Fastidious… uptight… predictable… This year’s Oscar nominees are full of little surprise and a whole lot of annoying neatness. They need to be messier if they ever want to stay relevant. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of great nominees who should be there, but…
Slumdog Millionaire is a wonderful film and deserves its place… same with Milk… I would be happy if either wins as they are both fantastic on all levels. I also loved Frost/Nixon. I have not seen Benjamin Button, so I cannot comment on it yet, and perhaps I will watch The Reader again, as it just did not do it for me the first time around. The acting is brilliant, and I am convinced Kate Winslet will win her first Oscar for it, but the film left me a bit… hollow.
She and Leonardo were brilliant in Revolutionary Road, but the film is amongst the bleakest I have ever seen… and I think the Academy wanted to echo the feelings of the country and stay away from depression. It is incredible film-making, but just really hard to watch.
Where I think the ball was truly dropped is in the obvious absence of The Dark Knight. This is what Hollywood strives to be and what it should be… masterful storytelling, inventive, specific and deep writing, consummate acting… all held together in a stellar world of fine art, crystal sound and stunning visuals. The movie made buckets of money… but it was a good movie… no a great movie… no, it was and is a brilliant movie. Truly and without hyperbole. I think it may be the greatest superhero film ever created. It was mythic and realistic, gritty and shining. It is steeped in folklore, yet completely contemporary. It is a film noir that takes you into its belly and makes you think, but keeps you moving and fighting for breath and never lets up. Christopher Nolan is a master filmmaker.
So where is the Best Picture nod? Where is the directing nod? Where is the writing nod? I’m sorry, but this is a travesty… and a travesty on many levels. First off, it is a travesty on its own merits. Second, the crime is not committed by the Joker… and yes, Heath is brilliant and will win a posthumous but well deserved Oscar… but the crime is to leave out this segment of popular culture and cinematic equality. This film works on every single level… and it was a huge box office success, second only to Titanic. It’s nomination in major categories would bring a whole new audience to the Oscar telecast. Ooops!
I almost feel like boycotting on this alone.
Major mistake number two… you nominate only three songs and Bruce Springsteen is not on your list? Are you _(*(&^%$&* kidding me? Thank the heavens you did not nominate Miley Cyrus… I would have screamed in terror… but leaving Bruce off your short list in favor of a pretty good Peter Gabriel song and two unknown artists and songs from Slumdog is a musical crime against the very notes of nature.
First, Bruce is an icon. Second, Bruce is an icon. Third, Bruce performing on the Oscars gets viewers. Can anyone recite the ratings from last year? Doh! Fourth, Bruce just performed at the Inauguration and will be performing at the Super Bowl!
But fifth, and obviously most importantly, “The Wrestler” is a brilliant f*&^&ing song. Holy cow. I’m gonna listen to it again right now. Oh yeah… Seriously, go buy it from itunes and listen along with me right now. Do it NOW!
I am not just saying this because I love Bruce, but THIS IS A BRILLIANT F-ING SONG, written specifically for the film and for Mickey Rourke. It captures his character as well as Rourke’s amazing performance. What else do you want from a song?
I… I… I cannot even talk. I have been rendered speechless. AAGGGHHH!
