This Is Me--2024 A to Z Theme

My A to Z Themes in the past have covered a range of topics and for 2024 the theme is a personal retrospective that I call "I Coulda Been" which is in reference to my job and career arc over my lifetime. I'll be looking at all sorts of occupations that I have done or could have done. Maybe you've done some of these too!

Friday, February 22, 2019

The Greatest Snub (#BOTB Results)




The Oscars aren’t about popular movies. It’s time for the Academy to accept that.  A better answer, perhaps, is something like, “The Oscars represent the way Hollywood sees itself.”   Sunny Bunch (Washington Post)




The Greatest Snub

       This past Saturday night a grandchild who was spending the night asked to watch her now favorite film The Greatest Showman.  I reminded my wife that it was quarter to nine at night and the girl would never be able to stay up for it.  My wife assured me that she'd fall right to sleep and then we could turn it off and go to bed.  As predicted, the young one fell asleep, while my wife and I proceeded to watch the entire movie for the umpteenth time.

        As the credits rolled at the end, we both marveled at what a wonderful film this is.   I mentioned to my wife that I had kept intending to turn off the DVD, but then I wanted to hear that next song and then the process would happen with that next song.  "Yes! Same with me," exclaimed my wife.  Neither one of us wanted to give up watching the film to the end.

        That's the way that film is with me and with millions of others around the world.  And yet I still am somewhat perplexed by the Oscar snub and the thumbs down by so many critics.  But that's Hollywood and the modern world of the celebrity culture.

        Looking at the negative reviews for Greatest Showman on the internet we get some rather peculiar reasoning about historical inaccuracies of the story and the characters portrayed.  Are they missing the point that this film is supposed to be a family friendly musical?  If someone wants to make a dark story about P.T. Barnum and the circus then let them have a go at it if they think that's better.  After all, The Greatest Showman leaves most people feeling happy and uplifted.  Of course that's probably frowned upon by today's Hollywood.

        Then there was the anti-circus agenda crowd.  In recent decades there has been some ultra-strange thinking about the circus.  It probably amounts more to a certain fear, envy, or ignorance about the circus along with that odd desire to erase America's past or paint it as evil.  And one of the oddest objections was that Greatest Showman had CGI animals. I had no problem with them--certainly better than CGI monsters and superheroes.

        I don't know if we'll see an Oscar snub this year, although Oscar might get snubbed by the television audience.   Will having Black Panther on the list somewhat save the day?  I'll probably be watching off and on between channel hopping.  Watching the Best Picture award is obligatory in that case--unless something distracts my attention.

         This year--as has been the case most years in the past 20 years or so--I don't have any particular favorite.   I've only seen Bohemian Rhapsody out of the films nominated.  It was a good film though it didn't have the same effect on me as Greatest Showman.   Most of the others I don't care much about seeing and most of them I probably won't see.

         There is one that I do want to see and hope is the Best Picture winner.  That film is Green Book which is about one of my favorite jazz pianists, Don Shirley.  I didn't realize that was what the story was about until just a week or so ago when I heard the film being described on some television show. Based on the topic I'll pick that as my Oscar favorite.

          I'm sure Green Book will get snubbed just like The Greatest Showman which was the greatest Oscar snub of all.   The Academy voters had their reasons I'm sure and I'm sure they were all bad reasons.





Battle of the Bands Results




The Greatest Show

         The song for the most recent Battle was "The Greatest Show" as performed by the Mexican arts collective HousePuzzle and the rock group Second Floor Stereo.  Since the song is essentially a rock song it lends itself well to treatment by a standard rock group.  There were a number of good rock covers that I found on YouTube, but this group was my favorite.

         However, the exuberance and variety displayed by the singers and musicians participating in the HousePuzzle rendition were more appealing to me.  I liked the way they had females doing the lead vocals done by males in the film while retaining the spirit and flavor of the film. It's an exciting theatrical song performance with good ensemble work.

          Nevertheless, rock rules...at least in this match up...

