Friday, February 25, 2011

Movie Award Weekend: Oscars, Independent Spirit Awards, Razzies

Well, this is Oscar weekend (tonight, 8 PM) but there are two other movie awards being handed out this weekend: The Independent Spirit Awards (Sat. 10PM IFC) & The Razzies.

I think the most important piece of information about the past year is that (according to Box Office Mojo)
2010 closed as the second highest-grossing year of all time, but it still couldn't shake an air of disappointment. Not only did 2010 end with a whimper, estimated attendance was the lowest in 15 years.
I know that sounds like a contradiction but higher prices = higher grosses, not greater attendance. Higher grosses are a result primarily of the 3D rip-off, which it seems has had its 15 minutes and a general increase in prices.

We'll come back to 3D films. Well, how about now: There's a special Razzie Award this year. "The Worst Eye-Gouging Mis-Use of 3D." The nominees are Cats & Dogs #2: Revenge of Kitty Galore; Clash of the Titans, The Last Airbinder, Nutcracker 3D, Saw 3D (AKA Saw VII). In other words, slap 3D on a film (especially for kids) and make more money. I think that scam has run its coarse.
The winner of the Razzie: "The Last Airbinder"

Since we are talking about the Razzies (which were given out yesterday (Saturday), let's stick with them. They're the most fun anyway:
Worst Picture of the Year: "The Last Airbinder"
Worst Performance by an Actress: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrell, Kristen Davis & Cynthia Nixon in "Sex & the City 2"
Worst Performance by an Actor: Ashton Kutcher in "Killers" & "Valentine's Day"
Worst Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Jessice Alba in "The Killer Inside Me,'" "Little Fockers," "Machete," & "Valentine's Day"
Worst Performance by an Actor in a supporting Role: Jackson Rathbone in "The Last Airbinder" & "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"
Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble: The Entire Cast of "Sex & the City 2"
Worst Prequal, Remake, Rip-off or Sequal: I'll bet you can guess: "Sex & the City 2"

Yesterday Afternoon, on the beach in Malibu, the Independent Spirit Awards were handed out. found these awards very disappointing. First of all "Inside Job," which most people I know & respect have lauded, wasn't even nominated. From there on out who cares who wins, if the best isn't nominated. "Inside Job" is nominated for an Oscar tonight.

My other bitch about the spirit awards is about The Best Actress & Best film. Natalie Portman & " Black Swan." Whatever you may think about Portman's performance or "The Black Swan" as a film, they should not have been nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards. "Black Swan" was produced & released by 20th Century Fox. That is the opposite of an independent film. The very definition of independent film is one that is not produced & released by a major studio. So I'm still rooting for "Winter's Bone."

The Oscars are on now & I'll say what I think about them later. Go "Winter's Bone" & Jennifer Lawrence.

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