tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post4248377657562136800..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: 10 Best Pictures? Reactions and the Star Trek / Up SituationNATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31113888945618725302009-06-26T11:34:25.736-04:002009-06-26T11:34:25.736-04:00yonatan don't scare me like that.
i can only ...<b>yonatan</b> don't scare me like that.<br /><br />i can only handle so many changes. It's an institution. you change those things slowly not all at once. ACK!NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31851255439093443252009-06-26T11:21:19.055-04:002009-06-26T11:21:19.055-04:00There's a reason it was decided to keep it at ...There's a reason it was decided to keep it at five Best Picture nominees 60 years ago.<br /><br />One can only hope (/wish) we'll get the chance to say: "It must have been #11 on the list!"<br /><br />It's supposed to be hard to decide which five movies deserve to be called the best of the year. Coming up with, say, seven decent movies and having to look for three more is a horrible notion.<br /><br />Shouldn't his decision be effective from next year? It will affect future release dates.<br /><br />I don't like it when foreign language films are nominated for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film, because it means they won't win Best Picture but will win Best Foreign Language Film (Life Is Beautiful, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Z); <i>Up</i> will be nominated for Best Picture, but no animated movie will win with the Best Animated Feature category. <br /><br />There will still be a top contender for Best Picture, and perhaps 2-3 frontrunners.<br />There will be at least one movie that will be nominated only for Best Picture.<br />Movies nominated for Best Director will likely be considered "the top 5". Will we see a nominated director from a movie that's not nominated for Best Picture?<br /><br />By the way- starting with the last ceremony, the French upped the number of the Cesar Best Film nominees to seven.<br /><br />And finally, what I found most interesting about the whole story and comments is this statement in Variety: "What's more, one Academy member in the know predicted that this change is just the first in Oscar's world."<br />What else could they have in store for us loyal fan(atic)s?..Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12345457955772126354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-11356171000283528282009-06-26T07:02:20.465-04:002009-06-26T07:02:20.465-04:00One thing I fear especially out of this is that th...One thing I fear especially out of this is that the small indie movie will never be able to win anymore. There won't be any more "little film that could" since, most likely, at least one or two others will be in the mix to siphon off votes while the 200lbs gorilla still apes its way to best pictureGlenn Dunkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05424659636310160482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-50373847373671872022009-06-26T05:34:54.996-04:002009-06-26T05:34:54.996-04:00brianmaru, interesting question. Decades ago the ...brianmaru, interesting question. Decades ago the makeup of the Academy was different enough that it's probably not appropriate to compare, but I can't resist looking to the first year the Best Picture field expanded to 10 nominees: 1932/33. Of ten nominees, I've seen 7 so far. I consider five of them masterpieces (State Fair, 42nd Street) or near-masterpieces (I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang, Lady For a Day, a Farewell to Arms). But what won? Cavalcade, one of the weakest nominees of that year, and one of the weakest winners of all time. I'm not the arbiter of taste, but I get the sense that most who have seen as many or more of the nominees from that year than I generally agree that Cavalcade was far from deserving.Brian Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-32778715911561285042009-06-25T23:27:52.718-04:002009-06-25T23:27:52.718-04:00huh?
