Originally Posted By Disney and beyond <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/walleawardsad.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp...dsad.jpg</a> Glad they are at least pushing the prospect. I'm totally rooting for WALL-E over Dark Knight and here is why. I saw WALL-E four times and Dark Knight Twice. All Four Times seeing WALL-E, I got goosebumps multiple times. Dark Knight? Nope. And in response to "What will be different about this year" comments. Its something I call Powerfulbility- The ability to be considered a powerful film. Lets take The Incredibles and Ratatouille for example. Both of those films are great, but I think to message that the film provides does not have enough powerfulbitlity to be considered as a best picture film Now let us take a look at Beauty and The Beast. The Powerfulbility of that film is off the charts. In fact, I don't think an animated film since has come close to the Powerfulbilities of BatB (With the possible exception of The Lion King, depending on how you look at the film.) Until WALL-E, that is. Only time will tell if WALL-E's Powerfulbility level will surpass that of BatB's, but I think it is about equal, and in this weaker year in films, I think it is the prime shot to make a run for Best Picture. Also, would someone mind telling me other films that have Best Picture buzz besides WALL-E and Dark Knight? Fred Willard for Best Supporting Actor
Originally Posted By ToonKirby >Also, would someone mind telling me other films that have Best Picture buzz besides WALL-E and Dark Knight?< Australia The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Defiance Doubt Frost/Nixon Gran Torino Milk The Reader Revolutionary Road Slumdog Millionaire The Wrestler All of these have yet to be seen by the masses but are all due out by the end of the year. Based solely on preconceived notions (obviously), I would predict the BP nominees will be: Australia The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Doubt Milk Slumdog Millionaire I'm a bit biased though, as I found "The Dark Knight" entirely overrated. And "WALL-E", as great as it is, will have to settle for the Animated Feature nomination. I just don't see an animated film getting nominated for BP as long as there is the separate category. Btw, it sounds like "WALL-E" will have some strong competition after all from "Waltz With Bashir", this year's "Persepolis". Third AF nominee will probably be "Kung Fu Panda". - kch <a href="http://moviedearest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://moviedearest.blogspot.com/</a>
Originally Posted By Disney and beyond I agree with you that Dark Knight is overrated. Another thing WALL-E has going for it is the Academy loves Romances
Originally Posted By mawnck Kirby - My calculations say there's a good chance we'll get to the magic number of 16 animated features this year. We might get five nominees in the category for only the second time ever. If not, and if Sita Sings the Blues manages to get qualified by some miracle, expect to see one of those three you mentioned kicked to the curb. A horrendous case of underfunding, and a creator who has this thing about purchasing music synchronization licenses, are standing in its way, but it's a brilliant film. <a href="http://www.sitasingstheblues.com" target="_blank">http://www.sitasingstheblues.com</a> I will see "Bashir" later today at the AFI Fest and report in with a review.
Originally Posted By EmmaJayne I really hope Wall E makes it to the list, sure animated films have their own category but we all know that Wall E is a cut above your avaerage animated film. The Dark Knight- I didn't even see it. After so much hype I knew I could only be dissapointed by it.. And other than that, as an Aussie- I really hope Australia makes it and I'm thrilled to see that you American's are anticipating it to be a success.. I was kind of worried it would be over looked by all except us.. (sorry to go a bit off topic)
Originally Posted By ToonKirby Aside from "Milk", "Australia" is the movie I am most looking forward to this fall. Looking forward to your report on "Waltz With Bashir". Btw, it has also been submitted for the Foreign Language category. - kch
Originally Posted By mawnck Hokay. Comparing "Waltz With Bashir" to any of the other flicks is like comparing apples to architecture. It's a deadly serious war movie about an Israeli veteran seeking info about a massacre of civilians in Lebanon that he was somehow involved in, but has no memories of. It's very powerful (like any war movie worth its salt) and I'm sure the Oscar voters will love it if they can be talked into watching it, but I personally wouldn't put it in the first tier, partly because the animation is distractingly poor, and partly because it's got a bad case of "radio with pictures" syndrome. I think it would be a much more vivid movie if you watched it with your eyes closed. It'll be interesting to see how much of a release they can get out of it, since it's a slam-dunk NC-17 unless they make a couple cuts. BTW ... killed 2 birds with 1 stone today by also going to see another Oscar hopeful in LA, "Fear(s) of the Dark" (sic), which has its qualifier run at the NuArt this week. French anthology of creepy stories, graphically interesting and varied, almost entirely black-and-white (guess France must be low on color film stock - see "Persepolis" from last year), rather comic-booky, heavy on suspense and light on gory. Think of it as a noir version of Heavy Metal. Except terribly pretentious. And entirely devoid of any humor, cool rock music, or hot chicks. Not a contender, says me.