I’m trying to drop it but others keep bringing it up and if they’re going to bring it up, well, what can do but go back on the offense. Sorry, readers, guilty. David Poland writes this:
One of the blog commenters can’t seem to separate why Slumdog won from why The Dark Knight was not nominated. In response, I found myself explaining my TDK issues – which are not nearly as severe as he constantly claims – in yet another way… so I thought I would share…
…The problem with Dark Knight – though it is certainly a beautifully made and strong film – is that it didn’t achieve its own ambitions… not MY ambitions for it… ITS ambitions.
There are two things at issue here that Poland, and everyone else who ever tries to explain why the Academy didn’t nominate the film. The first is their own personal opinion of the film. Okay, fine, so they didn’t like it. The second is to take the Academy’s snubbing of the film as some sort of validation for their own.
By contrast, Andrew O’Hehir takes the same issue on at Salon and really does get the big picture. His point is that he might not have liked it but that doesn’t diminish its importance this year. In other words, no one liked The Reader or Benjamin Button very much either but those still got nominated, and even won a few Oscars. So no one can tell me that their dislike of a film is a good enough reason to ignore a film like The Dark Knight. What O’Hehir said:
If you take the long view, maybe this change is normal and cyclical and in no way new. This tension between arty and commercial cinema, and this tendency to revert away from either extreme toward a mean of mediocrity, has been present in the Academy all along. In 1931, the fourth year Oscars were handed out, best picture went to the western “Cimarron,” while neither “City Lights” nor “Frankenstein” was nominated. Consider this list of non-nominated pictures from 1955 and 1956 alone: “The Night of the Hunter,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “The Searchers,” “The Seven Samurai,” “Bus Stop,” “Oklahoma!,” “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” “Written on the Wind.” (Winners: “Marty” in ‘55, “Around the World in 80 Days” in ‘56.) One could go on; look up 1973 if this sort of thing engages you.
Fairly or not, “The Dark Knight” now belongs on that list, while “Slumdog Millionaire,” a nifty little film without much steak beneath its sizzle, is now inscribed on the tablet of what-the-hell-were-they-thinking Oscar champions, alongside “The Life of Emile Zola” and “The Greatest Show on Earth.” And “Dances With Wolves” and “Shakespeare in Love” and “Crash” — and most likely whatever wins a year from now. Still, I can’t wait for the tender, tearful exchange between Judi Dench and Miley Cyrus.
76 Responses for "The Dark Knight Continues to Generate Talk"
Still this?
Will it never stop?
Oh, pleeeeeeeease!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two awards, it´s more than this action movie deserves…
It’s unfair to compare Slumdog to stuff like Crash and Dances with Wolves in a weak year that was 2008.
And i’m so sick of the Dark Knight crap over and over again, it wasn’t nominated. Get over it, many things haven’t been nominated before and “the trick is not minding”
Also no one liked Benjamin Button? Yeah, thats why it made over 100 mil in the states.
Dances with Wolves is not crap. As good as Goodfellas? No. Crap? No.
dark knight had prety much the highest profile/media level of any film this year.biggest box office/had near the top of love from critics/ and was everywhere/you turned around and you found it everywhere.
and it’s not getting a best pic nom. well i don’t care. let someone that fave films this year got pretty much nothing complain.and who gives a damn about that ??? no one…
but you dark knight mavens….i wonder if ther’s been any suicides over the no best pic nom ????
the dark knight had pretty much everything aside from a best pic nom. geesh. you want it all. and some of us got *nothing* or pretty close nothing. and who is crying for us ???
if a film i like ever has the mania beyond it/ as the dark knight. please remind me to act the same way as you dark knight mavens. thanks…
I loved the Dark Knight, but I loved Slumdog Millionaire more.
I hate it when people belittle Dances with Wolves and Shakespeare in Love like that. Just because they won over the more popular choice, doesn’t mean they’re not amazing films in their own right. In fact, they are my picks for Best Picture in their respective year (although I would’ve picked the un-nominated The Truman Show over Shakespeare in Love). Dances with Wolves is a beautifully made film about a man’s relationship with the frontier and the people in it, it’s beautifully paced, to look at, and even though some pieces are contrived, it is nonetheless fascinating. Shakespeare in Love is a very funny comedy story, touching love story, with plenty of references and in-jokes for Shakespeare fans, and scene-stealing performances from Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Imelda Staunton and Judi Dench (I even thought Ben Affleck was quite good in his role). It just baffles that it has become a consensus that Dances with Wolves and Shakespeare in Love are un-deserving winners (I understand Crash, even though I still really like it, I would’ve picked Brokeback Mountain).
