Ok, to be honest, I’m testing my blog feed and needed to put something here so I thought I’d share my review of The Social Network movie.
Each year for eons Anita and I go to the movies nominated for Best Picture. Oh sure they’ve made it difficult now with less time and more nominees but our own mini film festival is underway.
10 films, 33 days: Can we make it?
I heartily recommend doing this every year. It’s a great thing to do as a couple and each year it forces us to see films we wouldn’t otherwise see. I may not want to go see Winter’s Bone but I have to. Plus, despite all the criticism, those Academy voters actually do know something about selecting good movies.
My criteria for judging the movies is along these lines:
1. Is It Oscar Worthy? I mean, c’mon, you’re going up against classics like Ben-Hur and the Godfather. Does this film really deserve to join them? The Academy may not always keep their standards up – Braveheart, really? – so I do it for them.
2. Is It A Film or A Movie? A movie is Avatar. A film is Amadeus. Being just a movie doesn’t necessarily exclude you from my deeming you Oscar-worthy – fun is number one – but being a film helps.
3. Did It Change The Way I Think ? Great films don’t just entertain. They cause us to rethink, reconsider, review the subject in a way that shakes us to our very core. Yes, last year’s Hurt Locker caused me to do that with unimaginable job a few people have but, to lay down a benchmark, I had to go have a drink after Platoon.
So where’s does that leave The Social Network?
A film? Okay, great directing, cinematography and amazing music by Trent Reznor.
Change the way I think? Nope. Already knew the story well but that may not be the case for everyone.
Oscar-Worthy? Nah. Good film, not great. Good watching but didn’t shake me to my core.
That’s two down, eight to go because, being parents, we’ve already seen Toy Story 3. Why that Woody got stood up again this year for Best Actor I’ll never know.
Maybe he should go for Best Actor In An Unsupported Role.
Bob Nunn is an award winning internet marketing consultant based in Toronto passionate about getting brands tuned up for the online age and, obviously, movies. He is the founder of BrandMechanics.ca and a regular contributor to Search Engine People’s blog.
