Wednesday
Feb152017
What's on your cinematic mind?
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 6:10PM Let us regroup here behind the scenes while you tell us and then we'll sprint towards Oscar night together.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 6:10PM
Reader Comments (60)
Award season makes me more aggressive than I already am when being passionate about my cause. Thinking about the nominated but unrewarded actresses upsets me. I guess this is the closest thing to a sports team losing I'll ever experience what my straight counterparts do.
Racially speaking I prefer European foreign language cinema as opposed to foreign language movies that cover the global. I do care about Japan for example. I love electronics and the imagery of the country without being preoccupied with how regular Japanese people experience the everyday through narrative features and TV programs.
Meryl Streep is not a radical for going against Trump. Unlike Vanessa Redgrave who continues to experience stigma for her political beliefs and her willingness to express them at the expense of her public and professional popularity -- Streep is going after a devil without a disguise. So people accept it. Now I know online culture would have you believe conservative fans of hers are upset. I don't think they care.
Viola Davis securing her triple crown status on Oscar night feels like the ultimate validation of her work as an actress. Hoping Washington secures a 3rd win.
Jennifer Jason Leigh would be more popular if she were a foreign actress. Although the same could be said for other brave American actresses like Julianne Moore. Actresses who tackle difficult material. When foreigners do it they get way more approval than our domestic goddesses.
Who's gonna be the breakout actress of 2017? Rebecca Ferguson? Claire Foy? Anya Taylor-Joy? Tessa Thompson?
After watching Hanna I'm thinking about what are other great female performances in action films? They seem so rare!
Are we gonna get the rest of the Film Bitch Awards soon? Pretty please?
Where do the Moonlight male cast go from here,I am excited to see what the soulful Rhodes has in store,hands down my BSA winner this year.
I love Anya Taylor-Joy and Tessa Thompson
- but haven't they already broken out, so to speak?
They don't have to become any bigger, for my money.
A little disappointed that Tessa's going the Superhero-route - with Thor.
I hate superhero movies so much - and too many young promising actors have been "ruined" by those shitty movies and their franchises.
Scarlett Johansson and Elizabeth Olsen being two examples.
It'll break my heart if Anya Taylor-Joy joins a superhero movie, it really would.
Not because I'm a movie snob, but because those movies give the actors so little to do.
Because they insist on cramming so fucking many superheroes and villains into one movie.
And then they contract the actors for millions of sequels so they don't have any time to make the smaller and much more interesting movies.
I find Rebecca Ferguson highly overrated.
She can go back to Sweden, for all I care.
'Jasper Jones' is on my mind. I hope that it does really well at the Australian box office.
Trailer: https://youtu.be/Ti0XVYcRR4s
@ Ulrich
By breakout I meant like Chastain and Vikander did in their breakout years. You know: very visible, It Girl status, Oscar nomination etc.
Ulrich,
Rebecca Ferguson is sensational. Send Alicia Vikander to Sweden in her place, please.
Can't wait to read your "how did they get nominated"... always a favorite of phase 2.
I'm not quite losing sleep over it, but I'm feeling really anxious about Moonlight going home empty handed on Oscar night. Except for Viola's likely win, I'm wondering if the So White part of Oscars will make itself known all over again.
@ Paul Outlaw:
I see.
I can definitely see Anya Taylor-Joy becoming an it-girl - in my book she already is!
But I can also see her getting a nom and even winning in the foreseeable future.
She's got the chops, she's got the momentum, she's got the Emma Stone-megawatt charm, too.
Who is going to be the next Asian actor to win an Oscar? Is Dev Patel going to upset this year?
Full disclosure: I thought La La Land was fine, but nothing more than that.
I can't help but think that La La Land is just a less effective version of 500 Days of Summer: Los Angeles, musical number(s), romance, a very defined visual palette, and [POSSIBLY VERY MILD SPOILER DEPENDING ON YOUR DEFINITION OF SPOILERS] the last five minutes of La La Land, which many people have told me they loved, very closely mimics a conceit in the final third of 500 Days.