Also, Slumdog Millionaire is beautiful, and I think it will stand the test of time, because the story is timeless. It takes me back to films that were made back in the 30’s and 40’s, and yet it still feels like something fresh and original (maybe a predictable, but still fresh). That’s what I’ve always loved about Slumdog Millionaire, and I want the backlash to die down so we can see how it stands the test of time (I think it will).
Sadly I think Mr. O’Hehir is right. I say “sadly” because, as Andrew pointed out, the year really wasn’t that great for film whereas the opposite is true of pictures like Dances with Wolves or The Greatest Show on Earth. I don’t know if that other film will be Dark Knight, though. Despite my feelings for Benjamin Button, I think that one will age better than Slumdog. Or maybe Gran Torino as one of Eastwood’s late home runs which was snubbed outright.
“Fairly or not, “The Dark Knight” now belongs on that list, while “Slumdog Millionaire,” a nifty little film without much steak beneath its sizzle, is now inscribed on the tablet of what-the-hell-were-they-thinking Oscar champions, alongside “The Life of Emile Zola” and “The Greatest Show on Earth.” And “Dances With Wolves” and “Shakespeare in Love” and “Crash” — and most likely whatever wins a year from now. Still, I can’t wait for the tender, tearful exchange between Judi Dench and Miley Cyrus.”
AMEN
TDK was the perfect mixture of insane critical response, almost uniform guild support, and massive box office (2nd highest ever).
AMPAS dropped the ball, maybe they’ll recover it one day. Until then, suck it TDK haters. It’s a better film than anything nominated last year and yes, that includes Slumdog.
I find it ironic how this article is trying to explain how we shouldn’t let our personal taste interfere with what the Academy chooses to do, with how a movie should be received and then in its’ final paragraph, very obviously picks sides: essentially calling Slumdog a weak film (which it isn’t) and placing it alongside “Crash”, (again, which it isn’t) and THEN clearly picking Saving private Ryan over Shakespear in Love and Goodfellas over Dances with Wolves. How can you possibly take what he’s saying seriously?
And for the last time, Slumdog isn’t going to go down in history the way Crash has. If anything it will be remembered as the little movie that could and will give hope to other indie filmmakers that you can do it too. While some people may not like it, don’t deny the overwhelming response to the film.
And compare EVERY movie , EXCEPT Rocky and Braveheart, is an absurd!!!!!!!!!
These 3 are the worst nightmare to Academy reputation…
Crash was more of an indie film than Slumdog. It was the little film that could.
Crash’s budget was nearly a third of Slumdog’s, it’s widest release was just slightly over 1,900, Haggis was a first time feature film writer-director. It’s box office pre-nomination, slightly over $50 Million.
Oops, compare Rocky and Braveheart to Crash/Trash, obviously.
What’s with the Braveheart hate?
The only films that touch Braveheart that year were Apollo 13 and Babe. Braveheart does not tarnish the Academy whatsoever.
Crash, however, alongside some 50’s misses, does.
Andrew,
You said “Also no one liked Benjamin Button? Yeah, thats why it made over 100 mil in the states.” to someone saying nobody liked Benjamin Button. Well, Dark Night beat that five times. I think the person meant that the critic’s weren’t wowed over it. Most of the Critics did like Dark Knight. I still don’t understand The Reader being nominated. Maybe the geezer academy branch felt Kate being naked made it a good film. Nothing against Kate’s actual performance in the film. All in all i still felt that The Dark Knight should of had that 5th slot.
Even if you don’t think much of Slumdog it won’t suffer the Crash fate because it didn’t beat the near-masterpieces. The competition this year wasn’t the strongest.
I thought the trick was not minding?
It’s too late for The Academy to change its collective mind, but I guarantee that The Dark Knight will be remembered for a long, long while. It’s an exceptional film on nearly every level, and its omission from the final five Best Picture nominees is inexcusable. I take consolation in the fact that Christopher Nolan is undoubtedly one of the most talented directors working today (you don’t need the list from Entertainment Weekly to validate this), and whether or not his talent will ever be recognized by the Academy is not important; he will continue to make great films regardless. I have realized that the Academy is ultimately a biased and corrupt group that year after year followers try to justify but ultimately cannot.
