Pepsi Pundit Challenge

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I realize I'm pretty much alone in believing that Oscar pundits should try and lead a little bit -- maybe even inspire on some level -- in their award-season scribblings. They could and should do this, I feel, by subtly or superstitiously or irrationally stepping outside the box and doing more than just predicting which films and performances the Hollywood voting community is going to favor. Now and then, at least.

Like me and Gold Derby's Tom O'Neil and one or two others, they should mysteriously and inconsistently blend their predictions with some personal conviction of their own -- a little feeling, a little seat-of-the-pants instinct or passion or spittoon-spitting. I realize that some sorta kinda do this but others seem averse. With a soapbox comes responsibility, and I think they should try to stir the pot and rouse the choir a little. From November to mid December, at least. Or until early January...whatever.

I only know there can't be anything more tedious than to just sit in the bleachers and say, "I think the Academy's going to vote for this" or "No, no, I think you're wrong...the Academy is going to vote for that!" What could be worse than to be lying on your deathbed and saying to yourself, "Well, I sure knew how to quack like a duck when it came to Oscar predictions!"

Some pundits and columnists make a practice, I realize, of posting their personal year-end favorites with no attention paid to politics or award predictions or anything. I just did this earlier today, and I realize that posting such a list is an acknowledgement that politics and box-office and predictions are mostly what columnists pay attention to. We all know what the game is. I obviously play it and pay my bills with the ad revenue. But every so often you have to stand up and be yourself and...you know, expand the repertoire.

I'm respectfully requesting here and now that those who haven't yet posted a personal preferences list to do so. Clean out your head and throw caution to the winds and just say what you really feel about the films you've seen this year. Your readers would like to know, and so would I.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 29, 2009 at 1:29 PM

comment #1

Colin says ...

Hard to do when not everyone has seen everything yet. List like those traditionally come during the slow week after Christmas.

Posted by Colin at November 29, 2009 2:57 PM

comment #2

Ray says ...

I completely agree. I kinda started doing that a week ago, just to try and get my thoughts in order:

http://sammyray.com/684/the-oscar-must-haves-of-2009/

Posted by Ray at November 29, 2009 3:03 PM

comment #3

Kristopher Tapley says ...

I do this every year. It's called my "if I had a ballot" post. And I can also quack like a duck when it comes to Oscar predictions. That is all.

Posted by Kristopher Tapley at November 29, 2009 4:01 PM

comment #4

Pynchon8 says ...

Even if the personal conviction is nonsense?

Posted by Pynchon8 at November 29, 2009 5:45 PM

comment #5

televisiontears says ...

I think the predictions themselves are the problem. The pundits rarely pick the films they like the best, or even the ones they feel are most deserving, they choose the ones they think the voters will choose. It seems like that creates some ouroboros cycle where the Oscar bait films get the most recognition.

If they actually cared about cinema, they would try to generate their own buzz for the films that they're passionate about. Jeff is rare in that he actually practices this INSANE idea of, you know, actually talking about the films that he likes, instead of the ones he thinks other people like.

Btw, thanks for that, Jeff.

Posted by televisiontears at November 29, 2009 7:05 PM

comment #6

televisiontears says ...

Oh, and Ray, you think the Inglourious Basterds buzz is undeserved, but you'd love to see The Hangover be nominated for BP? Whoops.

And one more thing: why in the eff is nobody talking about Where the Wild Things Are? This is one of the few films that people will be talking about in twenty years, and no one thinks it has a chance. Ridiculous.

Posted by televisiontears at November 29, 2009 7:09 PM

comment #7

Ray says ...

@ televisiontears - Perhaps reactions like yours are the reason why so few people actually go out on a limb and reveal their personal picks and hopes for these awards.

Tell me ... is Inglourious Basterds really a better movie than The Hangover?? I think The Hangover is handicapped because it is a comedy; comedies rarely receive BP nominations. But it is a well done film, and one of the more hilarious films in recent memory. It was a personal pick of mine to say that I would love to see it happen ... I don't think it will happen, nor do I necessarily believe it SHOULD happen.

