And the Oscar for most depressing . . .

Jewish World Review ^ | Feb. 25, 2008 | Mitch Albom

[Caleb1411]

I'm didn't watch the Oscars. Normally I do. But I've spent enough time and money on the most depressing, dark and disturbed lineup of movies I ever can remember. I don't need to see them get rewarded.

Am I the only one who remembers when they actually gave Oscars to movies that had happy endings? There's not one happy ending in this lot — unless you consider an unplanned teenage pregnancy resulting in someone else's adoption a happy ending. That's the big payoff in "Juno."

Otherwise, you have "There Will Be Blood," in which a tyrannical oil baron destroys everyone and everything around him; "No Country For Old Men," in which a serial killer destroys everything and everyone around him; "Michael Clayton," in which greed gets nearly everyone killed; and "Atonement," in which a false accusation ruins the lives of all involved.

Um. Remind me again.

Why do we go to the movies?

THERE'S NO DEBATE HERE

Now, I'm not a Pollyanna. I enjoy films. I collect them. And I understand that not every story ends with music swirling and heroes walking off into a sunset.

But lately there's this sense that unless a movie is dark, violent and hopeless, it can't be "real." It can't be "art." It can't truly "matter." I put these words in quotes because it feels as if critics and awards committees define things that way.

[Borges]

Not only is Bloom alive but so is his teacher M.H. Abrams.

[wastedyears]

I think Transformers should have won more.

[Caleb1411]

Were you mollified when Sally got an individual Oscar, though? "I haven't had an orthodox career, and I've wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!"

[Blue State Insurgent]

This author obviously didn’t see ‘Juno’.

Two thumbs up. Positive, uplifting and well deserving of the best screenplay Oscar.

[BenLurkin]

George Clooney in which he spoke with the same over-acted Hillary-Clinton-in-a-lower-register voice.

Yup!

[Caleb1411]

You don't need to spend $10 on "depressing, dark and disturbing" when Lou Dobbs gives it away for free every day. ;~))

And if Obama gets elected, . . .

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

It's only about 5 years since we had The Lord of the Rings up against movies like A Beautiful Mind and Chicago. Things were already on a downtrend, but they are really abysmal now.

[durasell]

Sorry, sorry — he just hasn’t been very chatty of late.

[Borges]

Clooney is a one dimensional hack as an actor.

[puroresu]

It doesn’t bother me so much that a lot of these films are dark and depressing. I love Film Noir and those are very dark and downbeat films sometimes. What bothers me is that so many modern films suck and are hostile to our military and/or culture. It’s one thing to criticize an occasional aspect of our culture, but another to beat it until it’s dead and then keep beating it.

[Caleb1411]

It would have been my choice in that field of contenders.

[Holicheese]

I agree 100%. I really didn’t like Club Dread so much.
When I get calls to my office trying to sell me stuff, I use the name Johnny Chimpo.
I think Beerfest is my favorite of their movies. What Caddyshack did for golf, Beerfest does for drinking loads of beer!

[durasell]

He’s a movie star, not an actor. Movie stars aren’t known for their acting.

Ever notice how Harrison Ford always looks a bit startled, as if he toilet has begun overflowing for no particular reason.

[puroresu]

That’s one I’m looking forward to seeing.

[wideawake]

This was actually the best crop of Best PIcture nominees in a long time.

I agree.

And I'd rather see a win by a depressing masterpiece rather than by a depressing piece of cheap hackwork (viz. Million Dollar Baby).

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I didn’t see any of this artistic crap.

[CaptainK]

I saw “Blood Simple” when it first came out and the charms of the Cohen Brothers still allude me.

But I know they have a strong following.

[Borges]

You stick to the inartstic crap do you?

[Trajan88]

must twist the glass boot to avoid the bubble... quickly drink to the last drop ;-)

[Borges]

I’m convinced that the people who called ‘Million Dollar Baby’ ‘high tragedy’ had actually never seen a movie before. MDB was their first experience with the whole kooky moving picture thingamajig.