The 89th Academy Awards (2017) Movie • Page 15

Wait do people like Billy Lynn's?

 

I... appreciate it, aspects of the character/political stuff in it win me over and the experiment in 3D and ultra-high framerate worked as often as it didn't. I love Ang Lee though and am down for whatever he does, even if it doesn't always land 100% for me.

 

Did you get to see it in HFR? I didn't.

I love Ang, but that script had a lot of clunkers for me. Both dialogue and just basic logic (the road crew jumping a bunch of vets is just so implausible). It did have some redeeming moments though. That sweeping shot through the house where he envisions them having sex comes to mind

 

Yeah I saw it twice, once in 3D and HFR and once just HFR, and it was so surreal and strange a visual experience. Every movement stood out so when these veterans are at a crowded and obnoxious sports arena, every little movement out of the corner of your eye catches your attention and stands out and it's kind of anxiety inducing and a little scary, which is largely why it worked for me. Especially when using those abrupt cuts between Iraq and the present day, it was jarring, but absolutely purposefully so. Still hard to watch non-stop for two hours, which is an issue, but it was definitely memorable and an effective emphasis on the thematics.

The script is not at all subtle, and yeah the dialogue could be stiff and overbearingly literal, but there were moments that really worked and, even if the dialogue wasn't always naturalistic, I thought the characters and performances were at the very least solid, sometimes really strong. I have a lot of family who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and this (along with the Hurt Locker) felt the most like their experience: there were moments that felt like seeing my cousins onscreen.

I'm also generally going to give Ang Lee the benefit of the doubt. The Ice Storm, Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger, and Ride With the Devil are all strong, though he has attempts, particularly post-Brokeback, that don't hit entirely for me. Billy Lynn is one of them, but inconsistent as it was, I appreciate it as a stylistic visual exercise as much as a film.

 

I wish I liked The Ice Storm. I wanted to. That cast!

Brokeback and Crouching Tiger are pretty much masterpieces though.

Seen The Wedding Banquet?

 

Not yet, upper tier Ang Lee?

 

Not in terms of ambition, but it's really interesting in filling out his career and shows early signs of his way with tone.

 

Lol he sticks out like a sore thumb

 

Andrew Garfield was my personal favorite performance of the 5 performances, but I think it'll come down to Affleck or Washington. I think Affleck's still the favorite, but Washington's making a lot of headway.

 

They didn't even nominate Garfield for the right movie

 

Like with Alicia Vikander

 

Oh I thought they nominated the right Vikander performance myself. Danish Girl was a pretty meh movie, but she was really great in it. I'd say more like Winslet, who should have won her Oscar for Revolutionary Road, not The Reader

 

I thought Vikander's performance in Ex Machina was more unique and interesting. Both were good performances, though.

I also liked Andrew Garfield's performance in Silence more than Hacksaw. It's funny how many parallels there are between those characters, despite being in 2 completely different movies.

 

Best Cinematography is a tough call this year, imo. A lot of great work.

 

M. David Mullen and Vittorio Storaro did the most interesting cinematography I saw all year, though Rodrigo Prieto, James Laxton, and Bradford Young certainly deserved recognition.

 

Rooting for Prieto in that category. All 5 nominees did great work. That's always the category where there are like 12 movies I'd be fine with as nominees.

 

Saw all of the animated shorts today and Piper's still my favorite. Pearl is also really, really good.

 

An independent theater near me is doing a live screening of the show. Anyone ever go to something like that before? It sounds like it would be really fun

 

What exactly does that mean? What's different about it from watching it on TV?

 

Nothing really, just watching it at a theatre as opposed to your couch.

 

I'd imagine people go in groups and applaud or boo when winners are announced

 

Pretty candid conversation w/ an Oscar voter.

https://filmschoolrejects.com/oscar-voter-interview-2017-995c5eb371e0#.c6jrwdjhg

 

Speaking of his pot-Brokeback work, I actually loved Life of Pi and think it's one of maybe 3 films total that actually justified the use of 3D.

 

Spending the week busting out the best picture noms I havent seen yet. Still got Fences, Hidden Figures, Lion and Hell or High Water to get through.

All the ones Ive seen so far were all great films, but mostly incredibly depressing. I think thats why I'm rooting for La La Land, it was the only movie that left me feeling happy.