Rewrite Oscar history

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Strike Back below!
by: Dave Davis Oct. 7, 2008

As the winning names are pulled from sealed envelopes and announced at each year's Academy Awards ceremony, you probably say "Yeah, I expected that" almost as often as you let out a "Huh - Whaaaat?!?"

They say hindsight is 20/20 -- now's your chance to look back at the past quarter-century and see if the winners stood the test of time, or if you disagreed with them in the first place. Entertainment Weekly is running a "re-vote" with both industry professionals and the public to "Recall the Gold", beginning with the controversial 1998 awards where SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE successfully campaigned against the expected victor SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.

Let 'em know what you think.

 

Source: EW

Extra Tidbit: I'm sure people are already cheering or contorting in uproar for when THE DARK KNIGHT wins/loses next year.

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track100
8:34PM on 10/09/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Shakespeare in Love > SPR
Maybe if Saving Private Ryan had remained a good film after the D-Day sequence it would have deserved to win. Besides The Thin Red Line was much better than it.
Maybe if Saving Private Ryan had remained a good film after the D-Day sequence it would have deserved to win. Besides The Thin Red Line was much better than it.
 
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Aquielle
6:23AM on 10/09/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
IN Bruges
...is argumentatively (I'm expecting it - hit me now or never) the best movie of the year. Wanted, IMO, is next. Dark Knight will get awards - and Heath better bloody get one - but it is by no means the "best" movie. Little substance - kind of like reading a Maxim magazine - lots of action. Joker will live on, as, no doubt, will Two-Face (underestimated performance) but as far as movies def...
...is argumentatively (I'm expecting it - hit me now or never) the best movie of the year. Wanted, IMO, is next. Dark Knight will get awards - and Heath better bloody get one - but it is by no means the "best" movie. Little substance - kind of like reading a Maxim magazine - lots of action. Joker will live on, as, no doubt, will Two-Face (underestimated performance) but as far as movies defining an age or having lasting power? Not happening. Sorry to rip your capes off so cruely
 
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GGear0323
8:12PM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
let me get this out quick, ...Wall-E was NOT better than TDK, TDK isnt going to win best picture, but still, Wall-E!!!...really. oh, and Saving Private Ryan was the shit. i like the Thin red line, but it was not better than SPR by any means
let me get this out quick, ...Wall-E was NOT better than TDK, TDK isnt going to win best picture, but still, Wall-E!!!...really. oh, and Saving Private Ryan was the shit. i like the Thin red line, but it was not better than SPR by any means
 
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Beenthere
6:59PM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
What the hell?
"HoyleHaw on Oct 8 2008, 9:08:57 AM writes:

As much as I sometimes wish I could rewrite the Oscars, it kind of feels futile, as many of th emore infamous ones like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Dances With Wolves" don't piss me off nearly as much as some. (Shakespeare wasn't great, but I had problems with "Saving Private Ryan" portraying all Nazis as evil when it's supposed to be so...
"HoyleHaw on Oct 8 2008, 9:08:57 AM writes:

As much as I sometimes wish I could rewrite the Oscars, it kind of feels futile, as many of th emore infamous ones like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Dances With Wolves" don't piss me off nearly as much as some. (Shakespeare wasn't great, but I had problems with "Saving Private Ryan" portraying all Nazis as evil when it's supposed to be some even-handed war-is-hell type thing like "Platoon" was for Vietnam)"

What the hell? Did you mean Germans (who, let be honest, were massively behind Third Reich) or Nazis? The nice folks did not become National Socialists in the Hitler's Germany. Or you want to re-write history? What's that non-sense about even?
As for Vietnam - do I have to accept Oliver's Stone's bullshit about that war? We know his pro-leftists point of view and I more agree with JFK. That war was about stopping worldwide Soviet expansion. Nothing even about it.

