The Oscars are here - chip in with your opinions and votes as they proceed, and later.
Despite all pretensions, dissensions, and interventions, the Oscars are still the awards to beat - in terms of shock and awe, in terms of name-brand appeal, and in terms of some pretty good films. Dissenters from the Oscar parade are as old as the Oscars. Whether it is the Razzies, people who have declined the Oscar, or all those other punk award wanna-be's, the Oscars rule, at least for one night every year, and tonight's the night.…
Article comments
126 - NR Davis
Mr. West: It needn't be accurate: It's my opinion, and I've already said it is all speculative. Of course it's possible that everyone thought Crash to be the better film, but in my opinion - and that's all I have - it isn't likely, not completely. It's a fact that many were uncomfortable about it - the never-ceasing jokes prove that. Even the actors look sheepish on chat shows and such. As for the vast homophobic conspiracy, that is a fact: The laws and legal maneuvers to change constitutions in state after state prove it.
As for being overwrought, the awards are merely a catalyst, a symbol. The real problem is the reality. That is what makes me depressed and disappointed. I am a queer person in America. People like me are discriminated against under law and hurt day after day by societal attitudes and disrespect. OF COURSE I am going to be overwrought. Would BB winning Best Picture change anything? Of course not, but the symbolism would have been satisfying for me. I can't express that without being forced to defend myself, for being made to feel like a stupid, catholic person who is less than everyone else? Perhaps I am inferior to all of you, but not because of this.
127 - Michael J. West
I certainly respect your opinion, Ms. Davis. In my opinion, however--and it's all I have, too--discomfort with a film does not equate to wrongly snubbing it as best film. In fact, although we can debate its likelihood or not, I would suggest that it is not unreasonable (not to be confused with likely or unlikely) to think that Academy voters were honest with themselves and the nominees when they voted for Crash.
And that's all I'll say on the subject.
128 - NR Davis
That's your opinion, Mr. West, and you certainly are entitled to it.
129 - El Bicho
If Hollywood was so uncomfortable with BBM, they wouldn't have nominated it. You act like it mysteriously garnered all these nominations and the Academy was completely embarrassed and didn't know how to deal with it. Ang Lee and the writers winning gives the film validity.
If its win for Best Picture wouldn't have accomplished anything than it would have symbolized nothing except that a majority of the voters in the Academy voted for it. Anything else were your own projections. There are many bad, forgettable films that have won Best Picture.
130 - Matthew T. Sussman
So El Bee, you're saying that a movie that won Best Picture like, say, Titanic, isn't really that great of a OHHHHHHHHHHHH now I'm with ya.
131 - Michael J. West
OK, I lied. I do have more to say. And I'm aware I'm on shaky ground, considering the crop of Best Picture nominees this year, but if I may assert:
It is not a social or political statement every time somebody/something receives an award. Nor is it a social or political statement every time somebody/something doesn't.
132 - NR Davis
Mr. El Bicho, I humbly request that you allow me to attach meaning to symbols - for myself - as I see fit, if it isn't too much trouble. As for what you opine, naturally you are entitled to think what you will and to express it as you see fit.
Thankfully, I believe most agree that Crash, whether or not it deserved the Best Picture prize, was neither bad nor forgettable. As for Titanic, I would not know if it is good or bad. Heterosexual love stories make me uncomfortable.
133 - Aaman
It was a love story? Ship meets iceberg, heartbreak and shipwreck ensues, news at 11
134 - Matthew T. Sussman
And let's not forget Gladiator, which was by no means a heterosexual love movie. At least that's what Cpt. Clarence Oveur got from it.
135 - NR Davis
Gladiator certainly was not a favorite of mine. I still resent losing the money spent to see it.
Wasn't Titanic advertised constantly with that insufferable shot of (eww) Leo and Kate?
136 - Steve
"It's a fact that many were uncomfortable about it - the never-ceasing jokes prove that. Even the actors look sheepish on chat shows and such."
"Heterosexual love stories make me uncomfortable."
Davis - why is it ok for you to be uncomfortable about simply watching a heterosexual love story, but heterosexual actors have no right to be uncomfortable talking about the gay characters they play on film???
Don't you think you are being just a little unfair???
Sexuality is a very personal thing for most people, after all, it's a topic that most folks (except perhaps exhibitionists) would be uncomfortable talking about with strangers on TV. Nothing wrong with that.
137 - NR Davis
The "Heterosexual love stories make me uncomfortable" was a stab at humor (apparently not a good one; should have followed my instinct and employed the dreaded emoticon) to try and defuse the despair this conversation is giving me.
Kate and Leo make me uncomfortable because they're Kate and Leo. I enjoy a good love story, even when hets are in it. To me, love is love.
138 - Aaman
Bad films are bad 'films', despite whatever pretensions they might have to good story, themes, etc.
139 - OSCAR got old, very very old and tired!
