3rd Oscar Winners Viewing Marathon

[RCRochester]

02/03 - Churchill's Island (1941)
02/03 - Neighbours (1952)
02/03 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
02/09 - The Sand Castle (1977)
02/10 - Seven Days to Noon (1950)
02/11 - Blue Sky (1994)
02/12 - Black Orpheus (1959)
02/13 - The Way We Were (1973)
02/14 - The Defiant Ones (1958)
02/15 - Monster (2003)
02/16 - Fargo (1996)
02/17 - Special Delivery (1978)
02/17 - Every Child (1979)
02/17 - The Hospital (1971)
02/18 - Black and White in Color (1976)
02/18 - Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
02/19 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
02/19 - Thelma & Louise (1991)
02/20 - The Power of the Dog (2021)
02/20 - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
02/21 - Ghost (1990)
02/22 - You Light Up My Life (1977)
02/23 - On the Waterfront (1954)
02/24 - The Accountant (2001)
02/24 - I'll Find a Way (1977)
02/24 - Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
02/25 - If You Love This Planet (1982)
02/25 - Bob's Birthday (1994)
02/25 - The Wrong Trousers (1993)
02/26 - A Close Shave (1995)
02/27 - Room at the Top (1959)
02/28 - Victor/Victoria (1982)
02/29 - Wonder Boys (2000)
02/29 - Moonstruck (1987)
03/01 - Man on Wire (2008)
03/02 - West Side Story (1961)
03/03 - Flamenco at 5:15 (1983)
03/04 - The Killing Fields (1984)

03/05 - Ryan (2004)



Winner Best Animated Short

Another production of the National Film Board of Canada, this is an interesting look at Ryan Larkin, who was himself an Oscar-nominated filmmaker for the NFB in the late 60s-early 70s before his life spiraled downwards into cocaine addiction, alcoholism and homelessness.

Interesting animation style which does a good job of creating a grim mood as the filmmaker, Chris Landreth, speaks with Ryan about his career and personal demons. It's not a sentimental piece, and you can hear the anger in Ryan's voice at times as he talks about his frustrations as an artist.

Again, I'm not familiar with the other nominees, but this is a wonderful piece of work that is fully deserving of the Oscar.

[RCRochester]

02/03 - Churchill's Island (1941)
02/03 - Neighbours (1952)
02/03 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
02/09 - The Sand Castle (1977)
02/10 - Seven Days to Noon (1950)
02/11 - Blue Sky (1994)
02/12 - Black Orpheus (1959)
02/13 - The Way We Were (1973)
02/14 - The Defiant Ones (1958)
02/15 - Monster (2003)
02/16 - Fargo (1996)
02/17 - Special Delivery (1978)
02/17 - Every Child (1979)
02/17 - The Hospital (1971)
02/18 - Black and White in Color (1976)
02/18 - Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
02/19 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
02/19 - Thelma & Louise (1991)
02/20 - The Power of the Dog (2021)
02/20 - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
02/21 - Ghost (1990)
02/22 - You Light Up My Life (1977)
02/23 - On the Waterfront (1954)
02/24 - The Accountant (2001)
02/24 - I'll Find a Way (1977)
02/24 - Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
02/25 - If You Love This Planet (1982)
02/25 - Bob's Birthday (1994)
02/25 - The Wrong Trousers (1993)
02/26 - A Close Shave (1995)
02/27 - Room at the Top (1959)
02/28 - Victor/Victoria (1982)
02/29 - Wonder Boys (2000)
02/29 - Moonstruck (1987)
03/01 - Man on Wire (2008)
03/02 - West Side Story (1961)
03/03 - Flamenco at 5:15 (1983)
03/04 - The Killing Fields (1984)
03/05 - Ryan (2004)

03/06 - Dangerous Moves (1984)



Winner Best Foreign Language Film

Two men face off against each other for the Chess World Championship in Geneva. One is an older gentleman from the USSR who suffers from cardiac problems, the other is a brash young defector who was once mentored by his opponent. As the match progresses and the stakes are increased, political and personal pressure is exerted upon both men in order to influence the outcome.

I didn't know much about this film going into it but I did expect it to be more of a thriller involving espionage and intrigue, with chess merely serving as a backdrop. Nope, this film from beginning to end centers upon the epic chess match, although I actually found the film very compelling and never once did my attention waver. Actual chess moves and strategies are discussed, but it's not so esoteric as to alienate those not intimately familiar with the game. The individual games themselves are also brief enough to maintain interest and suspense throughout. As the film progresses, certain dramatic elements come into play but they don't really bog the film down any, making it a really quite accessible film.

