Just for my own purposes. I did a similar thing on my old blog "Holden's Thoughts." I'll use some of the same films. But let's countdown.
10. Almost Famous snubbed for Best Picture
Though not one of my favorite films, it's still a good one. I feel it's a pretty honest picture, and certainly better than Chocolat.
I would put it in the place of Chocolat.
9. Peter Jackson for Best Director for The Two Towers
I call this a major snub when he was replaced by Pedro Almodovar for Talk to Her.
I would put him in the place of Pedro Almodovar.
8. Sean Astin missing out on Best Supporting Actor for The Return of the King.
While many may say that Ian McKellen had the better performance, but when you get right down to it, Sam is simply a more lovable, loyal, and intriguing character to watch. I feel Astin does a good job portraying him.
I would put him in the place of Ken Watanabe for The Last Samurai.
7, Dev Patel missing out on a Best Supporting Actor nod for Slumdog Millionaire, Though not a remarkable performance, Patel had been picking up nominations from BAFTA, SAG, he'd gotten some breakthrough performer awards. It does stand out in a non performance driven film.
I would put him in the place of Michael Shannon for Revolutionary Road
6. Little Miss Sunshine losing Best Picture
I suppose it was bound to happen, but the math does not add up. It might have missed out on a few critic awards, but it only missed one of the four major guild awards (DGA.)
I would put it in the place of The Departed.
5. The Shawshank Redemption losing Best Picture
Others will say that the statute belongs to Pulp Fiction, but I like Shawshank more. Though it really is a great film. It illustrates what you're willing to do to rise against "The Man."
I would put it in the place of Forrest Gump.
4. Shattered Glass missing in Major Categories
The best explanation as to why it was over looked was because it was competing in a pretty competitive year. You had Return of The King, Master and Commander, Mystic River, Lost in Translation, 21 Grams, etc. It really is a compelling story that shows that not everything is what it seems. I think it deserved nominations in Picture, Supporting Actor (Peter Sarsgaurd), Adapted Screenplay, and Cinematography. Maybe even Editing.
Picture: I would put it in the place of Master and Commander
Supporting Actor: I would put it in the place of Alec Baldwin for The Cooler
Screenplay: I would put it in the place of Seabiscut
Cinematography: I would put it in the place of Seabiscut (I've got nothing against the film, I just like Shattered Glass better.)
3. Once missing out on the Major Categories
This film is my favorite of all time, and I feel it deserved a lot more recognition. It did manage a win in Best Original Song for the very pretty, and moving "Falling Slowly". But that really isn't much for such a simple, and beautiful film. I think it should have gotten nominations for Picture, Director (Carney), Original Screenplay, Best Original Song ("Once").
Picture: I would put it in the place of Atonement
Director: I would put in the place of Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton
Screenplay: I would put it in the place of Ratatouille
Song: I would put in the place of "Happy Working Song" Enchanted
2. Into the Wild missing out in the Major Categories
It's an underrated film, and a poignant tale. This was the film that really introduced me to good cinema. I don't really agree with the idea that the protagonist is a spoiled brat. He didn't want to have to go through having to witness modern life, and felt that the wild was a better life than the one he had. Plus it has a killer Soundtrack by Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. I felt it deserved nominations in Picture, Director (Penn), Leading Actor (Hirsch), Supporting Actress (Keener), Cinematography, Best Original Song ("Guaranteed" ).
Picture: I would put it in the place of Michael Clayton
Director: I would put it in the place of Jason Reitman for Juno
Actor: I would put him in the place of Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah
Supporting Actress: I would put her in the place of Soarise Ronan for Atonement
Song: I would put in the place of "So Close" Enchanted
Cinematography: I would put it in the place of Atonement
1. The Dark Knight missing out in the Major Categories
A film like this doesn't come around often. Yes, it's a superhero film, and yes, it's a comic book film. But the Academy has got to look passed the genre (which it's the epitome of.) It's a work that deals with real issues in our culture and society. Things like fear, heroism, evil. It really is the ultimate battle between good and evil. I think it deserves nominations in Picture, Director (Nolan), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score.
Picture: I would put it in the place of The Reader
Director: I would put it in the place of Stephen Dalbry for The Reader
Screenplay: I would put in the place of The Reader (I have A LOT against The Reader(
Score: I would put in the place of Defiance.
Thank you for reading this list, if you did.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
What do you know about working for the "The Man"?
Interesting list.
Apart from a couple of minor grammatical oversights (see the comma which should be a period behind the number 7 and the inverted parenthetical behind your last reference to The Reader), you've put together a good, well-reasoned list. While I don't agree with everything here, I do think Dev Patel should have gotten the Best Supporting Actor nom and your argument for Into the Wild is so well reasoned that I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't seen it yet.
I completely agree that the Academy's failure to give The Dark Knight a nom for Best Picture will go down as one of the classic Academy snubs of all time. It's not like they haven't nominated fantasy films before (Lord of the Rings). When I saw that The Dark Knight didn't even merit a nomination, I had to wonder if the Academy missed the entire point to the film – not that Christopher Nolan was in any way subtle in his Hobbesian portrait of modern society (even the title screams Hobbes).
Anyway, good list, Holden. Thanks for making it.
I agree with a lot on here, but why are you hating on Atonement?
You forgot what I think was a huge snub (snubbing the snub?) for Children of Men. That should have been nominated in probably every major category but especially director.
Post a Comment