tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post495464745488694552..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: Final Oscar Predictions: Will Slumdog Sweep?NATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-58181607066833965252009-02-24T08:45:00.000-05:002009-02-24T08:45:00.000-05:00Nice blog!Nice blog!Shabsbloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120561323952962112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-25218243569275903052009-02-17T22:06:00.000-05:002009-02-17T22:06:00.000-05:00Well I saw The Reader before nominations, when it ...Well I saw <EM>The Reader</EM> before nominations, when it was only expected to compete in supporting actress, adapted screenplay, and maybe a few techs. And I didn't think much of it. My main gripe was that it was uncinematic - obviously based on a book - and at a lot of times, just plain boring. I had no problems with the morals or lack thereof.<BR/><BR/>I actually thought Winslet's performance was borderline supporting. Not really fraud. But it's in the unenviable position of being too big and prominent to really be supporting, but also too small and opaque to really be lead (or at least to win in lead... at least to me). So if she wins supporting, people bitch about category fraud. If she wins lead, people bitch that the role wasn't substantial enough. She can't win.<BR/><BR/>And I liked her better in <EM>Rev Road</EM>. So I would've liked to see her win for that. But I'm happy she wasn't nommed in supporting cause now Cruz can win. <BR/><BR/>I think the <EM>Reader</EM> perf has been overestimated by a lot of people because it's such a stretch for her. Obviously it was different from what she's always great at. But by the same token, she's not as great at it as she is at something like <EM>Rev Road</EM>. I thought the German accent was patchy and the old-age makeup was bad, so that kinda killed it for me. And I just found her more affecting in <EM>Road</EM>, despite my overall "meh" feeling for that film.<BR/><BR/>Yet I still want her to win this year, I guess cause I still like her perf better than Streep's. Oh well. Color me conflicted.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-86722415157466814202009-02-17T16:29:00.000-05:002009-02-17T16:29:00.000-05:00arkaan -- maybe. i'm just surprised is all. I thin...arkaan -- maybe. i'm just surprised is all. I think i overestimated the performance (which i'll talk a teensy bit in the symposium) but i just don't understand where people are coming from on that film. I really don't understand it at all and I've tried. Every article i read seems to <I>grossly</I> misread the movie (and sometimes in really forcefully ignorant ways) or have it out for the movie in some transparent way (this reaction started early with all the cries of pedophilia. Filming scenes with an actor of legal age is NOT pedophilia no matter how uncomfortable it made people. It's like everyone forgets the basic definition of words when they're offended by something. <BR/><BR/>Still and all... it feels exceptionally weird to become a sort of defacto defender of a movie that I don't even really care that much about...NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-57363069346615062812009-02-17T14:20:00.000-05:002009-02-17T14:20:00.000-05:00I will predict Mickey Rourke for the win. And even...I will predict Mickey Rourke for the win. And even if he loses, I won't regret having predicted him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-53459432932324836752009-02-17T08:17:00.000-05:002009-02-17T08:17:00.000-05:00But Nathaniel, isn't that a little facile? Very f...But Nathaniel, isn't that a little facile? Very few people got the chance to see it before the oscar nominations - it's not like it was in wide release.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-83415532837039845102009-02-17T00:57:00.000-05:002009-02-17T00:57:00.000-05:00I had a thought today:If Sean Penn wins that will ...I had a thought today:<BR/><BR/>If Sean Penn wins that will be two years in a row that the best actor winner has been a man who has already won in the past. Has that ever happened before?Glenn Dunkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05424659636310160482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-21712125536489920892009-02-17T00:25:00.000-05:002009-02-17T00:25:00.000-05:00I saw "The Reader" before the Oscar nominations ca...I saw "The Reader" before the Oscar nominations came out. Thought it was garbage then, and still think that now. I didn't "turn" on Kate Winslet. I didn't want her to win supporting or lead for that performance. If anything, she should have been nominated for lead in "Revolutionary Road" and called it a day, but instead, they nominate that awful film and her overacting, dishonest performance in "The Reader". It's sad really. That after all of these losses to inferior actresses over the years, she will win an Oscar for one of the weakest and poorly received lead actress wins in decades.