20:10 "In For" or "Done For"?

The 20th minute and 10th second of The Ghost Writer

"Oh dear. You must be wondering what you've let yourself in for."
-Olivia Williams as "Ruth Lang" in The Ghost Writer (2010)

What a perfect moment to represent this movie in this series. Love that they look like so funereal (this is the beach where the body washed up at the beginning, isn't it?) Plus that security detail trailing the writer and Ruth Lang looks more stalker than a protector with the framing.

Related Post: Top Ten List

20:10 (An Irresistible Carrot)

Three years ago at the original blog, I created a series called 20:07 which became one of the most popular TFE features ever and spawned a slew of imitators 'round the web. Just for fun, let's resurrect that ol' pet for the remainder of Oscar season as we finish celebrating the films of 2010 before the new film year begins.

Screen capture: 20th minute and 10th second of Chris Nolan's Inception

Saito: Mr Cobb, how would you like to go home to America? To your children.

That Ken Watanabe (as Saito) is a sly fellow. He saves the juiciest dangling carrot for the moment he's about to lose the dream-hopper.

20:10 Trashy Trashy Trashy

Screen captures from the 20th minute and 10th second* of 2010 films as we close out the celluloid year by February's end.

"so baby if you want me | you've got to show me love. ♪ ♫"

Trashy Mom: I'm havin friends around later. I need you to stay in your rooms or get out. No kids --  the pair of ya!
Loud Preteen Daughter: What makes you think we want to hang around wi' your friend anyway? All those winos and skanks!
Sullen Teen Daughter: [silence]

I'm not sure I could pinpoint exactly why but I love Kierston Wareing as the single mom in Fish Tank (her angry daughters are going to grow up to be just like her) but maybe it's the absence of malevolence in her, just naturalistically portrayed selfish skankiness. She isn't out to hurt her children like so many terrible screen parents. She's just completely ill suited for the job.

Here's a great writeup of her performance at My New Plaid Pants. If you haven't seen Fish Tank, get right on it. It's so good. [See also: Nathaniel's 2010 Top Ten List.]

*I can't vouch for the time stamp damnit (!)  as my two DVD players don't seem to line up timing wise. Argh. I love this series but I need it to be exact for OCD's sake.

Countdown With Us...

Now you can always know how far away Hollywood's High Holy Night is. This clock is counting down to Oscar's red carpet arrivals on Sunday February 27th, 2011 and you can embed it on your own blog or webspace. [If you already embedded it, do nothing since the clock has automatically change. And pssst, maybe on Oscar night it'll start counting down to next year's nominations. Ya never know!].

Oscar night is Second Christmas (First Christmas being Oscar nomination morn'. See all related posts here.) Plus if you ever get lonely for Santa Claus The Film Experience's company you can click on it and come straight here. Wheeeee.

Happy countdown to all.

20:10 "You're allowed to make a statement."

Three years ago at the original blog, I created a series called 20:07 which became one of the most popular TFE features ever and spawned a slew of imitators 'round the web. Just for fun, let's resurrect that ol' pet for the remainder of Oscar season as we finish celebrating the films of 2010 before the new film year begins.

Screen capture: 20th minute and 10th second* -- or thereabouts. I worry about my dvd player's clock --  of The Social Network

Mark Zuckerberg: I've -- you know, I've already apologized in The Crimson to the ABHW to Fuerza Latina and to any women at Harvard who may have insulted as I take it they were. As for any charges stemming from the breach of security I believe I deserve some recognition from this board.

Administrator: I'm sorry.

Zuckerberg: Yes.

Administrator: I don't understand

Zuckerberg: Which part?

Be here tomorrow morning for the announcement of the Oscar nominations and commentary all day. Here's my complete prediction list and my ALMOST complete dream ballot (aka the annual film bitch awards. Everything is done sans writeups for reasons previously explained and the actress categories). ALMOST because it was a super tough day and I'm sick on top of that. Argh. My timing is terrible. But tomorrow is another day!

Are you all jittery waiting for tomorrow morning to get here? Will you get any sleep? It's totally Christmas morning to yours truly.