I’m extremely happy for everyone behind The Dark Knight for being recognized by the public for their genius. And, of course, I am also happy that the film won two Oscars. I’m more of a Chris Nolan fan than a fan of Batman, so I’m going to continue to eagerly await his future films. However, I now know not to expect any type of recognition from the Academy regarding them. This past awards season I became too invested in The Dark Knight’s trek to the Oscars, and consequently came away unspeakably disappointed. In the end, an Oscar might help careers, but it definitely is not a reliable way of measuring great films.
For all those people, including AwardsDaily readers, who didn’t like The Dark Knight, I respect your opinions. But for all of the haters out there who bash the film simply because they are sick of its popularity and enjoy purposelessly debating, you can continue on hating. You can now relish in the reality that The Dark Knight wasn’t nominated for Best Picture. But it doesn’t matter. The Dark Knight is a film that holds its own. It’s a film that, no matter the lack of Best Picture and Director nominations or even the pathetic backlash on these forums, will continue to build its legacy over the years as one of the true best of 2008.
“And “Dances With Wolves” and “Shakespeare in Love” and “Crash” — and most likely whatever wins a year from now.”
Yeah this is incorrect because Slumdog didn’t win over Goodfellas, Saving Private Ryan or Brokeback Mountain. It also has a pretty big fanbase, 100 mil at the B.O., 94% on RottenTomatoes, and was just overall a very good production – the best of the lot that was nominated, at least, and better than The Dark Knight.
I was more disappointed with Wall-E being snubbed than TDK.
DAN WHITE HAS AN ISSUE!!!
Also why’s no one bitching that the BAFTA’s and the Globes (fuckin POPULARITY awards/Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder) snubbed The Dark Knight also.
Also why’s no one bitching that the BAFTA’s and the Globes (fuckin POPULARITY awards/Tom Cruise for Tropic Thunder) snubbed The Dark Knight also.
Because who cares? When the Globes said no everyone thought okay, fine, it’s over. But then PGA, DGA and WGA.
I thought the trick was not minding?
It is the goal. One fails at it time and time again, hence the irony of the statement I suppose.
Look, I loved The Dark Knight. Truly. And it most definitely deserved to be nominated for Best Picture. I wouldn’t have even batted an eye if it ending up winning.
But to almost always in the same breath moan about the Academy snubbing Dark Knight and then malign Slumdog Millionaire as another “Crash” is just completely absurd to me. Is it the next Schindler’s List? No, but it’s definitely no Crash and if people really can’t tell the difference then I pity them.
And if I had to choose only one to be nominated for Best Picture this year between Wall-E and The Dark Knight, I’d pick the robot. Just saying.
here we go again…
Braveheart = dreck, worse than Crash
90% of the academy is over 45
Well that explains the Benjamin Button nomination and the Frost/Nixon nomination.
This year the Academy told us which movie the over 45 crowd liked best. The Best Movie of the year is the movie that can stand the test of time and be as entertaining it was this year in 20 years from now, in 30 years from now, in 50 years from now, from different people from different generations. Slumbore won’t be remembered, TDK most assuredly will be watched over, and over, and over again. Treasured every time.
Again, a very small group of people liked Slumdog whereas an enormous amount of people preferred TDK.
Slumdog Millionaire is a damn good film. Comparisons to the most notorious Best Picture winners in history are knee jerk reactions to viewers’ disappointment in their film not coming out on top. No, the Dark Knight wasn’t nominated, let alone win, but that doesn’t make Slumdog any less of a film. I think the 8 Oscars that Slumdog won will come back to haunt it in the future, but this isn’t a situation of Shakespeare in Love proportions. Slumdog was far and away the best film nominated. Best of the year? I go back and forth on that. But of the chosen five? In my opinion, there’s no contest.
Braveheart was the worst BP nominee in an already uninspiring BP lineup that year (out of the nominees Sense and Sensibility should have won, but that lineup left out great films like Heat, The Usual Suspects, and Leaving Las Vegas). Absolutely one of the worst BP winners along with Crash in the past 20-30 years, and the worst BP lineups in the same timeframe along with 2004 and this year.
I won’t malign Slumdog that much – it was a good movie and Danny Boyle certainly deserved his long overdue accolades. However, I find it ridiculous that it will probably end up being the most awarded movie in history, and sweep the awards even more than masterpieces like Schindler’s List, American Beauty, BBM, ROTK, and NCFoM, films that unequivocally deserved all their accolades. Granted, 2008 wasn’t particularly a watershed year for film, but AMPAS’s choices this year, after 2 straight years of pretty kudos worthy picks, reverted back to safe and dull and easily tilted the playing field in favor of Slumdog.
