Academy Awards

[Tino3]

So what did you think about the Academy Awards? I didn't see No Country for Old Men but saw There Will Be Blood and Daniel Day Lewis' performance was puzzling to me (and others in the theater came out shaking their heads, too). Interesting but not sure about best actor. I enjoyed Jon Stewart this time but I like his Comedy Central stuff, too.

[Modica]

If you could tell me who is better than Daniel Day Lewis, please tell me. He was so excellent in There will be Blood. This movie should have won best picture because it is a magnificent work of art. I liked No Country for Old Men, but There will be Blood is going to be considered a classic someday. I know that this movie is not for everyone. It is dark, brooding and told in a very unconventional way. If you just let the movie wash over you instead of trying to figure out its structure and all the character motivations, then you will enjoy it much more. The problem that moviegoers have today is that most movies rely too much on special effects and stock characters. When we see an old fashioned movie like this, many people feel unstable and confused. Yes, the film has an ethereal quality to it, but that is what I love about it. Americans have become very lazy when it comes to the viewing of films. We want to be guided through the movie instead of trying to use our own skills to make judgements about it. I guess the fact that we don't read as much as we once did, but instead sit and watch hours of reality television is a cause of such lazy viewing habits. The fact is I would certainly respect someone who did not like it, but only if they could give me some intelligent reasons for their displeasure with the movie. I have disagreements with many people about movies, and really enjoy discussing movies with others, but just saying a movie is "boring" or "incomprehensible" doesn't make it so without something to back up your assertions.

[BillCarson436]

Hello...

I didn't watch the Oacars for the first time in many years ( as did
a record ammount of viewers judging by the ratings )

I'd prefer to watch the People's Choice Awards based on who is doing
the voting, not who has the best P. R. firm selling it's product.

[Modica]

I agree that there is alot of politics with the Oscars, but let's face it, the movies this year were some of the greatest in many years. Just because the masses don't like these films doesn't make them bad. The Peoples Choice are usually bad choices, I mean, are we to take what overly medicated, cynical Americans have to say about anything artistic in nature. We don't read anymore and watch too much reality television and one American Idol rip-off after another. Great art and great artists are usually not embraced by the masses until many years later, and we need to continue to make great art regardless of what the Nielsons ratings say.

[Tino3]

Modica, You are really passionate about movies. I enjoy all kinds of movies for different reasons. I understand that many people felt the same as you about There Will Be Blood. It's just not my kind of movie although I can appreciate your views. Were the preacher and the boy supposed to be the same person? Was D. Day-Lewis representing the devil (the fire scene)? As I talked to other people who saw it, it did inspire some good conversation. I think I would like to read the book.

[Modica]

I am very passionate about movies. Now Eli and Paul are not the same person. I know that many people are confused about this, but they are separate people. The first half of the movie is based on a novel called "Oil" by Upton Sinclair, but the second half goes in a completely different direction. Now, I don't think that Daniel was a devil, but he was a very competitive person. In fact if you remember, Daniel could not accept H.W. going out on his own, because now H.W. was his competition. The only way Daniel could deal with this was to tell H.W. that he was not really his son. Very cruel,yes, but it was the only way that Daniel could deal with H.W. I liked the movies this year, and wish that more people would give them a chance, because I think that There will be Blood and No Country For Old Men will be considered classics many years from now. Many of the classic movies from many years ago were not big box office hits; such as The Wizard of Oz and It's a Wonderful Life, but now they are watched over and over again and will live on for generations. Let's be thankful that we still have visionaries who go against the grain, and give us the gift of art, creativity and imagination. Where would we be if it weren't for the dreamers who put their ideas into something tangible that if beneficial to all in our society. Art can transform a community and give power to us all as long as we are accepting of the gift.

[Tino3]

That's right! He wrote "The Jungle". Thanks for the recommendation. Now I will have to see No Country. I was hesitant because of the violence but will try to look beyond that. Thanks.

[Modica]

No Country for Old Men is violent, so if you really don't like violence I would not suggest you go, but you did see There Will be Blood, and the end of that movie has a violent scene that even bothered me. If that scene did not bother you, then nothing in No Country for old Men will be that disturbing.