And the Oscar Should Have Gone to...

[thesurlymermaid]

shanmac said:

Another reason to love Ang Lee, from IMDb:

The director was disappointed that his film didn't take home the top honor and is baffled as to why it didn't win. He explains, "I would do exactly the same. I'm so proud of the movie. They (the Academy) didn't vote for it, I don't know (why)...I'm just glad the audience embraced it. It was a surprise (not winning), quite frankly."

That's some refreshing candor right there. I hate it when an actor/filmmaker is like, "Oh, it's an honor just to be nominated." Yeah, but we all know you wanted to win, so admit it. I heart Ang Lee.

Ang Lee and Alfonso Cuaron are my two favorite directors. They are the only ones whose interviews or opinions on movies and directing are worth a damn to me.

Good for Ang...he SHOULD be shocked. It was the best movie, the most acclaimed and had the best box office. Frankly, the story of BBM NOT winning is a bigger story than what did win, and unfortunately for Crash supporters (or fortunately, depending on whether or not they are fond of arguing) the movie is going to be generally remembered as one of, if not THE, worst best picture winner ever.

[anne]

I think if it is remembered as one of hte worst best picture winners, it'll only be because of the free pass that BBM appeared to be getting. The biggest source of the controversy, IMO, is that there were no clear, obvious contenders for best picture this year. I cannot think of a single film this year which really swept me away as a marvel of filmmaking. BBM was a sentimental favorite due to the subject matter more than it was an absolutely outstanding film. (if that's not true, then why is there a discussion now as to whether or not homophobia played a part in its not winning?)

I've seen only two of the five nominees, and I think the better of those two won. But there was not a single movie I saw this year and said "Wow, that's a movie!" I know that many were mad that Walk the Line didn't get a nod at best picture. I enjoyed that one too, but didn't think it was an outstanding achievement in filmmaking.

This was a weak year for filmmaking. Lots of people tried new and different things, but no one blew the doors off of anything. I think the controversy if there is one is due to the lack of greatness, and not due to the wrong film winning. If Crash will be remembered as one of the worst best pictures ever, honestly, I think that any of the five would be remembered the same.

Although honestly, I have to say that I think Million Dollar Baby was a FAR worse film than either Crash or BMM.

[thesurlymermaid]

anne said:

I think if it is remembered as one of hte worst best picture winners, it'll only be because of the free pass that BBM appeared to be getting. The biggest source of the controversy, IMO, is that there were no clear, obvious contenders for best picture this year. I cannot think of a single film this year which really swept me away as a marvel of filmmaking. BBM was a sentimental favorite due to the subject matter more than it was an absolutely outstanding film. (if that's not true, then why is there a discussion now as to whether or not homophobia played a part in its not winning?)

I've seen only two of the five nominees, and I think the better of those two won. But there was not a single movie I saw this year and said "Wow, that's a movie!" I know that many were mad that Walk the Line didn't get a nod at best picture. I enjoyed that one too, but didn't think it was an outstanding achievement in filmmaking.

This was a weak year for filmmaking. Lots of people tried new and different things, but no one blew the doors off of anything. I think the controversy if there is one is due to the lack of greatness, and not due to the wrong film winning. If Crash will be remembered as one of the worst best pictures ever, honestly, I think that any of the five would be remembered the same.

Although honestly, I have to say that I think Million Dollar Baby was a FAR worse film than either Crash or BMM.

BBM had much more going for it than being a "sentimental favorite". From the tracking and predicting perspective, it won almost every precursor there was to win, AND it had the best box office of the nommed films, AND it was nommed for the most Oscars, AND it became a cultural phenomenon.

What did Crash have? A SAG ensemble win and Roger Ebert, basically. It wasn't even nommed for a Golden Globe. No, there is NO precedent for what happened the other night.

Crash was a middling film that was weakly received critically and by the box office. Never in my life have I seen such hatred for a BP winner, and I myself thought the film was just ghastly, unrealistic, manipulative, and amateurish.

This one takes the taco.

[anne]

The tracking does not address the weakness of films this year at all. Overall, the movies were weak. Crash not winning much going into the Oscars does not take away from that. It was a weak year for movies, and BBM getting a lot of awards does not discount that. When there was nothing better to recognize, something had to win.

But I can understand how you feel about it. Last year, I viewed Million Dollar Baby as ghastly, manipulative, unrealistic, and EXTREMELY predictable which made it amateurish.

[thesurlymermaid]

anne said:

The tracking does not address the weakness of films this year at all. Overall, the movies were weak. Crash not winning much going into the Oscars does not take away from that. It was a weak year for movies, and BBM getting a lot of awards does not discount that. When there was nothing better to recognize, something had to win.

But I can understand how you feel about it. Last year, I viewed Million Dollar Baby as ghastly, manipulative, unrealistic, and EXTREMELY predictable which made it amateurish.

I never saw MDB, but I know the ending, so let's just say I'm inclined to agree with your assessment of the film!

I guess to each their own. I thought BBM was not only the best movie I've seen this year, but the best I've seen in many, many years and Ledger's performance goes right up there on my All-Time performance list.

Not that I'm any authority, though.

[jynni]

BBM had much more going for it than being a "sentimental favorite". From the tracking and predicting perspective, it won almost every precursor there was to win, AND it had the best box office of the nommed films, AND it was nommed for the most Oscars, AND it became a cultural phenomenon.

A cultural phenomenon? Oh please. Star Wars - Lord of the Rings - gah - even American Idol - those are cultural phenomenons. BBM will be forgotten as "the gay cowboy movie" in five years.

[Fraggle Rock]

In the "The Oscar Will Go To" thread I said,

The only thing worse than Brokeback winning for me would be AMPAS losing their minds and giving it to Crash.

AMPAS lost their minds. Neither film was deserving of the honor.

The Oscar should have gone to Munich.

[thesurlymermaid]

jynni said:

BBM had much more going for it than being a "sentimental favorite". From the tracking and predicting perspective, it won almost every precursor there was to win, AND it had the best box office of the nommed films, AND it was nommed for the most Oscars, AND it became a cultural phenomenon.

A cultural phenomenon? Oh please. Star Wars - Lord of the Rings - gah - even American Idol - those are cultural phenomenons. BBM will be forgotten as "the gay cowboy movie" in five years.

Then, by all means, feel free to share your "oh please" sentiments with the many authors who have seen fit to include that phrasing in their commentary on Brokeback Mountain.

The fact that it is known as the "gay cowboy" movie, however unfairly, IS why it's a cultural phenomenon. I didn't say that meant it was always a "good" thing. You'll find the phrase "Don't go all Brokeback on me" or "brokeback" as a verb is quite widely used now. What exactly would you call it? Overhype? I disagree.

[Oxynia]

Oh dear me, we're talking movies here, folks. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're just movies so let's not make it personal, mmkay?

[thesurlymermaid]

oxynia said:

Oh dear me, we're talking movies here, folks. Love 'em or hate 'em, they're just movies so let's not make it personal, mmkay?

I'm sorry oxynia.

Perhaps I should just leave this thread for the time being and come back when the sting is a bit less.