Oscar's Greatest Crimes- Page 3

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 4:13pm

I liked Slingblade also -- but having seen the short film that was considered the 'original source material' which for the record was 'original' and because it was a short film written by the same person is somehow became an Adapted version for Oscar-- could it get anymore complicated? Anyway...it was a solid year...but if it comes down to actually words on a page I just believe that Trainspotting is truly one of the best adapted version of any book (second only to Fight Club which did not get nominated at all...travesty).

And, well let me just put it out there. I am one of the book whores who hate all adapted versions of books-- I nitpick. I complain. And yet I am unaccountably drawn to them over and over to get disappointed... I have nightmares about someone making "Popcorn" by Ben Elton into a movie, I've never been able to see the play, and I'm very of afraid to read it...also anything by Chris Moore which would just turn out bad- bad- bad.

Updated On: 2/26/07 at 04:13 PM

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 4:39pm

I saw the short film too, "Some Folks Call It A Sling Blade," but it consists mostly of Carl's monologue. So the fll-length film oes expound on it a great deal--much like an adaptation of a short story, like STAND BY ME.

I would have voted for Gloria Swanson in 1950. I think alot of people were also put off by SB's depiction of Hollywood too...


I think Halle deserved to win that year--the trouble is, that year Meryl was the Best Actress for The Hours and Adaptation or maybe Maggie G for SECRETARY...

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 4:52pm

I think Halle deserved to win that year--the trouble is, that year Meryl was the Best Actress for The Hours and Adaptation or maybe Maggie G for SECRETARY...

Not the same year, dogs, 2001:
Best Actress
Nicole Kidman - Moulin Rouge
Halle Berry - Monster's Ball
Renee Zellweger - Bridget Jones's Diary
Sissy Spacek - In the Bedroom
Judi Dench - Iris

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:07pm

Ah--in that case:

Charlotte Rampling-UNDER THE SAND
Tilda Swinton-THE DEEP END
Nicole-THE OTHERS
Audrey Tatou-AMELIE

and my top choice--Naomi Watts in MULHOLLAND DRIVE.

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:12pm

lildogs-- oh I agree that there were substantive changes from Some Folks to Slingblade....I just don't know that the "fleshed out version" was substantially better.

If I felt content that the voters were actually familiar with the original version or source material before they voted just based on whether they felt it was a good movie or not, well then I might not feel so annoyed...but I always get the feeling they had never read the books/play/short films and really are just voting based on what they see and not upon how well it was brought to life. People in America buy Trainspotting, but hardly makes the effort (and it is a big one) to actually read it.

I think this all stems back career with has resulted in very real doubts about working with a fully informed electorate.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:20pm

Forgetting about DeForest Kelley in the "In Memoriam" tribute. I was thrilled that James Doohan was included this year, but Kelley had a far more active career in Hollywood as a contract character actor in his pre-Star Trek days than did Doohan.

[javero]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:27pm

The fact that the Academy continues to snub Annette Benning. She's been nomimated 2 times in the Leading Actress category & once in the Supporting Actress category. I'm sorry but she put in a brilliant performance in 'Being Julia (2004)' for which was nominated in the best actress catgory only to lose to the highly overrated Hilary Swank. Furthermore Annette's take on Marquise de Merteuil in 'Valmont (1989)' was much much riveting than Glen Close's staid version in 'Dangerous Laisions' which went on to nab a bunch of Oscar nods but no hardware for Close or John Malkovich. Why 'dey hatin' on Annette?

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:30pm

Oh, Radi, you crazy optimist--we're lucky if the voters see the FILM, much less read the book. But I agree, the changes from blade to blade weren't LEAPS. He also won because he's an actor/writer--big advantage--like Matt and Ben, Emma, Carradine won for Best Song...

I think too, that movies like TRAINSPOTTING turn off some people--they think that content is more important than style...Trouble is, these people are working in film, which is a style business.

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:47pm

lildogs
Most people would actually say 'bitter optimist'
cause frankly most people burn out on grassroots politics and move on to PR by their mid-30's...and I am still hanging in there. But that does make me a bit crazy I guess...

It does help me greatly that my best friend was in the film business and she can talk me off the ledge and explain patiently why certain things had to be done when my favorite books get murdered by hacks.

Updated On: 2/26/07 at 05:47 PM

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 5:55pm

I don't think they're hating on Annette--she probably came very close with AMERICAN BEAUTY, losing to a hum-dinger of a ROLE.

She lost to Whoopi in S. Actress because she was in a little indie, Whoopi was in a huge Best Pic nominee hit and was owed from THE COLOR PURPLE.

And she lost again to a ROLE, when Mr. Swank won for MDB.

But I can't go with you on VALMONT--Glenn Close wiped up the floor with her.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 6:06pm

I thought Judi Dench in IRIS and Nicole Kidman in MOULIN ROUGE were worthier of the Oscar than Halle Berry, but that's just me, and her speech had such a sense of self-importance.
I'm gonna have to rent BORN YESTERDAY to see Judy Holliday's performance, I've always been baffled that neither Swanson or Davis won that year.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 6:09pm

The show last night

It was torture to sit thru. I want my tacky production number