PBlade wrote:
The Academy more often than not snubs Blockbusters for Art House films. I can't really say why, but I can hazard a guess to them being pretentious snots who want to flex their culture muscle to the world on Oscar night.
Tygrius wrote:
MatrixRefugee wrote:
Tygrius wrote:
not even concerning myself with the fact that he died, if Ledger doesnt win for best supporting actor, I may will never watch the oscars again.
Seconded. I've been losing interest in the Oscars for the past few years, but if they do the right thing and give Heath the award (albeit posthumously), they'll have redeemed themselves in my eyes.
its a start, but no where near what is needed to redeem them in my eyes. I mean, how can the movie that is the second highest grossing film of all time in the theaters (falling behind Titantic alone) not even fall in the category of "best motion picture" ?
Im not saying they would have to win it, but you would think it would atleast be there. Three of the movies in that list I dont even recognize.
This is why I prefer awards such as "viewers choice awards", which, to me, actually lets the general population at large choose the canidates and winners.
Wait a minute now. Yeah the Academy Awards have a whole host of problems, including a slale, clubby, formulaic & predicable way of picking the bests (for example...ever notice that if a movie has a Holocaust theme it always gets nominated or wins? As someone said in the LA Times yesterday, "There's no business like Shoah business"...not that there's anything wrong with that per say but comeon people lets mix it up a little bit. Also, you'll notice that an actor or director gets snubbed time and again for movies or roles they should have won an Oscar for a long time ago...they give them a Courtesy Oscar later for movies that are usually regarded as not their best. Denzel for Training Day comes to mind; or Scorcese for the Departed also comes to mind).
So yeah thats a problem, and at one extreme you do have some really tiresome, droll arthouse type pictures that get more credit than their worth.
On the other exreme if you only pick the top grossing movies, well there is quite a lot of garbage out there. Yeah Dark Knight really rose to great heights in its genre, and Heath Ledger deserves the reward. But if the criteria is movies that only gross XXX million dollars, then, thats pretty limited. Besides, that basically lets the distributors choose what we can see and like.
So that being said....I guess my favorite movies fall somewhere in the middle. Too cool for the hoity-toity arthouse label, but too limited release to allow it to compete against the blockbusters.
What were my favorite movies of 2008? Off the top of my head, in no order:
1. In Bruges with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. This is about two hit men that botched a job and instructed to lay low in Bruges, Belgium and await further intruction. Colin Farrel is hilarious and has some brilliant lines. Its creative, unique, funny and moving....I loved it. But. No. One. Saw. It. Unfortunately. Collin Farrel should have gotten a Best Supporting Nomination for this, in place of Roberty Downey Jr. (Although I still think Heath Ledger can and should win this year). He actually won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical. 
Although, I should note that In Bruges is up for Best Original Screenplay, so I at least have that to root for!
2. Slumdog Millionaire....well fortunately the Academy did recognize this one. This movie is fresh, unique, and truly exhilerating. It really has everything. I'll be rooting for this. Unfortunately, its only available to be seen in limited release. I hate having to go to go out of my way to see good movies like this, yet the local Googleplex will show 17 screenings of Beverly Hills Chihuahua and the Happy Little Elves who Saved Arbor Day. Rubbish!
3. The Bank Job - This is a razor-tight crime caper movie loosely based on an actual 1970's London heist. It stars Jason Strathaim (of Transporter fame), and its just a perfect little caper flick...there isn't a moment wasted on film, and it did the rare thing of actually keeping me guessing till the end...usually I can spot plot twists a mile away but not in this case. No nominations.
4. Burn After Reading - Very funny and dark Coen Bros movie with John Malcovich, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt (brillaint as a profoundly shallow and idiotic gym instructor). what can I say, this is what the Coen brothers do best....
5. RocknRolla - This one is by Guy Ritchie, director of classics like Snatch and Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels. This is another sharp crime caper. The lead is Greard Butler, of 300 fame. Its pretty funny seeing him as a London roustabout. Again, like the Coen Brothers....go for what you know....he nails this genre and keeps getting better at it.
Although, I should point out, that some of my other favorite Directors have branched out with great results. David Fincher directed the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Did you know, he also directed Se7en, Fight Club, Panic Room and Zodiac? And Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionaire.....also directed Trainspotting and 28 Days Later!
So for me, I really go by director in the end. I mean, I pretty much know I'm gonna like any Tarantino or Scorcese film.
Its just a shame that these types of movies....like I said, a little too cool for the pretentious Academy set, yet not widely released so never given the opportunity to become a box office blockbuster.
/endrant (sorry its slow at work today...hehe)
: Claudio Miranda 
