Category Archives: the Academy Awards
Film, A Love Letter
Last night I watched William A Wellman’s 1927 masterpiece Wings, which was the very first film to win the Academy Award for Best picture. Within the first 15 minutes I thought it was more dramatic, romantic and exciting than most films made today. How wonderful, I thought, a film that was made 83 years ago can still feel so fresh and amazing, positively timeless. (On a side note, this film is not available on DVD and it’s a crying shame. You can vote here on TCM to try to get it released on DVD, and even if you haven’t seen it I urge you to do so).
This got me thinking about how much I love film, and why I love film. The other day someone on Twitter asked me how many films I watched a day and I replied, “as many as possible!” I told someone else that I think I have celluloid in my blood instead of iron. I can’t remember my life before I discovered films; I’ve been watching them always. Recently, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to watch more than ever; I’ve already seen 271 new-to-me films this year! This is because I’ve graduated from college, but have yet to find a full time job (I substitute teach once or twice a week), I’m single and I’m childless. That leaves a lot of time to watch films. I also live in a household that has TCM, my absolute favorite channel on television.
I haven’t yet answered why it is I love film so much. I think part of it has to do with the escapism film allows. For two hours you’re in a perfect world, or a dystopic world or whatever, and it can be the best place you never knew existed. With each new film you meet new friends, characters that are as dear to you as anyone you’ve ever met in real life or ones you hate more than you ever knew you could.
But I’m also in awe of the people who make the films, not just the actors and directors and screenwriters, but the crew. Every single film you see was put together by hundreds of people, who spent hundreds of hours working to bring this new world alive. It’s just so incredible.
Also, with every film I watch I always think, “This is someone’s favorite movie ever” or “I bet someone absolutely loathes this film!” It’s phenomenal the emotional response a film can get out of people. And then there are people who can’t see the art in any film, who don’t see the point of film at all. Those people make me sad. How could something that brings me and so many others so much joy, mean absolutely nothing to others? It’s unfathomable.
So while I’m at this unique place in my life where I’ve got more free time than I probably will ever again, I’m going to fill it with films. All films. As many films as I can get my hands on, as often as I can stand it. I don’t know that’ll I’ll ever have another opportunity like this, to spend all my time with the love of my life, with film. I just hope film loves me as much as I love it. Regardless, this is how I choose to spend my time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Francis Ford Coppola, Jean-Luc Godard and Eli Wallach to receive Honorary Oscars
The Envelope reports that:
The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Wednesday that it would present “The Godfather” director-producer Francis Ford Coppola with the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award and give honorary Oscars to British film historian and preservationist Kevin Brownlow, French “New Wave” director Jean-Luc Godard, who made his feature directorial debut 50 years ago with the seminal “Breathless,” and veteran actor Eli Wallach, who has appeared in such films as “The Magnificent Seven” and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.”
I really love this selection. I love all three of these artists and I look forward to their montages, etc. at the ceremony next year!
Great Oscar Snubs: Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was never nominated for an Academy Award. She is one of the most famous people of all time, and definitely one of the most photographed. But for all that she was a pretty face, she desperately wanted to be taken seriously for her craft. It is my opinion that she was one of the greatest comediennes of all time. She also gave a handful of wonderful dramatic roles during her career. I think a lot of people don’t realize that the bubbly “Marilyn” the public knew was a persona she played. Also a lot of people see her blonde hair and effervescence and think she is a dull bulb. She was one of the smartest people working in Hollywood, maybe ever. Her main fault, although calling it a fault is unfair, was her need to be loved. A need that she had her whole life, stemming for deep abandonment issues created in childhood, that she was very rarely able to fulfill. She was a beautiful soul and on this 48th anniversary of her tragic death, she is still missed by so many, having touched our lives so profoundly with her work and with her grace.
Johnny Depp and Julianne Moore – Where’s Their Oscar Already!?
These are two performers who have almost consistently given amazing performances for nearly the last two decades. They’ve gotten some nominations sure, but only for a handful of their work. Also in the last two decades many actors and actresses with lesser talent who gave perhaps one, or two in the case of Hilary Swank, phenomenal performances have received numerous nominations and wins. Paul Newman had to wait nearly 40 years for a win, as did Jack Palance, so I’m sure Johnny Depp and Julianne Moore will get their due sometime. Of course, that’s not necessarily true either. Just ask Deborah Kerr, Richard Burton or Peter O’Toole. That being said, I’d like to discuss the roles for which these two performers were nominated for Oscar. Ideally, I’d have liked to talk about every performance in which they should have been nominated, but that would take all day.
19 Best Picture Winners Available On Instant Netflix
I’ve seen 11 of these films and love most of them. The other eight I intend to watch Instant Netflix and so can you!
Poll: Favorite Multiple Oscar Nominee Who Has Never Won A Competitive Award?
Some of these people are dead and will never get themselves a competitive award. A few of them are getting kind of old and time is ticking and a few of them have plenty of time to go, but quite a large number of nominations with no win. Although, with all of these people winning or not winning an Oscar doesn’t really matter. They’re all remarkable in their fields and have had stellar careers. Oscar would really just be a cherry on top.
Poll after the cut.
The Academy Invites 135 New Members
Being a member of the Academy allows you to vote for nominees and on the nominees once they are announced. Some of the names on this list are pretty interesting, in that one would think they’d already be members!
Full list after the cut.
Oscars potentially moving to January?
This news won’t change the date for the 83rd ceremony, which has its date firmly set for February 27th, 2011. Organizers say the earliest it would happen would be for the 2012 ceremony.
Sasha over at AwardsDaily has a pretty great post, pretty much explaining that all this would do would create a shift in all of the precursors and not do anything to fix “awards season fatigue.” I also like what she said about how if the Academy really wants to get more viewers they should think about adding a people’s choice awards, a la the Orange Rising Star Award that the BAFTAs have. If American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, etc has taught us anything it’s that American’s like to vote on pop culture related things.
What really irks me about this move is that for people who don’t live in Los Angeles, or any city for that matter, this has the potential of making it even harder to watch all the movies that will be up for Oscar before the actual ceremony. I was barely able to do it when I lived in San Francisco, let alone now that I live in the middle of nowhere.
What do you guys think about this potential move in the date?
Oscar Vault Monday – Quiz Show, 1994 (dir. Robert Redford)
I’m going to try to discuss one past Oscar nominated and/or winning film each Monday. For my inaugural edition of this feature, I bring you the 1994 historical drama Quiz Show.
the diary of a film history fanatic 