There’s always something a bit anti-climactic about movies based on true stories. But 127 Hours still manages to deliver 95 minutes of intense drama, thanks to Franco’s mesmerizing performance and superb direction from Danny Boyle who struck Oscar gold with Slumdog Millionaire in 2009. 127 Hours isn’t quite the ‘total package’ that Millionaire was, but it is a really good movie. It feels a lot like Cast Away – just substitute Franco for Tom Hanks, and a narrow canyon for Hanks’ deserted beach.

I’m a bit squeamish when it comes to blood and gore, so I found myself bracing for the requisite ‘arm-cutting’ scene (really – that’s not a spoiler). Thankfully, it goes a lot faster in “movie time” than it did for Ralston in real life, which just makes it all the more fascinating to watch (through the fingers covering my face) and to contemplate. I can’t imagine finding the presence of mind and body to survive five days with my arm pinned by a boulder in a dark crevice of a massive canyon. Then again, rock/mountain climbing isn’t really my thing. So odds are, I’m in the clear where that’s concerned. But still, you gotta wonder…

127 Hours is based on Ralston’s 2004 autobiography, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place”, and I’m definitely tempted to read it  for additional insights into his ordeal, but I doubt anyone could do a better job than Franco in capturing Ralston’s admitted cockiness, spirit of adventure and survival instincts.

Franco is one of those versatile actors who seem to thrive on shaking things up and keeping his fans guessing. He’s equally comfortable taking on roles – large and small- in comedies, dramas, action movies, and even soaps (though his recent stint on General Hospital – as a crazy artist named “Franco”- has been downright weird). I suspect that Franco will keep shaking things up with his choices – even if he wins the Oscar. ‘Cause onscreen and off, James Franco appears to be one cool dude.

For a more complete list of the odds click here.

I’m really hoping for an upset, for the Academy to pick one of the lesser touted films. Up in the Air, Precious, Up? What do you think?

Best Picture

• Avatar James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers

• The Blind Side Nominees to be determined

• District 9 Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers

• An Education Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers

• The Hurt Locker Nominees to be determined

• Inglourious Basterds Lawrence Bender, Producer

• Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers

• A Serious Man Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers

• Up Jonas Rivera, Producer

• Up in the Air Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

Actor in a Leading Role

• Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

• George Clooney in Up in the Air

• Colin Firth in A Single Man

• Morgan Freeman in Invictus

• Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Supporting Role

• Matt Damon in Invictus

• Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

• Christopher Plummer in The Last Station

• Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones

• Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Actress in a Leading Role

• Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

• Helen Mirren in The Last Station

• Carey Mulligan in An Education

• Gabourey Sidibe in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

• Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia

Actress in a Supporting Role

• Penélope Cruz in Nine

• Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air

• Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart

• Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

• Mo’Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

Animated Feature Film

• Coraline Henry Selick

• Fantastic Mr. Fox Wes Anderson

• The Princess and the Frog John Musker and Ron Clements

• The Secret of Kells Tomm Moore

• Up Pete Docter

Directing

• Avatar James Cameron

• The Hurt Locker Kathryn Bigelow

• Inglourious Basterds Quentin Tarantino

• Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Lee Daniels

• Up in the Air Jason Reitman

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• District 9 Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

• An Education Screenplay by Nick Hornby

• In the Loop Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche

• Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

• Up in the Air Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• The Hurt Locker Written by Mark Boal

• Inglourious Basterds Written by Quentin Tarantino

• The Messenger Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman

• A Serious Man Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

• Up Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Art Direction

• Avatar Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith

• Nine Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim

• Sherlock Holmes Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer

• The Young Victoria Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray

Cinematography

• Avatar Mauro Fiore

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Bruno Delbonnel

• The Hurt Locker Barry Ackroyd

• Inglourious Basterds Robert Richardson

• The White Ribbon Christian Berger

Costume Design

• Bright Star Janet Patterson

• Coco before Chanel Catherine Leterrier

• The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Monique Prudhomme

• Nine Colleen Atwood

• The Young Victoria Sandy Powell

Documentary (Feature)

• Burma VJ Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller

• The Cove Nominees to be determined

• Food, Inc. Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein

• The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith

• Which Way Home Rebecca Cammisa

Documentary (Short Subject)

