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Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 13:05:41 +0000

Since I haven't seen any of the movies that were nominated, I can say that based on the reactions to the actors after viewing their clips, I'm glad WSH won. The dude from "good night, and good luck." came across as a jerk. WSH had a gracious and moving acceptance speech, to boot. I cried a little. Altman rocks.

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-06 13:16:58 +0000

Both Good Night and Good Luck and Capote were period pieces. I think that the actor in a GNGL did a better job creating that element. Hoffman also didn't have to play the straight man (for sure) which might have given him more ability to steal the oscar.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 14:32:37 +0000

I continue my critique of the Oscar® nominees without ever actually viewing them: My understanding from reviews and interviews is that Hoffman presented an interpretation of Capote (which is what Capote did with his characters in "In Cold Blood") while Straitharn gave a rather convincing imitation of Morrow. As such, the movie In Cold Blood represents something more than just a period piece. Not sure what artistic merit GNAGL has if it's not much more than a documentary replacing archival footage with re-created archival footage. Is there any difference between Straithairn re-creating Morrow and the essay that Morrow actually gave denouncing McCarthy?

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-06 16:33:19 +0000

Both of the characters were going through traumatic experiences tied to their creative outlets that were also their careers. Capote had a much more emotional personality, so Hoffman was able to develop those traits with much more style than Straithairn. I think Hoffman should have won for best actor. But GNAGL was a lot more fun to watch for it's throwback 50's feel.

Posted by cdubrocker on 2006-03-06 16:39:18 +0000

I didn't see GNAGL, but it seems like it's a similar thing to an orchestra playing Beethoven's 5th. Did he "bring it" to the recreation of the role? Was it an interpretation, or an imitation. I thought PSH made the role his own - but then again, he had a lot more leeway since obviously T. Capote didn't spend a good part of his life being recorded on film.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 17:00:15 +0000

I don't see "creative" and "Morrow" occupying the same sentence. I'd think he'd agree that he wasn't artist. Does "Capote" have a fun throwback 60's kind of feel? Like I said, maybe I'll watch these films.

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-06 17:22:45 +0000

Capote did not have a throwback feel, more of a Green Mile feel. Oh he brought it. He was bringin it and a bag a chips. GNAGL had a great soundtrack as well, which was nominated but lost.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 17:31:22 +0000

Did Jennifer Garner's tits get a nomination? If not, that's a huge oversight.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-06 17:35:40 +0000

Those milk bags needed to be drained! I bet Ben and Jen's baby is healthy...

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-06 17:45:27 +0000

Jennifer (Constant Garner of sweet racks) ain't nothing compared to J-Lo

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-06 17:48:46 +0000

The only thing I really liked was the "It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" musical selection. Hustle and Flow was an awesome flick - Terence Howard was overrated in Crash, but was pure gold in 'Flow' - another example of Hollywood playing The 'Best Picture of the Year' award safe. I have yet to see Brokeback Mountain, which I am really looking forward to - but Munich was heads and shoulders above Crash. Also, Hollywood already gave a Best Picture to the original gay cowboy film Midnight Cowboy in 1969 - The only x rated film to ever win best picture (although x in 1969 is very different from XXX of today...) therefore, Holywood could go with GN&GL or Munich or Crash GN&GL: Clooney probably seen as a newer director, coupled with the political content of the film, ditto Munich's political content (not to mention the controversy ober the 'Suicide Bomber' documentary. Therefore you are left with 'Crash'. I just feel like vaguely asking people to be tolerant in a film such as 'Crash' is so much more ineffective than what was seen in 'Munich', GN&GL, and 'Capote' even. None of the above surprises me, however,. Oscar often times nips any really edgy or controversial filmmaking in the bud (see 'Do the Right Thing' , 'Blue Velvet', etc...

