i don't doubt that the Academy has been prejudiced in the past, but after watching the Oscars for the first time last night, i couldn't imagine being in a more left-leaning place. at one point, i thought the entire audience was going to run to the stage and kiss Al Gore's feet.
btw, i thought Seinfeld killed it with his "did you ever notice" shtick about throwing shit on the ground at the movies.
(though Denzel did get robbed the year "Malcolm X" was out).
While he gave an amazing performance in the film, he did have to go up against some other great performances that year.
Actor: AL PACINO in "Scent of a Woman", Robert Downey, Jr. in "Chaplin", Clint Eastwood in "Unforgiven", Stephen Rea in "The Crying Game", Denzel Washington in "Malcolm X"
EDIT: Oops Clint didn't win. Al did. My bad... Clint won for Director.
Unforgiven won 4 awards that night and was up for 9 awards.
But all the actors in that category did a really good job.
I think Children of Men should have won for cinematography.
I'm glad Whitaker won. Although that movie was awful, he was incredible.
While the Academy continues to pat itself on the back for coloring up the best actor category, what is this pattern of black men winning Oscars for stellar performances in otherwise shitty movies? (e.g., Ray, Training Day, Last King of Scotland).
I hear you though one could note said pattern for a lot of acting awards given to people for otherwise lackluster films.
I think the question other folks (ok, namely Jadakiss) will be asking is why Forrest won for playing an African dictator or why Denzel won for playing a corrupt cop and not "positive" characters. I'm not sure how much stock I put in the conspiracy theory here (though Denzel did get robbed the year "Malcolm X" was out).
(though Denzel did get robbed the year "Malcolm X" was out).
While he gave an amazing performance in the film, he did have to go up against some other great performances that year.
Actor: AL PACINO in "Scent of a Woman", Robert Downey, Jr. in "Chaplin", Clint Eastwood in "Unforgiven", Stephen Rea in "The Crying Game", Denzel Washington in "Malcolm X"
Clint won. And Unforgiven went on to win 4 or the top 6 categories.
saying. While Clint's may not have been a superior performance, the whole idea that these movies/performances are evaluated in a vaccuum, with no regard for the wider body of an actor or director's work, is a joke. Thats how the Oscars work (see Scorsese last night). Clint got his long-awaited award. Denzel was in the wrong place at the wrong time. no robbery though.
Not that bad, but the script/adaptation was pretty outside of Forrest Whitaker. Lots of gratuitous violence that didn't fully capture the terror that was instilled in the people of Uganda, and James McAvoy's insipid performance certainly didn't help.
Not that bad, but the script/adaptation was pretty outside of Forrest Whitaker. Lots of gratuitous violence that didn't fully capture the terror that was instilled in the people of Uganda, and James McAvoy's insipid performance certainly didn't help.
ah i was looking forward to another film of 'hotel rwanda' calibre..
Not that bad, but the script/adaptation was pretty outside of Forrest Whitaker. Lots of gratuitous violence that didn't fully capture the terror that was instilled in the people of Uganda, and James McAvoy's insipid performance certainly didn't help.
ah i was looking forward to another film of 'hotel rwanda' calibre..
I liked Hotel Rwanda a lot, but I thought Sometimes in April was better because of the darker ending. I also have a 'thing' for Idris Elba.
Not that bad, but the script/adaptation was pretty outside of Forrest Whitaker. Lots of gratuitous violence that didn't fully capture the terror that was instilled in the people of Uganda, and James McAvoy's insipid performance certainly didn't help.
ah i was looking forward to another film of 'hotel rwanda' calibre..
I liked Hotel Rwanda a lot, but I thought Sometimes in April was better because of the darker ending. I also have a 'thing' for Idris Elba.
i don't doubt that the Academy has been prejudiced in the past, but after watching the Oscars for the first time last night, i couldn't imagine being in a more left-leaning place. at one point, i thought the entire audience was going to run to the stage and kiss Al Gore's feet.
Hollywood's always been far more left leaning than right; the current mood is nothing new, per se, though arguably, Hollywood has become even more to the left in recent decades.
Doesn't mean they haven't also - at the same time - continued to be prejudicial. The two are not mutually exclusive (however contradictory it may seem otherwise).
i don't follow Hollywood enough to back this up, but it seems like the "current" Hollywood has been bending over backwords recently to make up for the prior slights to minorities....not that this is a bad thing, but....have you seen Training Day??!!??
