tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post6913352915093455154..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: The Kick-Off! NBR Favors "The Social Network", Shuns "127 Hours"NATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-32646149752869218482010-12-06T20:37:39.095-05:002010-12-06T20:37:39.095-05:00what about documentary?? this year was AMAZING fo...what about documentary?? this year was AMAZING for docs. They mentioned The Lottery at the end - its the same topic as the one that won but better. Do poeple not care about the quality of the story over studio releases anymore? The music was so good in it too if you know TVOTR.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-55380214414708492412010-12-04T21:15:04.933-05:002010-12-04T21:15:04.933-05:00Waiting for Superman was excellent, so I'm gla...Waiting for Superman was excellent, so I'm glad it's on its way toward an Oscar win in Doc feature.<br /><br />Can't say too much about the acting wins, since I haven't seen 3 of the four winners yet. Jesse Eisenberg winning had to be a surprise though. Good for him. Even better that this places The Social Network as the film to beat this year. It's risky to be the frontrunner so early in the season, but sometimes it's also necessary to establish yourself as the juggernaut and never let go. It's been the calling card for countless acting winners lately.<br /><br />No love for "Black Swan"? Thought that they'd cream themselves over Natalie Portman. Not surprised that they snubbed 127 Hours. Wouldn't this have been the place for them to do something like reward both Moore and Bening in actress? They love their vet actresses more than most. But I'm oddly happy for Lesley Manville even though I haven't seen her film yet. It's a marvel how Mike Leigh consistently crafts these amazing female parts. Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Imelda Staunton, SALLY HAWKINS, and now Lesley Manville.<br /><br />Rambling aside, I've always liked the NBR, mainly for officially kicking off the Oscar season. It's on now, kids!Styxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-58181152561624230012010-12-03T15:29:04.282-05:002010-12-03T15:29:04.282-05:00Lisa -- it is. it's in their "top 11"...Lisa -- it is. it's in their "top 11" the first list within the post.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-71799108886057658862010-12-03T09:46:31.211-05:002010-12-03T09:46:31.211-05:00odd that the social network is not listed as one o...odd that the social network is not listed as one of the ten best films.Lisahttp://www.sendmoney101.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-91707852756670914062010-12-02T21:39:07.845-05:002010-12-02T21:39:07.845-05:00Really interesting. They definitely gave boosts to...Really interesting. They definitely gave boosts to people who needed boosts/traction. I always doubt "unknowns" in the game until I see something like this.Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13622435513032131426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56421609103316795612010-12-02T21:34:14.782-05:002010-12-02T21:34:14.782-05:00Nick -- thanks for the clarification. I greatly ag...Nick -- thanks for the clarification. I greatly agree that it's a real pleasure when a wide group of actors of different performative instincts all feel like they're in the exact same movie (a surprisingly rare pleasure actually) but I guess I found enough of The Town to be "disposable genre entertainment" that I can't really get behind what looks to be a healthy awards run.<br /><br />I think the film really botched its landing for one. But the early scenes are strong and some movements with the final action-packed act really worked.<br /><br />But anyway... I liked it but I'm already keenly aware of the possibility that in 20 years time Ben Affleck will be Clint Eastwood (the screen actor who is a totally solid director but people act like he's Ingmar Bergman / Alfred Hitchcock master-class and I will have to lose my mind all over again. And I'll already be so old and won't need the help pushing me towards senility ;)NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-89900916606574170452010-12-02T20:50:18.186-05:002010-12-02T20:50:18.186-05:00I don't think great ensembles are limited to t...I don't think great ensembles are limited to those that have big group scenes and lots of alternations among the actors (though I love movies that work that way). I think it's a huge achievement, too, when everyone in a sizable cast manages to find the same tenor <i>without</i> being in scenes together, like six different people managing to pin the tail on the same donkey.<br /><br />I just really dug <i>The Town</i> and found it punchy and affecting, when the script could easily have led to a disposable genre exercise. I might be overvaluing it, but I'm impressed how full and real its world felt to me, and I give the actors a lot of the credit for that. (Which is a little weird, because I was mixed about Hamm, and slightly mixed about Postlethwaite and Lively.)NicksFlickPickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04607501848596529493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-45198091927443311702010-12-02T20:10:44.723-05:002010-12-02T20:10:44.723-05:00caroline -- i haven't watched it yet. is the w...caroline -- i haven't watched it yet. is the whole thing online yet?