2011 Academy Awards

[MyNameIs]

^I understand that, but I didn't care for it. She was just such a b*tch to everyone around her, including her mom and her husband. It was like, how dare you grieve in a way that's different from mine, but then, how dare you question how I grieve.

I'm not trying to change your mind on the film, it just didn't work for me and Nicole's performance didn't invoke any sympathy or emotions from me, idk. The whole thing seemed very artificial somehow.

 

[mint condish]

Well I finally saw Blue Valentine and I totally get the hype for Michelle and Ryan's performances . They were both fantastic.

 

[auxt]

thanks for the responses on Dogtooth ... I haven't seen it and know nothing about it, I just heard that it was an unexpected nomination

 

[beatriz]

Talking about spoiled b*tches in films

Was I the only one who got mad at Michelle William's character in Blue Valentine? None of my friends have seen it and I would love to hear other people's thoughts about it... To me, it felt like although the problems in their relationship were obvisoulsy caused from both parts, her character was an unbelieveble b*tch to Ryan. Am I blind with my love for Ryan Gosling??

 

[Leeroi]

Talking about spoiled b*tches in films

Was I the only one who got mad at Michelle William's character in Blue Valentine? None of my friends have seen it and I would love to hear other people's thoughts about it... To me, it felt like although the problems in their relationship were obvisoulsy caused from both parts, her character was an unbelieveble b*tch to Ryan. Am I blind with my love for Ryan Gosling??

Don't worry I have a bit of a man-crush on Ryan Gosling and somewhat felt bad for him and was annoyed by Michelle's character.

But I think the problems in their lives have gotten to the point where they are completely indifferent to each other and her priorities in life have completely changed. I'm not sure, but I feel as though she felt that whenever he was trying to be sweet or romantic it was contrived and not real; that or she really felt nothing towards him.

 

[mint condish]

The only part she seemed to be truly in love with him was during the wedding. Other than that, I got this feeling that he aggressively pursued her and saved her from a bad situation, and she just kind of went along with it because dazamn, look at that body!! Who could say no? But yeah, I agree she didn't really feel the same for him "She's just not that into him...." She was kind of a miserable person who really wanted more out of life.

I think he just wanted her, and that's it.

 

[Leeroi]

The only part she seemed to be truly in love with him was during the wedding. Other than that, I got this feeling that he aggressively pursued her and saved her from a bad situation, and she just kind of went along with it because dazamn, look at that body!! Who could say no? But yeah, I agree she didn't really feel the same for him "She's just not that into him...." She was kind of a miserable person who really wanted more out of life.

I think he just wanted her, and that's it.

Yes, and they're pretty much stuck together because they have a child together. It's really no one's fault when feelings change into different directions due to continuous arguments that may seem small but build up over time.

I think it was really powerful and sad when Ryan's character in the end was asking her what she wants him to do or what he has to do for things to be okay and he'll do it. It was as if he was going to comprise his own natural character and personality just so things would be better.

The movie is pretty much a portrayal of most relationships where people just settle and stick to each other, even if they're miserable. It's like the difference between love and devotion.

 

[MyNameIs]

Talking about spoiled b*tches in films

Was I the only one who got mad at Michelle William's character in Blue Valentine? None of my friends have seen it and I would love to hear other people's thoughts about it... To me, it felt like although the problems in their relationship were obvisoulsy caused from both parts, her character was an unbelieveble b*tch to Ryan. Am I blind with my love for Ryan Gosling??

OMG. You are definitely not the only one.

I HATED her character. What a selfish and obnoxious b*tch. I really did not like the movie because of the way they presented her character and then tried to sell it off as somehow they were both equally at fault, or worse, it was his fault. He did EVERYTHING for her and then she just dumps without even an explanation, well because "she can't take it anymore."

HATED the movie, liked their performances (both should've been nominated).

 

[beatriz]

The only part she seemed to be truly in love with him was during the wedding. Other than that, I got this feeling that he aggressively pursued her and saved her from a bad situation, and she just kind of went along with it because dazamn, look at that body!! Who could say no? But yeah, I agree she didn't really feel the same for him "She's just not that into him...." She was kind of a miserable person who really wanted more out of life.

I think he just wanted her, and that's it.

I couldn't agree more. Even about the part of her only looking truly in love in their wedding.

After watching the film, I was depressed for a couple of hours. I think it's so crude and realistic and many of us, regular people, end up in their situation...

 

[beatriz]

OMG. You are definitely not the only one.

