81st Annual Academy Awards (Best Picture)

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81st Annual Academy Awards (Best Picture)
[CENTER][LEFT]I am looking forward to the Oscar's this year. I think we have a very good crop of pictures. Although I have not seen any of them yet, just from the trailers I can tell I am going to have a hard time picking a favorite. That being said, I am a sucker for Ralph Fiennes period pictures (ala [I]The English Patient[/I]) so I have a feeling [I]The Reader[/I] will probably end up on the top of my list once the dust settles. Of last years nominee's I thought [I]No Country for Old Men[/I] was the best of the bunch, but overall it was a questionable "Best Picture." [I]Micheal Clayton[/I] was an interesting thriller, but not an Academy Award winner. [I]Atonement [/I]was a tear jerker, but too scattered about in execution. [I]Juno[/I] was alright. [I]There Will Be Blood[/I] has thus far alluded me. [CENTER] [/CENTER] [/LEFT] [/CENTER] [B]The Reader[/B] In late 1950s Germany, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg begins an affair with Hanna, a woman in her mid-thirties. Hanna's past contains a dark secret, however, the revelation of which, in the decades following the period of his first experience with love, will both shock Michael and force him to confront his country's history. [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDQgKJQyjrg"]YouTube - The Reader: Trailer[/URL] [B]Frost/Nixon[/B] Following his 1974 resignation, Richard Nixon withdraws from public life until talk show host David Frost persuades him--with the help of a sizeable payment--to participate in a series of television interviews. For Frost, the much-anticipated event offers a chance to establish himself as a serious journalist, while the disgraced former president regards the interviews as an opportunity to reestablish himself on the political stage. [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibxs_2nDXUc"]YouTube - Frost/Nixon - Official Theatrical Trailer[/URL] [B]MILK[/B] As the emerging Gay Pride movement gathers force in the 1970s, it finds a champion and a public face in San Francisco camera store owner Harvey Milk. Leaving his closeted life in New York behind, Milk moves to California with his lover and soon turns his efforts to politics, campaigning for a spot on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors--a quest that will make him the country's first openly gay man to be elected to public office. [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2kD-9QZOs4"]YouTube - Official Milk Trailer[/URL] [B]Slumdog Millionaire[/B] An eighteen-year-old from the slums of Mumbai finds himself competing on the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," where the questions he must answer offer a look back at his earlier life. The show's host, however, insists that he must be cheating and takes steps to force young Jamal to admit that a boy from such an impoverished background could not possibly possess the knowledge necessary to win the show's top prize. [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIzbwV7on6Q"]YouTube - Slumdog Millionaire - Trailer[/URL] [B]The Curious Case of Benjamin Button[/B] Benjamin Button's life begins at the close of World War I, when he is born with the body of an old man. As the years pass, however, Benjamin discovers that he is gradually becoming younger even as he grows older in experience and wisdom--a situation that informs his relationship with the lovely Daisy, who reenters his life periodically as they grow closer together in physical age. [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L6K3fkwr-Y"]YouTube - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Movie Trailer #2[/URL] [URL="http://www.oscar.com/"]OSCAR.com - 81st Annual Academy Awards[/URL]
I really want to see Milk and Slumdog millionaire...!!!!
I want to see Slumdog millionaire. It sucks that Dark Knight didn't get nominated.
[quote=dplayer18;45838]It sucks that Dark Knight didn't get nominated.[/quote] See, I personally don't think films like Dark Knight should [I]ever[/I] be nominated. When I hear "Best Picture" I am expecting a high quality cinematic composition and not a popcorn thriller. Dark Knight might have been entertaining and Heath Ledger's performance excellent - but the film as a whole was just a big budget pop flick with mass appeal. Not worthy in my honest opinion of the highest honor in the land. I always prefer to see the little known art house flicks rise to the top and allow the actors who take a pay cut and the directors with vision be heralded for their craft. I want no compromise in order to sell tickets and the less mainstream, the better.
I see. The little known films are always nominated!
