Who's your Oscar Horse?

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

OK, in an effort to keep this going, what do you think is the worst film that has ever won Best Picture?

I can't claim to have seen them all, but of the ones I have seen, I'd have to say Gladiator.

For you oldtimers out there, when Annie Hall beat out Star Wars, the Oscars lost it. I was too young to watch or care about Annie Hall, but I have seen it since, and what a piece of crap. Frankly, I think Woody Allen was/is the most overrated filmmaker of all time.

[stevew]

Dont knock Annie Hall. Thats a really good movie. Just cause its been ripped off for the last 20+ years shouldnt lessen how good it was when it came out.

[ISiddiqui]

Gotta agree... Annie Hall was a GREAT movie. A better 'movie' than Star Wars, but Star Wars was more fun, and part of something bigger.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I can't tell you how sick I am of Sean Penn. I don't believe there is a more overrated actor working today

I think he walks around hollywood, carrying a sign reading "Will Cry for Oscar Nomination"

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

I know it seems funny to say this about a film that got 11 noms, but was anyone surprised LOTR didn't get a Cinematography nom? That really surprised me that they were left out of that category, especially with some of the fantastic panoramic shots Jackson likes to do-- the battle scenes, the Gandalf versus the Nazgul, the following the Nazgul, the lighting of the torch, some of the terrific New Zealand landscape shots he incorporated. I can't think of too many shots, both close and far in that film, that weren't very well set up.

The cinematography in that picture probably falls victim to people wondering what shots were real and which were computerized. That's why I think it didn't get a cinematography nom.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

The cinematography in that picture probably falls victim to people wondering what shots were real and which were computerized. That's why I think it didn't get a cinematography nom.

You know, Butter, even as I was writing that post, I was wondering if that might be it. I would guess you're right on there.

CR

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by stevew

Dont knock Annie Hall. Thats a really good movie. Just cause its been ripped off for the last 20+ years shouldnt lessen how good it was when it came out.

As you could tell from my post, I just could never get Woody Allen. One thing I noticed over the last 20 some odd years, was that before only the "artistic" movies would win, but as we moved into the 90s, the academy started going for the more popular movies and "epics."

The problem I had with Star Wars not winning was although the acting, script was lacking, it revolutionized moviemaking and the "art" was in the filmmaking, special effects, etc. That should have played more of a role into what won best picture.

[B & B]

Nemo is an absolute lock. Not that Ive seen it, but I heard they spent a lot of money on it. Still not risking 10k to win a nickel.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by B & B

Nemo is an absolute lock. Not that Ive seen it, but I heard they spent a lot of money on it. Still not risking 10k to win a nickel.

Thanks for the quote...I'm honored.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

DeNiro, Pachino and Nichoslon have range? DeNiro always plays a"tough guy" in every movie. Pacino always plays an over the top character. Nicholson always plays a borderline psychotic person in every movie. Yeah, thats range.

I completely disagree. While I think De Niro does a lot of the tough guy roles, he does do comedy (Meet the Parents) and some of his early 90s stuff (Awakenings, Guilty by Suspicion, Backdraft) and earlier (Stanley & Iris, King of Comedy, Raging Bull). I am sorry, but he has great range.

Same for Nicholson, roles in A Few Good Men, Chinatown, About Schmidt and so on. Great range.

I will agree that Pacino's more recent stuff is usually over the top, but earlier in his career, movies such as Serpico, Carlito's Way, Glengarry Glenn Ross, Godfather, Donnie Brasco showed great range.

So, I have to disagree with you.

As far as Penn goes, I also disagree that he doesn't take risks. I suggest you watch I am Sam, his performance was a great one in which he took a risk and went way outside his usual performance.

I guess that's the beauty of art. To each his own.

[NoMyths]

To say Nicholson doesn't have range is to admit you haven't seen most of his films...and especially not his best ones.

[QuikSand]

Mrs. Q and I decided to do an oscar-inspired double feature today, and saw both Lost in Translation and Mystic River today.

I was really, deeply impressed by Lost In Translation. Vastly exceeded my pretty high expectations. Unbelievable movie, I really loved it. Maybe the clearest case I can recall of a filmmaker's "vision" coming through in the film itself -- I have no doubt at all that this is Sofia Coppola's film, top to bottom. I'm dumbfounded - I really liked this movie.