Also, though 500 Days isn't a musical per se, the songs on the soundtrack are carefully chosen and are integral to the mood of the scenes they appear in.
Except I thought that 500 days played its emotional cards more ably, and, whatever can be said for La La Land's charm, 500 Days is much, much funnier. Does anyone else feel this overlap as strongly as I do?
I had the craziest dream last night. Isabelle Huppert won the Oscar. LMAO but it did happen.
The more I think about it, it's more obvious that Viola could have easily won the Oscar in lead if she submitted that way. I mean even Patricia Neal won for Hud and she was barely in it.
I for one cannot wait for LITTLE BIG LIES!
Who are the fucking idiots that is funding the new Star Wars parody directed by the duo of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer? Has these investor seen their parodies? They're worse than bottom of the barrel. It's among the lowest of the low in cinema. It doesn't even deserve to be called cinema or bad cinema. It's trash in its ugliest and most loathsome in the same circle as reality TV.
Nat: I know this isn't a Q&A, but I'm wondering what it would take to make the first good official video game adaptation. I don't agree with the one idea Extra Credits tossed out (Call of Duty, a war film from a first person perspective).
If I were to toss out 5 ideas that, with the right hands on them, could work as Western made movies?
Sonic the Hedgehog (Mario, as a character, is too arch, and the aesthetic of his universe is...yeah, American movies would never go there. With the right talent and direction (aka, not a live-action CG fusion (seriously, there are not enough major human characters in the Sonic franchise to justify the live-action and it'd almost definitely be The Smurfs all over again), I think a very good movie could result from his "90s-cool" competitor)
Saints Row
Bayonetta
Portal
Deus Ex
I've been having issues with a few of my friends regarding entertainment as a whole. Art is highly subjective to the persons consuming it. I had this discussion about the importance of one work over how much I absolutely loved another work. My friend said the other work had more value based on how culturally relevant it was and I didn't enjoy said work that much while agreeing that yes it was important, but I still would give best status to the work I enjoyed more. Sorry for being vague, but I'm seeing similar discussions across the board regarding film, television, and music.
"Love Affair" is on TMC right now. It's not my favorite, so my mind is wandering. Between Dunne, Boyer, and Ouspenskaya, there's 11 acting nominations without a win. I wonder what movie holds the record?
I think next year could be Annette Bening's year finally. She's playing a dying Gloria Grahame. Omg! Can't wait
@Guestguestguest
Casino Royale manages 21 with Boyer, Deborah Kerr, Peter O'Toole and Peter Sellars
Becket manages 15 with O'Toole and Richard Burton.
The Proud and the Profane manages twelve with Kerr and Thelma Ritter.
Night of the Iguana: 15 (Burton, Kerr, Ava Gardner, Grayson Hall)
From Here to Eternity: 12 (Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Jack Warden)
Giant: 11 (James Dean, Rock Hudson, Sal Mineo, Dennis Hopper, Carroll Baker, Nick Adams, Barbara Barrie)
Paul -- not sure From Here would count since Lancaster is also in it and did eventually win... unless i dont know what we're counting ;)
Patriarchal white society. Being one of the more interesting commenters, then squandering that by consistently posting something wretched or unnecessary.
Brian - Same with me right now. I get that A LOT A LOT of people are more vigilant about consuming and promoting and loving "culturally relevant" things (whatever that means to an individual), but it also makes people so raw and slightly unhinged when other people don't love it as much as them and HOW DARE WE like something that isn't so "culturally relevant."
And yes, it definitely spilling over to a lot of things... films, music, TV, books.
I don't understand it when people say I don't care about actor/ actress personal life I care about the performance. Are they trying to say that actors/ actresses should be treated better than doctors, lawyers and teacher. You don't care when an actor murders, rapes or sexually assaults someone? You really think a teacher, lawyer or doctor would still be working? I could see if the actor/ actress did something minor, but I dont get it :-/.
