So, the Awards season has come and gone, leaving us with some smiling faces holding golden statues; and now it’s time for a quick recap of the major categories and trends.

Best Film - “Don’t Go Fully Period”

Dealing with state affairs and basing your film on a true story are good starting points on your journey towards the coveted golden bald man, but know this: you better not stray too far into history, since in the last ten years, no best picture winner took place in a time earlier than the  20th century. covering these three points and adding a topical touch by dealing with Iran, it’s no wonder Argo took home the big prize (portraying Hollywood producers as life savers probably didn’t hurt either.)

Best Director – 3D, Done Right, For A Change

Granted, Life of Pi isn’t as groundbreaking as Avatar, nevertheless, it is the first 3D film to win an Oscar for direction, and a much deserved one, since Ang Lee and cinematographer Claudio Miranda (who also won an Oscar for his work on this film) managed to create one of the most elegant and visually mesmerizing films in recent memory.

Best Screenplay – Festive Fifty

Quentin Tarantino celebrates half a century next month, so the academy for motion picture arts and sciences decided to give him an early birthday gift for Django Unchained’s controversial screenplay. The fact that it’s also his biggest blockbuster to date probably helped as well.

Best Actor - The Sure Thing

In the words of the great, incarcerated Wesley Snipes

Just replace “roulette” with “Oscar bets” and “black” with “Daniel Day-Lewis with facial hair”, this time, taking the prize ,as expected, for portraying the United States’ most beloved head of state.

Best Actress - Life imitates Art (or at least imitates SNL)

It’s almost impossible to win when you’re not acting in a serious film, and we’re not talking just about gross out comedies, even semi serious films are usually shunned. However, playing a troubled, or better yet, mentally unstable character can greatly improve your chances. No wonder Jennifer Lawrence was so convincing in this Saturday Night Live sketch.

Best Supporting Actress - The Other Sure Thing

The old age maxim, that in order to win an Oscar for acting you’ve got to play a suffering character (and preferably while degrading your physical appearance,) worked well for Anne Hathaway. In fact, it looked so calculated and worked so well it even spawned a pre-Oscar parody (and hats off to you, Emma Fitzpatrick.)

Best Supporting Actor – A New Winning Formula

Christoph Waltz + Racism = Oscar Winner? Yes, it does sound far fetched, but it has already proven itself three years ago in Inglorious Basterds and again this year in Django Unchained. It looks like the Tarantino/Waltz duo should brush up on their Anti-Samoan racial slur skills for the 2016 Academy Awards. To be honest, how can he lose with such a great theme song (lifted from a little known Spaghetti Western from 1971)?

Best Animated Film – Pixar’s Home Advantage

In what has become an inner Disney Derby between Brave and Wreck-It Ralph, the red headed young heroine had the upper hand, since in the last ten years the only Pixar produced films not to win an Oscar where the mediocre Cars and Cars 2.

Best Documentary – Odd (Sugar) Man Out

Being the only one of the five nominated films to not deal with a social issue, but rather chronicle the quest for finding a presumably dead legendary musician, Searching For Sugar Man won the thing that eluded it’s hero – real time acclaim and recognition.

That’s all for these Oscars, folks; we’ll leave you with this year’s wistful Animated Short winner:

>> To comment on this blog post, or to share your own insight on entertainment, join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JinniDotCom

Popularity: 1% [?]

With the announcement of the 2013 Oscar winners right around the corner, we’ve decided to crack the genetic code of an Oscar winning movie. We’ve compiled the Oscar winning titles of the main categories throughout the 21st Century (best picture, actor, actress and director, from 2000 until today), analyzed and cross referenced their genes according to the Jinni Entertainment Genome, and compared them with the genes of this year’s nominees. The following infographic displays our findings:

Technorati Tags: Oscars, The Master, Flight, The Impossible, Silver Linings Playbook, Beast of the Southern Wild

Popularity: 1% [?]

After last year’s huge success of the Jinni Mood/Movie/TV Awards (think Golden Globes and then multiply it by a thousand, then add the Oscars and multiply that by a million. Is it too soon for self-deprecation? I have to check with my superiors) we decided to make a tradition out of it and choose our award-winning titles for 2012. So, which was the roughest movie or TV series of 2012? Which was the most exciting?  No need to open any envelopes, you can just read below:

Atmospheric: Game of Thrones – When you watch Game of Thrones, you really enter the world of Game of Thrones. And it’s a world in which a Hobbit won’t survive for more than a minute. “Winter is coming” (it’s here already.)

Biting: 30 Rock – Feeling very self-confident, the show allowed itself to bite whoever it wanted.  Politicians, competing shows, and even NBC, the hand that feeds them - all were in the line of biting.

Bittersweet: The Giant Mechanical Man – this movie is about two lonely people who find each other. It’s one of the most goodhearted movies I’ve seen in a while. If you like charming and sensitive movies – watch it. If you’re a douche – don’t.

