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  • #16
    Re: The Oscars

    I thought Jon Stewart did pretty well, and definitely better than expected. Not as polished or a solid crowd pleaser like Billy Crystal or Steve Martin, but he seemed himself, and handled both his zingers and bombs well. The occasional awkward pause and squirm from the audience was fine... good, even. Whether politics or ego, some things need a good nudge now and then.

    I'm amazed at all the people who see the fact that Brokeback Mountain didn't win as some sort of failure in the vision of the Oscars, that it means that they're anti-gay all of a sudden, or just not tolerant enough. One, this is the entertainment industry (where the other common criticism is that it glamorizes "alternative sexuality"), two, it's just a popularity contest (what awards show isn't?), and three, being provocative and different isn't the only criteria here. I can think of dozens of films that broke the mold, that changed the world, that mattered, that got lots of acclaim and put into film school textbooks... but didn't win Best Picture, simply because folks found other films more entertaining, more enjoyable, more appropriate or relevant to their time, ad nauseum.

    Brokeback's strong showing overall should show the level of respect it has in the industry. I don't think "Crash" won because the academy was being cowardly. I think "Crash" won because more voters liked it better.

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    • #17
      Re: The Oscars

      You know.....I don't know anybody who went to see BBM. Everyone I talked to or heard say something about it just wasn't interested. Some of them didn't go to see it because they were offended that the 2 main characters were referred to as Cowboys. They were sheepherders. Way different. Don't ever call a cowboy a sheepherder.

      I have no interest in this film. Wife says I'm homophobic. Well, here's what I do know about the film, be it right or wrong. 2 guys see each other after years apart and discover they love each other............................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ............................so? That sounds so exciting. Wife said she'd go see it. I asked why and she couldn't answer. Think I'll take Mel to see Narnia again.

      Well, despite how my wife feels about certain movies, she had no interest in watching the show, as I. I did catch some of the beginning arrivals of "stars" and the wife said she couldn't believe I was watching any of it. I was just surfing through.

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      • #18
        Re: The Oscars

        Sending out 130,000 DVDs of "Crash" to all the voters certainly didn't hurt.

        There might have been a little bit of LA-centricity going on, too; look how we respond to "Lost" because it's filmed here. I think most of the Academy's voters live in/around Los Angeles.
        http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/

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        • #19
          Re: The Oscars

          Originally posted by Da Rolling Eye
          You know.....I don't know anybody who went to see BBM. Everyone I talked to or heard say something about it just wasn't interested. Some of them didn't go to see it because they were offended that the 2 main characters were referred to as Cowboys. They were sheepherders. Way different. Don't ever call a cowboy a sheepherder.

          I have no interest in this film. Wife says I'm homophobic. Well, here's what I do know about the film, be it right or wrong. 2 guys see each other after years apart and discover they love each other............................................. .................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ............................so? That sounds so exciting. Wife said she'd go see it. I asked why and she couldn't answer. Think I'll take Mel to see Narnia again.

          Well, despite how my wife feels about certain movies, she had no interest in watching the show, as I. I did catch some of the beginning arrivals of "stars" and the wife said she couldn't believe I was watching any of it. I was just surfing through.
          There is a lot of ignorance about this film. So many dipshit old farts are trying to make it out as some sort of porn flick.

          I saw Brokeback Mountain with my husband and 15 year old daughter. It was a beautiful, well-made movie and there was no graphic sex at all. It was a heartbreaking love story that also speaks to intolerance.

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          • #20
            Re: The Oscars

            Originally posted by Lalalinder
            There is a lot of ignorance about this film. So many dipshit old farts are trying to make it out as some sort of porn flick.
            You know, I don't think I've ever heard that characterization. In fact, I've heard more people express an expectation of some kind of outcry of righteous indignation than indignation itself. I think we're not giving American moviegoers enough credit.

            And even as Da Rolling Eye expressed disinterest, it obviously wasn't out of some fear of scandal or discomfort... just something he wasn't interested in. Even I have to admit not really feeling compelled to check it out, except as part of "seeing what all the fuss is about" that strikes me every Oscar season.

            These days, the only movies we see in theaters are kids movies.

            Anyway, I think my main point was, not wanting to see "Brokeback Mountain" is not a sign of being closed minded or anti gay, nor is its not winning Best Picture. A good film just might not be everyone's cup of tea, and that's fine. Or it should be.

            I mean, Titanic actually won best picture, but it certainly wasn't beloved by all, and not liking it didn't make you... er, pro-iceberg or anything.

            Brokeback Mountain got eight Oscar nominations (and won three, same as Crash), a heap of Golden Globe nominations (and got Best Picture there), and, you know, lots of other acclaim (and the expected cynicism and satire that comes with immense popularity). I don't think there's any shortage of approval and appreciation for this movie, even without that one last statue.
            Last edited by pzarquon; March 7, 2006, 10:17 AM.

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            • #21
              Re: The Oscars

              I mean, Titanic won best picture, but it certainly wasn't beloved by all, and not liking it didn't make you... er, pro-iceberg or anything.
              Much as I like Kate Winslet, I dislike Leo DiCaprio at least as much, so I think I was objectively pro-iceberg after the movie ended.

              Seriously, that may have been the best capsule movie review I've ever read, Zarq.
              http://www.linkmeister.com/wordpress/

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              • #22
                Re: The Oscars

                Hope I didn't give away the ending...

                Titanic was pure spectacle. I actually enjoyed the ride, in part because of the occasional snicker and eye roll. But 14 nominations and 11 wins? Yipe. That was more inexplicable than Brokeback Mountain not winning Best Picture.

