CHUD: 2011 OSCARS THREAD - Best Picture

Well The Social Network, Winter's Bone and Inception may be nipping at it's heels for me, but I have to give my vote to Black Swan. The film was simply the work of a master from start to finish.

Obviously True Grit has no shot, but for me it was the movie of the year.  I think it's a film that people will come to really appreciate later on, when it doesn't get crammed in amongst the flashier films from 2010, not to mention the laundry the list of great films the Coens have produced for consecutive years now.

Inception or The Social Network would be okay, though

I have to go with Black Swan. The final act is one of the best things I've seen in a movie.

Black Swan gave me everything I experienced from the rest of the nominees (that I've seen... I've only missed The Kids Are Alright) in one operatic package.

A character I cared about, themes I could connect with, filmmaking that thrilled me, moments that moved me and were pushed to the hilt, a performance that amazed me, etc etc etc...

Honestly, I hate being such a blockbuster whore, but to me, Chris Nolan made two fantastic movies in two years that, to me, seemed like "off" Oscar years - The Dark Knight is still my favorite studio movie of 2008, and Inception just generally gave me a lot more to chew on than the rest of the Best Picture nominations. There are just so many different discussions you can get into about the film's thematic knottiness that I can forgive what is, on occasion, some sloppy storytelling. There was just so much more to chew on, to parse, on TOP of it being a conventionally pleasing white-knuckle action film. I don't think it's the best film of the year, but it's the one movie this year that's going to stick with me quite strongly.

Black Swan's script is the weakest part of the film, and I thought Aronofsky shot his directorial wad kinda early (to me, the gliding camera and pacing of the opening ballet number was breathtaking, and nothing in the film ever really topped it)- so that he had little left up his sleeve in the second half of the film (other than perhaps the swan transformation, which I found distractingly literal.)  As such, as bravura a directorial turn as it is overall, without any new flourishes, the inevitability of the third act sort of brought the thing down a bit, in my opinion.  Still a top ten worthy film, definitely... but (again, in my opinion) not the best picture.

127 Hours is the only movie, other than maybe Inception, that truly thrilled me.  To take a story that sounded basically unfilmable and turn into something visceral, frightening, and deliriously hopeful(toeing the line of almost being too much so) is something deserving of Best Picture.  My wife almost passed out and my buddy's wife had to leave the theater during the arm cutting scene.  When a movie provokes that kind of reaction because you care about the character, and not just because it is gross, that is pretty much what great films should be able to do.  Unfortunately, this is exactly the type of thing that has kept it well away from being a front runner.

Social Network was impressive and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I didn't leave the theater feeling that I had just seen something extraordinary.  That being said, I would not be upset, at all, if it won.  I think it is a film that should be remembered, and I have a feeling that the more I watch it, the more I will appreciate it.

Black Swan, as others have pointed out was dazzling, but ultimately was way too predictable.  The subtext was the text and I knew where the movie was headed very early on in the film.  That didn't stop me from enjoying it but I could take with a little bit less of "you need to let go of yourself"...I got it the first time you said it, and maybe it shouldn't have even been said at all.

The King's Speech was good, but 15 minutes in all I could think about was how it was basically Good Will Hunting with a stutter...er....stammer.  Plus, the speech at the end didn't pay off for me as I found myself staring off into space for so long that I missed almost all the text at the end of the movie.

Also, the trailer for Boyle's stage version of Frankenstein is titties...

Should win: Inception

I'd even be happy with:  Winter's Bone or True Grit

Will most likely win:  The King's Speech

Could squeak in:  The Social Network

Should have been nommed:  Never Let Me Go

The King's Speech will win. The only competition will be from The Social Network. Yet, maybe there is a huge surprise, but I doubt it.

Inception or Black Swan would win, given my druthers. Social Network has an honest shot, and I'd have no beef with Fincher taking it. King's Speech would surprise no one, and not impress me.

Hmmm...surprised to see the overwhelming love for Black Swan.  I thought it was great but next to The King's Speech and even The Fighter, I don't feel it matches up.  My pick is The King's Speech.

I would have to guess that it has something to do with the culture of the board as to why so many like Black Swan the way they do. Of course there argument is, "No. It's the best movie. And The King's Speech isn't near as good."

I'd vote for Inception. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaylorF 

I would have to guess that it has something to do with the culture of the board as to why so many like Black Swan the way they do. Of course there argument is, "No. It's the best movie. And The King's Speech isn't near as good."

No my argument is that while I was watching the final act of Black Swan I got goosebumps. Multiple times. I couldn't properly speak when I got out of the theater. I was just saying to to myself "wow" and "holy shit." The combination of the music, Portman's performance and Aronofksy's direction knocked my on my ass in a way that hasn't occured since The Assassination Of Jesse James. And even that was a lesser feeling than what I got from this. I loved a lot of movies this year and I won't begrudge any of the front-runners winning, but personally nothing actually came close.

Right. Which boils down to it's the best movie. Look, I'm not saying it isn't great.. I thought the film was completely solid. But if goosebumps is something to go by, then How To Train Your Dragon, True Grit and Inception are my top films of the year. My point concerns the culture of the board, explaining why so many people here feel it should when in relation to other communities.

I don't think any of these films approached the greatness of "Another Year," but I don't think I've seen anyone say a word about that film on the boards. Probably because no one saw it, of course. But that touched me a helluva lot more than Black Swan. It's the day of the Oscars, so I just feel like being contrary like that.

I was unable to see Another Year. I had wanted too. And I like be contrary sometimes as well. More power to you!