Oscar Fallout
I think the Oscar controversy is not so much about Crash winning, but about Brokeback losing.
It doesn't really matter which of the other four films won, since the point is that the best and arguably most popular film lost.
Anti-gay rights groups are claiming victory, but they're in almost the same category as Holocaust deniers, in my opinion.
The general tone I'm sensing around here and on the internet and in popular culture is shock and dismay at Brokeback's loss. Crash was a good flick, many agree (some detract), but that is not the point. The other nominated films were just as good, but Brokeback was the extraordinary one. I have a hard time believing the Academy was too conservative to choose Brokeback, after all, they nominated it. But that seems like one of the only plausible explanations.
The nice man over at Slowly Going Bald feels similarly.
I also like Pajiba's views on the Oscars in particular and films in general. Intelligent, humorous writing.
On an unrelated note, I'm sad to say that "24" has begun its descent from popularity and relevance. I feel it has lost its momentum this season and become predictable and reliant on old plot mechanisms. Too many of the lead characters were killed off and there aren't any new ones to latch onto. Palmer, Michelle, Tony, and now Edgar are all out of commission.
One episode this season had very little screentime for Jack, which slowed the momentum considerably. The terrorists are starting to look alike, behave alike, and Jack's habit of going it alone and defying CTU is getting old.
I like Bill Buchanan's character very much, but he's best as a supporting character, not a primary one. Same with Audrey Raines.
I feel like i'm starting to see through the premise, and it's disappointing. i bought into all of it and was able to suspend disbelief for the previous seasons, when the show moved so quickly it could hardly keep up with itself.
I'm still watching, though!
[listening to the tonight show in bed]: the matthew mcconaughey-sarah jessica parker feud continues. apparently, they did not get on well on the set of their new film, and, when asked to describe parker during an interview, mcconaughey struggled for a bit, then came up with a generic description. on the tonight show, leno doesn't even mention her name, instead focusing on terry bradshaw rather than on parker during his chat w/mcconaughey. as leno talks with all of his guests backstage before the show, i'm guessing a deliberate decision was made not to discuss parker. tom cruise controls which of his films will be discussed during interviews; they almost always exclude Nicole Kidman.
mcconaughey seems like a delightfully laid back guy; maybe parker's a bit tightly wound? too much of the bratty carrie bradshaw residue left over? anyway, ebert and roeper are coming on to discuss the oscars. stay tuned.
It doesn't really matter which of the other four films won, since the point is that the best and arguably most popular film lost.
Anti-gay rights groups are claiming victory, but they're in almost the same category as Holocaust deniers, in my opinion.
The general tone I'm sensing around here and on the internet and in popular culture is shock and dismay at Brokeback's loss. Crash was a good flick, many agree (some detract), but that is not the point. The other nominated films were just as good, but Brokeback was the extraordinary one. I have a hard time believing the Academy was too conservative to choose Brokeback, after all, they nominated it. But that seems like one of the only plausible explanations.
The nice man over at Slowly Going Bald feels similarly.
I also like Pajiba's views on the Oscars in particular and films in general. Intelligent, humorous writing.
On an unrelated note, I'm sad to say that "24" has begun its descent from popularity and relevance. I feel it has lost its momentum this season and become predictable and reliant on old plot mechanisms. Too many of the lead characters were killed off and there aren't any new ones to latch onto. Palmer, Michelle, Tony, and now Edgar are all out of commission.
One episode this season had very little screentime for Jack, which slowed the momentum considerably. The terrorists are starting to look alike, behave alike, and Jack's habit of going it alone and defying CTU is getting old.
I like Bill Buchanan's character very much, but he's best as a supporting character, not a primary one. Same with Audrey Raines.
I feel like i'm starting to see through the premise, and it's disappointing. i bought into all of it and was able to suspend disbelief for the previous seasons, when the show moved so quickly it could hardly keep up with itself.
I'm still watching, though!
[listening to the tonight show in bed]: the matthew mcconaughey-sarah jessica parker feud continues. apparently, they did not get on well on the set of their new film, and, when asked to describe parker during an interview, mcconaughey struggled for a bit, then came up with a generic description. on the tonight show, leno doesn't even mention her name, instead focusing on terry bradshaw rather than on parker during his chat w/mcconaughey. as leno talks with all of his guests backstage before the show, i'm guessing a deliberate decision was made not to discuss parker. tom cruise controls which of his films will be discussed during interviews; they almost always exclude Nicole Kidman.
mcconaughey seems like a delightfully laid back guy; maybe parker's a bit tightly wound? too much of the bratty carrie bradshaw residue left over? anyway, ebert and roeper are coming on to discuss the oscars. stay tuned.
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