MoviePalaver: Oscar Ruminations 2012

 

 

A few last-minute thoughts about the best picture nominees.  As you can tell, I wasn't wild about this crop.  And expanding the list beyond five movies is terrible.  Why didn't they ask me?

• The Artist:  Thought I'd see it and think "brahvo."  Instead I found it delightful.  Just a plain old-fashioned enjoyable movie, with two charismatic stars.
• The Descendants:  Good movie, and I do love George, but I just didn't really care about anyone.
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close:  Didn't see it.  The critics led me to believe it was terrible. Were they wrong?
• The Help:  Didn't see it.  Didn't read the book. I am out of it.
• Hugo:  Didn't see it.  Thought it was a kid's movie.  Is it?
• Midnight in Paris:  Didn't see it.  Looked annoying.  Was it?
• Moneyball:  Saw it. If it hadn't been nominated I'd have forgotten I saw it months ago.
• The Tree of Life:  Mesmerizing!  Comprehensibility is overrated.
• War Horse:  Didn't see it.  Did anyone?

Given my lack of enthusiasm for most of the best picture nominees, a few thoughts about other movies that received nominations (or not):

• Bridesmaids:  Really enjoyed this movie, as I've said before, and it would be fun if it won for best screenplay (Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumolo) or best supporting actress (Melissa McCarthy), but what are the chances?
• A Separation:  This Iranian movie about a legal battle between a man whose wife has just left him and the caretaker he hired to watch his father, who has Alzheimer's, is up for best foreign language movie and best original screenplay.  It was excellent, though difficult to watch.  I'll assume it will win best foreign language film since it's the only one I saw.
• Win Win:  This movie was nominated for no Oscars, as far as I can tell.  I'd have nominated Tom McCarthy for best screenplay.  I like everything he does (except his bad behavior on "The Wire").  But nobody asks me.
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:  I liked the Swedish version, but liked the American one even better.  I wish there were awards for best title sequence.

 

Comments

[Jessica P]

I saw Midnight in Paris and hated it. It was very annoying. Can't believe it won. And yes, all the critics thought Incredibly loud or whatever it was called was terrible. Really, if they needed another movie they could've put Drive in there.

[slopine]

I totally agree with your comment on Moneyball. And didn't you think Brad Pitt was doing his best impersonation of Robert Redford. I actually kept seeing Redford's face everytime Pitt said a line. Also, I loved Midnight in Paris (although Owen Wilson can get annoying) and The Descendants. I still need to see The Artist and The Tree of Life. As for the rest, meh...

[MB]

slopine -- The first movie I remember seeing Brad Pitt in was A River Runs Through It, and I remember thinking boy, he needs to play Robert Redford's son in a movie. I never dreamed he and Jon Voight's daughter would later become king and queen of the prom.

[NorthernOutlaw]

I can't wait for the sequel from The Artist!

[MB]

@NorthernOutlaw -- The sequel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQK2pANtARU