i confusedhuh?<br /><br />i confusedNATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-39940422869249748482009-06-25T23:09:10.911-04:002009-06-25T23:09:10.911-04:00Nate smacks-down the asshats ... get again.Nate smacks-down the asshats ... get again.Cinesnatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00244752542602944093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-10705640821532997192009-06-25T22:55:05.301-04:002009-06-25T22:55:05.301-04:00John T... these ten pictures list fill me with dre...<b>John T</b>... these ten pictures list fill me with dread even with the one or two great choices each year.<br /><br />I wonder you put <i>Memoirs of a Geisha</i> as a question mark in 2005 though. THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED. I mean, it's a terrible movie but the Academy definitely liked it.<br /><br /><b>Marsha</b> i agree. this year might be more fun... at least the circus surrounding it.<br /><br />i just worry about the hangover that will be oscar nomination morning. I guess what i'm most worried about is that all of those December prestige hopefuls that make lists like the NBR and the BFCA (in the assumption that Oscar will like them... even if Oscar ends up not quite loving them) won't really have to prove themselves anymore. They'll just be automatic nominees because the prestige hopefuls always have a base of support no matter how bad they are (last samurai/memoirs/etcetera) because they're "Oscar films" and because people generally vote for what is the common wisdom as "these films are 'important' awards films"NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-47562986587379246012009-06-25T22:23:08.124-04:002009-06-25T22:23:08.124-04:00One thing at least, I think predictions will (evid...One thing at least, I think predictions will (evidently) be more fun, at least for the first year. I mean, we won't really know until the announcement what crazy sh*t might come down that top ten roll.Marsha Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12029597754334771121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-78741669578408553292009-06-25T18:18:33.164-04:002009-06-25T18:18:33.164-04:00While I think this is a terrible idea, and it has ...While I think this is a terrible idea, and it has grown more and more terrible as I reconsider it, here's my guesses of who would have also been "Best Pictures from the last five years<br /><br />2008<br />Doubt<br />WALL-E<br />The Dark Knight<br />Gran Torino<br />The Wrestler<br /><br />All-in-all, I think this probably a better list than the one they actually came up with, and they would have had a better assortment. That said, I think the winner would have remained the same.<br /><br />2007<br />Into the Wild<br />Sweeney Todd<br />The Diving Bell and the Butterfly<br />American Gangster<br />The Kite Runner?<br /><br />See, adding these films severely destroys the beautifully symbiotic (and classy) nature of the 2007 Top 5. And none of them would have had a shot at winning.<br /><br />2006<br />Dreamgirls<br />Pan's Labyrinth<br />Flags of Our Fathers<br />United 93<br />The Children of Men?<br /><br />Okay, including that last one probably would have saved the Academy some massive headaches, and largely, this is a better list than the one they came up with, but it also includes Eastwood's worst of the decade. And the winner remains the same.<br /><br />2005<br />Walk the Line<br />The Constant Gardener<br />Cinderella Man<br />Match Point<br />Memoirs of a Geisha?<br /><br />Again, some solid inclusions (Match, Constant), but they are severely overshadowed by the now forgotten Cinderella and Memoirs. The only bright point would be that Woody's renaissance, Cinderella's appeal to the senior set, and the actor-centric Walk the Line might have taken enough votes away from Crash to give the trophy to Brokeback (the only time I think ten nominations would have produced a different winner in the last five years).<br /><br />2004<br />Hotel Rwanda<br />The Incredibles<br />Vera Drake<br />Kinsey<br />Eternal Sunshine?<br /><br />Again, you have to separate the wheat (Incredibles, Vera, Eternal) and the chaff (Hotel). I don't think this would have changed anything from the year of Clint, however.John Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778817752411507792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-31592567882498263262009-06-25T17:55:34.621-04:002009-06-25T17:55:34.621-04:00people keep on saying how being a nominee wont mea...people keep on saying how being a nominee wont mean much anymore, which is true, but can you imagine how much greater the winner will be? What ever film wins will get so much attention for beating out 9 other hopefully great movies. I hope UP doesn't get nominated. Just because they put adult things into a animation movie doesn't mean its great. The fact that its animation people think its great and more deserving than a non-animation movie. just because its a kids movie that isn't really just a kids movie doesn't mean it can compete with grown-up movies. Animation doesn't make it more impressive. I found UP a okay movie but not great at all. WALL-E was better anyhow. If a animation movie was to be nominated for best picture and/or win UP should not be the first to do it, definatly not good enough to go up in history as the first of its kind to win best picture.Ms. Berkowitznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-39294698143231426792009-06-25T16:27:59.907-04:002009-06-25T16:27:59.907-04:00Here's a thought. Will the 10 nominees make th...Here's a thought. Will the 10 nominees make the winner more likely to be the middle of the pack, easy pick or less likely?