The Oscars: Where Art Meets Commerce, and Sanity Takes a Backseat
Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gathers to honor the best in filmmaking. The ceremony is a spectacle, with A-list celebrities, elaborate costumes, and an air of prestige that's hard to resist. However, beneath the glamour lies a complex web of contradictions.
On one hand, the Oscars celebrate films that have massive marketing budgets, often at the expense of artistic merit. On the other hand, fans like myself obsess over predicting nominations and winners for weeks leading up to the big night. It's as if our brains are giant old warehouses full of contradictions – we love the Oscars and hate them simultaneously.
This year's nominees offer a mixed bag of great films and egregious snubs. Take Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice," a dark comedy that had all the makings of a Best Picture contender, except for one glaring omission: it didn't receive any nominations. How could this be? The film is a masterclass in suspense and tone, with Lee Byung Hun delivering a career-best performance.
Another snub that still rankles is the failure to recognize William H. Macy's incredible supporting turn in "Train Dreams" or Felicity Jones' nuanced performance in the same film. What about Jafar Panahi's direction of "It Was Just an Accident"? Or Paul Mescal's powerful portrayal of Hamnet? These are films that deserve recognition, but the Academy seems to have missed the mark.
On the other hand, there are some genuine surprises among this year's nominees. Ethan Hawke's performance in "Blue Moon" is a standout, bringing depth and nuance to a film that could easily have been a sentimental cliché. The cinematography in "Train Dreams" is stunning, capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with poetic precision.
Of course, no discussion of the Oscars would be complete without mentioning the behemoth that is Timothée Chalamet's career. His latest outing, "Marty Supreme," is a film that will grow on you over time, but it's not exactly an easy watch – its anxiety-inducing intensity can be overwhelming.
As I bemoan the snubs and predict which films are likely to win (and which shouldn't), I'm reminded of why I love celebrating movies in the first place. Making a film is a minor miracle, a feat that requires creativity, perseverance, and collaboration. When we watch these movies, we're experiencing something ephemeral and rare – a piece of forever that we'll cherish long after it's over.
So as the Oscars approach, I'll be watching some of these films with an open mind, if not always an open heart. There's "Sinners," which has been astonishingly recognized by the Academy for its fantastical world-building and score. And then there's "One Battle After Another," a film that showcases Benicio del Toro and Teyona Taylor's effortless charisma.
Ultimately, whether we love or hate the Oscars, one thing is clear: these movies will last long after the ceremony is over. They're a testament to the power of art to transcend time and touch our hearts in ways both big and small.
Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gathers to honor the best in filmmaking. The ceremony is a spectacle, with A-list celebrities, elaborate costumes, and an air of prestige that's hard to resist. However, beneath the glamour lies a complex web of contradictions.
On one hand, the Oscars celebrate films that have massive marketing budgets, often at the expense of artistic merit. On the other hand, fans like myself obsess over predicting nominations and winners for weeks leading up to the big night. It's as if our brains are giant old warehouses full of contradictions – we love the Oscars and hate them simultaneously.
This year's nominees offer a mixed bag of great films and egregious snubs. Take Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice," a dark comedy that had all the makings of a Best Picture contender, except for one glaring omission: it didn't receive any nominations. How could this be? The film is a masterclass in suspense and tone, with Lee Byung Hun delivering a career-best performance.
Another snub that still rankles is the failure to recognize William H. Macy's incredible supporting turn in "Train Dreams" or Felicity Jones' nuanced performance in the same film. What about Jafar Panahi's direction of "It Was Just an Accident"? Or Paul Mescal's powerful portrayal of Hamnet? These are films that deserve recognition, but the Academy seems to have missed the mark.
On the other hand, there are some genuine surprises among this year's nominees. Ethan Hawke's performance in "Blue Moon" is a standout, bringing depth and nuance to a film that could easily have been a sentimental cliché. The cinematography in "Train Dreams" is stunning, capturing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with poetic precision.
Of course, no discussion of the Oscars would be complete without mentioning the behemoth that is Timothée Chalamet's career. His latest outing, "Marty Supreme," is a film that will grow on you over time, but it's not exactly an easy watch – its anxiety-inducing intensity can be overwhelming.
As I bemoan the snubs and predict which films are likely to win (and which shouldn't), I'm reminded of why I love celebrating movies in the first place. Making a film is a minor miracle, a feat that requires creativity, perseverance, and collaboration. When we watch these movies, we're experiencing something ephemeral and rare – a piece of forever that we'll cherish long after it's over.
So as the Oscars approach, I'll be watching some of these films with an open mind, if not always an open heart. There's "Sinners," which has been astonishingly recognized by the Academy for its fantastical world-building and score. And then there's "One Battle After Another," a film that showcases Benicio del Toro and Teyona Taylor's effortless charisma.
