Sasha Stone has been around the Oscar scene since 1999. Almost everything on this website is her fault.
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I miss Saul Bass.
Okay, let me catch up {so busy at work I have hardly had chance to read webpages, let alone write…}. I have always wondered about the Best British Film category, and I do believe BAFTA wanted this category to recognize British films – simple as that. That’s just BAFTA – they want to recognize homegrown talent. But it is getting to the stage now were that and Best Film will be the same five movies. Maybe they should fine tune the eligibility or something. I, for one, always hope the more “popular” movies do not win this category. But you two have said all this already to be honest. It is actually really bugging me now…
Last I checked Jonas and Alfonso Cuaron (who are Mexican because we must state that) were nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Everything we heard up to this point was that the script was “weak” from the nice people and “illiterate/needs to learn English” from the harshest critics. Yet BAFTA (The sophisticated British) nominated the script. So maybe I’d leave a tiny little room for the possibility that as a collective they really liked GRAVITY a lot (perhaps an iota more than McQueen’s film) and the whole thing is not a complot to relegate 12 YEARS A SLAVE to the film with the 2nd most nominations tied with AMERICAN HUSTLE because the horror.
I’m checking out before AMPAS makes Best Chicano Space Film for GRAVITY
Also debating which is more British 12 YEARS A SLAVE or GRAVITY, Really? Because Actors make something more British than the crew? Id’s say its wait what’s the debate again? Is it all about not being able to write down “12 YEARS A SLAVE tops BAFTA nominations”? I think you’ll the opportunity next week.
But are you sure 12 YEARS was not eligible? Maybe it was and then they didn’t vote for it in that particular category. So it’d be everyone’s “fault” not just the committees’.
I agree about the rule’s language not being the ideal one. Should be much tighter. And I hear your other points. I’ve always made a case to legitimize the Independent Spirit Awards with the help of the big Hollywood stars. Make those awards much more popular and much more respectable. I think that’s the route I would go.
The Academy is working with amateur people. Ellen is nice but even myself would present her in a more artistic fashion.
I was responding to your previous message, Ryan. I’m not the best person to make this argument because I advocate too passionately about my personal favorites, but let’s not fool ourselves and try to rationalize, and if you allow me the word, objectivize something that is subjective and irrational by definition. Where I strongly disagree with you and this Wendy person is that the award or category as it stands right now is not being “misused” or its mission misinterpreted by nominating the film GRAVITY. But take this lightly please. I’m no expert in BAFTA history so maybe the award was created with the unofficial intention of awarding indie purely British talent. I don’t know. All I’m basing my opinion is on the rule.
To be eligible, a film must have significant British creative involvement and be certified as British
Only exceptionally will a non-certified film be considered. Final decisions on eligibility rest with BAFTA’s Film Committee. Per Marshall
Maybe more broadly I tend to be indifferent with this other dimension of award “uses”, “purposes” and implications that you and many others legitimately find. To me is very simple. Best is just “best” –best for whoever is giving. We can indicate the faults in their taste, but that’s it. Hey I wish the academy had realize LINCOLN was a superior film to ARGO or that maybe they would realize AMOUR was actually the best film of the year. So in this case this Wendy person should maybe argue that in a field of “5 films to represent year” (British or otherwise) GRAVITY should not be included for this and that reason because she obviously doesn’t think much of it –it transpires throughout the opinion piece.
I’m all for awarding the best films (or what I think are best). The only distinction I make is fiction vs. non-fiction. Don’t really need to respond to the rest of your comment because I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I realize I’m somewhat thin-skinned about this subject, and now I have to defend AMERICAN HUSTLE. I don’t get a break lol Also STARRED UP is another small British film I’m hugely anticipating. I’m on both sides of this argument.
Also maybe GRAVITY is better than THE SELFISH GIANT despite costing $100 Million? I know what her point is and I wish they’d reform. Not GRAVITY’s fault. I’m not the right person for this argument as I’ve been looking forward to THE SELFISH GIANT for a long time.
Ryan,
Anyone is entitled to talk why they don’t agree with the inclusion of GRAVITY or any other film in whatever category or to say what the category ought to be. My reaction was towards your use of the word “fishy” and that was already clarified. I do think the category is absurd, but it’s not like they created them to reward GRAVITY. I guess this is the first year they make such “mistake”, but according to the rules as Marshall pointed out in some other thread, GRAVITY qualified easily. I hope there’s an annual article from here on now making the case for a reform in the rules. I don’t feel strongly about it. Just like someone else mentioned our own Best Foreign Language film category is way imperfect. Maybe they are very proud of the British producer, editor, composer, and production designer, and locations that contributed to the film? Maybe that’s not enough for this lady who calls GRAVITY a “tentpole” which is quite revealing. I bet she wouldn’t be railing against any other movie of “dubious” British merit if it wasn’t a “tentpole” that was “lauded at the Oscars” or something. Maybe BAFTA also heard that Cuaron owns a home in London so he must pay taxes there too.
@Ryan
“My ‘humor’ isn’t easy to detect sometimes.”
Anytime more like. Except on the podcast perhaps. 😀
Incidentally, how come the podcast link is down? Or is it just me?
Lame. Bring Seth back.
Haha I was about to say, “really Ryan?”
Why does Ellen look like one of the bartenders at the Symphony?
She’s so likeable – at least we know nobody will be offended this year. Unless of course she grabs her crotch and power-snots on the floor.
I presumed you might have been but I can’t help myself. You’re the moderator (i.e. running the show) so one feels compelled to engage you rather than others who make similar remarks.
Not a problem, Bryce. We’re pals. My ‘humor’ isn’t easy to detect sometimes.
@Ryan
Les Mis got both noms too last year and Banks might have been close to do the same this year so it’s not that surprising… The same way at the Oscars Amour got nominated for Best Foreign Film and Best Picture, but at the Baftas it was only nominated in the Foreign Language Category. One could argue if you’re nominated in the main category you should be dropped from the special one or the other way around, whichever you prefer, but that would be a very tough call: stay in the best category with less chances to win.
Actually, 12 Years a Slave got 11 BAFTA nominations, if you count the Rising Star category in which Lupita is nominated.
Doesn’t anyone get to vote for that? How’s that a BAFTA nomination? Maybe an attempt at People’s Choice nomination.
Pretty fishy that Gravity got a Best Film and Best British Film nomination both. We hear other languages in Gravity. Why not nominate it as Best Film Not Totally in the English Language too?
I bet you’d be OK and even justifying 12 YEARS had it made both categories. Maybe they liked it a lot? Of course, “fishy”
or I might be kidding?
Why don’t they leave Ellen’s face alone – she’s not 16 anymore for pete’s sake.
Actually, 12 Years a Slave got 11 BAFTA nominations, if you count the Rising Star category in which Lupita is nominated.
Pretty fishy that Gravity got a Best Film and Best British Film nomination both. We hear other languages in Gravity. Why not nominate it as Best Film Not Totally in the English Language too?
I like her! It won’t be edgy, but sure as hell will be funny and most importantly no awkward boring moments that make you mute the TV until the actual awards are presented!