Awards Season 2016

[cinéaste25]

But, the Oscars has never recognized the 'best in film' across the board. And, therefore, its popularity amongst the younger generations has waned.

I think that's an exceedingly generous explanation for why younger generations aren't interested in the Oscars. Isn't it more likely that they're just interested in a different kind of mediocre film? I'm pretty sure that filling the nominations with films by Lisandro Alonso, Cristi Puiu or Joanna Hogg wouldn't result in the increased engagement of under-25s! Chucking a bunch of superhero films in there, maybe.

Well, perhaps, you're right. But, let's not pretend that my generation is the only one crowding the theaters on release day. What I simply meant to say is that younger generations have a growing understanding of the insignificance of such award shows to the culture at large. Moreover, while all three of the directors mentioned are gifted auteurs, only one has made a film within the past decade worthy of awards consideration, in my opinion. In any case, I didn't come here to argue. I was merely curious as to how the Oscar predictions were determined.

[knives]

Moreover, while all three of the directors mentioned are gifted auteurs, only one has made a film within the past decade worthy of awards consideration, in my opinion.

Oh wait are you serious? Could you enlighten us which is the one? I can't figure it out.

[dda1996a]

Well I doubt he meant Jauja, so I'm guessing Puiu for 4 Months, which crazily enough wasn't even nominated for best foreign film

[swo17]

Even more crazily, Puiu didn't direct it.

[cinéaste25]

Moreover, while all three of the directors mentioned are gifted auteurs, only one has made a film within the past decade worthy of awards consideration, in my opinion.

:lol: Oh wait are you serious? :shock: Could you enlighten us which is the one? I can't figure it out.

Why, yes, of course! Cristi Puiu for The Death of Mr. Lazarescu. As I said, this is only my opinion and is not meant to take away from the merits of the other directors. But, that film is the only one that I would consider among the best films of its respective year. Jauja was great, but did it deserve a Best Picture nomination, I don't think so.

[knives]

Well I doubt he meant Jauja, so I'm guessing Puiu for 4 Months, which crazily enough wasn't even nominated for best foreign film

Alonso has made more than one film in the past decade. Also Jauja is great fun.

[movielocke]

What I simply meant to say is that younger generations have a growing understanding of the insignificance of such award shows to the culture at large.

no they don't. Don't extrapolate your personal niche or the niche you find sufficiently vocal and persuasive to the much larger population as a whole. Younger generations tastes are pretty much the same as older generations tastes, there are plenty of us old people who enthusiastically disdain anything tainted with the stench of popular masses, and this predictable niche of antipopular conformists has been around since time immemorial. Nothing special about it at all, same as it ever was.

[cinéaste25]

What I simply meant to say is that younger generations have a growing understanding of the insignificance of such award shows to the culture at large.

no they don't. Don't extrapolate your personal niche or the niche you find sufficiently vocal and persuasive to the much larger population as a whole. Younger generations tastes are pretty much the same as older generations tastes, there are plenty of us old people who enthusiastically disdain anything tainted with the stench of popular masses, and this predictable niche of antipopular conformists has been around since time immemorial. Nothing special about it at all, same as it ever was.

Well, that's just simply not true, but I digress.

Why all this sanctimonious talk about 'niches'? I don't need you to proselytize to me about the perceived novelty of being an individual in modern society, or my personal film tastes, for that matter. You're right, I shouldn't have made generalizations about older or younger generations. But, neither should you. In any case, I meant no harm by my comments.

[dda1996a]

I know he had (even though sadly I didn't get around to watching any of his films yet) and I feel like a noon for confusing Mungiu and Puiu... I wish there were good transfers so I can finally watch Aurora and Mr. Lazarescu.
But those films never have the chance of getting on the best foreign list, no doubt best picture. They day an Alonso film nabs an Oscar nomination is the day my respect for the Oscar's will be back. As it stands I just watch everything nominated for best picture just for hell of it, and only take real interest in animation, foreign and documentary where the really interesting films get nominated (screenplay gets one or two more edgy films in the mix, but that's about it).

[knives]

Aurora has a great disc out from Cinema Guild. As to the rest, that goes into the larger point that the purpose of the oscar has never been about the absolute quality of the films (though I think the last two choices have been good) as much as about Hollywood politics. Don't act as if there is a respect to earn back since the nature of the beast would always have prevented your current approach from liking them.

