Slumdog Millionaire…

[Anonymous]

Manages to scoop eight Academy Awards. Also Kate Winslet wins Best Actress for her part in The Reader. All in all a very successful year for the Brits.

Did anyone actually watch it? I was at work.

Topic

[Mr Flibble]

It wasn’t best film of the year.

I didn’t watch it, I was in bed.

[Seb Patrick]

Disappointed to see WALL-E only get its “token” award – it should have got one of the “proper” ones as well, probably one of the sound awards.

[TheLeen]

I woke up at 3 am and couldn’t get back to sleep, so around 3:45 I decided I could just as well be watching Oscars, and turned the telly on just in time for “supporting actor”. That’s my wicked perfect timing.

Now it’s Monday morning and I’ve slept a total of 3 hours, which is shit.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t seen it’s direct competitors yet (2008 was a poor year for me going to the movies) so I can’t comment on whether it merited Best Picture or not. I personally thought Slumdog got across certain aspects of India very well and it was interesting to compare it to some of the indigenous Bollywood movies I’ve seen.

[Tarka Dal]

I didn’t watch the Oscars despite being awake most of the night. Glad to see the Brits do so well. Slumdog was a pretty enjoyable film. I’m not sure it was the best thing I saw last year. I genuinely think TDK had a good case.

[si]

Last movie I went to see was Burn After Reading, I think. Either that or How to Lose Friends…, whichever was released last of the two.

[Mr Flibble]

Disappointed to see WALL-E only get its ?token? award – it should have got one of the ?proper? ones as well, probably one of the sound awards.

But that sort of thing never happens at the Oscars, does it? Like Dark Knight – easily a much better film and more worthy of writing, directing and best film awards than Slumdog. But it’s a comic book film, therefore it’s crap.

JOOI, when was the last time a comedy won a film award? They’re often nominated, Juno won screenplay last year (when that was easily the worst thing about it) but when did one last win Film or Director?

[Seb Patrick]

… or actor, come to that. Carrey should have had three, by now.

[Anonymous]

“JOOI, when was the last time a comedy won a film award? They?re often nominated, Juno won screenplay last year (when that was easily the worst thing about it) but when did one last win Film or Director?”

Best picture 1999 – Shakespeare in Love, followed by American Beauty in 2000. So it has been quite a while.

I must get out and watch TDK or grab it on rental. Lots of folks I know really rate this movie.

In response to Seb, I don’t know about three but how on Earth he wasn’t even nominated, let alone not a winner, for The Trueman Show is totally beyond me.

[Anonymous]

“Slumdog was a pretty enjoyable film. I?m not sure it was the best thing I saw last year.”

I think it’s a sound movie, not mind blowing, but probably the most original movie I’ve seen for a while (not the plot of course, but the execution). The Academy obviously lapped it up. I thought it would do well, especially after such a strong showing at the BAFTAs but I was surprised to see it win so many Oscars.

After such international success and featuring Indian actors, issues and locations, it’ll be interesting to see if there is some change in attitude to it here.

[Seb Patrick]

In response to Seb, I don?t know about three but how on Earth he wasn?t even nominated, let alone not a winner, for The Trueman Show is totally beyond me.

Truman Show is his best film (I would say that, it’s pretty much my favourite film of all time), but his performance was better in Man on the Moon. And having failed to even be nominated for either of those two, he really should have got a nom for Eternal Sunshine, especially when Winslet was.

[JamesTC]

>Now it?s Monday morning and I?ve slept a total of 3 hours, which is shit.

Me too, I was up till 2 and then I thought “Right, time to really get some sleep, I am up in five hours” so I slapped on the Adam and Joe podcast but it was too funny to go to sleep, that was an hour, I then put on one of the Dwarf audio books which was another hour before I went to sleep, 2 hours and 50 minutes sleep, when I woke up I felt great for some strange reason, I feel like shit now.

[Anonymous]

I’m going to have to confess Seb and say I haven’t seen either of those films. I’ve just given some reviews a quick look over and find both of them appealing. Thought you were maybe referring to some of his earlier comedy work. I feel a mass Amazon order coming on…

With you on The Trueman Show. An absolute masterpiece and one the best films ever made IMO. Then again, I’ve said that about Dances with Wolves which has provoked scornful reactions before so you may want to take my opinions with a pinch of salt.

[Seb Patrick]

Man on the Moon is an entertaining but flawed biopic with a terrific soundtrack and an absolutely towering lead performance. Seriously, Carrey is incredible.

Eternal Sunshine is just wonderful on every conceivable level.

[TheLeen]

when I woke up I felt great for some strange reason, I feel like shit now.