 
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s1rus
6:37PM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Magicwizguy
Magic needs a jab in the face i will cut you!!!! ill fly all the way from New Zealand to do it as well. Wall-E sucked ass. TDK is by far better. Stay of the drugs bro it will help you in the long run
Magic needs a jab in the face i will cut you!!!! ill fly all the way from New Zealand to do it as well. Wall-E sucked ass. TDK is by far better. Stay of the drugs bro it will help you in the long run
 
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magicwizguy
5:51PM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
No, actually, Wall-E is the better movie. People are so in love with TDK it isn't even funny. It's so sad to see Wall-E left out to rot when it is overshadowed by TDK. Wall-E is better than TDK.
No, actually, Wall-E is the better movie. People are so in love with TDK it isn't even funny. It's so sad to see Wall-E left out to rot when it is overshadowed by TDK. Wall-E is better than TDK.
 
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Rasporange Pant
4:57PM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I would change the fact that Return of the King won everything it was nominated for. I loved it, and think it deserved best picture, but maybe not everything else.

I also would've liked to have seen Naomi Watts nominated for King Kong [she pulled off such a convincingly emotional performance considering she was acting against practically nothing] and Marcia Gay Harden for The Mis...
I would change the fact that Return of the King won everything it was nominated for. I loved it, and think it deserved best picture, but maybe not everything else.

I also would've liked to have seen Naomi Watts nominated for King Kong [she pulled off such a convincingly emotional performance considering she was acting against practically nothing] and Marcia Gay Harden for The Mist. She is one of the best and most terrifying villains I've seen.

Dark Knight should a nom for Ledger and cinematography, but definitely not for best picture.
 
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jammin341
4:40PM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
SERIOUSLY?? Badlands, I do hope you are freagin kidding. Wall-E better than the Dark Knight? Dark Knight, yes had some flaws but Wall-E?? Shakespere in Love? Dude and you call yourself a fan boy or were you saying your not a fan boy? I don't normally comment about other comments but damn!
SERIOUSLY?? Badlands, I do hope you are freagin kidding. Wall-E better than the Dark Knight? Dark Knight, yes had some flaws but Wall-E?? Shakespere in Love? Dude and you call yourself a fan boy or were you saying your not a fan boy? I don't normally comment about other comments but damn!
 
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intothebadlands
10:43AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Wall-E, for one, was better than 'The Dark Knight.'

And I would rather watch 'The Thin Red Line', 'Shakespeare in Love' or 'Elizabeth' (in that order) again before having to sit through anything other than the first half hour of 'Saving Private Ryan'.

And, even if that weren't the case, I wouldn't trade anything for the Wall-E, for one, was better than 'The Dark Knight.'

And I would rather watch 'The Thin Red Line', 'Shakespeare in Love' or 'Elizabeth' (in that order) again before having to sit through anything other than the first half hour of 'Saving Private Ryan'.

And, even if that weren't the case, I wouldn't trade anything for the [link] look on my Spielberg-fanboy friend's face when Ford opened that envelope and said 'Shakespeare in Love'. That, friends, was worth more than any useless awards.
 
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Netforce
9:43AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
The Dark Knight SHOULD very least be nominated for Best Picture.
The Dark Knight SHOULD very least be nominated for Best Picture.
 
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H-Man
9:37AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Creasy...
THE DARK KNIGHT is by far the best film I've seen this year. Name one better.
THE DARK KNIGHT is by far the best film I've seen this year. Name one better.
 
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HoyleHaw
9:08AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
As much as I sometimes wish I could rewrite the Oscars, it kind of feels futile, as many of th emore infamous ones like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Dances With Wolves" don't piss me off nearly as much as some. (Shakespeare wasn't great, but I had problems with "Saving Private Ryan" portraying all Nazis as evil when it's supposed to be some even-handed war-is-hell type thing like "Platoon" was fo...
As much as I sometimes wish I could rewrite the Oscars, it kind of feels futile, as many of th emore infamous ones like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Dances With Wolves" don't piss me off nearly as much as some. (Shakespeare wasn't great, but I had problems with "Saving Private Ryan" portraying all Nazis as evil when it's supposed to be some even-handed war-is-hell type thing like "Platoon" was for Vietnam)

What I'll take issue with are a few more recent wins. "Triplets of Belville" Best Animated Feature
When Philip Seymour Hoffman won for "Capote," maybe I was just sick of biopics, but I knew it would happen, and I really think I would've felt better if Heath Ledger won it.
Toss up between Denzel Washington and Tom Wilkinson for "Training Day" and "In the Bedroom," respectively.
 
