Friday, February 6, 2009
Oscar politics
The reading about the Oscars got me thinking its not just the foreign language films that get overlooked but even the mainstream Hollywood films and the indie/art films. This year the biggest disappointment and surprise was the Academy's overlooking of The Dark Knight. I know some people see the film as just a really good comic book movie, but to most its way more than that and I was pretty convinced that it would score a nomination. The article touched upon the fact that most or at least some of the voters are seniors so they sometimes ignore the violent or more sexually explicit films or ones that appeal to younger audiences (The Dark Knight). I haven't seen all five of the nominees but its just a disappointment that the Knight didn't get a nomination. It did what most mainstream blockbuster films can't do, entertained but also had a message, a message on society and evil. Its rare for a blockbuster film to be immensely entertaining and also very intelligent. The film should have been recognized for that, for being able to elevate itself beyond just a comic book movie. Also, going back to the foreign language film category its disappointing when really good films get overlooked because there's a good chance that without the nomination we won't easily be able to see these films. Let me know what you all think
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5 comments:
I hear you on the fact that it is far too often that excellent films get overlooked for Oscar nominations. The thing is, who really cares? I'm not saying this to be snide or rude in any way, and I am also not being sarcastic. The simple fact is that some films get nominated and win awards and then people who would never have seen them go out and see them when they conveniently end up back in the theater again for another short run. In making a great film, it is not just the Academy that really matters, many of the best films from the smaller festivals will never see an award from the infamous Academy. I think it comes down to something that Spike Lee said when he came to speak at BSC last year. He basically said that he doesn't ever plan on really winning the best movie nod even though he is regarded by many as one of the best and most relevant filmmakers of our time. They gave the best movie award to "Driving Miss Mother F'n Daisy!"
I hear you, and I didn't take your remarks to be snide and rude. I guess my answer is I care and I think these film makers care as well. For an award show that is supposed to be the top gun, they overlook so many good films. I also believe it matters because I as a fan want to see films that deserve to win win and for the hard working filmmakers who won't see box office success deserve to win or be recognized by this huge honor. An award show that is supposed to recognize films on their merit alone has turned into something different and it's sad to see.
I do feel "The Dark Knight" deserved a nomination and instead they gave one to the "The Reader"...the motherf*ck*n Reader?!?! They should have just given "Deep Throat" a nomination,
I'm a huge fan of the Oscars (I've already seen all the nominations) and sometimes they make some of the biggest mistakes I've ever seen. Reading an article, the other day I'd have to agree that in 1990, "Dances with Wolves" should not have won Best Picture, it should have been "Goodfellas". But I digress. The Oscars is about choosing films that are worthy of aging and sometimes they suck at their choices.
I agree completely!!!!!!! the fom the dark night was amazing and the performances in the fim itself is even more amazing! I do not understand why it was not nominated, it deserved to be seen as the film it was and not simply a comic book flick. The film had a message and had something important to say and people worked really hard on it. The academy simply forgot to add it and that sux and blows rocks...wow I dont know but I agree with you completely that certain films are just forgotten.
I don't always understand how the selections are made as to which films get nominations and which ones don't. Unfortunately, it does seem like there are a lot of really good films that get overlooked. However, I don't think that an Oscar nomination, or lack therof, really has a major effect on the success of certain films, except maybe those that we wouldn't normally hear much about anyway, such as foreign films. The publicity that comes along with an Oscar nomination definitely doesn't hurt, but I think that in most cases, if people want to see a certain film, they are going to see it whether it gets a nomination or not.
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