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-90272609067217121502009-06-25T16:19:20.816-04:002009-06-25T16:19:20.816-04:00A day later, I still have very negative feelings. ...A day later, I still have very negative feelings. <br /><br />I'm bothered by the change being the end result of a studio lobby. Yes, I know that the film industry is a business, fueled by dollars ... but at the same time, the whole point of the Oscars is to award the best artistic achievement. At the core, the Oscars are not supposed to be about the best marketing campaign, the best fan base, the best word of mouth - it's the best film. By the very nature of receiving the "best" award, the Oscars are a selective process. Remember that "it's a honor to be nominated" campaign a few years ago, after the uproar of "Crash" winning best picture? Has that honor of simply receiving a nomination been devalued by doubling the size of the field? I'd argue it has been.<br /><br />Maybe the rule change will allow for more risktaking, more inventive films to be nominated, and away from all the usual Oscar-baity films out there. <br /><br />Or maybe it will permit a larger glut of "Benjamin Buttons" - superficially pretty, wholly shallow films.<br /><br />But all the "what ifs" and retrospectives in the world don't change that devalues the very idea of the nomination process. The end result, to me, never justifies the means to get there.Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-50421004550089889602009-06-25T15:58:08.461-04:002009-06-25T15:58:08.461-04:00I have very mixed emotions on this one.. I just ho...I have very mixed emotions on this one.. I just hope the word BEST doesn't become diluted....Ricknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-477978812128022752009-06-25T14:36:46.945-04:002009-06-25T14:36:46.945-04:00In 2007, I think instead of Hairspray or American ...In 2007, I think instead of Hairspray or American Gangster, you would have seen Pixar's first nom (Ratatouille) and given the love it was shown in the tech noms, The Bourne Ultimatum, honoring the last part of the trilogy.Sawyernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-73176893407912123972009-06-25T14:31:54.347-04:002009-06-25T14:31:54.347-04:00Animated films, Foreign films, and Documentaries s...Animated films, Foreign films, and Documentaries should not be eligible for Best Picture, since they have their own categories.JWKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-194587695185649802009-06-25T14:05:09.771-04:002009-06-25T14:05:09.771-04:00[i[Another change could be in the works of pruning...[i[Another change could be in the works of pruning out some (or all) of the tech categories from the the main broadcast.[/i]<br /><br />Whhhattt? Oh my, if they do that I will never forgive them. Who cares about the # of viewers - it should be quality not quantity. And their are many quality viewers (ehem) whose whole lives are based around Oscar night. Grr.DJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-80051513260735760342009-06-25T13:13:17.781-04:002009-06-25T13:13:17.781-04:00Another change could be in the works of pruning ou...Another change could be in the works of pruning out some (or all) of the tech categories from the the main broadcast. Sid Ganis is leaving with a bang it seems.Ron B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-15128378885733678282009-06-25T12:11:26.281-04:002009-06-25T12:11:26.281-04:00The lady wants 10 in the acting categories?!? To m...The lady wants 10 in the acting categories?!? To make it "fairer"?!?! That's just utterly ridiculous. To be in one of the top 5 spots is in honor, and it should be exclusive... not inclusive. Goodness, what is this all coming to?DJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-79592672158843230542009-06-25T12:10:35.296-04:002009-06-25T12:10:35.296-04:00Nat, I disagree with you. So far, with 5 nominees,...Nat, I disagree with you. So far, with 5 nominees, academy members would only do what they felt was right in their heart. With 10, they have enough slots for their favorites, and might very well start to fill the remaining ones with what people "expect", just to make sure the academy gets some credit. Everyone has some self-esteem, especially an academy member.