[dda1996a]

The last two what? I liked Spotlight, but I honestly find it harder and harder to live in a world where inaritu has two Oscar's for directing and another for writing

[movielocke]

What I simply meant to say is that younger generations have a growing understanding of the insignificance of such award shows to the culture at large.

no they don't. Don't extrapolate your personal niche or the niche you find sufficiently vocal and persuasive to the much larger population as a whole. Younger generations tastes are pretty much the same as older generations tastes, there are plenty of us old people who enthusiastically disdain anything tainted with the stench of popular masses, and this predictable niche of antipopular conformists has been around since time immemorial. Nothing special about it at all, same as it ever was.

Well, that's just simply not true, but I digress.

Why all this sanctimonious talk about 'niches'? I don't need you to proselytize to me about the perceived novelty of being an individual in modern society, or my personal film tastes, for that matter. You're right, I shouldn't have made generalizations about older or younger generations. But, neither should you. In any case, I meant no harm by my comments.

i was attempting to point out that the idea that a younger generation has new and or superior tastes in pop culture to an older generation is something every younger generation feels the feels of truthiness of but really isn't that true. Romance novels and three camera sitcoms and the super bowl always sell.

[domino harvey]

The only thing more tired than award shows are people bitching about award shows

The last two what? I liked Spotlight, but I honestly find it harder and harder to live in a world where inaritu has two Oscar's for directing and another for writing

Jesus Christ. "A director I don't like won awards, time to kill myself"

[dda1996a]

The only thing more tired than award shows are people bitching about award shows

The last two what? I liked Spotlight, but I honestly find it harder and harder to live in a world where inaritu has two Oscar's for directing and another for writing

Jesus Christ. "A director I don't like won awards, time to kill myself"

Jesus Christ, I was joking. His films and he himself is just everything I dislike about awards and especially the oscars

[cinéaste25]

i was attempting to point out that the idea that a younger generation has new and or superior tastes in pop culture to an older generation is something every younger generation feels the feels of truthiness of but really isn't that true. Romance novels and three camera sitcoms and the super bowl always sell.

Okay, that's fine. Your tone just seemed unnecessarily angry to me, and it appeared as if you were criticizing my film tastes. I apologize if I misunderstood your intentions.

Jesus Christ, I was joking. His films and he himself is just everything I dislike about awards and especially the oscars

Could you elaborate on this a bit further?

I think Alejandro González Iñárritu is a great director, and consider Birdman to be his magnum opus. So, I was happy to see it win Best Picture, even if it was not the 'best picture' that year.

[dda1996a]

i was attempting to point out that the idea that a younger generation has new and or superior tastes in pop culture to an older generation is something every younger generation feels the feels of truthiness of but really isn't that true. Romance novels and three camera sitcoms and the super bowl always sell.

Okay, that's fine. Your tone just seemed unnecessarily angry to me, and it appeared as if you were criticizing my film tastes. I apologize if I misunderstood your intentions.

Jesus Christ, I was joking. His films and he himself is just everything I dislike about awards and especially the oscars

Could you elaborate on this a bit further?

I think Alejandro González Iñárritu is a great director, and consider Birdman to be his magnum opus. So, I was happy to see it win Best Picture, even if it was not the 'best picture' that year.

Do you like anything else he has done? I just find every film he makes to be blunt and for me he doesn't know how to articulate what he wants to say (perhaps except in Amores Perros, and even then he doesn't say much in the end and that's the only film of his I really like) but rather he has his characters scream and shout what the film is about, which is what Birdman was like for me. Emma Stone's character was so badly written and for me performed and I rather like Stone, but that whole scene where she shouts at Keaton was just awful. Plus the insistent need to shoot everything in long takes get really tiring after a while.
If you want a really good film about a theater director who is worried about his current project, legacy and family watch Fosse's magnum opus All That Jazz.
Same issues with Revenant, which was two and a half hours of attempting to be spiritual like Tarkovsky and Malick with the dangerous coexistence between nature of Malick and Herzog basically copied. That the final film lacked anything interesting to say about anything. For a good revenge western (and there are so many of those) watch Leone or Eastwood (Once Upon a Time in the West and Unforgiven especially) to see it being done well. And again I was just tired of the long takes with Lubezki's work on both not being close to his work with Cuaron and Malick.
Actually Inaritu went so out of his way to hire most of the well known below the line crew from Malick's films.
And Babel and 21 Grams suffer from the everything is connected in a way, even though I kind of enjoy the individual stories. But just barely.

BTW Arrival has been getting pretty rave reviews, what are the chances of noms for Adams, Villeneuve, Young and for picture?