TDK and WALL-E – the true BP winners of 2008.
The funny thing about this is that not being nominated was probably the best thing for The Dark Knight to be remembered. Because it’s now in that class of films that were tossed aside as mere “summer blockbusters” or even the ones that “too quirky,” “too smart,” “too violent,” or whatever is “too _____.”
I remember writing about when I was in high school. Though I don’t know why I remembered it now. It was a short criticism about the Oscars and its snub of Fight Club. Now, I know 1999 had a lot of great movies, but the ones I remember most from that year are the ones that weren’t nominated for Best Picture (Fight Club, South Park, The Matrix, Magnolia, Being John Malkovich). Of course, that was a year where The Sixth Sense was actually able to slip in… but The Green Mile? Come on, really? The Cider House Rules? And I never got into America Beauty like some people did. The 5th was The Insider (which should’ve won in my book).
But I think it goes to show that sometimes it works in a film’s favor when it’s NOT nominated. It’s like how Jim Carrey’s performance in The Truman Show is remembered more for its exclusion. Sometimes the win works against the movie (i.e. Crash, Roberto Benigni, Shakespeare in Love). Would Saving Private Ryan have the same adverse effect if it had won? I know I was more of a fan for The Thin Red Line at the time (which is a beautiful film with I can admit has flaws).
However, I don’t think Slumdog Millionaire will feel this adverse effect. There’s really nothing to hate about it. I liked it. I just didn’t love it the way I loved The Dark Knight or Wall-E.
I’m only talking about “how it’s remembered.” Obviously, everyone knows it’s better to be nominated when the opportunity comes around. But The Dark Knight was destined to be remembered regardless when talking about the Oscars. It was either going to be the first comic book movie to be nominated… or it was going to spark controversy.
Is it perfect? Absolutely not. No film is.
Will it be an influential movie for future generations? Only time will tell. It’s always strange which films become those types of movies. But that also all depends on the people watching them. Personally, The Rock influenced me and sparked my real interest in film, so it just goes to show… you never can tell.
Just a reminder that the AMPAS doesn’t scientifically pick the Best Picture of the year, they are a group of filmmakers who pick what they liked best in the heat of the moment. They don’t use any magic formulae that generate objective results.
But honestly, one could argue about every single award that is given not only in the movie industry, but also other cultural disciplines.
Like literature, for example: No Nobel Prize for James Joyce, the late John Updike, Franz Kafka (ok, he became famous after his death), Thomas Pynchon and so on and so on…what were they thinking?
Honestly, I think the Academy (in comparison to the Nobel Prize Jury) has not exceptionally much to be ashamed for and is less obscure!
All their winners choices – almost everybody seem to forget that – reflects the taste of that special year and necessarily often can´t stand the judgement of critics and fans that look back decades later.
And finally: I´m pretty sure “Slumdog Millionaire” will be regarded in years to come as a fresh, young, lively choice that managed to beat the much more conventional hollywood candidate “Ben Button”!
I do wish “Slumdog” could enjoy its win. And I think that it’ll stand up to Time. Right now, I read about how voters/fans will wonder why they were so enthralled by it in 2008. I don’t think so. I think (and I realize this is just me throwing my opinion out there, *g*) it’ll hold up well. It’s not just a little movie that could. I think it really was one of the best of the year; taking more chances than the majority of films around it. I think for that, it should be recognized. And was happy that it was.
(But, I do understand why “TDK” gets talked about. It had a remarkable year too.)
I don’t think Slumdog is a fluke and to be forgotten soon. My friends who rarely give a shit about Oscar all know about it and like it very much, and many of them don’t have any idea about ‘No Country for Oldmen’ or even ‘Brokeback Mountain’ that many consider as classic. The Dark Knight was definitely a hit, but we don’t think it is a superior movie from ‘Batman Begins’. But Slumdog is already a legend, except for people who don’t want to believe that.
“All their winners choices – almost everybody seem to forget that – reflects the taste of that special year”
Except for this year, though. I see the Oscars mainly as a time-capsule/yearbook as well, but in decades to come, no one will be able to look back on this year’s nominees and appreciate the impact that The Dark Knight had on 2008, so even at the low standards I have held the Academy at, they’ve failed at them.
