tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post4870728027469831399..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: Animal Kingdom To Rack Up Awards (...In Australia)NATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-13609712058356157892010-11-03T02:35:36.344-04:002010-11-03T02:35:36.344-04:00It's a shame the AFI thinks that just because ...It's a shame the AFI thinks that just because a film deserves to be nominated for A LOT OF things, it scores a nomination for EVERYTHING, especially when it's at the exclusion of more deserving contenders. <br /><br />Animal Kingdom is a case in point. I loved the film, I really did but does it really deserve best Production Design or Sound Design over the completely imagined world of, say "Daybreakers"? <br /><br />Or does it really deserve best Cinematography over "Tomorrow: When The War Began"?<br /><br />And was "Bran Nu Dae" REALLY a better film than "Waiting City"?Mattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-90181890693503960792010-10-31T07:35:04.672-04:002010-10-31T07:35:04.672-04:00I'm sorry Glenn but I have to pull you up on t...I'm sorry Glenn but I have to pull you up on this:<br /><br /> "Yes, Guy Pearce probably will win Supporting Actor. They tend to go for the most famous, internationally recognised."<br /><br />Really? The most recent winners of this award were Oscar Isaac, Luke Ford, Martin Csokas, Anthony Hayes (twice), Erik Thomson, David Ngoombajurra, Nathaniel Dean, Vince Colosimo and Simon Lyndon. I don't think any of them are "famous, internationally recognised". You have to go as far back as 1999 (Bryan Brown) to get someone who qualifies.<br /><br />I personally think it's going to be Joel Edgerton's award this year, mainly because he's yet to win an AFI Film Award (although he should have won a couple of years ago, for THE SQUARE). My other picks for the main awards are Mendelsohn, Weaver (obviously) and Blake for acting, and a Picture/Director split with them giving Picture to the obvious AK, but handing Director to Campion.<br /><br />The "Member's Award" is actually something created to try and placate the non-professional members when they lost the right to vote for the main award. (Of which I have mixed feelings about. It's sad that the AFI, as small an organisation as they are, don't want to let all their members vote. But the middle-class, middle-aged non-professional voters were the reason that OYSTER FARMER (with only one other nomination, for cinematography) got a Best Film nomination over WOLF CREEK a few years back.)<br /><br />My biggest disappointment (although not unexpected) was that the other great Australian film of the year, MOTHER FISH, was too small/little-seen to get any recognition.<br /><br />Nathaniel, my opinion is contrary to the others - BH60 is worth a look. It got many good reviews when it came out, and it was no surprise to see it among the Best Film nominees. There aren't really any big names in it, and it's not as awesome as ANIMAL KINGDOM, so it may never get released internationally.<br /><br />And the International Acting awards are pretty much a joke over here amongst the members. They were only introduced to get television ratings.Wellington Sludgehttp://wellslud.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-56437761951927316742010-10-30T23:03:37.530-04:002010-10-30T23:03:37.530-04:00Just saw Animal Kingdom a few days ago. Very stic...Just saw Animal Kingdom a few days ago. Very sticky film. Especially the last half hour. Weaver was great but I was impressed by the four actors who played the brothers just as much. Awesome ending.<br /><br /> I hope it sticks around, especially the screenplay.Arkaannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-36457888811260048482010-10-29T07:33:24.762-04:002010-10-29T07:33:24.762-04:00anon -- actually no. I just genuinely love what To...anon -- actually no. I just genuinely love what Toni Collette is doing on United States of Tara. and, well, yes, I think she's a better actress than Watts in general as well. I have to call it like i see it.