Oscars Results !

[Dreddz]

http://www.oscar.com/oscarnight/winners/index.html
And everybody thought Brokeback Mountain would swoop all the awards.
Shame it didnt, Brokeback mountain was amazing, Crash was also great so I dont mind that it won best film.
The oscars seem not as important now years ago.......I mean there important, but no one really cares that much for them now as back when.

[edczxcvbnm]

Anyone who thought Brokeback was going to sweep the awards was dumb. None of the actors even had a chance. It still picked up 3 oscars which is good but it had zero chance of a sweep.

I had picked a lot of the winners.

I picked Picture
Actress
Supporting Actress
Supporting Actor
Editing
Visuals
Shorts
and other various awards

I missed Director and Actor.

4/6 for the big awards is not bad.

The Oscars are still as important as they were years ago. You may not care for them now but everyone still does and it is the highest honor in Hollywood. Unless something comes out that it has been rigged for the past 40 years it will remain that way.

I really liked Stewart and I hope that they ask him to host again. Those commercials for getting votes for best actress were great!

[Dreddz]

Anyone who thought Brokeback was going to sweep the awards was dumb. None of the actors even had a chance
Well most people did, end of.
Also, when you say that none of the actors had a chance, where have you been living, Heath Ledger was top for scooping Best male actor this year, really, dont say Im wrong, Im right.

[edczxcvbnm]

No he wasn't. The person who won was and then after him was Phoenix. Ledger was not a front runner and was not expected to win. If you go by what the average person says then yeah but the average person is a dumbass and thankfully the Oscars don't go by popularity but what they feel is the best.

[SeeDRankLou]

As good as the performances of Brokeback Mountain were, none of them were going to win their repsective acting awards. There were just better performances this year. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was a shoe-in for best male, and if he for some reason didn't win Joaquin would have won. Rachel Weisz I thought rightfully deserved her oscar, I just don't think Michelle's performance was good enough to win. George was the only one of the supporting actors that would have won over Jake, and so he did, deservingly so in my opinion. On a non-Brokeback note, I was happy that Reese won best actress, that one really could have gone any way.

While it wasn't going to win it's acting awards, Brokeback Mountain was definately going to win for adapted screenplay and director, hands down. Crash rightfully and very deservingly won for best picture, but I think Brokeback Mountain was probably in a close second for that one.

I was happy with how the Oscar's went, and John Stewart was a good host. Those political commercials were hilarious. And I thought it was cute when the guys from March of the Penguins (or whatever that one's called) won and brought penguin dolls up on stage with them.

[RSL]

Yeah Dreddz, you are wrong. The Oscars pretty much fell EXACTLY as expected EXCEPT for best picture, which was an upset of epic proportions. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was pretty much a lock for Best Actor. Same with Reese Witherspoon for best actress.

Brokeback mountain was expected to win best picture, but it was not expected to sweep the awards. As it turns out, four films won three oscars a piece. That is pretty strange if you ask me.

[kikimm]

RSL said exactly what I was thinking. ;) I was a little annoyed with how predictable the Oscars turned out to be, but oh well.

But of course I'm shocked that Crash won Best Picture, but really stoked because it definitely deserved it.

[RSL]

But of course I'm shocked that Crash won Best Picture, but really stoked because it definitely deserved it.
There are a lot of people out there that are geniunely angry that this happened.

[edczxcvbnm]

The reason the Oscars were so predictable is because the one that won were just so damn obvious this year. There were a few that might have been close such as best picture but for the most part the performaces of the winners were just too damn good and no one else was all that great. They did a good job but not Oscar good.

This year the ratings were what they were for the 2003 Oscars. A 10% drop over last year. Probably becasue it was going to be so predictable.

[here for a limited time]

did star wars win anything?

[edczxcvbnm]

Hell no! It won a Razzy...again.

[here for a limited time]

whats a razzy?

[RSL]

whats a razzy?

It's like an oscar award except for the worst movies of the year.

Star Wars was nominated for one oscar, best makeup, and did not win.

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

Well most people did, end of.
Also, when you say that none of the actors had a chance, where have you been living, Heath Ledger was top for scooping Best male actor this year, really, dont say Im wrong, Im right.

I was also made to believe this was true for some reason. However had I not have seen Hoffman's interview last week his win might have come as more of a shock.
Anyway to those who have seen Walk The Line was Reese Witherspoon's performance really that good?

[RSL]

Reese Witherspoon was great. However, I don't know how she compared to the other four nominees as I have yet to see their movies.

[SeeDRankLou]

Anyway to those who have seen Walk The Line was Reese Witherspoon's performance really that good?
Yes it was. When I saw North Country, I was amazed by Charlize Theron's performance, almost as good as her oscar performance the year before. I really didn't think anyone would live up to it let alone surpass it, but Reese really did do a fantastic job in Walk the Line, you could just see how much work she put into that role, and she totally deserved her oscar.

[MecaKane]

There are a lot of people out there that are geniunely angry that this happened.
Gay white people I bet!

