Sunday, February 22, 2009

Do I Still Believe In The Oscars?

This is my view about the whole thing with the Dark Knight and the Oscars.



The Academy Awards have been somewhat of a worshiping grounds for certain kinds of moviegoers in search for "Oscar" worthy (which means great) films. Even for a movie geek like me, I tend to see winners or even nominees of the Academy as worthy of a great films in terms of story, performances and presentation. I wouldn't go as my life would be based on the Academy, but I did believe the Academy was the goal for every directors and actors to make great films. However my belief in the Academy was changed by one huge testament that would ultimately prove their credibility in announcing the best in cinematic history.

The one subject: The Dark Knight



I will be brutally honest about my experience when I first saw the Dark Knight in the theaters because I can still remember everything that day. I was awestruck, very emotional, intensified and simply blown away. I couldn't think of any powerful experience that is close to The Dark Knight. I was just so freakin awesome! As we all expected to be a possibly great summer movie, we were given something more than that. We believed that it would have a chance for Oscars, especially up the top for best picture. Then that day came to bring out the nominees and... it change everything.

Not only me but say millions around the world reacted to the decisions of the Oscars and I would say its perfectly natural. Who wouldn't get this so upset if something you're rooting for, something you're putting your whole heart on, didn't make it. What happened if your favorite team in any team didn't win the finals? You would get sooooo upset. Me, I kept on saying the F word 3 days and punching 8 holes on the wall. Thats true, except for the wall punching. It told me something. That I have never cared about who wins for the best movie of the year because I always looked up to the Oscars in their blessed knowledge of top quality movies. Then came The Dark Knight, a film I was damn sure it will be nominated and yet the Academy doesn't recognized it. A film that in my belief is an example of great film-making, did not make in the nomination of the Oscars. If the Academy doesn't recognize it, does it mean its not "Oscar" quality? Then why would that be the Academy's "opinion" for the Dark Knight not to be in the running for best film of 2008? Why is it my opinion that the Dark Knight has a chance in getting best picture? Is it really the best film of 2008? Well it all comes down to one tiny thing that everybody love and hate:

Opinions.

Because everybody has their take in what makes a good movie, its just not gonna stop you from finding good movies and it shows that the Oscar isn't really the biggest mark above the screen indicating good shit. Thus leading to marking that night as the night I stopped believing in the Oscars. Not a big loss.



Actually there were alot of decisions by the Academy that made me questioned their integrity throughout the years. As much as I love Forest Gump, it was really Pulp Fiction's year in 1993. But then again that's my opinion. Does the majority find Pulp Fiction a better work of art than Forest Gump? No, some people think the other way and I do see great film-making in the other film. Will I still argue which of the two films are better than each other? Yes, because I'm an annoying film geek who loves to debate on anything. The fact of people give out opinions is a love/hate thing and as everyone nowadays are basing their lives on technology especially the Internet, everyone will share their opinion. One recent thing that I did is I watched the fat guy "preaching" about Watchmen. Even an ordinary guy like him can have a say to everyone around the world, even in the most outrageous form. Thus I can give my opinion about him, saying that he's totally NUTS!.



Now people have opinions on the Dark Knight and they have said that it really doesn't deserved to be nominated. Well just like what this post said, I'm gonna share you why it TOTALLY deserves to even get nominated, not so much to win. As I said in my review, the greatest thing about this movie is that it shows evidence that any source, especially from a comic book, can be properly crafted into a greatly-made work of art and how this film evolved from just an ordinary comic book film. And when other comic book films usually rely on big special effects and action, the biggest element that The Dark Knight possess are the character performance, their development within the story and many of the mature and heavy issues that goes on in the story. The characters in this were so unforgettable and magnificent and we were given fantastic performances from the cast. As much as Heath Ledger stole the show, every cast, major and minor were amazing. I can also talk about the phenomenon of this film as it is the first time moviegoers witness an "Oscar-Worthy" comic book film in terms of film-making and character performance. Not to mention how much money it just cashed in, theorizing that a good movie can still make more than your average bad movie.



Despite The Dark Knight's absence in the Best Picture category, people will still tuned in if Heath Ledger will win. As much as I want to see him read his name out as the winner, I go "What's the point?". He already won. He already proven himself to be a formidable actor and he is now immortal among everybody as the best Joker ever portrayed, a legacy anyone wants to die in pride. And if he doesn't get the naked gold statue, well there's gonna be hell to pay. That said, is the Oscars that credible? Its a maybe, I mean look at Cuba Gooding Jr. and whats he doing? Do I need to follow the Oscars? No, and I stopped believing in it. Are there other reliable and credible source of top quality movie? Yeah, especially close to my demography. Its not a loss cause and I don't think it will greatly effect on my views on movies, but hey thats my opinion..


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