Ginger's follies, foibles and fixations.
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| You Listen to Me, Mr. Kick-Ass Ginger's follies, foibles and fixations. |
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Friday, March 21, 2003 I Just Want to Watch the Oscars I have been spending most of the past few days conflicted over whether or not I should attend tomorrow's anti-war rally. I am not happy about the war the US is currently waging and even less happy about the path leading up to it. But at the same time I don't want to stand amidst the "Whadda we want? Peace!" chanters on one side and the inevitable Hemp activist on the other and claim that we all speak one voice. I am almost as sick of the exclamation-point sloganeering of the "No Blood for Oil!" sign-wavers as I am of the religously-charged rhetoric of our not-so elected President. The issues involved in this war and U.S. policy are deeply complex, and I have a hard time associating with sentence-fragment pronouncements on any side. I can see that Iraq might be better off without Saddam Hussein in power. But the question is how much "better off" is enough to justify the horrors and trauma of war? How much of an asshole does a foreign leader have to be to give another nation the moral authority to invade their country and assassinate them? Why it is okay when the U.S. wants to do these things, but not when anyone else does? Look up any war, invasion or coup and you will find an aggressor who claims they are motivated by the unselfish cause of human rights: "Considering...the grave economic, social, and moral crisis that the country is experiencing,...the incapacity of the government to control the chaos...that will lead the people of Chile to an inevitable civil war, the Armed Forces and Carabineros decide:...the President of the Republic of Chile must give up his office immediately... Signed: Augusto Pinochet Ugarte, Commander in Chief of the Army -- September 11 1973 There's a very real problem here -- the existence of leaders who harm their own people. But the United States has a lot of gall to claim the moral authority to rid the world of these leaders considering our own troubling history of installing, arming, funding and training human rights-trampling despots (see above). I don't believe for a second that this war is motivated by human rights abuses in Iraq or the ludicrous implication that Iraq is a threat to the safety of the United States. It is for these reasons that I think I'll go to the march. The almost-unanimous vote of support for the war by our elected representatives is truly disappointing and proof that those who feel otherwise must find some way to express themselves. While the more intelligent pro-war folk and (less believably) the administration's talking heads insist that protesting is the democratic right of all citizens, it is the ubiquity of the love-it-or-fuck-you "freedom fries" nutcases that must be countered in some way. Now, on to the Oscar picks! I don't have time to be as verbose as I would like to about this, but I might try to flesh it out later. This year I've decided to break my picks into three categories: Will win - the standard issue prediction - generally copying Entertainment Weekly, because they were more right than I was last year. Should win - who I think deserves it more than the other nominees. Hope will win - who, regardless of who deserves it, I'd like to see win for some sentimental reason. Picture Will win - Chicago - ding! Should win - The Pianist Hope will win - The Pianist Why? It's tough to choose from such a bowl of fruit as the five nominees. I mean, how can you really put Chicago, Lord of the Rings and The Pianist on the table and declare which one is "better?" Chicago was the best in transporting me into its world and left me wanting more - which is my big litmus test for a truly successful film. Its craft would propel it into sympathetic winner status for me except for the fact that the casting of big stars who aren't particularly talented in the song-and-dance arena (I'm talking to you Renee Zellweger!) left some of the zippy musical numbers a bit lacking. Plus, you know, it's just goofy fun. Nothing wrong with that, but The Pianist is riveting and beautifully crafted, and I'd like to see a non-blockbuster win for once. Hey, it worked for Chariots of Fire. Director Will win - Rob Marshall - buzzz! Should win - Roman Polanski - :) Hope will win - Roman Polanski Why? This is really tough because the biggest, best-loved name on the list made one of the least-loved films. Can a rookie director beat Marty's honor-the-body-of-work buzz? I'm going to say yes, but it will be damn close. I regrettably haven't yet seen Almodovar's Talk to Her (there's always tomorrow!) and I'm sure it's great, but when even Polanski's "victim" comes out for him, you gotta hope he wins, even in absentia. Besides, Marty still has a chance to win it with a great movie, rather than a good one. Actor Will win - Daniel Day-Lewis - buzzz! Should win - Adrien Brody - :) Hope will win - Jack Nicholson Why? Because the one with the biggest buzz that moved me the least tends to win. Daniel Day-Lewis was boisteriously great in his role, but I was far more intruigued by Nicholson's convincing and near-silent Nebraskan, and blown away by Adrien Brody's embodiment of his titular survivor. If there's any justice, which there never is, Brody will claim the prize, but I would not be sad to see Nicholson win again - Go Big Red! Actress Will win - Nicole Kidman - ding! Should win - Julianne Moore Hope will win - Diane Lane Why? This one is so close I’ve changed my vote six times in the last minute. Usually the one I really don’t want to win is inevitably the one that does. This makes Ms. Zellweger – whose wan presence was swallowed, chewed and spit out by the sparkling magnificence of Catherine Zeta-Jones – the front-runner. But though I personally was underwhelmed with Kidman’s performance in The Hours, it was compelling enough to justify giving her the prize, something she deserves less for this role than, say, To Die For, but deserves nonetheless. Though Julianne Moore was amazing in Far From Heaven, the closeness of both actress races threatens to split her vote and I think personally she was better in the other role. Still, she delivered the most delicately crafted and moving performance in this category and deserves the prize. Diane Lane was just stunning in a fun and competent thriller. I'd be tickled if