This will never happen, but maybe the Academy should institute a “What The Hell Were We Thinking” award that corrects past oversights. (Not to take anything away from previous winners, but to recognize the greatness of work that didn’t get its due the first time around.) Think of it like the Veterans Committee at the Baseball Hall Of Fame that inducts members that were overlooked by the writers and became no longer eligible by the traditional format.
Immediate corrections could include Picture Oscars for “Citizen Kane”, “Vertigo”, “Goodfellas”, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, as well as Acting Awards for Morgan Freeman in “The Shawshank Redemption”, DeNiro in “Taxi Driver”, Julianne Moore in “Far From Heaven”, Pacino in “Godfather II”. The list could go on and on. Even if they just did one “historic recognition” award a year, at least it would do something to offset their “what do we like today” tendencies. Crazy? Probably – It will never happen. But I would enjoy it, to be sure.
I completely disagree with the sentiment in the O’Hehir article. There’s no way Slumdog will be thought of alongside abysmal winners like Crash because (A) it’s a great movie and (B) it was easily the best picture of the five nominated.
Now, you can argue that The Dark Knight was better (I disagree, but I can see thinking that) or that WALL-E was better (not a chance…the movie basically fell apart when it left Earth, IMO).
But I think what you’ll see with Slumdog’s legacy is the Academy Awards becoming a little bit more globalized. When amazing foreign films catch a lot of attention, people will say, “Hey, Slumdog won best picture–maybe this has a chance.” I think Slumdog’s win is evidence of a rapidly globalizing world–and that’s what it’ll be remembered for.
It’s pretty clear that Slumdog has made much more of an imprint on our culture–as being reflective of our more global tastes–than any of the other four, by far. On what basis do any of other four strike anyone as being important, or worthy of being remembered (besides, possibly, Milk)? I don’t see it.
” No one liked The Reader or Benjamin Button very much either but those still got nominated, and even won a few Oscars. So no one can tell me that their dislike of a film is a good enough reason to ignore a film like The Dark Knight.”
Here we go again. Your being supportive of Andrew O’Hehir article proves you are still not over with TDK’s missing out, which is fine by me,but you made it sound like TDK was supposed to be nominated just because of the box office and critical acclaims it received. “How can they ignore a film that everybody likes?”. Sure they can, if you put the notion of the AMPAS members vote for what they like with their opinion and subjectivity. Maybe you won’t find it so hard to believe that TDK wasn’t nominated.
The AMPAS sometimes go against the public’s opinion, and TDK’s missing out the main nods is a reflection of that. Sure, it’s got big box office, sure, it is critically acclaimed, those are the facts, and nobody will doubt it, but those facts do not mean Oscar members will have to agree and vote for it. I personallly think TDK is highly overrated, highly pretentious. It tried to hard to become something that it was not. I even think Batman Begins is a much better film than TDK. It’s got the right balance of crime drama and comic book element.
Anyhow. It is ok to voice one’s opinion about the movie he or she loves, but Sasha, to say or question Academy’s credibility or taste simply because TDK missed out is just a bit ridiculous and over the top.
Those 5 best picture nominess are all easily more interesting than TDK.
TDK is a sequel(Most fans seem to have forgotten about it), it is a batman movie, and the hype comes from Ledger’s death and performance.
TDK fans get offended when people say it is just a batman movie. Then why can’t other movie fans who do not like TDK as much be offended when TDK fans just totally dismiss other films just because TDK missed out at the main nods.
Be satisfied, and it is over. TDK’s just did not get enough vote to make it to the top 5. Simple and plain. The endless justification for TDK’s missing out is getting a bit old and over the top.
Chung Cheng Fang,
I´m proud your words.
I couldn´t be better.
I agrree whit every word.
I’m sorry, Frost/Nixon was NOT more interesting than The Dark Knight. Of all the best pictures nominees, that’s the one that ticked me off the most.
Braveheart = dreck, worse than Crash
How, Paul, could you say that? It’s classic storytelling, has great themes, expertly filmed…how could you compare that to the wholly average Crash?
WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?
1969 2001: A Space Oddysey not nominated for Best Picture
1976 Rocky Horror Picture Show not nominated for Best Picture
1978 Annie Hall over Star Wars
1979 Kramer vs Kramer over Apocalypse Now
1980 Ordinary People over Raging Bull
1982 Chariots of Fire over Raiders of The Lost Ark and Reds
1990 Driving Miss Daisy over Born on The 4th of July
2002 Black Hawk Down not nominated for Best Picture
2003 Chicago over Gangs of New York
2007 American Gangster not nominated for Best Picture
I WILL SAY THIS FOR THE LAST TIME
CRASH WAS AN AMAZING MOVIE!!!!!
“WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?”
Don’t forget in 2002, A Beatiful Mind over The Lords Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring.
The TDK snub in the majors will be talked about for a long time, I think. Regardless of what any one individual’s take on the film is, the fact remains it was the movie event of the year. It reached a level of success very few films do, garnering both big box office numbers and critcal acclaim. It was natural to think the film would step up to the next level and earn Oscar nominations in the big races.
The fact that it did not shows AMPAS still harbors a bias against certain genres. It was a huge disappointment to a lot of people who relished the film, and will not be forgotten anytime soon.
It really has nothing to do with Slumdog or it’s being named BP. It has more to do with frustration that AMPAS was not willing to “think outside the box” and at least give the film the recognition it deserved with a BP or BD nomination.
We TDK fans are like Slumdog jamal. he never stopped talking about latika, wel`l never stop talking about TDK. And like jamal never stopped looking for her, we`ll never stop looking for TDK validation.
TDK is just too big to ignore, hence why it`s still talked about and continue to do so. Like Titanic. Whatever you think of its quality, it`s too big to ever be forgotten or never be brought up in conversation again.
“Braveheart = dreck, worse than Crash”
How, Paul, could you say that? It’s classic storytelling, has great themes, expertly filmed…how could you compare that to the wholly average Crash?
Crash has “great” themes too, but it’s not the work of filmmaker whose masculinity and violence issues obscure any artistry he may possess. I can’t sit through any Gibson-directed movie without yelling at the screen, getting sick to my stomach or leaving the room. (I’m not a big Tarantino fan either, as you can imagine.)
Oh, Paul, don’t be such a sensitive person lol.
Can’t help it, I was drawn that way.
outlaw
too bad you don’t like Tarantono. Kill Bill is a cinematic masterpiece…and what is up with this emotion thing? hmm, I might not take you seriously again
Enough. Was there much more steak beneath the sizzle of The Dark Knight?
since you guys are content to beat this dead TDK horse,
allow me to beat a dead horse of my own.
UNITED 93.
the exclusion in the best pic category
of that amazing Paul Greengrass film
was far more egregious an error than that committed
against DARK KNIGHT. why?
it won more best picture citations from critic groups than any film of
its year. it was on more 10 best lists than any film of
its year.
TDK won zero best pic awards from any group (wait, did it win
the MTV award?)
TDK was #2 in the 10 best list compilation…under WALL-E.
yet there is little crying and gnashing of teeth over
the fate of the little trash compactor’s story from Pixar.
SeattleMovieGoer, TDK did win three, albeit very minor, critics’ prizes: Utah, Austin, and African-American critics. That is actually more wins, however, than either Curious Case (0), The Reader (0), and Frost/Nixon (1). Slumdog very much dominated the critics’ prizes, followed by WALL-E, then TDK.
Anyone think that, somehow or someway, the Academy might just look back and realize the big mistake and, if Nolan delivers again, make 2011 the year all about showering TDK2 (or BB3, or Batman 7, whichever you prefer) with awards??
SeattleMoviegoer, I’m so in agreement with you about United 93. I was happy Greengrass at least got recognized at BAFTA. It seemed AMPAS was too squeemish (“it’s too soon”) to view a realistic 9/11 film. Stone’s film was easier to take because it had a happy ending, but paled in comparison to U-93.
Anyway, that’s off the topic. I think most TDK fans were not looking for the film to win BP or BD, they were just hoping for a nomination. After the film made so many shortlists for critic’s awards and then guilds, it looked pretty hopeful. It was a disappointment that will take a while to forget.
Anyone who thinks Slumdog Millionaire will end up on the Greatest Show on Earth list of “what were they thinking” picks is kidding themselves. Truly, honestly, deluding themselves. It’s just as bad as Poland trying to validate TDK’s lack of nominaton by explaining his own opinion.
TDK fans are clearly out of control. TDk’s lost, the voters of AMPAS did not recognize it, what’s done is done, stop being sour grapes, and stop bashing other films and saying other nominees or winners won’t be remembered. TDK fans should have sportsmanship, just concede gracefully without being such sore losers. It is not as though it went home empty handed. It got two Oscars, didn’t it??? Slumdog deserves the Oscar, it is an unusual Oscar winner with a cast of unknown, a script with heart and soul, and hope, it is truly a masterpiece.
