#and let’s nominate ryan gosling but not the titular character?

[yelena-bellova]

I was watching ABC’s coverage of the Oscar noms this morning and the first thing they talked about after all was announced was Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig’s snubs.

Clayton Davis (Variety) straight up said that it was genre bias and that he’d spoken to some members of the academy who all said a variation of “It’s just a fantasy comedy.”

I honestly don’t know what to say about these people who claim to be the all-knowing body of feminism, but won’t nominate a movie that perfectly embodied it.

[thatstormygeek]

Margot Robbie did a fine job in Barbie and I do enjoy watching her performance, but the role itself just wasn't that…interesting? It didn't give her all that much to do. And yes, ha ha, real life imitating art with the man getting nominated, but giving the lead actress an award nod just because she's a woman in the feminism 101 movie isn't great either.

The things the author suggests should be rewarded - defying all critical expectations, making moviegoing fun again, and the message about women having to work twice as hard - are not things the best actress category is about, as far as I know. (which isn't far, because I quit watching awards shows before I even joined facebook, and I quit facebook years back)

I'd imagine those are more things for the best picture category. Maybe screenplay. Editing? Costume? Those kinds of categories as well, depending. But not necessarily actor. Again, though, what do I know.

Something, I suppose, because Barbie does have a Best Picture, nomination. And adapted screenplay (yeah, I bristled at that, too, but it does fit with the usual way things are sorted, even if I'd quibble with that usual way).

Oh, shit, they got a costume design and production design nomination as well. Maybe I'm not as clueless as I assumed (to be clear, I hadn't seen this article when I wrote everything above this paragraph).

Now, it should be added that Gerwig and Robbie were nominated — just not for best director and best actress. Gerwig got a nod for best adapted screenplay for the film, which she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach. And Robbie's work as executive producer, for which she is up for Best Picture, included convincing Mattel to take real risks in how the character and the company was portrayed.

Oh wait, what? You mean, they are actually being recognized for some of the work they did? Damn.

And I want to really emphasize that we are talking about the Academy Awards, right? Like, the Olympics for movies, I guess. As in, few even get to that level of recognition/competition, let alone get nominated, let alone win.

So when you have a single movie hoovering nominations, there are that many more projects that don't even get into the running. So. Yano. Just to keep things in perspective here.

Back to Robbie's performance - it's not that she wasn't good, but there wasn't much there there. Barbie was the character around which the movie revolved, so her purpose was mostly to...be. I believe Robbie very much has the range for a Best Actress Oscar. This role, though? Not so much.

You know what role in Barbie did have that range more than the titular lead? Gloria. She's the one who delivered the fucking feminist monologue.

Actually, we can continue the art copies life copies art reading of the situation: the outrage over Ken getting a nom when Barbie didn't has completely overshadowed America Ferrera's nomination altogether. A white woman did not receive the praise many felt she'd earned by simply existing and being pretty while the recognition of a Latina's hard work gets handwaved away as a "nice, but." Sure, it's nice that the woman who absolutely nailed the most relatable part in the movie gets nominated, but it doesn't matter as much because Barbie herself did not. And yes, a lot of that Robbie snub outrage is because Ryan Gosling did get a nod. But folks are pissed about the lack of a nomination itself as well.

This is already way too long and I haven't touched on the Best Director part yet. Though there isn't nearly as much for me to say, either. I don't know why the Academy didn't pick Gerwig over someone else who got nominated. I can't argue it wasn't a decision based in misogyny.

What I can, and do, take issue with is the LA Times writer's need to be awful about the other projects in her attempt to somehow prove Gerwig was being unfairly treated. And doing so while tying in the historic nomination of a Native American actress is just bad. Especially considering the horrid smallpox joke and absolutely pointless Mount Rushmore gag that made it all the way through to Barbie's final product. (seriously, though, did nobody say anything? or did gerwig & co just overrule?)

