all things considered

blanddiva11:

You may not like the Oscars, may not like the movies that get nominated, or be “above it all”. I don’t care. I finished something I set out to do for the first time in, perhaps, years. I can barely make it through a magazine article anymore or a film in one-sitting. It has been four to six years…

I love watching the Oscars-used to have watching parties. This year I haven’t seen any of the nominated best pics. What were your favs? Which pic SHOULD win? Which one do you think will win?

My parents throw watch parties!  With dressy dresses, a three-course dinner, and awards.

I am pretty divided about my favorites in the category this year.  I lean toward the more intense, independent-type films like District 9, The Hurt Locker, A Serious Man, and Precious.  BUT I also loved Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, and Up in the Air.  I also enjoyed Up, though the nod seems forced in this category.  I could take or leave An Education.  It seems like the “Juno” nod of the year with it’s quirky girl, coming-of-age plot line.  And The Blind Side does exactly what it is supposed to do.  It makes you feel exactly what you are supposed to and leaves your cockles warmed.

Picking an absolute favorite is like choosing between your kids. Though The Blind Side and An Education are like your step-kids from a second divorce.  You see their merits, but they would never really be in the running.

Avatar isn’t really a great, innovative or new story, but the film is breathtaking.  I LOVED IT.  I think it has the greatest chance of winning because, hey, Titanic.  I also wouldn’t be disappointed if/when it does win.  Then I won’t be torn if Hurt Locker beats Precious or vice versa.  These two films need more than just nominations.  They deserve their own sets of awards.

What I appreciate most about the expanded number of nominations in the Best Picture category this year is that I watched movies I wouldn’t have given a chance and I’m glad I saw them (i.e. The Blind Side and An Education).  I also was happy to have seen several of the movies before the nominations were announced because I just wanted to see them (i.e. District 9 and Inglourious Basterds).  The downside to so many nods is that I concentrated too much on that list and didn’t see enough of the films in other categories.  Like Best Actor and Actress.  I know Morgan Freeman will win even though I didn’t see Invictus.  But *I* want Jeff Bridges to win for Crazy Heart because I saw that movie.  I will be pissed if Sandra Bullock gets all Reese Witherspoon up in that category for playing a real, sassy southern woman because Gabourey Sidibe owns this fucking category.

Now that I have long passed the tl;dr mark, I will end this.  Happy Oscar watching or hating!