Sunday, March 7, 2010

ON MOVIES ~ Golden Boy...

Feature Presentation...
MONDAY MOVIE MEME


Molly looked around for a weekly meme about movies and did not have any luck. So therefore she decided to start her own! Andy will play along as well - hopefully you will too. Go to your blog and create your own post on the topic, linking back to us in your post, then come back and leave a link to your post here in our Comments section. If you don’t have a blog, just share your response in the Comments section.

This week's movie topic is all about Oscar...

For movie lovers, Oscar night is like the Super Bowl. I watch it every year - even though much of the time we haven't seen any of the nominated films and performances. I like to see the speeches - especially those moments of spontaneity that exude sincerity (Adrien Brody's smooch of Halle Berry). And it also introduces me to films I hadn't heard of before that look interesting. But I generally feel that the entire concept of Oscar has become overrated. He just doesn't carry as much weight as he used to.

If a film is nominated for or a winner of Oscars, it will draw my attention to it. I have a collection on VHS of all the Best Picture winners until the world of DVD's came into existence. But I don't overlook movies because they weren't "winners" or nominees. The best ones don't always come out on top ("To Kill A Mockingbird") - and then there are times when the Academy realizes past mistakes and doles them out at the wrong time to make up for it (Al Pacino for "Scent of a Woman"). So I don't put a lot of credence into them.

Oscar doesn't like comedies in general ("Annie Hall" an exception - to the chagrin of Star Wars). But it loves epics ("Lawrence of Arabia") and true stories ("A Beautiful Mind"). It likes to try to be daring with taboo topics to make itself look trendy and brave ("Brokeback Mountain"). And sometimes, to prove Oscar right, they like to dole out honors to previous winners as if to convince us of greatness that might not truly be there (James Cameron perhaps?).

But I think in general, Oscar is pretty damn full of himself, telling the rest of the world what's good and what's not quite so good. So I watch it with a grain of salt, hoping for entertaining hosts (Billy Crystal) and those few impromptu jewels of acceptance speeches (Cuba Gooding, Jr.). To revel in those unintentional comedic moments ("It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" was performed and won Original Song). And of course to see what everyone is wearing. And every now and then to discover a gem to add to our never-ending Netflix queue - whether Oscar deemed it the "best" or not.

Share on your blog your thoughts about Oscar, linking back here at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!

Do you have a topic to suggest to the Monday Movie Meme? Leave it in the Comments section or send us an e-mail.

14 comments:

Chris said...

my thoughts about the Oscars is posted!

Sandy Nawrot said...

My thoughts are posted as well. No lists today, just deep thinking! Also BTW I am too lazy to link this properly, so here is the long form:

http://sandynawrot.blogspot.com/2010/03/monday-movie-meme-golden-boy.html

Beth F said...

I like to watch -- or rather I like to have the TV on and glance up when they announce the winner. What the heck.

Susan said...

I always watch and love every moment...well, almost. I thought Steve and Alec were hilarious...almost as good as Billy Crystal. I only saw one of the nominated movies--Up in the Air. And I saw Julie & Julia. I loved that Jeff Bridges won. It's about time.

I think all of the things you said were accurate and I doubt I could add anything to that list. For all the faults, there still is a lot of magic in it and that's why I love watching.

Anonymous said...

Love the Oscars and I mad it through all 4 hours last night. Of course, War & Peace was in my lap :)
http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/monday-movie-meme-the-oscars/

Cerrin said...

See now I adore movies. But I never watch the Oscars. I just never agreed with the pick's Heck most of what the experts say is the best I dont care for.

Janet said...

While I loved Pacino in Scent of a Woman, I still feel Denzel should've won for Malcolm X.

kayerj said...

I never watch the oscars, but I went to wikipedia to see what movies I'd seen that had won oscars. I'd seen quite a few. The only thing I know about "presenters" is what I've heard David Letterman joke about on his show. Have a nice Monday everybody--make it a "winner"

Kaye—the road goes ever ever on

Heather G. said...

Great subject! I don't really watch the Oscars anymore either...too much and plus I don't have cable so that doesn't help either. But here are my thoughts on when I did watch them!

http://gofita.blogspot.com/2010/03/monday-movie-meme-alice-in-wonderland.html

The Gal Herself said...

I limited my post to last night's show, but my previous favorite Oscar moment was hearing Streisand announce, "And the winner is ... Eminem." Streisand and Eminem are not two artists I ever expected to appear in the same sentence. And yes, I adored Cuba Gooding's acceptance speech, too.

Lulu said...

My entry for this week is up now.

Penny said...

haha Oscar is like my superbowl as well. I try to get/rent/view all of the best picture movies prior. I did pretty well this year, with the exception of precious.

Excited Hurt Locker won and also yay for the first lady director :)

Forgetfulone said...

I "rated" the Oscars on my blog. I hadn't planned to watch, but I got sucked in! http://forgetfulone.blogspot.com/2010/03/rate-oscars.html

soleil said...

I don't really get excited about the oscars. i guess most of the movies oscar doesn't care about. although, i do have some favorite oscar moments (reese witherspoon's win and speech). however, i do love to look at the magazines with all the pretty oscar dresses.