she pulled off what Denzel did last year and grab the gold for a showy part in a genre movie. Supporting Actor Will win - Chris Cooper - ding! Should win - Chris Cooper Hope will win - John C. Reilly Why? Chris Cooper has the edge with the more fiery part, and benefits from seeming like a veteran actor and emerging talent at the same time. I think Paul Newman and Christopher Walken will split the older-guy tribute vote, though everyone loves Christopher Walken and he's been getting a lot of the recent buzz (I haven’t seen Catch Me if You Can - there’s always tomorrow!) . John C. Reilly is a contender for being a highly respected (and highly-visible - could they make a movie last year that didn't have him in it?) but weirdly enough I suspect that his ubiquity might harm him by calling attention to the similarity of the roles. I'd be happy if Cooper won (which he should have for American Beauty), but I am still rooting for Mr. Cellophane. Supporting Actress Will win - Catherine Zeta-Jones - ding! Should win - Julianne Moore Hope will win - Catherine Zeta-Jones Why? Because Ms. ZJ was, no matter what anyone says, the very best thing about Chicago. Not to say that she won’t have a close race with Moore. I think Academy voters stymied by the choices in the Best Actress race might lean on this one for Julianne (age makeup never hurts) and I personally feel she was even stronger in this part than in Far From Heaven. At the same time, this is the category where young upstarts most often rise to the surface and Moore’s Best Actress bid could draw enough voters away. As much as I really loved Julianne, I was so fully blown away by Zeta-Jones that I’d like to see her win even if she doesn’t really deserve it (this time). Original Screenplay Will win - My Big Fat Greek Wedding - buzzz! (oh, thank god) Should win - Far From Heaven Hope will win - Y Tu Mama Tambien Why? As much as everyone likes to kebab it, My Big Fat… wasn’t quite as awful as its title. Not that the writing is any more than lifeless and the movie any more than OK, nor does it deserve this nomination, much less the award. I think the smart people will divide their votes between Far from Heaven and Talk to Her and everyone else (the bulk of the general populace as well as here) will vote for the big hit. Meanwhile, though I loved Far From Heaven and, again, I am sure Talk to Her is wonderful, Y Tu Mama Tambien was so joyful and bittersweet I’d be glad to see it win something. Adapted Screenplay Will win - The Hours - buzzz! Should win - Chicago Hope will win - Adaptation Why? I’m going to go with Entertainment Weekly on this one. If voters like non-linear narratives they’ll be more willing to vote for the dry but cohesive Hours over the lively but confounding Adaptation. I’m surprising myself by choosing Chicago as the most deserving, but the writing kept the action spinning along and I can’t get John C. Reilly’s “confession” speech out of my head. I still don’t know if Adaptation’s tricky third act was a cop-out or ingenious, but it is clearly the most imaginative script of the bunch, which should count for something. Animated Feature Will win - Ice Age - buzzz! Should win - Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Hope will win - Lilo and Stitch OK, so I didn’t see Spirited Away, but that’s only because it wasn’t playing anywhere any more. Which I think hurts its chances of winning. I don’t know about Treasure Planet, which doesn’t have a chance, but the other three are out on DVD which makes them stronger contenders for last-minute voters. The computer-animated Ice Age is the obvious pick for those who still think weird-looking 3-D creations voiced by popular comedians somehow make a movie great (see Shrek). On the other hand it is the unfortunate surface details (the voice of Matt Damon, a Bryan Adams soundtrack, for fuck’s sake) which dooms the far more deserving film Spirit from taking the prize. The gorgeous artwork and seamless blending of computer and traditional animation is the best argument to not throw away those sketchbooks. I’m afraid the childless audience will avoid this one – as I did – for fear of enduring a schlocky talking-horse movie. Sure it was a little schlocky (the exploding locomotive was a bit much), but the fact that the horses do not, in fact, talk was a regrettably under-marketed selling point. But as technically fabulous as Spirit was, what will truly send me to the moon is a win for the weird and wonderful Lilo and Stitch. You know something’s up when you see The Pianist and Lilo and Stitch on the same day and cry more at the latter. From the quirky-perfect artwork to the dialogue ("Are you happy?" "I’m adjusted.") to the fact that it’s not a fucking musical AND it’s set in Hawaii, with characters that actually look like Hawaiians, I’ll go out on a limb to claim Lilo and Stitch to be one of the most enjoyable, satisfying and devastating films of the year. Song Will win - U2 - buzzz! Should win - Eminem - :) Hope will win - Eminem This is one of the few years where I actually care what happens. I would have cared a couple years back but they screwed up by not nominating Uncle Fukka over Blame Canada. Anyway, I can't imagine how U2 wouldn't win, and from what I heard of it the song is okay. But sticking a decent song in the end credits for no reason other than an Oscar nod pisses me off. Call me old-fashioned, but I think the song should, I dunno, have something to do with the movie? Thus, Eminem. Plus I love that this guy - this little snotnosed prick - is achieving practically every measure of success possible in the entertainment world. posted by Ginger | 11:51 PM Thursday, March 20, 2003 Welcome to New York. DUCK, MOTHERFUCKER! This is from my favorite t-shirt, which I might buy if it didn't have a huge gun on the front (big turnoff). It appeals to that teenager in me who liked to wear "LARD" t-shirts whilst being interviewed for the evening news. Ah youth. Anyway, despite the constant drone of helecopters and the subway stop nearest my house being inexplicably (and annoyingly) closed, things are pretty sedate here in the world's favorite terrorist target. Too busy with work (mostly) to blog, and certainly can't be doing it now. But I'm still around, still trying to see as many Oscar nominees as possible, deeply conflicted about this war thang, and eating seafood shumai at my desk. Life in the nonprofit arts goes on. posted by Ginger | 12:33 PM |
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