Academy Award Nominations

[Artemis@BC]

Mostly a reader here on the board, but I gotta say...yeah for Restrepo! I may be the only one who likes that documentary but it is, IMO, gripping.

You're definitely not the only one, it was extremely highly rated (97/87 on the Tomatometer). I haven't seen it yet, but it's on my list -- I just have to be in the right mood to watch anything war-related.

I'm still rooting for Gasland in the doc category, because I think it's a such a fabulous example of what the genre can be: the filmmaker himself went into the project with few preconceptions, and actually learned about the subject as he went along. A great contrast to the "I'm going to make a film to promote my point of view" that most docs seem to be. Plus I loved the low-key style.

[pollyanna]

Mostly a reader here on the board, but I gotta say...yeah for Restrepo! I may be the only one who likes that documentary but it is, IMO, gripping.

FYI - for anyone who has Netflix - this film is available now for instant viewing.

[manleywoman]

Outguess Roger Ebert's predictions and win $100,000

[BigB08822]

Does anyone have an opinion on how people are upset that no one of color was nominated in any of the major categories? I mean, if they can show that someone of color was truly robbed then that makes it interesting but if the 5 best performances, directing jobs, etc all came from people not of color then isn't it just a coincidence? The only person I can think of who might have been left out was Halle Berry but her nomination was seen as a surprise at the Golden Globes anyway and she is a past winner so clearly there is no issue with her. I guess the flip side is I don't understand what should be done? Are people going to say at least 1 nominee must be something other than caucasian, no matter if they deserve it? Is it time for affirmative action at the Oscars? Am I being insensitive?

[Artemis@BC]

Does anyone have an opinion on how people are upset that no one of color was nominated in any of the major categories?

I think the more pertinent issue is that people of colour continue to be underrepresented in the Oscar-worthy parts written for them. It's not like any people of colour were snubbed in the noms, there were simply none to choose from.

While we're at ... there's a continued dirth of Oscar-calibre directing projects for women ...

But that's an issue for reforming Hollywood as a whole, much bigger than Oscar noms.

[BigB08822]

Good point. I did not think about the fact that maybe the roles aren't available. That isn't the Academy's fault though, is it?

[Rex]

Yes, and frankly, the quality of many of the films aren't Oscar caliber...^^^^

[Theatregirl1122]

I think the more pertinent issue is that people of colour continue to be underrepresented in the Oscar-worthy parts written for them. It's not like any people of colour were snubbed in the noms, there were simply none to choose from.

While we're at ... there's a continued dirth of Oscar-calibre directing projects for women ...

Ding ding ding we have a winner.

[Twilight1]

I hope Colin Firth wins best actor. A very underappreciated actor for many years IMHO. I have loved him since the BBC Pride & Prjudice came out in the 90's lol!!

[Jimena]

The King Speech director won the Directors Guild award. The Oscars are going to be tight...

[Allen]

Good point. I did not think about the fact that maybe the roles aren't available. That isn't the Academy's fault though, is it?

I agree with that. I do think that in some cases, the Academy has honored a decent number of African American actresses when they got Oscar worthy material. For instance, Viola Davis was in Doubt for about 10 minutes, but was fabulous and got nominated. I think all of the nominations for Precious last year are a good indicator that the academy will nominate a film/actors if the material is strong.

I'm excited about tonight. I should get back from the arena about 7 and the screen actor's guild awards start at 8 or 9!

[orbitz]

I hope Colin Firth wins best actor. A very underappreciated actor for many years IMHO. I have loved him since the BBC Pride & Prjudice came out in the 90's lol!!

I would deduct a few votes for starring and "singing" in Mama Mia .

If I was a betting person I'd say he's a shoo-in to win.

[Allen]

I would deduct a few votes for starring and "singing" in Mama Mia .

If I was a betting person I'd say he's a shoo-in to win.

At this point, I would say he's as close to a lock as there is. I also don't think anyone else is going to split the votes with him, allowing a shocker win like happened with Tilda Swinton a couple years ago.

[Rex]

Saw The King's Speech yesterday. Just like I thought, Colin Firth was so amazing. The entire cast was impressive.

[Jimena]

I saw The Fighter last night. I so wish Mark Wahlberg would get more recognition as an actor. He was very good.

And I'm hoping Melissa Leo wins the Oscar. She was amazing.

[Wyliefan]

The King Speech director won the Directors Guild award. The Oscars are going to be tight...

YES!

[martian_girl]

What would Oscar season be without a few accusations of politik and dirty trickery. The Oscar blogs are already predicting a sweep for The King's Speech, due in no small part to the relentless Oscar campaigning of Harvey Weinstein.

Then there is the counter-politik whisper campaign that The King's Speech shouldn't win because it glosses ever the supposed Nazi sympathies of King George VI. And there's the less scandalous murmurings that TKS is your typical "Oscar Bait" movie that will age poorly (see Ordinary People winning over Raging Bull or more recently Shakespeare in Love winning over Saving Private Ryan).

I've seen neither film, so I don't have a preference, but I find the sniping interesting.

[Wyliefan]

Then there is the counter-politik whisper campaign that The King's Speech shouldn't win because it glosses ever the supposed Nazi sympathies of King George VI.

I think you mean Edward VIII, and it doesn't gloss them over. It touches on them; it just doesn't have time to really get into them.

[znachki]

Originally Posted by martian_girl
Then there is the counter-politik whisper campaign that The King's Speech shouldn't win because it glosses ever the supposed Nazi sympathies of King George VI.

I think you mean Edward VIII, and it doesn't gloss them over. It touches on them; it just doesn't have time to really get into them.

Wyliefan is right - Edward VIII was sympathetic to the Nazi movement at that point. He was not alone. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Not to excuse it, but one of the reasons that there were Nazi sympathizers pre-WWII was a direct reaction to Stalinism and the Socialist leanings of the labor unions. The spectre of revolution was always there ala post French Revolutionary Europe.

The film can't be everything to everyone. Them's that don't like it should make their own film!

On another front - saw True Grit last night. I thought it was very good. The cinematography really made the spaces vast and spare, and the music was excellent, as we have come to expect from the Coens as well. I've seen both movies and I actually read the book many years ago. Both movies are fairly close to the book, although the Coens' is closer.

All of the performances are excellent, and I don't think that Wayne's Cogburn was any better than Bridges. Of course I'm one of those that thinks that Wayne should have won his Oscar for The Shootist. Damon and Steinfeld were much better in their roles and of course, the Coen's are masterful at casting the other supporting players, as always.

[martian_girl]

I think you mean Edward VIII, and it doesn't gloss them over. It touches on them; it just doesn't have time to really get into them.

You're right, I meant Edward.