OtherPplsDrama
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I agree, Bacc...Dark Night was a great film, and a wonderful last piece for the talanted Heath Ledger. Oscar worthy? Sadly no.
[quote=Bacchus;45844]See, I personally don't think films like Dark Knight should [I]ever[/I] be nominated. When I hear "Best Picture" I am expecting a high quality cinematic composition and not a popcorn thriller. Dark Knight might have been entertaining and Heath Ledger's performance excellent - but the film as a whole was just a big budget pop flick with mass appeal. Not worthy in my honest opinion of the highest honor in the land. I always prefer to see the little known art house flicks rise to the top and allow the actors who take a pay cut and the directors with vision be heralded for their craft. I want no compromise in order to sell tickets and the less mainstream, the better.[/quote] I do not think that The Dark Knight was a popcorn flick, but I also don't think it deserves to be nominated for best picture. I am more upset that The Wrestler (which fits perfectly to your art house films where the lead actor did not get payed and the directer went through great sacrifices to make the film the way he wanted it) and Wall-E did not get nominated. I know Wall-E is animated but it was an extremely deep, well written, amazingly directed film. I believe that this is the film that will be remembered years to come out of the films that came out this year. It's also only the third film in the past 12 years (or something like that) that won the LA Critics award and did not get nominated for a best picture. Slumdog will most likely get the win, and out of the films that were nominated it definitely deserves it.
I quit watching the Academy Awards after "Brokeback Mountain" lost to "Crash." There was an article on Yahoo! today that was about how movies throughout the years have gotten snubbed from winning the award over others that weren't as good. I agree with the writes opinion about "Crash" and "Brokeback Mountain." I just feel that it's biased and I don't trust it anymore. Go ahead and prove me wrong on my thinking... I understand... :) I do have to agree that "Milk" or "Slumdog Millionaire" should win...
[quote]I do not think that The Dark Knight was a popcorn flick, but I also don't think it deserves to be nominated for best picture.[/quote]I know that fanboydom is lit up across the net screaming, "itz teh BEsT fiLM eVVVAH!!1" The Academy will never elect a comic book inspired film, Best Picture. They just don't work that way. Especially one that is part of a long running movie francise. Now if the Academy started allowing [URL="http://digg.com/movies/Dark_Knight_Snub_Will_Cost_ABC_s_Oscar_Telecast"]Digg to offer a say[/URL] in who got nominated, films like Knight and 300 would sweep every year! Don't worry. As a consolation, Dark Knight is in the running for a about 50 MTV Movie awards. :D [quote=MLCB53;45851] I am more upset that The Wrestler (which fits perfectly to your art house films where the lead actor did not get payed and the directer went through great sacrifices to make the film the way he wanted it) [/quote] I am willing to hand out awards every time that Marisa Tomei gets naked, lol. I guess the fact that at least the acting is being lauded (both Rourke and Tomei got nods) means [I]The Wrestler[/I] was not totally snubbed. This might actually save Mickey's career from the gutter... (I also think Revolutionary Road should have been in the mix, but it is hard to say who to push out.)
I am very disappointed that "Doubt" was not nominated for Best Picture. After seeing every movie on the list except for "MILK," I thought it was a shoe in for at least a nomination. I just cannot grasp the fact that "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is nominated, but "Doubt" is not. The other films that were nominated are worthy of actually winning Best Picture, so it will be hard to predict the winner. Sadly, I think that "Slumdog Millionaire" will win, due to the hype surrounding the movie. It was a great film, until the last 15 minutes when it turned into a Hollywood action movie. I really hope that "Frost/Nixon" wins.
I love seeing all five nominated movies every year. My mother and sister have been doing it for about 4 or 5 years and this will be my third year. I have already seen Slumdog Millionaire and Frost/Nixon. I found Frost/Nixon to be very boring and way too long. Slumdog was actually very well done and I really enjoyed it once I understood it completely. (Just FYI that this is coming from a 15 year old so I am not exactly an expert).
