QUOTE (Tim_Halpert @ Jan 8 2008, 02:21 PM)

OK, so I am trying to figure out why it seems like 2007's likely Oscar nominees are almost entirely from movies that either didn't come out in 2007 itself or were mostly movies that next to no one saw.
Actually before I plunge into what's wrong with the 2007 Oscar-buzzers, maybe I should confirm which movies I'm talking about. I haven't seen any of these movies, but I plan to see some of them. Help would be greatly appreciated here. Did I leave any legitimate Oscar contenders out? And why are these films so highly praised. I would love to hear from anyone who has watched them (and liked them).
I mean, I can see a few of these reaching the masses (emboldened), but most of them are so d*mn obscure. I guess this year it's simply not possible to be both a commercial and a critical success with the same movie.
ATONEMENT
JUNO
I've got to vie for Atonement, it is one of the best films I've ever seen. I don't think it's obscure at all, it's a great story, thrilling, riveting and touching without any sappiness. It's also wonderful because it was brilliantly done technically and artistically as well. There is a long one shot (no cuts) with 1 thousand extras, and it is absolutely fabulous! In todays world of fast cuts and editing, we rarely see one shots, and to have one of this scale! It was just stupendous! (Nine Lives is a great film, it's a series of intertwining stories all done in one shots!) Also, it was historically accurate (the hair, clothing, etc. perfect for each ere!) and it was one of the best interpretations of a book--from my mom and sister who read it and I now want to read it more than ever because it! The colour, cinematography, music, editing, etc. all fabulous! All the pieces of the puzzle were there. There are so many films that have maybe a good story but a not so great execution or a good execution and no real story (I found this with Girl With The Perl Earring, beautiful composition but boring as sin, no offense).
I honestly didn't love Juno, and the more I think about it the more I kinda dislike it, actually. I think that this might be due to the fact I don't particularly like 'teen' movies or movies about teenagers--I am one, and I don't want to relive the world I try to avoid at school and such. It had some strikingly similar aspects to Mean Girls. I didn't like the 'modern' dialect, it bothered me--and I like southern and carny slang and stuff, so it ain't that. I just couldn't connect with any of the characters or anything. Also, I was bothered by how they dealt with the moral issue at hand--which I realize is a touchy subject and like I said I don't want to debate abortion here--they made pregnancy and the whole thing look a little too easy IMO (and I know I ain't been pregnant, but still) and they portrayed the pro choice part of it biasly IMHO (this is an example SPOILERS beware
a punk-y teen looking girl would not work in a clinic, any clinic, and I doubt they would hand out flavored condoms). It was cute and the acting was good, but this is just my opinion, both my mom and sister liked it more. Please don't throw garbage at me, I'm not trying to insult it, just some constructive criticism.
QUOTE (Bailey08 @ Jan 8 2008, 03:27 PM)

The Oscars always have movies that are obscure. I think it's a very common thing for people to first hear of movies when once they get their award buzz.
There Will Be Blood, Atonement, Waitress, and Gone Baby Gone aren't obscure, are they? Atonement just came out. The rest I've never heard of, except for Margot at the Wedding, but I know nothing about it.
I don't think Atonement is that obscure, but I saw it twice (and will see it again for sure when it comes out!), so maybe I'm bias

!
QUOTE (Fechin @ Jan 8 2008, 03:30 PM)

There Will Be Blood, Atonement, Waitress, and Gone Baby Gone aren't obscure, are they?
Not to people who follow movies and news etc but I bet if you ask people on the street have you even heard of one of these films you will be hard pressed to find many people that know about these movies.
You might be right there!
IMO, these award shows are quite bias. I'm still p*ssed that a singer with no acting background--whom shall remain nameless--won over actresses that are acclaimed and did wonderful jobs in much better movies

(ok, sorry, I don't mean that to be offensive anyone

!). And there are other examples of movies winning everything while there are much better deserving candidates, just because of either status, popularity and/or has a story that appeals to most or cannot be contradicted (I will refrain from naming any examples here, at the risk that I've said too much already

!).