From time to time, you will read an opinion in my blog that you disagree with. If that is the case, you could do many things about it:
1.) Politely disagree, and debate me in some pointless internet banter.
2.) Shove it up your ass.
3.) Politely disagree, and keep quiet.
But that's just my opinion, I could try stealing a line from Dennis Miller.
Here is something that has been bugging me the last couple of days:
The new television ad for the movie, Atonement. It looks like a profoundly decent film, and everywhere I turn, I hear and read good things about it.... but that television ad? I may not be a marketing kind of person, but I do not believe that some stupid Timbaland produced track compliments a period romantic drama. I fail to see how One Republic's "Apologize" fits with the mood of the film (granted, I have not seen the movie). If I were to create a commercial for the film, I would have scored it without a hip-hop beat.
But I digress. The music I listen to is not what the mainstream listens to. My niche seems to be people stuck in a nostalgia for flannel shirts, converse sneakers, and a greater yearning for lyrical poetry than a bouncy beat.
In response to my friend and colleague Stephani Tobin, I think that the Oscar nominations this year are a total crock of shit.
Yes, I think that No Country For Old Men and Juno are duly recognized (nominating Juno for best picture is a bit of a stretch, however), yes, Casey Affleck is finally getting some recognition for his acting abilities (scoring the Best Supporting nod), and yes, that ass Michael Moore made another "fact-based" "Oscar-worthy" documentary (italicized print for loose meanings).
But to me, this year was the year of Into The Wild. Remove yourself from the notion that the real Christopher McCandless was a bit "nuts", and come into the romanticized vision that Sean Penn masterfully conjured up. This little film about a young idealist broken from his disdain for society was the year's ABSOLUTE best.
What happened to the Oscar chances for Into The Wild? In place of Juno's nod for best picture, there should be Into The Wild sitting atop the pinnacle. In place of Jason Reitman's directorial nod should be Sean Penn, a visionary at the craft. In place of AT LEAST one song from Disney's Enchanted, should be one of the emotionally moving pieces that Eddie Vedder contributed to Into The Wild (however, I am glad to find that Glen Hansard's "Falling Slowly" got a nod for Once).
As far as the acting from Into The Wild goes, Hal Holbrook deserves the nod he got (his portrayel of Ron Franz broke my heart... the way it should have been). But where is Emile Hirsch's nod for best actor? Stephani, I'm going to have to strongly disagree with you in your thinking that Tommy Lee Jones "slipped" past Emile Hirsch... I think that the Academy DOES play favorites year to year, and I think that the critical buzz for No Country For Old Men overshadowed Into The Wild, thus allowing Hirsch to be overlooked (an injustice).
Nearly every year that I have paid attention to the Oscars, I have agreed with a majority of the choices. This is the first year that a film's obvious snubbing has put me off to the point of changing the channel when the awards are on.
Once again, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
