A day I never thought I’d see has dawned. Not the return of another Oscars celebration, but an Oscars celebration in which I don’t care who wins. An Oscars celebration in which I have so little interest I have to make an effort just to finish this entry.I admit I had similar reservations back in 2005, but that changed once I got a chance to see the five Best Picture nominees. I realized then they were all excellent movies which truly deserved to be singled out for recognition. The same is not true this year. I’ve seen four of the five nominees and was underwhelmed by all of them. The front runner, Slumdog Millionaire, is a movie filled with torture, hardship, and gruesome violence redeemed only in its closing moments by a dance scene under the credits — a move which I strongly suspect is why it has engendered so much lasting goodwill. Benjamin Button might be filled with memorable imagery and have attractive leads, but I just can’t get past the creepy pædophilia inherent in its love story. The Reader had a very good story, but was so boring — despite all the nude scenes — I couldn’t help thinking it must have made for a better book.
With such lackluster offerings I can already guarantee the Academy will be whining tomorrow on how their ratings have reached their lowest. And in response, I already have three words for them: The, Dark, and Knight.
I admit I was late to The Dark Knight bandwagon, not seeing it in theaters, not seeing it till it came out on Blu-Ray. But it was such an obviously well-crafted, well-received, and well-reviewed entertainment that I assumed it would not only get a nomination but would surely win as Best Picture.
But not only did it get snubbed as Best Picture, it didn’t even get a Best Director nod. And, I may be in the minority, but I’m not that impressed with the one high-profile nomination it did get. Sure, Heath Ledger will win as the sentimental favorite, but his performance struck me as one long Paul Giamatti impersonation. The other sure thing at the Oscars, WALL-E, is also flawed, in my humble opinion, with a second half that comes as anti-climax to such a wondrous first half.
Which brings me to my main point. This is going to be one very disappointing Oscars, and that’s coming from someone to who usually loves to watch this show.
