Best Picture

[denger76]

After seeing Avatar (only 3 times, so far) and all the hype and amazement that people have about this movie is there any other logical choice for Best Picture? I loved Inglorius Basterds (a masterpiece IMO) and Star Trek and would be fine with either pic winning. Flashback to Titanic where people stated the story was simple and CGI outstanding - yet the #1 movie of all time. Also, when I hear that the voices and facial movements behind the Avatars are not acting - then what is it? Avatar is knocking on Titanic's door now that it is #2 Worldwide Box Office of all time (in only after a short time of release). Hey my friends say what you want about Avatar but now that it is the #1 movie of the last decade it will be hard for award shows to ignore. Isn't it about time that award shows start honoring Science Fiction pics that are truly amazing?

[Lepidopterous]

Btw it's so nice to see D9 nominated! I think it was one of the best films of the year, and out of all the choices, surprised me the most.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by denger76

After seeing Avatar (only 3 times, so far) and all the hype and amazement that people have about this movie is there any other logical choice for Best Picture? I loved Inglorius Basterds (a masterpiece IMO) and Star Trek and would be fine with either pic winning. Flashback to Titanic where people stated the story was simple and CGI outstanding - yet the #1 movie of all time. Also, when I hear that the voices and facial movements behind the Avatars are not acting - then what is it? Avatar is knocking on Titanic's door now that it is #2 Worldwide Box Office of all time (in only after a short time of release). Hey my friends say what you want about Avatar but now that it is the #1 movie of the last decade it will be hard for award shows to ignore. Isn't it about time that award shows start honoring Science Fiction pics that are truly amazing?

Maybe because Avatars story was old and tired? Maybe because of mediocre acting and terrible lines? I mean is it really a Best Picture with all that? Yes they should honor sci fi pics that are truly amazing like Moon (not even nominated) or District 9 which was head and shoulders above Avatar and Star Trek (as far as story and acting are concerned) at least IMHO. And thats not knocking Avatar but Best picture? Hey it was fun, it looked incredible in 3D but Best Picture? But hey we all have our opinions as thats what its all about.

[P@t_Mtl]

For me it was Up. An animated movie that as more heart, better characters and interesting story then anything else done in 2009. Many writers and directors could learn a heck of a lot from Pixar on how to make great movies and not just effect spectacles with no soul.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

For me it was Up. An animated movie that as more heart, better characters and interesting story then anything else done in 2009. Many writers and directors could learn a heck of a lot from Pixar on how to make great movies and not just effect spectacles with no soul.

Up was my favorite film of the year until I saw Inglorious and then Up in the Air.

[kpkelley]

I voted for Basterds, but that could change after I see Precious, The Hurt Locker, or An Education.

[jharv]

A lot of support for the Hurt Locker, I can't wait to get it! I voted for Up in the Air, after seeing Inglorious Basterds, D9, Avatar, Up on that list.

[toef]

I haven't seen An Education or Inglourious Basterds, but out of the rest I'd go with Up in the Air.

I figured after all the hype it was getting that I would end up not liking it, but after seeing it I think it's easily the best of the year.

[YoungE8080]

I'm going with Inglourious Basterds, the only movies I haven't seen on the poll are Up in the Air and The Hurt Locker.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by mikejet

The Hurt Locker. Easy.

My vote as well .

[EricJ]

Traditionally--back before the Oscars shot themselves in the foot by shortening their voting period, and just cheating off everyone else's lists--the five nominations were a ritual:

In order of odds:
1) The Big Word-Of Mouth Box-Office Hit (don't think you know which one I'm talking about right away...)
2) The Serious Downbeat Critical Favorite, that everyone thought (and still thinks right up to award night, suc-kers) would stampede its way on National Board of Review praise.
3) The Other "Beta-wolf" Critical/Front-Runner Favorite that didn't quite have what it took to be the favorite, but you couldn't leave it out of the awards to begin with, since it had so many Best Actor performances
4) The Sight-Unseen critical-favorite one that nobody saw, but they heard it got lotsa Golden Globe nomination (and mostly heard it from the Weinsteins who put it there), so it must be pretty good
5) The Little Breakout Movie that didn't have a chance, but folks had enough affection for it to give its big Oscar-Idol audition, since it didn't really matter who's in fifth-place running anyway.
(5a alternate: The Best Foreign Film/Documentary--like Il Postino, Life is Beautiful or Hoop Dreams--that everyone saw in "real" theaters, and which wouldn't get first place for being a foreigner, but you wouldn't be so heartless as to leave it behind!)

