Support NeoGAF

[Anton Sugar]

Via The Hollywood Reporter

This is a lightly edited transcript of a conversation with an Academy member who is not associated with any of this year's nominees about his/her ballot. A conversation with a different member will post each day leading up to the Oscars ceremony on Feb. 22.

On Selma:

First, let me say that I'm tired of all of this talk about "snubs" — I thought for every one of [the snubs] there was a justifiable reason. What no one wants to say out loud is that Selma is a well-crafted movie, but there's no art to it. If the movie had been directed by a 60-year-old white male, I don't think that people would have been carrying on about it to the level that they were.

I've got to tell you, having the cast show up in T-shirts saying "I can't breathe" [at their New York premiere] — I thought that stuff was offensive. Did they want to be known for making the best movie of the year or for stirring up shit?

On American Sniper:

American Sniper is the winner of the year, whether or not it gets a single statuette, because for all of us in the movie industry — I don't care what your politics are — it is literally the answer to a prayer for a midrange budget movie directed by an 84-year-old guy [Clint Eastwood] to do this kind of business.

On Boyhood:

If you told me when I saw Boyhood that it would win best picture — or even be in the running — I would have told you that you were insane. Watching it, I thought it was ambitious and a directorial triumph, but the kid was uneven and Patricia Arquette probably was sorry she agreed to let them film her age over 12 years. I never thought, "Wow, this is the one!"

On The Imitation Game:

On paper, The Imitation Game seemed to be the one to me. It's a great story, well-crafted, [Benedict Cumberbatch] is really good and it's been a big success. It's what you call "prestige filmmaking." So why isn't it receiving more recognition? I'd like to believe it's karma for Harvey [Weinstein]. But I'm going to hold my nose and vote for it anyway because when you vote for best picture, what you should try to do is vote for the movie that, years from now, people will still watch and talk about.

^^^ lololol

On Inherent Vice:

I put in the Inherent Vice screener, and it became apparent that it's a terrible, incoherent movie, so I turned it off. I thought it was not possible for me to hate something more than I hated The Master, but I hated this more.

Other notable opinions: voting for Boyhood for editing because "cutting 12 years of crap down to a decent length can't be easy", Guardians of the Galaxy should have been nominated for Best Picture, and lots of abstaining from voting because they have no fucking clue what sound editing is or they haven't seen any/enough foreign films, animated shorts, documentary shorts, or live action shorts.

Can't wait to hear from the rest of these experts.

EDIT: As a note, I only posted her horrible opinions (IMO, of course). She really loved Grand Budapest and Birdman, as well as the LEGO movie.

 

[Wasteman]

Everyone knows the Oscars is a farce. As an aspiring filmmaker, and not an artsy farty one, my top goal is a Palme 'd'or.

 

[John Kowalski]

You could post the positive bits too. That sounds like random harsh critic arguments that are anything but horrible, just passing and customary.

 

[curlyfriski]

The remarks about Boyhood was too generous.

 

[Valhelm]

Seems to be another "old man yells at cloud". He liked American Sniper because it was traditional and didn't make him question himself.

 

[Aurongel]

...Guardians of the Galaxy should have been nominated for Best Picture.

Undercover GAF Member confirmed.

 

[Mesoian]

Stop watching the Oscars. Shit is meaningless now.

 

[Stet]

What was the art in American Sniper though?

 

[adj_noun]

American Sniper is the winner of the year, whether or not it gets a single statuette, because for all of us in the movie industry — I don't care what your politics are — it is literally the answer to a prayer for a midrange budget movie directed by an 84-year-old guy [Clint Eastwood] to do this kind of business.

Yeah, but that prayer begins with Ia! Ia! and ends with fhtagn.

 

[Data West]

Nothing horrible about the Boyhood opinion.

 

[Guevara]

Seems to be another "old man yells at cloud". He liked American Sniper because it was traditional and didn't make him question himself.

Seems like he liked AS because it was successful and ultimately movies are a business.

 

[God Dayumm]

I think I agree with his opinions except American sniper. Too much borefest is nominated for the oscars and it has negative impact on the whole industry and entertainment in general.

 

[Blargonaut]

 

[Anton Sugar]

You could post the positive bits too. That sounds like random harsh critic arguments that are anything but horrible, just passing and customary.

True that she didn't have uniformly horrible opinions (I'll edit OP), but she didn't even finish Inherent Vice before forming an opinion on it.

 

[afternoon delight]

One voter's opinion. One solitary movie goer. How is it indicative of anything more than that?

