Martin Scorcese...snubbed again.

Martin Scorcese is the greatest living American film director. Maybe I should hold back on this one since I haven't seen The Aviator or Million Dollar Baby, but I'll say this: maybe Scorcese is the not only the victim of bad decisions by the Academy, I think he is also the victim of bad timing, and maybe even some bad casting decisions of his own. Why on earth he has decided to cast Leonardo DiCaprio in two of his films is beyond me. It seems that he is trying to cast a wider net and is shooting himself in the foot in the process. Once again...I didn't see 'Gangs of New York' or 'The Aviator' but it was BECAUSE DiCaprio was in them. To me he is still some baby-faced actor of the new generation, and having him have the lead in a Scorcese picture doesn't make any sense to me. He isn't cut from that same cloth in the tradition of some of Scorcese's earlier stuff. He doesn't strike me as an intense actor at all. He looks like a kid.

But why, I ask, did Kevin Costner beat out Scorcese in 1990 for 'Dances With Wolves'. That beat 'Goodfellas'?? And why does Clint Eastwood have 2 best director Acedemy Awards and Scorcese has none?? Why? Makes no sense. I feel bad for the guy, and outside of probably getting a well deserved lifetime acheivement award a t some point, will Marty ever get the Oscar??

[ Edited by: donhonyc on 2005-02-27 23:08 ]

Scorcese is in good company. Alfred Hitchcock also never won an Oscar for his direction.

Vern

Vern-
That's what I was trying to think of when I was writing that post at 2:30 in the morning! Yeah..now I feel better. F' the academy!

Agreed. DiCaprio is like a kid in the school play who plays the adult part. He might be good, but his desire to play world-weary adult characters is just a little too far fetched to be believable.

Million $ Baby is overrated. It's a very good movie and I enjoyed it, but it wasn' the transcendant experience you'd expect from a best picture winner (like Return of the King was, or the movie that should have at least been nominated, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.)

At least Morgan Freeman and Cate Blanchett won. They get my vote even if they are only reading from the phonebook while sitting on the can.

Scorcese fan here.

There was a deep black hole in terms of Oscar winners when Scorcese was at his best.

Raging Bull lost to Ordinary People. A travesty. What the Hell was that all about?Where's Ken Starr when ya need him? Which film is still reverred? An obviously oblivious choice.

Taxi Driver lost to Rocky. Not the way I see it, but at least you could say that the Academy went with the story of the inspiring underdog or something. Taxi Driver stands the test of time better than Rocky, though.

About the same time, Kramer vs. Kramer beat Apocalypse Now. A complete mystery. Breaking Away and All That Jazz were also better films than Kramer v Kramer. I can't explain how Norma Rae even got nominated, so it must have finished second to Kramer v Kramer. Crazy bastages.

That period between 1975 and 1980 was a real low point for Oscar winning films.

Scorcese's Last Waltz is in the top two concert films of all time. Nothing.

King of Comedy, Casino, Gangs of New York, Kundun, Goodfellas....that all adds up to a film school semester dedicated just to him!

One year soon, he'll make some crap movie and get the "we owe him one" victory.

Deep down, perhaps the academy just can't forgive him for directing the video for Michael Jackson's "Bad". :)

[ Edited by: Geeky Tiki on 2005-02-28 11:43 ]

perhaps there are politics involved. did he tell the wrong person/people to "f-- off" at some point?

awards are not necessarily 100% on the merits, but depends largely on whose arse you and your people are kissing.

I worked in Oregon's Congress a while ago, and it is VERY scary that a lot of laws get voted in by crazed ordinary folks who somehow managed to stumble into politics (I worked for a fisherman, for example), who understood nothing about the law, and even after I carefully analyzed each bill as to its legality, its pros and cons for the public at large an in particular, my congressperson's consituents, etc., the bulk of the time he would respond "well, I have to vote for this guy's bill so that this guy will later vote for mine...." !!

I would guess the academy awards is sort of like that as well, although I don't know for sure.

While we're on the subject, I do believe Citizen Kane lost to How Green Was My Valley

:roll:

-Z

Leonardo DiCaprio will always be the "special" kid in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Ron Howard will always be Opie and Henry Winkler will always be the Fonz...sorry 'bout that guys. I was disappointed to see Martin Scorsesse get kicked to the curb again. I must admit, I didn't see the Aviator or Million Dollar Baby so I can't offer up much constructive criticism, but I did see Ray and Jaime Foxx's win was right on. Also glad to see Bicycle Diaries pick up an award (especially when it's presented by Selma Hyak and performed by Carlos Santana). There've been a lot of disappointing moments in Academy Award history (1981's best picture winner Chariots of Fire springs to mind) but this one wasn't too painful.

I think the Academy is waiting for Scorsese to hire BigBro as his cinematographer. Then, and only then, will he win the coveted, Shecky-shaped, Golden Tiki award.

On 2005-02-28 12:06, Feelin' Zombified wrote:
While we're on the subject, I do believe Citizen Kane lost to How Green Was My Valley

:roll:

-Z

The Valley also beat out The Maltese Falcon. How Green Was My Valley, while not as good, is still a damn fine film at least. Certainly wins the Oscar for Best Use Of The Malibu Hills As A Stand In For Wales.

Thank you black and white film!

(Emmy for Best Use Of The Malibu Hills As A Stand In For Korea goes to MAS*H)

[ Edited by: martiki on 2005-03-01 17:22 ]

On 2005-02-28 08:34, Tiki-bot wrote:

At least Morgan Freeman and Cate Blanchett won. They get my vote even if they are only reading from the phonebook while sitting on the can.

"Reading From the Phonebook While Sitting on the Can" a new film directed by Kevin Costner. :lol:

On 2005-02-28 11:42, Geeky Tiki wrote:

That period between 1975 and 1980 was a real low point for Oscar winning films.

...and so was 1990 when Scorcese lost to 'Dances w/Wolves'. Look at what the other Best Picture nominees were that year:

'Ghost'
'Godfather Part III'
'Awakenings'

I mean, really. 'Ghost'? 'Godfather Part III'??? 'Ghost' was ok as far as a sappy romance fluff picture, but Best Picture?
And 'Godfather Part III'....one of the biggest lemons that year. 'Awakenings' had some good things going for it, but...still not buyin it.

And as they say... the rest is history.

While I'm at it, here's some more Oscar whining. Remember this little nugget? Helen Hunt as Best Actress winner for 'As Good As It Gets'. ...Huh? Wasn't Greg Kinnear also nominated that year for Best Supporting Actor. ...double huh?

[ Edited by: donhonyc on 2005-03-01 22:37 ]