       


Final Vote Tally

HousePuzzle                      8 votes

Second Floor Stereo         16 votes


Next Battle on Next Friday March 1st

           I'll be biding my time until that day.  Maybe I'll suffer the Oscars and I'll likely be keeping up with happenings in Viet Nam.  Yes, more of the same ol' same ol' until April first arrives when most of you probably know what will happen then.  If you can't guess what that will be then check out my next Battle which will in part be a tribute to the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.


         Do you have a Best Picture favorite this year?   Which of the nominated films have you seen?  How out of touch with the common folk do you think Hollywood is?   









30 comments:

  1. I haven't seen any of the nominees and yes, I do believe that Hollywood is woefully out of touch with the common folk on all fronts.

    As for those reviewers who trash a movie because of some slight historical inaccuracy, they really need to get a life. If you can't overlook a minor historical inaccuracy while watching a film, then you're just being petty close minded (reminds me of those SJW's who hammered "Dunkirk" for not having non-whites in major roles, when in the reality of historical accuracy, non-whites weren't even remotely on the scene during that time period in any kind of capacity whatsoever).

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    1. GB, good to see you again. I say let movies be movies. AS long as I am entertained, informed, and/or thought stricken then I'm okay.

      Lee

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  2. If they had used real animals in the film, they would've complained about that instead.
    The Oscars already have a snub. Aquaman should have been nominated for best special effects at the least. It's not nominated for anything.

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    1. Alex, sometimes you just can't win, but then you can't please everyone.
      I haven't seen Aquaman, but maybe on your recommendation I should check it out. I do like good special effects as long as they don't get too outlandishly silly.

      Lee

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  3. Hollywood has nothing to say to me. Movies are too much money for too little entertainment (they're charging $15 to watch "Green Book" on YouTube...). I've decided that, as long as I don't have to pay for it, they can turn out whatever crap they like.

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    1. John, guess I'll have to wait until I can afford Green Book. I'm not paying any $15 to just watch a movie.

      Lee

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  4. Lee,

    I long gave up on the Oscars doing anything right and haven't put a lot of stock in what the critics say for years, too. We watch a movie based on the trailer or a reliable source (family or friend) recommendation NOT what the so-called experts think. The Greatest Showman has a great soundtrack but I'm not a huge fan of mewsicals. If the movie ever shows up on Netflix then I might try to watch it. Thanks for sharing the outcome of your latest battle. Looks I sided with the winner. BTW, I am going to sign up for the A2Z Challenge. I know if I don't I'll kick myself a thousands time for not doing it later, so I'm rolling up my sleeves to begin work now. Have a good weekend!

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    1. Cathy, if you want wholesome entertainment with values and positive outlook then you need to watch Greatest Showman.
      Just enjoy A to Z and don't stress about it. I've barely even thought about what I'm going to post in April let alone start any posts.

      Lee

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  5. When the Oscars lose their glamour, and obscure films are selected, it's just the 'academy' patting itself on the back. If you disappoint the masses aka the public, you can expect a lack of viewers. We should keep politics and high art for other venues. What makes the money? Popular films. I don't watch it much anymore. I just read about the results the next day.

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    1. DG, one article I read described the awards ceremony as a "televised trade show" that is so niche as to be of little interest to many of us. If I want politics then I prefer to go to politicians and analysts. I look to entertainers to entertain me.

      Lee

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  6. I stopped watching the Oscars live a few years ago. Sometimes I record it, to skip past the boring parts. (And there are many; hate the political rants and long-winded speeches.) Too bad The Greatest Showman didn't get any recognition. It's a film I enjoyed as well. I also loved A Star Is Born, which is nominated for Best Picture, Actor and Actress. Haven't seen any of the others, but Aquaman should have been nominated for something technical at least, and wasn't.

    Your BOTB outcome was as expected. Rock rules - yeah! ☺

    April is the 10th anniversary for your A to Z Challenge. Congrats on keeping it going so long! I'll try to read as many posts as I can, but won't be participating. It's just too draining for me. I applaud everyone else for continuing the tradition, though. Enjoy!

