Despite 'Best Picture' Snub, DREAMGIRLS Still Manages to Make Oscars History- Page 2

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 11:33pm

History Boys died and wide release was scrapped....like The Producers. It didn't translate.

Did you see the film? I thought it was excellent. It didn't get any Oscar recognition because, bottom line, it was just too smart for America.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/23/07 at 11:46pm

Uh...no.

THE HISTORY BOYS didn't get any recognition because there was no achievement in the film. It was a very, very odd adaptation. The script was fine, but it didn't have the same impact that it did on stage.

It was very stagey, and looked like a made for BBC movie blown up for the big screen. Even the performances were less impressive on the screen.

So, no, America's not too dumb - the picture wasn't recognized ANYWHERE - it just wasn't a wonderful film.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:12am

Boy, did Condon get iced. It seems incredibly suspicious that the three awards for which he would have delivered an acceptance speech are the three awards which the film was not nominated for. I don't suspect foul play, but I can't help but feel sorry for the man, as it appears as if some greater force made sure everything was meticulously designed for him to be excluded from all other celebratory measures regarding this film.
Updated On: 1/24/07 at 12:12 AM

[roseaddams]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:24am

Oscar's got no love for musicals -- you can count the number of Best Pictures that were musical on one hand. As far as films go, it's seen as kind of a cop-out: 'We can't figure out how to get this across, let's make them sing.' This usually isn't the case, but it's how it's seen.

And it looks like 'The Queen' has followed 'Capote' and 'Ray' in the long, distinguished line of films that got a nomination for Best Picture based on an amazing performance.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:28am

There's no way you can say that CAPOTE and THE QUEEN rode on Hoffman and Mirren's shoulders only. I re-watched CAPOTE the other evening, and was reminded of what a stunning achievement it is. Bennett Miller's direction is breathtaking, and the entire film - overall - is just heartstopping.

Oscar has lots of love for musicals. The ratio of the number of movie musicals compared to non-musical movies is VERY different. Review the history of nominations for movie musicals.

Even A CHORUS LINE got some nominations. Please.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:36am

If anything, I think Condon should have been nominated for director. At times the images on the screen were just beautiful. There were a few things that were a minor let down ("And I'm Telling You"), but overall I thought it was a major achievement for musical theater. I think it's hard to justify the movie because the acting may not have been as great as Helen Mirren, but at the same time, can Mirren belt those notes? So, are we rewarding the acting values or the singing? But isn't it true that to deliver a great song, you have to be able to "act" the song? So, using that logic, I think Jennfier Hudson's nomination is justified. And I think the overall film should have been nominated.

I don't think there's any reason to say Little Miss Sunshine shouldn't be nominated. I'm sorry, Mr Roxy, that you didnt enjoy the film, but I think you missed the point. It's far from fluff. It's a heartwarming film about the bonds of family and it honors individuality. It's smart and witty, but moving nonetheless.

I just wish "Little Children" got a wider release. It got great reviews, but it never even opened in Alabama.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:37am

I thought Capote was the second best movie of last year.

I haven't seen the Queen, but I am dying to. I heard two totally difference opinions on it. One person absolutely loved it while the other person felt it was one of the most overrated movies of the year.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:44am

Rent: The category is Best Actress. Not Best Singer.

And the beautiful images in the film aren't always thanks to Condon. That's why it was nominated for art direction ,etc.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:49am

But that was my point Munk. And I know they're nominated in different categories, but I figured they were the two "locks" in each category. Wouldn't you say to sell a song the singer needs to be a good actor? So, using that logic, wouldn't you consider JHud to be a good actress as well? My friends and I got into an argument about this because they didn't think she was that great. I think she sang with such great emotion that the acting nod is justified.

And I agree with you about Condon also, but essentially Condon had the images in his head, and the other guys basically just made them possible. I know that's not always the case, but to me the director is responsible for the final product and the overseeing of all the visuals.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:53am

For Bill Condon, I'm sure hoping that the Oscars will follow the "did the film direct itself" jokes and mentions by host and presenter the year Babs didn't get nominated for Prince of Tides.

And I'm kind of annoyed that Anika Noni Rose didn't get any attention during the awards season. EW mentioned she might be a long shot, and I loved her in Dreamgirls. I mean, she had to act against Eddie Murphy for most of the movie, did they not notice she was onscreen? Oh well.

And I saw Notes on a Scandal tonight. Read the book a couple of years ago, and I loved what they did with it.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:54am

I'm fine with the Condon snub. I didn't feel that DREAMGIRLS was incredibly satisfying, to be honesty.

