March 28, 2002

Sick of Oscar Politics
Pellacalwen

First let me say that I am outraged at the outcome of the Academy Awards!!!!! How could Ian Mckellen not win Best Supporting Actor?? He was definitely spectacular as Gandalf.

I don't think the Academy members realized the complexity of the character, or how revelent he was to the film. (by the way, who else cried when Gandalf fell in Moria? I know he returns but it still choked me up, even after my sixth screening!!)

Anyway back to my point Sir Ian was totally deserving of the honor.

Also about Best Original Song, Enya was cheated because Randy Newman is a sentimental favorite. How stupid is that!!

Best Adapted screenplay was definitely a ripoff(A Beautiful Mind? Gosh what were they thinking?)

About the two top honors, I am still furious.
Granted, A Beautiful Mind was a quality movie(and it had that serious thing going for it)but I feel that Peter Jackson was jipped.

Generally, Best Director and Best Picture are bestowed on the same movie but I think it would have been better if PJ was awarded Best Director and Mind got Best Picture.

I feel that would be a acceptable compromise, as Ron Howard will never ever be able to measure up to PJ and this year was a tight race. That way Mind could have some top recognition as well.
However, I still think FOTR was the best movie this year.

If things turned out that way, I might have considered watching again next year. The Academy caved to pressure to select a serious movie.
Let me ask one question, however. Who the heck will remember A Beautiful Mind this coming year. The year after that. In five, ten years? FOTR is a true epic, a glorious adventure you want to experiance again and again. Who could watch Mind six times without snoozing? I only saw Mind once, and the only thing I remember is having no interest whatsoever. I found myself not caring if Nash recovers from his delusions.

In FOTR, I was involved right from the first frame. I sat up straight in my seat and focused all my thought and attention on the film. I cared deeply for these characters and I was concerned what happened to them. I left the theater only wanting to return and watch again. I have seen it five times since, and every time I have not been bored. Not for a second.

So I direct this question to those who feel Mind deserved the top honor. Which is the better movie: a dull and rigid Mind, or the passionate, involved Rings? I know which one is the better movie experiance.