Sunday, March 7, 2010
Academy Awards...the WTF moments and Big Win for The Hurt Locker
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And the Award Goes To...
Being the film buff that I am, I tend to get excited for the Academy Awards. Despite the fact that I think the Academy has been a bit off on their awards in recent years (Slumdog Millionaire, really?), I still look forward to watching. I found myself this year, however, having not seen but a few of the movies up for awards. So I decided to have a bit of a marathon over the last 24 hours and at least see all of the movies up for best picture. This was not an easy task since the Academy decided to nominate ten films instead of the standard five. As I watched, it became very clear that a number of the the nominated films were put in just as fillers and would have never seen the light of an Oscar day if not for the need to have ten. With that, this entry is dedicated to the Best Picture of the year award and the films that are nominated.
1. An Education - It seems that every year there has been that token indie flick that gets to stand up with the big bad Hollywood flicks, and this is how An Education comes in. In the tradition of Revolutionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire, this is a film that audiences seemed to fall in love with that I just don't understand. It was a decent flick, not at all my cup of tea, but one that I could see picking up awards like the Sundance Grand Jury or the Independent Spirit awards, but not the big one. Of course, I felt the same thing about Slumdog Millionaire and look what happened there. Of course with an overall better crop of flicks in 2009 compared to 2008, this seems like the kind of situation where the folks behind An Education should just be happy they got asked to the dance. Odds 50-1
2. Up - If you haven't seen this yet, you are doing yourself a disservice. This is one of the best Disney films since the Lion King, and one could easily argue, this is even better than the Lion King. Not only is it remarkably funny, but there is also a really deep and moving story about moving on after tragic event, if you can move past the dogs that can talk, kiddie part of the film. I loved this one, but Up will most likely have to contend with a Best Animated Film award and move on, although I would not be outraged to see it win the big one, just surprised. Odds 40-1
3. The Blind Side - So, I wrote off Sandra Bullock many years ago, thanks to the number of just horrid flicks she has put out there. However, after seeing The Blind Side, she showed me she is capable of more. This flick is all about the acting. The performances are absolutely great, but that is where it ends. The script and the rest of the film are good, but not Oscar worthy. I see Sandra getting the honor of a first time Oscar for acting on this, but I think that the rest of the film is just not quite there to be considered the best film ever. Odds 60-1
4. District 9 - Alright, here is the film that just has no place being here. I'm pretty certain people that listed this film for nomination never saw it, but just saw that Peter Jackson was attached to it. District 9 isn't a bad film, but neither was Boondock Saints 2. The fact is Boondock Saints 2 was a better film, but it didn't get nominated. The fact is, District 9 is a seat filler to make an even ten instead of nine. No chance in hell. Odds 1,000-1
5. Up in the Air - I was shocked when I finished watching this one, shocked that it took me this long to watch it. Overall, this film is fantastic. Great story, great acting, very topical considering the economy of today. If you haven't seen this yet, I really dug this one. This is the first of three films that I would be more than happy to see win and I think it has a real shot at it. Odds 10-1
6. Precious - When I first heard about Precious, I had no real interest in seeing it, but like a number of films on this list, the nomination peaked my interest. Like Up in the Air, I was taken back by how good the film was. However, like Blind Side, Precious is carried by the acting performances, particularly that of Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique. Of all the films nominated, Precious is the one Cinderella story that could happen. It is a movie about conquering adversity, which is something that the Academy seems to love. The question becomes will the movie with a tons of heart outshine the movie that made a ton of money. Odds 15-1
7. The Hurt Locker - This is the second of three movies that I believe truly deserves the award. Not since Saving Private Ryan has a movie truly captured the drama of being behind enemy lines where everyday could be your last. If you haven't seen this film yet, stop reading and go rent it. You will be on the edge of your seat for nearly the whole running time. It has everything one could want from a film, including comedy, drama, suspense, and downright horror. Even though it got completely overlooked by the Golden Globes, I think the Academy Awards will provide some much needed justice. Odds 2-1
8. A Serious Man - Okay, normally I am a huge fan of the Cohen Brothers and their films (No Country for Old Men, O Brother, Where Art Thou, Fargo, The Big Lebowski), but this was a total fucking miss. This film would be more accurate if it was called something like "A Man's Shitty Fucking Life." This is nearly two hours of watching a guy who is shit on by everything he encounters. Once it was over, I felt a combination of wanting to break the disc in half and killing myself. Like District 9, I really believe no one saw this movie, but just put it in there because the Cohen Brothers made it. I swear, if this movie wins, I propose a riot. Odds 1,000,000-1
9. Avatar - I admit that I had no interest in this film from the start, but after hearing all my friends say I need to see it, I gave in and saw a 3D showing of James Cameron's latest moneymaker. Okay, the effects were amazing and it clearly deserves every visual effects award that the Academy has to offer. However, that is it. This is a glorified remake of Dances with Wolves with great special effects. Personally, I would recommend just watching Dances with Wolves, then watching Star Trek instead. This is a clear case of the Academy rewarding the big money making film of the year with a nomination. And after the audacity of Avatar winning the Golden Globe for Best Picture (Drama), I fear that Academy may follow suit. I really hope it doesn't, but then again, I bring up the fact that Slumdog Millionaire won last year. Odds 5-1
10. Inglourious Basterds - If there is one person that I feel like Hollywood has completely shunned over the years, it is Quentin Tarantino. While Inglourious Basterds is not the perfect film, it stands out for not only its acting by Christoph Waltz and Mélanie Laurent (who very much deserved a nomination for her performance, but did not), two relatively unknown actors in the United States, but the production value of the film is amazing. This is the third film of three that I feel truly deserves the award, but I would be happy to see either a screenplay or directing nod to a much deserving Quentin Tarantino. Hopefully some justice comes tonight for QT. Odds 8-1
Well, that is is. Enjoy the awards if you are watching them. Expect a follow-up post once the awards are given out.