Edit: I disliked Boyhood too, immensely. But I don't think anyone's loved every nominee ever.

 

[FUBAR McDangles]

I agree with her on Boyhood. The main actor was all over the place and seemed to regress in acting skill as the movie went on.

I give the movie props for having the ambition to film for so long as well as having the same cast the entire time, but I would certainly never watch that chore again and I would definitely not recommend it to anyone beyond saying it had a fun concept of filming over a long period of time.

EDIT:

I didn't really get the sense of a screenplay with Boyhood — it was more like they just turned on the camera once a year.

This is exactly what I thought watching the movie. It didn't seem like a movie. There was no overarching story, rhyme, or reason to watch it or why or how anything was happening. It just did. It seemed like I was watching the home movies of some kid down the street who lived a boring life. There wasn't a point.

 

[Megalosaro]

I don't seer anything wrong here. Though anyone expecting anything resembling coherency from a pynchon story is silly

 

[leadbelly]

What was the art in American Sniper though?

The art of turning an unpopular war into something patriotic and virtuous?

I haven't seen the movie...

 

[Blader]

One voter's opinion. One solitary movie goer. How is it indicative of anything more than that?

Because he's far from the only one who thinks The Imitation Game is prestige filmmaking or that American Sniper should somehow be rewarded for scoring big at the box office.

 

[Random Painted HIghway]

the full article is not nearly as offensive as I was expecting when reading the pulled quotes.

 

[ivysaur12]

What was the art in American Sniper though?

My question as well.

 

[Anton Sugar]

The voter is a woman, btw. Only pointing that out because everyone is assuming it's a "he".

 

[Gorillaz]

not a big Gone Girl fan either

I liked Pike alot in it but I definitely feel like she ain't winning for the role which is ashame

 

[braves01]

Seems like he liked AS because it was successful and ultimately movies are a business.

Yeah that's what I got out of it. There's still a market for mid-range budget movies, it's not just indies and blockbusters.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

Can't speak about Selma but I ain't gonna tear down someone who says that boyhood was uneven because I'm not in the business of disagreeing with people who are right.

 

[Blader]

Yeah that's what I got out of it. There's still a market for mid-range budget movies, it's not just indies and blockbusters.

And as long as it includes a legendary director at the helm and stars one of the biggest actors working now.

I lol'd at this though:

BEST DIRECTOR
I'm voting for Richard Linklater. I think that what he did — as a "thing" — is extraordinary. I'm absolutely comfortable with breaking up picture and director; I wouldn't know [The Imitation Game's] Morten Tyldum if I walked into him.

 

[Dennis]

This stood out for me.

I thought it was ambitious and a directorial triumph, but the kid was uneven and Patricia Arquette probably was sorry she agreed to let them film her age over 12 years.

The horror of aging. Some thinks you just can't put on screen.

 

[The Elite]

I get the impression that I am supposed to assume that all Oscar voters are out of touch because the person in the OP doesn't have agreeable opinions.

 

[Jumplion]

I feel like the opinion on Selma kind of accentuates how important Selma is right now.

 

[afternoon delight]

Okay, can people at least read the article and see that's it's a she? Would that color some responses differently?

Because he's far from the only one who thinks The Imitation Game is prestige filmmaking or that American Sniper should somehow be rewarded for scoring big at the box office.

Perhaps tomorrow they'll post an interview with a "films are only art" crowd to show the balancing effect that happens in group voting.

 

[Arthr2ShdsJcksn]

Boyhood is the worst move to ever be nominated for best picture. It is a cheesy gimmick with awful characters, clunky dialogue, and no art. Linklater's worst film by far, Boyhood's only redeeming value is Patricia Arquette.

I can't comment about Selma because I haven't seen it, but I'm guessing I'll feel no better/worse toward it than the other bio-pics I saw this year.

I agree with his comments about American Sniper, although I don't think it's a very good movie.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

Boyhood! It took 12 years to make! Took longer than it took to build the fucking wall of chinaaaaaaa

 

[The Elite]

My question as well.

Have you ever played Sniper in Halo?

It's an art form.

Also:

 

[exmachina64]

I agree with her opinions on Grand Budapest and Birdman, but her negative opinions confirm every negative bias I have about Oscar voters. Either get with the fucking times or stop the damn awards.

Because seriously, that voter's opinions on Selma and "lots of abstaining from voting because they have no fucking clue what sound editing is or they haven't seen any/enough foreign films, animated shorts, documentary shorts, or live action shorts," are rageworthy.