Ultimately, whether we love or hate the Oscars, one thing is clear: these movies will last long after the ceremony is over. They're a testament to the power of art to transcend time and touch our hearts in ways both big and small.
I feel like the Oscars are getting more and more commercialized every year, but at the same time, it's still super exciting to see all the talented actors and filmmakers get recognized 
. Some of this year's nominees are literally masterpieces, like "No Other Choice" which should've gotten way more love 
. And can we talk about how snubbed some of the smaller films are? Like, I'm so glad they're still pushing for more visibility for independent films 
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He's like a master of his craft, bringing so much depth to that film. And Timothée Chalamet... well, let's just say he's an actor who grows on you, even if it's not always easy 
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. We're witnessing something truly special when we watch these films – a fleeting glimpse into another world that will stay with us forever 
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anyway, i think academy's just playing it safe this year, you know, the usual suspects getting nominated over some hidden gems. felicity jones in "train dreams"? more like 'train to obscurity' 
jafar panahi's direction? please, have u seen his other films? not saying its not a good film but come on... and paul mescal's hamnet? i love him but that film is just another indie drama 
timothée chalamet's 'marty supreme'? more like 'marty to the masses' lol anyway, gotta give it up for benicio del toro and teyona taylor in "one battle after another" 
The Oscars are like the cinematic equivalent of a timeshare presentation - all glitz and glamour on the surface, but beneath that lies some seriously weird decisions 
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. It's like trying to predict the stock market, but with fewer billion dollar deals 
. And then there's Timothée Chalamet's "Marty Supreme" - because what's a little anxiety-inducing intensity when you're already going through puberty at 25? 
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. So even if I don't like some of the decisions made by the Oscars, I'll still be cheering on my favorite films and actors 
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. I'm surprised the Academy didn't recognize Jafar Panahi for his direction too... that film had all the makings of a Best Picture contender, imo 
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. Even when we have our doubts or frustrations with the ceremony, at the end of the day it's all about celebrating movies that matter 
I mean, what's up with the Oscars being so extra?! 
It feels like the more money you spend on marketing your movie, the more likely it is to get snubbed for actual artistry 
. The snubs are just, like, no 
. And who's with me on loving Ethan Hawke in "Blue Moon"? His performance is so nuanced and captivating 
. Whether it's "Sinners" or "One Battle After Another", they're truly special because of their artistry, not just for the recognition they get 
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. AND WHAT ABOUT WILLIAM H. MACY IN "TRAIN DREAMS"? HE GAVE IT HIS ALL AND DESERVED SO MUCH MORE! 
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. AND LET'S BE REAL, SOME OF THOSE MOVIES ARE JUST GOING TO BE AHEAD OF THEIR TIME 
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. But at the same time, I kinda love how hyped everyone gets for the Oscars... like, we're all secretly obsessed with 'em 
? It's weirdly weird 
, like Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice" which is literally a masterclass in suspense and tone... but nope, didn't get any love 
. It's just so frustrating when you think about all the amazing movies out there that don't even get a sniff from the Academy 
. And on top of that, Timothée Chalamet is basically the poster child for overhyped actors 
. Can we just skip the Oscars and go straight to the part where people actually talk about the real art?
i mean, ethan hawke in "Blue Moon" tho, that guy's a genius 
Even if some films might not win awards, it doesn't mean they're not worth watching - there's always something new to discover. So here I'll stay, cheering on my favorite films and dreaming up which ones will make it big at the Oscars... 
. And what about the cinematography in "Train Dreams"? That's some next-level filmmaking right there 
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they wanna be fancy but also kinda commercialize art u feel? like i love watching the ceremony and predicting who's gonna win, but at the same time i get annoyed when they snub some amazing films 
. On one hand, I love how they showcase some amazing films that you can barely get through theaters during the year, but then you gotta deal with all the overhyped stuff too 
. But at the same time, there are some genuine surprises this year that have my attention, like Ethan Hawke's performance in "Blue Moon". That guy can do no wrong, and his energy in that film is infectious 
. I love how movies can transcend time and touch our hearts in ways that nothing else can 
. On one hand, you've got these massive budget films that are more about spectacle than substance, but on the other hand, you've also got fans like me who are just obsessively waiting for those perfect nominations and wins.
. Ethan Hawke's performance in "Blue Moon" is just wow, bringing so much depth and nuance to a film that could have easily been cheesy. And Jafar Panahi's direction of "It Was Just an Accident"? That's some masterful storytelling right there.
. Even with all the hype and snubs, it's still amazing to think about how each film has its own unique story to tell - some we'll cherish forever, while others might just be a passing fancy.