As for IB, I have heard people mention it as THE BP of the year ... gimme a break. It's too long, way too indulgent, it has some truly horrible performances in it (Mike Myers nearly sinks it all by himself, and Eli Roth nearly does the same simply with his stupid stare), and it is probably the most pointless film of this particular year. It is the second most pointless film of Tarantino's wafer-thin resume, with only KILL BILL succeeding it in that department.

Please ... tell me why IB is better or more deserving. I'd love to be enlightened.

Posted by Ray at November 29, 2009 8:13 PM

comment #8

Matthew Starr says ...

I wish The Messenger was getting more buzz. It's one of my favorites this year alongside Hurt Locker and Serious Man. But I have not seen enough to make a top ten list for the year. Too early.

Posted by Matthew Starr at November 29, 2009 8:27 PM

comment #9

LuckyWilbury says ...

You make your challenge sound so simple and logical, Jeff.

There are at least two problems with it:

(1) The Oscar pundits are being asked to predict what Academy voters will choose, period. That's why they're called Oscar pundits. There is a discipline to this that you object to because of your contrarian nature;

(2) Whenever a critic in these polls does "step outside the box," you invariably heap scorn upon him or her if they fail to respect one of your sacred cows or join one of your jihads. The only contrarian view you tolerate is your own.

Posted by LuckyWilbury at November 29, 2009 8:39 PM

comment #10

Eloi Manning says ...

"it is probably the most pointless film of this particular year. It is the second most pointless film of Tarantino's wafer-thin resume"

What a stupid comment. Explain how it is "pointless". Then explain what the "point" of any movie is.

Posted by Eloi Manning at November 29, 2009 9:05 PM

comment #11

Ray says ...

It is pointless because it takes a time in history and completely changes it for no reason at all. Tarantino apologists like Mr. Manning like to strum their harps and sing about Tarantino's "maverick vision" and his "unique style," but they rarely can explain why their idol chooses to do something like that.

I thought IB was well-made, of course. It's beautifully shot. It contains one brilliant performance (Christoph Waltz), and one good one (Melanie Laurent). It has some well-written scenes (the opening scene, the restaurant scene). But I could say the same thing about a lot of films in any given year ... and many of those films even have a point to them!! What makes IB so special, besides the fact that Quentin "Genius" Tarantino made it???

Posted by Ray at November 29, 2009 9:39 PM

comment #12

Ray says ...

Oh ... and as for your other request, most films have a point, even if it is to entertain. Was IB that entertaining? I enjoyed some parts of it, but mostly I found it to be masturbatory.

Did it have any other thesis besides trying to entertain? No.

Posted by Ray at November 29, 2009 9:42 PM

comment #13

The Winchester says ...

Hangover does not deserve a BP nomination, but Zack Galifinakis certain deserves a Supporting Actor nod. He OWNS that movie without looking he ever once tried.

Posted by The Winchester at November 30, 2009 8:20 AM

comment #14

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

Got news for you, Ray...almost any movie ever made is masturbatory, especially ones that are "entertaining" -- a designation I'd much sooner apply to IB than I would The Hangover (you rip Tarantino's film then suggest this as your preferred alternative??), btw.

As with a lot of Tarantino, there is a lot of texture and subtext to the whole thing if you're open to it, which you are probably not. In the Melanie Laurent sections, the film has some interesting things to say about survival, fate, and especially loyalty (to family, friends, country, etc.). I'll grant you there's not a whole lot going on with the "Basterds", but there really isn't an overwhelming amount of time dedicated to their storyline -- esp. given the title -- either.

But most of all, IB is one of the very finest suspense movies I've ever seen. How many of Hitchcock's films had a central thesis? What was the "point" of Psycho? If you're honestly looking at movies -- and defining "good ones" -- in this narrow way, I'm sorry but I'm almost obliged to call your cinematic taste into question.

One last thing: you know what has a "point?" After-school specials. And Crash.

Enjoy yourself.

Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at November 30, 2009 9:47 AM

comment #15

MechanicalShark says ...

I've been reading Hollywood Elsewhere for several months now, but figured it was finally time to start commenting. I have to say, even when I disagree, I find so much more authentic opinion and love of film here than in places like InContention and AwardsDaily.
On topic, I saw The Messenger in Seattle on Saturday, and I have to say, Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, and Samantha Morton all deserve serious consideration. As does In the Loop. And the best performance of the year may sadly go totally ignored: Tilda Swinton in Julia.

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