Oscars: Best Picture

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by thedyc09

My vote (Other) is for Moonrise Kingdom. Sure, it's something of a simple movie, but it was as immaculately detailed as any big-budget period piece because Wes Anderson is a meticulous genius and one of the best shot creators in the business. I swear his brain thinks in camera. And I stand by this - I have not come across any other movie that has had such universal acclaim among my peers. I don't know a single person that has seen it and not fallen in love with the world Anderson creates.

Is it quirky just for quirkiness' sake? I dunno - maybe. Does it recycle a little too much from the rest of Anderson's filmography? I dunno - maybe. Dammit, no movie has made me feel so happy after watching in at least the last 3 or 4 years. I wanted to applaud when the credits rolled.

This is a good read and a chance to revisit that great montage early in the film.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/a-moo...-compre,90442/

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by Sylez_G_Koolaid

Pain and Gain is the one with The Rock and Mark Wahlberg playing Miami roid-heads, right? Finna see that, playah!

Yes, and a Bay treatment here might actually work. I don't really hate Bay, just feel like he has inordinate exposure in Hollywood. But as Strange said, other than trailers I'm not forced to see his stuff. And that quick-shot style actually makes for good trailers.

[Emmitto]

I'm working in MK this weekend based on this thread. It sounds remarkable. I wonder if the strong showing for "other" is mainly MK?

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by StrangeGator

I really liked Beasts of the Southern Wild. Don't know why I didn't vote for that film. It wasn't really the best made film, but it would be great to see them win. It was a great achievement.

The non-professional actors provided a charm I don't normally feel. I'm usually irritated by that mechanism. The little girl gets all the pub (rightfully so) but I really liked the dad too. The scenes at the crab shack were strong.

[LeafUF]

http://scoresoddspicks.com/news/2013...ce=twitterfeed

Looks like the odds on favorite is Lincoln.

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by StrangeGator

You have found a kindred spirit. Go back about six or seven months and you'll find a thread where the OP (me) goes on and on how smitten he was by this film. It still haunts me to this day. I see a trailer or even just an banner ad and I flash back to scenes from the film. I am as jaded a film viewer as you will find and not a complete Wes Anderson fanatic, but this film caught me square on the jaw and landed me on my back. Yes it was sentimental. Every frame was crammed with cuteness and Anderson's rich kid vision of the world. Some of the dialogue was forced. But everything worked. The casting was brilliant, especially Bob Balaban. The acting knocked it out of the park. Was really hoping Bruce Willis and Kara Hayward would get nominated. Still can't believe that it wasn't nominated for Best Production Design. The opening scene alone had more meticulous design used to greater effect than anything I've seen since Alien.

This may have recycled a little from Anderson's body of work, but more than that, it's a culmination of his aesthetics and his best instincts. He and Coppola are a great screenwriting team. They need to stick together. Part of what made this work better than all of his other films was that it got moving faster, that has to be RC's influence. The other part is the episodic nature of the film. Things just didn't happen in his other films. It was just people talking. This one never stopped moving. The characters were also much more likable, even if some were hardly believable.

Moonrise Kingdom is a gem. It's a film for the ages. I've watched it four times on the big screen and once on my 40" screen at home. I see something new every time. I catch an inside joke or cultural reference that I didn't notice before. But even the scenes that I know frame by frame, some are so heartfelt, so visceral, they leave me gasping for breath. The scene on the beach was a masterpiece. What a gorgeous tribute to French New Wave, but also a knowing look back at adolescent love. That rack focus on Kara Hayward's face was delicious. Never seen a 12 year-old girl melt the lens like that. She was smoldering.

Screw the academy. This movie will be immortal on its own merit. Hopefully it will give Anderson the insight and courage to expand his vision and fulfill his potential to be the most gifted and stylistically distinctive American filmmaker of our time.

Finally saw it. Wonderful, definitely in league with the nominees. In addition to your points I really liked Ed Norton too. The framing and the overall look of the picture really stick with you.

I think I still like "Other"--End of Watch. So far.

[BobK89]

MK Was great. I really enjoyed Lincoln. But Argo had me on the edge of my seat the whole movie. That's my pick..

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[MdlGator]

I really loved Moonrise Kingdom and wish it had been at least nominated. Of the ones that did (that I have seen) it has to be Argo for me. I watched it on an airplane and still could hardly stay in my seat.

[thedyc09]

How dumb does the Academy look for not even nominating Affleck after he and Argo have swept every major award?

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by thedyc09

How dumb does the Academy look for not even nominating Affleck after he and Argo have swept every major award?

I feel like Argo is going to win too, based on all the momentum it's picked up at other events. And maybe Spielberg gets Best Director, to keep the peace with the royalty.