David Fincher is probably hoping this video doesn’t go viral but I hate to be the bearer of bad news, if Brad Pitt shows up your video is going to get almost 500K views on Youtube in five days, which is exactly what has happened. The best comment is this, “Brad Pitt trying his hardest to be funny, but the crowd is too in awe of Him being here at this show.”
Ah, the French beat the Americans in awarding one of the greatest living directors, David Fincher, with a Lifetime Achievement Award, the only thing that would top it would be an Honorary Oscar. But of course, Fincher is not slowing down and is really just hitting his stride as a director, despite the diehard Fight Club fans who wish Dylan had never gone electric.
This is a wonderful tribute, even if it should have been given by the Academy long, long ago. Fight Club, Seven, and Zodiac should all have been nominated, Benjamin Button should have beaten Slumdog Millionaire, The Social Network should have beaten The King’s Speech, Mank should have beaten Nomadland (I said what I said), and Gone Girl should have been nominated as it is, of course, the only film from 2014 that remains culturally relevant. It takes audiences time to catch up with Fincher’s films, repeated viewings to untangle them – but if you have a curious mind there is nobody who makes films that scratch that itch quite the same way.
The Oscars are this year and every year about a moment in time when a crowd caught a wave. That sentiment usually fades away and you’re left with the film itself. Some of these movies (Casablanca) will always be great. Some won’t. Film awards are a tricky thing. But it took the French to appreciate the artistry of Hitchcock and apparently now, it has taken the French to appreciate the genius of David Fincher.
What I love about this clip is that you can see Fincher is leaning forward and offering support for Brad Pitt, not really bathing in his own greatness.
It’s wonderful:
And just to make things really uncomfortable for him, I’m going to include some screen shots of the event.
1. Se7en (#1 of the year)
2. Alien3 (#3)
3. Zodiac (#3)
4. The Social Network (#1)
5. Fight Club (#5)
6. Mank (#2)
7. Gone Girl (#9)
8. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (#5)
9. The Game (#22)
10. Panic Room (#39)
11. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (#35-ish?)
Therefore I’d (personally) nominate everything in the top 8 except Gone Girl (#9 in the 2014 8 nom year, which is kind of where it actually ended up funnily enough). The Game & Panic Room are a rung down yet excellent genre films good for many rewatches and represent him very well (and from strong years personally). I honestly haven’t seen Benjamin Button since cinemas, so yeah overdue for a second look there. And of course his music videos, if you love a couple of these artists you’ve probably enjoyed them a billion times.
My 2008 top 10 for the record (alphabetical):
Happy-Go-Lucky
Hunger
In Bruges
Let the Right One In
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Still Walking
WALL-E
Waltz with Bashir
The Wrestler
HM: The Flight of the Red Balloon, 102 Minutes That Changed America (tv film; Emmys)
I was team Reader>TDK (easily my least favourite of that Nolan trilogy), ergo was against the expansion, and I felt Frost v. Nixon was the real fifth wheel anyway that was making up the numbers, even if less of a surprise at that point in the race. Rourke v. Penn was definitely up there with my favourite acting Oscar showdowns, and being Australian the Ledger win was special, the Winslet dual role dilemma, Hugh Jackman as host, Waltz was an interesting test of the Animated/Documentary/Foreign categories, Slumdog arguably being the most recent big sweep, and being 19-20yo with regular weekend access to big city art cinemas, etc.
Concerning 2014 I don’t consider Gone Girl more culturally relevant than, let’s say, It follows. I also think Wall-E should’ve beaten every other film in 2008. However, I can’t understand how Zodiac didn’t make it to the race. Truly his masterpiece, in my opinion.
I think the Academy hopes he will give us his opus in the years to come so it wouldn’t make sense to give him an Honorary award before that.
I would add The Imitation Game and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, believe it or not.
I like that his speech was a lot shorter than Brad Pitt.
“Cinema should represent who we are at our smallest and simplest and not just our aspirational heroics once we have our tights on.”
Hear that Top Gun Maverick’s fans? 🙂
Wow that was uncomfortable to watch….
Nevertheless, Fincher definitely should have at least 2 directing Oscars by now.
Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a masterpiece. Social Network is not too far behind—but Sorkins writing really elevated that one.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Gone Girl should have easily gotten him nominated. Straight up should be a crime he wasn’t!
Like Kubrick, Fincher will never win a best picture because his films are clinical and cold to the touch.
Yep. He said so himself, he makes films that are “prickly”. Not an Oscar winning ingredient. And that’s okay.
Same can be said for Nolan and (to a lesser extent) Soderbergh.
Soderbergh at least came thisclose.
“Fight Club, Seven, and Zodiac should all have been nominated.”
Yup.
“The Social Network should have beaten The King’s Speech”
Oh definitely.
“Benjamin Button should have beaten Slumdog Millionaire.”
Disagree. Button is his only other misstep aside from Alien 3 and I don’t blame Fincher for Alien 3.
Benjamin Button should have beaten Slumdog Millionaire.
We disagree on a lot of things, but not this.
Bunton gets a bad rap I dont know why. It’s an amazing film.
The Social Netwok, Fight Club, Zodiac and, maybe above all, Se7en, were the best movies of their respective year
Nice post and tribute to the great David Fincher.
Gee Brad was nervous. And, as handsome as he is, I could not take my eyes off Virginie Efira as she has become one of my favourite actresses. I’ve seen about 10 films of hers in just 5 years. And to hear her speak English albeit briefly, ooh la la!
But Mr Fincher, a great honour to be gifted by the French Academy, and his succinct but meaningful speech, shows who he is.
David Fincher should have won the Oscar in Best Director for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/dc9070725ec4af3ca8906e88d2886c98599c313316034a51913f0ce487079da5.png
Has Fincher ever directed an actor to an Oscar?
Nope but Cate Blanchett should have won for playing “Daisy” in Benjamin Button – in a just world.
Shoulda woulda couda, so the answer is no, he’s never directed an actor to an Oscar
Are you asking knowing the answer in a way to throw shade? Or because you don’t really know?
Just curious….I don’t want to misunderstand the intent.
I actually didn’t know.
In order to give a direct answer, the performances from his movies that have gotten nominations:
Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network)
Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)
Gary Oldman (Mank)
Amanda Seyfried (Mank)
That’s a good run. Kind of surprising no one broke through.
Who are the living directors who have directed the most Oscar winners?
Overall record is Wyler (36 nominations, 14 wins)
Followed by Kazan with 9/24.
Woody Allen immediately comes to mind. Someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
Let’s see…Keaton, Caine, Wiest twice, Sorvino, Cruz, Blanchett who am I missing
Living Directors with Most Acting Awards
7 – Woody Allen
5 – Martin Scorsese
5 – Clint Eastwood
4 – James L. Brooks
The last five of his
eighteleven features.If I’m not mistaken, it’s eleven features
You are not!
Thank you paula abdul for David Fincher!
And Jermaine Stewart!
straight up now tell me!