Wow, what a load of crap.
After all that patting itself on the back about tackling social issues through film and being the social conscience of America, too.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, though. It is Hollywood after all.
I’m also disappointed that Mirrormask didn’t even get nominated for visual effects, costumes, or makeup.
I thought Brokeback was so-so. Wasn’t horrible, wasn’t the best thing Ang Lee has ever done, either. It was the story of two men who were unfaithful to their wives for a really long time, but it was okay because they were gay. Big whoop.
Also, I thought Capote was the best movie I saw all year, hands down. And I HATED Crash. Preachy, trite crap. Ugh. The only three movies that I can remember being very happy with when I left the theatres were Sin City, Hustle and Flow, and Capote. (But I didn’t see Good Night, and Good Luck). I’m sure I’m forgetting one or two.
I fail to see what part was okay about those two guys cheating on their wives.
They both ended up becoming pretty miserable wretched people in the end.
If that story was about a man and a woman who kept sneaking out of their wife and husband and ruined their lives in the process, no one would give this movie a second look. It’s like the gayness of the characters made this movie great in peoples’ eyes. Take that away and you have a long, drawn-out story about infidelity, with very pretty people and scenery. Eye candy? Yes. Great movie, story, etc? No.
Actually, only one was wretched, the other was dead. Is that better or worse than being miserable? I don’t quite get why some see their “affair” as the most egregious of the social wrongs being committed in this story.
I disliked Crash too. It was better the first time I saw it, when it was called Grand Canyon . . . which was made by Hollywood’s Prince of Preachy Trite Crap, Lawrence Kasdan. Of course, most of the “good” movies that came out this year leaned towards the preachy.
Mirrormask looks interesting, in a comic book geek kinda way. I’d never heard of it. I just put it at the front of my queue on Netflix. Did anyone else see Broken Flowers? That might have been my favorite film this year. I get the feeling that Leah and I were the only people who watched it. Which explains why it was in the theater for a week.
Brent – I guess you weren’t, but I was affected by the movie. And they gayness of the characters was a good part of the reason. You can’t take the gay away and have the same movie, it was integral to the story and character development.
I found the story compelling, the acting excellent and the film affecting. In my eyes, there isn’t much more to ask for.
I haven’t seen Capote yet. I do believe that Phillip Seymor Hoffman won because he used rule #3 of the rules to winning an Oscar: 1. lose alot of weight. 2. gain a lot of weight. 3. speak in a funny voice/accent.
I heard really bad things about Crash, and hadn’t planned on watching it, but Paul has the DVD at his house, so I will probably see that soon.
Dennis –
I’m a huge Jim Jarmusch fan, so I saw Broken Flowers, and thought it was okay. I love Bill Murray, but he needs to start expanding his roles a bit. He plays the same sad sack all the time, and I felt like Broken Flowers was just another vehicle for that character.
Mirrormask is the most visually original movie I have seen in a long time. The story was your normal fairy tale stuff, but the presentation was amazing.
I’m with Kent on Broken Flowers. Not a bad movie, but nothing that knocked my socks off. Which kind of explains my experience with most Jarmusch movies (with some exceptions).
Kent you are right. Brokeback Mountain didn’t move me at all. I just felt it was an exuse to tell the story of two gay cowboys. The rest of the story was incidental, which really didn’t help my appreciation of the film. I’m surprised you’d say it was well acted. There wasn’t anything there that blew me away.
Speaking of that, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was really good in Capote, but he didn’t knock my socks off. That film was just great. Such a great commentary on doing whatever it takes to get what you want, and where that leaves you.
Watched Mirrormask on Saturday. Good film. I was out of the room when the opening credits came up, so didn’t see the Hensen films connection. I kept telling Leah how much it reminded me of Labrynth . . . only without the muppets and singing. Oh, yeah, and it didn’t suck. Thanks for placing it on our radar Kent.
Unfortunately, Leah liked it so much we have to rent Labrynth now. And here I was hoping that little part of my life would never return.