Comments on: The Social Network

By: Lekha

Lekha — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:52:49 +0000

Hooper became a front runner the moment he won the DGA award. Apparently the decision of the DGA and the Academy for the director trophy have differed on only six occasions since the inception of the awards.

By: Harsh

Harsh — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:09:40 +0000

Fincher turn? Tom the new kid on the block? I am humbled. And a little disappointed. I hope Finsher’s turn comes soon. Real soon. If you miss out for a film that became an instant classic, the Academy Vijeta King must have been good. Real good.

By: True Grit (2010) | Critical Twenties

True Grit (2010) | Critical Twenties — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:38:59 +0000

[...] (they’ve already given it to them for a better film) or Best Picture (odds on favourite being that-facebook-movie). Jeff Bridges also just won Best Actor, and I don’t see the Academy giving him one more so [...]

By: Harsh

Harsh — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:24:05 +0000

Well, its Ficnher’s turn. No recogintion for Zodiac by the Academy, Benjamin Button wasnt going to make it, Fight Club is now a modern cult classic irrespective of what one feels about what the film has to say. Tom King’s Speech Hooper is still a new kid on the block, Arfonsky is good but the perception is the “Pie” man should be happy he is up there, Coens have won 2 already and it ll be 3 too many. So Fincher it is. And yes the man deserves it! Great writing, editing and performances all around.

By: Lekha

Lekha — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:12:50 +0000

@ Anisha: Yeah, the whole banter thing did sound familiar, but any artist with a large body of work is bound to “repeat” a few characters or styles. Woody Allen suffers from the safe problem, even Ursula K LeGuin’s characters began to bear a familial resemblance. I suppose artists just like doing things that they know worked in the past?

And yes, the exclusion of Fighter was deliberate. Actually I don’t think even 127 Hours is going to win, but I liked the movie so much, I decided to pretend it had a chance!

By: Suhrith

Suhrith — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:02:38 +0000

@Anisha: I am not sure The Fighter is a serious contender. If it is, it shouldn’t be. No doubt, its a decent ‘feel good’ movie with good performances, but parts of it was far too fluffy.

By: The King’s Speech: the ultimate feel-good film | Critical Twenties

The King’s Speech: the ultimate feel-good film | Critical Twenties — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:43:27 +0000

[...] This is more than I can say for Tom Hooper’s nomination as Best Director. Frankly, I thought his directorial style was a little over the top (Beethoven blaring during the eponymous King’s speech) and vastly predictable: his fellow nominees in both David Fincher (Social Network) and the Coen brothers (True Grit) are far more nuanced (read about why Lekha picks Fincher for the win here). [...]

By: Anisha

Anisha — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:33:56 +0000

I’m a big Sorkin fan in general but I thought his script here was pretty hard to swallow. I agree with Zadie Smith that he made Zuck sound like both parts of Josh and Toby hammering away at each other in the West Wing (great for a fictional yarn but not when the earnest original is to be found dishing out sweet interviews all over Youtube). But, you are almost certainly right, he will win (and as a follow-up to the writer of that Precious, anyone would look like the rightful heir to Nabakov).

Actually, I’d agree with all your picks. Fincher’s a very stylish director and probably deserves the prize. Aronofsky made an incredibly intense film but something sticks in the throat at the thought of awarding his, er, character development: white swan = pink fluffy teddy bears and (gosh!) virginity and black swan = goth fashion sense, tattoos and (gasp!) lesbian hook-up.

Best picture: you left out “The Fighter”. Token druggie flick, possibly? I haven’t yet seen it…