Once again, I am not familiar with the other nominees from this year, but I didn't see anything in this film to make me think it did not deserve the Oscar.

[nashcameronn]

Adapted Screenplay
Best Supporting Actor - Michael Caine

1.) 2/8 - Breaking Away
2.) 2/9 - Ratatouille
3.) 2/12 - CODA
4.) 2/13 - Prizzi's Honor
5.) 2/19 - Network
6.) 2/21 - High Noon
7.) 2/22 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
8.) 2/24 - The Whale
9.) 2/25 - Zero Dark Thirty
10.) 2/26 - All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
11.) 2/27 - Dune
12.) 2/28 - Good Will Hunting
13.) 3/6 - The Cider House Rules

[filmbuffTX]

Won 8 out of 13 nominations, which was a record at the time. Also the first color film to win Best Picture and the first win for a Black performer, Hattie McDaniel. It can definitely be compared to the likes of Lawrence of Arabia or The Ten Commandments in terms of all time epic productions.

[RCRochester]

02/03 - Churchill's Island (1941)
02/03 - Neighbours (1952)
02/03 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
02/09 - The Sand Castle (1977)
02/10 - Seven Days to Noon (1950)
02/11 - Blue Sky (1994)
02/12 - Black Orpheus (1959)
02/13 - The Way We Were (1973)
02/14 - The Defiant Ones (1958)
02/15 - Monster (2003)
02/16 - Fargo (1996)
02/17 - Special Delivery (1978)
02/17 - Every Child (1979)
02/17 - The Hospital (1971)
02/18 - Black and White in Color (1976)
02/18 - Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
02/19 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
02/19 - Thelma & Louise (1991)
02/20 - The Power of the Dog (2021)
02/20 - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
02/21 - Ghost (1990)
02/22 - You Light Up My Life (1977)
02/23 - On the Waterfront (1954)
02/24 - The Accountant (2001)
02/24 - I'll Find a Way (1977)
02/24 - Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
02/25 - If You Love This Planet (1982)
02/25 - Bob's Birthday (1994)
02/25 - The Wrong Trousers (1993)
02/26 - A Close Shave (1995)
02/27 - Room at the Top (1959)
02/28 - Victor/Victoria (1982)
02/29 - Wonder Boys (2000)
02/29 - Moonstruck (1987)
03/01 - Man on Wire (2008)
03/02 - West Side Story (1961)
03/03 - Flamenco at 5:15 (1983)
03/04 - The Killing Fields (1984)
03/05 - Ryan (2004)
03/06 - Dangerous Moves (1984)

03/07 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)



Winner Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay

Joanna "Joey" Drayton is a young woman who arrives at the home of her liberal-minded parents in order to introduce them to her new fiance, Dr. John Prenctice. However, they are surprised and shocked when he turns out to be a black man. They then struggle with their conflicted feelings over their idealism versus the practical reality of a mixed marriage within their family.

One of three classic films starring Sidney Poitier that came out in 1967, this is not a great film by any means, but it was an important one for the time. It was a mainstream movie with major stars who had impeccable reputations, a socially conscious director, and tackled an issue that was a major news story in the United States at the time. It's fascinating to see how people who are supposedly liberal in their worldview are still influenced by outside social factors when it comes to how they feel about a situation like mixed marriage when it hits close to home. And that includes both black and white people, as John's parents wind up having similar reactions to the situation as Joey's do. A key aspect of the film, which modern audiences might find to be a bit simplistic and unrealistic, was to have John be so perfect in every way so as not to cloud the issue that race was the only objection to the relationship.

Katharine Hepburn won her second Best Actress Oscar for this film, 34 years after her first. She would go on to win two more in the next thirteen years, setting a record that still stands for the most Oscar wins by an actor or actress. I'm not really a fan of Hepburn or her acting style to be honest. She does a decent enough job in this, but my vote would have been for Anne Bancroft in The Graduate. William Rose's Oscar-winning screenplay is not outstanding, there's an overabundance of soapboxing and speech-making for my liking, but seeing as those were deliberate choices and I don't see any other nominees that stand out ahead of it, I think it was a fair choice for the win.

