And the Oscar goes to...(nominations released)

I don't think it's a weak year for films at all. It's just that the Academy, by expanding the Best Picture category from 5 to 10 in an attempt to include more "popular" films, has watered everything down. Under last year's criteria, you'd likely have Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglroious Basterds, Up in the Air, and either Precious or A Serious Man. Although I haven't seen Avatar -- can't yet bring myself to sit through three hours of blue cartoon people -- that's a damn fine field.

I'm rooting hard for The Hurt Locker. As much as I loved Basterds and as much as I could relate to Up in the Air, Hurt Locker was the only one that had me absolutely galvanized to the screen the whole time. Tremendous film.

 

I liked Hurt Locker and I thought it gave a good representation of what it's like in Iraq for some of our troops but it seemed like the characters were fairly one-dimensional.

Soldiers banter and bullshit all the time but since they didn't show hardly any down time, I felt like you didn't really get to know these guys.

So you are left with, "guys who want to do their jobs and go home" and "guy who likes the rush."

 

I, too, hated Up. While I did enjoy the opening scene/wife montage, it was all downhill from there. I took my kids to see it and we were bored almost to tears. The 3D was lacking too.

I've seen 6 of the 10 nominees. Still need to see Precious. I liked Up in the Air better than The Hurt Locker, but I think HL has a better shot at winning.

 

“Avatar” - I really have no interest in this movie.
“The Blind Side” - Looks like schmaltz.
“District 9” - Didn't do much for me.
“An Education” - Haven't seen it.
“The Hurt Locker” - In the Netflix queu.
“Inglourious Basterds” - Enjoyed it. Didn't think it was best-picture worthy.
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” - The inclusion of the novel and author in the title is silly. GF saw. I haven't
“A Serious Man” - Haven't seen it.
“Up” - Don't have kids. Don't usually watch cartoons.
“Up in the Air” - Haven't seen it.

 

Thanks for the insight, Buckster.

 

So going by Buck, the best picture award is vacated this year

 

It's all up to the Netflix queue.

 

Hmmmm... Interesting.

 

nice bill murray impression, buck. thanks for playing. 8)

 

2009 was a busy year. I didn't get to the movies as much as I usually do.

 

no explanations necessary. i don't get out to movie at all, so i'm a blank slate myself.

 

But even if he gets Hurt Locker in time, he might not like it or might think it's not best picture-worthy