I HATED her character. What a selfish and obnoxious b*tch. I really did not like the movie because of the way they presented her character and then tried to sell it off as somehow they were both equally at fault, or worse, it was his fault. He did EVERYTHING for her and then she just dumps without even an explanation, well because "she can't take it anymore."

HATED the movie, liked their performances (both should've been nominated).

The movie lacks certain explinations about these characters, I think. Like how they end up like that and why she seems to resent him so much... That could be a little more character development, imo. But they both do such an amazing job...

 

[sobriquet87]

^I think it's because of the way the director shot the movie.
He had Michelle and Ryan actually living in the house like a real family.
Michelle and Ryan would each start little arguments with each other and sometimes the director would film it and other times he wouldn't.

So, I think some of the emotions and explanations happened off camera and the director just wanted to leave it open for the audience to fill in the blanks.

It's a movie that forces you to think and analyze, which is why I loved it.

 

[Belowen]

^ I haven't seen it, but heard a lot about Blue Valentine. They spent years preparing, and would show up on set and be told "we're going to film you on a first date, go." with no script or anything like that. I love improv, so look foward to seeing the film and how it was all put together.

 

[Chaky]

I loved Blue Valentine. It just felt so real. The movie shows the very beginning and very end of their relationship so I think a lot of the precise reasons for the marriage breakdown are not made explicit. Possibly you can side with one or other of the characters and say it was his/her fault but it's not as simple as that. Blue Valentine is about how the aggregation of lots of little things over several years can build up and slowly ruin something that was so good.

 

[melfreya]

Tom Hooper won the Directors Guild Award for King's Speech. Are you kidding me? Fincher, Nolan, Aronofsky even Russell for the Fighter deserved it more. The DGA is indicative for the Oscar in Directing so I'm seriously pissed right now!

 

[TianSoFine]

^I thought that was well-deserved.

 

[melfreya]

^Best directing?? What did he do so different than millions of other period films? Should ''The Queen'' have won best directing too? I just find it incredibly frustrating when Nolan, Aronofsky, Russell and even Fincher gave amazing directing skills this year. We're not talking about best movie here, just directing. And the King's Speech had the most forgettable one imo.

 

[MyNameIs]

I am beyond shocked at TKS winning DGA. That's INSANE, imo and I would've thought it'd be the last one to win out of all the directors nominated. I was sure that TSN would be winning, even after the PGA snub.

I guess now we have to call TSK the frontrunner to win Best Picture, which is going to be such a lame end to the year. Nothing wrong with TSK, but it's such a 'not-exciting' movie, especially compared to the others nominated.

 

[Chaky]

I guess now we have to call TSK the frontrunner to win Best Picture, which is going to be such a lame end to the year. Nothing wrong with TSK, but it's such a 'not-exciting' movie, especially compared to the others nominated.

Totally agree. I'm not saying The King's Speech is a bad movie, because it certainly isn't. But I think its success with the guilds (many of whom are also academy members) is indicative of just how conservative they are. It's a very safe film, well-made, but pales next to some of the much more interesting and challenging work that's also been nominated.

I think it also reflects the mood in the world right now. Quite a few of the critically lauded films this year are quite depressing and people just don't want to see that. The King's Speech is an uplifting experience which offers a greater emotional connection for many viewers. I've heard reports of people applauding in the cinema at the end!

Personally I think it will be a shame if TKS sweeps the Oscars but that might be more popular result with the general public than if TSN takes the big prizes.

 

[Leeroi]

The Kings Speech winning will be more popular with the general public? Was TKS even that big in theatres? I don't really hear a lot of people in the general public watching it.

If the Oscars is trying to appeal to a much younger audience, then awarding TSN would be the way to go. TKS is just another period film that the Oscars generally love to award since the Oscars usually favor movies that generally weren't big mainstream wise. Which is a shame because there's plenty of movies that were blockbuster hits that are extremely well made.

I don't think I can sit through watching TKS a second time while I've watched TSN numerous times and each time I enjoyed it just as much as the last, same thing for Black Swan.

 

[Chaky]

The Kings Speech winning will be more popular with the general public? Was TKS even that big in theatres? I don't really hear a lot of people in the general public watching it.

Maybe this applies more to me here in the UK. TKS was only released here at the beginning of January and has already made nearly double what TSN did. I know quite a few friends and colleagues who have gone, or are planning, to see TKS, but barely anyone who's seen TSN.

Also going by imdb which has The King's Speech at #114 on Top 250 and The Social Network at #167. That's surely a barometer of popular opinion?