Comments on: And the Oscar Doesn’t Go To… http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/ culture blogging for the good of the planet Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:06:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dan Schneider http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-925 Dan Schneider Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:22:10 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-925 I'd disagree w Chinatown- Polanski's done much better. That was a bit overrated. In '74 The Conversation was the Best Picture. Kit Stoltz mentions a Tokyo Story from Babel. It's been years since there was actually a nominee as good as the actual film Tokyo Story, by Yasujiro Ozu. THAT is as perfect a film as ever made. I’d disagree w Chinatown- Polanski’s done much better. That was a bit overrated. In ‘74 The Conversation was the Best Picture.

Kit Stoltz mentions a Tokyo Story from Babel.

It’s been years since there was actually a nominee as good as the actual film Tokyo Story, by Yasujiro Ozu.

THAT is as perfect a film as ever made.

]]> By: Kit Stolz http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-789 Kit Stolz Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:54:41 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-789 I completely agree that the Tokyo story was the best of "Babel," but of course, without the BIG STARS, this part of the story never would've made it to the screen, far less the multiplex. Personally, I hope "Little Miss Sunshine" wins, because yes, comedy is worthy, and it was one of the funniest movies of the year, as well as one of the best. I look forward to hearing your comments on "Letters from Iwo Jima." It was the *best* movie of the year, I think, if *best* means most powerful, but for those of us who believe that movies should be at a little pleasureable as well as emotional, it's tough to take. I approve the message, but isn't there more to movies than a message? Most movie-goers, even critics, think so. I completely agree that the Tokyo story was the best of “Babel,” but of course, without the BIG STARS, this part of the story never would’ve made it to the screen, far less the multiplex.

Personally, I hope “Little Miss Sunshine” wins, because yes, comedy is worthy, and it was one of the funniest movies of the year, as well as one of the best.

I look forward to hearing your comments on “Letters from Iwo Jima.” It was the *best* movie of the year, I think, if *best* means most powerful, but for those of us who believe that movies should be at a little pleasureable as well as emotional, it’s tough to take.

I approve the message, but isn’t there more to movies than a message? Most movie-goers, even critics, think so.

]]> By: Kathleen Maher http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-785 Kathleen Maher Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:38:07 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-785 P.S. Is"Scanner Darkly" up for an Oscar this year? That was a movie I really enjoyed. I'll watch almost anything with Robert Downey Jr. in it. P.S. Is”Scanner Darkly” up for an Oscar this year? That was a movie I really enjoyed. I’ll watch almost anything with Robert Downey Jr. in it.

]]> By: Kathleen Maher http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-783 Kathleen Maher Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:33:10 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-783 Almost daily now it surprises me that I am unintentionally living in a sky-castle. The only movie in contention that I've seen is Little Miss Sunshine, which I saw because Lance recommended it. I know Helen Mirren is an interesting actress but will probably skip Queen, whether it wins or not. The English monarchy has always eluded my interest, even though my mother and sister find it fascinating through all time. Babel sounds like something Manny will want to see, but I can't foretell whether we'll watch The Departed or not. I have not counted back to check, but my guess is that the Best Pictures of the last ten years are movies I have not seen yet. If this sounds like reverse-bragging or something, it's not. Manny prefers vintage films shown at dingy art houses. Mutliplexes don't give him enough leg or elbow room and I find the smell of food additives so overpowering at to put me in danger of a migraine, especially if the sound is supposed to disorient all of NYC. (That's the way our nearby Battery Park Cinema tends to treat the volume, anyway.) Getting a taste of everything from newcritics does makes me feel as if perhaps I am not sealed inside a balloon, after all. IF anyone grabs the mike tonight and screams something political, though, I will pout over missing yet another milestone. Almost daily now it surprises me that I am unintentionally living in a sky-castle. The only movie in contention that I’ve seen is Little Miss Sunshine, which I saw because Lance recommended it. I know Helen Mirren is an interesting actress but will probably skip Queen, whether it wins or not. The English monarchy has always eluded my interest, even though my mother and sister find it fascinating through all time. Babel sounds like something Manny will want to see, but I can’t foretell whether we’ll watch The Departed or not. I have not counted back to check, but my guess is that the Best Pictures of the last ten years are movies I have not seen yet. If this sounds like reverse-bragging or something, it’s not. Manny prefers vintage films shown at dingy art houses. Mutliplexes don’t give him enough leg or elbow room and I find the smell of food additives so overpowering at to put me in danger of a migraine, especially if the sound is supposed to disorient all of NYC. (That’s the way our nearby Battery Park Cinema tends to treat the volume, anyway.) Getting a taste of everything from newcritics does makes me feel as if perhaps I am not sealed inside a balloon, after all.
IF anyone grabs the mike tonight and screams something political, though, I will pout over missing yet another milestone.

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-775 Tom Watson Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:25:00 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-775 BTW, our poll seems to agree with your choice! BTW, our poll seems to agree with your choice!

]]> By: Tom Watson http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-774 Tom Watson Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:23:07 +0000 http://newcritics.com/blog1/2007/02/25/and-the-oscar-doesnt-go-to/#comment-774 The best picture race can be funny - it has all these strange factors, a weird calculus. After all, How Green Was My Valley beat ot Citizen Kane. The Greatest Show on Earth won in 1952, beating out High Noon. There was a skein of slight musical nominees in the early 60s. The Godfather II (a very good flick, but a seqel nonetheless) won over Chinatown, as complete a movie as Hollywood ever turned out. Best Picture is the stange category, I think. Unless it's Best Director, where Hitchcock never won. The best picture race can be funny - it has all these strange factors, a weird calculus. After all, How Green Was My Valley beat ot Citizen Kane. The Greatest Show on Earth won in 1952, beating out High Noon. There was a skein of slight musical nominees in the early 60s. The Godfather II (a very good flick, but a seqel nonetheless) won over Chinatown, as complete a movie as Hollywood ever turned out. Best Picture is the stange category, I think. Unless it’s Best Director, where Hitchcock never won.

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