Comments on: Oscars Death Race: Conclusion and Pool Recs http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/ better red than dead Wed, 23 May 2012 21:59:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Profreader http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47753 Profreader Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:00:18 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47753 Congratulations to making it as far as you did; I was exhausted just *reading* the list of Best Picture nominees (I'm staunchly against this ten-nominees business.) I used to try to see everything - this year the only reason I managed to see any at all was by borrowing friends' SAG screeners. (Well, "Up" I saw in the theater. I am one of the few remaining bipeds on this planet that has not been to see "Avatar.") I appreciated the reviews of everything -- it's made me want to check out some of the lesser known films. But I agree that not seeing the movies makes it easier to predict the winners -- I was rooting for a Streep win (I know she has a lot of awards, but only 2 Oscars, and they were over 20 years ago) but I knew a Bullock win was going to happen. However, I think Sandra Bullock, in her acceptance speech, proved herself to be a class act and someone who understands reality and the importance of a sense of humor about oneself. I loved her more after that speech. And I was appalled that they played "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar" as Kathryn Bigelow's playoff music. Why not play "I Enjoy Being A Girl" while you're at it? (You could tell that they anticipated her win when Streisand rolled out there as the presenter ... and she just didn't want to let go of that statuette, did she? Understandable.) Congratulations to making it as far as you did; I was exhausted just *reading* the list of Best Picture nominees (I'm staunchly against this ten-nominees business.) I used to try to see everything – this year the only reason I managed to see any at all was by borrowing friends' SAG screeners. (Well, "Up" I saw in the theater. I am one of the few remaining bipeds on this planet that has not been to see "Avatar.")

I appreciated the reviews of everything — it's made me want to check out some of the lesser known films. But I agree that not seeing the movies makes it easier to predict the winners — I was rooting for a Streep win (I know she has a lot of awards, but only 2 Oscars, and they were over 20 years ago) but I knew a Bullock win was going to happen. However, I think Sandra Bullock, in her acceptance speech, proved herself to be a class act and someone who understands reality and the importance of a sense of humor about oneself. I loved her more after that speech.

And I was appalled that they played "I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar" as Kathryn Bigelow's playoff music. Why not play "I Enjoy Being A Girl" while you're at it? (You could tell that they anticipated her win when Streisand rolled out there as the presenter … and she just didn't want to let go of that statuette, did she? Understandable.)

]]> By: Caitlin http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47745 Caitlin Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:13:31 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47745 Well done! My boyfriend and I were inspired by you to see how well we could do--he had a head start on me, and got to 48/58, and I made it to 39. Way more than any other years, and the first time we'd delved into the short films. But you beat us both--well done! Well done! My boyfriend and I were inspired by you to see how well we could do–he had a head start on me, and got to 48/58, and I made it to 39. Way more than any other years, and the first time we'd delved into the short films. But you beat us both–well done!

]]> By: Brian M Rosen http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47742 Brian M Rosen Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:56:29 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47742 OK. I wasn't gonna say anything, but now that it won, I need to unload a bit. I hate, hate, hated Logorama. Like bile spouting from my throat, shield my eyes, how could the Academy have let this one slip through hate. It's bad enough that the Academy screwed this up, but to find out that YOU actually fell for it... oh man. Sigh. OK. I'm sure I'm the only person reading this who actually cares about the animated short film category (unless my wife swings by the blog), but here's what an animated short CAN be: http://www.davidoreilly.com/work/pss OK, I don't love the ending, but it's still a great piece, and worlds better than any of the shorts that got nominated. OK. I wasn't gonna say anything, but now that it won, I need to unload a bit. I hate, hate, hated Logorama. Like bile spouting from my throat, shield my eyes, how could the Academy have let this one slip through hate. It's bad enough that the Academy screwed this up, but to find out that YOU actually fell for it… oh man.

Sigh. OK. I'm sure I'm the only person reading this who actually cares about the animated short film category (unless my wife swings by the blog), but here's what an animated short CAN be:

http://www.davidoreilly.com/work/pss

OK, I don't love the ending, but it's still a great piece, and worlds better than any of the shorts that got nominated.

]]> By: Douglas http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47734 Douglas Mon, 08 Mar 2010 02:26:38 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47734 Music video? Music video?