• China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill

• The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher

• The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert

• Music by Prudence Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

• Rabbit à la Berlin Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra

Film Editing

• Avatar Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron

• District 9 Julian Clarke

• The Hurt Locker Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

• Inglourious Basterds Sally Menke

• Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Joe Klotz

Foreign Language Film

• Ajami Israel

• El Secreto de Sus Ojos Argentina

• The Milk of Sorrow Peru

• Un Prophète France

• The White Ribbon Germany

Makeup

• Il Divo Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano

• Star Trek Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow

• The Young Victoria Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Music (Original Score)

• Avatar James Horner

• Fantastic Mr. Fox Alexandre Desplat

• The Hurt Locker Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders

• Sherlock Holmes Hans Zimmer

• Up Michael Giacchino

Music (Original Song)

• Almost There from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

• Down in New Orleans from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyric by Randy Newman

• Loin de Paname from Paris 36 Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas

• Take It All from Nine Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston

• The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart) from Crazy Heart Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Short Film (Animated)

• French Roast Fabrice O. Joubert

• Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell

• The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte) Javier Recio Gracia

• Logorama Nicolas Schmerkin

• A Matter of Loaf and Death Nick Park

Short Film (Live Action)

• The Door Juanita Wilson and James Flynn

• Instead of Abracadabra Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström

• Kavi Gregg Helvey

• Miracle Fish Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey

• The New Tenants Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson

Sound Editing

• Avatar Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

• The Hurt Locker Paul N.J. Ottosson

• Inglourious Basterds Wylie Stateman

• Star Trek Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin

• Up Michael Silvers and Tom Myers

Sound Mixing

• Avatar Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson

• The Hurt Locker Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett

• Inglourious Basterds Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano

• Star Trek Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson

Visual Effects

• Avatar Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones

• District 9 Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken

• Star Trek Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton

Do you think this is really the best of the year? Who was left out? I think it is interesting that Avatar is up for Best Picture but has neither a writing or acting nomination. Fill out your ballot now and see how you did on Oscar night. The Oscars will be held March 7 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

I went thinking it was a Tim Burton movie, and he is credited as a producer, but it is directed by Shane Acker, who co-wrote the screenplay as well. Apparently, 9 started off as a short, for which Mr. Acker received an Oscar nomination and won the Student Academy Award (UCLA) in 2005. I’m not sure if there are many successful feature films expanded from shorts. I think it’s probably like trying to make a novel from a short story; sometimes the idea really deserves to be short. Which is not to say it is a bad film. But I am not sure it is appropriate for little kids as there is a lot of violence, war, death and destruction. And the story may not be something they (or many of the adults in the audience) can understand. Visually though, it is stunning. I would like to see the short to see where it began and how much of it is Tim Burton, because it feels quite Burtonesque. (Then again, that might just be the reason he got involved with it in the first place.)

Where it is really lacking though is the script. Burton usually makes films where you care about his quirky characters and are engaged in their story. This story is not all that original; it is kind of a Terminator meets Lord of the Rings meets some video game. And the characters are pretty underdeveloped. Sure it is a cartoon, but you can tell that the focus was on the visuals which are very impressive and the story was kind of given short shrift.

I would wait until it is out on DVD or on HBO. It really isn’t a must see.

Top shelf voice talents: Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Jennifer Connelly.

At the beginning, I was sure I would not get through it. I mean, can anyone really be nice and happy all the time. Poppy is a 30 year old teacher who lives with a friend in London and seems to float through life. She laughs all the time and doesn’t take anything very seriously. And she calls serious people on their attitude. But little by little you see that she isn’t only this happy person. She is empathic and caring and real.

The plot of Happy Go Lucky is not exactly a linear story. Poppy loses her bike at the beginning of the movie and decides to learn to drive. Her driving lessons with an extremely unhappy man are woven through the film. Actually saying what the story is is not very easy. Nothing really happens. Poppy just lives her happy go lucky life. And you watch. She goes to the chiropractor. She bounces on a trampoline for exercise. She takes a flamenco lesson. She deals with a bully in her school class and finds a boyfriend. And as much as I thought I’d go crazy watching this happy nut, it is sweet and satisfying.

There is a wonderful scene with her married, pregnant sister, where the sister tries to make Poppy feel bad for being older, single, childless and without a mortgage. But Poppy cannot admit to feeling that way much to the sister’s annoyance. God I wish I could be like her.

This is a real chick flick is there ever was one.