Hollywood's most celebrated event is tomorrow night. Everybody's got their picks. I, personally, won't stay up, as the Oscars don't start here until 8pm, which means that it's MIDNIGHT before they get around to announcing the much anticipated Best Picture. No thanks. I'll catch up on the news on Monday morning.
Yesterday, on my drive home from work, the local radio station presented it's daily trivia question. The question was, "With the exception of Brokeback Mountain, which has received much media attention, name another film nominated for this year's Best Picture category."
Can you do this?
The DJ then went on a rather lengthy monologue about how nobody's seen this year's films and how Hollywood and the Academy of Motion Pictures are out of touch with the public.
I (surprise) happen to disagree. I've posted the list of this year's Best Picture Nominees at the bottom of this post. While they are definitely not your typical Hollywood films, I think that, for once, the Academy got it right. I've seen 2 of the 5 films (neither of which was Brokeback Mountain) and read a little on the others. The difference between this year's films and those of the past? They're thought provoking. They're worth the amount paid for a movie ticket. You leave the theater still thinking about what you've seen. The Academy Awards are meant to honor the BEST of the film industry, not the most popular. I think that, for the first time in several years, they have picked 5 films which demonstrate everything a good motion picture should: an intense and meaningful story line, talented actors, emotional score, and an artistic touch that has been all but lost. Kudos to the Academy of Motion Pictures for remembering what good cinema is truly about.
And in case you're curious, here's the list of this year's Best Picture Nominees:
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich
Saturday, March 04, 2006
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3 comments:
Maria--
This year I haven't seen any of the nominees. I think that's a first for me in my adult life. I used to make a point of seeing all the nominees prior to the awards. It seems to me that all the top nominees are "message" movies. I don't need a message. I just want to be entertained.
Ruth Anne,
I guess that's why I DO like this year's nominees. I like to be entertained also...tonight our plan is to see Fun With Dick and Jane at the discount theater. But at $9 a ticket, if I go to a regular movie theater, I occassionally want to see something that I'll remember for more than 30 seconds. I like being shown another perspective. I like the conversation with my equally intrigued husband that follows. Yes, we can get that elsewhere, but since movies and conversation are something we both enjoy, having the two go hand in hand is that much better.
Maybe the solution would be to have ticket prices go down, but that's another post.
Maria:
I very much enjoy movies, or at least I did when Dave and I were dating and before the children arrived [that's a good solid 12 years of seeing many, many movies a year]. When the kids arrived, however, seeing a movie took a plan, a babysitter and about $100. I guess for $100 and a night out, I'm wanting good solid production values, good values and a good-to-great movie. I haven't seen many lately.
Enjoy this time in your marriage. You'll vaguely remember it when the babies come.
Oh! I'll be watching those Oscars tomorrow night, reading along to Althouse's blog and checking in with the live stream on Slate with Camille Paglia. Now that's a totally wired Oscars! Perhaps you'll want to try simulblogging the red carpet fashion stuff? We can dish in the comments. Take a nap and stay up late. It'll be fun.
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