Big Magilla wrote:Apples and oranges. Lots of interesting choices for supporting actor year, few for supporting actress.
I don't know I agree with this. In supporting actor, you have a wholly uncharacteristic performance (Downey's) getting pushed, two more gerrymandered in (Hoffman and Patel), and add-on performers like Franco being promoted for Milk, despite mixed opinions about his work. Meantime, supporting actress is crowded enough that at least one of Adams, Dewitt, Henson or Tomei is probably going to be omitted. There are years where the disparity between the two categories is vast ('06 a recent one), but I don't see this as one. (Of course, I'm going by buzz, not having seen all the movies yet)
BJ, you and I see to be in about the same place on the film. About Mendes' contribution: I was having a thought about him in the early portion of the film. Unlike some here, I've valued his work as director. Whatever my problems with his source material over the years, I've always found his shooting impressive -- even in Jarhead, which I'd consider his weakest work. Here, right from that opening shot of NY by nighttime, I felt in the hands of an accomplished director.
Yet...after a while a director has to be held responsible for his choice of projects, and the fact that his own work always feels superior to the material on which it's lavished becomes a problem. I'm reminded of a great piece the baseball writer Bill James did on player Juan Samuel some years back. He acknowledged that Samuel -- a one-time Phillie/Met/etc. -- appeared to be a gifted athlete, but wherever people put him (outfield, second base), he never seemed to quite do the job hoped for, and teams always ended up trading him. James compared him to Walter Matthau, who seemed a capable enough actor, but who, by the latter portion of his career, never seemed to make movies you much wanted to see. James' conclusion was, yeah, he may be talented, but if he doesn't fit an overall scheme, what are you supposed to do with him? I wonder if Mendes is someone in that category as well.
All that said...I do find the film is sticking with me more than most things I've seen this year. Sometimes strong elements (like the super-charged arguments DiCaprio and Winslet have, including one daringly placed prior to the title card) are enough to make a film memorable even when it's riddled with flaws.
Edited By Mister Tee on 1230655076