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FIFTH ANNUAL POLISHED APPLE AWARDS

19 FILMS TAKE HOME POLLIES

Sandra Bullock became the first person to be recognized by the Razzies and the Academy Awards in the same weekend, and Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar for best director. But there was also a first at the fifth annual Pollies as PollyStaffle.com gave its top award to a comedy. Jody Hill’s “Observe and Report” was named best movie as 18 other films were also honored at the Polished Apple Awards.

“Observe and Report” follows the antics of bi-polar security guard Ronnie Barnhardt, played by Seth Rogen. Barnhardt tries to keep the peace at his mall, while also fighting his internal demons.

“Jody Hill is a comedic genius,” PollyStaffle.com senior editor Chad Freeman said. “This was the first time I found myself, laughing at, laughing with and not only liking, but completely rooting for Seth Rogen’s character in a movie.”

Freeman calls the character of Ronnie Barnhardt the “most lovable and interesting cinematic psychopath” since Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver.” The film, which was written and directed by Hill, also stars Ray Liotta, Michael Peña, Patton Oswalt, Danny McBride and Anna Faris.

PollyStaffle.com, which is gearing up for its first film festival this May in Las Vegas, is an entertainment website that celebrates individuality, diversity, creativity and empowerment. Their Polished Apple Awards, also known as The Pollies, coincide each year with the Academy Awards. Previous top winners were the dramas “Mister Foe” and “Mysterious Skin,” as well as the genre gems “300” and “Hard Candy.”

Other films receiving Pollies this year were “Julia” (Best Direction), “Downloading Nancy” (Best Writing), “LOOK” (Best Editing), “Phoebe in Wonderland” (Best Acting, individual – Elle Fanning), “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” (Best Acting, ensemble – Asa Butterfield, Jack Scanlon, David Thewlis and Vera Farmiga), “Explicit Ills” (Best Acting, honorable mention), “Ninja Assassin” (Coolest Looking Film), “Orphan” (Scariest Movie), “Black Dynamite” (Funniest Movie), “Gamer” (Most Action-Packed Movie), “Watchmen” (Best Use of Music), “Dark Country” (Best Use of Sex), “The International” (Best Use of Violence), “The Wrestler” (Best Depiction of Drug Use), “Tyson” (Best Documentary) and “Princess” (Best Foreign Language Movie). “Frownland,” a film with an untamed beast of a narrative, won Best Concept, Gimmick, Hook and “Sex Galaxy,” a sci-fi-comedy mashup of public domain footage, took home Best Remake, Sequel, Etc. for recycling something old and making it into something new.

To be eligible for The Pollies a film must have been viewable on DVD during the current award cycle, which starts the month of the previous year’s awards and ends the month of the current year’s Oscars. PollyStaffle.com considers all films for its awards. As the site puts it, this includes “the movie you made with your mom in your backyard.”

PollyStaffle.com also inducted three new members into their entertainment hall of fame. Filmmaker Tobe Hooper, actress Pam Grier and music icon Michael Jackson were named to the Polly Staffle Hall of Fame because of their contributions to the world of entertainment. They join previous inductees Herschell Gordon Lewis, Doris Wishman, Ray Harryhausen, Andy Sidaris, Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells, Bruce Lee, E.E. Cummings, Jayne Mansfield, Bettie Page, Marilyn Monroe and Jeanne Carmen.

– March 2010