Academy Best Director Award...much ado about...

[Steve Das]

If you watch the Academy Awards on TV am sure they will
make a big deal about if Cameron or his ex-wife Bigelow win
the award for Best Director and join the list of past winners.
But the prestigous list of past winners is only exceeded
by the prestigous list of past non-winners.

When you consider Charlie Chaplin, Howard Hawks,
Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Wellles, and Stanley Kubrick never
won an award for Best Direction you realize that over time
the award has been much more of a popularity thing than anything.

 

[Andrew Rieger]

So true. Watched 2001 for the 13th time last night. The Academy should be ashamed of some of their past choices.

 

[Scott Crawley]

The academy is a large, dynamic body. It is a social and cultural thing, so certainly popularity plays a part in their collective choices. The group that overlooked Chaplin no longer exists. If you are suggesting that the current members of the academy should be ashamed of their membership, or the organization based upon awards history then I might suggest that you reconsider. Do include in your deliberations though, the fact that the academy was formed essentially so that their awards could serve as a promotional device.

 

[Andrew Rieger]

The academy is a large, dynamic body. It is a social and cultural thing, so certainly popularity plays a part in their collective choices. The group that overlooked Chaplin no longer exists. If you are suggesting that the current members of the academy should be ashamed of their membership, or the organization based upon awards history then I might suggest that you reconsider. Do include in your deliberations though, the fact that the academy was formed essentially so that their awards could serve as a promotional device.

Very true, still the Academy has a history is rewarding the same people multiple times while ignoring others. Roger Deakins still has never won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography even though he has been nominated 8 times. Martin was basically given a lifetime achievement award when he should have won at least twice prior to the Departed. SIL beat Saving Private Ryan and Life is Beautiful. Sean Penn Beat Mickey Rourke. Too many mistakes to list. Lets just say the body has had a less than stellar history.

 

[Brad Webb]

Being nominated for an Oscar is respect. Winning one is a popularity contest crap shoot. If I'm not mistaken I believe that only those in the field can nominate (Ie only Make up artist vote on who gets nominated for best makeup), yet everyone in the Academy can vote for the winner. This is why the winner is not always the best.

 

[Scott Crawley]

Ah Mr. Deakins... One of my many favorites. As you say he is in very good company on that list of Oscar oversights. Brad has it right though IMHO, and Roger has a ton of nominations. Perhaps his ASC awards mean more... Or the BAFTA... I wonder which of his many awards makes him most proud.

I understand that his website is open for comments. Maybe you could ask him.

 

[Andrew Luczenczyn]

hurt locker 4thewin. questionable choice? maybe.

As above, being nominated is an honor, winning is a popularity contest... That why there are lifetime acheivement awards are for.

 

[Andrew Rieger]

hurt locker 4thewin. questionable choice? maybe.

As above, being nominated is an honor, winning is a popularity contest... That why there are lifetime acheivement awards are for.

Nothing questionable about it. One of the best films of the decade.

 

[Frank Weeks]

Nothing questionable about it. One of the best films of the decade.

It wouldn't rate in my best of the decade but it was a solid movie.

Why it got the most votes is more interesting. Some may have wanted to see the first woman win, others may have just done it because they were jealous of Cameron scoring over 2 billion and felt like it might take him down a notch. Most probably thought it was the best film of the year.

Overall I loved Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock winning.

Wish Coraline had won in the animated category. Had two stepsons that worked on the production.

 

[Tom Lowe]

In my opinion, there was a whole lot of "politics" behind the "Hurt Locker" win. Obviously, they kept going on and on and on about how it was the first woman, so that was in play, without any doubt whatsoever. Also, as Frank points out, I think Cameron probably lost a lot of votes for his "King of the world" crap way back when, plus just general jealously or distaste for him or whatever.

I find the whole "Hurt Locker" success to be totally baffling. I thought it was just terrible. I was literally laughing at some parts, that were so badly done. Maybe it's because I am ex military and actually fought in Iraq, etc, but man, it just rang so false to me, I couldn't take it seriously.

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Maybe it's because I am ex military and actually fought in Iraq, etc, but man, it just rang so false to me, I couldn't take it seriously.

I don't think you have to be ex-military to get that vibe.

I was really put off by the main character through the entire movie because I thought that it did a disservice to the story to have what amounts to a borderline psychopath as the main character.

I didn't care if he got blown up. In fact I sort of hoped the entire time a bomb would take him out so that he would stop putting people I actually cared about in danger.

 

[Brad Webb]

Hurt Locker won because of the same reason every movie has ever won best picture, it was the hot movie. Avatar won the Golden Globes because it had just been released and the hype was huge, but the dust settled and everyone was like, "it was good, but is it really best picture good" plus all the Pocahontas and Fern Gully comparisons took away it's luster.

What was left standing was the Hurt Locker, and it started winning awards and steamrolled it's way to the Oscars.

Inglorious Basterds, and Up where the real best movies of the year. Had Basterds come out in December it would have won best picture because it would be fresh in everyone's minds. It didn't win any of the smaller awards and voters dismissed at a serious contender.

Up never had a chance because the Academy snobs could never give an Animated movie Best Picture, even if it by far and away the best movie of the year. Nor will a straight up comedy ever win.

This was probably the worst year to have 10 films nominated for best picture, when really not even 5 should have been. I liked Hurt Locker, I'm glad it won. It totally deserves it. But like most years, only time will tell if this is truly a great movie.

