(no subject)
Luck has again descended and preserved me: I was able to claim and answer a really easy question on the IPL. Now I've got a dreaded Javascript assignment to start tonight, but first I need to wrap up this year's Oscar season with a custom I started a year earlier than I originally intended, to make myself feel better because Brokeback Mountain had just lost to Crash:
This being a look back on the five nominees for best picture from 2002/2003, and how time has dealt with them.
Thought to be Locked for Winning Until About Five Minutes Before Best Picture Was Announced, Then Won Anyway: Chicago(also won Supporting Actress and four lesser awards)
Did it to deserve to win? Not to beat The Pianist, or even LOTR, but it really seemed pointless to protest at the time, especially since A Beautiful Mind hung over us as a remainder that worse films had won.
Remembered by anyone? Musical fans. Still trying to be heralded as the return of the movie musical, but susequent offerings leave it uncertain whether it'll have done any good(though Dreamgirls definitely is encouraging).
Make anyone's careers? Rob Marshall's, if his next movies are better than Memoirs of a Geisha. Arguably Catherine Zeta-Jones' as well.
The Supposed Fifth-Spotter Which May Have Come Very Close Indeed: The Pianist(won Director, Actor, and Screenplay)
Did it deserve to win? Yes. Especially in this selection. Which is probably the biggest reason it got as far as it did!
Remembered by anyone? On occasion; I have seen it talked about since.
Make anyone's careers? Adrien Brody's. Well, alongside his snogging Halle Berry, but he couldn't have done that if he hadn't won for this, so...restored Roman Polanski's reputation too. Sort of.
Locked for a DOA Nomination: The Hours(won Actress)
Did it deserve to win? Quite frankly, it was only because of the old Miramax machine that this thing even got nominated.
Remembered by anyone? Feminist/Virginia Woolf scholars, but their opinions on it are mixed at best.
Make anyone's careers? One can argue it worked with Chicago and Gangs of New York to boost John C. Reilly, but then he just about disappeared again, at least until last night, so ultimately, no.
Very Locked for a Very DOA Nomination: Gangs of New York(came out empty-handed)
Did it deserve to win? No, but it wasn't supposed to. It was supposed to get Marty his Oscar. Which it ultimately failed at, and he had to wait four more years.
Remembered by anyone? When watching the red carpet last night, I noticed when someone rattled off the list of films Marty had been nominated for, they left this one out! Noone wants to remember it, it seems.
Make anyone's careers? Came dangerously close to breaking Leo's, but he'd already endured worse.
Keeping a Spot Warm for the Franchise to Win the Following Year: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(won two lesser awards)
Did it deserve to win? Not as a much as the other two movies, but with this competition, I, for one, would *not* have complained.
Remembered by anyone? It's still Lord of the Rings. 'Nuff said.
Make anyone's careers? Andy Serkis'. And most of the other newcomers.
This being a look back on the five nominees for best picture from 2002/2003, and how time has dealt with them.
Thought to be Locked for Winning Until About Five Minutes Before Best Picture Was Announced, Then Won Anyway: Chicago(also won Supporting Actress and four lesser awards)
Did it to deserve to win? Not to beat The Pianist, or even LOTR, but it really seemed pointless to protest at the time, especially since A Beautiful Mind hung over us as a remainder that worse films had won.
Remembered by anyone? Musical fans. Still trying to be heralded as the return of the movie musical, but susequent offerings leave it uncertain whether it'll have done any good(though Dreamgirls definitely is encouraging).
Make anyone's careers? Rob Marshall's, if his next movies are better than Memoirs of a Geisha. Arguably Catherine Zeta-Jones' as well.
The Supposed Fifth-Spotter Which May Have Come Very Close Indeed: The Pianist(won Director, Actor, and Screenplay)
Did it deserve to win? Yes. Especially in this selection. Which is probably the biggest reason it got as far as it did!
Remembered by anyone? On occasion; I have seen it talked about since.
Make anyone's careers? Adrien Brody's. Well, alongside his snogging Halle Berry, but he couldn't have done that if he hadn't won for this, so...restored Roman Polanski's reputation too. Sort of.
Locked for a DOA Nomination: The Hours(won Actress)
Did it deserve to win? Quite frankly, it was only because of the old Miramax machine that this thing even got nominated.
Remembered by anyone? Feminist/Virginia Woolf scholars, but their opinions on it are mixed at best.
Make anyone's careers? One can argue it worked with Chicago and Gangs of New York to boost John C. Reilly, but then he just about disappeared again, at least until last night, so ultimately, no.
Very Locked for a Very DOA Nomination: Gangs of New York(came out empty-handed)
Did it deserve to win? No, but it wasn't supposed to. It was supposed to get Marty his Oscar. Which it ultimately failed at, and he had to wait four more years.
Remembered by anyone? When watching the red carpet last night, I noticed when someone rattled off the list of films Marty had been nominated for, they left this one out! Noone wants to remember it, it seems.
Make anyone's careers? Came dangerously close to breaking Leo's, but he'd already endured worse.
Keeping a Spot Warm for the Franchise to Win the Following Year: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers(won two lesser awards)
Did it deserve to win? Not as a much as the other two movies, but with this competition, I, for one, would *not* have complained.
Remembered by anyone? It's still Lord of the Rings. 'Nuff said.
Make anyone's careers? Andy Serkis'. And most of the other newcomers.