[nashcameronn]

Original Screenplay
Best Actress - Cher
Best Supporting Actress - Olympia Dukakis

1.) 2/8 - Breaking Away
2.) 2/9 - Ratatouille
3.) 2/12 - CODA
4.) 2/13 - Prizzi's Honor
5.) 2/19 - Network
6.) 2/21 - High Noon
7.) 2/22 - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
8.) 2/24 - The Whale
9.) 2/25 - Zero Dark Thirty
10.) 2/26 - All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
11.) 2/27 - Dune
12.) 2/28 - Good Will Hunting
13.) 3/6 - The Cider House Rules
14.) 3/7 - Moonstruck

[RCRochester]

02/03 - Churchill's Island (1941)
02/03 - Neighbours (1952)
02/03 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
02/09 - The Sand Castle (1977)
02/10 - Seven Days to Noon (1950)
02/11 - Blue Sky (1994)
02/12 - Black Orpheus (1959)
02/13 - The Way We Were (1973)
02/14 - The Defiant Ones (1958)
02/15 - Monster (2003)
02/16 - Fargo (1996)
02/17 - Special Delivery (1978)
02/17 - Every Child (1979)
02/17 - The Hospital (1971)
02/18 - Black and White in Color (1976)
02/18 - Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
02/19 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
02/19 - Thelma & Louise (1991)
02/20 - The Power of the Dog (2021)
02/20 - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
02/21 - Ghost (1990)
02/22 - You Light Up My Life (1977)
02/23 - On the Waterfront (1954)
02/24 - The Accountant (2001)
02/24 - I'll Find a Way (1977)
02/24 - Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
02/25 - If You Love This Planet (1982)
02/25 - Bob's Birthday (1994)
02/25 - The Wrong Trousers (1993)
02/26 - A Close Shave (1995)
02/27 - Room at the Top (1959)
02/28 - Victor/Victoria (1982)
02/29 - Wonder Boys (2000)
02/29 - Moonstruck (1987)
03/01 - Man on Wire (2008)
03/02 - West Side Story (1961)
03/03 - Flamenco at 5:15 (1983)
03/04 - The Killing Fields (1984)
03/05 - Ryan (2004)
03/06 - Dangerous Moves (1984)
03/07 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

03/08 - It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)



Winner Best Sound Effects

A large group of various characters race against each other to be the first to locate a hidden stash of money buried under a giant "W" in a park on the California coast.

Stanley Kramer took a break from his usual high-minded, serious fare in order to craft this large-scale comedy, absolutely packed to the brim with iconic comedy stars of the day. Serving as the blueprint for many subsequent like-minded movies (Scavenger Hunt, The Cannonball Run, Rat Race, etc.) this is fast-paced, loud and crazy. I don't find the humor to be laugh-out loud hilarious, but the movie itself is a lot of fun and pulls you in with its many silly set-pieces and surprise cameos, defying its epic length as it flies by.

This was the first movie to win the Oscar for Best Sound Effects. Previously the award was merged with the Best Special Effects Oscar leading to a weird mish-mash of nominees over the years where some films were nominated for their visual effects, some for their sound effects, and some for both. The award would only be handed out sporadically until the 1980s when it was re-named Best Sound Editing, existing alongside Best Sound Mixing. Confusion as to the difference between the two categories, even amongst sound technicians, led to the recent merging of the awards into the singular Best Sound.

There was only one other nominee that year for a film I'd never heard of before, but this is well worth the win with its many crashes, smashes, and explosions.

[filmbuffTX]

Best Supporting Actress - Tatum O'Neal

Tatum O'Neal is the youngest person to ever win an Oscar at 10 years old. It was well deserved for her portrayal of an orphan on a road trip in the midwest U.S. during the Great Depression. Her real life father Ryan O'Neal co-stars. This was my first viewing and I think it's an excellent film. The B&W cinematography is beautiful.

[filmbuffTX]

Best Costume Design

Ben-Hur swept the Oscars that year with a record 12 nominations and 11 wins; and it wasn't even nominated in the costume category. Some Like It Hot, now in it's 65th year, is a certified comedy classic. I had never seen the movie before, but had seen clips many times. It's featured prominently in the documentary, The Celluloid Closet. At first I thought it was going to be corny, especially since this premise has been done so many times before, but it's a really funny movie. The script and the performances are great. As is the direction from Billy Wilder, for which he received a nomination.