I missed best animated. Was anything good even nominated for best animated? :eek:

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

something that bothers me about the Oscars is the nominations. I mean take for example Mutiny on the Bounty. How can THREE, yes THREE men be up for Best Actor in a Leading Role. There can never be three leads. Another things how can certain actors be put up for awards i.e. leading roles when they are clearly not the central character? (eg Marlon Brando - The Godfather)

[RSL]

I missed best animated. Was anything good even nominated for best animated? :eek:

Howl's Moving Castle, Wallace and Gromit, and some other movie that I can't remember were nominated.

Wallace and Gromit won.

[childroland]

I am like all fucking happy I was like HELL NO BROKE MY BACK TAKING A MAN"S MOUNTAIN WOULD WIN BEST PICTURE but it lost yay

[MecaKane]

Howl's Moving Castle, Wallace and Gromit, and some other movie that I can't remember were nominated.

Wallace and Gromit won.

Aw, Howl's Moving Castle was good!

[edczxcvbnm]

I think the other animated film was The Corpse Bride. All were good movies.

[XxSephirothxX]

I thought it was pretty cool that Crash won. Nothing else really surprised me. But I was pretty pissed Episode III didn't get nominated for Best Visual Effects. They only nominated three movies, and it had stunning effects, at least on par with Narnia and War of the Worlds. That was pretty unfair on the Academy's part, considering it was the only real category it had any chance of competing in.

[-N-]

Damn, I wish I could have watched Jon Stewart.

[~SapphireStar~]

Im glad Crash won, I really did enjoy it and it was such an eye opener. Im also glad about Wallace & Gromit, although Howls Moving Castle looked lush. Oh well.

[SoulTaker*]

Anyway, Im really glad Crash won because it something I could really relate too, and it touched on alot of issues on the human psyche. Jon Stewart is one funny sob, but my favorite part of the night was Three 6 Mafia winning for best original song. The oscars have a notorious image for being all snooty, but it was fun seein some dudes from the gutter take home a prestigious award like that. Jon Stewarts comment about Scorcese 0, Three 6 Mafia 1, was funny. I havent seen Brokeback Mountain, I dont like love stories anyway, especially gay love stories, but I hear it was good.

Star Wars was robbed btw, the academy hates George Lucas.

[edczxcvbnm]

Star Wars did not get robbed of anything. It was not very impressive because it had too much CG to do to make it look Oscar worthy. Star Wars did not deserve to win anything and it didn't.

[RSL]

Yeah, I'm a big Star Wars fan but I didn't think it deserved any oscars.

[SoulTaker*]

Star Wars did not get robbed of anything. It was not very impressive because it had too much CG to do to make it look Oscar worthy. Star Wars did not deserve to win anything and it didn't.
Uhhh, Costume, makeup, art direction, IT most definitely should have won for original score, visual effects, robbed I say. And although Lucas's script was smurfed, Ian McDiarmid should have been nominated for something with his performance. I think this is the first Star Wars film to be snubbed as it did.

Did anybody see Memoirs of a Geisha? Form the reviews Ive read, it was mediocre at best.

[RSL]

Star Wars was nominated for makeup. And you shouldn't judge a movie that you haven't seen.

[XxSephirothxX]

I just think it was unfair that it wasn't even nominated for Visual Effects, considering they only nominated three films that weren't significantly better than Episode III. Is there some new policy by which they only nominate three films? I mean, if they absolutely can't find anything else to fill up the category, fair enough, but Narnia, King Kong, and War of the Worlds were not the only films with good CG released last year. I don't see why the amazing effects in Star Wars were somehow considered unworthy of a nomination.

[SoulTaker*]

Star Wars was nominated for makeup. And you shouldn't judge a movie that you haven't seen.
Thats why I said "from the reviews I read", in which Im asking for other peoples opinions, and Im not talking about nominated, Im talking about winning.

I just think it was unfair that it wasn't even nominated for Visual Effects, considering they only nominated three films that weren't significantly better than Episode III. Is there some new policy by which they only nominate three films? I mean, if they absolutely can't find anything else to fill up the category, fair enough, but Narnia, King Kong, and War of the Worlds were not the only films with good CG released last year. I don't see why the amazing effects in Star Wars were somehow considered unworthy of a nomination.
Exactly..

[edczxcvbnm]

Uhhh, Costume, makeup, art direction, IT most definitely should have won for original score, visual effects, robbed I say. And although Lucas's script was smurfed, Ian McDiarmid should have been nominated for something with his performance. I think this is the first Star Wars film to be snubbed as it did.

Did anybody see Memoirs of a Geisha? Form the reviews Ive read, it was mediocre at best.

The Geisha movie itself was bad but the art direction was supurb. The Star Wars score was unoriginal was basic fare that has been set by all the previous Star Wars movies for the most part. It is good and easily gets the job done but it isn't beyond everything else.

[SoulTaker*]

The Geisha movie itself was bad but the art direction was supurb. The Star Wars score was unoriginal was basic fare that has been set by all the previous Star Wars movies for the most part. It is good and easily gets the job done but it isn't beyond everything else.
I dont know I got the OST and it is pretty good, "battle Of Heroes" is one of my favorites of all time, but Im not Im not in the academy, so they obiously must have the BBR, Geisha, Munich, Constant Gardener OST's, but not even nominated? Im guessing your sayin it wasnt original enough, o well.