The Dark Knight?? Mark my word, it remains a question as to whether it will be remembered. Ledger’s performance will be remembered, but TDK as a film will go down in history as one of the better superhero movies. Stop treating it as something that it is not, just like Christopher Noland’s trying to make it something that it is not. It is a sequel, a good movie, and an above the average sequel., and that’s it. Get over it.
In your opinion, Chung. Remember, opinion isn’t absolute. And I’m pretty sure TDK will be remembered as 2008’s Being John Malkovich or Fight Club. There’s no question whether it will be remembered or not. It has profoundly affected the superhero genre in a way that hasn’t been done since Watchmen first popped up in comic book shops. I think Watchmen is a superior work, but TDK still brings up a lot of thought-provoking questions that many average action movies can’t concieve.
“TDK” fanboys and fangirls always were OUT OF CONTROL.
And I see they will keep this thing…
It sucks!
IT REALLY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!
The TDK fans could keep justifying all they want. One of the reasons it wasn’t nominated was because it was a batman movie, and it was a sequel. It sounds harsh, but it is plain and simple. It doesn’t matter how dark it is or how brilliant it is, it is still a movie about a man in a bat suit fighting a crazy clown. Plain and simple. I am glad the AMPAS did not nominate it and go with the flow with the public and the FANBOYS who think TDK is the best film ever. Bravo!
It doesn’t matter how dark it is or how brilliant it is, it is still a movie about a man in a bat suit fighting a crazy clown. Plain and simple.
But the backwards-aging man movie (which I also loved) managed to get 13 nominations, including Best Picture.
(Not to mention the “I can’t read, so they must die” movie — five nominations, including Best Picture.)
Plain and simple.
Chung fang fart, or whatever the fuck your name is, you are really trying my patience. I loved TDK, but I don’t think it is the greatest movie of all time. I can name a whole handful of movies better than TDK. But your simplistic views are what’s holding the Oscars back from embracing art in whatever form it is in. Because “it is still a movie about a man in a bat suit fighting a crazy clown”? God, if it wasn’t about Batman you would have your snobbish and elitist little fantasy complete and you would start jumping on the TDK train and call it a masterpiece. But because it’s based off a ‘comic book’ means it’s ’simplistic’?
Do yourself a favor and read ‘Watchmen’. It will blow your sorry excuse of a mind. And generalizing and stereotyping all TDK fans as vehement and ravenous freaks is just plain mean. You come across as a stupid little brat who thinks you’re better than everybody else when the truth is, no one gives a flying fuck about you.
Rant over. Now go do a Keyser Soze and disappear.
Ok, my last words here.
Serious.
“TDK” is a good movie. Very good. I Really don´t think so much better than “Batman Beguins”, very good too.
Point.
I love “Matrix”, “Spider Man” and “Sin City”.
I do love these movies.
Three great movies, beyond actions scenes.
I never CRIED AS A DESESPERATE for noms for best picture and director and screenplay and cameo and personal hair for one of them.
Point.
That´s the difference.
TDK fanboys and fangirls created an illusion. Now, can´t face facts.
The show must go on…
Keep on moving…
Where not talking about “A Streetcar Named Desire”/ “A Place in the Sun” or “All the President´s Men”/ Network” or “Reds” or “Sense and Sensibility” or “Brokeback Mountain”.
It´s “TDK”, NOT NOMINEE.
Please..
Hey, Nick turd, here we go again, you are just like those TDK fanboys who get personal just because I disagree with them and think the AMPAS made a wise decision. No one cares about me? I don’t give a flying fuck about those crazy TDK fanboys like you, and you, you can just stop pretending you are not of them because i know you are. You are one pathetic TDK fan who can’t stand any criticisms of TDK.You and the TDK fans motto is practically printed all over your foreheads..”Either you are with TDK or you are terrorists”.
And you are in a denail of being one of them because if you were not, you would not have had such a strong anger and reaction to my post.
What about those fans who wanted boycott the Oscars because Oscars dismissed TDK???? What about those fans who say “TDK will be remembered in 100 years, and others will be easily forgotten”. Don’t they get on your nerves??? They sure got on mine!!! But I think the truth of the matter is obvious, you are a TDK fan boy.
So do yourself a favor. Calm the fuck down, and don’t get so personal with me. I should be allowed to think TDK is just a good batman movie, i should not be punished just because I happen to agree with AMPAS voters.
And again for those of you who bashed me, I don’t give a shit about what you’re saying about me.
