The Oscars – Predicting Best Movie

I love movies, so this year I’ve carried on a tradition that I started last year: to watch all the five movies nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Motion Picture of the Year, so I know if the best one wins. However, I have to say that after seeing this year’s five movies, I feel very reluctant to waste my time on something like this next year.

I’m writing this about 8 hours before the The 78th Annual Academy Awardsâ„¢ are starting, so please let me give you a rundown of the movies nominated and what I thought of them:

Brokeback Mountain
I take it most of you know what this movie is about, or maybe you’ve even seen it as well. The most common thing I heard or read about it before I saw it was:

It’s that damn gay western

Just because of narrow-minded people like that, I sincerely wanted it to be good. Problem is, it isn’t. It’s just a mediocre movie that has gotten so much attention for the reason that it deals with such a topic in an open and non-judgmental way, which I encourage. The thing is, in my book, this isn’t a reason to give it a lot of awards and attention. Like a friend said to me:

If it hadn’t had its gay theme, no one would’ve watched it

Capote
Probably needless to say, but Philip Seymour Hoffman is, as he is in every movie he stars in, very good. I’ve never seen any tapes with Truman Capote to make the call if he’s a dead ringer or not, but people tell me so. Unfortunately, otherwise this movie isn’t that intriguing. It’s ok, no more, no less. My tip, though, is that we will see an award go to Mr. Hoffman in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
Crash
Without a doubt the best movie in this company, and one of last bear’s best movies. Dealing with a lot of parallel intrigues, racism and violence in Los Angels, this one is a must-see. Really. See it now! I hope Matt Dillon wins in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role category.
Good Night, and Good Luck

This one is in black and white, nothing I have a problem with; on the contrary, it suits the plot and the feel of it. Dealing with the McCarthy hearings in the early 1950’sand how CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow and team made a stand and fought him. Could’ve been very good but is just ok.
Munich

My first thought when I saw that this movie got nominated was that Spielberg got a nomination as usual when making a movie about a tough topic. This movie ain’t that bad, although it’s a very sensitive subject and I can imagine that people knowing more about the actual events might oppose some things in Spielberg’s interpretation. It is ok, though, and sometimes actually exciting.

 

Conclusively, I have to say that I can’t really fathom why four out of five of the above mentioned movies have been nominated. With the exception of Crash, all the other movies are on the level “movie-I-might-watch-on-TV-late-at-night-if-I’m-too-tired-to-go-to-bed”, motion pictures that should be straight to video. I’m fairly sure that Brokeback Mountain will win, which saddens me. Kudos to Ang Lee for being brave enough to make such a film, but definitely not the best movie last year.

If there’s any justice and people actually dare voting for the best movie and not for what’s the most politically correct thing for the moment in Hollywood, Crash will win.

 

Have you seen any of these movies? What’s your take?

 

Updated Monday March 6th

Yes! Crash won Best Movie! I’m so happy to see that there’s some justice! All winners can be found in IMDB’s awards page.

22 Comments

  • Bjarne says:

    I haven't seen all of the nominated movies, but the one I did see (several times actually) should absolutly get the Oscar. I can't imagine any movie beeing better than this.

    Yes, I'm talking about Crash, of course :).

  • Interesting to hear I'm not the only movie fan who is uninspired by this years Oscar nominations…

  • My favourite of the five you mention was also Crash, so after the results it seems we're both lucky. However, I feel sorry for Joaquin Phoenix not getting the award for Walk the line. I don't like country music, but his amazing performance made me enjoy that movie anyway and that's not a bad achievement!

  • Well Robert, seems like you hit the nail here. Crash won the Best Picture award. Awesome.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Bjarne,

    Good to hear, that makes me happy! 🙂

    Steve,

    I think many of us share that pain…

    Reine,

    Good to hear! 🙂

    I think there are two major reasons Joaquin didn't win. The first is that Jamie Foxx won last year for his interpretation of Ray Charles, so they wouldn't want the same thing this year. The second is that Philip Seymour Hoffman has had this long coming, so people thought it was his turn now.

    Unfortunately, I haven't seen Walk the line yet, but I definitely will. I'm fairly convinced that it's better than all of the above, except maybe for Crash.