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-13991485364266831932009-02-16T23:38:00.000-05:002009-02-16T23:38:00.000-05:00i wasn't talking about Rick's opinion specifically...i wasn't talking about Rick's opinion specifically. I was talking about the overriding dislike of Kate Winslet this year.<BR/><BR/>i DO think this happened post nomination in general. When she was winning supporting awards people weren't exactly complaining about the performance.<BR/><BR/>and arkaan... i'm fine with people taking my blanchett/eastwood opinions with a grain of salt. I accept that. if people don't want to believe that I go in hoping for the best they can... but it seems awfully masochistic to assume i go to movies eager to dislike them.<BR/><BR/>anyway... my question remains... doesn't anybody else find it a little odd how kate winslet who could previously do no wrong for people is now considered to be an actress giving bad performances?NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-16444994471342245932009-02-16T21:55:00.000-05:002009-02-16T21:55:00.000-05:00I did not turn on Kate Winslet.... if you look bac...I did not turn on Kate Winslet.... if you look back quite awhile ago, you will note that I did not think Winslet was good in The Reader... especially as Lead Actress... David Cross stole the picture... I sadi at the time... if Winslet gets nominated, it should be for RR ... and then came Weinstein!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-45267929567583846992009-02-16T21:06:00.000-05:002009-02-16T21:06:00.000-05:00That was snippy, and I apologize for it, but I don...That was snippy, and I apologize for it, but I don't think I've read something so casually dismissive of another opinion on this site, so it set my teeth on edge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-87105143407386873022009-02-16T20:50:00.000-05:002009-02-16T20:50:00.000-05:00I don't think you can get annoyed at anyone questi...I don't think you can get annoyed at anyone questioning your motives for disliking Eastwood/Blanchett/etc in the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-86138414631818526012009-02-16T19:34:00.000-05:002009-02-16T19:34:00.000-05:00i'm still so curious about everyone turning on Kat...i'm still so curious about everyone turning on Kate Winslet.<BR/><BR/>i never saw it coming. I thought she was really good in both her pictures this year.<BR/><BR/>maybe i'm deluding myself but i'm sjust assuming that everyone decided not to like it (since most people saw it after the awards season chaos it caused) and thus didn't.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-17485547514574021902009-02-16T17:09:00.000-05:002009-02-16T17:09:00.000-05:00if Winslet wins ( and I think she will ), I feel i...if Winslet wins ( and I think she will ), I feel it should go down as one of the weakest performances in Best Actress category ever. Wrong role to be nominated for...<BR/>Streep and Leo gave much gutsier Performances... as much as I love Streep, I would love to see Leo win!<BR/><BR/>We are talking Best in Acting .. not Politics,etc.?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-52948879047539845892009-02-16T16:25:00.000-05:002009-02-16T16:25:00.000-05:001. The song category at the Globe is a joke.2. I...1. The song category at the Globe is a joke.<BR/><BR/>2. I agree in predicting six.<BR/><BR/>3. Good call on the 2001 comparison, though. I don't know I'd go that far, but kudos.<BR/><BR/>4. Sweeps might be rare, but when there's passionate support for one film in a weak line-up, they do happen, and that's what's likely happening here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-83380676940827705342009-02-16T15:23:00.000-05:002009-02-16T15:23:00.000-05:00well sure it's the safer call to not predict a swe...well sure it's the safer call to not predict a sweep (and I probably wouldn't have if I felt i understood how Dark Knight and Wall*e won't get into each other's way in the sound categories) . but i usually take a few chances and I do see it as a scary and very real possibility so i'm going for it.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-62613529293396785772009-02-16T15:12:00.000-05:002009-02-16T15:12:00.000-05:00And remember, Forrest Gump for example, in all its...And remember, <EM>Forrest Gump</EM> for example, in all its infinite inevitability, still only won 6 oscars. <EM>Chicago</EM> only won 6 oscars. <EM>Schindler's List</EM> only won 7. <EM>American Beauty</EM> only won 5. <BR/><BR/>Even when they really REALLY love something, they don't usually vote for it EVERYwhere. Clean sweeps are very, very rare.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-69237447262260183512009-02-16T15:09:00.000-05:002009-02-16T15:09:00.000-05:00Well I personally thought "Down to Earth" was fant...Well I personally thought "Down to Earth" was fantastic, and I didn't leave the theater humming "JaiHo", but maybe that's just me.<BR/><BR/>If "O Saya" managed to get nominated, then people do realize that it exists. I think it'll be pulling some votes. And "JaiHo" wasn't even nominated for the globe - and the globes LOVED Slumdog - so it doesn't seem like that easy a get to me.