There have been a lot of excellent films released over the past 12 months, the problem is rather that the academy tends to choose crowd pleasing, conventional films in sync with public taste, instead of more artistic films that tend to be more challenging both aesthetically and morally.
Here are some of my highlights: Of Gods and Men, Meek’s Cutoff, Biutiful, Animal Kingdom, White Material, A Prophet, Blue Valentine, Somewhere, Never Let Me Go, Howl, and Shutter Island which was a much better film than inception IMO.
Check out some of those and I’m sure you’ll change your mind about sticking to novels – don’t rely on award ceremonies, especially the Oscars and Golden Globes, as a guide to good film.
@ Maximilian Y.
I believe that the academy finds a somewhat harmonious median between artistic, groundbreaking films, and crowd pleasing blockbusters. For instance, instead of sneering at the general public and nominating something like My Winnipeg, they nominate something like Inside Job. Or, for instance, the nominated, artful Inception, vs pure action Iron Man 2.
@ Chauncey1
Granted, the noms for best picture are a bit conventional, it’s obnoxious to condemn all but 2. You seem to have gone in to the films expecting way too much, and/or, not watching the films for the sake of enjoying the film, but to be critical for critical’s sake.
I know oscars aren’t the be all and end all, I don’t expect them to be but I’m certainly not trying to be obnoxious. My favourite films from the past few years have been The White Ribbon, A Prophet and Let the Right One In, so I know you have to steer away from english-speaking movies now and then…well quite often ideally.
I think what I’m getting at is that these directors have all produced extraordinary work in the past – Memento, Zodiac, Big Lebowski, the Longford tv movie. Yet this year it’s just mediocre and it’s celebrated mush.
i’m sorry, you’re example of a film that isn’t “celebrated mush” is Memento?
Yup.
Damn sight better than Inception and Dark Knight.
uhhh, touché?
I would certainly say that the Oscars and the Golden Globes are a bit…mainstream to say the least but they were pretty fair with their choices this year. I had a few disappointments myself but at the end of the day, what does it really matter? Some of the best films of all time have never won an Oscar such as Blue Velvet, which Woody Allen famously said was the best film of that year and was snubbed.
Just appreciate things for what they are and not what they are awarded. The Academy is not in place to make us happy but rather to continued some long standing tradition that has, admittedly, veered off into a more commercial direction over the years.
Oscars are really a marketing exercise. Shame the celebrated movies this year ain’t worth celebrating.
Those that don’t know their ass from an apostrophe should remain silent.
Be well.
Oscars are really a marketing exercise. Shame the celebrated movies this year ain’t worth celebrating.
Really? Thanks for enlightening us here on MUBI! That is a revelation! Now, what do you think about this whole Santa Claus thing, is it a scam or does he really deliver that many presents? We all need your guidance here…
“Inception”: this year’s answer to “The Dark Knight”—a fair yet totally overrated film.
I’ve neither read nor heard one compelling argument in favour of “The Dark Knight” as a “great” film.
“Inception” is really much ado about nothing—invading a guy’s dreams to screw a corporation (or whatever it was)?
Surely there are easier, more practical ways.
And for Roger Ebert to hail “Inception” as a completely original idea is a joke. Haven’t we all seen television shows (usually comedies) where someone invades someone else’s dream? (“Hey, what are you doing in MY dream?”) Really, Roger, really.
And even “original ideas” can suffer from so-so execution.
Wonder what Nolan is going to mine for his next movie idea, maybe he’ll watch some Warner Bros. cartoons. I preferred the ducktales version of Inception.
we could use a new Ducktails movie. A rich miser, three adventureous kids, a daffy maid and lunkhead pilot, its right out of 30s serials. Bruce Willis as Launchpad, Anthony Hopkins as Scrooge, Dench as Mrs Beasly, maybe Will Smith’s kids would actually be tolerable with duck heads.
Winter’s Bone I felt was a stand-out movie, and Toy Story 3 might be the best kids movie I’ve ever seen. Black Swan was a ‘strong movie with notable issues’. Otherwise, I felt most of the nominees were ‘pretty decent’.
My favorite non-nominated films of the year are Dogtooth, Enter The Void, Scott Pilgrim, Please Give, White Material.
I never finished the Ducktails NES game. I should make that next on my list after Crystalis and Startropics. Although Ducktails in 3D CGI sounds worse than Yogi Bear.
Not too sure about the whole santa thing, mikespence, I’ll wait for the 4 hour C Nolan movie currently in production – I’m hearing great things about Christian bale’s performance.
However, I DO know that no-one likes a smart arse.
The only movie I didnt enjoy from the best pic list was The Fighter. Everything else was ok, or like Black Swan really good. Black Swan was perhaps the best movie I saw in the Theatre all year.
I personally enjoyed The Dark Knight much more then Inception, whose ending I found to be a cop out.
And yes, I am one of those who considered Dark Knight a “classic”. I enjoyed it that much, but I understand others dont share my view.
chauncey1
Saw Social Network the other day and my response was hemmm zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Trouble is, that was my response to King’s Speech as well. Black Swan was a bit better but a bit too preposterous for it’s own good. True Grit was uninvolving and I felt the Coens were asleep at the wheel. Inception was godamn awful, can’t imagine myself forgving C Nolan anytime soon, not that he’ll be bothered, I’m sure he is agonizing over his next movie BATMAN ATTENDS A UNITED NATIONS MEETING – it will only last 7hrs.
Anyhoo, Winter’s Bone was over-rated but not objectionable.
Only Toy Story 3 and 127 HOURS were, for me, impressive. Maybe I’ll stick to reading novels.