[edczxcvbnm]

I am saying it wasn't good enough. All of those OST are not very original. They were just done better and incoporated a lot of the style of their movie into the sound track. Classical Japanese Music for Geisha and Single Acustic Country sounding Guitar for Brokeback. They did more than sound good. They helped to put you in the atmosphere of the era.

[Dreddz]

Brokeback mountain was expected to win best picture, but it was not expected to sweep the awards. As it turns out, four films won three oscars a piece. That is pretty strange if you ask me.
Well, Brokeback Mountain did swoop the Golden Globes, so what were we expected to believe.
I happen to think most of you lot are lying to look cleverer than the average person. I watched countless programs discussing the Oscars and everyone thought Brokeback was going to win most of its categories. What are we supposed of of thought, they are the experts, Ill go by what they said. Seeing as Brokeback didnt do as well as everyone thought, some jackasses come out and claim they knew all along but were just keeping stum about it. Acting like they know better than most.
Also, did everyone even watch Brokeback, it did deserve to swoop the awards as it was that good.

[Loony BoB]

I watched Brokeback for the second time just last night in the vain hope that I might suddenly see why people were so upset that it lost, and I still didn't get it.

As for Brokeback deserving to win over Crash, I disagree, and it seems a lot of other people do too. I was really happy Crash won, because I did think that Brokeback was going to win but not because I wanted it to. Notable that BBM rates 7.9 or 8.0 or something on IMDb while Crash manages 8.4. BBM was breakthrough, sure, but breakthrough doesn't always mean it's a great movie, it just means it managed to do something not already done (ie make a lot of money from a story based on a gay relationship).

I haven't seen Walk The Line, Munich or many other films that were nominated, but I hear the fans of Munich are just as peeved about Munich losing as BBM fans are about BBM losing. It happens.

EDIT: Having said that, just because I agree that the majority did think BBM would win doesn't mean a lot of people didn't think other movies would win, and to say a lot of people in this thread are lying is an unfair and unjustified accusation.

[Dreddz]

BBm deserved best movie over Crash IMO, but Crash had some great actors, Ludacris was probably the one who stood out most. Wasnt Matt Dillon nominated for best Male Actor ?

[edczxcvbnm]

Well, Brokeback Mountain did swoop the Golden Globes, so what were we expected to believe.
I happen to think most of you lot are lying to look cleverer than the average person. I watched countless programs discussing the Oscars and everyone thought Brokeback was going to win most of its categories. What are we supposed of of thought, they are the experts, Ill go by what they said. Seeing as Brokeback didnt do as well as everyone thought, some jackasses come out and claim they knew all along but were just keeping stum about it. Acting like they know better than most.

Golden Globes are a crap award.

Also I did know. Here are my picks from back in January.

http://forums.eyesonff.com/showpost.php?p=1514419&postcount=8

I guess I know better than most.

[RSL]

Dreddz, everything I watched and read predicted Phillip Seymour Hoffman to win best actor. I don't know what you watched, but it must've been something that no one else did.

I'm not trying to look clever after the fact. As I watched the awards, nearly every one went to who I was led to believe was the favorite. The only exception are awards like documentary and stuff that I wasn't familiar with (so I couldn't remember who was supposed to be the favorite) and best picture, which everyone and their dog (but not Roger Ebert) thought was going to go to Brokeback Mountain.

No one thought it was going to win every award. Movies rarely win EVERY award they are nominated for (though Return of the King managed to do that a couple years ago, 11 out of 11).

I've been watching and following the oscars for many years. I can safely say there were few surprises.

By the way Dreddz, go to this site:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388795/awards

You will see that Brokeback Mountain DID NOT sweep the Golden Globes. There are three awards it did not win that it was nominated for. ONE OF THEM WAS BEST ACTOR, NOMINEE HEATH LEDGER. He didn't win. So I don't know what you saw that predicted that he would win the oscar for this. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was the favorite, and even if he wasn't, Joaquin Phoenix (no idea if I spelled that right) was next!

That being said, Brokeback Mountain did basically sweep all the best Picture awards this year, and it was a huge upset that it did not also win that Oscar.

EDIT: Here's a list of oscar predictions that an oscar based site compiled. You will see that there weren't many surprises. I'm sorry Dreddz, but you're just wrong about this.

http://www.oscarwatch.com/Predictions05/winchart.html

[Burtsplurt]

I'm pleased that Rachel Weisz won - she's very pretty. Oh, and it was a very good performance as well, but that doesn't really matter... :)

I'm not sure about best film. There were all good, but none of the those that I've seen struck me. Crash felt a bit contrived and preachy, Brokeback was essentially an old story in new clothes (although executed excellently) and Munich was at least 20 minutes too long.

[Strider]

The way I see it, Ang Lee won Best Director for taking a difficult concept and making it work exceptionally well. Crash won Best Picture simply because it was a better film, certainly more complex, and there wasn't a weak link in the ensemble cast.

[Miriel]

Oh man, I'm too tired to get into this again.

