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Oscar Voter Reveals Her Brutally Honest Ballot: 'La La Land' "Not Memorable"

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I'm kinda surprised I didn't see Ben Foster garner a nod. I mean, I've seen him in stuff (two of them being an X-Men and Punisher movie...) but I feel I didn't recognize him in Hell or High Water. He stood out for me in that regard.
 
Best Documentary Feature
I'm ruling out O.J. [Made in America] even though I still have an hour of it left to watch — maybe for younger people this is new stuff, but for me it's just reliving a part of the past I don't need to relive. I was disappointed with I Am Not Your Negro — I was really looking forward to learning more about James Baldwin's life, rather than his ideas (which I already knew), because when I first came to New York as a young actress, he was such an avant-garde playwright and fascinating guy. Three-quarters of Ava DuVernay's movie [13th] was wonderful, but the last quarter was so preachy that I felt like I was hit over the head, which was a turnoff. They did a really good job with Fire at Sea, except I hated that little kid in it — killing birds and cutting up cacti and all of that. I voted for Life, Animated because I thought it was a positive story, how the parents took a massive challenge and made something of it.

My vote
Life, Animated

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, and I do agree with some of hers, but this here is bullshit. Dismissing one of the best pictures of the year because you thought it was gonna be about something else? Fuck outta here with this crap. The focus was on the black community's oppression, not the author himself. This is like disliking a sports movie because it didn't have any racing scenes in it.
 
And now people see how Oscar voting actually happens and why there's such a push for voting membership to be diverse. Not just racially, but across various viewpoints, regions, and careers.

The fact that she had to go "NO ARRIVAL GETS NOTHING" across the board is so fucking weird to me. Even if you don't like the film's acting you have to at least appreciate the screenplay and adaptation right?

Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, and I do agree with some of hers, but this here is bullshit. Dismissing one of the best pictures of the year because you thought it was gonna be about something else? Fuck outta here with this crap. The focus was on the black community's oppression, not the author himself. This is like disliking a sports movie because it didn't have any racing scenes in it.

ALLLLLLLLLLLLLSO this. James Baldwin is my personal hero and even I knew that the movie is only tangentially ABOUT him.
 
The Star Trek [Beyond] DVD they sent me stopped halfway through — something was wrong with it — so I called them and asked them to send me another, but they never did, so that eliminated them! The funny thing is I probably would have voted for them.

Dios mio she's petty.
 
I like Hell or High Water a decent amount but it's not gonna be remembered as a classic and this woman is out of her mind if she thinks that random waitress could've used an Oscar nod
 
I like Hell or High Water a decent amount but it's not gonna be remembered as a classic and this woman is out of her mind if she thinks that random waitress could've used an Oscar nod

that comment killed me. i get her enthusiasm for the movie, it is pretty dope. but that waitress being nominated...wtf.
 
I made a podcast with a buddy in which I made a case for Hell or Highwater being the true dark horse and positioning it as favorite for snatching best original screenplay. Glad I wasn't too far from how things are shaping up to be, that movie is criminally underlooked.

Though imo La La Land is just flat out gorgeous as well.
 
Huh, she's the first person that I've seen panning Toni Erdmann, every critic that I've read loved the movie.

That Arrival hate tho. Not a big fan of Sci-Fi, I guess?
 

Moppeh

Banned
I do love reading these things but goddamn, I always come away from it frustrated. Like, it is fine if you don't like the narrative or themes of Arrival and Silence but not even considering them for cinematography is ridiculous.
 
It's nice to know I'm a better critic, moviegoer, film watcher and reviewer than some in the academy.

lmao quarter of the people in the academy are just producer types who can't tell if a good movie hit them upside the head.

I do love reading these things but goddamn, I always come away from it frustrated. Like, it is fine if you don't like the narrative or themes of Arrival and Silence but not even considering them for cinematography is ridiculous.

This too. Let's punish the sound design guy for the fact you didn't enjoy the movie. This idea that you reward a good movie with all these side categories simply for being a good movie is asinine.
 

Window

Member
I do love reading these things but goddamn, I always come away from it frustrated. Like, it is fine if you don't like the narrative or themes of Arrival and Silence but not even considering them for cinematography is ridiculous.
Probably explains why so many films sweep or win numerous awards. The halo effect is strong.
 
Imagine if Hell or High Water won best picture and Kubo and the Two Strings won best animated picture

Madness

Also too much hate on Arrival aka the best film of 2016
 
"I love Viola Davis, but I wont vote for her to win in the category she is in because I believe she should be in another one" wat.

Also her comments on Huppert and the rape stuff is...

Yeah.
 

Five

Banned
What does that have to do with anything? It's still interesting and entertaining as hell to read an Oscar voter give their hot take on the nominees and their choices.

It's really not to most people. Oscar voters aren't special and they never were. This thread wouldn't be any less interesting if the title was "GAF User Reveals Her Brutally Honest Ballot: 'Uncharted 4' 'Not Memorable'".
 

Timeaisis

Member
Oh yeah, more Hell or High Water love.

While I don't think Arrival "sucked", I don't love it as much as everyone else.

Huh, she's the first person that I've seen panning Toni Erdmann, every critic that I've read loved the movie.

That Arrival hate tho. Not a big fan of Sci-Fi, I guess?

Sci-Fi is my favorite genre and Arrival isn't even the best science fiction movie this year. Also, HOHW is just a better film.
 

Eidan

Member
I'm surprised the thread title is about La La Land when the real story is her irrational hatred of Arrival.
 

Loxley

Member
Today I am reminded that some folks on GAF are surprised to learn that most Academy voters are not nuanced film scholars. They're just people with opinions, many of which don't extend far beyond "X movie sucked, not voting for it."

