The only one of the repeat winners I'm cool with is Brooks.
― Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 19 December 2011 14:49 (twelve years ago) link
I really only loved Brooks in one scene in particular (that last one with Walter White).
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Monday, 19 December 2011 16:04 (twelve years ago) link
The performance clicked once I imagined him as his nest egg whiner in Lost in America suddenly going homicidal.
― Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 19 December 2011 16:06 (twelve years ago) link
drive winning the michael mann award this year for, you know, cool shots of action that are Art. michael fassbender winning the gary oldman award for showing his Bidness grittily descendents winning the peter greenaway award for movie that people with uppercrust aspirations talk about over tapas parties.
all goes to my theory that all most awards are bestowed on the most conspicuous, egregious display of capital T talent in the niche area of filmmaking (cinematography, editing, gender dynamic) that the organization/bestowing critic values the most highly, with not a helluvalot of concern about the actual movies
― remy bean in exile, Monday, 19 December 2011 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
I dunno, remy: cinema would be vastly improved with more scenes at tapas parties.
― Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 19 December 2011 17:06 (twelve years ago) link
I've yet to see any Greenaway films, good or bad, that seemed like The Descendants.
but yeah I prefer The Muppets to nearly all the award winners.
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 19 December 2011 17:24 (twelve years ago) link
I prefer Muppets Take Manhattan.
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Monday, 19 December 2011 17:36 (twelve years ago) link
more Serkis awards, pls.
― Simon H., Monday, 19 December 2011 17:38 (twelve years ago) link
pref Capt Haddock to Caesar
― Dr Morbius, Monday, 19 December 2011 17:49 (twelve years ago) link
Nothing by Greenaway is anything like the Descendents – just discussed in similar wine-affecting circles
― remy bean in exile, Monday, 19 December 2011 18:27 (twelve years ago) link
affectationing? ehh, screwit
― remy bean in exile, Monday, 19 December 2011 18:28 (twelve years ago) link
Caught Young Adult this morning - admirably grim and, for Cody specifically, self-effacing. (Key scene near the end fails to deliver the goods, though.)
― Simon H., Sunday, December 18, 2011 2:07 AM (2 days ago) Bookmark Permalinkfwiw it doesn't resemble the other Reitman flicks much at all. it's pretty close to a no-frills character study.
― Simon H., Sunday, December 18, 2011 4:00 AM (2 days ago) Bookmark Permalink
and appropriately it will probably earn fewer accolades than all his other flicks.
― Simon H., Sunday, December 18, 2011 4:02 AM (2 days ago) Bookmark Permalink
this is all otm and i will push and shove to the front of the line of previously despising reitman
― j crunchwrap supreme, Tuesday, 20 December 2011 03:05 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/39591/oscarmetrics-the-case-for-brad-pitt-plus-six-questions-that-could-reshape-the-race
6. Does the fact that this wasn’t a great year for movies affect the race? I know the premise of this question is a fight-starter, but look at the films. To choose two recent points of comparison: 2011 is not 2009, which featured in its Best Picture contest a blockbuster that was also a groundbreaker (Avatar), an instant classic about war (The Hurt Locker), a high-water mark for Pixar (Up), a Sundance breakout that dwarfed any this year (Precious), a rare studio movie that tapped into the economic zeitgeist (Up In the Air) and a major Tarantino comeback (Inglorious Basterds). 2011 is also not 2007, a year in which There Will Be Blood, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, Into The Wild, and The Diving Bell and The Butterfly seemed to herald a renaissance of American directing.
This year was, relatively speaking, a tentative and uncertain one for American movies. What this Oscar contest offers is a series of choices between the good-but-not-great and the great-but-flawed. The reason that matters is that masterpieces raise our standards and sharpen our thinking. A year in which three or four all-out great movies are at the center of the race raises the bar in every category because they remind us that there’s a difference between the merely good and the truly outstanding.
2011 is a year with a different complexion—one in which voters will have to decide what matters to them most. Those who go for the just-good-enough (“I liked it,” “it made me smile,” “I thought it was sweet,” “It was nice to escape for a couple of hours,” and so on) have plenty from which to choose. But there are other voters who prefer to champion filmmakers who take bold leaps even if the results are imperfect. Those voters constitute enough of a coalition to defy, usually once a year, the predictions of those who say that a movie is too dark, arty or alienating to be recognized by the Academy. That’s one reason I think The Tree of Life is still in the hunt for a Best Picture nomination. But it’ll be interesting to see if that odd, loose voting bloc — which can include, at various times, New Yorkers, Brits, Europeans, writers and directors, younger members and recent inductees — is powerful enough to unite around any other film or performance. What will they champion? Drive? A Separation? Shame? Take Shelter? Or will 2011 go down in Oscar history as a year in which “good enough” was as good as it got?
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:23 (twelve years ago) link
guy is daft about '09
― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:26 (twelve years ago) link
and 2007...