<BR/> <BR/>And it's just SUCH an easy way to give Newman his first oscar. You may recall that the other Newman (Randy) finally won his first oscar the same way (song from a pixar that was not expected to win, and didn't even particularly deserve to... but this one does).<BR/><BR/>I just think it makes so much sense to give Rahman his oscar for the score (i.e. ALL the songs), and then give Newman and Gabriel some love in a 2-for-1 thing.<BR/><BR/>And I just can't see it winning the sound categories, not when <EM>Dark Knight</EM> and <EM>WALL•E</EM> both need to win some more stuff (and are so very deserving). Remember, the sound guilds only get one chance to show their love for their favorite movie, whereas the oscar voters have muchas otras categories to vote for it in.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I'm sticking to my guns.<BR/><BR/>Tapley's actually predicting the same thing.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-40465823777453147782009-02-16T13:27:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:27:00.000-05:00adam, if only one music category goes to Slumdog, ...adam, if only one music category goes to Slumdog, I think it'll be song - everyone leaves the theatre humming "Jai Ho." And Fox Searchlight is pretending that "O Saya" doesn't exist (sending out CDs of the former but not the latter, etc).<BR/><BR/> The downside to WALL.E is that the best music cues come from Hello, Dolly, don't they? Though the "The Axiom" and "Define Dancing" are excellent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-39565932968658061262009-02-16T13:19:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:19:00.000-05:00I think that slumdog is overstimated is not a very...I think that slumdog is overstimated is not a very good film, Milk and Benjamin Butoon are better than him, viva sean pennAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-28571320513847650922009-02-16T12:19:00.000-05:002009-02-16T12:19:00.000-05:00"Slumdog Millionaire" was an excellent film, and I..."Slumdog Millionaire" was an excellent film, and I'll be thrilled at its sweep if it ends up happening. I'm predicting it to win all 9 Oscars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-42128563746245976522009-02-16T12:16:00.000-05:002009-02-16T12:16:00.000-05:00This looks amazing. QT is amazing. Hes 4 for 4 for...This looks amazing. QT is amazing. Hes 4 for 4 for me too (Dogs, Pulp, Kill Bill 1, 2... haven't seen Jackie or Death Proof, what am I waiting for?!)<BR/><BR/>I'm there opening day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-79420372802688755542009-02-16T12:08:00.000-05:002009-02-16T12:08:00.000-05:00but what has been rational about the Slumdog pheno...but what has been rational about the Slumdog phenomenon?<BR/><BR/>(i hope you're right but even the sound guys gave their top prize to SLUMDOG this past week)NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-73860317368550571822009-02-16T11:55:00.000-05:002009-02-16T11:55:00.000-05:00Well, call me contrarian, but I'm gonna be rationa...Well, call me contrarian, but I'm gonna be rational and predict that <EM>Slumdog</EM> just wins 6. It seems fairly easy to me, if the academy is voting with their brains even a little bit. <BR/><BR/><EM>Slumdog</EM> gets Pic, Dir, Scr, Editing, Cinematography, Score. All the awards it's been winning in the precursors. Sound goes to <EM>Dark Knight</EM> (it has to win SOMETHING other than <EM>Heath</EM>... this will be like the <EM>Dreamgirls</EM> scenario). Sound editing goes to <EM>WALL•E</EM> (those robot noises! come on, AMPAS, get it right). Song also goes to <EM>WALL•E</EM> do to the vote split and the fact that AR Rahman doesn't need 2 oscars, whereas Thomas Newman definitely needs one.<BR/><BR/>Simple. I just hope the academy sees this über-rational approach and goes with it.adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-51975093926770880392009-02-16T09:42:00.000-05:002009-02-16T09:42:00.000-05:00LOVE the newfangled poster. I didn't even notice t...LOVE the newfangled poster. I didn't even notice the Oscar heads until just now. <BR/><BR/>I'm betting on Rourke, too. It's that whole once-in-a-lifetime-role thing. Rourke will most likely never be up there again. My personal vote goes to Penn, but I'm sensing he comes in second.Kurtis Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07946031309738374597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56954690611868260732009-02-16T09:01:00.000-05:002009-02-16T09:01:00.000-05:00Is 2008 equal to 1958? I am inferring the followin...Is 2008 equal to 1958? I am inferring the following: "Slumdog Millionaire" = "Gigi"? Winners of 9 Academy Awards without even a single acting nomination. It was far stranger in the case of "Gigi" since its four leads were nominated to the Golden Globes, and Hermione Gingold was able to get the actual prize.Pabletehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12560188895716384595noreply@blogger.com