Girl about snow | Hey Picasso, 2011 movies are also works of art
Published 3:17 pm Monday, January 23, 2012
One might think that the arts and entertainment beat would have gone into hibernation when the snow hit last week. But, while “the girl about town” may have been working from home in pajamas instead of at the office in heels, the snow resulted in days on, not off, for arts reporting.
To be more specific, I had a movie marathon; not with old standbys that are fun to watch on a rainy, or snowy, day (“The Goonies”). I chose films that are shoe-ins for the Academy Awards in February. Before the actual nominees were released, I was using the Golden Globe winners, and a prediction list compiled by New York Times as a guide.
Because of the skewed judging process, the Oscars are not necessarily the best measure of a movie’s worth. Still, I pay attention to the nominees to get a list of fresh, worthwhile films that I may not have noticed otherwise. The low-budget 2010 nominee, “Winter’s Bone,” is an example of one of these hidden gems.
I saw “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” “The Iron Lady” and my new favorite, “The Artist,” a silent film set in Depression-era Hollywood. In our current landscape inundated with sequels and different celebs constantly acting in the same basic romantic comedy plot, “The Artist” quenched my appetite for something new (the fact that it’s made by French people probably helps). Despite not having words or color, this film simply sparkles with innovation, romance and charm. It makes the art of the silent film sexy to a new generation.
While I bundled up for an urban hike to theaters for “The Artist” and the others, I also enjoyed “Moneyball” and “The Help” on DVD at home.
Most would say that these films are entertaining. I appreciate that; but I seek out lists of accomplished films, such as the Academy Award nominees, because I think films can also be works of art.
Take “Tinker Taylor,” where not one one prop, one scene has been wasted – you’ll miss something crucial if you look away. The director, Tomas Alfredson, is like a clever choreographer of these moments, all equally valuable in uncovering the film’s mystery – who is “the mole” working undercover for Russia?
For movies such as “Iron Lady,” the leading performer stood out for her artistic accomplishments. This was not like watching “J. Edgar,” where I simply saw and heard Leo in geriatric makeup, Meryl Streep totally transformed herself into the elderly former British prime minister, from her slight limp and slow, awkward movements, to the lowered, huskier tone of the British accent she took on. Streep could hold her own on a Shakespearian theater stage, as well as on a screen.
Even the movie about the Oakland Athletics “Moneyball” is an artistic accomplishment. It didn’t merely entertain me, it helped me find appreciation and meaning in sports, something I normally have no interest in. And isn’t that what art is meant to do? Provoke or inspire us? Fire our creativity and imagination? Many of the 2011 films have done that for me.
Just remember that culture can come from a museum or an opera performance. But it can also come from a movie theater, or dare I say it, your Netflix account.
Gabrielle Nomura can be reached at 425-453-4270.
