Oscars 2018

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jan/25/shape-of-water-oscars-paul-zindel-similarities

In both stories, a female cleaner works a night shift at a lab and falls for an aquatic creature that is the subject of mysterious science experiments. Both women develop a relationship by bringing food to the animal and dancing with a mop in front of the tank to the tune of a love song.

The two cleaner characters both learn to communicate with the creatures, and both labs are involved in secretive military operations. The protagonists both discover imminent plans to kill the creature, and both labs mention “vivisection”.

Both women also devise plans to rescue the animal and release it to the sea by sneaking it out in a laundry cart. In Let Me Hear You Whisper, named after a song lyric that the laboratory plays for the dolphin, the creature repeatedly says “hamper” to the protagonist, Helen, to encourage her to get a laundry cart.

Both women are friends with another janitor who helps them – Danielle in one version of Zindel’s work and Zelda in Del Toro’s film, played by Octavia Spencer, who was nominated for an acting Oscar alongside Hawkins.

There are also major differences in the two stories. In The Shape of Water, the main character, Elisa, is mute and communicates in sign language with the creature.

Helen speaks, but does reference muteness when discussing the dolphin’s inability to talk to the scientists, saying: “Some human beings are mute, you know. Just because they can’t talk, we don’t kill them.”

The Shape of Water also has another significant character: Elisa’s gay friend, played by Richard Jenkins. There are further substantial differences in the endings of the two works.

I usually watch any BP nom, but should I bother with Darkest Hour?

No

A nothing of a movie that assumes its scaffolding is supported by one performance.

https://www.theguardian.com/film/shortcuts/2018/feb/06/agnes-varda-cut-out-oscars-french-film-maker

awesome! all downhill from here

I've considered bringing a cutout to class tbh

well but here the other nominees noticed the difference *RIMSHOT*

I said bring a cutout, not a cutup.

on a relevant note, see the Rip Torn thread

they're baaaack

https://www.slantmagazine.com/house/tags/474-academy-awards

im waiting for that hollywood reporter (?) annual series where they get people in the academy to speak anonymously and candidly about what they voted for, those are always the best

maybe they'll tell us that they always thought McCartney a shirty basset and who fucked Marlon Brando in a washing machine.

*shitty bassist, but I like how auto correct assumed I meant Shirley Bassey

xp I thought you were calling Melissa McCarthy a shirty basset

xxp pffffft lmao

the Beatles Derangement Syndrome itt is so wild & inexplicable when it's easily the least interesting or controversial bit in either of the QJ interviews

im waiting for that hollywood reporter (?) annual series where they get people in the academy to speak anonymously and candidly about what they voted for, those are always the best

isn't it always the same grumpy asshole with terrible taste?

Lol maybe but it is reliably hilarious

isn't it always the same grumpy asshole with terrible taste?

― Simon H.,

somebody dig up Ernest Borgnine

Or Morbs.

heyyyyyyyyyy now!

I agree, that was beneath me.

who let jeffrey tambor in here

a forgiving tranny?

iirc he's the one who needs forgiveness

yeah i read the news

front page of the new york times

[url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/confessions-of-an-oscar-voter-why-i-loved-three-billboards-and-dont-get-get-out?ref=home]Michael Musto[/i] talks to the usual Anonymous Voter[/i], whom he should have set on fire:

Best Actor?

It’s absolutely Gary Oldman. Ironically, I’ve seen Darkest Hour five times and have absolutely enjoyed it five times. The only reason I don’t think it will win Best Picture is because it’s too safe. The Shape of Water is very slick, but there’s no risk involved in Darkest Hour.

What about the supporting categories?

[For Best Supporting Actor], for me, it was a toss-up between Sam Rockwell [for Three Billboards] and Willem Dafoe [for The Florida Project]. I’m going for Sam Rockwell for the same reason as Frances McDormand. He was pitch-perfect. He had to straddle the line between monster and hero, and he did it perfectly. The Florida Project was one of my favorite movies of the year. I was disappointed it did not make the list [for Best Picture]. I thought Willem Dafoe was absolutely perfect in bridging the gap between seasoned actors and newcomers.

But Rockwell win win?

Oh, yeah. Unfortunately, because Florida Project did not get [nominated for] Best Picture or even screenplay, I think the chance of Dafoe has gone way down.

Your thoughts on Daniel Day-Lewis’ swan song, Phantom Thread?

I liked it, but it’s definitely something where the whole is a lot better than the sum of its parts. You had to sit through this excruciatingly slow film to appreciate the ending and find the film really good, while Three Billboards and The Shape of Water and most of the other nominees were enjoyable from beginning to end.

Oh Fuck Yes

Love this guy. Full disclosure- I haven't read a word of this yet

Will The Shape of Water win the most awards? Dunkirk?

I hope it’s not Dunkirk. Between Darkest Hour and Dunkirk, I didn’t understand Dunkirk. It’s a fine battle picture, but it’s very, very confusing. They constantly switch between night and day. I wasn’t familiar with Dunkirk in my history, and I didn’t know it’s in France. And they never explained it.

I mean jesus.

It's set in Dunkirk, Montana.

Three Battles Outside Dunkirk, Montana

lmao i know, i love it

You'd think the French the locals were speaking might've been a tipoff.

As if Americans can identify French vs. say, Klingon

The baguette and Hamburglar turtleneck are always a tip-off

A different anonymous voter!

http://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/anonymous-oscar-ballot-voter-best-picture-three-billboards-lady-bird-1201927235/

Has anyone who is not an Oscar voter seen Three Billboards

The Florida Project” was too controversial, too dark and edgy

"Controversial" = Lord Soto's million-strong Twitter campaign turned the tide?

xp yeah it did pretty well

lol i like that another academy member is on record re: the sound editing / sound mixing categories: "i don't understand what they are"

iirc, the editing is about the quality of the post production stuff (sound f/x, dubbing, etc.) and mixing is about the quality of the film as it sounds in the theatre. Gearhead stuff that matters not to 99.999% of the populace.

I mean, I've actually taken legit classes in Film Audio, and I still had to stretch for an answer.

Ugh:

With only 13 days left until Oscar, the race in most of the marquee categories is sadly settled. BAFTA, held today in London, cemented the frontrunners honoring the exact same actors as the Critics Choice Awards, SAG, and Golden Globes. It's Gary Oldman, Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Janney for the Oscars. Engrave the statues now. That's just too much consensus for Oscar to overthrow though we're personally baffled that none of that quartet's strong (and arguably better) competitors managed to put up a fight. What's more it's the first time in history when there's been no variation whatsoever in the prizes despite none of that foursome winning any of the top critics awards (NYFCC, LAFCA, and NSFC). Usually there's at least one 'we're-doing-our-own-thing' moment within the four categories in the televised precursors. Not this year. What happened to the tough battle we were suppose to have in Best Actress for example with Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, and Sally Hawkins all seeming possible early on as victors.

haven't these fucking things been and gone already

i've not seen those 4 performances and have no plans to (certainly not to pay)

Daniela Vega among the presenters

http://www.oscars.org/news/90th-oscars-first-slate-presenters-announced

They better be holding Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood as the Golden Surprise...