Travis McClain

"Undeservedly?" By whose criteria are these cited examples--or any other film, for that matter--undeserving of their nomination or win? Film is an art medium, and as such all evaluation of it is subjective.

Sessa17

At times it seems like I am the only cineaste alive that doesn't follow awards. I couldn't tell you who won what Oscar this year or who was even nominated. I literally don't get the appeal of following such things. I am passionate about film. Not about the politics involved in who gets nominated for some arbitrary award voted on by people who likely never saw the movie in the first place.

Blu Man

No.

d2cheer

This

Ginwen

I don't think they do, but I'm probably wrong, since everything influences you one way or the other.

The one thing about the Oscars is that I enjoy it more if I seen all the movies in the main categories, so almost every year I'll end up seeing a few movies I'd probably have skipped otherwise, which is great since even though they aren't all good, some of them are excellent (The Insider is one example but there are plenty of others I'm sure).

Giles

none what so ever. I just saw Police, Adjective - which won the un certain regard and FIPRESCI Prize award at last year's Cannes Film Festival - and oh my god was it a tedious movie, the acting was good, but the pacing, or lack thereof was mind numbing.

It must be somthing about Romanian cinema in general but 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days was pretentious drivel IMO.

eXcentris

Great film so this "something" is probably you.

wendersfan

I loved it.

hardercore

You loved 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days? I get admiring it as good filmmaking, but can't really comprehend actually loving it. As in wanting to revisit those great characters and scenes that warmed my heart!

wendersfan

I don't see "great characters and scenes that warmed my heart" as a positive, necessarily.

bunkaroo

Last I looked the thread title included the words "your perception". Making the logical jump one could determine it was my criteria which deemed them undeserving. I'm surprised I had to explain this in a thread about personal perception.

bunkaroo

I saw it when it came out on video and liked it. Wasn't sure if I needed to see it again at the time so I didn't buy it. Now that some time has passed I could imagine seeing it again, but probably not more than that. It definitely nails down the tension of the situation.

movieguru

Award shows mean nothing to me. If I want to see a movie it's because I want to see it. Not because a bunch of people I don't know, never met, or know nothing about think it's a good movie

wendersfan

Keep in mind we're not only talking about award shows.

hardercore

Refer "'Real Topeka People' Party and Subsequent Morning on Tour Bus featuring Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer'" from Almost Famous and get back to me.

Giles

I thinkg the 'something' was the fact that I've read and agreed with two female film critics and their analysis of the film in that the characters and their actions are cynical, not believable and demeaning. It's an idealized one sided sexist 'abortion' film made from a male director that was praised for being different and tackling a touchy subject, but just felt lacking.

eXcentris

No offense but that sounds like criticism from the Feminist Quarterly Review. This is Communist Romania, not 21st century US or Canada. To reduce this film to "an idealized one sided sexist abortion film" is just plain silly because it completely ignores the context.

Anyway, to get back on topic, no I don't give a hoot about award shows except for the cleavage.

The Monkees

Sometimes I will want to see the movie if it wins awards. Like American Beauty comes to mind. And I was glad because of it, because AB was a great film!

Travis McClain

Interesting example, because this illustrates the flip side of the argument for me. I saw it, knowing nothing about it ahead of time because friends of mine were going and I had nothing else to do. I walked out of the theater having enjoyed some of the performances, but hating how pretentious I thought a lot of it was. Then, I started paying attention to all the critical acclaim and hype and I wondered just why so many people--especially those who were supposed to know a lot more about film than I--could be wowed by it. They acted like it was some kind of eye-opening revelation that suburbia has flawed people, and to this day my reaction has been, "Duh."

I think this is when I began to feel confident questioning "experts." I was always comfortable asking questions in school, but this is when I began to actively dispute people whose qualifications about a subject dwarf my own. It's made me a pain in the ass to be around at times, but it also came in handy when I was hospitalized twice in 2008 and I stood up to a jackass specialist who wanted to cut on me when all I really needed were some steroids and antibiotics.

hardercore

So your American Beauty experience awoke the Lester Burnham in you.