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snoopmish
8:59AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Creasy: Titanic was a good movie but LA Confidential was better and should have won that year.
Creasy: Titanic was a good movie but LA Confidential was better and should have won that year.
 
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EUPHORiCfilms
4:39AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I've always hated seeing Goodfellas lose to Dances with Wolves and Martin Scorsese getting beat by Kevin Costner
I've always hated seeing Goodfellas lose to Dances with Wolves and Martin Scorsese getting beat by Kevin Costner
 
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Creasy
2:38AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
If The Dark Knight should win (or even get nominated) it would be pathetic. This movie is so fucking overrated. Yeah, it's great. But that's it. Okay?
Oh and the choice most people probably will talking shit about is Titanic, although that one deserved it. But yeah, what ever.
If The Dark Knight should win (or even get nominated) it would be pathetic. This movie is so fucking overrated. Yeah, it's great. But that's it. Okay?
Oh and the choice most people probably will talking shit about is Titanic, although that one deserved it. But yeah, what ever.
 
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luke319
2:33AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
kdraines
I think about half your picks are spot on but I couldn't disagree more with the others. The thing is, as others have said, quality is subjective as such. As a result there never has been and never will be a unanimous decision as to what should win Best Picture in a given year, thus the winner should be the film that the majority of people consider to have been the best of it's year. For example...
I think about half your picks are spot on but I couldn't disagree more with the others. The thing is, as others have said, quality is subjective as such. As a result there never has been and never will be a unanimous decision as to what should win Best Picture in a given year, thus the winner should be the film that the majority of people consider to have been the best of it's year. For example, Training Day is one of my favorite movies. I personally enjoy it much more than Gladiator, however most people seem to think Gladiator is the better movie so it deserved to win. It's an imperfect system but it's the closest you can get when trying to qualify art.
 
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shmuckluck2
1:39AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Well, more people than not think that The Dark Knight deserves Oscar consideration. And since those of us who are in love with it ARE in love with it, let us be. Film quality is almost purely opinion, so just have your own but stop with the pissyness about others liking it a lot. And this too, I think something should be said about widespread acclaim, which TDK has, and its relation to the qual...
Well, more people than not think that The Dark Knight deserves Oscar consideration. And since those of us who are in love with it ARE in love with it, let us be. Film quality is almost purely opinion, so just have your own but stop with the pissyness about others liking it a lot. And this too, I think something should be said about widespread acclaim, which TDK has, and its relation to the quality of movies. Although I can see, because there are plenty of widely acclaimed films I really don't like. Gangs of New York comes to mind. So, I guess all I'm saying is, don't be so pissed off. Its juvenile.

But I kind of agree about the Oscar's being worthless sometimes. Although, I get all excited when my own favorite films win, so maybe I don't know.
 
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Derrida
1:25AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Oscars mean shit
Ron "Gingernuts" Howard winning Best Director award for "Beautiful Mind" was fucking insulting - considering both David Lynch and Robert Altman were nominated in the same category (for "Mulholland Drive" and "Gosford Park".
Ron "Gingernuts" Howard winning Best Director award for "Beautiful Mind" was fucking insulting - considering both David Lynch and Robert Altman were nominated in the same category (for "Mulholland Drive" and "Gosford Park".
 
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tweekers13
12:42AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
I still say The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile should have won best picture. How these 2 movies didnt win is beyond me.
I still say The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile should have won best picture. How these 2 movies didnt win is beyond me.
 
