Some Last Thoughts on the Oscars

Two days after the fact, here are just a few rambling thoughts about the Academy Awards.

I didn't watch the show. There were some decent movies nominated this year, but only a few were spectacular. About a week before the show, I finally had an opportunity to see The King's Speech. I have to say, I'm glad it won out over The Social Network. Personally, even The King's Speech and The Fighter, I think Toy Story 3 was the best movie. It was one of the most personal, heart-felt films of 2010. You don't have to have seen the previous two movies to understand or appreciate the movie on it's own because at the core the film isn't just about the characters, it's about family, about life, and about friendship. The movie's about growing up and moving on gracefully. It's a movie where good triumphs over evil. However, I realize it had three big things going against it: it's it's about toys, it's a sequel, and it's an animated film. I think the toy issue is really a non-issue, because the toys in the movie aren't just toys. Sequels have won Oscars before, so I don't think that's more than a minor hindrance. The big thing against Toy Story 3 is that it's an animated movie. An animated film has never won Best Picture. There have only been 3 animated films to be nominated for Best Picture and they've all come from Disney. I will make this prediction, one day a movie is going to win Best Picture and win it does I can guarantee it's going to be a film from Pixar (which Disney owns).

As for The King's Speech beating The Social Network, The King's Speech is just a better all around movie. Twenty years from now The Social Network will have no relevance. It'll be remembered as a decent movie with some good dialogue and a few technical gimmicks, but that's all. The King's Speech, meanwhile is a historical film that will hold up just as well fifty years from now as it does today; the movie is about friendship and a man overcoming a speech problem that many people can relate to. Other than fellow billionaires and other people who have Napoleon complexes, there are not many people who can relate to Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg and the betrayal of his closest friend for money.

I'm glad that Melissa Leo won for Best Supporting Actress. She should have won the Best Actress award two years ago, but had to watch as Kate Winslet finally got her prize. As for Leo's acceptance speech, in the end it'll just add a footnote to her resume.

Randy Newman won another Oscar for Best Song. It took him forever to win his first one, so I'm glad to see he's won another.

THE DARK KNIGHT Robbed and Melissa Leo

Yesterday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released nominations for the 2008 Academy Awards. In doing so, they once again illustrated why Hollywood is increasingly becoming irrelevant and the ever-growing divide between the Hollywood elite and the general public. THE DARK KNIGHT was one not only the highest grossing film of 2008, but was also one of the best movies of the year. Critics and audiences alike love it. It's been at the top of many people's lists of best movies in 2008 since it was released in July. In my opinion, it is the best picture of 2008 (I'll be posting my list of best movies for 2008 in about a month or so). Despite the overwhelming acclaim, THE DARK KNIGHT was shut out of the best picture race and Christopher Nolan was robbed of a best director nomination. Not only that, but MILK a decent film but not really Oscar-worthy, has been pushed into all of the major categories mainly in retribution for the passing of Proposition 8 in California. THE DARK KNIGHT has been robbed and the Oscars this year will be the least-watched ever.

On a lighter note, the Academy did get one nomination correct. Melissa Leo was nominated for her performance in the indie film, FROZEN RIVER. Her performance is one that is often overlooked, but it is one of the year's best. She faces some stiff competition from puffy lips Angelina Jolie and rising star Anne Hathaway, so is a bit of an underdog, but I'm rooting for her to win.