Support NeoGAF

[Dabanton]

Boyhood is massively overrated.

According to who? Your opinion or someone else's?

This is also the problem when films, TV shows and popular culture things get a good buzz suddenly it becomes 'overrated'. When people should just say they didn't like it.

Boyhood's lasting effect is the power of time. Is it the best film ever? Nope but most of us would recognise those feelings of growing older and wiser, that's the films biggest draw for me personally. The idea of film on a human level.

 

[Rastafarian42]

What was the art in American Sniper though?

.

 

[MMaRsu]

Everyone knows the Oscars is a farce

Yeah this, so much.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Why not, seriously Best Picture doesn't have to be about analyzing the human condition, it wouldn't hurt the academy to recognize fun for once.

That's what Grand Budapest is doing, I believe. In fact, you could argue the Academy is recognizing fun more than any single other movie.

 

[thecheese]

One of the most beautiful films I've ever seen. A brilliant exploration of a childhood. Opinions, eh?

My thoughts on Boyhood as well. I'm pretty shocked to see the negative reception towards it here..

 

[Senoculum]

On The Imitation Game:

...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

I'm curious why you laughed at this OP. I have the same opinion, the best picture needs to be outstanding from the rest, something memorable and meaningful. Of course, most academy members vote politics and shenanigans, but at least this voter's head is in the right place.

I'm pretty sure everyone's forgotten about the King's Speech, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago and The English Patient; those films have no legs, at all.

 

[MikeHattsu]

He sounds like a producer. An executive producer most likely.

She, but yeah, that was my thought too.

It says in the story that she's is in the public relations branch of Oscar voting members.

 

[Serpentine]

When the heck did long running sitcoms become the go-to comparison for Boyhood

Why not, seriously Best Picture doesn't have to be about analyzing the human condition, it wouldn't hurt the academy to recognize fun for once.

I guess you could do worse for BP noms (and I guess they already have this year), but still nah

 

[Sectorseven]

This is completely meaningless. It is rated highly because a lot of people think it is a high quality film. Which it is. There is nothing really like it.

There's a series of French films called "The Adventures of Antoine Doinel." which feature the same child actor growing up over 20 years or so. It's loosely based on the director's own childhood. If you like Boyhood you should check them out.

 

[War Peaceman]

There's a series of French films called "The Adventures of Antoine Doinel." which feature the same child actor growing up over 20 years or so. It's loosely based on the director's own childhood. If you like Boyhood you should check them out.

Yes I've seen them all, thanks . Lovely films, even as a skeptic of the nouvelle vague movement.

This. I'll be glad with Birdman or Budapest Hotel. Two films that deserve it

every sitcom that lasted for many years.

Just ridiculous. If you think that is even comparable then you are clearly being wilfully obtuse.

Boyhood isn't for everyone - it is personal, a bit slow and very delicate. But this kind of logic is absurd.

 

[Spinluck]

I need to watch Selma.

 

[Anton Sugar]

I'm curious why you laughed at this OP. I have the same opinion, the best picture needs to be outstanding from the rest, something memorable and meaningful. Of course, most academy members vote politics and shenanigans, but at least this voter's head is in the right place.

I'm pretty sure everyone's forgotten about the King's Speech, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago and The English Patient; those films have no legs, at all.

Oh, I laughed only because she chose The Imitation Game as representative of her criteria. The criteria itself is great.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

I'm largely just kidding around since the main gimmick of the film is 'it took 12 years' and 'watch him grow before your eyes'which outside of the eh film surrounding it was all it really had going for it imho. Did I care for it? not at all. Not when there are films like Birdman and Grand Budapest Hotel in the same year. This is the part everybody insults what I like so we can be even Stevens

 

[soqquatto]

so, this is a thread where only one kind of opinion is viable? for example, I'm in the camp that thinks that Boyhood is an exceptional achievement but not an incredible movie. in any case as it has already been pointed out these are the opinions of single voters, not of the academy panel in its entirety.

and finally, if you're truly waiting on the academy to award the best movies, actors, directors, well, you can wait forever.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

so, this is a thread where only one kind of opinion is viable?

no

 

[Abounder]

Why not, seriously Best Picture doesn't have to be about analyzing the human condition, it wouldn't hurt the academy to recognize fun for once.

