The Oscars are bullshit.

I'm currently suffering through GIGI, hoping the Nazis will march through Paris at some point.

The Oscars are bullshit, so what films should have won or been nominated? What directors, composers, writers, actors should have won in this otherwise shortsighted, flavour of the month, overdressed bullshit parade?

GIGI's a brilliant film. One of the times when AMPAS got it right.

Sharky wrote:

GIGI's a brilliant film. One of the times when AMPAS got it right.

Over VERTIGO and TOUCH OF EVIL? Though your favorite version of TOUCH OF EVIL wouldn't see the light of day until the late 90's. ;)

GIGI is just boring to me. It looks nice, I guess. I just hate musicals.

I picture little old church ladies enjoying this movie, smiling and nodding their heads to the music while knitting. I want Kirkwood Smith to come and shoot people in the knees.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Over VERTIGO and TOUCH OF EVIL?

Both tremendously overrated by film snobs, but I still admire 'em.

I suppose GIGI has better tips on romance than VERTIGO, rendering it more socially beneficial.

It's popularist, sincere and expertly made. Minelli was the master of the melodrama.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

I want Kirkwood Smith to come and shoot people in the knees.

If only he did that for every movie.

God, I hate GIGI. It's dull as all get out. I say this as somebody who has a genuine affection for musicals.


Here's what the nominees for Best Picture should look like for this year:

CERTIFIED COPY
THE MILL AND THE CROSS
MYSTERIES OF LISBON
OF GODS AND MEN
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY

Yeah, I know there are ten slots. They should go back to five. And award goes to MYSTERIES OF LISBON, coupled with a posthumous Best Director award for undercelebrated filmmaker Raul Ruiz.

Harmsway wrote:

CERTIFIED COPY
THE MILL AND THE CROSS
MYSTERIES OF LISBON
OF GODS AND MEN
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY

Hadn't heard of OF GODS AND MEN.

I was thinking THE MILL AND THE CROSS came out a couple of years ago. Weird.

Maybe going through Cannes winners would be better.

Harmsway wrote:

God, I hate GIGI. It's dull as all get out. I say this as somebody who has a genuine affection for musicals.

I confess, apart from Sondheim a few others, I'm not a big musical theater fan. So I guess my love for GIGI might be effected by that.

I just can't get into them. I like ballet, just not musicals. I can't get past the absurdity of people breaking out in song.

Wait. I guess OF GODS AND MEN was technically eligible for *last* year's Oscars (where it should have been nominated). Swap it out with ATTACK THE BLOCK. Or, if documentaries can go into that category, CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS.

It's mainly the music that underwhelms me with most musicals. It's like with the majority of film scores - background mood music to serve the lines, but not much more.

Anyone have ideas of what should have won, or could have won?

It's easy to say VERTIGO for 1958, but it wasn't even a big critical success as far as I know.

It's become a cult movie for hipsters.

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Anyone have ideas of what should have won, or could have won?

Off the top of my head, L.A. Confidential for 1997. The Aviator for 2004. Good Night, and Good Luck for 2005. The Social Network for 2010

I'm sure there's more.

Makeshift Python wrote:

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Anyone have ideas of what should have won, or could have won?

Off the top of my head, L.A. Confidential for 1997. The Aviator for 2004. Good Night, and Good Luck for 2005. The Social Network for 2010

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8K87H3T1UU#t=0m27s

My alternate 60's Oscars.

1960 - THE APARTMENT is a fine choice by me, but also PSYCHO.

1961 - THE HUSTLER

1962 - LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

1963 - Not sure.

1964 - Maybe DR. STRANGELOVE.

1965 - Not sure.

1966 - I loved A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, but WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? would be a good winner too.

1967 - Of the nominees, BONNIE & CLYDE. I like POINT BLANK, but I'm surprised THE GRADUATE wasn't nominated but DOCTOR DOOLITTLE was.

1968 - Of the nominees, THE LION IN WINTER. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY deserved it too. Anything but OLIVER!

1969 - MIDNIGHT COWBOY works for me.

My only defininte change would be 1961.

Sharky wrote:

Makeshift Python wrote:

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Anyone have ideas of what should have won, or could have won?

Off the top of my head, L.A. Confidential for 1997. The Aviator for 2004. Good Night, and Good Luck for 2005. The Social Network for 2010

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8K87H3T1UU#t=0m27s

You prefer Titanic, Million Dollar Baby, Crash and The King's Speech?

Makeshift Python wrote:

Sharky wrote:

Makeshift Python wrote:

The White Tuxedo wrote:

Anyone have ideas of what should have won, or could have won?

Off the top of my head, L.A. Confidential for 1997. The Aviator for 2004. Good Night, and Good Luck for 2005. The Social Network for 2010

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8K87H3T1UU#t=0m27s

You prefer Titanic, Million Dollar Baby, Crash and The King's Speech?

Nah. They're all equally terrible. Looking at the nominations, I'd go with.

1997 - THE FULL MONTY

2004 - SIDEWAYS

2005 - MUNICH

2011 - THE FIGHTER

Didn't care for THE FIGHTER.

I liked MUNICH, but I prefer GOODNIGHT.

It was a toss up between that, 127 HOURS and TRUE GRIT.

Makeshift Python wrote:

I liked MUNICH, but I prefer GOODNIGHT.

I can't stand GOODNIGHT. A boring, trendy smugfest. MUNICH is a far more complex and soulful film.

Give it another watch.

I liked TRUE GRIT, but I always felt it got nominated simply because the Coen brothers' names were attached to the flick. It's a very solid flick, but I can't bring myself to call it Best Picture material.

Sharky wrote:

Makeshift Python wrote:

I liked MUNICH, but I prefer GOODNIGHT.

I can't stand GOODNIGHT. A boring, trendy smugfest. MUNICH is a far more complex and soulful film.

Give it another watch.

I disagree, but I should definitely give it another watch.

Working from the nominees that I've seen...

2001 - GOSFORD PARK
2002 - THE PIANIST
2003 - MASTER AND COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD
2004 - SIDEWAYS
2005 - MUNICH
2006 - Not sure.
2007 - NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
2008 - Only seen SLUMLORD.
2009 - A SERIOUS MAN, but I did like THE HURT LOCKER
2010 - Not sure.