Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:51 pm
You like Benjamin Button more than Milk?
I don't like that I have to praise any group for not following suit and nominating Frost/Nixon. I maintain that the films that basically represent the populist timbre of 2008 are The Dark Knight, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL*E and something else. These are the movies that really meant something this year, that people really embraced and outright LOVED. I believe that the American public was largely bullied into watching Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and to some degree The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I understand its inclusion though I think by in large people really appreciated The Wrestler more. Be that as it may, if on nominations morning the nominees were The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, AND WALL*E, it'd be cause for celebration.
I understand the love for Slumdog Millionaire but I'll never understand the love for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ever. It's such a missed opportunity. I don't really understand how one can honor David Fincher for directing when it seems so largely the product of post-production think, but I really don't understand how the screenplay can win. I think these are probably the worst crop of nominated adapted screenplays in ages (is Doubt a better SCRIPT than The Dark Knight? Is the act structure stronger, more satisfying, more cinematic? is Frost/Nixon?) but it seems to me that if there's any category that Slumdog Millionaire cannot be denied, it is here.
Then again, there's so much I don't get this year. I don't like that I have to be proud that Taraji P. Henson was left out by us. It utterly baffles me that she has maintained such strength while Tilda Swinton's mini-movie performance has yet to rack up a single mention. Nothing against Henson who is good but given absolutely no shakes by the filmmakers.
I don't like that I have to praise any group for not following suit and nominating Frost/Nixon. I maintain that the films that basically represent the populist timbre of 2008 are The Dark Knight, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, WALL*E and something else. These are the movies that really meant something this year, that people really embraced and outright LOVED. I believe that the American public was largely bullied into watching Frost/Nixon, The Reader, and to some degree The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I understand its inclusion though I think by in large people really appreciated The Wrestler more. Be that as it may, if on nominations morning the nominees were The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, AND WALL*E, it'd be cause for celebration.
I understand the love for Slumdog Millionaire but I'll never understand the love for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ever. It's such a missed opportunity. I don't really understand how one can honor David Fincher for directing when it seems so largely the product of post-production think, but I really don't understand how the screenplay can win. I think these are probably the worst crop of nominated adapted screenplays in ages (is Doubt a better SCRIPT than The Dark Knight? Is the act structure stronger, more satisfying, more cinematic? is Frost/Nixon?) but it seems to me that if there's any category that Slumdog Millionaire cannot be denied, it is here.
Then again, there's so much I don't get this year. I don't like that I have to be proud that Taraji P. Henson was left out by us. It utterly baffles me that she has maintained such strength while Tilda Swinton's mini-movie performance has yet to rack up a single mention. Nothing against Henson who is good but given absolutely no shakes by the filmmakers.