So was that actually George Clooney's "coming out speech"?
Where was his partner, Matt? And what makes me very very "uncomfortable" is that stupid Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes BS - theater!
It is only about money! Who cares about art and ageing in dignity? I had bad dreams of Dolly Parton and her scary looks. Of botoxed Keanu's dead face, of Charlize's nose and face job(nice dress though) and Felicity Hoffmann's face lift at least made sense - it worked for her part.
Do we now first have to have plastic surgery, before we are thinking of becoming an actor/actress?
Am I the only one who seems to enjoy a face that tells a story, instead of where it was stretched and numbed by poison to not have wrinkles? When will the Academy give Oscars for the best facelift? It is about time!
140 - nugget
ok I changed my mind. I just watched "Cinderella Man" for the first time tonight. GREAT movie. Why did this pugilism flick not win BEST PICTURE? I saw Crash, BB, and Munich. (yet to see Capote and the other) But geez, CM beat out any of the nominees I managed to sit through. How in God's name could brokeback mountain beat Cinderella Man???
NR Davis. Answer this question: How, in your expert objective opinion, could Brokeback Mountain be a better movie than Cinderella Man? I'm amazed this movie didn't win best picture. Does every movie have to spout off political convictions to be considered? I'm perplexed.
NR Davis: Opine away.
141 - OSCAR got old, very very old and tired!
Who really cares for CM?! That movie really SUCKED, MAN! That crazy Russell Crowe had his time - his gone for good! Toomuch freaking attitude...phone trows are in minds of academy members - that is why he was overseen - got it?
And another year with that botox-queen Rene Zellwegger, thank god we did not see her his time with her scary smile! Feel only sorry for that fat short guy from Sideways - he sat there like an old steak and did not win again...maybe in 2038?!
142 - LaLa singing
i just loved ben stillers skit it was so funny!!!
143 - OSCAR got old, very very old and tired!
Oh REALLY?! What was funny - F-u-n-n-y ??? about just walking around in the green suit - without even disappearing at all!(I wish he had!) It was like a school theater wanna be funny performance. Simply sad and stupid! They should have hired Dame fucking Edna instead!
144 - CrashBashing
Hmmm, there's a lot going on here. First of all, Aaman, how can you say:
"Spielberg, as usual, doesn't get the Best Director award"?
He's already won TWICE. It's almost more unusual for him to lose than win (notice I said "almost").
Secondly, it's not as if NR Davis is the only person to have those theories on why Crash won. The Academy loves to take itself seriously and prove how courageous it is...within reason. The media, left and right, attached meaning to both Crash and BBM. Crash was the movie that was about racism, BBM was about homophobia. (Capote, while about a gay writer, was barely paid any attention, much less made into a Message film like the others)
But I think first, the marketing for BBM wasn't effective and almost started to bully, as in, "you have to like this film or you're homophobic," instead of letting the film speak for itself. Second, all the BBM parodies and jokes eventually hurt the film in that people were tired of hearing about, whether it was positive or negative attention.
Thirdly, I agree with others that BBM was slow, but was Crash perfect? No. While not a bad film, by the third act it was heavy-handed, manipulative and gimmicky. A film doesn't have to be perfect to win (obviously).
So, I agree with NR. I think there was more at play than just voters thinking Crash was a better film (if they really thought it was so good, how come it received less nominations overall than BBM? Where was the across-the-board support for it?).
BBM supporters essentially told voters if they didn't vote for the film they were homophobic. Anti-BBM media told the Academy that if they voted for it they were pushing their liberal "agenda" onto a society they were out of touch with. The voters couldn't win.
Plus, it didn't hurt that a lot of people worked on Crash. If the voter him/herself didn't work on the film, they likely had a friend(s) who did (not my personal opinion...that's been explained by a lot of people in Hollywood).
I'm rambling so I'll wrap this up. I just think there's a lot more reasons than the voters simply thinking Crash was a better film. To think that was the only reason seems naive.
145 - NR Davis
Exactly my thinking.
146 - OSCAR got old, very very old and tired!
Total BS! and you know it! The whole Oscars were lame, boaring and outdated! If that continues, 20 more years and they are history! Who is willing to go to a loud movie theater with ringing phones and the threat to be shut! Besides endlessly talking and anoying people who are caughing around their viruses..no thanks.
Give Oscars to nurses, firmen, teachers and soldiers. Those sper greedy "moviestar fuckers" deserve $110K gift bags! Yeah right. You people need help.
147 - nugget
boaring? hahaha.
"Give Oscars to nurses, firmen, teachers and soldiers."
agreed. The oscars suck and so do all of you and me too.
148 - RogerMDillon
oscar, i think you got a dsylexic virus the last time you went to the movies.
And why would you give nurses, firmen, teachers and soldiers gold statuettes? Other than at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo I can't see how anyone of that group could use them.