So, the Oscars are over and we now know who the elitists think are the best in Cinema for 2008. I didn’t watch them, but here are my notes on the winners:
• Motion Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Don’t have a clue why this one won. Don’t really have an argument here, except that I don’t think it ever played in a theater within 50 miles. Apparently, it is the fantasy about some Indian boy from the slums winning his country’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? My guess is that this is either a really good warming movie, or some kind of slam on Balliwood, since Hollywood and the Academy regularly ignore the growing Indian movie industry.
• Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk.”
This decision was obviously made for to reasons: 1) the Academy had to give this movie an award or it would be deemed “anti-gay.”, and 2) in hopes that Sean Penn will finally stop trying to prove his is a good actor and go away. He hasn’t been good since….ah….well never. Heck, his brother was better in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
• Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader.”
I am a firm believer that the only movies eligable for an award should have to have been available to at least 90 percent of the public. These unknown movies that openned in one or two towns just before the holidays just to get their name in the hat (So they can do a bigger release based on Oscar rush). I really don’t know anything about this movie…never heard of it until they mentioned it last night on the news about the awards.
Remembered and Honored and Deserving
• Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight.”
No surprise here. The performance was stunning. When I first heard he was Joker, I was shocked. Yeah, he was good in A Knight’s Tale, but Joker….Anyway, after seeing him in Dark Knight, I went back and took a look at his other films and was impressed by how he changed himself for each role. You can’t believe that the cowboy in Brokeback, the rock-n-roll knight and the laughing psycho-killer are played by the same person.
• Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
Huh?
• Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire.”
See Best Picture
• Foreign Film: “Departures,” Japan.
Don’t know, but since it got the Oscar, I am betting it is weird, boring and has no sword fights, ninja or anime babes.
• Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire.”
See Best Picture
• Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, “Milk.”
Haven’t seen it. The Screenplay might be good, but Penn is just too horrid to risk watching. I am still traumatized by that Sam I am movie.
• Animated Feature Film: “WALL-E.”
I boycotted this movie because of the abuse of CGI. If they can make animation like Final Fantasy 7, why are they wasting computer power on lame animation like this, Up, Cars and other dullness. I guess I am not in the target age group, but I didn’t like Disney-style crap when I was a kid either.
• Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
• Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire.”
• Sound Mixing: “Slumdog Millionaire.”
• Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight.”
As much as I liked the movie, I don’t think they should have one because they could fix Bale’s Eastwood/growl voice…and if they did, it must have been even worse than imagined.
• Original Score: “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman.
• Original Song: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman and Gulzar.
• Costume: “The Duchess.”
I tried to watch this, and the costumes were the only thing of interest. Sorry Keira.
• Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire.”
• Documentary (short subject): “Smile Pinki.”
• Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire.”
• Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
• Animated Short Film: “La Maison en Petits Cubes.”
• Live Action Short Film: “Spielzeugland (Toyland).”
• Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
A lot of the geek crowd are shouting about this one because Iron Man or Dark Knight didn’t get it. But lets face it. Neither the Bat nor the tin man did anything spectacular, but Button had really interesting effects in the trailers alone.