I completely disagree with the whole list. Actually, there is a bit of controversy regarding the fact that WALL-E, The Wrestler, Dark Knight, and Revolutionary Road are not nominated. I have had the pleasure to see all of the nominated movies as well as these four, and by far these four surpass the nominated films. The only one that is on there that deserves the spot, is Slumdog Millionaire. And Bacchus, I disagree with you saying that Best Picture should be more for these cinematic compositions. If a movie is all-around great, acting, story, music, ending, entertainment level, emotion, etc. than it should have the possibility of being nominated. Dark Knight was and is meant to be a popcorn flick, but the movie is much more than that. It is so sad that it doesn't get recognized because it is too much action, or too much explosions. A movie is still a movie.
[quote]Actually, there is a bit of controversy regarding the fact that WALL-E, The Wrestler, Dark Knight, and Revolutionary Road are not nominated.[/quote]There is always controversy when fans of certain films feel snubbed. It happens every year. [quote=Dartagnan;45932]I disagree with you saying that Best Picture should be more for these cinematic compositions. If a movie is all-around great, acting, story, music, ending, entertainment level, emotion, etc. than it should have the possibility of being nominated.[/quote] Well, the Academy disagrees. Like I said, there are other awards shows for all types of movies. I am sure Dark Knight will win loads of awards (and maybe best picture) at the MTV movie awards. The Academy Awards have always been about a particular type of film. To use an analogy, at the Country Music Awards they only give "best album" to a country music album no matter how popular the latest Foo Fighters album might be, even if that album has great singing, writing and expert composition. The Country Music Awards are for Country Music as the Academy Awards are for artistic, generally non-mainstream cinematic compositions (with extra points awarded for period pieces and literary adaptations.) You are not going to see a comic book inspired franchise sequel win the award for best picture. It's just not going to happen. And let's be honest, even if they were to consider such a film - The Dark Knight would not be it.
[quote=Bacchus;45936] To use an analogy, at the Country Music Awards they only give "best album" to a country music album no matter how popular the latest Foo Fighters album might be, even if that album has great singing, writing and expert composition. The Country Music Awards are for Country Music as the Academy Awards are for artistic, generally non-mainstream cinematic compositions (with extra points awarded for period pieces and literary adaptations.)[/quote] True. It does tend to happen a lot. You can never please everyone. But that has always been my problem with the Academy. They state that they "recognize the best in flim" yet they constantly exclude the films that aren't typically your quiet, peaceful, dramatic movies. Trust me, I am all for those kinds of movies, and they are probably my favorite, but I would rather them state or recognize the fact that a comic book movie won't win. I mean I agree with everything you have said, but I do think hte Dark Knight deserves some recognition. I think the Dark Knight could possibly be considered. But I do firmly believe WALL-E, The Wrestler, and Revolutionary Road should be in there.
[quote=Dartagnan;45939]I think the Dark Knight could possibly be considered. But I do firmly believe WALL-E, The Wrestler, and Revolutionary Road should be in there.[/quote] All of these films were recognized through nominations in other categories (although "Road" was by far the most overlooked.) WALL-E is an animated film so it is "easily" crossed off the list (as it has its own category.) It is like a pitcher winning the MVP award in baseball, when they have the Cy Young. It does happen, but very rarely and only when they are head and tails above the rest of the field. There is a valid argument for The Wrestler, but I am sure that an argument could also be made for not excluding any of the currently nominated films. It comes down to personal choice and it seems those at the Academy loved the acting performances in The Wrestler, but felt the other films were a better fit for the overall honor.
[quote=Bacchus;45940]All of these films were recognized through nominations in other categories (although "Road" was by far the most overlooked.) WALL-E is an animated film so it is "easily" crossed off the list (as it has its own category.) It is like a pitcher winning the MVP award in baseball, when they have the Cy Young. It does happen, but very rarely and only when they are head and tails above the rest of the field. There is a valid argument for The Wrestler, but I am sure that an argument could also be made for not excluding any of the currently nominated films. It comes down to personal choice and it seems those at the Academy loved the acting performances in The Wrestler, but felt the other films were a better fit for the overall honor.[/quote] Revolutionary Road is by far overlooked. I don't see why they skipped out on this one. WALL-E does have its own category, but I do think this is one of those rare occasions. The movie is absolutely amazing. I believe on Meatcritic WALL-E has the highest score of the year. I do believe they should recognize the superb acting in The Wrestler, but the movie is up there with the others. At least in my opinion.