Forest Whitaker had the best speech and he totally deserved his oscar. Dreamgirls did NOT deserve 'Best Sound' . the songs in that movie sound like SHIT... seriously like 80s cheap rnb tunes.
??? thats not what the 'best sound' award is about.
i don't follow Hollywood enough to back this up, but it seems like the "current" Hollywood has been bending over backwords recently to make up for the prior slights to minorities....not that this is a bad thing, but....have you seen Training Day??!!??
yeah but dude didn't win for Training Day. he won for a long string of movies in which he had established himself as the most talented/versatile Black actor in America, a string of movies the most recent of which that year happened to be a turd called Training Day. It was his turn, straight up (see Scorsese's win for mediocre Departed and Clint's win for mediocre Unforgiven, etc.).
i don't follow Hollywood enough to back this up, but it seems like the "current" Hollywood has been bending over backwords recently to make up for the prior slights to minorities....not that this is a bad thing, but....have you seen Training Day??!!??
i don't follow Hollywood enough to back this up, but it seems like the "current" Hollywood has been bending over backwords recently to make up for the prior slights to minorities....not that this is a bad thing, but....have you seen Training Day??!!??
Meaning what?
three oscars in 80+ years for black people in best actor/actress roles is enough. its the whites turn.
is this crud even worth deconstructing? little miss sunshine was nominated for 4 academy awards, including best picture. the oscars are lame and have a long running tradition of being disconnected and trying to make up for past oversights like Scorsese winning for The Departed now but not Raging Bull or Taxi Driver. Also when they gave Robert Altman a lifetime achievement award before he died. the oscars don't matter to me. it's as much fluff as the Golden Globes.
dudes they had a PENGUIN in the audience when Happy Feet won
god what a joke. i loved that they made cameron diaz present that award though!!
Unforgiven wasn't mediocre! Neither is Departed. I agree w/ your wider point though.
I definitely liked Departed more than Million Dollar Baby and Crash.
"Departed" was mediocre. Style over substance. I'm glad Marty won but it was far from his best work and as a "thriller/action" film, it had holes big enough to stuff Jack's fat bald head through.
I didn't think it was wack...it was more like "Casino" - a decent film but not at the top of dude's game.
Him winning the Oscar was payback for the Academy failing to get it right in times before.
Previous topic: Al winning for "Scent of a Woman" is widely accepted to be another "ok, we fucked up, here's your Oscar" for a performance that wasn't really that great (and in an even lamer movie to boot).
Unforgiven wasn't mediocre! Neither is Departed. I agree w/ your wider point though.
I definitely liked Departed more than Million Dollar Baby and Crash.
"Departed" was mediocre. Style over substance. I'm glad Marty won but it was far from his best work and as a "thriller/action" film, it had holes big enough to stuff Jack's fat bald head through.
I didn't think it was wack...it was more like "Casino" - a decent film but not at the top of dude's game.
Him winning the Oscar was payback for the Academy failing to get it right in times before.
Previous topic: Al winning for "Scent of a Woman" is widely accepted to be another "ok, we fucked up, here's your Oscar" for a performance that wasn't really that great (and in an even lamer movie to boot).
saying its 'far from his best work' is like saying any nas album is 'far from his best work' - well duh. I don't think it was 'style over substance' at all though, or maybe i'm misunderstanding what you mean by 'substance' - i thought it had substantive performances and story.
and taking aside personal feelings about the movie or whatever, critically wasn't it pretty much universally acclaimed? By saying its mediocre aren't you more disconnected from critics than the hollywood establishment is?
I didn't think any of the movies nominated for best picture were as good.
is this crud even worth deconstructing? little miss sunshine was nominated for 4 academy awards, including best picture. the oscars are lame and have a long running tradition of being disconnected
What's funny is that the Oscars seem to be disconnected from BOTH the general public AND critics. Many pundits have noted that blockbusters rarely merit much Oscar attention but at the same time, it's not always the case that the most critically lauded films score either (see "Brokeback Mountain's" loss).
What it is - I think - is that the Oscars are just connected to Hollywood and the community of insiders. That's why you see these "payback" awards - it's an attempt to redress specific issues within the community.
Btw though - for several years - maybe more than 10 - they've done the animation awards with animated characters in the audience. Penguins are nothing new in that respect; you see that stuff every year.
