Boyhood — Page 3

I think College Humor nailed it with their parody poster.

I loved it.

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I'm seeing both of these again soon, "Birdman" tomorrow and "Boyhood" a week from tomorrow. Considering the backlash against both movies, I'm very interested to see them a second time, especially having had strong feelings about both of them.

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I hesitated to use the word "backlash," as I'm never sure what's meant by it.

Is it people changing their opinions? If so, how is that measured?

Is it that there's an almost universal acclaim at first (presumably from critics), which then becomes diluted as more opinions filter in (presumably from the public)?

Is it that positive reviews come out, people's expectations become somehow fixed, and then they're disappointed when they see the result? And if so, do we assume those opinions are honest or that people want to dislike popular things, so the movies never had a chance in their estimation?

And if it's the latter, are they carrying around that secret, that they actually really liked the movie, but they'd prefer to get into arguments on social media about it?

Or is that the people who honestly disliked these movies grow more vocal because they feel they have to counteract the rising tide of acclaim?

My experience seems to point to the last idea. On this board, on Facebook, in conversations, as time has gone on, the people who have disliked both of these movies have become more aggressive in how they express their distaste. They didn't dislike it. They HATED it, it was AWFUL how is THIS nominated for AWARDS? And then, of course, the people who liked the movies have to more voraciously defend them. NO, it was BRILLIANT, the BEST movie I've seen in YEARS, and if it DOESN'T win, HITLER. And so on.

I don't know what "backlash" means. It seems to imply a dishonesty, but maybe I'm projecting.

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Well, by backlash I mean: the film received unanimous raves last summer. A nearly 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, unheard of (check, it's only down to 99%, beyond rare). it was anointed by a majority of the film critics associations' year-end honors. Google it, and you'll see the extraordinary response. Over 90%, surely. But since the actual industry trophies began to be given out, particularly in the three guilds, it has lost both the Producers' and the Directors', and SAG, which suggests if not a backlash, a resistance to crowning the film a "best" among key unions that vote in the Oscars. Remember, a percentage of those people are Academy members. One might ask: how could a film so universally embraced by critics end up perhaps 2nd best? And then -- anecdotal evidence -- the diatribes against "Boyhood" on FB. Granted, this is not quantifiable, yet many of my own friends are in the business, actors, writers and other (theater) professionals. But to a person a reluctance to accept the film's track record has been voiced. I hear a lot of what I read here: paint drying, couldn't get through it, the one screener I couldn't watch. I'd call that a backlash, and I don't think the BAFTA win -- a much more rarefied faction, not LA-based -- compensates, not yet. I would love the movie to win Best Picture, but sense that such it not in the ether this winter. "Backlash" may be too pejorative. "Boyhood" may be a film that people accept as unique yet don't see as worthy of the accolades. That could easily translate into an Oscar loss. It's in the tea leaves I'm reading, based on all of the above, mostly the DGA, PGA, and SAG. You could lose one, but to lose three, in particular both the DGA and PGA, no, you are not the likely winner.

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Updated On: 2/13/15 at 08:14 PM

Boyhood was by far the best movie I saw this year.

I wouldn't mind so much Inarittu winning best director because Boyhood and Birdman are both superbly directed movies (it's the Birdman script that I find unbearable). But what is so award-worthy about anything, including the direction, of The Imitation Game? The only thing outstanding about that movie is its subject matter. Selma has equally auspicious subject matter and is a beautifully directed movie (alas, it wasn't nominated for direction). Selma also has a much more creditable script than Imitation Game.

Of course, it goes without saying, this is just my opinion.

Updated On: 2/14/15 at 10:09 PM

"Critics and Academy disagree on many things and hardly ever line up. If the critics had their way, The Social Network would have won best picture instead of King's Speech."

Yes, and that was my whole point, if you re-read my post. That's precisely what I was saying. I'm confused that you think otherwise. But never mind. I think we're on the same page. I hope you're right. Nothing would please me more than to see "Boyhood" take the prize. It's the movie of the era, to my thinking, one that represents a particular slice of America during the era it captures. Others disagree. I look forward to coming back to this post in about 13 days. We'll talk again.

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