For better or for worse they have recognized fun movies: The Departed, The Artist, Chicago, Shakespeare in Love, Return of the King, Rocky, etc.

GotG also was about the human condition or at least it tried to pull some hearstrings with the cassette tape and dead mother, or with the damn raccoon basically wanting to be a real boy

 

[KingKong]

Why not, seriously Best Picture doesn't have to be about analyzing the human condition, it wouldn't hurt the academy to recognize fun for once.

Sure, if any of the movies people declare Fun are even thought about 3 months later. Remember the reactions to Pacific Rim?

 

[Ridley327]

This has become one of the best things to happen to Oscar Voting. I love that Hollywood Reporter is continuing this series.

Indeed. Even if it does wind up for our amusement, I like that we get a good look into a decent spread of the voting members.

 

[Enzom21]

What was the art in American Sniper though?

It artfully turned a piece of shit like Chris Kyle into a sympathetic character?

 

[Htown]

it's not even the best Marvel movie released this year, much less in the running for the Best Picture.

Yeah, Winter Soldier was a better movie.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

For better or for worse they have recognized fun movies: The Departed, The Artist, Chicago, Shakespeare in Love, Return of the King, Rocky, etc.

GotG also was about the human condition or at least it tried to pull some hearstrings with the cassette tape and dead mother, or with the damn raccoon basically wanting to be a real boy

You leave my raccoon and tree out of this.

 

[Blader]

every sitcom that lasted for many years.

All other things being equal (which, lol, they are absolutely not), the main difference between the multi-year sitcom sitcom and Boyhood is the skill to cut down years of material and growth into a single 2.5 hour character portrait.

 

[samn]

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.

I hope it's forgotten quickly, for the sake of Turing's legacy.

 

[metsallica]

For as awful as the snippets are in the OP, I have to agree 100% with the Inherent Vice criticism. PTA is probably my favorite active director (I adored The Master, for example) and I thought it was an unfunny disaster that wasted all of its time telling you things it should've been showing you.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

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

Well, the implication for one movie is that they shouldn't do anything offensive, like lend support to a guy who died or it will impact their art. Why even bring up the t shirts unless she wanted to silence protests?

 

[ReplacementPelican]

should've had picture, lead actor & actress, with best director

Have you seen the other films? I definitely shouldn't have. The 'sound mixing' one is a weird nomination as well because the score was far, far too loud and there was widespread criticism about it.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

Horrible opinions indeed. Specially American Sniper and Imitation Game. Such mediocre movies. Sniper is almost downright bad.

Imitation Game will be the memorable one, yeah right.

 

[Violet_0]

quite the opposite actually, the reviewer sounds as mainstream as they get

 

[TheOnlyOneHeEverFeared]

According to who? Your opinion or someone else's?

This is also the problem when films, TV shows and popular culture things get a good buzz suddenly it becomes 'overrated'. When people should just say they didn't like it.

Boyhood's lasting effect is the power of time. Is it the best film ever? Nope but most of us would recognise those feelings of growing older and wiser, that's the films biggest draw for me personally. The idea of film on a human level.

In my opinion. I seen it twice in the cinemas, once on blu ray, can't understand where all the ridiculous praise is coming from. Its a unique experiment, and I commend Linklater for that, but it doesn't make it a masterpiece.

 

[bengraven]

You know, I thought the trailer looked great, but I have also seen a LOT of biopics to know that sometimes you get some really shitty ones, even based on inspiring people.

Because of that, I'm holding off judgement on the whole "snub" thing until I've actually seen Selma, but I would like to believe it was held off because it's just not good.

 

[Volimar]

Taste is subjective. *shrug*

Good on her for not voting in the categories she is not versed in.

I hope GBH wins.

 

[The Albatross]

Yeah, we better make sure everybody has the same opinions as us.

