tune but who doesn’t love each one? Only a few of the tunes sung in this film aren’t memorable and the singers are all wonderful. An easy choice.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Broadway Melody** (1929) and The Three Caballeros (1944)

The Broadway Melody was an easy choice because it marks one of the first true movie-musicals. Just two years prior, synchronized sound was the new kid on the block. Melody takes full advantage of this new process and the results are masterful. It was also an early talkie ‘backstage’ production, showing off the behind the scenes issues. The Three Caballeros gets the other honorable mention because the title theme is infectious and a lot of fun.

BEST ROMANCE FILM:
Slumdog Millionaire** (2008)

This film may not fit the standard mold for tear-jerking romance but it is a story about love nonetheless. All three pairs of young actors playing the romantic leads throughout their lives in this film are wonderful. The scenes with the children are tender and innocent. The attempted reunion of the two later on really works the emotions. You can’t help but cheer these two on and hope for a happy ending.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Ghost* (1990) and It Happened One Night** (1934)

Both of these films would have been worthy of taking the GEeK Award had it not been for Slumdog Millionaire’s infectious underdog tale. To be honest, I’m not even sure which of these would have won because they are both fantastic for their own reasons.

BEST SCIENCE-FICTION OR FANTASY FILM:
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)

This year made me want to split this category up. There really is a world of difference between Sci-Fi and Fantasy. I’m more of a sci-fi guy but I appreciate a good fantasy flick. The Wizard of Oz is an amazing fantasy tale and deserves the win. It’s just that the sci-fi geek in me squirms a little because I watched some excellent sci-fi flicks in 2009. A film as great as Oz just can’t be denied though.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Abyss (1989) and Minority Report (2002)

Both of these films are top-notch sci-fi. I love The Abyss for injecting a little bit of sci-fi into somewhat normal settings. Minority Report is fantastic because it doesn’t overdo the sci-fi elements in it’s near-future setting. Is restraint the key to good sci-fi? Perhaps.



BEST THRILLER:
Lola Rennt (1998)

Twenty minutes to save your boyfriends life? Check. A city full of obstacles in your path? Check. A driving electronic score? Check. That’s really all you need to know. Lola Rennt has some pretty great ingredients and each one is every bit as good as the collective whole. There’s not a lot of time to catch your breath and when time is afforded for such, the films throws some heady concepts at you and you have to think. Fast, fun and smart wins out!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) and Minority Report (2002)

The third installment of the Bourne trilogy is just as non-stop as its predecessors and provides for a great conclusion. My only complaint is that it gets a tad confusing at times. Minority Report is equally gripping but it runs a tad long and slows down at times. Both are still top-notch thrill rides though.

BEST PICTURE (OVERALL):
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)

Surprise! Saw this one coming, did you? Well it should have been obvious. The Wizard of Oz deserves a spot amongst GEeK Award Best Picture winners because it is one of the all-time greats. The costume details are astounding. The set designs are brilliant. The technical aspects will blow your mind. The acting, music, emotions- it’s all there. You may be sick of hearing me go on and on about this film and I really don’t have much else to say about it but this is one of those films that simply cannot be denied. As I said in my review, The Wizard of Oz was always going to fair well with me- it was just a formality of taking it in for the sake of giving it the rating I already knew it deserved.

WORST PICTURE (OVERALL):
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)

If you read my review for this film, this shouldn’t be much of a surprise either. Manos is just one bad film, start to finish. I have some friends who claim they have watched worse films than this but I have my doubts. Boring and painful to watch, I strongly advise against taking this film in. It’s not just stupid-bad. It’s everything-bad. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

BEST FILM FROM 2009 THAT I SAW IN 2009:
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

As with years past, I am very selective about what movies I go to the theater to watch. It’s hard to justify the expense anymore with the amount of garbage Hollywood produces. Sometimes I get lucky and can rent a movie that came out earlier in the year as well. In 2009, I saw just three films that were hot off the press. Where the Wild Things Are, as polarizing as it may be, is the easy choice. Nothing against Harry Potter 6 or I Love You, Man, but they just don’t compare. I still believe that Wild Things captures some dangerously stark depictions of the whirlwind of emotions that is childhood. The visuals are brilliant and the story really builds upon the beloved children’s book.

BEST GUILTY PLEASURE FILM:
Rocky IV (1985)

I really let this film have it with my review but there’s no denying that Rocky IV is fun to watch. Ivan Drago is the perfect über-villain and Rocky Balboa is a natural hero. Sure, it’s predictable and all kinds of cheesy but, in a way, that is exactly what makes it so easy to sink into. This is not a thinking film. Anyone can turn their brain off for 90 minutes and just have fun. Let’s face it, sometimes we just need a movie like this.

BEST REVIEW OF THE YEAR:
Gran Torino (2008)

I posted this same qualifier with the 2008 awards but it’s worth repeating- this award isn’t designed so much to pat myself on the back but to hold me accountable for what I’m doing here. Anyone can write a half-baked review and post it online. I’m trying to be better than your average vanity blog and this award forces me to look back over a year’s worth of product and find ways to improve. Sadly, I found many grammatical errors and even a stray spelling error or two that snuck through in the 2009 slate of reviews. This tells me I need to try harder. A lot of good reviews were undone by even the slightest error. In the end, I was left with three really strong reviews and had to make a tough decision.

Not only was Gran Torino a fun review to write but it reads very well. It touches on the plot of the film just enough and informs the reader of the un-PC barrage they are getting into, should they choose to watch it. I covered the acting of both Clint Eastwood and his co-stars and avoided being too repetitive. It wasn’t easy to reach this conclusion but I feel like my natural writing style came out more in this review, rather than trying to keep myself ‘too professional.’ Film critics (the true professionals at least) aren’t always dry and methodical anymore so I think my review for Gran Torino was a step in the right direction.

We’re finally spreading the wealth around just a hair more! This year 12 films won at least one award (in both 2007 and 2008 only 11 films took honors). Maybe the 2010 GEeK Awards will see even more diversity in its honorees. The Wizard of Oz also shatters the previous record of most awards won, taking home a total of five!

GEeK AWARDS BREAKDOWN:

Films Winning 5 Awards:
The Wizard of Oz* (1939)

Films Winning 2 Awards:
Lola Rennt (1998)
Slumdog Millionaire** (2008)

Films Winning 1 Award:
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Badgered (2005)
Gran Torino (2008)
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
The Mist (2007)
Our Time is Up (2004)
Rocky IV (1985)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Young Frankenstein (1974)