Funny; I, too, felt irrationally rested throughout the day… until 3 pm or so…

Eternal Sunshine is just wonderful on every conceivable level.

That is true. I always thought that Jim Carrey could actually act when he tried. Never seen him as a candidate for an Oscar though, even though he’s been in some lovely films, shame that it is so few though!

[James]

Worldwide poverty. A film about poverty and how one person overcomes it, and is rewarded by money men and women who’s clothes could feed and home millions. Is the Oscars just a waste of money that could be put to greater use? I’m not saying that people shouldn’t be rewarded for their efforts, but what about the millions who use so much effort just to eat?

[Phil]

>Is the Oscars just a waste of money that could be put to greater use?

Absolutely every dollar invested in entertainment of any kind is a luxury and could be put to better use, yes. But Hollywood isn’t interested in financing this summer’s blockbuster famine relief program. Go figure.

[Mr Flibble]

he really should have got a nom for Eternal Sunshine, especially when Winslet was.

I still cry at this film. It’s brilliant. I didn’t realise Kate Winslet got nominated but Jim Carrey didn’t!

Truman Show is also a brilliant film. Yes Man, for those who didn’t bother with it, was also a delightful couple of hours of Carrey fun.

[Anonymous]

“Worldwide poverty. A film about poverty and how one person overcomes it, and is rewarded by money men and women who?s clothes could feed and home millions. Is the Oscars just a waste of money that could be put to greater use? I?m not saying that people shouldn?t be rewarded for their efforts, but what about the millions who use so much effort just to eat?”

What’s your point James? The computer you used to make that comment could probably feed and clothe a street family for a year. A week of Frank Lampard’s wages would look after a small town for a similar period. I don’t think its very fair to lay the inequalities of global wealth distribution at the door of the Academy Awards.

[Phil]

>What?s your point James?

You’ll find yourself getting tired of typing this every time he posts.

[Pete Part Three]

>What?s your point James?

You took the words right out of my keyboard.

Should people be sending their fanclub fees to charities now?

[James]

No point at all.

[pfm]

> Eternal Sunshine is just wonderful on every conceivable level.

This. Oh this. Tangerine…

[locusceruleus]

>he really should have got a nom for Eternal Sunshine, especially when Winslet was.

Om nom nom nomination.

Sorry.

[Carlito]

Eternal Sunshine is probably Carrey’s best film (Truman Show a very close second) in my view.

I much prefer the serious Carrey to the gurning moron we get in films like Ace Ventura and The Mask… Dumb and Dumber being the sole exception to this rule.

I even thought he was great in The Number 23, which got a lot of bad reviews but I really enjoyed it.

[Seb Patrick]

See, I like Carrey’s comedy, too (with the exception of the Ace Venturas, and ones I haven’t seen like Yes Man and Bruce Almighty). Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, Cable Guy, Liar Liar… all excellent, frankly.

But yes, he’s also an excellent “proper” actor. Truman and MOTM were more showy, but his performance in Eternal Sunshine is beautifully understated – completely the opposite of what most people would expect from him, and easily the most sympathetic character he’s played.

[Jonathan Capps]

> with the exception of the Ace Venturas

NOW who’s cruising for a banning, eh?

[Phil]

You’ve all gone mad with power!

[Seb Patrick]

Like that Albert Schweitzer guy.

[JamesTC]

I can’t get to sleep again.

[Anonymous]

“I can?t get to sleep again.”

Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwZ1NTic310

Just watch you don’t slip into a coma.

[Anonymous]

>”I much prefer the serious Carrey to the gurning moron we get in films like Ace Ventura and The Mask? Dumb and Dumber being the sole exception to this rule.”

I like Carrey’s comedy roles too, including Ace Ventura. Dumb and Dumber is my favourite, that movie just cracks me up, but The Mask also occupies a special place in my mind (and it’s not just for Cameron Diaz’s pant elastic snapping opening scene, Ok!). The amount of energy in his performance is amazing.

With regards to the gurning. Yes it can be annoying and whenever I see Jimbo smile I do feel the overwhelming urge to file whalebone. But as somebody said above, he’s a comedian who also happens to be a great actor. The gurning in Trueman is used to great effect IMO (apart from the delivery of the last line).

Now, who’s that other fella who wears a mask and likes gurning…?

[Ben Paddon]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is, I think, my favourite film ever.

[James]

I thought he was better in 28.

[Jonathan Capps]

Do you mean 23? I hated that stupid bloody film.

[Tarka Dal]

I’ll ban you a-

Ah.

[Pete Part Three]

The Number 23 is one of the worst films I’ve bothered to watch all the way through.

[James]

Sorry I got it mixed up with 1403.

[Author]

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