[quote=Bacchus;45936]Well, the Academy disagrees. Like I said, there are other awards shows for all types of movies. I am sure Dark Knight will win loads of awards (and maybe best picture) at the MTV movie awards You are not going to see a comic book inspired franchise sequel win the award for best picture. It's just not going to happen. And let's be honest, even if they were to consider such a film - The Dark Knight would not be it.[/quote] Well it's already won and been nominated for several critics awards. It is been also nominated for the DGA, WGA, and the PGA awards. When you keep mentioning the MTV awards it puts The Dark Knight, in the same class as say something like The Transformers (which was a popcorn flick). As I said earlier, I do not think The Dark Knight deserves the best picture, but I also do not think it was a popcorn flick. It is much deeper and more complex than a popcorn flick. Either way, that's the great thing about films, everyone has their own experience with the film, and never will everyone always agree on whether a film is good or not. You can never really take any of these award shows seriously. As someone said earlier, I believe Brokeback Mountain was a far superior film to Crash. Same thing with Do The Right Thing (which wasn't even nominated) vs. the winner of the best picture Driving Miss Daisy. The best thing you can do is see the films for yourselfs and make up your own opinion.
How in the world was Brokeback Mountain more superior than Crash?
[quote=MLCB53;45956]When you keep mentioning the MTV awards it puts The Dark Knight, in the same class as say something like The Transformers (which was a popcorn flick). As I said earlier, I do not think The Dark Knight deserves the best picture, but I also do not think it was a popcorn flick. It is much deeper and more complex than a popcorn flick.[/quote] Haha, Ok - I'll come clean. I personally hate all the "Batman movies" and practically every comic book movie that has ever come out. Also, I just hate comic books. *GASP!* So yes, trying to insinuate that Dark Knight is akin to Transformers was my way of dismissing it. For that, I apologize. ;)
[quote=Zachary;45957]How in the world was Brokeback Mountain more superior than Crash?[/quote] I thought the actors brought more truth to their roles, it had the beautiful cinematography of a classic western yet at heart was a terrific love story. I felt a lot more for the characters in Brokeback than I did Crash and I thought the conflicts the characters went through in Brokeback were much more engaging than conflicts the characters in Crash went through. I also thought Crash's plot was somewhat contrived. Again, this is all my opinion. I'm sure you have your reasons for liking Crash better, which I would enjoy reading.
[quote=Bacchus;45963]Haha, Ok - I'll come clean. I personally hate all the "Batman movies" and just about every comic book movie that has ever come out. Also, I hate comic books. *GASP!* So yes, trying to insinuate that Dark Knight is akin to Transformers was my way of dismissing it. For that, I apologize. ;)[/quote] I am usually not a huge fan of superhero films either (I assume that's what you meant by comic book films, but I could be wrong). I HATED the Spiderman films. I thought they were extremely cheesy. I'm also not a huge fan of any of the batman films prior to Batman Begins. I guess I am more of a Christopher Nolan fan than a Batman fan. Do you hate superhero films or films based off of comic books? Because there are some great films based off of comic books/graphic novels. Persepolis for instance, was a great, unique film.
[quote=MLCB53;45968]Do you hate superhero films or films based off of comic books? Because there are some great films based off of comic books/graphic novels. Persepolis for instance, was a great, unique film.[/quote] Yes, I stand corrected. I meant superhero films ala X-Men, Spiderman, Superman, Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk, Fantastic Four, Silver surfer, Blade, Spawn, Hellboy et al. Not sure where this deep seated dislike comes from, but my best guess is that back in the day they were all so horrid that I closed the mental door to all future renditions. [B]BTW:[/B] Spawn was one of the first movies that I paid my hard earned money to go see and walked out...
