2013 Oscar Discussion Discussion Thread

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by spanky87

I agree as well. Always a 'performance' with her. Self aware acting. Les Mis wasn't her worst offender, but she over did some moments during the I Dream a Dream sequence and when she's being harassed on the street.

Juliette Binoche once said (paraphrasing), "the best acting advice I ever got, was to do nothing." Obviously not literally, but that's what separates someone like Binoche to the showy "hey look at me" performers like Hathaway. Hathaway could never do great subtle acting like what Binoche did in "Blue".

I don't hate Anne Hathaway. I'm just so annoyed and disappointed with her every time because she obviously has some talent, but she's constantly overacting and rarely feels natural.

Holy crap, I don't even want to think about Anne Hathaway playing Juliette Binoche's character in Blue.

P.S. Go Buffy! I love that episode in your avatar.

[Michael1989]

I'd like either Django or Life of Pi to win best picture but it's a lock that Lincoln will win, it's everything the Oscars love

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Michael1989

I'd like either Django or Life of Pi to win best picture but it's a lock that Lincoln will win, it's everything the Oscars love

Lincoln doesn't have an emotional kick. It is quiet, cerebral, and focused on legal and political ideas. The production is staggering in its beauty and craftsmanship, from all sides, from everyone, but it is the anti-Les Miz. It's more like and Eastwood film, frankly

[kernel_thai]

Based totally on the movies Ive actually seen

Film... would love Zero Dark Thirty to win but will be satisfied with Argo.

Actress ... Jessica Chastain should and will win.

Supporting Actor ... Enjoyed Christoph Waltz most but Alan Arkin would also be a good choice and he actually was in a supporting role.

Director...not sure how neither Bigelow or Affleck got thru. Ud think one of them makes it.

[MEB]

I watched 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' this evening (iTunes rental). My wife and I both enjoyed the movie very much. Though, the fantasy aspects of it were, at times, just a little bit too much of a stretch for us. I realize the film is done through Hushpuppy's eyes, and that gave the fantasy scenes a better fit in the story, but those fantasies pulled us out of the movie a little bit.

Still, I'd rate the movie at 8 out of 10. And I particularly enjoyed little Quvenzhané Wallis' performance as Hushpuppy! She's a natural, to be sure! She very much deserves the Best Actress nomination and, frankly, I won't be all that surprised if she wins. (Though, I still believe that statue will go to Naomi Watts.)

I've now seen seven of the nine Best Picture nominees. My ranking of those seven are as follows:

1. Lincoln
2. Les Misérables
3. Silver Linings Playbook
4. Zero Dark Thirty
5. Argo
6. Beasts of the Southern Wild
7. Django Unchained

I plan to go see 'Life of Pi' tomorrow. At this point, it is doubtful that I'll get to the theater to see Amour. It will have to wait for home video.

Mark

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by MEB

I watched 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' this evening (iTunes rental). My wife and I both enjoyed the movie very much. Though, the fantasy aspects of it were, at times, just a little bit too much of a stretch for us. I realize the film is done through Hushpuppy's eyes, and that gave the fantasy scenes a better fit in the story, but those fantasies pulled us out of the movie a little bit.

I saw the film with a group of my friends and they too were confused at that aspect, but you have to remember,

[Show spoiler]it's a metaphor for change. Climate change causes the beasts to appear, just as Hushpuppy is going through her own personal changes as she is growing up. The change is often dangerous (both the climate change and Hushpuppy's personal change) and the threat is only subdued when it is finally confronted.

At least that was my read.

[MEB]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I saw the film with a group of my friends and they too were confused at that aspect, but you have to remember,

[Show spoiler]it's a metaphor for change. Climate change causes the beasts to appear, just as Hushpuppy is going through her own personal changes as she is growing up. The change is often dangerous (both the climate change and Hushpuppy's personal change) and the threat is only subdued when it is finally confronted.

At least that was my read.

I wouldn't say we were confused (and I agree with your analysis). It's just that we didn't really care for the fantasy aspects because they were such a stark contrast to Hushpuppy's reality. That pulled us out of the story just a little bit.

Don't get me wrong, the fantasy scenes didn't ruin the movie for us (not by a long shot). But they felt like more of an interruption of the story than part of the story.

Mark

[MEB]

Just got back from a showing of 'Life of Pi'! WOW!! Stunningly beautiful movie packed with incredible visuals, amazing colors, and a ton of human emotion! It gets a Booth Bijou rating of 5 out of 5 stars!

Anyone that has been dragging their feet on seeing 'Life of Pi', GO SEE IT!!

That said, I still give 'Lincoln' the edge as Best Picture! My newly sorted ranking (of the eight BP nominees I've seen):

1. Lincoln 10/10
2. Life of Pi 10/10
3. Les Misérables 9/10
4. Silver Linings Playbook 9/10
5. Zero Dark Thirty 9/10
6. Argo 8.5/10
7. Beasts of the Southern Wild 8/10
8. Django Unchained 7/10

So, by my expectation, no upset for the Best Picture honor. HOWEVER.....

