Oscar noms, anyone?

So, I've seen all the movies except Into the Woods and American Sniper, and all the performances except Bradley Cooper, and Meryl Streep.

And I gotta say, this year's nominations kind of suck.

Now, I'm sure Streep kills it. I just don't do musicals. And Sniper isn't playing here. They may deserve their noms.

But Selma gets a Best Picture nom without a single other talent category nomination? Did it direct itself? I guess it wasn't the actors who made it worth watching. That kind of tells me it's a token nomination, which is an insult. And nothing for Unbroken? Really? Even with the number of Best Picture slots increased?

I'm a fan of small films, but Two Days, One Night does not have an Oscar-calibre performance. And I was one of probably about seven people who saw it.

Marion Cotillard got Jennifer Aniston's slot. And Bennett Miller got Angelina Jolie's.

JMHO.

Was Two Days, One Night in French?

Maybe Hollywood types could relate to the subject matter?

Oh I am looking forward to American Sniper.  I hear it's pretty extraordinary!

I've only seen Foxcatcher, Gone Girl and The Grand Budapest Hoyel. Though I haven't seen Selma I have read and heard from a number of sources that the actor playing MLK certainly deserved a nomination. And yes how do you nominate a movie for best picture but not nominate the director. But American Sniper got a best picture nod but did Eastwood get a best director nod?

And is Marion Cotillard a darling of the academy that she gets a nomination for a picture that hardly anyone knows about? She's always getting nominated. She is a terrific actress but .....

Unbroken. Well does the industry have something against Jolie. She's an ok actress IMO but does Hollywood not think she is ready for a serious Oscars nomination. This movie did pretty damn well at the box office. The reviews were mixed but only the cinematography got a nomination. She must be pissed about that or does anyone think she expected as much from the Academy?

Way2Old4Dis wrote:

But Selma gets a Best Picture nom without a single other talent category nomination? Did it direct itself? I guess it wasn't the actors who made it worth watching. That kind of tells me it's a token nomination, which is an insult.

Totally agree. It's depressing.  How can a movie qualify for a 'Best Film' nomination in isolation?  Either it's of 'Best Film' calibre or it's not. And since it's nominated, it plainly is, and therefore those who made it also deserve some recognition. And yet not a single nomination in the crucial key categories.

The fact the only other nomination it got - 'Best Original Song' - is almost piling on the insult.

Of course I'm routing for Benedict Cumberbatch as 
Best Actor and his film The Imitation Game
for Best Film. 

I realise they'll have stiff competition, particularly
from the film about Stephen Hawkins.

LornaDoone wrote:Was Two Days, One Night in French?

Maybe Hollywood types could relate to the subject matter?

Oh I am looking forward to American Sniper.  I hear it's pretty extraordinary!

Yes, it is. Shot entirely in France and Belgium, too, so maybe it was bigger in Europe.

But the point is, even my high school level French and subtitles reading could see that Cotillard wasn't out-acting Jennifer Aniston in Cake. I have no idea what the Academy voters were thinking.

And is Marion Cotillard a darling of the academy that she gets a nomination for a picture that hardly anyone knows about? She's always getting nominated. She is a terrific actress but .....

She is a terrific actress. But this was not an Oscar-calibre performance, IMO. Very good, and in another year maybe would deserve a nod, but I could probably name at least three others I thought were better, who didn't get nominated.

Even the Hollywood Foreign Press recognized that, and they're suckers for small European films about put-upon beautiful, feisty women.

I am thrilled to see Marion Cotillard on the 'Best Actress' list. She is glorious and Two Days, One Night is glorious and gritty, and I'm so happy so see this gloriously gritty film getting the international attention it deserves.

Just saw Selma tonight. Really good movie. Good performances. The actor playing MLK was excellent. He certainly had the strongest performance in the movie. Had a couple of issues though. It did bother me the way LBJ was portrayed and I didn't like the way one scene was played out.

