(no subject)

[bzarcher]

Okay, so I'm a little annoyed about Chicago getting best picture. Lemme tell you why.

A: Every set used for Chicago was not only modeled on the Theatre sets, but could have been done as a theatre set, with only street scenes as a possible exception. (And given the increasing skill of stage designers and illusionists, I don't even know about that.)
B: Every costume was based on the theatre version.
C: The script and songs were from the theatre version.

So, what we have is Chicago the film basically just being Chicago the broadway version, sans audience, and with less immediate skill required, because the Film cast could afford retakes, something which a theatre won't get so long as an audience is involved. (Yes, I concede they would during rehersals, but if the point of the filming was that every take was ideally for print...)

Also, that this film was a loaded die as far as the academy is concerned. Nearly every major actor and cinematographer was an Oscar recipient, and with more nominations behind them than most films could dream of. Plus, you've also got the association by promotion with actors like Michael Douglass, another academy favorite.

This wasn't really a film, guys. It was a re-creation of a broadway show. And real films, like Two Towers, or The Pianist, got passed over for it. And that annoys me.

(Okay, so yeah, I also hoped TTT would get it just to piss off the Chicago-fanatics, but I realize that a genre film is probably never gonna win Best Picture, ever.)

Comments

[defenestration.livejournal.com]

I walked away from Chicago thinking: "Wow, Catherine Zeta-Jones can sing fairly well. And I like it better in the theater." I agree with you - it's hardly an original movie. It's been done many times before. I think Best Picture should sort of be held to the standards of new movies. Maybe "Best New Picture" would be more accurate of what I would like the award to represent.

There was a lot of debate about The Pianist not getting many awards due to Polanski's past criminal record, which pisses me off. I haven't seen it yet, but I love Polanski's other work, and I think that what you do with your life has nothing to do with the work you produce. If we shunned all artists whose behavior we disliked, there would be no media.

[mephron]

Wait until next year. The running bet is that next year, for LotR:RotK, there's gonna be a massive cleanup.

And seeing Sir Ian get the statue will rock.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

I really, really want that to happen. But at the same time, I fear the academy's predjudices.

On the other hand...we'll see.

[dklegman.livejournal.com]

IMO, if a LOTR film is ever to win a BP oscar, it should be the last one. It just wouldn't be right to have the middle part of the story win an oscar in a three movie series if quality is consistent through the series. It also looks better because it would be a nice finish that gives the movies some appropriate recognition, and doesn't hog the award for multiple years.

I won't speculate on the odds of a niche film winning Best Picture, though I am quite pleased to see that Miyazaki's Spirited Away got Best Animated Feature.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Also true. Though really, what was Spirited Away competing with? :D

[n9vls.livejournal.com]

I'm just happy Gangs of New York didn't get Best Picture..

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Oh? I'm curious why you feel that way. :D I don't neccesarily disagree, just curious.

[avylin.livejournal.com]

That's why I said it's taken more Oscars than any other non-movie ever.

It wasn't a movie. It was a theater performance that happened to have cameras pointed in its direction at the time.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

I dunno if I'd even call it one performance. More like 7 or 8, and they took the best bits from each and spliced it.

[narel.livejournal.com]

I believe that if they did their job right, RotK cannot possibly lose best picture for ANY awards ceremony. Hopefully they did their job right...

[aeire.livejournal.com]

A genre film DID win for Best Picture. It was a musical.

[bzarcher.livejournal.com]

Not the genre I was meaning, but okay, true. :D