I'll summarize. The loss of the film, after being celebrated, awarded, and praised ACROSS THE BOARD along with having the box office and the great reviews, to a film with far worse reviews and box office profit, is so extraordinary that nothing can explain it to me except homophobia on the part of straight men within the Academy.

And in none of my criticism of the Academy do I blame the creators of Crash. Crash is a good (but very flawed) movie and everyone should see it if they can. But Crash was not a work of art, as Brokeback Mountain was.

Roger Eberts, crazy and senile as he is predicted that Crash would win. I can respect him on his opinon that Crash was the best picture of the year. Why? Because he saw all the movies and compared them based on content and what they made him feel. Can't argue with that.

But the Academy has members on record as saying they wouldn't watch BBM and wouldn't vote for it based on nothing but the gay storyline. That's the sore spot.

No one will ever be able to convince me that Crash won because it was a better movie than Brokeback Mountain which is currently on track to becoming one of the most awarded motion pictures in film history. It won because racism is easier to support than homosexuality.

I will bet my life, that decades from now, Crash will fade into obscurity and Brokeback Mountain will still be remembered and have it's place in film history. I have followed the Oscars since I was in Middle School. And never have I been so disgusted with the Academy as I was Sunday night. The AMPAS have lost all validity with me, and I know that in these coming days, weeks, years, they will realize how hugely they stumbled this year.

And now, from some quotes from people far more eloquent than I.


"Way back on Jan. 17, I decided to nominate the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best Bunch of Hypocrites. That's because I felt this year's dirty little Oscar secret was the anecdotal evidence pouring in to me about hetero members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences being unwilling to screen 'Brokeback Mountain.' For a community that takes pride in progressive values, it seemed shameful to me that Hollywood's homophobia could be on a par with Pat Robertson's."


So for people who were discomfited by "Brokeback Mountain" but wanted to be able to look themselves in the mirror and feel like they were good, productive liberals, "Crash" provided the perfect safe harbor. They could vote for it in good conscience, vote for it and feel they had made a progressive move, vote for it and not feel that there was any stain on their liberal credentials for shunning what "Brokeback" had to offer. And that's exactly what they did.

Hollywood, of course, is under no obligation to be a progressive force in the world. It is in the business of entertainment, in the business of making the most dollars it can. Yes, on Oscar night, it likes to pat itself on the back for the good it does in the world, but as Sunday night's ceremony proved, it is easier to congratulate yourself for a job well done in the past than actually do that job in the present.

I know it's silly to put so much stock into what a group of people have to say, but as someone who has wanted to be a filmmaker and who has loved the magic of filmmaking since The Neverending Story, I can't help but be emotionally invested in these things like sports fans are emotionally invested in their teams.

And after pouring over this issue, after seeing favorite Oscar sites SHUT DOWN in protest to Sunday night's Oscar heist, I feel absolutely and completely drained of all emotion.

AMPAS, y'all can go suck it because none of it matters anymore.

And on a slightly different note, The Three Six Mafia and their Oscar win was glorious. Oh those pimps.

[Winter Nights]

Meh.. Not gonna comment on "Brokeback" not winning, cause I haven't watched it. But, I am of the opinion that "Crash" was over-rated crap. before I finally saw it, I'd been looking forward to it for several months. I sat through the movie in a state of disbelief and finished watching it feeling like I'd just been apart of a really bad joke. Not the worst movie of the year, but I felt it was definately one of. I can't believe it won "Best Picture". Then again, based on what is considered to be "quality filmmaking" these days, I guess I really should have expected it.

[SoulTaker*]

I watched Brokeback for the second time just last night in the vain hope that I might suddenly see why people were so upset that it lost, and I still didn't get it.

As for Brokeback deserving to win over Crash, I disagree, and it seems a lot of other people do too. I was really happy Crash won, because I did think that Brokeback was going to win but not because I wanted it to. Notable that BBM rates 7.9 or 8.0 or something on IMDb while Crash manages 8.4. BBM was breakthrough, sure, but breakthrough doesn't always mean it's a great movie, it just means it managed to do something not already done (ie make a lot of money from a story based on a gay relationship).

I haven't seen Walk The Line, Munich or many other films that were nominated, but I hear the fans of Munich are just as peeved about Munich losing as BBM fans are about BBM losing. It happens.

EDIT: Having said that, just because I agree that the majority did think BBM would win doesn't mean a lot of people didn't think other movies would win, and to say a lot of people in this thread are lying is an unfair and unjustified accusation.
I know just what your talkin about, IMDb is a circus right now, some of the BBM fans are talking about continuously voting Crash a 1 until BBM ranks higher, before Crash won for best picture it received a ranking of 40 something on their top 250 films of all time, now its ranked at like 72, BBM isnt ranked btw. I think Crash deserved it, it was a independent film that barely got off the ground, and John Singleton had to fund it, it only had a budget of 5 mil and ended up making 50+, while BBR made like 70+ not much more, especially after all the hype it received, somebody actually posted that crash won because of the events of Hurricane Katrina.