..

Who the hell cares? He equally trashes all of these movies.

 

[BkMogul]

Can't read the article at work, but I'm curious as to the consensus of The Theory of Everything, particularly Redmayne's performance. I didn't think anything could come close to Keaton and his acting, but I think i might be proven wrong on Sunday.

 

[Fjordson]

I feel her on some of these. Selma was lifeless and dull for me and I didn't care much for Boyhood.

Disagree on the others, though. I mean I guess Inherent Vice is mostly incoherent, but I still loved it.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

I hope it's forgotten quickly, for the sake of Turing's legacy.

When I read it was nothing but typical Hollywood over dramatizing and didn't even portray much of Turing accurately, I quickly lost interest in it. It wasn't a bad movie...but it seems like it could have been about a fictional character

 

[John Kowalski]

Taste is subjective. *shrug*

Good on her for not voting in the categories she is not versed in.

I hope GBH wins.

well criticism isn't necessarily about taste, and moreover criticism is about discerning objectivity in subjective things

i'm crushed between birdman and budapest but i guess that's one of the reasons why i don't like this sort of awards

 

[Jumplion]

This. I'll be glad with Birdman or Budapest Hotel. Two films that deserve it

every sitcom that lasted for many years.

I'm pretty sure there is a massive difference between how TV sitcoms that happen to have their actors grow up (and often times emphatically try to hide that fact) are produced and a movie specifically made to elicit the themes and emotions of growing up.

EDIT: Sidenote, not quite gettting the disdain for "Imitation Game", I personally really enjoyed it, though probably more for the acting and presentation over any real accuracy (which, to be honest, I'm sadly unfamiliar with). Really loved Cumberbatch's acting in it, and damnit you rarely see grown men cry.

 

[AlphaDump]

the lack of nominations for the Lego Movie is so baffling it is hard to take them seriously anymore.


one of the best animated films I have ever seen.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

the lack of nominations for the Lego Movie is so baffling it is hard to take them seriously anymore.


one of the best animated films I have ever seen.

yeah this was my biggest issue. Everything is not awesome.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

I like Selma & American Sniper; for a voter to disqualify one because of the politics of the cast, and to praise another because lol an old white man directed it, just does a disservice to both films.

I challenge anyone to say they weren't gasping in stunned silence during a)

Spoiler

the opening bombing scene

and b)

Spoiler

the tear gas/bridge/beating scene.

 

[Derpyduck]

If Guardians was nominated for best picture, I'd probably watch the Oscars.

 

[TheExhaustedWalrus]

Wonder what she thinks about the two best movies nominated, Birdman and Whiplash.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

the lack of nominations for the Lego Movie is so baffling it is hard to take them seriously anymore.


one of the best animated films I have ever seen.

It not being nominated was the last straw for me. The Academy is a huge joke.

 

[QuantumBro]

Wonder what she thinks about the two best movies nominated, Birdman and Whiplash.

Read the article and find out.

 

[jtb]

lol

Academy are, as always, filled with idiots.

I do enjoy that Hollywood has somehow become this liberal-straw-man haven, despite the fact that it is clearly no less conservative than any other group of extremely wealthy individuals

Anyone who thinks the Imitation Game will be seen and talked about for years to come is delusional and has no business being involved in film

 

[Volimar]

It not being nominated was the last straw for me. The Academy is a huge joke.

The rumor was that the real footage at the end may have disqualified it. A shame if that is the case because I loved the film.

 

[Messofanego]

I'm not sure why I should care for awards given by 60+ year old people. It's all politics, anyway.

 

[robotzombie]

I need to watch Selma.

why? you don't really need to in order to have an opinion on it it seems

 

[kiguel182]

I have to say, I agree about Boyhood. The movie did very little for me apart from the whole "filmed during 12 years" and the cool things that come with it.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

The rumor was that the real footage at the end may have disqualified it. A shame if that is the case because I loved the film.

The dad and son stuff? But that was the perfect representation of the two ends of the Lego fan spectrum.