tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post7395353776764896814..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: Oscar Got It Wrong!: Best Picture 1981SJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-78925829198114360882015-08-21T20:11:07.201-05:002015-08-21T20:11:07.201-05:00I stand by my assessment of Chariots of Fire--I ch...I stand by my assessment of <i>Chariots of Fire</i>--I challenge anyone to watch it and remember anything other than slow-motion white guys on a beach a month after the watch. <br /><br />I think no matter what movies are put into the mix from this year, <i>Raiders</i> comes out on top for me. It's clearly the best of the field no matter what the field.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-29101651992213579862015-08-20T21:20:22.966-05:002015-08-20T21:20:22.966-05:00Oh this win! I can't stand Chariots and just d...Oh this win! I can't stand Chariots and just did a guest post over on Dell on Movies for his Against the Crowd blogathon about my scorn for it. I'd agree with your placement of the various nominees straight down the line ending with your choice of winner. It seems absurd now that Raiders didn't win and if I recall correctly wasn't even a serious contender with Reds and On Golden Pond both standing a better chance. That's just nuts.<br /><br />Now as to what I think should actually have competed I'd remove everything but Atlantic City and Raiders and replace them with Excalibur, Blow Out and Pennies from Heaven but no matter what the mix Raiders would always be my winner.<br /><br />If your interested here's a link to the post about my disdain for Chariots plus another film that has a bad rep but that I have a soft spot for.<br /><br />http://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2015/08/against-crowd-blogathon-2015-guest-post.html<br />joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-81793683220939643502014-05-15T19:41:11.668-05:002014-05-15T19:41:11.668-05:00I honestly don't remember the music at all. I ...I honestly don't remember the music at all. I just remember the claustrophobia.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-85850527187978697252014-05-15T19:29:29.556-05:002014-05-15T19:29:29.556-05:00"I wouldn't object to Das Boot winning. I...<b>"I wouldn't object to <i>Das Boot</i> winning. It's a hell of a good film."</b><br /><br />I liked everything about that movie except the damn <i>music.</i>Kevin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-54541818656378493712014-05-15T15:50:57.764-05:002014-05-15T15:50:57.764-05:00My problem with Chariots of Fire is that I find it...My problem with <i>Chariots of Fire</i> is that I find it so forgettable. It's not a bad film; it's just pretty dull.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-17380028514314858142014-05-15T15:50:02.226-05:002014-05-15T15:50:02.226-05:00Well, except for the fact that as depicted, Jones ...Well, except for the fact that as depicted, Jones is kind of a crappy archaeologist. I remember my college archaeology teacher saying on the first day, "I expect many of you are expecting this will be like <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i>. There's a lot more sex and alcohol in reality."<br /><br />I wouldn't object to <i>Das Boot</i> winning. It's a hell of a good film.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-2569024444594201882014-05-14T22:40:30.238-05:002014-05-14T22:40:30.238-05:00No arguments from me on Raiders of the Lost Ark. I...No arguments from me on Raiders of the Lost Ark. I haven't seen Reds, but I found Chariots of Fire to be a good story that hardly stands out as deserving of a Best Picture Oscar. I can see why it won, but there are a lot of good examples from that year that were better picks. Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-6403263051080141042014-05-14T14:07:21.542-05:002014-05-14T14:07:21.542-05:00Though I really do like Chariots of Fire (as a not...Though I really do like Chariots of Fire (as a not-so-competitive amateur runner), and although I am an archaeologist (and should be cheering for Raiders), Das Boot would have been my pick (even though I hate the idea of being trapped in small spaces).Klaushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006608076041962884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-30021236636878546112014-05-12T11:59:09.905-05:002014-05-12T11:59:09.905-05:00Reds has that Oscar feel to it. It's big and b...<i>Reds</i> has that Oscar feel to it. It's big and blustery and is about world changing events and has a romance stuck in the middle of it. In some respects, it's a more modern <i>Dr. Zhivago</i>. I just wish it were more interesting.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-6259015551373747572014-05-12T11:48:26.430-05:002014-05-12T11:48:26.430-05:00A lot of interesting choices from this year. Body ...A lot of interesting choices from this year. Body Heat, Raiders, Das Boot and the underappreciated Atlantic City. My favorite movie of that year is Superman II, which is still my favorite superhero movie. But best picture of the year? Chariots of Fire is okay, but I'd definitely go with the smaller scale Atlantic City or the popular Raiders. I was curious what Alternate Oscar author Danny Peary said on this subject and he went with Reds. But no matter what you think won the 1981 battle, no question that Raiders of the Lost Ark won the war.<br /><br />1001: A Film Odyssey is produced, directed and written by Chris, a librarian.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04803620768028761898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-425257569039322402014-05-10T20:18:20.406-05:002014-05-10T20:18:20.406-05:00Damn right. This one was easy.Damn right. This one was easy.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-64602372420968667522014-05-10T19:11:01.280-05:002014-05-10T19:11:01.280-05:00Raiders. Good call.Raiders. Good call.Ipecachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157560182505626755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-64399727381536190392014-05-10T12:53:10.382-05:002014-05-10T12:53:10.382-05:00Yep.
Yep.<br />Richard Kirkhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16428986542891346618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-72758895179679135842014-05-10T09:57:23.408-05:002014-05-10T09:57:23.408-05:00It's a fair point. Raiders is not what one nor...It's a fair point. <i>Raiders</i> is not what one normally thinks of in conjunction with the Oscars. It was, however, the best movie of its year, and I'd argue that it has proven to be one of the most influential of its era. Isn't that what we should be looking for?SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-54812382857534761762014-05-10T08:28:57.708-05:002014-05-10T08:28:57.708-05:00I have to echo Chip's sentiment re: "Raid...I have to echo Chip's sentiment re: "Raiders," but seconding that sentiment gives me pause because it makes me wonder <i>why</i> I don't consider "Raiders" to be typical Oscar material. Have I been brainwashed by Hollywood elitism? Should we, in considering "proper" Oscar candidates, avoid films that feature too quick a pace, too many action sequences, and dialogue that's often too quippy and snappy? Are Oscar-worthy movies always to have stately plots, Shakespearean acting, big issues, and running times of over 150 minutes? I'm going a bit "meta," here, in considering these questions, but they may be worth asking.Kevin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-8026622443256197492014-05-09T20:48:24.025-05:002014-05-09T20:48:24.025-05:00It's not really an "Oscar" picture t...It's not really an "Oscar" picture to the point where I'm a little surprised that it was nominated in the first place. It is my favorite film of the year, though. I could make a pretty good case for <i>Das Boot</i>, and that's a choice I'd have been pretty happy with. I think it's one of the genuinely great war films ever made.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-44965595273113490002014-05-09T17:58:22.268-05:002014-05-09T17:58:22.268-05:00I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, so I'd pick it...I love Raiders of the Lost Ark, so I'd pick it as my favorite of the five nominees. In fact, it's so much my number one that number 2 isn't even close. Having said that, I don't really think of it as a "Best Picture" kind of movie, but more as a popcorn, matinee movie (maybe because that's how I saw it on its first theater run way back when I was a teenager). The entire crowd freaked at the beginning with the tarantula scene. <br /><br />I'd go with one from your What's Missing section - Das Boot - as the Best Picture that year.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.com