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-71148771094512256402010-10-29T06:41:18.917-04:002010-10-29T06:41:18.917-04:00"Go TONI"? because there is a name there..."Go TONI"? because there is a name there that irks you who you know whom is definitely going to win...huh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-19783334416824563782010-10-29T05:18:19.878-04:002010-10-29T05:18:19.878-04:00I'm happy to see such love for Bright Star and...I'm happy to see such love for Bright Star and Jane Campion. I'd like watching Cornish get Best Actress trophy but I'm afraid they will go with Oscar Buzzed Weaver (even if her placement in the leading category is not so correct)Mirkonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-89726256613512372232010-10-28T21:52:50.050-04:002010-10-28T21:52:50.050-04:00JoFo, 2010 has given us The Tree, Animal Kingdom, ...JoFo, 2010 has given us <i>The Tree</i>, <i>Animal Kingdom</i>, <i>The Horseman</i>, <i>The Loved Ones</i>, <i>The Waiting City</i>, <i>Bran Nue Dae</i>, <i>Tomorrow When the War Began</i>, <i>Triangle</i>, <i>Red Hill</i>, <i>Daybreakers</i>... <br /><br />all of which are movies that I'd recommend to people (Australian or otherwise). I think it's pretty well even with 2009 which had <i>Three Blind Mice</i>, <i>Bright Star</i>, <i>Samson and Delilah</i>, <i>Mary & Max</i>, <i>Cedar Boys</i>, <i>Balibo</i>, <i>Lake Mungo</i> and <i>Lucky Country</i>.Glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08194113062830373898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-62067653493856627632010-10-28T21:37:59.019-04:002010-10-28T21:37:59.019-04:00Every year the AFI's seem to have the one film...Every year the AFI's seem to have the one film that dominates that the media gets behind. Last year it was Samson and Delilah. Sometimes the Australian film industry is something really to be proud of, but often there is the one film that dominates because there seems to be the token "great Australian film" every year. Last year we were lucky enough to be drowning in fantastic films like Balibo, Beautiful Kate, Blessed, Van Diemens Land, Mary and Max, My Year Without Sex, Cedar Boys, Last Ride (GOSH what a year), but this year Animal Kingdom has so many nominations because there is such a lack of competitors. Bright Star is great, and the only film that touches it. The fact that Beneath Hell 60 is supposed to be on of the best films of the year is a little disheartening.<br /><br />As for Animal Kingdom's Oscar chances and very hopeful. It would be such a huge boost for the industry, especially to have an Aussie Actress like Weaver be nominated and to bring over Aussie films.JoFohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13394259417297001609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-49885719951901492282010-10-28T21:22:47.635-04:002010-10-28T21:22:47.635-04:00I'm so happy that "Bright Star" and ...I'm so happy that "Bright Star" and "The Boys Are Back" received some nominations. Especially the latter, which I really quite liked but went unnoticed in the US last year.<br /><br />I'm rooting for Clive!George P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-27629033390484743122010-10-28T20:33:43.446-04:002010-10-28T20:33:43.446-04:00Nathaniel, You know I appreciate anyone from outsi...Nathaniel, You know I appreciate anyone from outside these fair shores talking about Aussie film! :)<br /><br />To answer a couple of your queries:<br /><br />The "member's choice" category is a category nominated by general AFI members (as in just ordinary cinephiles who joined the AFI to support the Aussie film industry) whereas the "Best Film" category is the one voted for my professional AFI members. They are the "Academy" types, those who <b>work</b> within the industry. The actors, the directors, the writers. Even me, because I'm write about films (hey, we're a small country, we need as many people to vote as we can get for it to mean anything!)<br /><br /><i>The Tree</i> is a tiny arthouse film whereas <i>The Boys are Back</i> is a more mainstream title, hence it got in. Happened last year, too, when <i>Blessed</i> wasn't nominated for the "Member's Choice" and was replaced by <i>Australia</i>, which wasn't nominated for Best Film (ahem).<br /><br />Yes, Guy Pearce probably will win Supporting Actor. They tend to go for the most famous, internationally recognised. That way the actor can feel validated for humbling the Aus film industry with his or her return when they could obviously be making far more money overseas. Also agreed re Sullivan Stapleton. You should see him when he's all scrubbed up. Delicious.<br /><br />As for Jacki Weaver. The AFI generally just boosts up the most prominent member of either gender to the lead category. I mean, there's only 16 films eligible (there were more Aussie films released this year, but they either weren't submitted by the producers - such as <i>South Solitary</i> or <i>Wog Boy 2</i> - or they didn't meet eligibility criteria for release or weren't "australian enough", like <i>Triangle</i>) so they need people to fill each category out, sometimes. <br /><br />They didn't have any trouble this year what with that glorious double Best Actress nod for <i>The Tree</i>, my favourite Aussie film of the year is that one. Gainsbourg is obviously great, but Morgana Davies was 8 when the movie was filmed and she's stunning. One of the best child performances I've ever seen. As Anonymous said, she would've won (yeah, even over Cornish) if it weren't for Weaver.