Congratulations to Batman v Superman

[Silver Nemesis]

[johnnygobbs]

Well, you should be even more amazed, Silver Nemesis. SS just won an Oscar, lol.

Maybe they should do a check, just to make sure the presenter didn't announce the wrong film.

No, seriously, I think this award is very well-deserved.  Killer Croc's makeup is particularly impressive.

[The Laughing Fish]

Here's a blogger's stance on SS winning some Oscar:

Source: http://www.theflitecast.com/blogdc/2017/2/27/what-suicide-squad-winning-an-oscar-really-means

On a separate note: Viola Davis aka Amanda Waller apparently made a pretentious quote at the ceremony today.

"I became an artist because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life."

f***ing hell. I wonder what do doctors, firefighters and even councillors have to say about that?

[johnnygobbs]

"I became an artist because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life."

f***ing hell. I wonder what do doctors, firefighters and even councillors have to say about that?

I'm getting fed up with the pomposity and self-regard of the Hollywood community.  It's clearly turning a lot of people off, myself included.

Still, Viola's quote is not as annoying and narcissistic as Kerry Washington's similar quote about acting, from a few months back: "Actors are activists because we embody the humanity and worth of all people." [eye roll]

Seriously, you'd think these performers were saving lives, rather than getting paid vast millions to prance about in front of cameras playing dress-up, like overgrown children.

[Silver Nemesis]

In all seriousness, fair deuce to Suicide Squad. The makeup was good. But I still find it laughable SS got an Oscar and Silence didn't. I'm not naive enough to think these awards are dispensed on a meritocratic basis – particularly with all the racial factors that have come into play in recent years – but I thought Silence was easily one of the best films of the year. And it offered a perfect opportunity for the Academy to dispel the rumours of racial bias. Shinya Tsukamoto and Issey Ogata were both deserving of best supporting actor nominations IMO. But there you have it. Last year it was Stallone that got shafted. This year it was Scorsese (and not for the first time).

I've come to realise there are three basic functions of the Academy Awards:

1)   They improve the value of a filmmaker's currency within the industry and increase the likelihood of them getting more work.

2)   They're useful in overseas marketing. Audiences in foreign language territories are unlikely to be familiar with Leonard Maltin, Richard Roeper or Mark Kermode, so critical endorsements won't mean much to them. But they will recognise the Oscar symbol on a poster. In that sense, the Oscars can be a powerful marketing tool.

3)   They're a decadent bourgeois circlejerk for the industry to pat itself on the back and virtue signal; with self-deluding entertainers labouring under the misapprehension they hold some kind of moral authority over the rest of us, or that they possess some unique insight into the human condition that simply must be expressed. That way they can feel good about themselves as they drive home to their 5,000 sq ft mansions in their stretch limousines with their $208.5k goodie bags.

In light of that last point, I think the following clip is more relevant than ever.

For the record, I don't begrudge anyone exercising the right to express their political views. But these people need to get some perspective. They're entertainers. Yes, they're artists too. But that doesn't make them any better informed on political subjects than anyone else. And to those actors who think they're changing the world by regurgitating platitudes to an echo chamber filled with people who they already know agree with them – get real.

Apparently Michael Keaton was talking to Al Pacino and John Travolta in a restaurant earlier this year when he was overhead to say "Enough with the Hollywood B.S." At this point, I think 99% of the public agree with that sentiment.

[The Dark Knight]

You really love Bill Murray. 

And good posts in here about the out of touch Hollyweird crowd. Spot on.

[johnnygobbs]

In all seriousness, fair deuce to Suicide Squad. The makeup was good. But I still find it laughable SS got an Oscar and Silence didn't. I'm not naive enough to think these awards are dispensed on a meritocratic basis – particularly with all the racial factors that have come into play in recent years – but I thought Silence was easily one of the best films of the year. And it offered a perfect opportunity for the Academy to dispel the rumours of racial bias. Shinya Tsukamoto and Issey Ogata were both deserving of best supporting actor nominations IMO. But there you have it. Last year it was Stallone that got shafted. This year it was Scorsese (and not for the first time).

As much as I really love Moonlight and La La Land, I've also got to say that of all the 2016 theatrical releases I've so far seen, Silence is currently my #1 favourite (of course, it was barely nominated for any Academy Awards, certainly not in any of the major categories, possibly because of the religious subject matter, possibly because it isn't an easy film but an occasionally gruelling one, albeit not as gruelling as some critics have suggested, with various scenes of torture).

Still, I spoke to many people on the IMDb about Silence, before the boards were shut down, and there appears to be a lot of love among genuine film aficionados for it, even above the various films nominated for Best Picture this year.  I have the feeling that in years to come Silence will be regarded as a classic piece of cinema, irrespective of its lack of awards recognition.

And with respect to the Hollywood bubble, you're 100% spot-on Silver Nemesis.

[The Laughing Fish]

The smug, self-righteousness by Hollywood can also be said of the majority of film critics. Spare us your sanctimonious and condescending preaching, you hypocritical deadbeats.

Finally, considering that the Oscars and Razzies have made lots of questionable decisions in the past (i.e. giving that awful Juno an award for Best Screenplay, and nominating Kubrick for Worst Director for The Shining as I mentioned earlier), there is a good reason why a lot of people don't hold stock in what these awards say. Another example: The Departed may have been Scorsese's only film to win Best Picture, but it's nowhere near his best compared to Goodfellas, Taxi Driver or even Casino.

Screw 'em, I say. They're not a true measure when it comes to artistic quality.

By the way, I saw some Marvel fanboys whining over Suicide Squad getting an Oscar for makeup, even claiming there is a conspiracy against the MCU for getting accolades. First: What utter fools, and second: who cares?!

[Azrael]

The smug, self-righteousness by Hollywood can also be said of the majority of film critics. Spare us your sanctimonious and condescending preaching, you hypocritical deadbeats.

Finally, considering that the Oscars and Razzies have made lots of questionable decisions in the past (i.e. giving that awful Juno an award for Best Screenplay, and nominating Kubrick for Worst Director for The Shining as I mentioned earlier), there is a good reason why a lot of people don't hold stock in what these awards say. Another example: The Departed may have been Scorsese's only film to win Best Picture, but it's nowhere near his best compared to Goodfellas, Taxi Driver or even Casino.

Screw 'em, I say. They're not a true measure when it comes to artistic quality.

By the way, I saw some Marvel fanboys whining over Suicide Squad getting an Oscar for makeup, even claiming there is a conspiracy against the MCU for getting accolades. First: What utter fools, and second: who cares?!

Maybe one can understand people who work in the business - awards are seen as an achievement, they open doors etc. What I can't understand is the fans. As a Game of Thrones fan I often browse related sites and communities - most of them, at least those more active in the comments, make such a big deal of the Emmys. It's as if being a fan of something that won awards makes you better. The Wire never won an Emmy.

[johnnygobbs]

Maybe one can understand people who work in the business - awards are seen as an achievement, they open doors etc.

I don't buy this.  As far as I can tell, most of the people in the business got there through having the right connections.  Look at the likes of Joss Whedon and George Clooney and Angelina Jolie.  Their families were all in show-business and/or the media.

Sure, they might occasionally throw a bone or two now and again to say a black actor/actress from relative obscurity, in order to present the façade that their industry is all about diversity and fairness, but it's BS, and most people with two eyes and a brain can see that.

Awards don't open doors, because one has to have got through a few doors in order to be in contention for these awards in the very first place.