Otherwise Harris' essays have been as much a pleasure as Oscarbuzz crap can be.
― Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
Thought that would get a few scoffs. I will say all the movies in my top 4 right now would've been easy #1's for the last two or three years running.
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:49 (twelve years ago) link
tis true for me, but I don't think any of mine except Of Gods and Men, maybe, are eligible for the Best Picture Oscar.
― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
Then they don't exist.
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:54 (twelve years ago) link
Also, Certified Copy is eligible, et al.
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Tuesday, 20 December 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
not always sure what runs in LA
― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 20 December 2011 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
funniest top-10 critic pitch for Tree of Life, by Stephen Holden: "You couldn't accuse Terrence Malick of having a sense of humor...."
I mean, I've only been to Texas once, but Texas is funny.
― Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 20 December 2011 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
Not sure anyone besides Eric H. will care, but here's the good old FCF's* top 10:
1. The Tree of Life2. Drive3. Melancholia4. The Descendants5. Warrior6. The Interrupters7. Moneyball8. The Artist9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo10. Super 8
*I haven't even seen this guy in a while; he's probably more like an acquaintance than a friend at this point.
― jaymc, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 00:23 (twelve years ago) link
he really likes subtitles
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 02:35 (twelve years ago) link
FCA
Of what I've seen on the list, half really good, half mediocre. Is The Interrupters' presence a little residual Roger Ebert syndrome?
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 03:22 (twelve years ago) link
just watched Drive, about as expected, cept for the hilariously bad music.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 04:54 (twelve years ago) link
The music roolz
― Number None, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 04:58 (twelve years ago) link
yah sure
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 05:02 (twelve years ago) link
I thought I was back in fucking 1986
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 05:03 (twelve years ago) link
exactly
― Number None, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 05:04 (twelve years ago) link
(speaking of the needledrops more than the Cliff Martinez score, which still wasnt as good as his Contagion stuff)
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 05:04 (twelve years ago) link
I assumed so. The Martinez score doesn't really draw attention to itself whereas the songs are incredibly self-conscious. They're a huge part of the movie though, it's pretty close to turning into a musical at times
― Number None, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 05:12 (twelve years ago) link
the dumbest musical since Lost Horizon.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 05:18 (twelve years ago) link
..but back then you would have just called it "European".
― Tumblr Whites Off Earth Now!! (Sandbox Grisso-McCain), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 08:51 (twelve years ago) link
oh hey i saw 'shame' last night and it sucked
― silvana mangano, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 09:09 (twelve years ago) link
in all kinda of ways!
btw Albert Brooks was entertaining, but I didn't believe a thing he did or said even on a dumbass thriller level bcz, u know, Albert fucking Brooks.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 12:16 (twelve years ago) link
Scotty boy likes Albert Nobbs.
― Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 12:58 (twelve years ago) link
can anyone recommend any good essays on margaret? none of the reviews i've read really satisfied me. and also, your own thoughts? i saw it y'day and was kind of blown away
― degas-dirty monet (lex pretend), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 13:45 (twelve years ago) link
Is The Interrupters' presence a little residual Roger Ebert syndrome?
Could be. Also a fair amount of Chicago pride.
― jaymc, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 13:46 (twelve years ago) link
Try Glenn Kenny's review, lex.
― Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 13:50 (twelve years ago) link
thanks! yes, that is good.
― degas-dirty monet (lex pretend), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:01 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.villagevoice.com/filmpoll/
CommentsCritics elaborate on their votes, favorite movie moments of the year and OK OK WE GET IT YOU LIKE MARGARET
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:02 (twelve years ago) link
Morbs, your taste in music couldn't be less relevant to me.
I thought this was an interesting comparison of Margaret and Bridesmaids, editing-wise:http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2011/12/12/not-in-theaters-kenneth-lonergans-margaret
(The writer is the second-stringer at the Chicago Reader, a fairly sharp critic who apparently had a big crush on my wife years ago. She said he resembled Woody Allen.)
― jaymc, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
i'd also like to read any particularly good eviscerations of tree of life if you know any. god just remembering that film exists makes me angry.
― degas-dirty monet (lex pretend), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:05 (twelve years ago) link
Start with the Film Comment Cannes report by Amy Taubin.
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:06 (twelve years ago) link
And then get your mind right and start loving the film.
I'm off today. Should I watch Tintin or catch up on The Muppets?
― Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:08 (twelve years ago) link
I slept in the morning I was supposed to see Tintin. I'd still recommend it over the new Muppets.
― Detrius of Life (Eric H.), Wednesday, 21 December 2011 14:42 (twelve years ago) link
I know; we're past the point where you have to comfort me by saying so.
David Edelstein's half-and-half review of Tree probably approximates my own feelings.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 15:09 (twelve years ago) link
Tintin has many more 'filmic' qualities, but tho it's uneven I think Muppets has a couple bigger laughs. I guess it depends what you want.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 21 December 2011 15:11 (twelve years ago) link