The Not-Oscars 2012

(Originally posted at FabApp.)

It’s that time of year again, folks! What I like to call “movie Christmas.” And like an actual holiday, the Academy Awards often end up as more of a disappointment than anything else — any Oscars handed out to not-so-great nominated films like Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close and The Iron Lady can be chalked up to the cinematic equivalent of “ugly sweaters from grandma we’ll throw in the back of the closet and never speak of again.” But it’s really the excitement leading up to the big show and the discussions of film it creates that make it all worthwhile.

So here’s where I like to make up for the Academy’s occasional lapses in good taste by recognizing the movies and performances that are really worthy of celebration. Because what has a group of thousands of filmmakers with decades of experience in the entertainment industry got on me?

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Gold Rush: National Board Of Review Winners 2011

More prizes! And the National Board of Review’s choice of Best Film is something of a surprise, too…

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Modern Love: ‘Like Crazy’ And ‘Weekend’ Get It Right

(Movies discussed in this post: Like Crazy, Weekend, Crazy Stupid Love, Friends With Benefits, No Strings Attached.)

When it comes to movie romances, there are basically two kinds — real and unreal. Happy and sad. Bullshit and not-bullshit.

Or, to put it in Julia Roberts terminology — some movies are Runaway Bride, and some movies are Closer.

(The vast majority of movies are Runaway Bride.)

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