<br /><br />adelutza -- you didn't like Eisenberg? HERESY!NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-57557614079282042442010-12-02T20:02:35.660-05:002010-12-02T20:02:35.660-05:00The Town winning best ensemble is a joke. I haven&...<i>The Town</i> winning best ensemble is a joke. I haven't seen <i> Another Year</i> yet so I'll take Leslie Manville with a grain of salt but Jesse whatweverhislastnameis??? On a year with so many good performances? Who are these people? ( I ask this question every year :-) )<br />As much as Oscar gets it wrong, is better than NBR.adelutzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01500491363721543846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-26070263044814995482010-12-02T19:49:16.325-05:002010-12-02T19:49:16.325-05:00I have to agree with The Town. I don't even re...I have to agree with The Town. I don't even recall Blake Lively and Jeremy Renner interacting, even though they were supposed to be brother and sister, and that might have been interesting to delve into.<br /><br /><br />Nathaniel, what are your thoughts about the HR Actors' Roundtable? I'm curious!carolinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-20832449774904241612010-12-02T18:48:35.600-05:002010-12-02T18:48:35.600-05:00What a pity they didn't select also a MALE BRE...What a pity they didn't select also a MALE BREAKTHROUGH along with Lawrence, they could help someone else to be noticedMirkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-70754197841059685732010-12-02T18:43:36.862-05:002010-12-02T18:43:36.862-05:00People should not hold TOO much NBR and Satllites ...People should not hold TOO much NBR and Satllites credence. I have been follwoing both of the ceremonies for a LONG time.<br />The definitely beat by their own drum. I think the critics of the newspapers ( LA, NY, Chicago, etc ) hold more sway than NBR and Satellite. Once those roll in, then the Critics Choice and Globes, you'll have a pretty good idea. And don't forget the one or two head scratchers you'll see at Oscar that seem to happen year to year.<br />I have a funny feeling Halle Berry and The Way Back could be late bloomers, as they haven't had overall proper screenings yet.No Bad Movieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06953359754737036858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-9735578820055008562010-12-02T18:32:58.699-05:002010-12-02T18:32:58.699-05:00I'm very thrilled for The Social Network and D...I'm very thrilled for The Social Network and David Fincher, and I'm totally fine with Jesse Eisenberg and Lesley Manville (who both are great and truthfully really needed these wins...maybe this will forever put to rest the "Lesley Manville needs to be put in supporting" gripes)...but THE TOWN for BEST ENSEMBLE???? That's a big no-no...I would've given this easily to the cast of Winter's Bone. The Kids are all Right would've been my second choice. Hell, I would've even accepted Inception, which in my opinion was more of an ensemble film than The Town. <br /><br />I'm surprised that 127 Hours and Black Swan didn't make it, but what I'm really shocked about is the total absence of The Kids are all Right. Not only did I think Annette Bening would sweep best actress, but I was certain it would make the top 10 easily. The fact that it was ALSO snubbed in the Independent category (where they awarded TEN films) is insanely baffling as well.Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-28233048811516551642010-12-02T17:46:01.813-05:002010-12-02T17:46:01.813-05:00Sorry I just wanted to add Rabbit Hole to my list ...Sorry I just wanted to add Rabbit Hole to my list of unfortunate snubs and deleted my original post by accident. I wasn't expecting to like it that much (I read the script last year and thought it was OK) but John Cameron Mitchell handled the material very well and the performances were great across the board.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02914018033024661673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-51376776642103045792010-12-02T17:44:05.997-05:002010-12-02T17:44:05.997-05:00Aside from the snubs for The Kids Are All Right, B...Aside from the snubs for The Kids Are All Right, Black Swan, and Rabbit Hole (which after seeing last night I thought was really well done for the type of movie that it is) I think this is a good roster, particularly for the NBR. Glad to see 127 hours snubbed as I think it was tremendously overrated (it wasn't terrible, but I just don't understand why everyone has such a hardon for Danny Boyle). Having The Social Network win was a welcome change for them as they almost never go with the critical consensus choice, even if its a frontrunner (except No Country For Old Men). <br /><br />Also, I am really glad that this might cause people to catch their breath and reevaluate The King's Speech's frontrunner status. I never got why it was almost the consensus frontrunner and while it was better than I expected (and sure to get a nomination) I still didn't think it had what it takes to win Best Picture. It's a pretty small movie that while an intriguing footnote of history isn't "important." People just kept repeating that its the sort of movie that wins BP, but to be honest you would have to go all the way back to A Beautiful Mind in 2001/2002 to find a BP winner with similar qualities (small, easy to digest inspiring biopic). Regardless of what I think about The King's Speech, I think we can all agree that if any precursor group before the Golden Globes/Oscars would go for it, it would have been the NBR and they only gave it a top 10 listing and completely snubbed all of its actors (who, with the exception of Geoffrey Rush, are still frontrunners in their respective categories).