Bleak: Breaking Bad – Sometimes you just feel too darn happy. But fear not, there is a solution – all you need to do is watch Breaking Bad; the critically acclaimed feel-bad TV show was at its bleakest during the first half of the 5th and final season. I can’t wait for the 2nd half of the season to wipe that grin off my face.

Captivating: End of Watch – I consider it to be the best movie of the year. It’s fascinating; there isn’t one dull moment in it. It’s not always easy to watch, there are some very harsh scenes, but if you have the stomach and the tissues for it, this movie is a must-see for you.

Clever: Argo – This is no less a sharp satire about Hollywood than it is a suspenseful spy thriller, even more I guess. What makes it a great movie despite its tonal shifts is that it remains extremely clever throughout its entire length.

Contemplative: Blackthorn – This western is beautifully shot, the Bolivian locations in which the movie takes place are unbelievable. Straying very far from Michael Bay territory, this gem of a movie is basically about a person (an older Butch Cassidy) reflecting about his own life. I know it sounds boring, but it isn’t. And if you think so, maybe you are.

Cynical: A Touch of Cloth – Can the guy (the genius, the king) who wrote Black Mirror come up with something that doesn’t have a cynical world view? Probably not; A Touch of Cloth is Charlie Brooker’s spoof of more or less every cop crime drama ever made and it shows complete contempt towards every accepted standard of such shows.

Disturbing: Dexter – Fans of the show don’t really find this glimpse into the mind of a psychopath disturbing anymore. What they do find disturbing is the suggested romance (siblings with benefits, is that a thing?) between Dexter and his step sister. Maybe the sister is the only one with the forbidden crush, but it’s disturbing nonetheless. The bad writing that is.

Emotional: House M.D – Dr. Gregory House was the most fascinating, complex, well written character ever seen on TV. I think that more than a few people would agree with me. The final season of the hit series was probably its most emotional one. The only thing that prevented me from crying was/is that I’m a man.

Exciting: The Expendables 2 – This movie was a blast. Explosions, cheesy lines, completely over the top action; what can be more exciting than that?

Feel Good: New Girl – An upbeat and optimistic series with eccentric characters and a charming Zooey Deschanel (although not half as charming as Aubrey Plaza. See below).

Gloomy: This is England 88′ – After the movie This is England and the series This is England 86′ came This is England 88′ which dealt with more or less the same issues from the previous 2 entries – people whose lives are pretty shitty. Leave some room on you TV screens for some more sad faces, because This is England 90′ is coming up in 2013!

Humorous: Parks and Recreation – With every passing season this series just becomes funnier and funnier. April (Aubrey Plaza - marry me today. Is 7:30 good for you?) and Andy are the best onscreen couple by far, and Ron Swanson is just the best. The picture below says everything; and also nothing.

Offbeat: Moonrise Kingdom – Wes Anderson is more or less synonymous with the terms offbeat and quirky, and Moonrise Kingdom doesn’t ruin that reputation for the director.

Mind Bending: The Booth at the End – A mysterious man sits at a booth at the end of a diner. People come to him because they heard he has a gift and can solve their problems. But there’s a price… All is very mysterious in Hulu’s 1st original series that leaves you wondering.

Rough: Dredd – The movie takes place in a rough and tough world, in which Judge Dredd serves some very rough justice. You don’t have to go all the way to Indonesia in order to find this year’s best action film. Dredd is similar to The Raid only way better and in English, not that the dialogue is important.

Scary: Cabin in the Woods – This movie was extreme in every sense. I expected something light when I heard it was a horror comedy, but it’s much more shocking than it is light. It’s a funny and disturbing film, but first and foremost – a scary one.

Sentimental: Big Miracle – A nice old fashioned movie, with likable characters; especially the whales. It’s a pleasant film and although sentimental, you don’t overdose on its sentimentality.

Sexual: Californication – Season 5 continued being groundbreaking in terms of onscreen boobs and sex (I only watch the show for its wit and dark humor though.)

Sexy: Magic City – Starz’ attempt at making a “Boardwalk Empire meets Mad Men” type of show failed in many aspects, maybe in all aspects but one. It’s obviously not nearly as smart or captivating as the other two, but it’s definitely sexier. It’s like soft-core porn made for fans of periodic reconstruction.

Sincere: Louie – Usually when we describe a movie or a show as sincere we mean a certain kind of a drama. We rarely describe a comedy as sincere, but Louie is just so open and revealing that you get a sense that he’s showing you the real him. I believe him.

Stylized: The Man with the Iron Fists – I’ll start by saying that there’s nothing good about violence. Usually people get hurt when there’s violence involved. But when it’s in the movies, and it’s so over the top, extremely gory and super stylized then it’s just great.