[RCRochester]

02/03 - Churchill's Island (1941)
02/03 - Neighbours (1952)
02/03 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
02/09 - The Sand Castle (1977)
02/10 - Seven Days to Noon (1950)
02/11 - Blue Sky (1994)
02/12 - Black Orpheus (1959)
02/13 - The Way We Were (1973)
02/14 - The Defiant Ones (1958)
02/15 - Monster (2003)
02/16 - Fargo (1996)
02/17 - Special Delivery (1978)
02/17 - Every Child (1979)
02/17 - The Hospital (1971)
02/18 - Black and White in Color (1976)
02/18 - Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
02/19 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
02/19 - Thelma & Louise (1991)
02/20 - The Power of the Dog (2021)
02/20 - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
02/21 - Ghost (1990)
02/22 - You Light Up My Life (1977)
02/23 - On the Waterfront (1954)
02/24 - The Accountant (2001)
02/24 - I'll Find a Way (1977)
02/24 - Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
02/25 - If You Love This Planet (1982)
02/25 - Bob's Birthday (1994)
02/25 - The Wrong Trousers (1993)
02/26 - A Close Shave (1995)
02/27 - Room at the Top (1959)
02/28 - Victor/Victoria (1982)
02/29 - Wonder Boys (2000)
02/29 - Moonstruck (1987)
03/01 - Man on Wire (2008)
03/02 - West Side Story (1961)
03/03 - Flamenco at 5:15 (1983)
03/04 - The Killing Fields (1984)
03/05 - Ryan (2004)
03/06 - Dangerous Moves (1984)
03/07 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
03/08 - It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

03/09 - The Danish Poet (2006)



Winner Best Animated Short

While on a pilgrimage to Norway to meet a famous author for inspiration, the titular Danish poet meets a farmgirl and they fall in love. Unfortunately, she is already engaged to another man but love finds a way in this modern day fairy tale.

A Norwegian-Canadian co-production, this is the 11th and final National Film Board of Canada to win an Oscar. This is a sweet story with warm narration by Liv Ullman with the central love story ultimately setting up the circumstances by which the filmmaker's parents met and conceived her, thus making a point about the randomness of life.

It has a clear, colorful and amusing animation style. Again, I have not seen any of the other nominees from this year, but I think this film is deserving of the award.

[RCRochester]

02/03 - Churchill's Island (1941)
02/03 - Neighbours (1952)
02/03 - The Wizard of Oz (1939)
02/09 - The Sand Castle (1977)
02/10 - Seven Days to Noon (1950)
02/11 - Blue Sky (1994)
02/12 - Black Orpheus (1959)
02/13 - The Way We Were (1973)
02/14 - The Defiant Ones (1958)
02/15 - Monster (2003)
02/16 - Fargo (1996)
02/17 - Special Delivery (1978)
02/17 - Every Child (1979)
02/17 - The Hospital (1971)
02/18 - Black and White in Color (1976)
02/18 - Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
02/19 - Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
02/19 - Thelma & Louise (1991)
02/20 - The Power of the Dog (2021)
02/20 - Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
02/21 - Ghost (1990)
02/22 - You Light Up My Life (1977)
02/23 - On the Waterfront (1954)
02/24 - The Accountant (2001)
02/24 - I'll Find a Way (1977)
02/24 - Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
02/25 - If You Love This Planet (1982)
02/25 - Bob's Birthday (1994)
02/25 - The Wrong Trousers (1993)
02/26 - A Close Shave (1995)
02/27 - Room at the Top (1959)
02/28 - Victor/Victoria (1982)
02/29 - Wonder Boys (2000)
02/29 - Moonstruck (1987)
03/01 - Man on Wire (2008)
03/02 - West Side Story (1961)
03/03 - Flamenco at 5:15 (1983)
03/04 - The Killing Fields (1984)
03/05 - Ryan (2004)
03/06 - Dangerous Moves (1984)
03/07 - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)
03/08 - It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
03/09 - The Danish Poet (2006)

03/10 - Pulp Fiction



Winner Best Original Screenplay

Finished up my Oscar marathon earlier today by revisiting Quentin Tarantino's breakout film which I first saw upon its original release 30 years ago!

Some things don't quite work as well as they used to for me, but overall the film is still a very enjoyable piece of work and its 2.5 hour runtime flies by.

Tarantino and Roger Avary were well worth the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. 1994 was a tough year, but the film probably could have done with one or two more awards. I did enjoy Martin Landau in Ed Wood, but I think Samuel L. Jackson in the Best Supporting Actor would have been ideal.

Thanks to the guys who played along, and for anyone who bothered to check in and read the thread.