I found Mystic River to be predictably overacted, which I think is Eastwood's weakness. Pretty good, but not a movie I'll recall with any particular fondness. For all the buzz about the sophisticated and mature themes, I found the story to be... well... really not all that sosphisticated. (Did anyone else feel shades of Summer of Sam here - a movie that might have engineered a similar ending even more effectively?)

Anyway... I will now have a rooting interest for Oscar night. I have no illusions that LOTR:ROTK will miss the mark, but I'd very much like to see Sofia Coppola or Bill Murray prevail. And Bill Murray versus Sean Penn? Come on... I'm even a fan of Penn generally, but I declare this no contest.

[Mustang]

Judging by some of the comments here, sometimes I wonder if people don't like X or Y movie or actor just because everyone else does...

[QuikSand]

I'd also declare that Scarlett Johannson's underpants ought to win some sort of special Oscar.

[GrantDawg]

I think it is funny how many people loved "Pirates." It was played up so much I was sorely disappointed when I finally saw it. My wife, who is a big Depp and Bloom fan, actually wanted to walk out on the movie after 30 minutes. Eck!

[KWhit]

I thought Mystic River was a very mediocre movie. It was dull, and the directing choices were horrible. Very manipulative, trite shot selection that has been done to death in the CBS Movie of the Week. It was amatuerish compared to the other movies I have seen this year.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I think it is funny how many people loved "Pirates." It was played up so much I was sorely disappointed when I finally saw it. My wife, who is a big Depp and Bloom fan, actually wanted to walk out on the movie after 30 minutes. Eck!

So, whats your point? People that liked it are idiots?

[Suicane75]

Originally Posted by Easy Mac

Who's your Oscar Horse

Julia Roberts isn't nominated.

[Butter]

If you haven't seen In America, do yourself a favor and see it tonight.

Might be too maudlin for some tastes, but I have been through some of what the family in the movie has been through, family-wise, and it affected me to the point of tears. Very well done film.

[NoMyths]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I'd also declare that Scarlett Johannson's underpants ought to win some sort of special Oscar.

Hear hear!

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I was really, deeply impressed by Lost In Translation. Vastly exceeded my pretty high expectations. Unbelievable movie, I really loved it. Maybe the clearest case I can recall of a filmmaker's "vision" coming through in the film itself -- I have no doubt at all that this is Sofia Coppola's film, top to bottom. I'm dumbfounded - I really liked this movie.

I'm not much for movies, but in Jacksonville with no hockey to watch on Saturday night, I watched this one with my father-in-law, who recently bought it but had no clue what it was about (?). I had a very strange reaction to it - I'm not sure I enjoyed it, yet it has stuck with me. I guess it left more of an impression than it actually entertained me. All I know is, I really don't ever want to visit Japan. I'm certain that the Japan Tourism Board is not happy that this movie was made.

What was most impressive about the movie was that on one level, it looks like nothing is going on, yet underneath, the movie touches on a variety of issues without directly dealing with them or resolving them during the course of the movie - which probably accounts for the fact that certain things from the movie have stayed with me.

Oh, and Bill Murray was fantastic.

Anyway, since I'm not a fan of movies in general, that's about as deep as I get into movie analysis, unless it involves Fletch.

[rkmsuf]

And there you have it...is that Ksyrup with a K?

Oh, btw I do hate Tommy LaSorda...

[AENeuman]

The Triplets of Bellville is far better than the fish. It's very very diffrent, like watching an animated City of the Lost Children meets The Bicycle Thief.
As far as giving the oscar as life time achievement awards I can think of Al Pachino in Scent of a Woman beating Washington in Malcom X.
As far as bad best picture winners How the West was Won losing to Tom Jones; Rocky beating Taxi Driver, Ordinary People beating Raging Bull. And Pulp Fiction, Cool Hand Luke, Fargo and 12 Angry Men should have just never lost.

[WSUCougar]

Well...time to put away the crystal ball for another year.

Heh. (<--- glib chuckle)

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Mustang

So, whats your point? People that liked it are idiots?

Yes.