Suspenseful: Sherlock – Each 90-minute mystery leaves you absolutely breathless. Not only the setting, but also the pace was adapted to fit the 21st century and the result is a masterfully suspenseful series.

Tense: Homeland – This paranoid psychological thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to guess what will be the next plot twist.  Many critics say that the first half of the second season was much better than the second one. They could have been right if it wasn’t for that amazing episode that concluded the season. Homeland is must-see TV.

Thought Provoking: Game Change – This movie made me think about something that made be both happy and sad at the same time (I’m hoping more sad than happy): being especially smart is not a requirement for a person who wants to go far in life. Not at all; dumb people - the world is yours to take!

Touching: Trouble with the Curve – The movie itself is definitely touching, but what gives the movie this Mood Award is the fact that it was the last time we will see the legendary Clint Eastwood acting. And that’s even more emotional than it is touching.

Uplifting: Intouchables – You can’t remain cynical when it comes to this movie. It will definitely raise your spirits, at least for its duration + 1 hour; maybe 1 month, or year if you’re lucky.

Witty: 21 Jump Street – Don’t let the fact that it’s incredibly silly confuse you – 21 Jump Street enjoys a quick and smart dialogue with some brilliant tongue-in-cheek moments. Unlike many other movies, and people, 21 Jump Street is very self-aware.

>> To comment on this blog post, or to share your own insight on entertainment, join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JinniDotCom

Technorati Tags: Oscars, Golden Globes, Jinni Mood Awards, Game of Thrones, Hobbit, 30 Rock, NBC, The Giant Mechanical Man, Breaking Bad, End of Watch, Argo, Blackthorn, Michael Bay, Butch Cassidy, A Touch of Cloth, Black Mirror, Charlie Brooker, Dexter, House M.D, Gregory House, The Expendables 2, New Girl, Zooey Deschanel, This is England, This is England 86, This is England 88, Parks and Recreation, Aubrey Plaza, Ron Swanson, Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson, The Booth at the End, Hulu, Dredd, The Raid, Cabin in the Woods, Big Miracle, Californication, Magic City, Boardwalk Empire, Mad Men, Louie, The Man with the Iron Fists, Sherlock, Homeland, Game Change, Trouble with Curve, Clint Eastwood, Intouchables, 21 Jump Street

Popularity: 2% [?]

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. All over the world events are planned to commemorate it: a cruise is planned to follow the exact route of the Titanic (excluding, hopefully, the sinking part), an exhibition and auction of Titanic relics and artifacts will be held, and most importantly (to us, at least), is that the famous James Cameron blockbuster from 1997 is being re-released in 3D and 2 new TV shows about the subject are airing.

Our small contribution to the rising interest in the Titanic is this post: 5 ship and boat titles that are just as traumatic as the Titanic was. Since we do not want to have the cruising business go bankrupt (The Carnival Corporation is taking care of that), they will be followed by 5 positive ship experiences – you just need to choose which you prefer!

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
You wouldn’t want to be on THAT ship… in this acclaimed disaster film an earthquake causes a tidal wave that flips over a luxurious cruise ship. Yes, heads down, bottoms up. Unlike many other disaster movies this film received high critical acclaim and was even nominated for 10 Oscars (and won one). Its success spawned a sequel and a modern remake in 2005, but neither of them were as exciting and entertaining as the original.

The Perfect Storm (2000)
Based on a true story, this film tells the tale of the fishing boat Andrea Gail, which was lost at sea along with its crew during a perfect storm – three gathering hurricanes at once. With impressive special effects, this film promises you wouldn’t want to board a ship during the next decade or so…

And the Ship Sails On (1983)
More complex than your usual disaster flick, this Federico Fellini feature is set during the first days of WWI. The cruise starts out as a luxurious means to transport the ashes of a famous opera singer to her homeland, but soon enough the ship starts encountering war refugees and takes them on board. The decay of European society portrayed at its best.

Ghost Ship (2002)
After one of the most amazing and eye-popping opening scenes I’ve seen in cinema, comes a reasonable supernatural horror flick about an abandoned ship discovered by a salvage crew who tries to figure out what happened to everyone who was on board. Even if you are not a fan of this genre, it’s worth seeing for that one incredible scene.

Titanic (2012)
As mentioned earlier, 2 TV shows about the famous vessel are airing this month. The 1^st one, Titanic: Blood and Steel focuses more on the construction process. The other one focuses on the more familiar story of the sinking, with a ridiculously enormous cast of 89 main characters!

---

But please do not think that all ship movies deal with storms, sunken ships and horrific accidents. There are also “ship flicks” filled with fun, adventure and romance:

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
An exciting periodical adventure tells the tale of a fearless British captain, determined to capture a French war vessel. The great Oscar-winning cinematography of this film really makes you feel as if you are on a rocking boat, fighting and sailing.