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 18:19:23 +0000

Not entirely sure a $6.5 million dollar movie is exactly safe by Hollywood standards. Why not give it to "Kong"? Bertolt Brecht said it best: "Art is not a mirror with which to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Crash is almost certainly overwrought, maybe that's why the Academy picked it. ---- Jon Stewart's best laugh of the night (of the 15 minutes total that I saw): "For those of you keeping track, that's Martin Scorcese 0 Oscars, Three 6 Mafia 1 Oscar".

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-06 18:27:18 +0000

Midnight Cowboy a "gay cowboy film"? Are you talking about the one with Hoffman and Voight? I own it, watched it 5 or 8 times. Very hetero, not much for gay undertones, and not even about cowboys... I should let you borrow it, NP. I think 'Crash' was the better picture than Capote or Brokeback, but I haven't seen GNAGL nor Munich. Lastly, I hate the 'impersonating vs. emboddying' argument. Who gives a shit as long as the acting is good? I recall Lawrence Oliver saying to Dustin Hoffman after Hoffman just ran 3 miles to get into character for "Marathon Man", "Dustin, why didn't you just act?"

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 18:34:00 +0000

I was wondering that myself. Ratso and Buck form a loving male relationship, which might not be explicitly sexual but at least is more homosexual than other buddy movies of that era. Butch and Sundance for instance. One of these things is not like the other: gay cowboy film Midnight Cowboy I'd pick "cowboy", actually.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-06 18:35:18 +0000

Butch and Sundance is way gayer, than Midnight Cowboy. Who are you trying to kid?

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 18:52:38 +0000

Not Saul Austerlitz.
Butch and Sundance vs. Buck and Ratso. Yeah, the later is gayer. The main emotional tension between the former is over a woman. They even fall into a chasm! (Albeit, together). The only way those two get into the sack is if Katherine Ross is between them. A sexual relationship between Buck and Ratso is more plausible. Both came out in 1969, by the way.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-03-06 19:16:19 +0000

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. Way gayer than either. More cowboy than Mignight. 0 Oscars.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-03-06 19:21:21 +0000

Lorbering: I read a good article about gay cowboy movies at my In-Laws' place this weekend.

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-06 19:24:13 +0000

That was my main concern with the contest between Hoffman and GNAGL guy. THey were both impersonating actual people in actual turmoil. However GNAGL guy was much less animated in real life so much less entertaining in a drmatatic sense. However, I think the depiction was spot on in terms of depicting reporters and their outlook while exposing McCarthyism.

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-06 19:48:43 +0000

the marlboro man is gay.

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-06 20:47:16 +0000

Hetero, huh? During the 2 film courses I took @ UNH, I not only wrote a term paper on MC and read multiple books and interviews in places like Film Comment about John Schlesinger, But I have seen the film more times than you mentioned. Next to Chinatown, its probably my all time favorite, so, yeah, Iv'e seen it and am familiar with it. Over the weekend, I also enjoyed the glob's Friday March 3rd article which pretty much is in tune with my original article. You can keep your copy. Thanks for the offer though. I heard a Sp. Ed 2xDVD came out, maybe Ill get that and watch it again while I'm at it...

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-06 21:40:35 +0000

I find very little in Austerlitz's review that agrees with his premise that Midnight Cowboy is a homosexual movie. I hate to be black and white with this, but Brokeback has gay sex. Midnight Cowboy doesn't. Brokeback has cowboys (plural), Midnight Cowboy doesn't. Joe and Ratso could have had a love affair, but didn't. Ennis and Jack couldn't, but tried to. I love Midnight Cowboy, and I'm glad I own it, but let's be honest here. As Austerlitz says, "In 1969, it simply would not have been possible for a mainstream film to present a gay love story as a tragedy." Exactly, it didn't. Which film rings closer to Romeo and Juliet and star-crossed lovers? Saul has written a horrible review IMHO that seems only to want to stir up controversy by inaccurately looking at film history.

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-06 22:00:51 +0000

"Are You calling John Wayne a Fag?"

