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Jeff Bridges in True Grit: Why did the Oscars snub a movie

recognized as being in the great tradition of American film?

 

Cinematório, Brazil

Oscar Turns its Back on American Film

 

"The Academy sent American cinema to the gallows at the 83rd Academy Awards. Amongst the ten major nominees, we can name at least two that aren't only great, but are genuinely representative of American film: True Grit, and The Social Network. ... True Grit leaves as a greatest victim of injustice, with its pockets empty."

 

By Renato Silveira

 

Translated By Cristiane Teston

 

February 28, 2011

 

Brazil - Cinematório - Original Article (Portuguese)

Colin Firth holds his first Academy Award: Did Jeff Bridges ever have a chance?

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Colin Firth and Tom Hooper on Oscar wins, Feb. 28, 00:00:29RealVideo

The Academy sent American cinema to the gallows at the 83rd Academy Awards. Amongst the ten major nominees, we can name at least two that aren't only great, but are genuinely representative of American film: True Grit, an old-fashioned Western, practically a homage to the most American of genres, and The Social Network, which is on a very current topic and deconstructs the protagonist of a typical American story. And they were films directed by exponents of a generation of American filmmakers: David Fincher and brothers Joel and Ethan Coen.

 

But the Academy decided to pass over Fincher and the Coen brothers and awarded The King’s Speech, an English film that only deserved the Best Actor Oscar for Colin Firth - about a chapter in British history clumsily directed by a distinguished unknown, Tom Hooper. The Oscars, which are always considered the grand celebration of American Cinema, opted to work the political field once again. When Steven Spielberg took the stage to announce the winner [watch below], he seems to have anticipated (on his own or following the teleprompter, I'm not sure) the need to excuse the losers. "Either way, congratulations. You're in really good company ..." He knows this, because he lost to Shakespeare in Love in 1999 [His Saving Private Ryan was nominated]. On both occasions, Harvey Weinstein was in the audience and burst out laughing. The video that preceded the delivery of the award was the perfect elegy, since Firth's character gave his speech at the end of the film (by the way, virtually all of the finales of the nominated films were shown - damn the spoilers!), beginning with "in this grave hour ..."

 

 

Further proof that the Academy had snubbed the quality of movies made at home: Francis Ford Coppola was honored with what is called Career Achievement Award, but the director of Apocalypse Now, The Godfather and The Conversation was put in the back of the audience at the Kodak Theater. Even worse, he wasn't given the chance to give a speech when he appeared on stage alongside Eli Wallach and Kevin Brownlow, who were also honored (Jean-Luc Godard didn't waste his time and preferred to stay home). Their live living presence gave a little more emphasis to the tribute, which last year came down to a clip of the dinner for the honor. But it ended up sounding disrespectful anyway.

 

The ceremony itself was more dynamic than in recent years, with performances higher than expected from presenters James Franco and Anne Hathaway (in particular, she had much more presence of mind than her stage partner, and could have easily done the job alone). The opening clip à la Billy Crystal (who returned to the Oscar for a mini stand-up [watch video below]) was very well done and written. But the music video, even if it was funny, seemed more suited for the MTV Movie Awards (it was even entitled Twilight). And the end with children's choir, despite it being a bit tacky, was nice, especially with the coming together of all the winners. The idea was good; but the cast is what might have been better. But hey, Natalie Portman won. This alone would have made the night worthwhile.   

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

Delito de Opinião, Portugal: 2011 Oscars: When Film Fell Short of Reality

Vedomosti, Russia: Avatar's Appeal: We've Been Bad, But Want to Be Good

De Standaard, Belgium: What Does Avatar Mean to You?

Die Welt, Germany: Tom Cruise's Valkyrie: 'Intimidated By History'

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany: Valkyrie Not Your 'Typical Hollywood Tale'

Le Monde, France: Oscar for Best Foreign Film Should Be Scrapped

 

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Waste Land didn't win anything, which was fair. All the hype here in Brazil created around the film was because the mainstream media loves this sort of thing, but it was expected that Inside Job would win. After all, since the Bush era, the documentary category has become an Oscar’s political moment. A film about a financial crisis that has rocked the United States had to have been the pick of the moment.

 

Final score: The King’s Speech won four Academy Awards, ties with Inception (which in my opinion, only deserved the award for visual effects and perhaps, best original screenplay). True Grit leaves as the greatest victim of injustice, with its pockets empty.

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US March 3, 6:08pm]

 







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