It's funny. Eastwood didn't get nominated for Sniper and Bennett Miller got a directing nod for Foxcatcher but the film didn't get a best movie nomination. I could see a director getting nominated but not the movie but I really can't see a movie up for best picture that doesn't also recognize the director.

This whole thing just reminds me of what Denzel Washington has said , he is a member of the Academy and he let his wife pick his choices. I wonder how many of these people make the choices?

annemarie wrote:This whole thing just reminds me of what Denzel Washington has said , he is a member of the Academy and he let his wife pick his choices. I wonder how many of these people make the choices?

Very good point.

And it really does make a mockery out of the Oscars being seen as the pinnacle of the awards season. It's all so cynical and self-servng and meaningless.

The only awards I have any interest in are the critics' related ones and the BAFTAs.

Way2Old4Dis wrote:

And I gotta say, this year's nominations kind of suck.

yes, that's the critic I read here in the News too.

Way2Old4Dis wrote:

But Selma gets a Best Picture nom without a single other talent category nomination? Did it direct itself? I guess it wasn't the actors who made it worth watching. That kind of tells me it's a token nomination, which is an insult.

I read in the German news it is about the Skin Color.

Google Translation:

"However, all these deserved recognition can not hide: The Academy has honored almost exclusively white, although black enough talents were available. The civil rights drama "Selma" offered by Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo worthy candidates for best director and best actor. But both were left empty. After all, one might think that "Selma" made it under the best films. But without a nomination in this category, the Academy would have been difficult to escape the racism accusation.

Ultimate nomination of "Selma" director Ava DuVernay would have been, would thus come as the first black in the selection for best director. When you compare their dense, atmospheric, very wisely composed Portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. with the brutish Alan Turing biopic "The Imitation Game ', a fall no reason understand why the Norwegians Morten Tyldom has given preference - except, indeed except: skin Color."

http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/kino/oscar-nominierungen-2015-angst-vor-der-schwarzen-frau-kommentar-a-1013170.html

I don't think there's really a racist element involved. I'm not sure what's going on. Last year 12 Years A Slave was best picture. Can't remember the young actress who was one of the slaves in that movie but she won best supporting actress. The Academy has a long way to go to start recognizing more minority talent but I don't think it's as simple as racism at work here.

Especially with all the racial tensions going on this past year and with so many states trying to roll back the right to vote in the 2012 and 2014 elections this movie presented a powerful statement for audiences. Why didn't the Academy see that? If Selma had not been such a well made film then I could understand why it was left out of so many categories. But that wasn't the case.

Just came back from seeing American Sniper.  It plays to the American audience's vision of itself as "saving" others.

It will bring controversy I'm sure but the story was well told.  Also touched on the issue of PTSD very subtlety and the mindset of the soldiers who felt that by being home they were letting their mates down.

I found myself siding with him though.  I understand they toned down the more negative aspects of the real man but I found his dedication and his unwavering mindset that what he was doing was right and was saving American lives quite affecting.

Spoiler:

I hear that it made over $30 million on Friday and they expect it to earn $80 million by the end of this holiday weekend here in the US.

Well, I don't doubt that some actors and other talent don't take their Academy voting as seriously as you'd like to think. But on the occasions that I've had a chance to talk to a writer who was a member of the Academy and asked him/her about it, they have said they make it a point to read every nominated screenplay before they vote, and that the other writer members they knew did the same. They don't just watch the movies; there can be too many differences between what was originally written and what makes it to the screen.

Personally, I think the Best Picture nominations should be made only after all the others. And any movie that doesn't get some combination of director/actor/screenplay/maybe cinematography isn't eligible for Best Picture. Yes, I know a great movie is more than a sum of its parts, but at least some of the parts have to be standouts, IMO.

Still haven't caught American Sniper. I will stipulate Streep being nomination-worthy; I'm not paying to see a musical movie, not even for her. So the Cooper performance is the only one I don't have an opinion about, though he would have to be absolutely phenomenal to have any chance against Cumberbatch (sp?).

Donnamarie wrote:I don't think there's really a racist element involved.  I'm not sure what's going on.  Last year 12 Years A Slave was best picture.  Can't remember the young actress who was one of the slaves in that movie but she won best supporting actress.  The Academy has a long way to go to start recognizing more minority talent but I don't think it's as simple as racism at work here.

Especially with all the racial tensions going on this past year and with so many states trying to roll back the right to vote in the 2012 and 2014 elections this movie presented a powerful statement for audiences.  Why didn't the Academy see that?   If Selma had not been such a well made film then I could understand why it was left out of so many categories.  But that wasn't the case.

I think the racism--and sexism-- is more insidious than which movies get nominated for an Oscar.  It's about which movies even get made and how many have a role--on screen or behind the camera-- for minorities and women.  I'm looking forward to the day when a movie does not have to deal with black history for it provide roles for more than a few minorities and to be considered serious enough for awards.

The best argument I've seen so far regarding the Academy's ignoring of Selma is that they tend to vote for stories they can relate to; the majority of the nominated films are about the struggles of white men.  When they do recognize black films, it's for stories they are comfortable with.  12 Years a Slave? Well, slavery ended hundreds of years ago and we can all agree those white slave owners were terrible.  Black people marching in the street for justice? That happened...today, in fact, in New York City.  A little too close for comfort.  And I've long held the suspicion that black actors can only ever get nominated for playing roles that uphold black stereotypes.

What's most infuriating is that while these awards certainly have no bearing on the quality of the films that are or are not nominated, they do mean recognition, which means more people see the film, which means the film makes more money, which means those involved get more opportunities to make more films.  Meryl Streep and Bradley Cooper and Wes Anderson will go on to make a zillion more movies with or without a nomination.  The same may not be true of Ava DuVernay and David Oyelowo.  

And seriously with the Meryl nominations every year.  At this point the woman could spend 90 minutes reading Chinese takeout menus and walk away with a Best Actress nom.  I think she's awesome, but come on.  Someone somewhere suggested the Academy institute a rule that if you are nominated you are automatically ineligible for nomination the following year.  It would never happen, but at least we might see some different names.

Sometimes I think that the decisions made by those are nothing to do with colour, creed or political correctness.

For instance, just from a personal perspective, I preferred Argo to Lincoln. Why? Because the first one was shorter, faster, very well edited and exciting. Lincoln was brilliant, impressive but offtimes depressing and much much longer

The Help vs 12 Years a Slave? The Help. Why? Tighter storyline, not so long and made brilliant points without being too hard to watch.

All subjective of course, but often hear these days that I am not alone in thinking some films are far too long, no matter what the subject matter is, to their detriment........

The Meryl factor? Given that she's probably offered everything, she's an excellent judge of a script! She must get loads.........

The academy is made up predominately of older, white Jewish men.  At least that's what I've seen at Academy events.

I think the notion that Selma depicts something too uncomfortable given the recent protests may have some merit, as much as the members might verbally disagree.  But their voting shows otherwise.

Okay, I'm ready to make my annual trek out onto the limb.

Who will win (Who I want to win)

Actor
Benedict Cumberbatch (Michael Keaton)

Actress
Julianne Moore (Moore or Reese Witherspoon)

Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall (J.K. Simmons)

Supporting Actress
Keira Knightly (Patricia Arquette)

Adapted Screenplay
The Imitation Game (Whiplash)

Original Screenplay
Birdman (Boyhood, but Birdman pretty much ties it)

Director
Bennett Miller for Boyhood (Miller)

Best Picture
The Imitation Game (Imitation Game or Boyhood)

I would love to see Benedict get an award together 
with his film The Imitation Game.

Not only because of his performance as Alan Turing,
but as a deserved tribute to the unsung hero,
who shortened WW2 by two years by breaking 
the German's code maker.
Before this film I didn't know about him, although 
my husband did due to his study of WW2.
I suppose this story means more to us here in UK
than to others.
 I'm not wanting to give offence to anyone 
by those words. 

Joanna wrote:I would love to see Benedict get an award together 
with his film The Imitation Game.

Not only because of his performance as Alan Turing,
but as a deserved tribute to the unsung hero,
who shortened WW2 by two years by breaking 
the German's code maker.
Before this film I didn't know about him, although 
my husband did due to his study of WW2.
I suppose this story means more to us here in UK
than to others.
 I'm not wanting to give offence to anyone 
by those words. 

BBC 5-live had a fascinating interview (20th Jan I think) with 4 utterly fabulous women who played a huge part in this.  So worth a listen if you missed it. (on the 5-live site)

I still need to see a few more nominated movies before making judgment. Saw Boyhood this past weekend. Have to say IMO other than the uniqueness of having filmed this movie over the period of 12 years using the same actors I really didn't find anything really remarkable about the story. It's a relatable story but the performances just didn't impress me.

Bellalique wrote:

Joanna wrote:I would love to see Benedict get an award together 
with his film The Imitation Game.

Not only because of his performance as Alan Turing,
but as a deserved tribute to the unsung hero,
who shortened WW2 by two years by breaking 
the German's code maker.
Before this film I didn't know about him, although 
my husband did due to his study of WW2.
I suppose this story means more to us here in UK
than to others.
 I'm not wanting to give offence to anyone 
by those words. 

BBC 5-live had a fascinating interview (20th Jan I think) with 4 utterly fabulous women who played a huge part in this.  So worth a listen if you missed it. (on the 5-live site)

Thanks very much for that Bellaliqu.....I'll check that out. 
I love BBC 5 Live.....but missed that one.

So off topic....Sorry......Couldn't resist   

I really love Ben Cumberbatch as an actor but I really really hate what happens to good actors when they have to embrace the international market in order to 'succeed'.  He is so an example of someone who has tried to be good with it, and good humoured with it, and tolerant with it, but has ended up lesser for it because he's been forced to dumb down.

(not his acting talent, I hasten to add, just what he's had to do to 'appease'.)

Every word uttered analysed to the max and found wanting. I admire those who decide it's not for them, or who don't give a crap about how they're perceived  and just let their work speak for itself.

I'm not sure what you mean by "dumb down" 
Bellalique ?

I've seen interviews that Benedict has done regarding
this film The Imitation Game and he has spoken 
passionately about Alan Turing and he's expressed his anger about the way he was treated by the British "establishment" of the day, ie during the 1940's and after. He's said many times that Alan Turing was an 
unsung hero and his work should be celebrated.

You've misunderstood. Not a criticism of him, a criticism of the process that so many actors seem to be expected (often pushed by 'weinsteins') to go through in order to be 'accepted' in that desperately barren land called Hollywood.

I've never seen a movie with Benedict in it. I'm planning on seeing Imitation Game tomorrow. I've heard he's excellent in it. The movie itself is terrific from what I've heard and read. So can't wait to see him in action.

LornaDoone wrote:Just came back from seeing American Sniper.  It plays to the American audience's vision of itself as "saving" others.

It will bring controversy I'm sure but the story was well told.  Also touched on the issue of PTSD very subtlety and the mindset of the soldiers who felt that by being home they were letting their mates down.

I found myself siding with him though.  I understand they toned down the more negative aspects of the real man but I found his dedication and his unwavering mindset that what he was doing was right and was saving American lives quite affecting.

Spoiler:

I hear that it made over $30 million on Friday and they expect it to earn $80 million by the end of this holiday weekend here in the US.

I watched the american sniper and I really liked the movie. The war Scenes were a bit heavy but it was great.

Spoiler:

I was impressed.

Joanna wrote:I would love to see Benedict get an award together 
with his film The Imitation Game.

Not only because of his performance as Alan Turing,
but as a deserved tribute to the unsung hero,
who shortened WW2 by two years by breaking 
the German's code maker.
Before this film I didn't know about him, although 
my husband did due to his study of WW2.
I suppose this story means more to us here in UK
than to others.
 I'm not wanting to give offence to anyone 
by those words. 

I watched the Imitation game. Great movie. I didn't know the Story before.

Spoiler:

He played amazing.

Yeah, I think Benedict C will take the Oscar for his performance. I love Michael Keaton, but he's a sentimental choice if I'm honest. I don't see anybody getting it over Cumberbatch, except Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything).

Didn't Redmayne win the Screen Actors Guild Best Actor award last night? And he won the GG. I haven't seen Theory yet. I did see Imitation Game this past weekend. Cumberbatch was terrific. All the actors did a wonderful job. Thought Kiera Knightly was great. It was a gripping story. As of now I would say Cumberbatch should win but I still have a few more movies to see. Right now I would like to see This movie win Best Pic. But still have to see Birdman and American Sniper.

Also saw Still Alice with Julianne Moore. I can see why she won Best Actress. She was that movie. Anyone who has had a family member diagnosed with Alzheimer's will appreciate this movie. Moore handled the role perfectly I thought. It was tender, sweet and heartbreaking. Highly recommend it.

Um, I think Ben might have just shot himself in the foot.......

party animal - not! wrote:Um, I think Ben might have just shot himself in the foot.......

Why do you say that PAN?

Given the diversity discussion........

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2927166/I-m-idiot-m-devastated-caused-offense-British-actor-Benedict-Cumberbatch-issues-apology-calling-black-people-colored-television.html

Well it was an unfortunate choice of words. His heart and mind were in the right place in trying to highlight the problem. His choice to use one inappropriate word - should that be held against him? Guess I'm a bit surprised he even used the word. I don't know anyone who uses the word "colored" to describe African Americans anymore.

Dread to think of the language Harvey Weinstein is using right now, Donnamarie!

Not sure which is worse though. Selma not getting more recognition by the Academy or Cumberbatch using the word "colored"?

Donnamarie wrote: Guess I'm a bit surprised he even used the word. I don't know anyone who uses the word "colored" to describe African Americans anymore.

That's the difference between American English and English English. You do still occasionally come across the word being used in the UK and it's truly not meant to be offensive. I thought most Brits knew by now that it's become unacceptable, but this shows that not everyone got the message yet.

Donnamarie wrote:Well it was an unfortunate choice of words.  His heart and mind were in the right place in trying to highlight the problem.  His choice to use one inappropriate word - should that be held against him?   Guess I'm a bit surprised he even used the word. I don't know anyone who uses the word "colored" to describe African Americans anymore.

No, it shouldn't be held against him, he didn't intend any offence and has apologised and presumably now realises why it's a contentious term and likely to offend and is also presumably suitably mortified for not being aware of this. As he should be!

When I was in London (several years ago) with a B-school class, a lecturer noted that there were only two "colored people" in my class -- me and a first-generation Indian American. He was an older man, and didn't quite grasp that he'd said something inappropriate. I think to him it simply meant 'anybody who's not white-skinned.'

Cumberbatch is much younger and presumably more cosmopolitan. It's strange that the phrase would even be part of his social vocabulary. I mean, where has he been that that would be part of any discourse?

"People of color" is acceptable. Maybe that's what he meant/wanted to say, and just got tongue-tied with the heavy subject matter. "Colored people" is not acceptable, and hasn't been for a long time, though it began (in the US, at least) as a "nicer" way to refer to Blacks. It's so strange to my ears that it makes me laugh. The fact that somebody Cumberbatch's age and position said it cracks me up.

Way2Old4Dis wrote:When I was in London (several years ago) with a B-school class, a lecturer noted that there were only two "colored people" in my class -- me and a first-generation Indian American. He was an older man, and didn't quite grasp that he'd said something inappropriate. I think to him it simply meant 'anybody who's not white-skinned.'

Cumberbatch is much younger and presumably more cosmopolitan. It's strange that the phrase would even be part of his social vocabulary. I mean, where has he been that that would be part of any discourse?

"People of color" is acceptable. Maybe that's what he meant/wanted to say, and just got tongue-tied with the heavy subject matter. "Colored people" is not acceptable, and hasn't been for a long time, though it began (in the US, at least) as a "nicer" way to refer to Blacks. It's so strange to my ears that it makes me laugh. The fact that somebody Cumberbatch's age and position said it cracks me up.

^ That's the bit that I found really strange, how he had that in his vocabulary. It is solidly an older generation term, a term that at one point was acceptable but that anyone of my generation would automatically know was long past its acceptable sell-by date.

An initial defence is that he was unsure about what is currently acceptable in America. 'Black' is the standard acceptable form here in the UK but it's not necessarily standard acceptable in America so he might have been floundering a bit to try and use a term that was acceptable. But from his apology, it seems like he had no idea that 'coloured' was a really loaded term so...?

I hope it's given him proper pause for thought.

Referring to African Americans as blacks is widely used in the US. That's the thing I found so curious. At his young age I can't even imagine there are people in his own circle of friends and business relationships who would use that word.

His apology seemed very genuine and heartfelt so hopefully this incident will just fade away.

I know this is no excuse.

Growing up in the UK... at very very good schools.... we were told it was polite to call black people coloured.... as there were many shades of brown and black....
I, like Ben, still find I hesitate today...."Manners" you learn, or have harshly instilled as a child are hard to shake off....My first trip to Africa I was tapped on the shoulder by a Priest and put right....at first I did not believe him, I thought he was rude in the extreme ....I soon got it right...

Kind of interesting.

http://www.ssninsider.com/the-big-unrecognized-pattern-that-is-the-2015-best-picture-nominees/

The Big, Unrecognized Pattern That Is the 2015 Best Picture Nominees

Comment
 27 Jan 2015
 By Neil Turitz

Pretty much what was said here re: Benedict C.:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/28/david-oyelowo-benedict-cumberbatch_n_6563842.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592


David Oyelowo Comes To Benedict Cumberbatch's Defense Over 'Colored' Comment

   |  By NICKI FINLAY  

Posted:  01/28/2015 12:07 pm EST    Updated:  9 minutes ago  

 














LONDON (AP) — "Selma" star David Oyelowo has voiced his support for fellow British actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who came under criticism for using the term "colored" in an interview.
Oyelowo, who plays Martin Luther King Jr. in "Selma," said at the film's European premiere in London on Tuesday that people should focus on what Cumberbatch was saying — rather than the terminology he used.
Discussing diversity in the entertainment industry, Cumberbatch said last week on the "Tavis Smiley" that "as far as colored actors go," there were more opportunities in the U.S. than Britain. "And that's something that needs to change," he said.


Cumberbatch later said sorry for his "thoughtless use of inappropriate language." He said he was "devastated to have caused offence by using this outmoded terminology."
Oyelowo defended Cumberbatch when asked about the comment.
"In relation to Benedict it's definitely gone too far in terms of political correctness," said Oyelowo.
"He was actually being very supportive of the likes of me, and other black actors and actresses — we do have greater opportunities in the U.S. in relation to the U.K."
"We use the term 'people of color' in America. Is that immensely different to what he said? I don't think so, just focus on what he was trying to say."
Directed by Ava DuVernay, "Selma" follows the movement that led to the historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and the subsequent passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The movie was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards. But the fact it was snubbed in other top categories has led to a debate on diversity in the entertainment industry.

Way2, perfect response by Oyelowo. Everyone should just move on.

And I think it was a very classy response by someone who certainly gave an Oscar worthy performance for Selma but wasnt nominated. Yet he defended his fellow actor who was nominated.

Director
Bennett Miller for Boyhood (Miller)

I can't believe you guys didn't call me on this one. I must have had a brain fart.

Richard Linklater is the director of Boyhood. And he's still my pick.

I love "brain farts" hehe