<br /><br />Besides, what they'll read this week in the papers and blog could influence the decision of members, who wouldn't know what to do if they had to decide themselves.<br /><br />Anyway we'll soon see.Un Francais a Hollywoodhttp://www.unfrancaisahollywood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-89824099272819729412009-06-25T12:08:56.718-04:002009-06-25T12:08:56.718-04:00I didn't mean you specifically Yancey. Avatar ...I didn't mean you specifically Yancey. <i>Avatar</i> has been on everyone's list it seems, which is why I commented. I just think it's strange since no one's even the seen the movie...because it <i>is</i> strange. Sorry if I offended you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-42515676313767376882009-06-25T12:06:24.784-04:002009-06-25T12:06:24.784-04:00I'm not "pushing" for anything. I j...I'm not "pushing" for anything. I just said that "Avatar"'s a possibility now, and that could be a cool nominee if it went all the way. And of course it would need to be worthy of the recognition.<br /><br />For the BP "Up" win to happen though, it would really need Pete Docter and Bob Peterson nominated in director to legitimize it, and that's really unchartered territory for the Academy. I wonder if they'd ever do that.Yanceynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-51601748085296132502009-06-25T11:58:42.656-04:002009-06-25T11:58:42.656-04:00I love how many people are already pushing Avatar ...I love how many people are already pushing <i>Avatar</i> so hard. I have never understood why people think movies they haven't seen and aren't aren't even finished or out yet are "locks" for awards like Oscar. It's James Cameron, peeps. How many of you were onboard with <i>Titanic</i> in 1997? Ok.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-60830828038609628592009-06-25T11:58:38.283-04:002009-06-25T11:58:38.283-04:00I'm looking at these theoretical top ten lists...I'm looking at these theoretical top ten lists that people are making up, and is it just me, or could "Up" actually win BP outright? I mean, it'll only take 10.1% of the vote to win now (crazy, but true) versus 20.1% from before. If you're fixated on "Up" not being able to do this "legitimately" with just five BP nominees, then they'll be nothing to appease you, but in my book, a best picture win is a best picture win no matter how it got there. There isn't an asterisk by "Gone With the Wind"'s BP win, or "Casablanca"'s. And if voters wanted to make a statement about the rules change this year, that could be a strong, concillatory message to send by recognizing both a critical and commercial smash hit, and also atone for their past misses (re: "The Dark Knight"). Whether they do it or not is another story, but that's an exciting thought for me at least.BillBillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-78135251297017745922009-06-25T11:48:05.465-04:002009-06-25T11:48:05.465-04:00Hopefully this change means we'll be getting p...Hopefully this change means we'll be getting plenty of "What if...?" retrospective posts here ;)Ananoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-14291550587675242292009-06-25T11:44:41.475-04:002009-06-25T11:44:41.475-04:00I'm excited for the change. I'm not expec...I'm excited for the change. I'm not expecting a complete tastes transplant for the Academy, and no one should. It's their award to do with as they please, and what I wish for them to do is just that, my wishes alone. But I'm going to give this a shot and them the benefit of the doubt just to see what they come up with. Given this new challenge, they might actually surprise us. I'm not expecting "Star Trek" or "The Hangover" no matter how awesome it would be if both were nominated. But a mix of the usual Oscar-bait, maybe one blockbuster ("Up", which will kill two birds with one stone being animated too), some indies, and maybe a "seriocomedy" if we're lucky (like maybe "500 Days of Summer" or "Away We Go") is more likely. That's not that bad to me. If they populate the list with completely unimaginative fare from top to bottom, then yeah, they deserve scorn (if "Up" can't make it in now for example, expect the floodgates to open up wide in the media over that snub). But anything's possible now. What if they found a way to nod "The White Ribbon"? Or "Broken Embraces"? Or "Avatar"? There's some real potential here, so I'm going to give this change a go for at least this one year.Yanceynoreply@blogger.com