1. An Education - It seems that every year there has been that token indie flick that gets to stand up with the big bad Hollywood flicks, and this is how An Education comes in. In the tradition of Revolutionary Road and Slumdog Millionaire, this is a film that audiences seemed to fall in love with that I just don't understand. It was a decent flick, not at all my cup of tea, but one that I could see picking up awards like the Sundance Grand Jury or the Independent Spirit awards, but not the big one. Of course, I felt the same thing about Slumdog Millionaire and look what happened there. Of course with an overall better crop of flicks in 2009 compared to 2008, this seems like the kind of situation where the folks behind An Education should just be happy they got asked to the dance. Odds 50-1
2. Up - If you haven't seen this yet, you are doing yourself a disservice. This is one of the best Disney films since the Lion King, and one could easily argue, this is even better than the Lion King. Not only is it remarkably funny, but there is also a really deep and moving story about moving on after tragic event, if you can move past the dogs that can talk, kiddie part of the film. I loved this one, but Up will most likely have to contend with a Best Animated Film award and move on, although I would not be outraged to see it win the big one, just surprised. Odds 40-1
3. The Blind Side - So, I wrote off Sandra Bullock many years ago, thanks to the number of just horrid flicks she has put out there. However, after seeing The Blind Side, she showed me she is capable of more. This flick is all about the acting. The performances are absolutely great, but that is where it ends. The script and the rest of the film are good, but not Oscar worthy. I see Sandra getting the honor of a first time Oscar for acting on this, but I think that the rest of the film is just not quite there to be considered the best film ever. Odds 60-1
4. District 9 - Alright, here is the film that just has no place being here. I'm pretty certain people that listed this film for nomination never saw it, but just saw that Peter Jackson was attached to it. District 9 isn't a bad film, but neither was Boondock Saints 2. The fact is Boondock Saints 2 was a better film, but it didn't get nominated. The fact is, District 9 is a seat filler to make an even ten instead of nine. No chance in hell. Odds 1,000-1
5. Up in the Air - I was shocked when I finished watching this one, shocked that it took me this long to watch it. Overall, this film is fantastic. Great story, great acting, very topical considering the economy of today. If you haven't seen this yet, I really dug this one. This is the first of three films that I would be more than happy to see win and I think it has a real shot at it. Odds 10-1
6. Precious - When I first heard about Precious, I had no real interest in seeing it, but like a number of films on this list, the nomination peaked my interest. Like Up in the Air, I was taken back by how good the film was. However, like Blind Side, Precious is carried by the acting performances, particularly that of Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique. Of all the films nominated, Precious is the one Cinderella story that could happen. It is a movie about conquering adversity, which is something that the Academy seems to love. The question becomes will the movie with a tons of heart outshine the movie that made a ton of money. Odds 15-1
7. The Hurt Locker - This is the second of three movies that I believe truly deserves the award. Not since Saving Private Ryan has a movie truly captured the drama of being behind enemy lines where everyday could be your last. If you haven't seen this film yet, stop reading and go rent it. You will be on the edge of your seat for nearly the whole running time. It has everything one could want from a film, including comedy, drama, suspense, and downright horror. Even though it got completely overlooked by the Golden Globes, I think the Academy Awards will provide some much needed justice. Odds 2-1
8. A Serious Man - Okay, normally I am a huge fan of the Cohen Brothers and their films (No Country for Old Men, O Brother, Where Art Thou, Fargo, The Big Lebowski), but this was a total fucking miss. This film would be more accurate if it was called something like "A Man's Shitty Fucking Life." This is nearly two hours of watching a guy who is shit on by everything he encounters. Once it was over, I felt a combination of wanting to break the disc in half and killing myself. Like District 9, I really believe no one saw this movie, but just put it in there because the Cohen Brothers made it. I swear, if this movie wins, I propose a riot. Odds 1,000,000-1
9. Avatar - I admit that I had no interest in this film from the start, but after hearing all my friends say I need to see it, I gave in and saw a 3D showing of James Cameron's latest moneymaker. Okay, the effects were amazing and it clearly deserves every visual effects award that the Academy has to offer. However, that is it. This is a glorified remake of Dances with Wolves with great special effects. Personally, I would recommend just watching Dances with Wolves, then watching Star Trek instead. This is a clear case of the Academy rewarding the big money making film of the year with a nomination. And after the audacity of Avatar winning the Golden Globe for Best Picture (Drama), I fear that Academy may follow suit. I really hope it doesn't, but then again, I bring up the fact that Slumdog Millionaire won last year. Odds 5-1
10. Inglourious Basterds - If there is one person that I feel like Hollywood has completely shunned over the years, it is Quentin Tarantino. While Inglourious Basterds is not the perfect film, it stands out for not only its acting by Christoph Waltz and Mélanie Laurent (who very much deserved a nomination for her performance, but did not), two relatively unknown actors in the United States, but the production value of the film is amazing. This is the third film of three that I feel truly deserves the award, but I would be happy to see either a screenplay or directing nod to a much deserving Quentin Tarantino. Hopefully some justice comes tonight for QT. Odds 8-1
Well, that is is. Enjoy the awards if you are watching them. Expect a follow-up post once the awards are given out.
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