The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Campy, witty and offbeat, this British comedy about a pirate radio station in 1960s England is a real treat for those who enjoy the genre. True, the boat actually sinks at the end – but that does not spoil the fun, humor and good music.

The Love Boat (1977-1986)
The classic “feel-good cruise” title – it was all romance, fun and games on board with the lovable crew. By the way, part of the show was filmed on a real cruise ship, called the Pacific Princess. The success of the show is largely credited with the increasing popularity of cruising in North America.

Show Boat (1951)
This classic musical piece is colorful and delightful to watch. The story, as usual in these cases, revolves around love and romance. But what makes it really memorable are the timeless songs and melodies, such as “Old Man River” and “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine”.

Battleship (2012)
Ok, ok, so we can’t exactly describe this up and coming movie as a relaxed cruise movie. The ships here are only an excuse for an epic good vs. evil battle between humans and evil aliens. But personally, I really enjoy watching ships explode and fly into the air, plus, I think it’s safe to assume the good guys will win (us humans of course).

Popularity: 2% [?]

This year’s fairly predictable Oscar winners list  - with The Artist and Hugo dominating the field and scooping 5 awards each - shows the Academy’s deep infatuation with films about artists in general and filmmakers in particular.*

Both The Artist & Hugo are about cinema and its evolution – the end of the silent film era and a loving homage to the pioneers of the seventh art - while Midnight in Paris, winner for best original screenplay, follows a frustrated writer and features an amusing reference to the revered surrealist director Luis Buñuel.

In fact, the only one able to break into the top honors while not dealing with arts of any kind was Meryl Streep AKA The Iron Lady, who used the tried and true formula of appearing in an English head of state biography + Being Meryl Streep.

Hollywood’s tendency to reward films about artists isn’t such a new trait, as the following list will show.

8 1/2

Federico Fellini’s contemplative masterpiece about a director hitting midlife crisis while filming his new film won the best foreign language film award in 1963 and is still considered an essential and highly influential work.

Day for Night

Nothing goes right on the movie set that’s the heart of 1973’s best foreign language film winner. Actors fall in and out of love and the director  - played by the film’s actual director, the late great François Truffaut - face every conceivable obstacle, but almost all ends well in this clever and sentimental love letter to moviemaking and moviemakers.

Cinema Paradiso

Movies are at the core of this touching coming of age story which won the best foreign language film award in 1989, but this time it’s the movie going rather than the movie making experience that is depicted in a nostalgic and bittersweet way.

Sunset Boulevard

A biting film noir about the darker side of Hollywood brings together a desperate former actress and a down on his luck young screenwriter in a way that can only have deadly consequences. The more positive outcome of this encounter was two little golden statues.

The Bad and the Beautiful

Unlike this year’s Oscar winners it looks like early 1950s Hollywood took a much more  cynical look at itself. Only two years after Sunset Boulevard, Vincente Minnelli directed this story about a ruthless studio head whose ambition hurts those who surround him and finally brings his downfall.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Mixing movies, murders and a goofy animated rabbit can surprisingly also create an Oscar winner, albeit a rather offbeat one, as shown by this original neo noir by Robert Zemeckis which created one of the oddest odd couples in filmic memory.

Ed Wood

Ever fascinated with misfits, Tim Burton left the realm of the fantastic for a look at the career of one of the most unique – to put it mildly – filmmakers in Hollywood’s history. The result was not only one of the highpoints of Burton’s filmography but also a much deserved Oscar for Martin Landau who played horror film actor Bela Lugosi.

Adaptation

One of a handful of mind bending Oscar winners, this collaboration between Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman about a neurotic screenwriter and his ambitious yet talentless twin brother is as offbeat as they come. No wonder the Oscar for the film went to Chris Cooper who played the only semi-normal person in the story.

King Kong

In perfect correspondence with its film in film content, this Peter Jackson epic which followed an expedition led by an obsessed director set to create the biggest most effects filled movie imaginable - and paid tribute to the 1933 classic - won a Oscar for visual effects.

Bullets Over Broadway

Astonishingly (or maybe not), this clever comedy by Woody Allen which won Dianne Wiest the best supporting actress award in 1994 focuses, not unlike Midnight in Paris, on a frustrated writer in a period setting. If only he had a time traveling car he could’ve escaped those menacing gangsters…

*This year’s Oscars saw a preliminary round of  the Israeli-Iranian conflict in which Iran’s A Separation defeated Israel’s Footnote and won the best foreign language film award. We do hope the next round will take place on the red carpet and not somewhere in the middle east.

Technorati Tags: Oscars, red carpet, Hollywood, The Artist, Hugo, 8 1/2, Day for Night, Cinema Paradiso, Sunset Boulevard, The Bad and the Beautiful, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Ed Wood, Adaptation, Bullets Over Broadway, A Separation, Footnote

Popularity: 2% [?]