                Here's a neat list of all kinds of Best Picture facts. Obviously, Brokeback Mountain isn't the first movie to get lots of nominations, several wins, but not "the big one." Star Wars is on that list, too.

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                • #23
                  Re: The Oscars

                  Originally posted by pzarquon
                  You know, I don't think I've ever heard that characterization. In fact, I've heard more people express an expectation of some kind of outcry of righteous indignation than indignation itself. I think we're not giving American moviegoers enough credit.

                  And even as Da Rolling Eye expressed disinterest, it obviously wasn't out of some fear of scandal or discomfort... just something he wasn't interested in. Even I have to admit not really feeling compelled to check it out, except as part of "seeing what all the fuss is about" that strikes me every Oscar season.

                  These days, the only movies we see in theaters are kids movies.

                  Anyway, I think my main point was, not wanting to see "Brokeback Mountain" is not a sign of being closed minded or anti gay, nor is its not winning Best Picture. A good film just might not be everyone's cup of tea, and that's fine. Or it should be.

                  I mean, Titanic actually won best picture, but it certainly wasn't beloved by all, and not liking it didn't make you... er, pro-iceberg or anything.

                  Brokeback Mountain got eight Oscar nominations (and won three, same as Crash), a heap of Golden Globe nominations (and got Best Picture there), and, you know, lots of other acclaim (and the expected cynicism and satire that comes with immense popularity). I don't think there's any shortage of approval and appreciation for this movie, even without that one last statue.
                  Middle America hysteria about Brokeback was all over the cable news outlets. That is what I meant when I said dipshits. I don't give a crap who goes to see it or not, but I don't like the way it is critisized by idiotic religious fundies who haven't even seen it.

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                  • #24
                    Re: The Oscars

                    Originally posted by pzarquon
                    I'm amazed at all the people who see the fact that Brokeback Mountain didn't win..... I can think of dozens of films that broke the mold, that changed the world, that mattered, that got lots of acclaim and put into film school textbooks... but didn't win Best Picture, simply because folks found other films more entertaining, more enjoyable, more appropriate or relevant to their time, ad nauseum.
                    I never watch the Academy Awards show. Most of the nominated pictures are flicks that I never saw the previous year and don't plan on seeing at all when they come out on video. The awards show itself is always over before it begins for Hawaii audiences. I got most of the results off the internet before the show aired and definitely before it finished.

                    As usual the Oscars never go with what the people really liked and paid for to see. The biggest grossing movie of the year was Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, a movie that I watched twice at the theater and now own the DVD. Sure, it is not the best Star Wars movie or even good scifi, but it was popular and people paid big bucks to see it. So much that it was the biggest box office moneymaker in 2005. $380+ million.

                    Many more movies are popular with audiences that do not get much recognition from Oscar land.

                    Of the few movies that I have seen winning an Oscar, the ones that I liked were Chronicles of Narnia, King Kong and March of the Penguins... the former 2 got technical awards and Penguins snagged the best documentary film... The only other one from this year's crop that I want to see is Walk The Line which is the docudrama about country singers Johnny Cash and his wife June.

                    Speaking of movies that are time honored but never won the big Oscars:
                    • Citizen Kane
                    • The Wizard of Oz
                    • Star Wars (A New Hope)
                    • Psycho
                    • E.T.


                    I'm sure more can be added to this list.
                    I'm still here. Are you?

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                    • #25
                      Re: The Oscars

                      Originally posted by mel
                      As usual the Oscars never go with what the people really liked and paid for to see. The biggest grossing movie of the year was Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, a movie that I watched twice at the theater and now own the DVD. Sure, it is not the best Star Wars movie or even good scifi, but it was popular and people paid big bucks to see it. So much that it was the biggest box office moneymaker in 2005. $380+ million.
                      STAAAAAAAARR WARRRRRSSSSSSSSS! Sorry, I know that had nothing to do with this topic. I'm a Star Wars geek *Trekkies beware!* I'd give it the best picture award.

                      I am happy with Reese Witherspoon's win at the Oscars though it seems a lot of my friends are not. *shrug*
                      I'm disgusted and repulsed, and I can't look away.

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                      • #26
                        Re: The Oscars

                        Originally posted by LeiKaina
                        STAAAAAAAARR WARRRRRSSSSSSSSS! Sorry, I know that had nothing to do with this topic. I'm a Star Wars geek *Trekkies beware!* I'd give it the best picture award.

                        I am happy with Reese Witherspoon's win at the Oscars though it seems a lot of my friends are not. *shrug*
                        I'm with you on Star Wars. Love the series as a whole, even though the prequels were not as good as the 3 originals. Star Wars is relevent to this topic because while none of them won a major Oscar award, a few were nominated and some won technical awards. But still, with Oscar the emphasis is always on the big awards... best picture, best director, best actor, actress, etc.

                        I was jaded big time in 1978 when the original Star Wars picture lost out to Woody Allen's Annie Hall that year for best picture. Annie Hall? Geez loouise!!!!

                        Perhaps why the academy snubbed the first Star Wars is the fact that George Lucas upset the unions in Hollywood by not putting the opening credits at the beginning of the movie among other things. I think Lucas resigned from one of the movie unions shortly after or during the making of the first Star Wars and hasn't been a member since. Good for him. Star Wars became a huge success, enough for him to bankroll the next films, make more money and create his own empire.

                        Oscar be dammed.

                        BTW, I am also with you on Reese Witherspoon. I have yet to see Walk the Line but I am sure she put in a good performance, one that is different from all the legally blonde characters she played in the past.
                        I'm still here. Are you?

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                        • #27
                          Re: The Oscars

                          The Academy Awards might go to ten nominees for Best Picture. Does that mean Paris Hilton has a chance to be in an Academy Awards film?

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