Edit: And really, the fact that she loves Birdman is probably one of the great ironies of the film.

 

[God Dayumm]

Okay, can people at least read the article and see that's it's a she? Would that color some responses differently?

It doesn't matter at all. We live in a post-gender era now

 

[Aurongel]

Y'all are just jealous that a banned member of GAF is in an Oscar nominated film and on the front cover of Entertainment Weekly.

Spoiler

:lol

 

[BertramCooper]

What was the art in American Sniper though?

No kidding.

Even Eastwood's best films I find to be pretty artless and conventional. I recently rewatched Mystic River for the first time in ages, and while I enjoyed it, I couldn't help but think how it could have been truly incredible in the hands of someone like David Fincher.

 

[Anton Sugar]

I get the impression that I am supposed to assume that all Oscar voters are out of touch because the person in the OP doesn't have agreeable opinions.

Not at all, but it at least lends credit to the idea that Selma was snubbed. "No art" to Selma while she praises American Sniper and The Imitation Game is laughable. And then, of course, the idea that wearing "I Can't Breathe" shirts is offensive.

All IMO, of course

 

[El Topo]

I expected much worse after the quotes.

 

[Blader]

I get the impression that I am supposed to assume that all Oscar voters are out of touch because the person in the OP doesn't have agreeable opinions.

You can draw a similar conclusion from the last 80+ years of Best Picture winners too.

 

[Sectorseven]

I don't get the praise for Boyhood's "ambition." Family Matters ran for ten years, but no one lauded over seeing Urkel grow up.

American Sniper was a well made film, but as far as best picture, it feels a little redundant of Hurt Locker.

 

[kirblar]

I agree with her opinions on Grand Budapest and Birdman, but her negative opinions confirm every negative bias I have about Oscar voters. Either get with the fucking times or stop the damn awards.

Because seriously, that voter's opinions on Selma and "lots of abstaining from voting because they have no fucking clue what sound editing is or they haven't seen any/enough foreign films, animated shorts, documentary shorts, or live action shorts," are rageworthy.

Edit: And really, the fact that she loves Birdman is probably one of the great ironies of the film.

You're supposed to abstain if you don't think you're a good judge of something.

 

[Trojita]

No art in Selma but there is in American Sniper. Uh ok.

The fake baby was a commentary on the destruction of American family values!

 

[War Peaceman]

There’s a mix of really horrid opinions and really good stuff in there.

They’re right about Selma, it is a bland and soulless piece of work outside of the lead performance. Well-made but no art is a good description. The other stuff she says is very racist and horrible, though.

The Selma description is valid also for Imitation Game which is completely boring and bland. It is completely forgettable and is disrespectful to the great man.

I agree about American Sniper - though the film’s politics are gross - it is interesting to see that kind of film succeeding. Not a good film at all though.

Inherent Vice IS incoherent. Deliberately so. I loved it, but it is very marmite. A few people left my screening and I can’t really blame them. It is meandering, incoherent, rambling. But it is also wonderfully shot and performed whilst having a gripping story. By the very nature of the film, many will dislike it.

They are completely right on GBH and Lego. Phenomenal films.

 

[Delta Assault]

Her opinion on Inherent Vice seems pretty normal. Every critic I follow has said that thing was more like Incoherent Vice.

 

[Can Crusher]

If the movie had been directed by a 60-year-old white male, I don't think that people would have been carrying on about it to the level that they were.

American Sniper is the winner of the year

Embarrassing. And there's plenty of embarrassing shit going on in the OP link.

 

[Blader]

Okay, can people at least read the article and see that's it's a she? Would that color some responses differently?

What does her being a woman have to do with her having bad taste?

Perhaps tomorrow they'll post an interview with a "films are only art" crowd to show the balancing effect that happens in group voting.

Can't have a balancing effect with a majority mindset.

 

[Kajigger]

The boyhood comment was... Nice.

Probably one of the worst movies I have seen in theaters. Possibly the worst.

 

[The Elite]

Not at all, but it at least lends credit to the idea that Selma was snubbed. "No art" to Selma while she praises American Sniper and The Imitation Game is laughable. And then, of course, the idea that wearing "I Can't Breathe" shirts is offensive.

All IMO, of course

It's one voter. How many active voters are there in the Academy? At what point can we say that one person's viewpoint is representative of the group?

This is no different than saying GAF is a hivemind IMO.

Just because one person says something it doesn't lend credit to the idea of the group thinking the same thing.

 

[Cmerrill]

Is "Interstellar" not nominated for an Oscar?