Best Original Song - 8 Mile - Eminem - Lose Yourself - 2003
I loved the movie, and I think that Eminem, when he wants to be, is one of the greatest lyricists. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I still get pumped when I hear the song.
I saw the trailor for this movie, and it actually looked half deceint. I'm not a fan of foreign movies for the most part, so it was hard to come up with a decision when it came to this category.
I follow Proto and he just went so I assume it's actually my turn, but given the AK'ings and the length of time between picks lately, I'm just not sure anymore, but either way, screw it. I'm picking...
I will take in the Best Director category - Bob Fosse for Cabaret - 1972
I was really hoping someone would pick one or the other of my Best Director choices so I didn't have to make this decision. Alas, nobody has so forward I must go since I have no clue where I'm going with my SNUB pick!
So, in this category I will select, nudging out Mike Nichols' brilliant work on The Graduate, Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain.
One of the most beautifully made films I have ever seen. The look of it is astounding.
I'm afraid there's not much hope of finding a clip of the actual movie without someone's 'comedy' interfering.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
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I was really hoping someone would pick one or the other of my Best Director choices so I didn't have to make this decision. Alas, nobody has so forward I must go since I have no clue where I'm going with my SNUB pick!
So, in this category I will select, nudging out Mike Nichols' brilliant work on The Graduate, Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain.
One of the most beautifully made films I have ever seen. The look of it is astounding.
I'm afraid there's not much hope of finding a clip of the actual movie without someone's 'comedy' interfering.
Nah we're all adults!
If stumpy had taken david lean for the bridge on the river kwai, then I would have taken Ang Lee.
__________________
Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
Well now we have our Foreign Language Film choice. Well after much deliberation I have chosen Jigokumon (Gate of Hell)
A samurai falls in love with a woman whose life he saves. He is offered a reward for his bravery, and he asks if he can be married to that woman. Unfortunately, she is already married and the samurai's request cannot be fulfilled. He is steadfast in his desire, and tries forcibly to take her from her husband. The elements of many cheap thrillers exist in that scenario. Gate of Hell doesn't do too much to distinguish itself, although it's certainly not a thriller. Basically, the whole film is an excuse for its admittedly great climactic sequence, where the samurai invades the home of the woman and her husband at night. I really like how this sequence ends, but there are some questions left unanswered - annoyingly so. The husband even asks them aloud, and there really isn't a satisfactory explanation. Other than that sequence, most of the rest of the film is kind of tedious. Fortunately, the absolutely beautiful cinematography - was this Japan's first film in color? - always manages to be impressive. The costume design actually won an Academy Award, a much deserved one, if I may say so myself. It also won an honorary Oscar for Best Foreign Film, the year before that category was made official. Furthermore, it was the first Japanese film to win the Palme D'Or at Cannes.
Going through the Best Picture list I discovered I really didn't like too many. I liked this caper movie though.
You and I both. Wasn't that kind of surprising? I liked The Sting as well, even when I first saw it as a youngster.
Given this shared sentiment, I'm interested to see how much I actually like out of the "Happy just to be nominated" crowd that I shall now begin to scour for that one special pick!
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
^^^^
It just goes to show you how often the Academy gets it completely wrong.
Knee-jerk, crowd-pleasing emotional picks seem to win out every single year... Then 5 years down the road, the gaffs come to light as the best picture winner more often than not fades into forgettable mediocrity while many of the overlooked films display staying power and have retained a presence in cultural consciousness.
Some of the worst oversights, IMO:
How Green Was My Valley over Citizen Kane and The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Ordinary People over Raging Bull (1980)
Driving Miss Daisey over Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society and My Left Foot (1989)
Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas (1990)
Forrest Gump over Shawshank and Pulp Fiction (1994) (Apologies to those who love Forrest Gump, but this one was for shame!!!)
Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan (1998) (This one is probably the worst example, other than Citizen Kane snub)
Chicago over Gangs of New York, The Pianist, The Hours (2002)
I must protest Forrest Gump......definitely my favorite movie....although most of your list is pretty solid. But you have to admit its a tough choice between some of those
I must protest Forrest Gump......definitely my favorite movie....although most of your list is pretty solid. But you have to admit its a tough choice between some of those
True, Forrest Gump was cute, and fun, and really tugged at the heartstrings... but Pulp Fiction was arguably the movie of the decade.
I love Forrest Gump, but it is third on that list.
Maybe they went with it because they couldn't stand the thought of picking Shawshank over Pulp Fiction, or vice versa.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
well it is a vote isnt it? and lets face it...something like Pulp Fiction isnt exactly the academy's cup of tea. it could be that votes were split between the two and a lot of second places allowed Forrest to come out on top. I still think Forrest is one of THE best movies. Im not really a fan of Pulp Fiction, or Tarantino in general for that matter.
well it is a vote isnt it? and lets face it...something like Pulp Fiction isnt exactly the academy's cup of tea. it could be that votes were split between the two and a lot of second places allowed Forrest to come out on top. I still think Forrest is one of THE best movies. Im not really a fan of Pulp Fiction, or Tarantino in general for that matter.
Ya, I think it was pretty much a 2-horse race that year.. As much as people love Shawshank now, at the time it still hadn't really caught on in the mainstream. Got a lot of nominations, but didn't win anything, it wasn't until the years started to pass that its reputation began to grow. Though perhaps it did in fact serve to split the vote, I'm not sure.
As for Pulp Fiction, I agree, it's not the academy's cup of tea, but for me that is the whole crux of the issue. The Oscars are less about recognizing groundbreaking moments for the medium of film (which, whatever one's value judgment of it is, I would argue Pulp Fiction has to be recognized as), and are instead a more conservative celebration of movies that capture the hearts of the members of the Academy.
And of course, there is something to be said about movies that move people, I guess it just boils down to how you conceptualize "best"... The academy obviously views the "best" film of the year as the one that elicits the most emotional response. Whereas, for me, I've always wished it would be more about recognizing the most original and interesting use of the medium.
Anyway, it's one of those things, there will always be parties on both sides of the issue. Makes for an interesting conversation, though!
Last edited by liamenator; 03-28-2009 at 08:10 PM.
I love Forrest Gump, but it is third on that list.
Maybe they went with it because they couldn't stand the thought of picking Shawshank over Pulp Fiction, or vice versa.
But, frig, Shawshank was shut out completely when it had SEVEN nominations. Now that was a travesty. I love Pulp Fiction but Shawshank has to be the one movie I can watch time and again and still enjoy it tremendously.
But, frig, Shawshank was shut out completely when it had SEVEN nominations. Now that was a travesty. I love Pulp Fiction but Shawshank has to be the one movie I can watch time and again and still enjoy it tremendously.
I can, and have, watched all 3 of them multiple times and have achieved great enjoyment each time. It's especially fun to watch them with my kids and look at their reactions. That was great with Forrest Gump for me. Telling my kids they would love it, getting resistance but reluctant agreement to watch, and then watching them thoroughly engrossed in it. Great stuff.
On a similar note, my son and I watched 3:10 to Yuma last night. I kid you not, it was the third time I've watched it this week!
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