"Departed" was mediocre. Style over substance. I'm glad Marty won but it was far from his best work and as a "thriller/action" film, it had holes big enough to stuff Jack's fat bald head through.
Yep and does he have to have "Gimme Shelter" in every fucking movie? I know he like the Stones, but come on.
Comments
I'm not saying "lackluster" I'm saying shitty. Bad. Those movies sucked.
btw, i thought Seinfeld killed it with his "did you ever notice" shtick about throwing shit on the ground at the movies.
While he gave an amazing performance in the film, he did have to go up against some other great performances that year.
Actor:
AL PACINO in "Scent of a Woman", Robert Downey, Jr. in "Chaplin", Clint Eastwood in "Unforgiven", Stephen Rea in "The Crying Game", Denzel Washington in "Malcolm X"
EDIT: Oops Clint didn't win. Al did. My bad... Clint won for Director.
Unforgiven won 4 awards that night and was up for 9 awards.
But all the actors in that category did a really good job.
Is last king of scotland that bad?
What is that crazy gif in your avatar from?
SG
saying. While Clint's may not have been a superior performance, the whole idea that these movies/performances are evaluated in a vaccuum, with no regard for the wider body of an actor or director's work, is a joke. Thats how the Oscars work (see Scorsese last night). Clint got his long-awaited award. Denzel was in the wrong place at the wrong time. no robbery though.
Not that bad, but the script/adaptation was pretty
ah i was looking forward to another film of 'hotel rwanda' calibre..
HAHAHA, I have no clue. I just found it funny. That's Tony Burton (Duke) at the end tho (From Rocky).
I liked Hotel Rwanda a lot, but I thought Sometimes in April was better because of the darker ending. I also have a 'thing' for Idris Elba.
I will check that also too..
I SEE YOU QUINCY!!!
Hollywood's always been far more left leaning than right; the current mood is nothing new, per se, though arguably, Hollywood has become even more to the left in recent decades.
Doesn't mean they haven't also - at the same time - continued to be prejudicial. The two are not mutually exclusive (however contradictory it may seem otherwise).
yeah but dude didn't win for Training Day. he won for a long string of movies in which he had established himself as the most talented/versatile Black actor in America, a string of movies the most recent of which that year happened to be a turd called Training Day. It was his turn, straight up (see Scorsese's win for mediocre Departed and Clint's win for mediocre Unforgiven, etc.).
I definitely liked Departed more than Million Dollar Baby and Crash.
Is the second kid Andy Milonakis???
Meaning what?
dudes they had a PENGUIN in the audience when Happy Feet won
god what a joke. i loved that they made cameron diaz present that award though!!
"Departed" was mediocre. Style over substance. I'm glad Marty won but it was far from his best work and as a "thriller/action" film, it had holes big enough to stuff Jack's fat bald head through.
I didn't think it was wack...it was more like "Casino" - a decent film but not at the top of dude's game.
Him winning the Oscar was payback for the Academy failing to get it right in times before.
Previous topic: Al winning for "Scent of a Woman" is widely accepted to be another "ok, we fucked up, here's your Oscar" for a performance that wasn't really that great (and in an even lamer movie to boot).
saying its 'far from his best work' is like saying any nas album is 'far from his best work' - well duh. I don't think it was 'style over substance' at all though, or maybe i'm misunderstanding what you mean by 'substance' - i thought it had substantive performances and story.
and taking aside personal feelings about the movie or whatever, critically wasn't it pretty much universally acclaimed? By saying its mediocre aren't you more disconnected from critics than the hollywood establishment is?
I didn't think any of the movies nominated for best picture were as good.
What's funny is that the Oscars seem to be disconnected from BOTH the general public AND critics. Many pundits have noted that blockbusters rarely merit much Oscar attention but at the same time, it's not always the case that the most critically lauded films score either (see "Brokeback Mountain's" loss).
What it is - I think - is that the Oscars are just connected to Hollywood and the community of insiders. That's why you see these "payback" awards - it's an attempt to redress specific issues within the community.
Btw though - for several years - maybe more than 10 - they've done the animation awards with animated characters in the audience. Penguins are nothing new in that respect; you see that stuff every year.
Yep and does he have to have "Gimme Shelter" in every fucking movie? I know he like the Stones, but come on.