Bullshit. I didn't really expect a Best Picture nomination, but not even a nod for directing and writing? Good to see that Heath Ledger's performance got that posthumous love, but come on. The Dark Knight was the movie of the year. Is anyone really going to remember Frost/Nixon, Milk, or The Reader in five years? Though measuring a film's worth by how much money it makes is often a bad choice, let's not forget that The Dark Knight is second only to Titanic in terms of dollars earned at the box office (of course, accounting for inflation it is much lower on the list). Even more than that, it was a cultural event. Everyone was talking about the damn thing for months. While Slumdog Millionaire was a good story with a solid cast, it was nowhere near the overall triumph of TDK.
Every now and then, blockbusters like Lord of the Rings, Titanic, and The Dark Knight really are worthy of Best Picture. It's shit like this that makes everyone think Hollywood is out of touch. And, you know what? It is.
I second that. Also, Gran Torino, despite the amateur acting for the Hmongs, was fantastic, got snubbed by the Academy. But honestly does it matter? The English Patient was best picture in '97 and all I know about that movie is that Elaine Benes hated it and lost all of her friends because of it. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteI've gotta be honest, I don't share your level indignation. I mean, I certainly think it should have received nominations in directing, writing, and best picture, but I don't know if I felt that it was a lock to win any of them (or even one of them). While I loved the move (but not as much as joe), I didn't walk out of it thinking, "that movie needs to win some of the top Oscars." That being said, I don't know if I would have felt that any of the nominated movies were instant locks for those categories.
ReplyDeleteOther than the fact that it followed the recipe for Oscar night (epic story, revisiting of modern historical events, big stars, life lessons), I don't get the reasons for all the love that The C-Squared of B-Squared is getting. I thought it was a good movie, but I found the pacing and writing to be a bit annoying (and Katrina? Where did that come from?).
I'm mostly annoyed that Springsteen didn't get a nomination for The Wrestler. He's the only person who ever seems to write good original songs for movies. Why would they leave that song out and only go with three nominations (two of which are songs from Slumdog)?
Also, I loved Slumdog.
I wasn't saying that it had to win, but for what was clearly the movie of the year to only get one of the "big" nominations is pretty dumb.
ReplyDeleteThe question is, would you rather have a vote from the viewing public to determine what movies get nominated or even win the Oscars? Probably not (All Star games). Movies are a type of art form and most of us can't dissect a movie like someone who is trained in the field and understands all of the aspects of making a motion picture. Example: A Picasso painting and a Thomas Kinkade painting are shown to a large group of people. The group would consist of average joe's that have no background in fine art, much like the majority of people who go to the movies. A poll is taken to find out which painting the majority liked best. Which painting do you think would win? I'm going to put my money on the Kinkade painting. I'm not saying that The Dark Knight is like a Kinkade painting and The Reader is like a Picasso, but i think my point is made. The Dark Knight is the best film that I have seen in a while. I was hoping that it would receive a nomination for best picture and I still wish it did, but I realize that I am one of those average joe's that don't know a lot about the art of film. That is what the Oscars is all about (or suppose to be at least). If you want to watch a popularity contest, tune into the People's Choice Awards or the NBA All Star game.
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