The state of feminism right now makes me sad and tired and articles like this are doing nothing to help. Barbie shouldn't have been seen as revolutionary by so many of my friends, and yet. I can't believe we've managed to get to a place where I long for the fucking 90s.

[itsiotrecords-blog]

http://ift.tt/2s9IGi6

Some movies are created specifically to entertain us. Others are created to instruct us. But then, there’s that particular movie selection that is specifically designed to make us cry. Everybody needs a few tears here and there right? If you agree, then you might be interested in these 25 movies that will make you cry.

#1 Never Let Me Go A 2010 British science fiction drama film, “Never Let Me Go” was based on the novel entitled “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro. Directed by Mark Romanek, this film centered on the love triangle of Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. It was filmed at various locations, particularly at the Andrew Melville Hall and was produced by Film4 and DNA Films. The movie earned about $9.4 million dollars at the box office and got an additional $1.8 million in DVD sales.

#2 Terms of Endearment Terms of Endearment is a 1983 film directed by James L. Brooks which was based on the novel “Terms of Endearment” by Larry McMurty. This comedy drama film starred Shirley MacLaine and covered the 30-year relationship of Aurora Greenway and her daughter Emma. The movie won a total of five out of its 11 Academy Award nominations and grossed around $3.4 million dollars on the day of its opening making it the #1 movie at the box office.

#3 Awakenings Starring Robin Williams, Awakenings is a 1990 movie that was based on the true story of Oliver Sacks who discovers the beneficial effects of the L-Dopa drug and administers it to catatonic patients. Awakenings was directed by Penny Marshall and gained three Academy Award nominations.

#4 Brian’s Song Directed by Buzz Kulik, Brian’s Song is a 1971 movie that centered on the life of a man named Brian Piccolo, a football player from Wake Forest University who was struggling against terminal cancer. This movie had a major premier in Chicago and was rated by critics as one of the finest movies ever made in history. It was written by renowned screenwriter William Blinn and included some scenes that were not in the original autobiography from which the movie was based.

#5 Gran Torino Directed, produced and starred by Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino is a 2008 American drama film that featured a large Himong American cast, including the real sons of Clint Eastwood himself. This movie was based in Detroit, Michigan and was the first American film to feature Hmong Americans. The story was centered on a man named Walkt Kowaiski, a Korean War veteran who estranged himself from his family following the war. It grossed over $270 million worldwide.

#6 Gone Baby Gone Produced and directed by Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone is a 2007 American mystery film that was based on the novel entitled “Gone Baby Gone” by Dennis Lehane. The story revolves around two private investigators named Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, who were both in pursuit of a four year old girl that was abducted in Boston. It received various awards from the Austin Film Critics association and got positive reviews from Rotten Tomatoes.

#7 Up in The Air An adaptation of the novel entitled “Up in the Air”, this movie starred George Clooney and was directed by Jayson Reitman. The story revolved around the life of a corporate downsizer named Ryan Bingham who isolated himself from the world and met several people along the way.

#8 ET More commonly known as ET, ET the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 American science fiction movie that was directed by Steven Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison and starred Henry Thomas, Robert Macnaughton, and Peter Coyote. The story revolves around the life of a lonely boy who became friends with an extra-terrestrial creature.

#9 Patch Adams A 1998 comedy drama film, Patch Adams starred Robin Williams and was directed by Tom Shadyac. This movie was based on the biography of a man named Dr. Hunted “Patch” Adams and his book entitled Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter. In spite of a negative critic review, the movie was a blockbuster hit

#10 Hope Floats Produced by the renowned actress Sandra Bullock and directed by Forest Whitaker, Hope Floats is an American romantic drama that was released in 1998. Starring Sandra Bullock herself, this movie was centered on a woman named Birdee, a humble housewife whose life was reduced to rubble after her husband confessed his infidelity.