Crash was a brilliant film about the human psyche and how we perceive others of a different race, Don Cheadle's opening lines were basically exactly the way racism is today in America. Anyway im not disputing whether BBM was a good movie, it ran to much with a gimmick, a well directed and acted gimmick, but a gimmick non the less, and Heath Ledger an Australian looks nothing like a cowboy I have ever seen btw. And I wonted have been pissed if Crash didnt win, I really dont go by what the oscars say, Saving Private Ryan, GoodFella's and Pulp Fiction are some of my favorite movies of all time, and they didnt win Best Picture, while Titanic which I hate everything about it till the last 20 minutes swept.

I love showing Crash to people who havent seen it and watching their expressions during the scene when the girl runs out to her father right before he is about to be shot, you can see the tears start to well up, and the anguish in their faces, then the relief after they find out the girl is alright, that scene really grabs you.

[Miriel]

Anyway im not disputing whether BBM was a good movie, it ran to much with a gimmick, a well directed and acted gimmick, but a gimmick non the less, and Heath Ledger an Australian looks nothing like a cowboy I have ever seen btw.
Brokeback Mountain did not "run with a gimmick." To say that the movie was nothing more than a gimmick is not only a incredibly shallow assessment of the film, but it's downright false.

The media ran with the "gay cowboy" gimmick. But the people actually involved in the film never EVER hyped the gay content of the movie. To claim that Brokeback was simply a one-note gimmick movie is doing a huge disservice to the film, and I would think that even people who didn't love the movie would acknowledge the fact that if nothing else, this movie was a subtle and multi-dimensional.

[RSL]

SoulTaker, that scene described in your spoiler had tears in my eyes. I don't normally have tears in my eyes so that says something about it.

I plan to watch Brokeback Mountain some day. Probably right when it comes out on DVD. Until then, I won't can't say that Crash is a better or worse movie. I just know that I thought Crash was a great movie in its own right. Maybe not best picture material though. Never once when I was watching it did I think "wow, this movie should get some Oscars."

[Strider]

You know what we should do? We should all just watch all five of the nominees, and then decide which one we think is the best.

[Miriel]

You know what we should do? We should all just watch all five of the nominees, and then decide which one we think is the best.
YES. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

And you would think that a group whose sole purpose is to recognize the best movies of the year, would actually require their voters to watch each and every nominated film before voting. *pulls hair out*

[edczxcvbnm]

Then why didn't you say it instead of talking on for a page about how corrupt the Oscars were this year? I think you are lying.

[SeeDRankLou]

Then why didn't you say it instead of talking on for a page about how corrupt the Oscars were this year? I think you are lying.
I believe she was saying the Oscar's were corrupt this year because of some of the members of the academy saying that they would not see Brokeback Mountain or vote for it, thus not seeing all of the nominees and making an informed decision. And, she just had a very strong opinion.

I'm just curious to know how many members of the academy made that claim.

[Miriel]

Then why didn't you say it instead of talking on for a page about how corrupt the Oscars were this year? I think you are lying.
What? That's exactly what I did say. And lying about what? :confused:


I'm just curious to know how many members of the academy made that claim.
I'd like to know more specifics too. I'd like to know how close the voting was, how many people actually saw all the movies, how many people saw some of the movies, and how many people only watched Crash.

The only specific numbers that are known right now is that Lions Gate Films distributed 125,000 free DVD copies of Crash to Academy members. And one can only assume that such an agressive marketing campaign gave Crash the edge over all the other nominees.

[Jimmch939]

Anyone else not care about the Oscars at all?

I sure don't. Actually, I can't say that I care about any awards shows.

The only reason I thought about watching the Oscars was for Jon Stewart. That's it. I really could care less otherwise.

[RSL]

Okay, thanks for letting us know!

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

anyone want to post a comment on what I said earlier about lousy Oscar nominations?

[edczxcvbnm]

I forgot to quote. I was only talking about this part




You know what we should do? We should all just watch all five of the nominees, and then decide which one we think is the best.

YES. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

To which I say

Then why didn't you say it instead of talking on for a page about how corrupt the Oscars were this year? I think you are lying.

I can only assume you took it as me refering to the second part of the post which it was not meant to go after. It was to go after him saying that is what he is talking about when he never lead on anywhere that we should all decided for ourselves but appearantly that is what he is talking about.

All I hear is 'Dumbfuck mountain got jewed by Crush!!!!' It is harder to make fun of Crash's name due to how short and simple it is.

[Miriel]

I'm sorry, but I'm really not understanding you. Are you talking about Strider? And who is lying about anything?

[edczxcvbnm]

Your hopeless.

[RSL]

In Miriel's defense, I don't know what you're talking about either. You start out referring to Miriel's post, but halfway through you switch to referring to her in the third person and calling her a him. That would make it seem like you were talking to Strider, but your criticisms don't make any sense if that is the case.

[Raistlin]

xD

Miriel: ed's simply saying that he thinks you're not just asking for everyone to see all the nominee's and make their own decision, but that you're implying that anyone who doesn't think Brokeback Mountain is better than Crash is obviously biased and corrupt in some way. Which, I'll admit, your rant did come off a bit that way.

EDIT: RSL, that "him" in ed's post referred to Strider. :p

You all fail at reading comprehension.