In other news, I really need to see Hell or high Water - I've heard nothing but great things about it.
 
interesting analysis but goddamn that Arrival hatred is real

I wish something like the people's choice (is that still a thing) or MTV Movie Awards would become more popular than the Oscars, I rarely watch any of the Oscar winners and the movies that I do find extremely enjoyable never, ever make it to the Oscar list. For example my best picks of 2016 woulda been

Arrival
Deadpool
The Nice Guys
The Handmaiden

Moonlight and Hell/High Water are the only nominated movies that I am probably going to see at home this year, zero interest in the rest.
 
It's really not to most people. Oscar voters aren't special and they never were. This thread wouldn't be any less interesting if the title was "GAF User Reveals Her Brutally Honest Ballot: 'Uncharted 4' 'Not Memorable'".

So why are you in this thread? You could ignore it and not post and act as if it doesn't exist.
 

Angry Grimace

Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Oscar Voter gots opinions.

Wonder what her problem with Arrival was :lol

Can't hate though I enjoy Hell or High Water much more than La La Land.

She thought it sucked.
 

HeelPower

Member
Man this is so unsophisticated.

You'd think oscar voters would be more technical or detailed when they talk about film.

This sucked! Hated this! That was enjoyable! This was beautiful! She was great!

No wonder the oscars aren't all they're cracked up to be.
 

Monocle

Member
La La Land is pretentious garbage. Hope it loses. It is the next "Crash" and "Hurt Locker", no one will remember it 5 or 10 years from now.
It has great music (I love the opening especially) and pays homage to classic Hollywood romances even as it subverts their cliches. But the aspect that really spoke to me was the theme of creative people striving for their passions and sharing in the frustrations, disappointments, wrong turns, and constant temptation to quit or settle for less that only someone who is devoted to the pursuit of art themselves can fully understand.

I didn't find La La Land to be pretentious at all. That word is so overused in amateur film criticism it's practically lost all meaning.
 

Jarmel

Banned
Man this is so unsophisticated.

You'd think oscar voters would be more technical or detailed when they talk about film.

This sucked! Hated this! That was enjoyable! This was beautiful! She was great!

No wonder the oscars aren't all they're cracked up to be.

I think it would be more interesting if people in the Academy could only vote for categories they are are actually a part of. Cinematographers could only vote in the cinematography category for example. That way you would have experts judging their own areas of expertise.
 

LionPride

Banned
A lot of people don't like Arrival btw, can't have anything to do with it being praised as if it is the best thing since sliced bread.

Also I love La La Land...ain't gonna remember shit bout it

I appreciate the honesty. It's legit


It has great music (I love the opening especially) and pays homage to classic Hollywood romances even as it subverts their cliches. But the aspect that really spoke to me was the theme of creative people striving for their passions and sharing in the frustrations, disappointments, wrong turns, and constant temptation to quit or settle for less that only someone who is devoted to the pursuit of art themselves can fully understand.

I didn't find La La Land to be pretentious at all. That word is so overused in amateur film criticism it's practically lost all meaning.
Yeah the word pretentious means fuck all anymore beyond "I don't like it"

La La Land may be sucking Hollywood off, but it ain't pretentious
 
If this is what it takes to vote then somebody pls induct me into the Academy so I can just use it as an excuse to watch all these movies for free.

I believe becoming part of the voting membership requires either being nominated for an Oscar, or being nominated by an existing voting member. It basically reinforces certain demographics in the voting membership: those who live and work primarily in Hollywood.
 

Window

Member
I didn't find La La Land to be pretentious at all. That word is so overused in amateur film criticism it's practically lost all meaning.
Yeah I have my complaints about La La Land but I don't see how it can be described as pretentious.
 
I believe becoming part of the voting membership requires either being nominated for an Oscar, or being nominated by an existing voting member. It basically reinforces certain demographics in the voting membership: those who live and work primarily in Hollywood.

And then people wonder why these events are so self congratulatory.
 

wandering

Banned
It's been an open secret for a while that the Academy isn't really as eminent and authoritative as they make themselves out to be. It's a bunch of catty and batty old insiders.
 

Window

Member
I think it would be more interesting if people in the Academy could only vote for categories they are are actually a part of. Cinematographers could only vote in the cinematography category for example. That way you would have experts judging their own areas of expertise.
I believe this is how nominees are determined (but not winners).
 
Wow, apparently this voter and me are the only people in the world who despised Arrival's pseudo intellectual sci-fi story?

I'll stay away from this thread I guess.
 
Because sometimes spouting opinions and not having the expectation that anyone will take them seriously is fun.

Why would you ever have that expectation?

I mean.. It's 2017, Five.

Why respond to his post?

Well now we're getting philosophical. Or maybe it's like in Arrival, where he understands the way th—

Wow, apparently this voter and me are the only people in the world who despised Arrival's pseudo intellectual sci-fi story?

—shit. Nevermind.
 
I believe this is how nominees are determined (but not winners).

This is correct.

Most categories are nominated by the members of the corresponding branch–actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. However, certain categories such as Foreign Language Film and Animated Feature Film have special voting rules which can be viewed at our Rules & Eligibility page.

All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.

During finals, all Oscar categories are on the ballot for voting members.
 
Wow, apparently this voter and me are the only people in the world who despised Arrival's pseudo intellectual sci-fi story?

I'll stay away from this thread I guess.

No one is saying you can't dislike arrival or that it isn't possible that someone can dislike it, it's just that she didn't even say why she hated it so much. Hell you gave more reasons than she did technically.
 
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