Yes, Right...

email this story
read comments (15)
post a comment

Art accompanying Oscar nomination piece posted earlier today by The Film Experience's Nathaniel R.

State of Play<< previous | next >>Hammond Had It

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 22, 2009 at 8:03 PM

comment #1

Ray says ...

I love me some Nathaniel. And he's right, to boot.

Posted by Ray at January 22, 2009 9:18 PM

comment #2

Jeremy Fassler says ...

Is there a time slot when I can get the Academy in one place at one time, strap them into brainwashing chairs and get a message through their thick heads which goes like this: COMEDIES AND ACTION MOVIES ARE FUCKING HARDER TO MAKE THAN THE READER!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Jeremy Fassler at January 22, 2009 10:17 PM

comment #3

corey3rd says ...

While it would be easy to condemn the Academy for the lack of nominations for action and comedy films - look at the way they count the nomination ballots. If someone puts Dark Knight down as their 4 or 5 choice for best pic, odds are that their vote wasn't counted. I'm willing to bet that over half the Academy voters are clueless to how their nomination ballots are counted.

The nomination process is a sham.

Posted by corey3rd at January 22, 2009 10:27 PM

comment #4

D.Z. says ...

http://www.americancinematheque.com/archive1999/2009/Egyptian/specialevent_FEB_ET_2009.htm#STUFF%20DREAMS

Posted by D.Z. at January 22, 2009 11:34 PM

comment #5

nemo says ...

I had to look up Stephen Daldrey, and my reaction was: Oh. That guy.

My wife has a much higher tolerance than I do for that sort of thing, and she was completely exasperated two thirds of the way through The Hours. "What a bunch of whiners and complainers!" she hissed. "Virginia Woolf and people with AIDS have real problems, but you'd never know it from this damn movie! They just look neurotic and self-pitying. This, this, this THING got a bunch of Oscar nominations?"

She looked like she was ready to throw a shoe at the screen.

Posted by nemo at January 22, 2009 11:38 PM

comment #6

Wiggumx says ...

If only someone... somewhere... could find a place for D.Z. to blog...

Posted by Wiggumx at January 23, 2009 1:42 AM

comment #7

Dan Revill says ...

I haven't really been keeping up with the Oscar blogging anywhere since early Thursday, so I'm sure my following observation isn't a first. It is this: isn't it somewhat ironic that Kate gets nominated and seems to be the likely winner for a Holocaust movie? Just like her goal on Extras when she guest starred. While the movie was good for the most part, I thought she was better in Revolutionary Road. Still if she wins, it's about damn time.

Posted by Dan Revill at January 23, 2009 2:13 AM

comment #8

MindlessObamaton says ...

AS: See Gervais' GG comments from the stage to Kate. Both laughing bout the EXTRAS Holocaust bit. Genius.

Posted by MindlessObamaton at January 23, 2009 4:57 AM

comment #9

Chase Kahn says ...

Jeremy -- what comedy could have nominated for Best Picture this year?

Posted by Chase Kahn at January 23, 2009 7:26 AM

comment #10

Jeremy Fassler says ...

Yeah, you're right about that. 2008 was not the greatest year for comedy. But I can think of several great comedies in the past that were shunned by Oscar.

Posted by Jeremy Fassler at January 23, 2009 8:49 AM

comment #11

Jack South P.I. says ...

Stephen Daldry is the John Cazale of filmmakers.
Except unlike Fredo, he's only made movies I'll never watch again.

Posted by Jack South P.I. at January 23, 2009 9:20 AM

comment #12

D.Z. says ...

http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/blog/16-oscars-worst-best-pictures?nc

Posted by D.Z. at January 24, 2009 5:56 AM

comment #13

Jeremy Fassler says ...

If you're going to call HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY one of the worst best picture winners of all time, you have to get your head checked. The only reason it's even on the list is because it beat CITIZEN KANE. Had it beat GOING MY WAY, REBECCA, MRS. MINIVER, THE LOST WEEKEND, or most other movies of the 1940s (except for CASABLANCA and BEST YEARS) we wouldn't be having this argument.

Come to think of it, the 40s were a pretty lousy decade for Best Pictures. I would certainly put ALL THE KING'S MEN and HAMLET on a list of worst Best Pictures before ROCKY or ORDINARY PEOPLE.

I think CRASH will live in history as one of the biggest mistakes ever made by the Academy. Although I certainly don't hate the film, I am ashamed for having been so enthusiastic about it at one point. I've seen it once. I don't want to see it again. I know it'll fall apart for me.

The worst movie to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture is still THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. Let's just keep it that way.

Posted by Jeremy Fassler at January 24, 2009 9:15 AM

comment #14