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 22:13:01 +0000

There is homosexual tension in Midnight Cowboy. That's enough for me. Not enough chaps though. Midnight Cowboy is as homosocial as Moby Dick, at the very least.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 22:38:37 +0000

How about Brokeback as the first _openly_ gay movie? There have obviously been movies with gay themes (see 10D's link to the WAPO, above). Ratzo dies in Buck's arms on a bus to Miami Beach. Sounds tragic to me.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-06 22:51:56 +0000

No arguments. So as 10D's WaPo article suggests there's homo-tension in even a John Wayne picture, but they aren't openly gay movies. Brokeback brought the love and lust to the forefront. Even if you ignore the straight-up sex screen time, it is a love story, a clear homosexual relationship with hugs, emotion, and affection. Name another film like that?

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-06 22:52:40 +0000

But we're they lovers?

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-06 23:36:36 +0000

If Ratzo recovers from TB, I can see them chasing cabana boys in Miami Beach together. Yes. There is no sexual content in Bambi, but it's still a hetero movie.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-07 00:25:32 +0000

I would prefer it if we did not give a sexual designation in the masterpiece that is Bambi.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-07 00:27:54 +0000

How about "snuff film"?

Posted by Null Protocol on 2006-03-07 01:11:55 +0000

OK. 'Brokeback' has overt gay sex. Got it. Ultimately (and I admit I still haven't seen BM - but look forward to soon - )I find it sad that Hollywood didnt breathe deep and take a chance by giving a nod to it for Best Picture, going instead with the safer choice of Crash Is Hollywood still a little sensitive to the large number of red staters buying DVD's @ WalMart? Before Sunday night, I would've said no. Judging from Ang Lee's past output and the other selections for Best Picture I had seen (Munich, Crash), I thought 'Brokeback' would be the one. The only film that has more homosexual tension than Midnight Cowboy is Top Gun. All those shirtless guys playing volleyball? It's like SNL must have watched that right before making Schmidt's Gay

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-07 01:25:01 +0000

Probably true about the Crash pick (but why even nominate Brokeback?) Like all other ingrained institutions in this country, Hoollywood mimics trends, it does not lead them.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-03-07 12:18:57 +0000

1. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
2. The Birdcage
3. Jeffrey
4. In & Out

For starters. And that doesn't count subplots. If you want to include lesbian movies, there are a _ton_ more, because everyone loves watching chicks make out.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-03-07 12:19:35 +0000

Repo Man, nice. I've been meaning to pop that one in for the wife, who'd never heard of it.

Posted by mr. mister on 2006-03-07 14:09:56 +0000

Brokeback is to Tootsie as much as Top Gun is to Hairspray. Brokeback blew my mind. But Donnie Darko as a forty year gay cowboy was not really believable. I think he's a great actor but maybe not the best for that role.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-07 16:57:23 +0000

"Crash" was definitely not the "safe" choice. A small budget, anti-studio, ensemble cast? Not whta hollywood typically likes.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-07 18:19:18 +0000

That's what is keeping me from full agreement. Which of the nominees is truly the safe choice, though? Capote? MunichGood Night, and Good Luck. This was a good year for the Oscars after all. Auteur-style films drove the awards. Not big budgets or flashy casts.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-07 18:43:10 +0000

Safest choice = Munich. No, I haven't seen it.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-07 19:18:55 +0000

Even though it's main premise is that the use preemptive force never works the way you'd like it to? Oh... maybe that is a "mainstream" value now.

Posted by tgl on 2006-03-08 02:18:46 +0000

Best commentary on Brokeback so far, is from MFLMAAEC. (My Favorite Libertarian Michigan Alumnus And Ex-'CBNer. ...not that I've actually seen it. Someone let me know when it's netflixable. To be pedantic, Brokeback: gay shepard film.

Posted by dawnbixtler on 2006-03-08 02:37:47 +0000

Good point. Is Brokeback the first openly gay shepard film?