With the fall approaching, we will probably soon be seeing a lot of the
major studios' more "serious" releases, and thus a lot of Oscar talk
from the critics.

?Well, what about us?  Is there anything we've seen this year that's 
worthy of nomination?  Good performances?  Great direction?  Striking
cinematography?  And what about best picture?

30 responses total.

  I have always maintained the belief that the Academy is not looking
for the best picture, etc, but rather who is p.c at the time. The
reason I say this is that Henry Fonda, brilliant actor that he was onlt
recieved 1 oscar and that was for On Golden Pond, which in my opinion
stunk up the theater. Fonda was very funny in _The_Lady_Eve and several
other movies like Mister Roberts and The Grapes of Wrath, which was probably
 his finest performance. 
  Another actor that has been seriously bypassed is Paul Newman, who good in
the Hustler and HUD, not to mention From The Terrace as well as his one and
only oscar winning part, Eddie Felson in "The Color of Money" which itself
was not all that hot...

 (Fonda was NOT funny in the Grapes of Wrath, BTW)

So maybe we should distinguish who we think WILL win and who we
WANT to win.

  well don't do that because I raised a question of the Academy's motive's
and tactics over the pas years...sheesh andy, maybe I am all wet...

No, I think you're quite right.  There are a lot of people who have
outstanding lifelong achievements, and have yet never received an 
Oscar.  Martin Scorsese, for instance.  He's directed, in my and many
critic's opinions, some of the best films of the past few decades or
of all time: "Raging Bull," "Taxi Driver," "Goodfellas," etc.  And 
yet, the man has never received an Oscar.  In '91 not only did "Dances
with Wolves" beat "Goodfellas" for best picture, but Kevin Costner,
a first-time director, got the Oscar for Best Director.

On the other hand, sometimes they do award people with Oscars for life-
time achievements.  Jessica Tandy, for example.  They wanted to give her
one before she died.  Most of the time, though, these people are awarded
with "special" Oscars, like the Irving Thalberg award.  Spielburg got
this after his "The Color Purple," with eleven nominations, was shut
out of the Oscars.  Akira Kurosawa and Sophia Loren have also been
recipients in recent years.


As for this year, there are two films so far that I would consider for
Best Picture nomination.  They are "The Player" and "Howard's End."
"The Player," I think, also should be nominated for screenplay and 
director.  There were also a number of excellent performances in that
film.
"Howard's End," also, had good performances all around, particualarly
from Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins.

  I really think that "Fried Green Tomatoes" could be a surprise and 
get Jessica Tandy a second oscar. 
  IMHO, I feel that both Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy are perhaps THE
best acting duo since Hepburn and Tracy. The play "The Gin Game" with HC and
JT is very witty a hilarious. Cronyn's performance in "The Postman Always
rings Twice" is anotheexample of his (HC) acting prowess. I liked them
in Cocoon which was right down thier alley.

Ah, yes, I forgot about "Fried Green Tomatoes."  Add that to my list for
best picture and actress nominations.

I also think the cinematography for "Single White Female" and "Unforgiven"
are worth nomination. 

As it's one of the finest movies I've seen in years, I'll nominate
Kurasawa's "Rhapsody in August".  Does it have a snowball's chance in
hell?  Nah.

as best foreign film, perhaps.

Perhaps, but I wouldn't bet on it.

   More likely would be "Until the End of the World", although it
isn't quite Hollywood enough, even for a foreign film.  But it
is 'PC' enough.

     Another film that deserves more attention than it has gotten, or will get
from the Academy is "My Own Private Idaho."  Disturbing?  Yes.
Uncomfortable?  Yes.  Conventional?  No.

Unfortunately, "Idaho" was up for last years awards, and didn't,
to my knowledge, win anything.

     I thought Idaho was out this summer.  I saw it at the
Fox Village not long before it went belly up.
I could have sworn that was summer of '92.

Well, it's possible that it was at Fox Village this summer, 
but it was released last year.

     Good point.  <blush>

Here are some things I'd like to see nominated this year:
"The Player": best picture, screenplay, actor (Tim Robbins)
"Howard's End": picture, actress (Emma Thompson)
"Of Mice and Men": actor (John Malkovich), perhaps best picture
"Husbands and Wives": picture, actress (Judy Davis)
"Light Sleeper": screenplay, actor (Willem Dafoe), actress (Dana Delaney)

(Is "Light Sleeper" a Paul Schrader film?  If it's the one I'm thinking
of, it was at the Ann Arbor Theater briefly, but I missed it.)

Yes, it is.
I recommend it, maybe you can catch it on video.

I just remembered a couple more films from '92 that I'd like
to see nominated this year: "The Crying Game" and "Unforgiven."

  Where did you see "The Crying Game"?  I've been looking for someplace
in Ann Arbor to see that and "Reservoir Dogs"/

"The Crying Game" was at the DIA a week or so ago and will be in 
Ann Arbor sometime next month, I believe.  "Reservoir Dogs" is 
scheduled for The Michigan Theatre, end of January.  

I saw "The Crying Game" in New York, but I just got something 
from the DIA that says it will be playing there from Jan. 15-17 
and Jan. 22-24.  Call 833-2323 for more info.

If I may also take this opportunity to plug another wonderful film:
They're also showing "Nashville" (a new print, Panavision, stereo,
the works) from Jan. 29-31 only.  This is a great film, directed
by by Robert Altman.

I saw "Nashville" when it was first released and liked it a lot.

I mentioned this over on item #52, but since the discussion
originated here, I'll repeat it: "The Crying Game" is showing
at the Michigan this weekend for those of you who missed it 
at the DIA.

Thank you.  I have been waiting for it and might have missed it were it not
for your alert.

I walked by there today.  The sign says it will be playing through February.

You're right.  Thanks for the correction.

Doesn't matter any more to me.  I took advantage of it the the first Sat\ night
and so did practically veryone else in town.

I think the OSCARS have always been fair in their selection procedure on the
whole but they have sadly shunned world cinema (apart from those of america)
I think KIELOWSKI's subtle and visually stunning 'RED' of the 3 COLOR 
SERIES
DESERVED ONE

oh,yeah,everybody,to my opinion,the movie<J.CfBq7|!7>will be the winner!!!

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