Best Director is another story. I think Steven Spielberg might get passed over in favor of what Ang Lee has done with 'Life of Pi'. Lee easily deserves that golden statue! Right now, still "high" from seeing 'Pi', I'd vote for Lee. But we'll see what happens come February 24!

Mark

[remake]

Originally Posted by TheForce8686

5 of the 9 were barely released anywhere or came and went without any kind of splash. Django and Les Mis were both real good and have been succesfull but are borderline "mainstream" and Argo and Lincoln are eeking past the 100 million dollar mark again in a non exciting mainstream way. There is very little excitement, intrigue, or real reason to watch if you aren't a huge fan of anyone of those specific films and judging by their box office grosses there aren't too many "huge" fans of any. Again, I know the academy doesn't do it for the public but they almost always seemed concerned afterwords when they are crushed in the tv ratings.

Like I said, this has to be the most mainstream year ever.

On Monday Life of Pi is expected to pass $100 million, which makes it the fifth 2012 Best Picture nominee to reach that level. Theoretically, Zero Dark Thirty and Silver Linings Playbook could both make it there as well, meaning there will be a record seven Best Picture nominees with over $100 million at the domestic box office this year.

[Kevin Holly]

So far:

Django Unchained 25/30
Argo 24/30
Zero Dark Thirty 21/30
Les Miserables 21/30
Silver Linings Playbook 21/30
Lincoln 19/30
Life of Pi 18/30

I live in a place where Amour and Beasts getting a theatrical release is as likely as the sky turing green, so I haven't seen those yet. HOWEVER I will have seen them within one week from now, for a full list. I am very excited for Amour, I think I will love it, and Beasts, we shall see about.

[soarinsteven]

Django Unchained A
Lincoln A
Argo A
Silver Linings Playbook A
Zero Dark Thirty A
Beasts of the Southern Wild A-
Life of Pi B+
Les Misérables B

Now if Sony Picture Classics would just expand Amour already.

[Snicket]

Producer's guild awards...whoever they pick for best picture will be the Oscar winner. It's been a crazy year though, much more exciting than past years.

I still think Lincoln is in the top spot, with SLP in a great second place spot.

I don't see Argo in the race at all really. The Academy is not that self aware to right its own wrongs. Not to mention the actors (The largest voting block in the Academy) will be favoring Lincoln and SLP anyways.

[Foggy]

Argo won at the Producers Guild Awards, making it the front runner for Best Picture at the Oscars now.

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/argo-wi...to-the-oscars/

Honestly, I'd like Argo to win best picture, it's honestly my favourite out the bunch tied behind Beasts (which doesn't really have a chance). I won't be happy of Lincoln wins because it is a film boasting importance with a real lack of anything important to say.

[Cinemach]

I wouldn't necessarily count Silver Linings Playbook out of the race just yet...but yeah, Argo officially assumes Lincoln's heretofore frontrunner status. But the race is between Argo and Silver Linings.

Zero Dark Thirty takes the fourth REALLY longshot position. It'd get my vote though, haha.

I believe we are most certainly going to have a Picture/Director split, the first time since 2006. Spielberg is a tenuous favorite there at best, if there is a favorite at all in the race; I'd say it's between Spielberg and Russell right now.

Even the DGA might still be riding this 'snub/reward' train for Argo and give their award to Afleck, too.

[remake]

I would loooooove to see another Best Picture/Director split. And I would love it even better if Lincoln won neither.

Another month is too far away.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Argo won at the Producers Guild Awards, making it the front runner for Best Picture at the Oscars now.

http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/argo-wi...to-the-oscars/

Honestly, I'd like Argo to win best picture, it's honestly my favourite out the bunch tied behind Beasts (which doesn't really have a chance). I won't be happy of Lincoln wins because it is a film boasting importance with a real lack of anything important to say.

Argo is now the front runner...crazy.

[MEB]

If there is a split between Picture and Director, it will be Lincoln & Life of Pi. Lincoln will get Best Picture (despite Argo's win at Producer's Guild) and either Spielberg or Ang Lee will get Director.

We'll know for sure four weeks from today!

Mark

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Surprise, surprise. A movie about Hollywood saving the day is the frontrunner for Best Picture.

Shocker.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

Surprise, surprise. A movie about Hollywood saving the day is the frontrunner for Best Picture.

Shocker.

Argo had the advantage with the PGA for being the "in-joke" with producers, but five nominations or ten, the front-runner still comes down to between the Populist Hit and the Critics Favorite. (And the Populist Hit usually always won, but that was back in the days of Return of the King. )

With the Oscars, you've got in-joking producers AND hastily-voting actors watching the screeners, so that doesn't change the whole Argo vs. Lincoln standings. And given the mainstream mix, Lincoln isn't out of the lead yet.

[Foggy]

I watched all best pictures now:

1) Amour 9.5/10
2) Argo 9.5/10
3) Beasts of the Southern Wild 9.5/10
4) Django Unchained 9/10
5) Zero Dark Thirty 9/10
6) Silver Linings Playbook 8.5/10
7) Life of Pi 8/10
8) Les Misérables 7/10
9) Lincoln 6.5/10