[Iminicus]

Can't you f*cks keep politics out of a thread? This is about the Oscars, not about who does or does not like Thatcher.

[Archangelsky]

For me, the answer to this question is pretty easy.

I can not understand how on earth Tommy Lee Jones won best supporting male actor for his role in "The Fugitive" instead of Ralph Fiennes in "Schindler's List", its a disgrace.

I like Tommy as an actor, he has done some very good stuff but no way he outshines Fiennes in this case.

Generally it is a shame that Ralph Fiennes does not have any oscar's at the moment he has done very good roles in other movies as well.

[El_Diablo]

wow, no mentioned Denzel Washington for Training Day yet?

Denzel won best actor for Training Day over Russel Crowe for A Beautiful Mind.
which was f*cking ridiculous in every possible way.

Russel was acting circles around Denzel that year.
Training Day was a good movie, and Denzel was good in it, but there was NO comparison to the job delivered by Crowe; his performance in Beautiful Mind was a clinic. the film in general was much better than Training Day.

the only reason the Foreign Press gave the Oscar to Denzel was politics.
because that year was the same year that they were honoring Sidney Poitier with the lifetime achievement award. so they had to make sure that all the popular black people won.

Sidney Poitier - lifetime.
Denzel Washington - lead male actor.
Halle Berry - lead female actor.

they gave black people the sweep because of Sidney.
Russel Crowe deserved it sooooo much more.

[Archangelsky]

QUOTE (El_Diablo @ Saturday, Apr 21 2012, 01:38)

wow, no mentioned Denzel Washington for Training Day yet? Denzel won best actor for Training Day over Russel Crowe for A Beautiful Mind. which was f*cking ridiculous in every possible way. Russel was acting circles around Denzel that year. Training Day was a good movie, and Denzel was good in it, but there was NO comparison to the job delivered by Crowe; his performance in Beautiful Mind was a clinic. the film in general was much better than Training Day. the only reason the Foreign Press gave the Oscar to Denzel was politics. because that year was the same year that they were honoring Sidney Poitier with the lifetime achievement award. so they had to make sure that all the popular black people won. Sidney Poitier - lifetime. Denzel Washington - lead male actor. Halle Berry - lead female actor. they gave black people the sweep because of Sidney. Russel Crowe deserved it sooooo much more.

I am not sure the reason you list is the only one.

If I remember correctly Crowe had some comments about someone or something that many would regard as putting his own chances for winning the award that year.

However I do agree that Crowe should have won.

[Typhus]

The biggest joke was that Gary Oldman did not win the best actor gong for Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy.
Whilst I will concede that the film itself is a long, laborious, needlessly complex snoozefest, Oldman's performance is one of the things that makes it a good film. And if you're wondering how I can hate a film but still consider it good based on the acting, I'd also direct your attention to Iron Man. A poor story can be saved if the acting is good enough.

And 'good' is hardly adequate to describe Oldman, his portrayal of George Smiley was a masterclass. We are not hit over the head by any big monologues, but it's slight changes in expression, the subtle shift in his voice, that lets the audience gain some measure of who he is.
Just watch the scene where he's interrogating a possible spy on an airfield, he never raises his voice, yet cold menace oozes off him in waves, I was on the egde of my seat through the whole thing.

It was an impressive ensemble cast, but it was always Oldman's film and the fact that he didn't win was a travesty.

[ThePinkFloydSound]

QUOTE (Typhus @ Saturday, Apr 21 2012, 06:04)

..... Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy. Whilst I will concede that the film itself is a long, laborious, needlessly complex snoozefest, Oldman's performance is one of the things that makes it a good film....

While I hate to really put down a film, I really have to agree with your description of the film. I don't see the point in making film out of the book. It's really a bunch of talking heads where I didn't engage any empathy or any ounce of emotion towards any of the characters.

I'm reading a book on documentary filmmaking and one of the points the author makes is when you're making a doc, you can't or it's not advisable having just a bunch of talking heads. It doesn't make for enteraining (in the broad sense) viewing. You have to show the people doing things. Tinker Tailor..wasn't people doing stuff, just talking, which is fine (I love dialogue driven stories) but I suppose I didn't care what they had to say as their world so far removed from me and there was no attempt made for the audience to engage with any of the characters. The higlight of that film was watching Oldman going for a swim. It made me want to swim...oh and Tom Hardy is great at anything he does.

Sorry for going off topic a little.