<br /><br />Don't count on Grieg Fraser winning Cinematography. <i>Animal Kingdom</i> will surely take that one out. Undeservedly, but it probably will. That movie is the 300lbs gorilla.<br /><br />I kinda really dislike <i>Beneath Hill 60</i>, but it's a WW1 movie so it had to be nominated. Very sad that <i>The Waiting City</i> (Joel Edgerton/Radha Mitchell adoption drama) was all but snubbed apart from (it's beautiful) cinematography.<br /><br />My favourite nomination of the day was the Spierig brothers for Best Original Screenplay. Never thought I'd see <i>Daybreakers</i> in there, but they deserved it.<br /><br />Also: "Aborigine" :)Glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08194113062830373898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-91004635041613419532010-10-28T17:53:35.344-04:002010-10-28T17:53:35.344-04:00Tim -- and i love Australia. I'm so sad I'...Tim -- and i love Australia. I'm so sad I've never been but alas... i need a sugar daddy for world travelling.<br /><br />eduardo - yeah, the worthington nomination seems a bit... unecessary. but then Wasikowska is even worse. she's just so blank in that movie. at least blank action face isn't as distracting in something like Avatar as it is in something trippy like Alice...<br /><br />Joe -- this is the first i'm haering of Beneath Hill 60 though the others at least had some international conversation around them. or maybe i just missed the conversation on that one.NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-48012954618537487772010-10-28T17:20:56.174-04:002010-10-28T17:20:56.174-04:00Not sure about the nomination for "Beneath Hi...Not sure about the nomination for "Beneath Hill 60" in best picture. It's well made, but it's not a particularly amazing film other than the lead performance and the technical aspects.<br /><br />I was really hoping Geena Davis could at least score some attention here for "Accidents Happen." She hilarious, cruel, and entertaining in her film. Oh well.Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-19855038026805955962010-10-28T16:59:38.131-04:002010-10-28T16:59:38.131-04:00Morgana Davies is only about 10 and from everythin...Morgana Davies is only about 10 and from everything i've heard she would have won best actress had Jacki Weaver been in supporting. The worst nomination has to be the TWTWB screenplay nod. It's a great movie but the screenplay wasnt the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-7770140467244702732010-10-28T14:19:06.724-04:002010-10-28T14:19:06.724-04:00Australia loves you Nathaniel!Australia loves you Nathaniel!Tim B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-57555215082660125202010-10-28T14:00:45.029-04:002010-10-28T14:00:45.029-04:00Would love to see Cornish nab Best Actress, she wa...Would love to see Cornish nab Best Actress, she was tremendous in Bright Star even though the movie was a bit tedious. Owen was good in The Boys Are Back, glad to see he's got a nod. I've got to see Animal Kingdom, the trailer was intense!rtmhttp://flixchatter.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-27189822488350202192010-10-28T12:13:29.129-04:002010-10-28T12:13:29.129-04:00and Sam Worthington got a nod for Avatar... ew
an...and Sam Worthington got a nod for Avatar... ew<br /><br />and i'm so glad to see love for Bright Star ♥eduardohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513348086637605216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-69985284544582616652010-10-28T11:58:51.415-04:002010-10-28T11:58:51.415-04:00Liz -- that is his real name. Or at least his real...Liz -- that is his real name. Or at least his real stage name :)<br /><br />Agreed that Edgerton was quite good, too. His final scene in the movie was so shocking but we shan't discuss due to spoilers!NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-54020011892113919192010-10-28T11:55:39.810-04:002010-10-28T11:55:39.810-04:00Is Sullivan Stapleton his real name? It's fant...Is Sullivan Stapleton his real name? It's fantastic. Seriously, say it out loud. It's so musical!<br /><br />I agree that he was my favorite out of the three "Animal Kingdom" supporting men, but I loved Edgerton too. He did more with his small amount of screen time than Pearce did with his, although Pearce's character was arguably a little underwritten.Liznoreply@blogger.com