February 27th, 2005

Filed under:
Movies
7 Comments »

Scorsese Got Screwed

I watched the Oscars on and off tonight. Here are a few conclusions:

  • They should simply eliminate the Best Song category. All of the songs are
    always awful. We’ve rarely heard them before because they rarely become hits
    (Celine notwithstanding)–they’re just the central fodder on a fodder-filled soundtrack.
  • Was that Selma Hayak/Penelope Cruz combination a cruel joke or a game of
    who puts more Latin in Latina?
  • Beyonce’s agent must have some kind of pull. Was it buy two, get one free
    night? Why the heck didn’t Emmy Rossum sing that song from Phantom?
  • I’m not down with this present-awards-from-everywhere business. Is this
    reality TV’s influence? I assume it was a strategy to reduce the length of
    the evening, as presenters were closer to the nominees.
  • The Oscars implemented a caste system. Those artists who are unrecognizable
    can wait on-stage to receive their awards, looking for all the world like the cast of an off-Broadway Beckett play. Actual celebrities can still enjoy
    the run down the aisle.
  • In 100 years, film students will speak of Martin Scorsese a lot more often
    than they speak of Clint Eastwood. The latter is a decent director, but the
    former is a visionary. This guy has made Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Kundun
    and Goodfellas and has never received an Academy Award?
  • I went a disappointing 8 for 11 on my
    predictions    . I really thought The Aviator would take Best Director
    and Best Picture.

Comments: 7 Responses so far

johninspace
February 27th, 2005
11:32 pm

I disagree about the Scorcese thing. Ive never been a big fan, although raging bull and taxi driver were good movies. I was gonna chime in with my picks, and my gut was wondering why you were so heavy on ‘The Aviator’ picks but since I haven’t actually seen any of the nominated movies I refrained of course:) However these days it seems I dont even have to actually watch a movie to know if its good/ok/bad.

As for Scorcese …. didnt he do Gangs of New York ??? … in my opinion that was a terrible movie that shouldnt have been nominated. The Aviator seems ‘ok’ but couldn’t I just watch it on Biography? … same goes for ‘Ray’.

Sounds like I am jaded with movies ….
oh well maybe.

[Reply]

Darren
February 27th, 2005
11:49 pm

John: “Gangs of New York” sucked, but that doesn’t discredit Scorsese’s excellent work. I didn’t think “The Aviator” was fantastic, but it was certainly equal to “Million Dollar Baby”, and the Academy has a habit of handing out Oscars as faux lifetime achievement awards.

[Reply]

Java
February 28th, 2005
2:39 am

Awards are just someones opinions of the moment really. In a hundred years time, I dont suppose anyone will remember anything that happened more than 30 seconds previous.

[Reply]

Andy Baio
February 28th, 2005
7:25 am

Don’t quit your day job! But seriously, I’m surprised they didn’t give it to Scorsese, too. Eastwood already won an Oscar for directing The Unforgiven in 1993.

[Reply]

alexis
February 28th, 2005
8:14 am

God, I agree with your comments. So disappointing!!
Poor Marty.

2 other comments- Who the hell let Antonio sing?

Salma’s breasts were one of the highlights of the show.

[Reply]

mush
March 1st, 2005
6:07 am

Gangs of New York didn’t suck. It was at worst, average.

I thought the the Aviator was good though not brilliant.

Personally I thought Million Dollar Baby was *not* worthy of best picture or director. It appears that the fact that it was a well acted Clint Eastwood film that also happens to be tragic was enough for the Academy.

I think they should have given it to Scorsese for reasons given by Darren.

[Reply]

Jan Karlsbjerg
March 2nd, 2005
12:56 pm

> They should simply eliminate the Best Song category. All of the songs are always awful. We’ve rarely heard them before because they rarely become hits (Celine notwithstanding)

Ahem! “Blame Canada” from Southpark The Movie :-)

[Reply]

Add a comment