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02914018033024661673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-11853448451605200122010-12-02T17:27:26.389-05:002010-12-02T17:27:26.389-05:00Charlie -- hmmm. I don't think Rush *isn't...Charlie -- hmmm. I don't think Rush *isn't* the frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor... though this boosts Bale undoubtedly. We're still way far from Oscar night and he's the type of performer the industry doesn't mind overrewarding ;)NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-37102152318660692032010-12-02T17:22:52.401-05:002010-12-02T17:22:52.401-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02914018033024661673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-91615475529211265772010-12-02T17:04:18.045-05:002010-12-02T17:04:18.045-05:00Did Bale just lock up his first ever nomination?Did Bale just lock up his first ever nomination?Devin Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294863517903467515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-3970142364423300852010-12-02T16:34:22.034-05:002010-12-02T16:34:22.034-05:00Did Fox Searchight not screen for them or somethin...Did Fox Searchight not screen for them or something? Strange that Black Swan and moreso 127 Hours got nothing.Deannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-2020077699744216852010-12-02T16:29:56.960-05:002010-12-02T16:29:56.960-05:00Nicks -- really? (on The Town). I get where you...Nicks -- really? (on The Town). I get where you're coming from on Black Swan. But The Town? I liked it but like cinephile said it's just a series of two people scenes with Ben Affleck in all of them.<br /><br />though i should say quickly that i thought he was much better than he's ever been since at least Chasing Amy. so i'm a little baffled that I read some digs about his performance when i thought it was completely what the movie needed.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-29408815707103197082010-12-02T16:26:28.995-05:002010-12-02T16:26:28.995-05:00I hafta say, I'm pretty into these selections....I hafta say, I'm pretty into these selections. I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the <i>Black Swan</i> adulation; I think the movie world is more interesting for having stuff like this out, but its whole appeal is in being divisive, so why expect it to be on every list?<br /><br /><i>The King's Speech</i> seemed <i>so</i> ideal for their wheelhouse that anything else winning comes as a surprise to me. And I am totally for <i>The Town</i>'s Ensemble prize.NicksFlickPickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04607501848596529493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-48015219091865122802010-12-02T16:26:27.469-05:002010-12-02T16:26:27.469-05:00Let me add my name to the people squeeeing because...Let me add my name to the people squeeeing because of Jacki Weaver. <br /><br />Also really happy to see "Incendies" make their top six foreign film list.<br /><br />However...how did "The Ghost Writer" get to be an independent film?Bill_the_Bearnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-41475441256352374402010-12-02T16:17:17.097-05:002010-12-02T16:17:17.097-05:00Some very good decisions on the NBR's part. I&...Some very good decisions on the NBR's part. I'm not surprised by the Kids Are All Right being snubbed--I found the film very mediocre, overall. Bening should get her awards for Mother & Child instead.Mike McGuirenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-86143087858203558742010-12-02T16:15:05.386-05:002010-12-02T16:15:05.386-05:00I can't really defend the ensemble win for The...I can't really defend the ensemble win for <i>The Town</i>. I agree that an ensemble win for <i>Winter's Bone</i> or even <i>The Kids Are All Right</i> (a film I didn't even like as much as <i>The Town</i>) would have been preferable. Isn't the problem that definition of "Best ensemble" kind of fast and loose anyway? <br /><br />In your mind, Nathaniel it should involve how the cast are finding each other and interacting/performing splendidly as a whole, which certainly makes sense. By that reasoning, an ensemble win for <i>Animal Kingdom</i> would have been nice as well. However, some people may look at it as a movie with a deep cast of performances that they really like, regardless of the amount of interplay (case in point: <i>The Town</i>). My point is there can be many definitions of what "best ensemble cast" means in the minds of voters and they're clearly not going by the dictionary definition of the word "ensemble," which literally means parts performing as a whole...yes?The Pretentious Know it Allhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13279181033628364368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-54880947493967646402010-12-02T16:08:06.455-05:002010-12-02T16:08:06.455-05:00Rabbit Hole isn't in list also...Rabbit Hole isn't in list also...alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00356024653178288814noreply@blogger.com