Page 3 of 5
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 11:05 pm
by Okri
On another board, here's one explanation for why a SAG voter checked off Slumdog Millionaire
---
BEST ENSEMBLE: Slumdog Millionaire. I know no one will really agree with me, and it was very close between Slumdog and Doubt. However, I loved, absolutely loved, Slumdog Millionaire. I think my favorite thing about the film was its energy, and the cast had a lot to do with that. The fact that it feels more like an ensemble than the four-person cast of Doubt also helped tip me to Slumdog. I loved Doubt, but it just didn’t feel as much like an ensemble to me. Benjamin Button was acted fairly well, especially by Blanchett and Henson, but I wasn’t all that enthused with it. As petty as it seems, I didn’t think about voting for Milk because I really hated Diego Luna in it; the argument over whether the portrayal of Jack was intentional and correct or just bad writing and/or acting has been made very eloquently in the movie’s thread. I just know that I thought he was really bad, and I don’t want to vote to give him an award for it; everyone else was great, though. The cast of Frost/Nixon was mostly fine, but I don’t think it should have been nominated at all. It's going to get nominated for Best Picture, and that is really astounding to me. The two films for which I really would have liked to vote are Rachel Getting Married (my personal favorite) and The Dark Knight, and it sucks that they weren’t nominated. In this bunch, though, I’m firmly behind Slumdog Millionaire.
---
No, I'm not getting paid to flog Slumdog Millionare.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:55 pm
by Zahveed
Bog wrote:Sabin wrote:Just because we don't know who these people are means they're less deserving?
but it's certainly a better ensemble than The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon.
And I mentioned none of these things....no-names, Frost/Nixon, Benjamin Button had nothing to do with my statments. Dev Patel's blank stare, Milk, and Doubt are what matter to me with Slumdog winning a SAG award....hell there's even A Christmas Tale, Happy-Go-Lucky, maybe Synecdoche and even The Dark Knight, off the top of my head. I guess I take this category to be far too literally about acting, which is so clearly not even a little bit. Has best "cast" at the SAGs always been just Oscar whoring with little acting correlation?
Victor Vargas was pretty great!
I believe he was talking to OG.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:50 pm
by Mister Tee
I'm in general agreement with Bog's stance: this had to be actors voting for their favorite movie; I can't imagine an actor of any judgment claiming Slumdog as an acting piece was superior to especially Milk, but also Doubt.
I've said, I don't dislike Slumdog, but, as has happened with a few other movies in the past, the outsize love it's receiving from the voting community is starting to sour me.
Had AMPAS not pulled the Winslet switcheroo, we'd probably be looking at a complete set of Oscar winners -- reduced to thinking only Penn/Rourke still competitive, owing to Sean's previous Oscar win. (The ovation tonight, however, was pretty persuasive) Instead, I think we're looking at two suspenseful actress races. The wild enthusiasm for Streep's win makes me think "It's time Meryl won again" fever is maybe on a par with "Winslet must win now" sentiment. I especially wonder if many people are going to much LIKE The Reader, which can affect voting (Doubt, whatever you think of it, goes down pretty easy). I see voters choosing with mixed emotions, the outcome uncertain.
I thought Sean and Robin were complete splitsville. Was her showing up just a gesture of friendship, or is there reconciliation in the air?
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:43 pm
by OscarGuy
One thing the SAGs have had a problem with in the past is recognizing actors they know over actors they don't. The fact that there are no recognizable stars in the cast just means that they voted for the film they liked most, not necessarily the best ensemble. I think that's fairly clear considering that neither Milk nor Doubt, both with exceptional ensembles, picked up the award.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:42 pm
by Okri
The Birdcage.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:38 pm
by Eric
Bog wrote:Has best "cast" at the SAGs always been just Oscar whoring with little acting correlation?
Yes.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:36 pm
by Bog
Sabin wrote:Just because we don't know who these people are means they're less deserving?
but it's certainly a better ensemble than The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon.
And I mentioned none of these things....no-names, Frost/Nixon, Benjamin Button had nothing to do with my statments. Dev Patel's blank stare, Milk, and Doubt are what matter to me with Slumdog winning a SAG award....hell there's even A Christmas Tale, Happy-Go-Lucky, maybe Synecdoche and even The Dark Knight, off the top of my head. I guess I take this category to be far too literally about acting, which is so clearly not even a little bit. Has best "cast" at the SAGs always been just Oscar whoring with little acting correlation?
Victor Vargas was pretty great!
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:27 pm
by Okri
I think it is. Vastly superior, not blackmailing Hollywood.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:26 pm
by Jim20
Penelope wrote:Oh, no, Slumdog is vastly, vastly superior to The Departed.
Yeah, right.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:23 pm
by Zahveed
Is Slumdog Millionaire blackmailing Hollywood or something?
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:22 pm
by Zahveed
Penelope wrote:Oh, no, Slumdog is vastly, vastly superior to The Departed.
*scoff*
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:19 pm
by Uri
When did Anthony Hopkins morph into Malcolm McDowell?
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:09 pm
by Penelope
Oh, no, Slumdog is vastly, vastly superior to The Departed.
Meryl Streep's acceptance speech was pretty terrific: she may very well have made the Best Actress race incredibly tight; only Jolie and Leo don't stand a chance of winning.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:09 pm
by Eric
Yeah, it's done. I suggest those who are depressed by this juggernaut come celebrate next year's Oscar race for best actress with me as Mo’Nique just won a special acting award at Sundance!
Edited By Eric on 1232939515
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:06 pm
by Sabin
Just because we don't know who these people are means they're less deserving? I thought Raising Victor Vargas was the Best Ensemble in 2003. This year, I certainly wouldn't go as far with this film but it's certainly a better ensemble than The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon.
It's been done for months. It's just doner now.