Posted on 04/27/2008 1:50:30 AM PDT by uncitizen
We can hope our favorite movie will come away with the big prize, but in the long run, some of the best pictures ever made did not receive Best Picture Oscars. A good example would be the AFI’s choice for number one movie of all time, Citizen Kane.
(Excerpt) Read more at filmschoolrejects.com ...
Oh wow, how could I forget Glory! Fantastic film...except maybe for Matthew Broderick’s accent. :-)
Ultimate Western: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
We don't really notice these things today, but they were new techniques at the time. I agree that the story is the weaknest part, but it was good enough to win an Oscar.
I sure have to agree with you on the most recent winner, “No Country For Old Men.” I was forced to watch this recently, and thought it had about as much redeeming value as “Saw II” .. i.e., none.
On the other hand, I thought “American Gangster” was one of the best films I’ve seen in years.
On the third hand (if I had one), I do have to disagree with the premise of the article. Note how many times the author says things like: “Fanboys rule!” or “This film was voted #2 by The Oswego Men’s Choir!”.... as if the Academy Awards should be ruled by popular opinion, because (by this guy’s definition) the best films can only be those that people like the most. Well... news at 11... that ain’t true.
As for the rest of the list... I can sure see the downward spiral from ‘94 on.
Here’s my humble opinions...
Braveheart - violent, depressing downer of a film.
The English Patient - Chick flick with a budget. Ick.
Titanic - Chick flick with an even bigger budget, but I love it anyway.
Shakespeare In Love - Would have made a mediocre PBS special.
American Beauty - Walked out of it.
Gladiator - Ooh, another violent, depressing downer of a film.
A Beautiful Mind - Very good film. Not great... but very good.
Chicago - What little I saw of it bored me.
The Return Of The King - I liked LOTR, but thought #1 was a better film.
Million Dollar Baby - Didn’t see, since I know the ending.
Crash - Didn’t see, even though I don’t know the end. Yes, I’m giving up.
The Departed - Overlong. Watch “Infernal Affairs” (the original) instead.
No Country For Old Men - Wow! Depressing... and a downer! What skill!
MOST OFFENSIVE: Star Wars losing to Annie Hall. Are you freakin’ kidding me?
VERY OFFENSIVE: Hitchock never won an Oscar. That’s just wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Fargo losing to that sappy The English Patient. WTH? Ugh! Fargo was original and funny. Too funny for that stuffy "The Academy". “They” scorn funny. “They” also scorn independent films.
PRETTY DAMN OFFENSIVE: Shawshank Redemption losing to Forrest Gump. Am i the only person in the world that HATES Forrest Gump?
SOMEWHAT OFFENSIVE: 2001: A Space Odyssey losing to Oliver…..huh? 1968, “The Academy” musta been on drugs for that ballot. Goodfellas losing to Dances with Wolves.
AMBIVALENT: Apocalypse Now to Kramer vs. Kramer.
FINE WITH ME: Phildelphia losing to Schindlers List. Philadelphia sucked. Schindlers list didn't suck.
FUNNIEST BLURB: “In 1999, Trey Parker and Matt Stone showed up in drag at the Oscars as Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow.”
I have seen Citien Kane a lonnnnngg time ago. I don’t remember it and haven’t had to urge to watch it again, so i couldn’t have liked it that much.
I always thought 2001 was over-rated and I love science fiction. I found it dull, pretentious and the ending incomprehensible. Oliver was pretty good.
I agree. Shawhank Redemption was good once. Fargo is good every time.
I agree. Altho i would change "thought provoking" to "propagandistic".
Bump for later...
All The Presidents Men, Rocky, and Taxi Driver were all up against Network in 1976. If it were me, I would’ve chosen Network in a hot minute. But then again, i’m not a member of “The Academy”.
It's so unfair!
A lot of people say that, and the reason is that we're spoiled by what followed. But it was Citizen Kane that first did many things well: low camera angles; long quiet scenes to build tension; non-chronological story-telling; Welles' on-camera aging; Welles as producer, director and star; did I mention the amazing and inventive camera work?
Many things that we see have seen a thousand times were done well and properly first in Citizen Kane.
Oh, and the writing...some of the script is quite extraordinary: crisp, sardonic, sarcastic, insightful...
"The Academy" looks down it's collective nose at musicals. Unless, of course, it is a propagandistic musical.
Great film. Vastly wildly underrated. One of the great war films ever.
Look at the cast!
I always preferred “A Few Dollars More” over GB&U, but the whole series was excellent.
You think “Star Wars” was a better film than “Annie Hall?”
i would agree with that. And so should Mississippi Burning.
That’s exactly what i loved about Fargo. That it was realistic. Sometimes sheriffs get pregnant. Whaddya gonna do? Yep, Fargo is a great film.
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