8 movies and 1 book

Lots of Oscar nods here due to the post-nod pre-show catching up.

Crazy Heart (2009): Love Bridges. Am ok with Gyllenhall although I wonder how she manages to never really wear a bra in a movie. Strangely love Colin Ferrell with his ponytail. Do not love the breezy in and out of rehab magically cured of a lifetime of alcoholism. Love the music.

The Hurt Locker (2008): Strong apolitical (as much as anything can be apolitical) movie about the war without looking wishy-washy about the war. Renner did a great job as did the other actors. And, what? Colin Firth is in the movie? How do the Colins keep surprising me in movies?

Inglorious Basterds (2009): This is my favorite of the Best Pictures which is surprising as I'm not a Tarantino devotee--I like about every other one of his I see. I loved loved loved the Nazi. Loved the unapologetic yes we changed history and blew up Hitler ending. Loved Pitt's accent. Love love love.

Up (2009): How do I manage to go into movies without a clue sometimes? I didn't know she died! Ugh. The movie is super cute and I am in love with Doug--squirrel!--and it's actually one of the most complete of the Best Pic nods.

Wolfman (2010): What? Seriously? No. No. No.

A Serious Man (2009): I want a whole movie about Clive. Seriously. Right now. I liked this one a lot and thought it very funny but I don't really like the ending (surprised?). I don't like super neat thread every needle endings but I certainly don't like the leave it wide open to a tornado ending either.

Couples Retreat (2009): Cute but preachy relationship crap sometimes.

Gladiator (2000): Nope. Still don't like it.

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry (2008): Oh. How I want to like this book. I really really do. But I don't. I just don't. I can't like a book when I so obviously figure out the ending and I'm right but the author tries to make it right with contrivances. Sigh. It's a decent book and I like the idea. I enjoyed reading it a lot until I got that *whack* this is what the end is going to be dread and then it was just the wait for the inevitable to happen.