Oscar nominations are out! I’ve only seen one of the films, and was impressed by it. Some years I’m able to see all five; this, I think, is not that kind of year simply because a movie night for Jeremy and me is not such a frequent thing anymore. Still, I would like to catch a few more of the Best Picture nominees prior to March 5th.
Commentary on the nominations, anyone?
12 Comments
Bethany Jan 31, 2006 1:17 PM
I haven’t seen as many as usual this year, either. Capote is going to be playing again at the Ross starting this Thursday, so I’m hoping to catch it sometime in the next two weeks.
Keith Jan 31, 2006 1:30 PM
Brokeback: Ick.
Munich: Ugh.
The awards tell you more about who’s giving them than what they give them for.
-Mr. Grumpy
kerri Jan 31, 2006 1:34 PM
I’ve seen Crash and Munich. Munich was good, although it seemed a little message-y at times. I thought Crash was better (although I must admit this was a rental that was started after 9 pm, so I missed part of it while I was “just resting my eyes for a minute”). It was well acted and filmed as well as thought provoking, without any heavy-handed agenda. I was encouraged that it won out over Brokeback Mountain in whatever the awards were a little while ago (SAG? Golden Globe?) But I don’t know if it will have enough momentum to displace BBMt for the Oscar.
Lindsey Jan 31, 2006 7:54 PM
Well I hate to add my uneducated voice to the film elite above, but I loved Munich and Crash. I haven’t yet seen Brokeback Mountain (it’s hard to find in the theatres down here in the Bible Belt) but as much as Munich was message-y, I did love much of the message it had to say. It’s hard, but I hope Munich wins Best Picture.
Bethany Jan 31, 2006 10:05 PM
I loved Munich, too. I really didn’t think it was really all that message-y at all, unless its message was “violence begets violence,” which doesn’t strike me as being particularly partisan/controversial/untrue.
I haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain yet either. Have the people voicing opposition to it seen it?
Kate Feb 1, 2006 3:10 AM
Ha! I’ve heard of ONE of the five movies for Best Picture, and that only through e-mail. We don’t get a ton of American movies here in France, and the ones we get usually surprise me. I’ll have to figure out what all I’ve missed that’s worth seeing when I get back.
Keith Feb 1, 2006 10:22 AM
Brokeback: No, I haven’t seen it. It may be wonderfully crafted and acted and everything, but I know enought to say “ick”, and I just won’t go. Yet another push from the left coast to show homosexuality sympathetically in order to establish its cultural normalcy. The only thoughtful positive thing someone said is that it may show us how difficult it is for a homosexual to face a society that condemns him. The church does need to keep that in its thinking.
Munich: I may see this one at some point, but I don’t trust the filmmaker’s bias and I give some credence to critics who have said that it tries to portray a moral equivalence between the terrorists and the Israeli response. Hitting back is just as bad as hitting first. Which would be a very silly way to run a country.
Lindsey Feb 1, 2006 11:03 AM
I think one of the many reasons why I loved Munich is that it showed how the “hitting back” affected each of the characters–for the worse. “Why are we doing this? We’re supposed to be righteous,” the bombmaker said at one point. Indeed.
RT Feb 1, 2006 1:11 PM
Many thoughts are bobbing around in my head… Why do we go see movies? What makes a good movie? Why exactly is a movie nominated for an Oscar? And so on… I’m not blogging about those questions though because I need to get some rest while the wee one is napping today.
The biggest reason why I’d like to see all the nominated Best Pic films is because I want to see the actors’ performances. I know I won’t enjoy all the stories, but I will enjoy seeing how the actors transform themselves into different characters. Of course, scripts, music, camera work, direction… That’s all important, too.
Jacinda Feb 2, 2006 12:52 PM
I saw BBMtn.
It was a well-acted movie. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall were both great. However, I wouldn’t vote for it for Best Picture. I would like to say that it didn’t seem “leftist agenda” -ish, but of course what you take away from a movie has a lot to do with what you bring. I didn’t feel that there were gratuitous gay sex scenes, and what was there was tastefully done. I’ve been far more grossed out by some heterosexual movie scenes that show too much.
Certainly there are many among us who don’t agree with this sort of lifestyle choice, but regardless of whether we agree, there are many human beings in our midst who are currently being led down that path.
I’d compare it to drug use–there are lots of movies about drug use. I think we can all agree that drug abuse is BAD, but a good movie can still be made about that subject.
RT Feb 2, 2006 1:22 PM
Good points, Jacinda. What *would* you pick for Best Picture this year?
Jacinda Feb 2, 2006 9:14 PM
The only other movie I’ve seen is Crash. As you and others have said, it’s good. I’d like to see all of them, but don’t know if I’ll get the chance.
Happy movie viewing, everyone. :)