Rust and Bone (2012)

Rust and Bone

Directed by Jacques Audiard

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Corinne Masiero

Grade: B [69] 

For a film about drawing strength from physical adversity, “Rust and Bone” isn’t half as uplifting a time as its slushy, aquatic trailer would have you believe. It’s rare that a romance comes along so eager to purge its characters of traditional forms of grace, and still express the rich, interdependent courage that exists between them. The imposing performances of Cotillard and Schoenaerts punctuate Audiard’s themes well, and the coarseness of their romance lends something uniquely powerful to the experience. It’s somewhat soured when some heavy-handed plotting sweeps in to enforce an epiphany in the final act, but the effect is more dispiriting than ruinous. When even Katy Perry’s “Firework” is utilised to profoundly moving effect, you have to figure that this is a somewhat successful exercise in spinning straw into gold.

BRIT Awards: Predictions

I'm gonna soldier on with the Oscar previews later on, but first a look at the 2008 BRIT nominations and some predictions. Generally I don't think this even represents a close reading of what the best of the year was musically, but it's usually a good watch nevertheless.

British Album

Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All of his Friends
Duffy - Rockferry
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

Should Win: Duffy or The Ting Tings
Will Win: Coldplay

British Group

Coldplay
Elbow
Girls Aloud
Radiohead
Take That

Should Win: Girls Aloud (duh!)
Will Win: Coldplay

British Single

Adele - Chasing Pavements
Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Dizzee Rascal - Dance With Me
Duffy - Mercy
Estelle feat. Kanye West - American Boy
Girls Aloud - The Promise
Leona Lewis - Better In Time
Scouting For Girls - Heartbeat
X Factor Finalists - Hero

Should Win: American Boy
Will Win: Alexandra Burke

British Male Artist

Ian Brown
James Morrison
Paul Weller
The Streets
Will Young

Should Win: Will Young (or Paul Weller)
Will Win: Paul Weller

British Female Artist

Adele
Beth Rowley
Duffy
Estelle
M.I.A

Should Win: M.I.A!!!!!!!!
Will Win: Duffy

British Breakthrough Act

Adele
Duffy
The Last Shadow Puppets
Scouting For Girls
The Ting Tings

Should Win: Adele
Will Win: Scouting For Girls

British Live Act

Coldplay
Elbow
Iron Maiden
Scouting For Girls
The Verve

Should Win: Don't care :-P
Will Win: Coldplay

International Album

AC/DC - Black Ice
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Killers - Day and Age
Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Should Win: MGMT
Will Win: Kings of Leon

International Group

AC/DC
Fleet Foxes
The Killers
Kings of Leon
MGMT

Should Win: MGMT
Will Win: Kings of Leon

International Male Artist

Beck
Neil Diamond
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Seasick Steve

Should Win: Kanye West (808's and Heartbreak is Lush), but I love Beck
Will Win: Seasick Steve (why not? he's popular)

International Female Artist

Beyonce
Gabriella Cilmi
Katy Perry
Pink
Santogold

Should Win: Santogold
Will Win: Katy Perry