The Big "Picture":Here is the full list of Oscar nominations.
Where they got it WRONG:
Where they got it RIGHT:
First and foremost, let's draw some comparisons between the two frontrunners here, "There Will Be Blood" and "No Country for Old Men":
- Each nominated for 8 Oscars, the most by any feature this year
- Each nominated for Best Picture, Best Director
- Each critically praised for "no holds bar" portrayal of a barren, brutal Americana life
- Each nominated for Best Screenplay, Editing, and Cinematography
- Both are set in the West, on rugged, unforgiving terrain (see my poorly transferred song-pun below)
- Both are adapted from books, and both retain the quality of the source material while still venturing cleanly onto the big screen
- Both are glorious films, and can't wait to see which will nab the most come February
Download: This Book Is a Movie - Spoon, and The Glory - Kanye West
Where they got it WRONG:- Where is "The Simpsons' Movie" for Best Animated Feature?? And in its place is the poorly received "comedy" penguin film "Surf's Up"?? Unbelievable. Sickening. Almost sinful.
- Why deny Johnny Greenwood's score for "There Will Be Blood" in Best Score? (see song choice below, an exemplified case of Greenwood's craftsmanship)
- No musicals AT ALL in Best Picture ("Sweeney Todd", "Hairspray"). The worst part, of course, was the shear increase in quality these two movies possess over last year's "Dreamgirls." Not only did they hold up as toe-tapping movie musicals, but also as incredibly fun, quirky period pieces.
- Seriously... did ANYONE see "In the Valley of Elah" for which Tommy Lee Jones was nominated for Best Actor?
- Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth: The Golden Age in Best Actress. Come on Academy. You've done this before. No one has seen this film, and those who have absolutely hated it. I would have loved to see Helena Bonham Carter, Angelina Jolie, Keira Knightley or Amy Adams over her.
Download: The National Anthem - Radiohead
Where they got it RIGHT:- Giving "Juno" a nom for Best Picture. "Juno" is a clever little movie that is picking up speed as the Oscar race begins, much like "Little Miss Sunshine" of last year. The Academy could have easily gone with a movie like "3:10 to Yuma" (throwback to the Western) or "Into the Wild," (Sean Penn) or even "American Gangster," (capitalizing on the strength of the genre). Which leads me to my next points:
- Forgetting about "American Gangster" in Best Picture and Director, and forgetting about Sean Penn in Best Director
- P.T. Anderson getting his due in the Best Director category for the first time
- Sneaking Viggo Mortensen into the Best Actor category over James McAvoy.
- And... let's be honest. "Charlie Wilson's War" wasn't good enough to best nominated for anything. Nothing. Nada. Which is (save Philip Seymour Hoffman), exactly what happened.
Download: Anyone Else But You - Michael Cera and Ellen Page
May I make note that last year, I predicted 12 out of the 13 main nominations correctly? Oh, I guess I just did. Okay, so "The Departed" did probably deserve Best Picture over "Little Miss Sunshine." I went with my heart there, not my head.
But it's a new year. This year's predictions are soon to come, and this year I intend to pull a "New England Patriots," but without the cheating part. Until then, debate with your friends about how wrong the Oscars are for forgetting "The Simpson's Movie." I know I will.
- Geoff
No comments:
Post a Comment