Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

And the Oscar for most depressing . . .
Jewish World Review ^ | Feb. 25, 2008 | Mitch Albom

Posted on 02/25/2008 12:20:00 PM PST by Caleb1411

I'm didn't watch the Oscars. Normally I do. But I've spent enough time and money on the most depressing, dark and disturbed lineup of movies I ever can remember. I don't need to see them get rewarded.

Am I the only one who remembers when they actually gave Oscars to movies that had happy endings? There's not one happy ending in this lot — unless you consider an unplanned teenage pregnancy resulting in someone else's adoption a happy ending. That's the big payoff in "Juno."

Otherwise, you have "There Will Be Blood," in which a tyrannical oil baron destroys everyone and everything around him; "No Country For Old Men," in which a serial killer destroys everything and everyone around him; "Michael Clayton," in which greed gets nearly everyone killed; and "Atonement," in which a false accusation ruins the lives of all involved.

Um. Remind me again.

Why do we go to the movies?

THERE'S NO DEBATE HERE

Now, I'm not a Pollyanna. I enjoy films. I collect them. And I understand that not every story ends with music swirling and heroes walking off into a sunset.

But lately there's this sense that unless a movie is dark, violent and hopeless, it can't be "real." It can't be "art." It can't truly "matter." I put these words in quotes because it feels as if critics and awards committees define things that way.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: hollywood; oscar
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 261-272 next last
To: MJemison
The same Cohen brothers who produced Raising Arizona and Fargo?

You betcha!

181 posted on 02/25/2008 2:29:39 PM PST by 3catsanadog (Vote for the person at the primaries; vote for the party at the election.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Caleb1411
Rent the DVD for this one. It was great.


182 posted on 02/25/2008 2:35:38 PM PST by InterceptPoint
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EdArt

You are right about the music. Nothing last night held a candle to used to be Oscar-worthy.


183 posted on 02/25/2008 2:39:18 PM PST by Melinda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 177 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

They don’t have billions. 99% pop culture is basically made by five companies — News Corp., Sony, Viacom, Time/Warner and Disney. However, movies are so expensive, even these companies can’t foot the bill themselves — they have to pre-sell the movies to foreign and domestic distributors, TV rights, etc. etc.

Don’t make any mistake about it — movie making is hardcore capitalism.


184 posted on 02/25/2008 2:40:25 PM PST by durasell (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

I have not considered what I would have put as Best Song but I do know there are many better pieces available- however I know
mediocrity when I hear it which has been the case for the last several years. Just listen to what they offered up. The pieces are thin, poor in presentation and mediocre at best.


185 posted on 02/25/2008 2:42:36 PM PST by EdArt (free to be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 179 | View Replies]

To: Borges

I don’t remember you mentioning yours either. But I’m not defining what is art. I’m saying that art is in the eye of the beholder. You are defining it.


186 posted on 02/25/2008 2:43:46 PM PST by netmilsmom (Giving up "Hairspray" and the cast for Lent. Prayers appreciated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 180 | View Replies]

To: durasell

Yes, but you have to admit that it’s a popularity contest as well.

When Oliver Stone wants to make a film, which most people don’t care to see, he gets the backing.


187 posted on 02/25/2008 2:45:21 PM PST by netmilsmom (Giving up "Hairspray" and the cast for Lent. Prayers appreciated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 184 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

I’m giving specific reasons why I like a given film.


188 posted on 02/25/2008 2:45:59 PM PST by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 186 | View Replies]

To: EdArt

That’s the problem. The music, like the film making has slipped.

Could you give me an example of a great song in the past so I know where you stand?


189 posted on 02/25/2008 2:46:33 PM PST by netmilsmom (Giving up "Hairspray" and the cast for Lent. Prayers appreciated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 185 | View Replies]

To: Borges

And you are just one of the movie going audience. Just like the rest of us.


190 posted on 02/25/2008 2:47:21 PM PST by netmilsmom (Giving up "Hairspray" and the cast for Lent. Prayers appreciated!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

Well, Stone’s ‘Any Given Sunday’ was a hit. On the basis of that he got the backing for Alexander which was not. He tried to recapture the mainstream with World Trade Center which was a modest hit.


191 posted on 02/25/2008 2:48:33 PM PST by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 187 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

“And you are just one of the movie going audience. Just like the rest of us.”

An astute observation.


192 posted on 02/25/2008 2:49:27 PM PST by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 190 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

“And you are just one of the movie going audience. Just like the rest of us.”

An astute observation.


193 posted on 02/25/2008 2:49:30 PM PST by Borges
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 190 | View Replies]

To: i_dont_chat

Old Men was entertaining, but there were never people around other than the victims and the killer. Nobody at either hotel saw the guy walking around carrying a silenced shotgun, or when he stuffed a rag into a gas cap. Woody willingly walked to his death, the wife didn’t run screaming when she saw the guy.

The only one person fought the killer; I found that very strange


194 posted on 02/25/2008 2:50:29 PM PST by Loud Mime ("Life was better when cigarette companies could advertise and lawyers could not")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: i_dont_chat

“I thought No Country for Old Men was a very good movie. But then I love all of the Cohen Brothers movies, starting with the first one I saw: Blood Simple.

Anyone remember that old one?”

****

Yes, and “Miller’s Crossing” and “Barton Fink”, too...


195 posted on 02/25/2008 2:50:58 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

It depends on how well Oliver Stone’s last two movies did at the box office. I’ve known quite a few people in Hollywood — and I can say with a fair amount of certainty, nobody picks up the phone to a studio executive and says, “Yeah, hey, howzit going? Can you give me $100 million to make this movie?”

Hollywood is one of those places where you don’t get to make many mistakes.


196 posted on 02/25/2008 2:53:14 PM PST by durasell (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 187 | View Replies]

To: Loud Mime

YOu said:
The only one person fought the killer; I found that very strange

Maybe it was the page-boy haircut!!!!!!


197 posted on 02/25/2008 2:53:53 PM PST by i_dont_chat (Your choice if you take offense.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 194 | View Replies]

To: Caleb1411

American Oscars celebrating Europe,

Around about way of saying they hate America to. We have the power, the minute anyone of these pompus hoLlywood morons opens thier stupid mouth and you don;t like what you here, DON’T GO SEE THIER FILMS.This will leave a lot of pressure on the libs to have to make this up by seeing thier films 2, 3 or 4 times.


198 posted on 02/25/2008 2:55:18 PM PST by ronnie raygun (Id rather be hunting with dick than driving with ted)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne

I live in Hollywood and am a rarity: I dont care much about it.

One poster here mentioned: why are the best films of the year NOT making any money back?

Isn’t the film of the year the most ATTENDED film of the year at the box office?


199 posted on 02/25/2008 2:56:36 PM PST by max americana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: netmilsmom

One of the reasons there are not many conservatives in Hollywood is that it’s a very risky profession. Who wants to spend $100 million and get a very, very long piece of plastic with tiny pictures on it?


200 posted on 02/25/2008 2:56:39 PM PST by durasell (!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 187 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 261-272 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson