Originally Posted By jdub <<I don't know that it deserves to win, since I haven't seen all the other nominees,>> That's a very important statement, & thank you for making it. Too many folks proclaim what the winner should be--without having seen all of the nominees.
Originally Posted By seanyoda On Saturday the 24th, select AMC theatres will be showing all 5 best picture nominees... <a href="http://www.amctheatres.com/promos/showcase/" target="_blank">http://www.amctheatres.com/pro mos/showcase/</a> For $30 you get admission to the 5 films, plus free popcorn and drinks with refills included.
Originally Posted By DAR <<Too many folks proclaim what the winner should be--without having seen all of the nominees.>> I agree, I've only seen two of the five Best Picture nominees, The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine. I'll be seeing Babel next week, I hope to see Letters from Iwo Jima soon and to be honest the Queen just doesn't interest me that much. Though I imagine one day I'll see it.
Originally Posted By jdub There's actually a lot of laughter to be had in "The Queen;" it's worth a shot.
Originally Posted By DAR I sometimes place movies like this and looking at the nominees this is how they would fall. Opening day/Weekend films/First day DVD purchase: The Departed made into this category for me. Theatrical Run/Budget Theatres:Little Miss Sunshine(had I seen it in theatres) and Letters From Iwo Jima fall into this category, Iwo is because I've seen Flags of Our Fathers and I want to check out Iwo very badly. DVD Rental phase: Babel, a movie I didn't know much about, but it sounds interesting enough that I'll rent it. Many documentaries fall into this category HBO: By no means a bad movie, but I just don't have the urge to watch it right now. Many films on IFC. TBS/TNT: Movies that I had no interest in seeing but hey it's on so I'll check it out. Movies like Paycheck or the Pacifer. I'll read a book instead: Epic Movie, Hannibal Rising, the Messengers, these are usually bottom of the barrel films I have no interest in.
Originally Posted By Spooky Ghost Now that i've seen all the Best Picture nominees I can rank them in order: Little Miss Sunshine A The Departed A Babel A- The Queen B Letters From Iwo Jima D+
Originally Posted By jdub I don't get that. That would be my top choice--I mean, it IS. What's remarkable, actually, is that I think the list is more or less the reverse order of my own! Ah, well :'D
Originally Posted By Spooky Ghost LFIJ was just like every other war movie i've ever seen. And since the genre isint one I particularly care for it didnt get a high mark from me. The most effective scenes for me in the movie were the stuff with the dog and the scene in america. The rest of it was mainly just action sequence after action sequence and thats all just a big snooze for me
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Now that i've seen all the Best Picture nominees I can rank them in order: Little Miss Sunshine A The Departed A Babel A- The Queen B Letters From Iwo Jima D+>> I have not seen Babel, but for me the rankings would be: 1) Letters from Iwo Jima A+ 2) The Departed A 3) The Queen A- 4) Little Miss Sunshine B+
Originally Posted By jdub <<LFIJ was just like every other war movie i've ever seen. And since the genre isint one I particularly care for..>> Thanks for getting into your feeling on this one, it helped explain it to me. I myself avoid war movies (didn't even see this film's precursur, "Flags of Our Fathers"), but I happened to hear Terry Gross interviewing Clint Eastwood about the film, & I thought it sounded like a unique and very interesting take on the genre. And that's what I think it is, the scenes you mentioned, absolutely, plus also the very human portrayals of people previous war films/propoganda have portrayed as one-dimensional enemies.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<LFIJ was just like every other war movie i've ever seen. And since the genre isint one I particularly care for it didnt get a high mark from me. The most effective scenes for me in the movie were the stuff with the dog and the scene in america. The rest of it was mainly just action sequence after action sequence and thats all just a big snooze for me>> I thought it was an absolutely unique and riveting war movie. Yes, it had its actions sequences but I don't think they dominated the film. Among other things the fact that the film presented Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers (including all dialogue being in Japanese) was pretty unique. I also thought it really showed the human side of war. The former baker who clearly is like a fish out of water. He tries his best but inevitably ends up doing the wrong thing. The Olympic equestrian hero, there with his beloved horse, who clearly know he like everyone else will die but is there to do his duty. The "thinking man's" Japanese general who is accused of being an American sympathizer because he feels men who lose in battle should live to fight again rather than committing suicide to preserve their "honor'. It also showed that "the enemy", rather than some nameless, faceless evil, are human beings just like us with many of the same thoughts and fears that we have. That although they are there to give their lives if necessary, they too at times doubt the wisdom of the political decisions that put them where they are. I truly think it was one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen. But then that's just me. Different strokes for different folks...
Originally Posted By ToonKirby My final predictions: Best Picture: Will win: "The Departed" Left Out: "United 93", "Little Children", "Half Nelson", "Pan's Labyrinth", "Casino Royale" ... Best Actor: Will win: Peter O'Toole (don't think the Academy will deny him for the 8th - ! - time) Should win: Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson" Left Out: Daniel Craig, "Casino Royale"; Patrick Wilson, "Little Children"; Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You for Smoking" ... Best Actress: Will win: Helen Mirren, "The Queen" Left Out: Annette Bening, "Running With Scissors"; Ivana Baquero, "Pan's Labyrinth" Supporting Actor: Will win: Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine" Should win: Jackie Earl Haley, "Little Children" Left Out: James McAvoy, "The Last King of Scotland"; Stanley Tucci, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Ben Affleck, "Hollywoodland"; Sergi Lopez, "Pan's Labyrinth" Supporting Actress: Will Win: Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls" (but it will look like a big mistake in about 2 years, mark my words) Left Out: Emily Blunt, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Jill Clayburgh, "Running With Scissors"; Parker Posey, "Superman Returns" Best Director: Will Win: Martin Scorsese, "The Departed" (he's due, but for this movie?) Should Win: Paul Greengrass, "United 93" Left Out: Guillermo del Toro, "Pan's Labyrinth"; Ryan Fleck, "Half Nelson"; Todd Field, "Little Children" Original Screenplay: Will Win: "Little Miss Sunshine" Should Win: "Pan's Labyrinth" Left Out: "Half Nelson", "United 93" Adapted Screenplay: Will Win: "The Departed" Should Win: "Little Children" Left Out: "The Devil Wears Prada", "Thank You for Smoking", "The Last King of Scotland" Cinematography: Will Win: "Children of Men" Left Out: "Casino Royale", "Superman Returns" Art Direction: Will Win: "Dreamgirls" Should Win: "Pan's Labyrinth" Left Out: "Casino Royale", "Superman Returns" Costume Design: Will Win: "Dreamgirls" Left Out: "The Prestige", "Hollywoodland", "Idlewild" Original Score: Will Win: "The Queen" Should Win: "Pan's Labyrinth" Left Out: "The Illusionist", "Superman Returns" Original Song: Will Win: "Listen", "Dreamgirls" Left Out: "You Know My Name", "Casino Royale"; "Till the End of Time", "Little Miss Sunshine"; "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)", "Snakes on a Plane"; "PJ & Rooster", "Idlewild" Film Editing: Will Win: "The Departed" Should Win: "United 93" Left Out: "Casino Royale", "The Prestige" Sound Mixing: Will Win: "Dreamgirls" Left Out: "Casino Royale", "Superman Returns" Sound Editing: Will Win: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" Left Out: "Casino Royale", "Superman Returns" Visual Effects: Will/Should Win: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" Left Out: "Casino Royale", "Pan's Labyrinth" Make Up: Will/Should Win: "Pan's Labyrinth" Left Out: "The Prestige", "Dreamgirls" Foreign Language Film: Will Win: "The Lives of Others", Germany Should Win: "Pan's Labyrinth", Mexico Documentary Feature: Will Win: "An Inconvenient Truth" Left Out: "Wordplay" Animated Feature: Will Win: "Cars" Left Out: "Over the Hedge" Animated Short: Will/Should Win: Disney's "The Little Matchgirl" (Don Hahn finally gets an Oscar!) Live Action Short: Will Win: "West Bank Story" Documentary Short: Will Win: "Two Hands"
Originally Posted By leemac <<Animated Short: Will/Should Win: Disney's "The Little Matchgirl" (Don Hahn finally gets an Oscar!)>> I really hope so. It is also one of the best shorts ever made by Disney IMHO. Totally got me.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ It is on The Little Mermaid DVD. I don't think it had a life outside of festivals.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ No worries jdub. Watch it if you have the DVD. It is a wonderful piece of animation.
Originally Posted By LPFan22 Little Match Girl on the Little Mermaid dvd is such a beautiful short. I can never watch it without a tissue in hand. It's the best version of LMG I've ever seen.
