I can cite a few Oscar tragedies in recent years, but for this writers money, none beats the atrocity committed this year as Gone, Baby Gone is absolutely shunned in 4 out of 5 catergories that truly count.
The lone nomination this year is Amy Ryan in the Best Supporting Actress group. While she's not a lock on the gold, I give her a 80% chance of standing at the podium. Scroll down three articles and take a look at her competition in the category. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Her real competition to my mind is Cate Blanchett portraying Bob Dylan. First, the Academy loves that kind of portrayal and second, who doesn't love Cate Blanchett. But the Academy truly loves drug addled moms, and this one is a humdinger. Yeah, that's right, humdinger.
My question to the Academy: Did you actually watch Atonement? Did you just see that it was a period piece and throw it on the list? What about Michael Clayton? Are you that much in love with George Clooney that you can no longer see through the sculpted hair?
I'm just a lowly reviewer, deserving of little respect as it's not even my job. Just a passion. I dare you to watch those three movies and not be moved more by Gone, Baby Gone. Gut-wrenched in fact, as the story plays out on the screen. Will Atonement move you? Sure. But not like this. Michael Clayton? Perhaps, after you figure the plot out.
It's a damn crime that Casey Affleck isn't nominated for a Best Actor award. The field is crowded this year with well known names and in fairness, I haven't seen all the movies. So they find a way to make it up to him with the Supporting Actor nom in "The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." Which is fine, but doesn't do him justice.
If Ben Affleck is still in the hole with the Hollywood bodies who "count", then he is being done a cruel injustice. Sure he was tabloid fodder and cranked out a couple of horrendous examples of acting in the last few years, but that has no bearing on his directing skills. This man made a remarkable movie. As far as grit goes, this movie ranks up there with an Eastwood directed film. Not that he is "Clint-like", but the dirt is there. The feeling of a true society. You believe the world. It's hard to knock someone off the directing list, but I'd have left Tony Gilroy off the list and let Michael Clayton age on the shelf a bit.
To sum up, "Gone, Baby Gone" was screwed in the following categories:
Best Picture
Best Actor
Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay
My point? The film is being released on dvd today, Tuesday, February 12. If you missed it in the theater, don't hesitate to pick it up this weekend.
To read my reviews click the following links:
Gone, Baby Gone: http://skiptheconsessions.blogspot.com/2007/11/gone-baby-gone-but-i-may-be-coming-back.html
Michael Clayton: http://skiptheconsessions.blogspot.com/2007/12/michael-clayton-or-is-that-just-really.html
Atonement: http://skiptheconsessions.blogspot.com/2007/12/atonementive-got-nothing-funny-here.html
Oh, and Atonement, you want to talk about a good period piece? Don't even get me started on 3:10 to Yuma. http://skiptheconsessions.blogspot.com/2007/09/go-west-young-man-catch-310-to-yuma.html
I'm just saying.
Elijah
No comments:
Post a Comment