Anonymous
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Coincidently, I also dislike super hero films. There is no real reason. I guess I have no interest in them.
[QUOTE=Zachary;45957]How in the world was Brokeback Mountain more superior than Crash?[/QUOTE] Assuming a certain universal merit among all of the nominees, people in the rest of the country always seem oblivious to the fact that only academy members vote. They are always predisposed to favor films that appeal to their own attitudes, opinions and beliefs about the world around them, and frequently those characteristics are not shared by the majority of the audience.
[quote=Bacchus;45844]See, I personally don't think films like Dark Knight should [I]ever[/I] be nominated. When I hear "Best Picture" I am expecting a high quality cinematic composition and not a popcorn thriller. Dark Knight might have been entertaining and Heath Ledger's performance excellent - but the film as a whole was just a big budget pop flick with mass appeal. Not worthy in my honest opinion of the highest honor in the land. I always prefer to see the little known art house flicks rise to the top and allow the actors who take a pay cut and the directors with vision be heralded for their craft. I want no compromise in order to sell tickets and the less mainstream, the better.[/quote] We will have to agree to disagree on this matter ;)
I saw Slumdog Millionaire, and even though I went in with pretty high hopes, I have to say I surprisingly underestimated it. It was extremely well done, and has a great story line to it. I haven't seen Milk or Benjamin Button yet, but I heard Sean Penn and Brad Pitt were phenomenal, which easily brought the movie up to standards for Best Picture.
I do enjoy watching the Oscars, but there is very little suspense to be had this year. Slumdog is going to walk away with a bucket full of Oscars and Heth Ledger will get his post-mortem due. I'll probably tune in and out as I watch The Amazing Race.
My predictions (who I think will win, not who I want to win): [B]Best Picture:[/B] SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [B] Actor In A Leading Role:[/B] Sean Penn - MILK [B] Actress In A Leading Role:[/B] Kate Winslet - THE READER [B]Best Director:[/B] Danny Boyle - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [B]Actor In A Supporting Role:[/B] Heath Ledger - THE DARK KNIGHT [B] Actress In A Supporting Role:[/B] Penelope Cruz - VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA [B] Best Original Screenplay:[/B] Dustin Lance Black - MILK [B]Best Adapted Screenplay:[/B] Simon Beaufoy - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [B] Best Original Score:[/B] SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [B]Best Animated Film:[/B] WALL-E [B]Best Foreign Film:[/B] WALTZ WITH BASHIR [B] Best Art Direction:[/B] THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON [B]Best Cinematography:[/B] SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [B] Best Costume Design:[/B] THE DUCHESS [B]Best Documentary Feature:[/B] MAN ON WIRE [B]Best Documentary (Short Subject):[/B] THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306 [B]Best Film Editing:[/B] SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [B] Best Make-up:[/B] THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON [B]Best Short Film (Animated):[/B] PRESTO [B] Best Short Film (Live Action):[/B] SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND) [B]Best Sound Editing:[/B] WALL-E [B]Best Sound Mixing:[/B] WALL-E [B]Best Visual Effects:[/B] THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON [B] Best Original Song:[/B] Jai Ho - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I've never understood why the actors that are doing the presenting at the Oscars can not memorize their 6 lines instead of reading the generally horrible jokes off the teleprompter. Jack Black's jokes fell so flat (being it was a completely monotonic delivery) that I was waiting for the laugh track to be queued (maybe it was going by the crowd reaction shown during a pan.)
[quote=Bacchus;49726]I've never understood why the actors that are doing the presenting at the Oscars can not memorize their 6 lines instead of reading the generally horrible jokes off the teleprompter. Jack Black's jokes fell so flat (being it was a completely monotonic delivery) that I was waiting for the laugh track to be queued (maybe it was going by the crowd reaction shown during a pan.)[/quote] I agree. I did like Tina Fey and Steve Martin's opening though.
[quote=molds13;49729]I agree. I did like Tina Fey and Steve Martin's opening though.[/quote] Some are much better than others, for sure.

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