I do think that Hudson is a good actress, thought it's hard to judge. She's a natural. She's never had training, it's her first role, she was brilliant.

But part of the success of her performance is due to the fact that, first and foremost, she has a kick ass, killer song. That song will GET you every time. It's one of those songs. Plus, the role is very sympathetic. The cards were just all in her favor this year.

Technically, did she give the most brilliant performance? Not - definitely not.

But should she win? Yeah...probably.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:57am

I felt the most disappointed with her big song. I'm not sure what I expected, but just something more. I thought it deserved something more. When the lights start up and go up during the ending, I thought more would happen, but then nothing did. That's the one part where I just felt let down. I'm also not sure I agree with the "Listen" part by Beyonce. A part of me feels it was just thrown in there to satisfy her and her fans, but it works for the story as well.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:07am

Well what did you expect to happen? Were you not satistied with the specialf effects on stage, or her performance? I think it's the best scene in the entire movie, and it's those 6 minutes that will win her the Oscar.

I loved "Listen", and I thought that Beyonce acted it brilliantly. Of course, you can find reasons as to why she wouldn't be recording that song, but it didn't really bother me. I found "Listen" to be the highlight of the second half of the movie. Everything after "Listen" goes downhill and then just stops.

The final number should be wonderful....but it's not. The choreography is at its lamest in the final number, and the only thing grand about the final scene is the orchestra. It doesn't go out with a punch.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:09am

I really wanted to like Listen, but then it turned into three minutes of unintelligible wailing, and I had to turn the ears off. I will say I LOVED the other new songs written for the film.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:13am

I honestly loved "Listen" both in the movie and anytime I hear it on the radio. Beyonce's got a great voice, and I think her being able to show it is a fabulous thing. If she's going to be in this movie and get harsh criticism for whether she can act or not, at least she's got a moment to shine, regardless of if that moment is necessary or not.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:14am

Unintelligible wailing?

You can understand every word and she's not only perfectly on pitch the entire time, but she sounds absolutely wonderful. The first time I ever heard the song was when she sang it on Oprah - and I thought - WOW.

Unintelligible wailing? I still don't get that. I think her voice is stellar. Bad actress, okay- I might give you that. But wailing. Sorry. Not a chance.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:15am

And Anika Noni Rose surely didn't deserve an Oscar nomination.

She was absolutely wonderful, but her smart is just too small and doesn't make enough of an impression to ever merit an Oscar nomination.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:43am

Her smart is just too small?

Anyway, have you forgotten about Beatrice Straight? She's only in, like, 8 minutes of NETWORK (the confrontational scene with her husband) and she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Go figure!

Updated On: 1/24/07 at 02:43 AM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 3:33am

Judi Dench had 7 minutes in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and won. Anika Noni Rose makes just as much of an impression as Dench did, IMHO.

And no, if the film won Best Picture, Bill Condon would not be the one accepting an Oscar statuette. It would be David Geffen and Lawrence Mark.

[Emcee4ever]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 7:02am

Well, at least Cabaret is still the film with all the Oscars except for one that I can't recall right now.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:35am

It's a shame this thread had to turn into another "my opinion's right, yours is wrong Oscar thread."

We have what... THIRTY of those right now?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 10:32am

Beatrice Straight and Judi Dench (like Adrienne Lenox in DOUBT) made such a sublime impression and impact in those 7 minutes that you couldn't help but feel that they had been around the entire time. Pivotal roles - big scenes, etc.

Anika just fades into the background most of the time. She never once has an opportunity to shine. And it's not her fault - Loretta Devine wasn't nominated either when she was on Broadway. It's the part. It's just smaller than the rest.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 10:49am

As much as I liked Little Miss Sunshine, I think the stellar performances make the movie seem like it's better than it really is. I really don't think the movie has anything new to offer in terms of storytelling or plot, we've seen it all before. The performances are the heart and soul of the film and, without them, the movie would have easily been forgotten. Dreamgirls, however, is an event and, in my case, stayed with me much longer than Sunshine. But, that's just my opinion.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:19am

Uh...no.

THE HISTORY BOYS didn't get any recognition because there was no achievement in the film. It was a very, very odd adaptation. The script was fine, but it didn't have the same impact that it did on stage.

It was very stagey, and looked like a made for BBC movie blown up for the big screen. Even the performances were less impressive on the screen.

So, no, America's not too dumb - the picture wasn't recognized ANYWHERE - it just wasn't a wonderful film. - Munkustrap

HAHA Your posts are the best!

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:32am

For what it's worth, HISTORY BOYS is nominated for two BAFTA awards -- Best Actor (Richard Griffiths) and Best Supporting Actress (Frances de la Tour). No big surprise there!