Boyhood- Page 3

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 2:45pm

I think College Humor nailed it with their parody poster.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 3:40pm

I'm with SonofRobbie on all points. I've learned, via FB (someone unfriended me because I didn't accept and embrace that the inspiring-gardener beat is as racist as "Birth of a Nation." That's right, but never mind), it's not a film you can defend. People who loathe it are very vocal. The backlash is ubiquitous, this tread is actually representative (a neutral statement, not a criticism), and I don't think it has a chance in hell of winning Best Picture. I still loved it for all the reasons others do not. And I'm glad it's actually made a bit of money, too. Hollywood does not want to reward this film with the big prize. I believe the industry reception is 180 from the critics'. Not for the first time, but this is very obvious. If it can't win, and I believe it can't, I'd go for "Selma." That won't happen either. It's "Birdman," a movie about ... Hollywood. Expert, artistic, beautifully acted, and all about the very business the Oscars celebrate.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 3:43pm

I loved it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 4:37pm

Honestly, I've seen a much bigger reversal in public opinion towards Birdman, which started with raves and has been snowballing downhill in the last month. I just chalk it up to more people seeing these films after the nominations and their expectations were heightened. And it happens every year. From nominations through awards night, public opinion on the nominated films jump and flip around like spastic children in a bouncy house on a summer afternoon. And when the safe predictable choice wins like The English Patient, A Beautiful Mind or The King's Speech, we all realize how little our opinions matter.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 4:45pm

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.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 5:30pm

These last 2 posts are fascinating. I haven't heard anything on the scale of the "Boyhood" backlash about "Birdman," but maybe my ears aren't connecting. I do think "Budapest Hotel" has a lock on the screenplay. I'm in the WGA, and everyone I know voted for it in prelim voting and then finals. So I will be surprised if it doesn't win the Oscar, too. But if the Academy voters are mostly actors, as I've read, then all bets are off about a winner. I can't believe they anointed "Crash," but they did. So it's just another odd year. One fear I've heard: everyone will vote for a different film and "American Sniper" will creep in.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 5:56pm

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.

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 6:18pm

Maybe I missed something, but where exactly is this "backlash" people keep talking about? Are we just talking about on here or actual backlash? I haven't seen anything.

"I don't think it has a chance in hell of winning Best Picture"

It actually has a great chance at winning. It won BAFTA and it will either be Birdman or Boyhood for the win. Birdman is technically the frontrunner but I still have a feeling Boyhood will snatch it.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 06:18 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 8:14pm

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.

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

[Bilbo3]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 9:44pm

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.

But yes I understand what you are saying. There may be infact some backlash on FB and around town, but usually none of that is powerful enough to phase the Academy. I just don't see the academy passing up the chance to award a film that took 12 years to make. I prefer Birdman but it's not really the academy's cup of tea movie for Best Picture.

Gotta have a gimmick.

I do think we might get a split year. Best Director might go to AGI and Best picture could go to Boyhood.

It's a really interesting race this year and it's too close to call, but despite Birdman's surge, knowing usually how the academy votes, I still think Boyhood is going to take it.

You are technically right, Birdman should be the winner since it's gotten PGA DGA and SAG, I just base my opinion on the academy's irrational cliché attitude to choose the friendly movie over the more complicated one.

Updated On: 2/13/15 at 09:44 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:09pm

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

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:14pm

I agree with MM. I heard nothing but raves about Birdman when it came out, but now it seems everyone I talk to hates it. I haven't seen it yet. Hopefully I'll get to watch it this weekend since its too cold to step outside.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/13/15 at 10:26pm

"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.