EDIT2: in Miriel's and RSL's defense, ed's explanation really sucked.

[RSL]

It was to go after him saying that is what he is talking about

Miriel made the "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" post.

[Miriel]

Miriel: ed's simply saying that he thinks you're not just asking for everyone to see all the nominee's and make their own decision, but that you're implying that anyone who doesn't think Brokeback Mountain is better than Crash is obviously biased and corrupt in some way. Which, I'll admit, your rant did come off a bit that way.

EDIT: RSL, that "him" in ed's post referred to Strider. :p

You all fail at reading comprehension.
The "That's what I'm talking about!" was me agreeing with what Strider had to say, not me claiming that that's exactly what I posted. :p

Here is the main point of my rant:


And in none of my criticism of the Academy do I blame the creators of Crash. Crash is a good (but very flawed) movie and everyone should see it if they can. But Crash was not a work of art, as Brokeback Mountain was.

Roger Eberts, crazy and senile as he is predicted that Crash would win. I can respect him on his opinon that Crash was the best picture of the year. Why? Because he saw all the movies and compared them based on content and what they made him feel. Can't argue with that.

But the Academy has members on record as saying they wouldn't watch BBM and wouldn't vote for it based on nothing but the gay storyline. That's the sore spot.

I don't understand how anyone can claim that I think everyone who likes Crash better than Brokeback is corrupt. I specifically said that the thing that really sucks is that most people didn't bother to watch Brokeback.

[Raistlin]

Oh, ok. Yeah, I have absolutely no idea how to translate that. xD

EDIT: in reply to RSL.

In reply to Miriel, yes, I understand what you're saying. But how many Academy members said that? And everybody has prejudices that sometimes affect their judgment and subsequent voting, Academy members not excluded. It's just because that this time it might've been an anti-homosexual prejudice that has people up in arms. Some people didn't like BM because homosexuals or homosexual themes make them uncomfortable. It's not much different than not liking The Land Before Time because you don't like dinosaur themes.

[edczxcvbnm]

I quote Raistlin in my own defense here


ed's qxplanation really sucked

But I admit to doing no wrong!

[RSL]

It is my opinion that if even one Academy member casted a vote for Best Picture without seeing all five nominated films, then that is wrong. I know they aren't told that they have to do that, but I think it should be that way.

[Raistlin]

It is my opinion that if even one Academy member casted a vote for Best Picture without seeing all five nominated films, then that is wrong. I know they aren't told that they have to do that, but I think it should be that way.
Oh, I'm not disputing that. I whole-heartedly agree. But if they didn't like a certain picture due to their own personal prejudices, well...that's how it goes. That's how everybody judges things, consciously or not.

[RSL]

Right, I agree. What I think Miriel is saying is, that although she would've still been greatly disappointed in Brokeback Mountain losing, she wouldn't have been so mad had every Oscar voter at least seen the film.

[Miriel]

So it's coming in from several reliable sources that backstage at the Kodak after "Crash" was announced Best Picture during the commercial break, Jack Nicholson was overheard saying how shocked he was that "Brokeback" didn't win and that he had voted for "Brokeback".

Apparently, Paul Haggis had just come off stage with his Oscar and was standing right behind Nicholson. Jack turned around, realizing Haggis had heard him and said something like, "But, hey, I liked your film too. Good work."

Oh Jack. I love you.

I think he looked just as suprised as everyone else was when he opened the Envelope and he said "Crash" instead of "Brokeback".


Right, I agree. What I think Miriel is saying is, that although she would've still been greatly disappointed in Brokeback Mountain losing, she wouldn't have been so mad had every Oscar voter at least seen the film.

Yes. :)

I might as well post what I posted in my LJ, because this is where the biggest disservice will come from (and from what I've seen, it's already started):


BBM is a cultural phenomenon, and so are the Oscars. That stamp of approval for a gay film would've been extremely culturally significant. As is the lack of it.

The biggest downside to this loss is how some media will paint it as a huge fault of the film, and dirty its image. Now all the people who made shallow stabs at Brokeback will feel justified in making their jokes and will never give the movie a chance they might have given it, had it won the Oscar.

And as Stephen King said in his article this morning, "there's been a fair amount of talk about Brokeback being a breakthrough, but that's nonsense. A check of Brokeback parodies on Google should convince anyone with half a brain that the American pop culture is intent on passing this passionate, well-meant, and well-made movie like a kidney stone. And how does the American pop culture pass what it cannot stand? Easy. It laughs that s--- right out of its system."

[Captain Maxx Power]

Aw, Howl's Moving Castle was good!

In it's defense Wallace and Gromit did take about seven years to make. So really if it didn't get some awards it'd be a kick in the hutzpah.

[GooeyToast]

I didn't watch the Oscars this year, and from what I've heard I didn't miss much. However, if this year shapes up to be as good for movies as I think it is going to be, then I can't wait until the next Oscars to see if the Academy pulls their head out of their ass and recognizes some of the inevitably great films that are coming out in 2006.