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nick_horror
12:25AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Please, please, please, please, please Stop Talking about "The Dark Knight"
Seriously! F--K "The Dark Knight!!!!!" It wasn't a bad film, but is sure as hell wasn't this massively orgasmic piece of cinema that you all seem to be making it out to be. If it should be up for ANYTHING it should be Best Sound Editing. I'm as sick of this f--king movie as I am Joanna F--king Hill and Dane Cook! Enough! None of them are great. Shut the hell up about it. "Burn After Rea...
Seriously! F--K "The Dark Knight!!!!!" It wasn't a bad film, but is sure as hell wasn't this massively orgasmic piece of cinema that you all seem to be making it out to be. If it should be up for ANYTHING it should be Best Sound Editing. I'm as sick of this f--king movie as I am Joanna F--king Hill and Dane Cook! Enough! None of them are great. Shut the hell up about it. "Burn After Reading" was by far the best movie of the year so far...and "Benjamin Button" hasn't come out yet, so eat it you Batsh-t crazy ding-dongs.
 
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talknerdytome25
12:14AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Theres alot of films I wouldnt have awarded..such as the Departed. I didnt see the big deal. But I suppose drugs,guns,people getting shot in face,gang violence,good actors=automatic awards.
Theres alot of films I wouldnt have awarded..such as the Departed. I didnt see the big deal. But I suppose drugs,guns,people getting shot in face,gang violence,good actors=automatic awards.
 
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kdraines
12:02AM on 10/08/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
No way. There is no way...
... that "Saving Private Ryan" is better than "The Thin Red Line." Not in any universe.

Also, take that Best Picture award away from the abysmal "The Return of the King" an give it to "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" ASAP.

Best Picture 2005 needs to go either to "Munich" or to "Kingdom of Heaven" the director's cut.

"Training Day" i...
... that "Saving Private Ryan" is better than "The Thin Red Line." Not in any universe.

Also, take that Best Picture award away from the abysmal "The Return of the King" an give it to "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" ASAP.

Best Picture 2005 needs to go either to "Munich" or to "Kingdom of Heaven" the director's cut.

"Training Day" is a better movie than "A Beautiful Mind" any way you slice it. But my pick would be for "Hannibal" which is a much better film than the rather mundane "The Silence of the Lambs."

How "Traffic" lost to "Gladiator" I will never understand.

It's absolutely criminal that "American Beauty" beat out "The Insider."

"L.A. Confidential" kicks the ass of the bloated "Titanic."

The sheer audacity of Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" makes it deserve Best Picture over the bipolar "The English Patient."

Take the caveman, sausage-fest, melodrama "Braveheart" off that best picture mantel, take the cup off your tiny weiners, step up, be a man, and give "Sense and Sensibility" the award it deserved. And if you can't do that, at least give it to a manly movie that was actually good... "Heat."

Ditto "Little Women" or "Nobody's Fool" over "Forrest Fucking Gump." Or if you must give it to a movie that was nominated, give it to "Quiz Show." (All you "Pulp Fiction" fanatics can give it a rest).

As much as I'm not a fan of "Schindler's List" there wasn't a whole lotta competition that year. So even though "A Perfect World" was better, I'll allow Steven his little victory.

"The Silence of the Lambs" over "JFK"? Over "Grand Canyon"? Who was passing around the hash pipe that year? (How else do we explain the whole Marisa Tomei fiasco?)



And "The Dark Knight" can go away now.

And "Goodfellas" was a bore.
 
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drc5145
11:33PM on 10/07/2008 Add as a friend | MFC profile
Looking back, You can see it still wasn't a very good choice for the simple fact that it seems more people hold Saving Private Ryan in higher regard and still remember it well over Shakespeare In Love.

If I could re-write history though, I would have had Goodfellas over Dances With Wolves.

Also Costner over Scorsese in Directing that same year. I'm not hating on Co...
Looking back, You can see it still wasn't a very good choice for the simple fact that it seems more people hold Saving Private Ryan in higher regard and still remember it well over Shakespeare In Love.

If I could re-write history though, I would have had Goodfellas over Dances With Wolves.

Also Costner over Scorsese in Directing that same year. I'm not hating on Costner or his movie, DWW was really good...Just not nearly as good as Goodfellas.

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