As the Award season is upon us (you're watching the Golden Globes right now, eh?) ... you have to start wondering. What exactly is worth an award? And more so ... what doesn't deserve an award. As the years move on ... It seems that more awards are based on theater turns or dollars rather that the quality of the actual film. Curious to see what all of you think on this one.
I just saw Dreamgirls (against my better judgement) and it was awful. Sure, it had strong set design, that girl from american idol and the guy from Miami Vice. But it wasn't a good film! Reissue Tommy and give it an award. Now if you did see this and loved it, that's totally fine. It's ok if you loved it. But did you love it because it was the next Jesus Christ Superstar? Or because it was fun. Fun doesn't = award in my mind.
Ok, What'd you like this year?
* Pan's Labyrinth. He managed to make a political fairy tale. Don't take the kids to it. Minor complaint ... he could have left some of the violence out, then you could have taken the kids.
* Children of Men. I didn't expect to like this, but I did. The characters feel real, the future feels possible.
* Blood Diamond. I shouldn't like this. But, it feels like Hotel Rwanda for the people too scared to watch Hotel Rowanda. Not as heavy as HW or the Constant Gardener. But, a good starter to those films. Yes, I know there are many Frontlines, PBS shows and docs that cover these issues ... but I don't think the general USA is going to watch them.
* The Banquet. Martial Arts, Chinese melodrama, Hamlet. nice.
* The Wire. Yes, this show really is that good.
What doesn't deserve too much attention? The Good Sheperd. Sorry Robert, it's not a bad movie ... but you could edit out 30 or 40 minutes out. Borat ... saw it on UK TV in 1999 .. does Jackass deserve an award? The Departed - Watched the Chinese version + 'return to form' as many claimed .. ehh ... just nominate one of Scorsese's older films that didn't win.
Al Gore, if you win that Academy Award ... you should do the noble thing and give it to one of the low budget docs.
So what'd you all think? Of course the above is big-budget Hollywood type films. If you saw some small indy films, name them off! Did you know you have to pay for the Academy to be able to screen your film if they nominate it?
-M
