Yeah, I thought that was well done. It works well if you know that going in, but I could see it working not so much if you're not expecting it, but I struggle to think of how else it could have been done.
2015 Academy Awards
- Thread starter EnriqueH
- Start date
I've now seen all the best picture nominees and if I were to rank them from favorite to least favorite:
Boyhood
Whiplash (Very close though. This was an amazing movie)
Selma
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
Whiplash (Very close though. This was an amazing movie)
Selma
The Theory of Everything
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
American Sniper
Birdman
Just saw the Grand Budapest Hotel today via Netflix. I thought it was good, and possibly Wes Anderson's best. Quirky and fun. I liked the storytelling aspect.
But, it made me realize that I'm starting to tire from these elaborately plotted movies that rely on obfuscating dates and times, (ie months later or earlier) and keep piling it on. I found the one thing saving it from being a mess of a timeline was the strong narrative thanks to the storytelling, which gave it a direction. If it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have liked it as much.
But, it made me realize that I'm starting to tire from these elaborately plotted movies that rely on obfuscating dates and times, (ie months later or earlier) and keep piling it on. I found the one thing saving it from being a mess of a timeline was the strong narrative thanks to the storytelling, which gave it a direction. If it hadn't been for that, I probably wouldn't have liked it as much.
So, I've now seen 3 Best Picture Nominees: The Imitation Game, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and The Theory of Everything.
I don't think I'll be able to see any more of them before the Oscars, but so far, my nod would go to The Theory of Everything. The performances by Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are Oscar worthy. I was impressed at how Redmayne was able to slip into the role, making us forget about the actor. The transformation alone as his degeneration grew worse was some impressive acting.
I don't think I'll be able to see any more of them before the Oscars, but so far, my nod would go to The Theory of Everything. The performances by Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones are Oscar worthy. I was impressed at how Redmayne was able to slip into the role, making us forget about the actor. The transformation alone as his degeneration grew worse was some impressive acting.
Just came home from seeing The Theory of Everything... and while it's a good movie I wasn't overwhelmed by it. It sort of just flowed, and ended at a not particularly poignant point. The acting was good, particularly Felicity Jones brought the dedication, the weariness and the gradual drifting apart to life... and Eddie Redmayne was good, watching Hawking's decline hurt so that's definitely to his credit, but from the halfway point on he was in the wheelchair not able to move/talk, so from that moment on Jones carried the movie singlehandedly.
The more sarcastic part of me can't help but think that it definitely helps playing someone with a handicap/an illness when it comes to awards (as does, in the case of beautiful actresses, letting yourself be turned "less than beautiful") - but that's nothing new.
The more sarcastic part of me can't help but think that it definitely helps playing someone with a handicap/an illness when it comes to awards (as does, in the case of beautiful actresses, letting yourself be turned "less than beautiful") - but that's nothing new.
Interesting that you view it that way. I saw it as a lot of commitment to the role to be able to do that, that he took great strength from it, and it was at that point that I felt the movie was quite powerful. If anything, I felt the movie treated them more as equals as the movie went on.
A
Amaris
Guest
So far, what I'm taking away from the Oscars is that no one there apparently knows how to properly mix audio. Jesus, it's awful.
I'm assuming the people who voted for Eddie Redmayne didn't see Jupiter Ascending. 
I wanted Michael Keaton to win Best Actor (though Eddie Redmayne was very deserving also), but I'm glad Birdman won Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay.
Also, three wins for Whiplash and four for Grand Budapest Hotel.
ETA: Sean Penn can choke on a bag of dicks. That was an uneccessary, racist comment he made.
Also, three wins for Whiplash and four for Grand Budapest Hotel.
ETA: Sean Penn can choke on a bag of dicks. That was an uneccessary, racist comment he made.
Birdman won best picture over Boyhood, really? It's a good movie, but nowhere near the best movie in the year.
Oscar voters aren't just out of touch with the average movie fan, they're out of touch with critics, they're out of touch with cinephiles, they're out of touch with anyone outside their little circle.
Oscar voters aren't just out of touch with the average movie fan, they're out of touch with critics, they're out of touch with cinephiles, they're out of touch with anyone outside their little circle.
Skipping through the DVR: I think John Travolta needs to keep away from Idina Manzel, she seems to bring out the strange in him.
A
Amaris
Guest
I'm glad Grand Budapest Hotel won, as that movie was deliciously fun. I'm glad Michael Keaton is back in the spotlight, and yeah, Sean Penn can shut the hell up. Supposedly, he's friends with Iñárritu, but the comment was still dumb as a bag of hammers.
I thought NPH was uncharacteristically dull. I usually find him funny, charming, witty---but tonight, he was a big snooze.
Glad Grand Budapest won so many awards; I just adore that film. I was kinda hoping American Sniper or Imitation Game would win more, but I haven't seen Birdman or Boyhood yet, so I can't compare.
Glad Grand Budapest won so many awards; I just adore that film. I was kinda hoping American Sniper or Imitation Game would win more, but I haven't seen Birdman or Boyhood yet, so I can't compare.
What did Sean Penn say? Google somehow isn't telling me.
I find NPH to be one of the most forced personalities out there, so if he was dull, it would be his least forced performance.
I find NPH to be one of the most forced personalities out there, so if he was dull, it would be his least forced performance.
He asked "Who gave this son of a bitch a green card?" to the Birdman director (don't know his name).
Your tears are delicious.
Wow, that's pretty low. Did that happen as he was presenting? For some reason, on my screen, it cut right to the group on the stage receiving the award. I didn't know if that was because of Julianne Moore's speech, which seemed to run-on. Speaking of speeches, there seemed to be quite a bit of soapboxing tonight.
Yeah, I agree that NPH was dull tonight. Most of his jokes seemed to fall flat. There were only really two jokes that stood out for me as being funny, one being the comment about the dress.
I think it was just a joke told in the wrong venue. Penn starred in one of his movies years ago so I think it was the kind of thing two old pals might say to each other not considering he's at a formal event on national television where it might not play so well.
I've been watching the Oscars every year since at least 1989, that's more than 25 years.
Start to finish.
And I have to say that this was one of the worst shows they've had.
It went on FOREVER.
I know, the ceremony's overlength has been a recurrent topic in the past, but I thought this was one of the worst offenders.
First of all, they've added a song to the "In Memoriam" segment. (I think last year was the first time they did it.) Why? This just elongates the show for no good reason. The segment ended well previously: fade quietly into commercial. It was a nice, classy way to end the segment. They need to go back to it.
Second, I loved the Sound of Music growing up and agree it's an important movie and thought it was cool to see Julie Andrews. But was it necessary to dedicate THAT MUCH TIME to the movie?
Third, having those segments that talk about the nominated movies throughout show? Just shut up and bust out the nominations.
Start to finish.
And I have to say that this was one of the worst shows they've had.
It went on FOREVER.
I know, the ceremony's overlength has been a recurrent topic in the past, but I thought this was one of the worst offenders.
First of all, they've added a song to the "In Memoriam" segment. (I think last year was the first time they did it.) Why? This just elongates the show for no good reason. The segment ended well previously: fade quietly into commercial. It was a nice, classy way to end the segment. They need to go back to it.
Second, I loved the Sound of Music growing up and agree it's an important movie and thought it was cool to see Julie Andrews. But was it necessary to dedicate THAT MUCH TIME to the movie?
Third, having those segments that talk about the nominated movies throughout show? Just shut up and bust out the nominations.