Here's a brief list of movies I'm really anticipating this year:

Southland Tales (Richard Kelly)
The Fountain (Darren Aronofsky)
Inland Empire (David Lynch)
V For Vendetta (James McTeigue)
A Scanner Darkly (Richard Linklater)
The Prestige (Chris Nolan)
Apocalypto (Mel Gibson)
Zodiac (David Fincher)
There Will Be Blood (P.T. Anderson)
Apocalypto (Mel Gibson)
Marie Antoinette (Sofia Coppola)
The Da Vinci Code (Ron Howard)
Grind House (Tarantino/Rodriguez)
Clerks II (Kevin Smith)
Lady in the Water (M. Night Shyamalan)
The Science of Sleep (Michael Gondry)
Sunshine (Danny Boyle)
The Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron)

[Miriel]

X-Men 3: The Last Stand :hyper:

[Loony BoB]

<i>BBM is a cultural phenomenon, and so are the Oscars. That stamp of approval for a gay film would've been extremely culturally significant. As is the lack of it.</i>
Yes, it is a cultural phenomenon. But I can think of a lot of cultural phenomenons that not only haven't made the Oscars but most people wouldn't care for anyway because they're simply not the best films out there. Every time someone mentions "But it touched on an important issue! It NEEDED the Oscar!", someone will say "But the homosexuality is a gimmick" and then the pro-BBM people say "No, it wasn't a gimmick! It was just a good movie! The fact that it's about homosexuality doesn't matter!" ...make up your minds, people. Cultural Phenomenon, yes. Gimmick, yes. Am I honestly the only person who notices that a lot of movies are gimmicks? That is the way of the world. Just accept it, please. Anyone who thinks that the same movie could be watched by a world that doesn't care about homosexuality and still get as many awards is ignorant. It WASN'T that good a movie. At least, I don't think so at all. I nearly fell asleep after about an hour, and talking to my friend Emma last night, she replied to that with "half an hour". Sometimes things don't go your way. Stop crying about it.

I DO agree that homophobia will come into play. I DO agree that every movie should have been watched. I DO agree that pop culture would shun BBM because of it's inability to approve of homosexuality at this time - at least in America, anyway. But what I don't agree with is people saying that BBM is <i>unquestionably</i> the best movie. You know what? A lot of people simply didn't think so. I've been uncomfortable in movies. Lots of them. This was just another one for me - but I found it boring. <i>Boring</i>. Well acted. Beautiful scenery. But I can get both of those things by walking around outside. Great directing? Maybe, I don't know too much about that. Story? Bored me. Tension etc? I never felt it. Not once. Does anyone stop to think that maybe a lot of people simply aren't into this kind of movie? I've seen other movies like it and I never cared for them either. I'm not saying it was a bad movie. I'm just saying that I personally think it isn't the best. The latter half was cool, but hey, the latter half of a lot of movies can be cool, and this is just another movie for me.

[Burtsplurt]

<i>Am I honestly the only person who notices that a lot of movies are gimmicks? That is the way of the world. Just accept it, please. Anyone who thinks that the same movie could be watched by a world that doesn't care about homosexuality and still get as many awards is ignorant. It WASN'T that good a movie. At least, I don't think so at all. I nearly fell asleep after about an hour, and talking to my friend Emma last night, she replied to that with "half an hour". Sometimes things don't go your way. Stop crying about it.</i>


BoB: You could make exactly the same point about Crash. If the world didn't care about racism, people wouldn't appreciate it as much. In fact, I'd say that Crash relies more on its subject matter than Brokeback. At the end of the day, Brokeback is a story about two people who want to be together and can't. That story will still stand up no matter who the protagonists are. Crash makes no sense without the racism backdrop: without it, it's pointless. (Just like taking a film out of context.)

[Madame Adequate]

Anyway to those who have seen Walk The Line was Reese Witherspoon's performance really that good?

Yes. Unquestionably. Also Phoenix deserved Best Actor.

No comment on the BBM/Crash issue, because I've not seen BBM. Except to say that if any movie other than Walk The Line or Serenity had to win, than I know they could have done much worse than Crash.

[Loony BoB]

BoB: You could make exactly the same point about Crash. If the world didn't care about racism, people wouldn't appreciate it as much. In fact, I'd say that Crash relies more on its subject matter than Brokeback. At the end of the day, Brokeback is a story about two people who want to be together and can't. That story will still stand up no matter who the protagonists are. Crash makes no sense without the racism backdrop: without it, it's pointless. (Just like taking a film out of context.)
I know. I'm just saying that right now homosexuality as an issue of debate is at it's peak, much like racism was when Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther King were making themselves known. If a racism movie was made then, I'd say they are going with a gimmick too. Racism definitely is commonplace these days but I don't think it's so much of an issue at the moment that it's "riding the wave" as I say about BBM. After all, people of coloured skin (etc) are free already - the racism is now not a good thing. However homosexuals and those that support their rights are still struggling at this time to get that freedom, hence this movie is riding the wave.

[Miriel]

About Crash, I thought it was a good movie, with amazing performances (I actually would have been happy if Matt Dillon had won the Oscar) and an interesting concept. But Crash did a rather horrible job of protraying racism in Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles. I am Asian. I have faced racism in Los Angeles, as has most of my family members.