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I really hope that Wall-E has a chance of getting nominated for Best Picture. If it was up to me, there is absolutely no comparison between Dark Knight and Wall-E. While DK has some really great special effects and amazing action sequences, I found the movie to be very flat. Granted, I'm not one for comic book-based movies at all, but I just didn't find it believable. Not a single major character acted in a way that was even remotely realistic. I'm not talking about being able to fly or blow things up, but I just couldn't relate to any of them. I couldn't even say that any of them were like people I knew. They were just a bunch of people that were so over-played that they became boring and predictable. And the worst offender, in my opinion was Heath Ledger as The Joker. I think the only other film I've seen with him was 10 Things I Hate About You, and he was great in it. Very believable, fairly likeable, and there was at least some sense of being able to relate to him. As The Joker, he just did all sorts of absolutely rediculous things that were so out there that I couldn't fall for it. Some of it was the script, and some of it was him. I fault both of them. Then, contrast this with Wall-E, where we have two pieces of metal, which should hardly be believable, that fall in love. Yet, it's done in a way that everybody in the audince can relate to. The extended sequences without dialogue really reminded me of the great classic films of the 30's and 40's, where they knew how to tell a story. It wasn't through special effects or action sequences or people professing their love. It was just simply showing the audince what they needed to see. Actions speak far louder than words, and for Wall-E, that meant that the film came through loud and clear. I really hope that the Academy notices this, and gives it the credit it deserves. (Could it be nominated for both Best Picture and Best Animated Picture??) And for what it's worth, I thought Inaiana Jones was much much bettern than DK. While the situations were way out there and not believable (DK suffered from this as well), the characters were warm(ish) and believable. All films worth their weight, no matter what the subject, are about characters. If the audience can't connect to the characters, then the entire film is lost on them.
Originally Posted By mawnck >> I really hope that the Academy notices this, and gives it the credit it deserves. (Could it be nominated for both Best Picture and Best Animated Picture??)<< Theoretically? Yes. Realistically? Fat chance. **Every** PIXAR movie has had ads just like that one, asking for consideration for Best Picture. You know the results.
Originally Posted By DAR <<And the worst offender, in my opinion was Heath Ledger as The Joker. I think the only other film I've seen with him was 10 Things I Hate About You, and he was great in it. Very believable, fairly likeable, and there was at least some sense of being able to relate to him. As The Joker, he just did all sorts of absolutely rediculous things that were so out there that I couldn't fall for it. Some of it was the script, and some of it was him. I fault both of them.>> As somebody who has read comics for years and followed the Joker I can tell you that the writers, director and Ledger got the Joker down to a T. In fact it is the best depiction of the Joker in any medium. I loved Wall-E with all my heart, but right now it's not even close, The Dark Knight is the best film I have seen in the last two years.
Originally Posted By SBSBelle22 I liked his portrayal of the Joker as well, ever since the 60's TV series he's become more of a sort of goofball than a villain... though I did like him in the animated series with Harley Quinn-it would be great if they brought her into the movies Oh, but whether WALL-E has a decent shot at best picture-he's sure to take the animated category... it would be a tragedy if it didn't. and I can't wait to see Australia-looks fantastic!
Originally Posted By mawnck >>whether WALL-E has a decent shot at best picture-he's sure to take the animated category... it would be a tragedy if it didn't. << I've said it before dozens of times and I'll say it again dozens of times ... don't go passing out Oscars unless you've seen all the (critically acclaimed) entries. For example, remember all the people who got frosted over Lilo and Stitch losing to Spirited Away ... who hadn't seen Spirited Away? I've seen an animated feature this year that's better than Wall-E, but I doubt it'll be submitted due to funding issues: <a href="http://www.sitasingstheblues.com" target="_blank">http://www.sitasingstheblues.com</a>
Originally Posted By SBSBelle22 You're right, I always forget about the indies and foreign ones that end up nominated... oops Still, I think WALL-E has a good chance
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I gotta say, as a Batman fan....I thought the movie was above average but nothing spectacular - however I do think Ledger's Joker was amazing....without that the movie isn't middle of the road. Just IMHO..... As for Wall-E as best picture -- the message is best picture stuff, but the depressing kind of stuff the 'academy' looks for won't be there - we'll get some other tripe instead. I don't think DK or Wall-E will be in the mix... As for Indy -- great fun - enjoyable -- best pic - no