]]> By: Sarah D. Bunting http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47720 Sarah D. Bunting Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:34:01 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47720 @Rinaldo: Marginally. I didn't like that role, or Cotillard in it, is part of it. I wish we could find out how the votes break down -- who voted for what, how many voted for what. I don't mean compromise the voters' anonymity, just see which demographics did what. @Rinaldo: Marginally. I didn't like that role, or Cotillard in it, is part of it.

I wish we could find out how the votes break down — who voted for what, how many voted for what. I don't mean compromise the voters' anonymity, just see which demographics did what.

]]> By: Mary http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47719 Mary Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:23:02 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47719 D'oh! I just turned in my pool ballot before I read this post. Wish I could actually watch on TV tonight (boo on Cablevision and ABC). D'oh! I just turned in my pool ballot before I read this post. Wish I could actually watch on TV tonight (boo on Cablevision and ABC).

]]> By: Catherine http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47718 Catherine Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:22:01 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47718 ha! True dat. I also have a double list... my picks and who I think the Academy will favor. Be interested to see how I do against you. Didn't see as many films as you did, but I gave it a bit of a go. Thanks for the inspiration. ha! True dat.

I also have a double list… my picks and who I think the Academy will favor. Be interested to see how I do against you. Didn't see as many films as you did, but I gave it a bit of a go. Thanks for the inspiration.

]]> By: Rinaldo http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47717 Rinaldo Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:05:53 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47717 Ha! Those last two sentences are so very true. I always do better predicting when I haven't seen the movies and just go with my cynicism. You prefer "Cinema Italiano" to the NINE song that got nominated? Ha! Those last two sentences are so very true. I always do better predicting when I haven't seen the movies and just go with my cynicism.

You prefer "Cinema Italiano" to the NINE song that got nominated?

]]> By: Kari http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47716 Kari Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:58:05 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47716 I have heard that the editing prize usually goes to the Best Picture winner. (I remember there was a big discussion about this the year Crash beat Brokeback.) So I always make those two the same on my ballot. I have heard that the editing prize usually goes to the Best Picture winner. (I remember there was a big discussion about this the year Crash beat Brokeback.) So I always make those two the same on my ballot.

]]> By: Todd K http://tomatonation.com/culture-and-criticism/oscars-death-race-conclusion-and-pool-recs/comment-page-1/#comment-47715 Todd K Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:54:46 +0000 http://tomatonation.com/?p=5495#comment-47715 [It's hard to say with some of these techier categories how willing the voters will be to just give Avatar everything. I tend to err on the side of assuming they'll think it through, which I shouldn't do.] Agreed. There's more thinking through at the nominating stage, when the electorate is restricted to the branch that knows the craft being considered. When the actual winners are being decided, and the acting branch is helping to decide the result for sound mixing, etc., some juggernaut movie like Avatar usually just racks up more wins. Or else, a movie wins a category because "more" of something is deemed "better" (everyone's face is painted in an elaborate way = best makeup; really noisy = best sound; etc.). Randy Newman was amusing on that subject many years ago, when he had had a lot of nominations for scores and songs but had not won yet. He said the nomination really is the flattering part, because you know it's coming from your peers -- in his case, composers. He noted that when he fills out his own Oscar ballot, he's often working in the dark. He liked The Talented Mr. Ripley, so he voted for it for "Best Makeup" that year, but "How do I know if the makeup on Jude Law was any good? Or wardrobe [gesturing at his own schlumpy clothes], as you can see." [It's hard to say with some of these techier categories how willing the voters will be to just give Avatar everything. I tend to err on the side of assuming they'll think it through, which I shouldn't do.]

Agreed. There's more thinking through at the nominating stage, when the electorate is restricted to the branch that knows the craft being considered. When the actual winners are being decided, and the acting branch is helping to decide the result for sound mixing, etc., some juggernaut movie like Avatar usually just racks up more wins. Or else, a movie wins a category because "more" of something is deemed "better" (everyone's face is painted in an elaborate way = best makeup; really noisy = best sound; etc.).

Randy Newman was amusing on that subject many years ago, when he had had a lot of nominations for scores and songs but had not won yet. He said the nomination really is the flattering part, because you know it's coming from your peers — in his case, composers. He noted that when he fills out his own Oscar ballot, he's often working in the dark. He liked The Talented Mr. Ripley, so he voted for it for "Best Makeup" that year, but "How do I know if the makeup on Jude Law was any good? Or wardrobe [gesturing at his own schlumpy clothes], as you can see."

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