The Asian population in Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, and for a movie dealing with racism in LA, it's amazing how nonexistent the Asian characters in the movie are. Not only that, but the Asians who are actually depicted in the movie are depicted as bad-driving irritants who speak with cartoonish accents and engage in human-trafficking. So you know what I say to that? In the famous words of Angry Asian Man, THAT'S RACIST!

Ultimately Crash was a good movie, with many flaws that really did not have new or interesting commentary to add about racism in our society.

And I think it's hilarious that a movie dealing with racism did nothing to further the respect of minorities in the Industry yet Brokeback Mountain was the vehicle in which the first non-white director won the Best Director award. Go Ang. :D

[Winter Nights]

I think that's what bothered me the most. The story and concept was solid, but a good deal of the characters fit into the very stereotypes the movie was supposed to be fighting against. Not only that, but the film loses points for that scene that everyone seems to cry at. It was a shameless ploy to fuck with your emotions, just to make people feel that the movie was "edgy" and "emotional". It had no real point, except to treat the only likable character like <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"> for no reason. Plus, you are not likely to make me believe that someone that they never show having any violent tendencies would be capable of doing something like that so easily. He would have been so jittery, there's no way he wouldn't have noticed some one running toward them. Unless he falls under the previous statement of stereotypical characters, of course.

On a completely different note.. Whoever decided that hiring Tony Danza was a good idea should be fired. That man has played way too many nice guys for anyone to take him seriously in that type of role. I couldn't stop laughing through that entire scene. The movie was semi-credible (though Brendan Frasier and Sandra Bullock made me want to shove a knive in my ear) up until that point and it went straight to "afterschool special" hell right when Tony Danza walked into frame.

[Loony BoB]

About Crash, I thought it was a good movie, with amazing performances (I actually would have been happy if Matt Dillon had won the Oscar) and an interesting concept. But Crash did a rather horrible job of protraying racism in Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles. I am Asian. I have faced racism in Los Angeles, as has most of my family members.

The Asian population in Los Angeles is the largest in the United States, and for a movie dealing with racism in LA, it's amazing how nonexistent the Asian characters in the movie are. Not only that, but the Asians who are actually depicted in the movie are depicted as bad-driving irritants who speak with cartoonish accents and engage in human-trafficking. So you know what I say to that? In the famous words of Angry Asian Man, THAT'S RACIST!

Ultimately Crash was a good movie, with many flaws that really did not have new or interesting commentary to add about racism in our society.

And I think it's hilarious that a movie dealing with racism did nothing to further the respect of minorities in the Industry yet Brokeback Mountain was the vehicle in which the first non-white director won the Best Director award. Go Ang. :D
I'm not entirely sure, but wasn't the insurance guy an Asian dude? I mean, I agree that they played some stereotypes but I think that needed to be done in order to get the message across, at least in some of the situations. Certainly not all of them. I'm just saying that they didn't stereotype every role, just the leading ones. The others were made up of various races, although I do stress that I'm not 100% sure as I'm going by memory, here.

[Miriel]

The issue of Asians in mainstream media is a pretty sore spot for me. I have Asian friends struggling in the Industry, and I've worked with the creators of Harold and Kumar, and I have heard first hand how racist Hollywood can be to Asian actors and the protrayal of Asian characters.

Anyway, Phil Yu (aka Angry Asian Man) who is one of the most intelligent and outspoken voices on Asian racism and discrimination in the Media and popular culture, articulated everything I felt about Crash:


The big suprise upset win of the evening was for Crash, which won Best Picture. A lot of people ask me what I thought of this film. Pretty interesting, I think. But as much as I wanted to like this movie, I just have HUGE problems with it. It's been applauded and acclaimed for being a candid, provocative take on race and tolerance. It's the kind of movie people like to walk out of feeling sort of satisfied with themselves for stepping out of their comfort zones, and being challenged with a subject they normally have the luxury of ignoring. And yes, I give it points for trying. But the film just falls short in a big way when it comes to—what else?—its portrayal of Asians. One of the major goals of this film is to show that race relations must extend beyond black and white, or good and evil, and on some levels, it succeeds. But the story, set in Los Angeles(!) and told with a multitude of diverse characters, blatantly leaves Asians out of the bulk of the conversation—as usual. All these characters are drawn with sympathy and complexity, but the Asian characters—revolving around a stereotypical bad driver and human trafficking operation—are decidedly one dimensional, and exist only to fulfill one of the other characters' redemption. It's frustrating and irresponsible. I know a lot of people are happy this film won, but I'm shaking my head over missed opportunities.

So, what's the point of all this? Like I said, Crash was a good movie, and the performances were excellent, but it just wears a person down when even a movie specifically meant to deal with racism manages to relegate Asian charaters to cliched sideline roles.

[auhin]

I personally thought Narnia should've won more awards, that was probably the greatest movie I'd seen all year. I can't wait for the next one, which'll probably be Prince Caspian.
Did anyone like Mrs. Henderson Presents? I never saw it.

[Loony BoB]

Fair points, Miriel. Of course, it's not just Hollywood, it's movie makers around the world in that regard. I can't think of many movies I've seen, foreign or English, that are truly multicultural.