The Dark Knight is still a batman movie, and a fucking sequel to Batman Begins. It is a decent sequel, but there is no way that it should be compared to other true masterpieces like Return of the King, or even Titanic. Those films are extraordinary and revolutionary in many aspects. The Dark Knight is just simply a batman movie with a realistic style, and it is blessed by Ledger’s death and performance.
Bash me all you want, it is too late. Go bash the members of AMPAS for being “Bataphobic” because no one cares about your little ranting and raving. Life goes on, TDK is just another overhyped and overrated batman movie/blockbuster. Bravo again for the AMPAS, and fuck all of those who get so personal with me. Lighten the fuck up.
thanks for the words Chung Cheng Fang.
Flapp. Thanks, Your have a very good point!
And Nick K. Nobody gives a flying fuck about what you think. Just concede gracefully, will ya? Stop bashing people like me who think TDK is not the best film in decades.
You know what man? You’re right. You do have a right to express your opinion. I’m not saying that. I guess I did overreact because I think Batman fanboys think people who don’t like TDK are snobbish and people who don’t like TDK view Batman fanboys as sweaty, opressive zealots. I guess I got mad because I hate it when people use the fact that something’s based on a comic book as an excuse to not validate (in my opinion) something great. You know, I just watched ‘Fight Club’ (if you haven’t seen it yet, you should) and I learned a lot about conformity and free will from that movie. We shouldn’t live our lives according to what goes with the flow or what is popular; we have to retain our humanity and our free will by acting on behalf of ourselves. Too many conflicts in the world are started because of some petty disagreement. So man, I’m sorry I snapped at you and took it personally. I’m not sorry that I love TDK, and you’re not sorry you don’t love it. I think we can both live with that. Pacem?
“Fairly or not, “The Dark Knight” now belongs on that list, while “Slumdog Millionaire,” a nifty little film without much steak beneath its sizzle, is now inscribed on the tablet of what-the-hell-were-they-thinking Oscar champions, alongside “The Life of Emile Zola” and “The Greatest Show on Earth.” And “Dances With Wolves” and “Shakespeare in Love” and “Crash” — and most likely whatever wins a year from now. Still, I can’t wait for the tender, tearful exchange between Judi Dench and Miley Cyrus.”
That’s simply asinine. Just because Slumdog won the year TDK was snubbed, it is destined to be forgotten? O’Herir is guilty of the same thing he accuses the Academy of doing: ignoring a film because he didn’t like it. Lots of people absolutely loved Slumdog – after Dark Knight and maybe The Wrestler, it was probably the most beloved film of the year. Pulling out movies like Greatest Show on Earth and Crash isn’t the right comparison – more apt would be comparing it to The Sting or In the Heat of the Night, movies that may have beat out more deserving films but are still classics in their own right. Just because your film didn’t win doesn’t mean you need to drag down another film with it, we have a term for people like that. It’s called a sore loser.
uh….i love THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH.
now, let me have it, folks…
Hi, Nick K. I appreciate your reply. I am sorry if i got a bit snappy too. I just can’t stand this whole notion of “Either you are with TDK or you are the terrorist”. I get annoyed by people who love TDK and think other nominees are not worthy just because TDK did not make it to top 5 or get other major nod. I just wish people would realize Oscar voters vote for what their love, and that is just a fact. I remember i was pretty pissed about Brokeback’s loss to Crash, but i accepted it and moved on. Every year is different. Anyway, I have seen Flightclub, it is a very interesting film, i’ve always thought it is a hardcore version of A Beautiful Mind. I respect your love and passion for TDK, and I am sorry it did on get the major nods,but whether i think it is deserving or not. TDK’s merits won’t be any less just because it wasn’t nominated for best picture. Peach
I always saw ‘Fight Club’ as a mature, violent version of Calvin & Hobbes, but hey, to each their own.
I have not seen Calvin and Hobbes, but that is an interesting way of putting it.
Everyone knows that The Dark Knight got snubbed. The Academy have snubbed plenty of great movies in their past, and I’m sure will do the same again as the years go by.
However, I will never understand how The Reader got nominated. It was a really average movie.
I don’t think TDK was snubbed. The Academy just doesn’t agree with every movie fan, and they don’t have to agree. This word “Snubbed” is so misused.
The Reader was nominated because it got enough members who nominated it.
Just stop justifying it, if you just look at it as the Academy members vote for what they love, you might not be as frustrated.
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