Rant number 20
It's coming up to that time of year again boys and girls. It looks like its time for the Oscar botherers.
What is he on about this time? I hear you cry
Quite simply, films that are made specifically with a view to a good run at the film awards.
Don't get me wrong. Some films deserve Oscars - and some in fact deserve many many Oscars. My problem is that some films are made to be critic friendly hits with the awards. This guarantees a viewing from a certain sect - and so it all works out bloody well doesn't it.
My problem is that many films will never be given awards nods because they are not 'the right stuff' from the right directors, from the right studios or the right themes. Particularly this applies to genre films (as with any genre fiction in fact) i.e. Horror, Sci-fi or fantasy for instance.
Look at this months 'The Artist' for instance. A film which has been made in the modern age - in black and white and silently.
You've got to admit that's just a little (huge) bit pretentious?
I am sure that the film is just as good as the critics keep telling me, but truth be told, if I want to watch a silent movie - I will watch something like Nosferatu (made in 1922.)
I 'll tell you one thing though. It won't win an Oscar....
It'll win at least 4 of the buggers
Another good example would be something like the 'Kings speech,' which won just about everything it was nominated for last year. That this is a film about a slightly controversial subject matter wouldn't have hurt - would it? I just wonder if the removal of the Royal part of the subject matter would have meant that the Oscar's wouldn't have given it a second though? I reckon so.
A boxing movie is almost always a good cert soon if done right as last years 'the Fighter proved'
Seeing my point yet?
To put in context all of it. One of the best films I have seen in the last couple of years is Christopher Nolan's 'Inception'
The Narrative - though at times a little hard to follow on first viewing - is exquisitely shaped, the cast (including Leonardo DiCaprio, who normally I do not warm to) act frighteningly well under the smooth, styled direction of Nolan. The music too pumps and swells with exitement.
I watched with a kind of awe that had my jaw dropping at times at how brilliant it was.
I knew however that it was too sci-fi to receive anything of a true Oscar. And I was right.
Instead it received a total of 4 technical Oscar's - a poor consolation in my book. These were for Visual effects, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing & Cinematography. The film & respective actors deserved direct nods and it was unfair that these were not given.
All in all - the Oscar botherers aren't going anyway. At the moment alongside 'The Artist' there is 'War House' (war movie - dead cert) & 'J Edgar' (A politics movie - also a good bet. Maybe Leo will get one after all.) Just remember, there are many films you would never think of well worth watching.
Rant over.
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