/3rtful -
Yesterday guess what I found out ? My White coworker who does less than I, has less experience than I, but gets paid more. So excuse me for being SICK AND TIRED OF BLACK WOMEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO GET THE SAME TREATMENT THAT MEDIOCRE WHITE WOMEN GET!!! EXCUSE ME FOR BEING SICK AND TIRED OF HOW WE ARE TREATED IN THE MEDIA COMPARED TO WHITE COUNTERPARTS. EXCUSE THE FUCK OUT OF ME.
Sorry if I'm repeating myself but I'd love to hear thoughts on previous Director nominee works: Medicine for Melancholy, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (which I'm trying to track down!), Incendies, Prisoners, Sicario, You Can Count On Me, Margaret and a discussion on whether any Mel Gibson movies are worth seeing.
Nat, I was coming up with films that had the highest number of career nominations without a win from its cast members. (Didn't matter if there were Oscar-winning actors in the cast as well.)
@eurocheese - Any of Lonergan's or Villeneuve's previous efforts are worth seeing (although I haven't seen the latter's breakthrough film Polytechnique.
You can skip Gibson's movies.
If you could switch out an Oscar nominated performance for one the actor/actress was not nominated for, which would it be?
My example would be Amy Adams-- trade "American Hustle" lead actress of "Enchanted."
Thoughts on yours?
Mikenewq, good game.
Blanchett - The Golden Age for Talented Mr Ripley
Pfeiffer - Love Field for Batman Returns
Tucci - Lovely Bones for Julie and Julia
I think Moonlight has a relatively high chance to win two Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.
Although, both actor categories this year are (excitedly) up in the air this year. I still have a hard time imagining Denzel Washington as a 3-time winner, and feel like they'll give it to Casey Affleck, but who knows.
Can Dev Patel really win best supporting actor? Or could (gasp) Jeff Bridges pull off a surprise win in an effort to reward Hell or High Water somewhere? I still think Mahershala Ali has the edge, but honestly I could see a case for either him, Patel, Bridges, or even Hedges. This category reminds me a lot of the supporting actress race in 2007 when Our Dear Tilda eked out a win after a wildly confusing precursor run for Amy Ryan (Critics Choice Winner), Cate Blanchett (Globe Winner), and Ruby Dee (SAG Winner).
Hi Nat
Can we have 4 or 5 nice or lovely surprises u wld like to see at Oscars as part o yo counting down the days??
For me, the suprises I wld LUV to see:
1) Huppert wins Best Actress
2) Gosling wins Best Actor
3) Arrival wins best adapted screenplay
4) Lonergan best original screenplay
5) Moonlight best director
6) Allied best costumes
eurocheese: I would recommend Gibson's other work. He can direct action well. And Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ snd Apocalypto are all beautifully filmed. There are unlikeable things about them too, but if you are interested in mainstream craft, you may want to see them.
mikenewq, JB: Yes, good game! I absolutely second the Stanley Tucci suggestion. And a few others:
- Joan Fontaine: swap Suspicion (good though she is) for Letter from an Unknown Woman;
- Robert Shaw: swap A Man for All Seasons (good though he is) for The Sting or Jaws;
- Fred Astaire: swap The Towering Inferno (adorable though he is) for Top Hat;
- Glenn Close: swap The Natural for Reversal of Fortune.
@mikenewq: nice game!
For me
1) K Hepburn, swap The Rainmaker for Holiday or Adam's Rib
2) Liz Taylor, swap Butterfield 8 for Giant
3) Bette Davis, swap The Star for Of Human Bondage
4) Garbo, swap Romance for Queen Christina or Anna Karenina
5) Amy Adams, swap The Master for Arrival
6) Blanchette, swap The Golden Age for Oscar n Lucinda
Thank God Mahershala Ali didn't get all these awards love when he was credited as Mahershalalhashbaz.