[domino harvey]

Adams is long overdue (though the hype machine is already in full effect for her Doubt co-star Viola Davis along the same lines), I think a nomination is guaranteed for her, and maybe Best Pic and screenplay if it lands well

[domino harvey]

On Thursday, the motion picture academy announced this year’s recipients of the Governors’ Awards. Action star Jackie Chan, film editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman are all to receive honorary Oscars. This quartet will be feted in a non-televised event on Nov. 12 in the Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland. The timing is such that many of this year’s hottest Oscar prospects will attend to glad-hand voters.

...Jackie Chan?

[The Narrator Returns]

I would love to see Bradford Young get a nomination, especially after him getting screwed over for his both of his 2014 films in favor of some of Roger Deakins' worst work ever.

[movielocke]

Taylor Hackford must be so pissed the academy is honoring casting. He's been the leader of the contingent in opposition to acknowledging casting. Good for the academy it is a massive step for them

[ianthemovie]

They're giving Wiseman an honorary Oscar? That just made my day. I only wish they actually let these folks accept the awards on Oscar night instead of at the pre-ceremony.

[PfR73]

Adams is long overdue (though the hype machine is already in full effect for her Doubt co-star Viola Davis along the same lines), I think a nomination is guaranteed for her, and maybe Best Pic and screenplay if it lands well

There's also potential from Nocturnal Animals, if that turned out well.

[roujin]

...Jackie Chan?

Completely deserved.

[Ribs]

I, er, wow, am very surprised that Wiseman, a man who has bafflingly never been nominated for an Oscar, is being rewarded. Obviously it's long overdue and very very deserved but seems like a really odd pull.

[cinéaste25]

Do you like anything else he has done? I just find every film he makes to be blunt and for me he doesn't know how to articulate what he wants to say (perhaps except in Amores Perros, and even then he doesn't say much in the end and that's the only film of his I really like) but rather he has his characters scream and shout what the film is about, which is what Birdman was like for me. Emma Stone's character was so badly written and for me performed and I rather like Stone, but that whole scene where she shouts at Keaton was just awful. Plus the insistent need to shoot everything in long takes get really tiring after a while.
If you want a really good film about a theater director who is worried about his current project, legacy and family watch Fosse's magnum opus All That Jazz.
Same issues with Revenant, which was two and a half hours of attempting to be spiritual like Tarkovsky and Malick with the dangerous coexistence between nature of Malick and Herzog basically copied. That the final film lacked anything interesting to say about anything. For a good revenge western (and there are so many of those) watch Leone or Eastwood (Once Upon a Time in the West and Unforgiven especially) to see it being done well. And again I was just tired of the long takes with Lubezki's work on both not being close to his work with Cuaron and Malick.
Actually Inaritu went so out of his way to hire most of the well known below the line crew from Malick's films.
And Babel and 21 Grams suffer from the everything is connected in a way, even though I kind of enjoy the individual stories. But just barely.

BTW Arrival has been getting pretty rave reviews, what are the chances of noms for Adams, Villeneuve, Young and for picture?

Thank you for the response! And, yes, I like Amores Perros, as well. And, I consider The Revenant to be a good film, but not worthy of the high praise it received. I agree that Babel was a bit of a mess. But, I disagree with almost all your other criticisms regarding Birdman, and the scene with Emma Stone was one of the best in the film, in my opinion. I have seen All That Jazz, and all the other films you mentioned in your post, and agree that they are all superior films. I may be young, but I'm not naïve.

Adams is long overdue (though the hype machine is already in full effect for her Doubt co-star Viola Davis along the same lines), I think a nomination is guaranteed for her, and maybe Best Pic and screenplay if it lands well

Amy Adams is long overdue for what exactly? There are several actors who have been 'snubbed' by the Oscars, including Viola Davis. And, to be honest, I can't think of a role of hers that would have garnered a Best Actress trophy. She has only ever been nominated once in the category and it was for American Hustle, the same year that Cate Blanchett won for Blue Jasmine.

On Thursday, the motion picture academy announced this year’s recipients of the Governors’ Awards. Action star Jackie Chan, film editor Anne V. Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman are all to receive honorary Oscars. This quartet will be feted in a non-televised event on Nov. 12 in the Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland. The timing is such that many of this year’s hottest Oscar prospects will attend to glad-hand voters.

...Jackie Chan?

He has been acting since the 60s. I think he deserves it.

I would love to see Bradford Young get a nomination, especially after him getting screwed over for his both of his 2014 films in favor of some of Roger Deakins' worst work ever.

Me too.