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    1. Debbie D, I recorded the Oscars so I could watch two shows at once while fast forwarding through stuff I didn't care to see. Actually it was a pretty good ceremony low on political rants--unless I was fast forwarding through them.

      Maybe right before April you'll get a burst of inspiration and energy and decide to join us again for A to Z.

      Lee

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  7. Hmmm... I'm guessing I missed your battle this time...

    I never worry about awards. I loved League Of Extrordinary Gentlemen and Judge Dredd...

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    1. CW, yeah, I guess the awards wouldn't interest you.

      Lee

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  8. I have not seen the oscar show in decades. The last time I went to a theater to see a current film was 2003, when "Under the Tuscan Storm" was current. Even then, the only reason I went was because I helped build the movie house.

    Hey, my choice won, two to one. Nice!

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    1. Michael, my last theater film was in 2004. Movies have gotten too expensive for me and, besides, it's far more convenient and relaxing just to stay home and watch movies in my own living room

      Lee

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  9. You had a nice BOTB turnout, LEE.

    I won't be watching The Academy Awards for the 35th consecutive year. And I think it says plenty about Hollyweird when a movie about a comic book superhero is actually nominated for 'Best Picture'. Sheesh! That's pathetic! Long gone are the days when it took movies like 'The Deer Hunter' or 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' to even be considered worthy of a 'Best Picture' nomination.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    1. STMcC, the saddest part about that superhero movie that was nominated is that a lot of young people will probably think it's based on actual history. It seems that this year the best picture roster fulfills a lot of agendas.

      Lee

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  10. I gave up long ago on thinking or hoping that the Oscars reflect my taste.

    I like to think my taste is better than the Oscars and the stuff I like will be honored by the Oscars in 30 years in some form as a giant "Oops, we should have honored these movies at the time, which have gone on to be real classics."

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    1. Harry, I really think that now there is more of a quest to honor liberal message films rather than actually considering the best films of the year. The best films are timeless with a meaningful message that calls out to all.

      Lee

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  11. I don't care about the Oscars anymore and don't watch the awards shows. As for movies, I haven't seen a lot of the new ones, but loved The Greatest Showman and just received Bohemian Rhapsody from Netflix so will watch it this weekend.

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    1. Patricia, on the whole I've seen very few of new movies released over the past 10 or 20 years. I just don't keep up with movies like I used to in my younger days.

      Lee

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  12. I've recorded the Oscars - so I can fast forward when I want to! I enjoyed Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is born - hopefully will get to see Green Book this week. No desire to see Vice ... I wonder if The Greatest Show is on Netflix; I'll check it out. Thanks Lee :)

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    1. Susan S, I did the fast forward routine as well as I watched the Oscars almost in real time and watched another show during the commercials. Saves a lot of time.

      I first watched The Greatest Showman from a Netflix rental before going out to buy it.

      Lee

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  13. Haha! I bet you're laughing now since Green Book got best film!!! Go dude!

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    1. Lisa, I was a bit surprised by the Green Book win, but taking all things into consideration that film seemed like a logical safe choice to avert excess controversy about the awards. I was glad that Black Panther did not win as it might have seemed like pandering to the populist film crowd.

      Lee

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  14. I haven't watched the Oscars in years, since I rarely see any current films and thus have no idea what or whom they're talking about. Most of the modern films I do see are foreign, indie, arthouse, historical dramas, or documentaries, not popular blockbusters. I own my dinosaur and out of step tastes.

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    1. Carrie-Anne, I'm pretty much where you are though I usually end up watching at least parts of the Oscars each year.

      Lee

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  15. I liked The Greatest Showman. I don't think I've ever watched the Oscars. I have no clue who was in or out. I did see a tuxedo dress that impressed me, but that was on Facebook as a share from the red carpet. I assume it was worn to the awards.

    I'm psyched for YEAR TEN!

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    1. J, if I'm around the TV on Oscar night and not doing anything else then I'll usually watch the show to some extent and over the years it seems like I'm usually there. Like you I don't know much about the movies or the celebs.

      I'm still trying to get motivated for this year's A to Z.

      Lee

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Lee