Which leaves us the question of Up vs. Avatar--Which one is 1), and which one is 3)?
Up has the critical praise, audience gushiness, and the West Coast Ahab-obsession with finally making sure Pixar gets noticed this year, to avenge Wall-E--
While Avatar has the money, attention and the West Coast Cameron-love, but it's beginning to sink in that, like Dark Knight, it, y'know...wasn't really all that good, except for the one or two isolated things we loved about it, and like Heath Ledger, those can win in their own categories.

Up in the Air is the very soul of #2, and admit it...we're just renting poor ol' #4 Hurt Locker now, aren't we? (Y'know, if someone had just TOLD me that Kathryn Bigelow had directed it, I'd have gone to see it in a theater? No, really, I would have; why did the studio have to make it look like another Iraq-of-the-week that we all avoid?)

#5? Use your imagination. But remember that the practice started with putting "Field of Dreams" and "Full Monty" up for Fifth-Place, just because We Wanted To.
That ain't District 9 or Quentin Goes to War, no matter what you fan-gush: It's grownups who make the awards, and grownups like getting behind something cuddly...We've already got cuddly for the front-runner, but that doesn't count--since it was going to be up there "anyway"--so think of the one movie your mom's friend nudges her to go see right away.
(And no, not Precious, that's the Quirky Critically-Praised one that's too weird to be a "real" Picture nominee, and just goes home with Best Breakout Actress and Screenplay, like "Juno" did.)

[Romulus]

I've seen all of those but Up in the Air, but the best movie of the year IMO "The Messenger" didn't get nominated. So... I guess I'll go with The Hurt Locker.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Romulus

I've seen all of those but Up in the Air, but the best movie of the year IMO "The Messenger" didn't get nominated. So... I guess I'll go with The Hurt Locker.

You need to see Up in the Air. Wonderful film and so fitting at this time.

[CHERRYGARCIA]

I voted for UP!
easily the most fun I had at the movies in some time

but all of the movies on the list deserve to be there except "Invictus", as other than Morgan Freeman's role I thought was a very average film especially coming from the likes of Clint Eastwood.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

My vote as well .

Great minds think alike eh?

[Porkchop Express]

Originally Posted by Elvis

You need to see Up in the Air. Wonderful film and so fitting at this time.

I voted for Basterds. Elvis, have you seen Invictus yet? I have not the chance to see it, so I'm curious what you thought of it.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Porkchop Express

I voted for Basterds. Elvis, have you seen Invictus yet? I have not the chance to see it, so I'm curious what you thought of it.

No I am going to catch it tonight. Thats why I am holding off on my vote until I see that one. I also have not seen Precious or An Education. Dont know if I will get to see them all but want to. Right now I would vote for Up in the Air although I just love The Hurt Locker and Basterds as well.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Maybe because Avatars story was old and tired? Maybe because of mediocre acting and terrible lines? I mean is it really a Best Picture with all that? Yes they should honor sci fi pics that are truly amazing like Moon (not even nominated) or District 9 which was head and shoulders above Avatar and Star Trek (as far as story and acting are concerned) at least IMHO. And thats not knocking Avatar but Best picture? Hey it was fun, it looked incredible in 3D but Best Picture? But hey we all have our opinions as thats what its all about.

Well, I guess that's what makes it YOUR opinion, because it certainly doesn't seem to be shared with SAG, or The Director's Guild...

You know, the folks who KNOW Hollywood.

Logan

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Well, I guess that's what makes it YOUR opinion, because it certainly doesn't seem to be shared with SAG, or The Director's Guild...

You know, the folks who KNOW Hollywood.

Logan

Wow...such hate. Are you an Avatard?(J/K) Did I not say in my post (IMHO)? If you saw that and read that there was no reason to threadcrap. I would however love to hear your opinion on the films or the film you think is deserving of Best picture.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by EricJ

While Avatar has the money, attention and the West Coast Cameron-love, but it's beginning to sink in that, like Dark Knight, it, y'know...wasn't really all that good, except for the one or two isolated things we loved about it, and like Heath Ledger, those can win in their own categories.

Care to back that up with ANY proof at all what-so-ever?

Being #2 all-time Box office champ {and still going strong} doesn't seem to support what is obviously your own opinion on the matter.

Logan