I was contemplating writing a post bemoaning the stultifying consensus that has been reached in the assorted guild nomination lists this past week. But now Nathaniel Rogers, tack-sharp as ever in his assessment of yesterday’s ACE nods, has spared me the trouble by saying everything I needed to say:
I’m so confused right now. I swear that I saw 113 movies in 2008 and I’m beginning to think that I imagined 108 of them. Did I? Are these the only 5 movies that came out in 2008? It sure seems like it. Who knew that movie theaters were so empty all year? I specifically remember being in movie theaters and in all kinds of places and weather, too. Am I losing my mind?
Nah, Nat. They’re just losing their memories. Or their imaginations. Or both. Do something about it, Academy.
Comments
14 responses to “Gimme five”
I agree, Revolutionary road was to me a special movie and it seems there is no room for it. And it doen’t have to be just rev road how about the wrestler, doubt, gran torino, and all the great comedies. Rev Road doesn’t have to get a best picture but common Leonardo Dicaprio and Michael Shannon were incredible. The fact that brad is getting the better of leo is laughable for the fact that he is good and suttle but every thing about Benjamin button is story and craft and other than maybe Hanson not really the acting. Or maybe giving a nod to Aronofsky for directing over say Ron Howard who can put out classy and safe pictures but really nothing special. I mean I loved slumdog to but the way it is going would make it seem like the other films don’t deserve to be in its league. What happened to Che, I havn’t seen it yet but I heard some high remarks and low remarks. You would think just on pedigree alone that there could be a nod here or there for it. The project alone say’s wow, weather it worked or not. Rachel Getting Married anyone, Rosemarie Dewitt, Demme. I mean not every thing can be nominated but surely other movies do have something going for them and not just these five excel in every catagorie above every one else. P.S. Go Dark Knight!
I sometimes am unsure of what oscar bloggers wish for. They always complain about how various voting bodies are being “boring” or “dull” etc. I wasn’t aware it was their goal to provide entertainment through their nominee list.
Shouldn’t the sole goal of these bodies be to pick the best films of the year? Not to be bold or interesting or to prove that they along with online oscar bloggers understand the hidden beauty of various ‘shafted’ small and obscure films.
I understand you have seen many, many movies this year. Many more than I in fact, can you stop reminding me?
True, Oscar bloggers are a demanding species. They want the “best” (according to them) films of the year to be acknowledged, and they want interesting, competitive nominee fields. It can be a tough balance — but neither goal, I think, is being accomplished this year.
I’m not unreasonable. I don’t expect the Academy to reward “The Class” with a bucketload of nominations, however much I’d like that to be the case. But I do expect voters to put some individual thought into their ballots, and I don’t think all the guilds have lived up to that this year.
I don’t think it’s getting too obscure or too elitist to suggest that they shine a light on, say, “The Wrestler” or “WALL-E” in the top category.
Well said.
That, and this:
If, when it’s all said and done, you can legitimately call Frost/Nixon one of the five best films of 2008, I’ll eat my hat.
Adam: Ha! That, in less tactful terms, is pretty much what I was getting at.
Guy and Adam,
Agreed on Frost/Nixon and The Wrestler. I personally think the Wrestler is the best of the year that I’ve seen. But I still have a lot of the contenders to see, including the likes of WALL-E and Benjamin Button. I have seen Slumdog and don’t think it’s as good as either The Wrestler or The Dark Knight.
Oh, by the way. I’m not sure how anyone can root against TDK. Strictly from a historical point of view, it being nominated would be a huge deal. It’s having to overcome every bit of prejudice that WALL-E is dealing with.
10 films that should comeback stronger in February 22.
The Wrestler
Hunger
Revolutionary Road
Iron Man
Frozen River
In Bruges
Rachel Getting Married
The Edge of Heaven
The Visitor
The Class
I’ve always felt it’s kind of self-absorbed to think that one’s favourite movies of the year all belong on the Oscar Best Picture shortlist. I mean, right now Synecdoche, New York is #5 on my list, but given its divisive nature, I sure as hell wouldn’t bemoan its absence from the list. Plus, people who seek out obscure foreign/art films are invariably going to put different ones on their Top 10 lists, which are fragmented so much that few, if any, are going to add up to a high number of votes for any award. In any given year, all I hope is that the five nominated films are genuinely “good”. It’s ludicrous to think that something that doesn’t have some degree of populist appeal would actually make the cut. As it stands, IMO, the five titles that keep popping up range from good-to-very good, and that’s good enough for me.
I like the idea of 5 consensus favorites. It should mean more nominations for each, and the spread-the-wealth approach of the past few years has been kind of tiresome.
No film since “The Aviator” has received 10 or more nominations. This year there could be as many as three films hitting that mark.
I kind of agree with JC. I don’t mean to sound rude or slam Oscar bloggers, but “This race is so boring” more often than not sounds to me like “Why isn’t my favorite movie nominated?”
Would nominating “The House Bunny” for Best Picture shake things up? Yes. Would anyone actually be excited about that?
I’ve seen a lot of movies this year too and I’m about to say something that people don’t rarely say but here goes…. THE DARK KNIGHT?!? As far as comic book movies go, IRONMAN was much better. And I agree with the first poster – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD was special and does NOT deserve the shaft its been getting. Michael Shannon is unbelievably AMAZING in that movie and Kathy Bates was sublime. Leonardo DiCaprio — his best work as an adult and Kate was, as ever, mind bogglingly good. Cinematography was first rate, art direction was impeccable and the score was riveting. People are like “oh, it was depressing.” So what? Dramas are entertainment too. There was a time in Hollywood when real adult dramas were celebrated, rather than scorned. Great acting, beautifully made — it’s a film that will be remembered.
“Would nominating “The House Bunny†for Best Picture shake things up? Yes. Would anyone actually be excited about that?”
No, but nominating Anna Faris in Best Actress would perhaps be the best thing they do all year :)
I don’t think it’s so much a case of oscar bloggers wanting their own personal favourites in the lineup, but they want some excitement. They are bloggers after all and what are they meant to right about when the same five titles keep popping up in even the most bizarre of places.
Liz and JC: See comment 3. I’m not asking for my own personal favourites to crop up. I’m just saying there are more than 5 films that have achieved critical/audience consensus.