Paul et all: Nat had it right, I was intending to think of movies with no Oscar winners in the cast.
eurocheese: funny, because if you live in DeKalb county, Atlanta, "Guy and Madeline" is at almost every library branch. I haven't borrowed it yet, though! Maybe I should?
@mikenewq: Nice game!
For me:
1. Rachel McAdams: swap Spotlight for Mean Girls
2. Catherine Keener: swap Capote for 40 Year Old Virgin
3. Bradley Cooper: swap American Hustle for Place Beyond The Pines
4. Amy Adams: swap Doubt for Her
5. Christian Bale: swap The Big Short for American Psycho
6. Naomi Watts: swap The Impossible for Mulholland Dr.
mikenewq: 5 from me
Ryan Gosling: Swap La La Land for The Nice Guys
Amy Adams: Swap Doubt for Arrival
Michelle Pfeiffer: Swap Love Field for Batman Returns
Leonardo DiCaprio: Swap The Revenant for Catch Me If You Can
Jack Nicholson: Swap The Last Detail for The Shining
Paul Outlaw: Whether you're going off strictly acting nominations and acting wins, or acting nominations and "did they win something else" you're one off. 22 for the former, 20 for the latter (Boyer: 4, Kerr: 6, O'Toole: 8, Sellers: 2, Welles: 1, Allen: 1).
Farrah,
I wouldn't waste my breath they will never understand. A Black women have to be exceptional to garner respect etc. White women just have to exist.
Why does Meryl Streep bring her agent as her plus one to award shows? Isn't Huvane also the agent for Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Woody Allen?
Patriarchal white society. Being one of the more interesting commenters, then squandering that by consistently posting something wretched or unnecessary.
Why write this under my handle?
Holy crap, ya'll played along!
@JB (as wellas Volvagia), YES on the Pfeiffer! Every time I watch Batman Returns I wonder how the hell did she (AND DEVITO IMO) not have an awards sweep that year? Both were perfection in my eyes.
@Edward L, I feel like any Glenn Close performance can be switched in and out! Great list!
@Matt St Clair, I think everyone will agree on Rachel. I love your swap on Keener and I'm 100 with you on the Christian Bale switch!
@Volvagia, ALL OF THEM, yes.
Thanks for the friendly responses!
I cannot get past Annette's snubbing this year. It's one of the worst that's ever happened.
And of course, as always, Jennifer Jones.
I think the theme was the cinematic mind... you are out of line with your rant about blacks and whites. Let 's keep to cinema and less politics.
I sympathize with the situation, but not here. This is what I mean about going for enjoyment on this website and having negative rants.
she writes under your "handle" because you often espouse these thoughts
@/rtful
@Farrah
Everything I said was attached to movie stars. Sorry I can't be shallow for a beauty break or wonder when the feminine won't be seen as weak.
@Aaron
Nikki,
I think it's strange to compare actors with doctors, lawyers and teachers. We need to trust the latter in order to give them power and control over our bodies, health, freedom, finances, children's education. They have the power to hurt us.
We don't need to trust actors on a personal level and they don't have any power over our lives. There is no pragmatic reason to bother about their moral fibre. It's all about morals and purity..
And that is becoming more and more important.
Somewhere down the line - when Big Brother has come of age - maybe an actor takes a moral stand and decides that no immoral people are allowed to see his or her film. Finger printing at the movie theater, a computer hooked up to the FBI, NSA, Homeland Security - piece of cake.
Last night I saw Anna Jordan's play YEN, a production of MCC here in New York. Lucas Hedges gives a terrific performance - radically different from his work in Manchester. I liked but wasn't bowled over by him in the Lonergan film - he's quite good, even with the wandering accent, but the critical fawning felt generous - but I gotta say, after seeing this play last night, I can say that the kid has some real range, and some guts to match (the play not only makes considerable physical and emotional demands of him, but requires him to be in various states of undress most of the time.) While it is not for the faint of heart, and by no means a great play - to put it kindly, the writing is not particularly nuanced - it's worth seeing for him - still runs another few weeks.