I scoffed at the horror film montage because you will never see a horror film nominated for anything other than makeup, effects, and maybe sound editing.

 

[Andrew Rieger]

In my opinion, there was a whole lot of "politics" behind the "Hurt Locker" win. Obviously, they kept going on and on and on about how it was the first woman, so that was in play, without any doubt whatsoever. Also, as Frank points out, I think Cameron probably lost a lot of votes for his "King of the world" crap way back when, plus just general jealously or distaste for him or whatever.

I find the whole "Hurt Locker" success to be totally baffling. I thought it was just terrible. I was literally laughing at some parts, that were so badly done. Maybe it's because I am ex military and actually fought in Iraq, etc, but man, it just rang so false to me, I couldn't take it seriously.

There were no politics in the actual film. Yes there were politics behind the win. I saw the film with my cousin who served two tours in Iraq and he told me that the film was right on and loved the film because it depicted the realities of war and the sacrifices of the troops. He was getting real sick of all the Iraq war political commentary films critical of the troops and the work they do. This is the first time I have heard a military person bash the film which is so surprising. Still, thank you Tom for serving our country. Your sacrifices will always be remembered.

Granted, there were some situations that had a hollywood vibe but the overall message and depiction of the harsh realities of war were good.

 

[Tom Lowe]

Andrew, people just have different reactions to things for different reasons. It doesn't mean one person's opinion is right, and the other person is wrong. Hell, most people thought that Aronofky's "The Fountain" was laughable, but I loved it and put it my top 3 for the decade. So who knows.

I found the whole "Hurt Locker" to be unbelievable and damn near unwatchable. The lead actor was horribly miscast, IMO. He would be better suited as a neighbor on "Melrose Place" not as some supposed military "baddass". I'm sorry, that actor just was not right, and so that kind of ruined it for me as well.

Anyway, whenever a film is made about the occupation you do (or did) for a living, it often comes off as cheesy and unbelievable. I'm sure that car racers find car racer films to be laughable. Speechwriters find speechwriting films to be inacurate, etc.

 

[Andrew Rieger]

Wow, someone else who loves The Fountain. It was one of the few films that made me cry.

I can understand your position and agree that some of the scenes created situations for dramatic purposes that may not reflect reality or proper military procedure. The characters methods were certainly unorthodox.

I come from a military family and have been rather displeased with every Iraq film that has tried to paint troops in a negative light or comment about the purpose of the occupation or imperialism as a tool of destruction. Overall, I thought the characters, while not necessarily perfectly realistic, showed depth, dedication and compassion.

Thank you again for your service. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the military and it's men. I hope users here do as well.

 

[Jay Voutour]

This is the first time I have heard a military person bash the film which is so surprising.

Interesting...

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/essay-15/

BTW, I've yet to see the flick, so I have no opinions of my own to share. Yet.

Still, thank you Tom for serving our country. Your sacrifices will always be remembered.

Even though I'm Canadian (my folks are American (AZ)), I'd still like to say thanks for having to go through what you did. I have nothing but respect for guys that can go through that scary-ass shit and come back normal. And, in your case, become one helluva filmmaker.

EDIT: Didn't see Andrew's post above and basically said the same thing (as his last bit).
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[Michael Hastings]

In my opinion, there was a whole lot of "politics" behind the "Hurt Locker" win. Obviously, they kept going on and on and on about how it was the first woman, so that was in play, without any doubt whatsoever. Also, as Frank points out, I think Cameron probably lost a lot of votes for his "King of the world" crap way back when, plus just general jealously or distaste for him or whatever.

I find the whole "Hurt Locker" success to be totally baffling. I thought it was just terrible. I was literally laughing at some parts, that were so badly done. Maybe it's because I am ex military and actually fought in Iraq, etc, but man, it just rang so false to me, I couldn't take it seriously.

Tom, I agree. I saw Hurt Locker when it first came out here and hadn't read or heard anything about it. At the time, I thought it was a good action movie, but not a great movie in any sense.

Although I never served in the military, I've worked with the seal teams and army combat divers through my underwater manufacturing and over the years have read a lot about military operations. Many (if not most) of the operations depicted in Hurt Locker didn't feel right and after reading some of the articles about Hurt Locker it seems pretty clear they weren't at all realistic.

I agree there was probably a lot of politics involved. In a year where the huge budget Avatar grosses 2 billion, it was cool to go with the "small" movie, not to mention the additional story line of first woman to win Best Director and Best Picture (and ex-wife of the "big" picture guy).

 

[Stephen Gentle]

I reckon Up and District 9 were my favourites out of the bunch (although I hadn't seen a few of them). Their chances of winning was very slim though.

 

[Steve Das]

... I think Cameron probably lost a lot of votes for his "King of the world" crap way back when, plus just general jealously or distaste for him or whatever.

Agreed..Titantic as a movie may have faded in memory but
"King of the World" lives on and is very commonly referenced
as a comedy bit in many..many..TV shows.

Don't think anyone wanted to take a chance on there being a
sequel ...hence no votes and a no go for "King of the World part II"

 

[L. Langer]

The funny thing about The Hurt Locker was that the writer/producer, who wrote the original article the film is based on, said he basically just made the most dramatic shit up he could think of to sell a movie.