    Josue,

    Yes, it's great! 🙂

    I've updated the post with the news and a link.

  • Robert,

    Watch Walk the line as soon as you can. I liked it better than Crash.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Josue,

    That sounds very intersting! I'll do my best to make it happen… 🙂

  • Richard says:

    I had hope upon hope that Crash would get it. Like you, I found most of the other nominations pretty uninspiring. Capote is definitely recommendable, though.

    I'm so glad Brokeback didn't get it. After all that hype, it was nice to see the underdog take it away. And it wasn't even a very good movie.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Richard,

    Thanks for sharing, and good to hear someone else being tired of the Brokeback hype. 🙂

  • Crash was absolutely awesome. Great subject and I just loved how the story unfolded. I was surprised Crash was nominated, because to me it didn't seem it was marketed as a big motion picture at all. I am really glad to see I couldn't have been more wrong.

    I haven't seen Brokeback Mountain and I am not planning on it either. I have seen Munich and I was terribly disappointed by it. In my opinion, regardless of the subject, it was just a really bad movie.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Jeroen,

    Yes, Crash is really good! 🙂

    Let me just tell you that Munich rocked compared to the other three movies (no, not Crash, of course). 🙂

  • Jens Meiert says:

    Hey thanks, Rob 😉 Nice tradition, nice thing to copy er… imitate 😀

    While I'm certainly not interested in "Brokeback Mountain", and while I don't want to watch "Munich" (damn, I live in Munich and I also know that other Olympia '72 movie whose name I forgot ;)), I'll follow your recommendation and take a look at "Crash" and "Good Night, and Good Luck".

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Jens,

    Crash is sufficient. Good night… isn't necessary (although I think it's a cool name). 🙂

  • Chris says:

    I have not seen Crash, not yet. I have seen "Good night and good luck" and I really liked it. There is a real tension in that movie. The theme is in the 50's but you can easily draw conclusions about the media business now.

    Brokeback Mountain: I do not like when homosexuality is shown or talked about as something special. The movie is just plain boring also.

    Munich: I could not believe in the characters. Too romantic for me 😉

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Chis,

    Absolutely, media is always a topic full of tension and conspiracies.

    But then I hope I can recommend Crash to you and that you will appreciate it. 🙂

  • Cuckoo says:

    crash by Croonenberg was a good movie too, I love Matt Dillon , Tony Danza a lot in the other crash movie

  • gs says:

    Haha, I think you appreciate this years oscars even more if you've seen Team America. Here's an excerpt from the script:

    Alec Baldwin: My fellow actors. We live in a dark time. [The guild's initials are shown on the floor] The world is becoming more and more violent, and the idiots in charge are making it worse. [various actors are seen during this speech] What the world needs is an international advisory committee who truly understands global politics. Namely, us.

    Actors: [pounding their tables with fists] Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! …

    Helen Hunt: The time has come for us to start using our acting talents in a different way.

    Ethan Hawke: Yes, we can use our powers to change the world.

    Actors: [pounding their tables with fists] Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! …

    Tim Robbins: We will persuade everyone to drive hybrid cars and stup smoking!

    Liv Tyler: If we focus our acting on global politics, we can change everything and stuff.

    Actors: [pounding their tables with fists] Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! …

    Janeane Garofalo: As actors, it is our responsibility to read the newspapers, and then say what we read on television like it's our own opinion.

    Matt Damon: Matt Damon.

    George Clooney: We've all done action films. If anyone tries to get in our way, we'll show 'em just how tough us actors really are.

  • gs says:

    .. and oh.. yes, I predicted that Crash would win best movie too 😛

  • Robert Nyman says:

    Cuckoo,

    I haven't seen that one, so I can't really tell.

    gs,

    Yes, Team America is awesome! 😀

  • […] ne. If he gets the Oscar for directing, too? Maybe…   Related reading The Oscars – Predicting Best Movie Posted in Movies […]

  • haider says:

    WELL brokeback mountain is best

    CRASH is too good

  • […] 2006: The Oscars – Predicting Best Movie Posted in Movies, Reviews/tests | Share your thoughts […]

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