#11 Bridge to Terabithia Bridge to Terabithia is a 2007 fantasy drama film that was adapted by David L. Peterson and Jeff Stockwell from the novel entitled Bridge to Terabithia of Katherine Paterson. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures in the United States, this movie recounts the story of a man named Jess and his friend Leslie Burke, neighbors who made up their own fantasy world in a tree house which they called Terabithia. The movie received positive reviews from critics and won five of the seven awards for which it was nominated.

#12 The Pursuit of Happyness A blockbuster American biographical drama film that was released in 2006, The Pursuit of Happyness tells the story of a man named Chris Gardner and his struggle as a homeless salesman. Directed by Gabrielle Muccino, the film starred Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith and was entirely based on the memoir written by the main character himself, who eventually became one of the most successful stockbrokers in the world. For his performance in this film, Will Smith was nominated as best actor in the Golden Globe and the Academy Awards.

#13 Love Story Written by Erick Segal, Love Story is a 1970 romantic drama film that was ranked by the American Film Institute as the #9 most romantic movie of all time. It featured John Marley and Ray Miland and served as the film debut of Tommy Lee Jones. This movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards in 1970 and was generally liked by critics and audiences alike.

#14 A Walk to Remember Directed by Adam Shankman and written by Nicholas Sparks, A Walk to Remember is a 2002 American teen romantic drama film starring Shane West and Mandy Moore. It was based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks and was inspired by the life of his sister, who died of cancer in 2000. It opened no. 3 at the US box office and grossed more than $12 million dollars in its opening weekend. It became a box office hit not just in the United States but in Asia as well.

#15 Hachiko: A Dog’s Story Hachiko: A Dog’s Story is a drama film directed by Lasse Hallstrom and was based on the true story of a faithful Akita Inu. It was written by Stephen B. Lindsey and starred Richard Gere, Joan Allen and Sarah Roemer. This movie had its first international premiere in August 2009 in Japan and was released in over 25 countries worldwide.

#16 The Notebook A romantic drama American film that was released in 2004, The Notebook was directed by Nick Cassavetes and was based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. It starred Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, a young couple who fell in love with each other during the 1940’s. The movie received mixed reviews from critics and moviegoers. Nevertheless it was nominated for and won several Academy Awards.

#17 Marley & Me Marley and Me was directed by David Frankel and centered on the story of the titular dog named Marley. It was based on the memoir of Marley that was written by writer John Grogan and was released in Canada and the United States on December 2008. It set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office release with over $15 million dollars in ticket sales.

#18 Schindler’s List Directed and produced by Steven Spielberg, Schindler’s List is an American epic drama film that was based on the Thomas Kenneally novel entitled “Schindler’s Ark.” This movie revolved around the story of a man named Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved thousands of refugees during the Holocaust. It was released in the United States on December 1993 and was a huge box office success.

#19 Stepmom A comedy drama film that was first released in 1998, Stepmom was directed by Chris Columbus and starred Julia Roberts. It opened no. 2 at the North American box office and grossed over $19 million on opening day. The film grossed a total of $91 million dollars in the United States and over $160 million worldwide.

#20 P.S. I Love You P.S. I Love You was directed by Richard LaGravenese and was based on the novel P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. The film was shot in New York City and in Ireland.

#21 My Girl Directed by Howard Zief, My Girl is a 1991 American drama film that depicted the story of an emotionally unstable young girl named VadaSultenfuss, played by Anna Chlumsky.

#22 Beaches More commonly known as Forever Friends, Beaches is a 1988 American comedy drama movie that was adapted from the novel entitled Beaches by Iris Rainer Dart. Directed by Garry Marshall, the movie starred Bettle Midler, and John Heard. Beaches was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction in 1990.

#23 Grave of the Fireflies A Japanese drama movie that was released in 1988, the Grave of the Fireflies was directed by Isao Takahata and was based on a semi-autobiographical novel written by Japanese writer AkiyukiNosaka. This anti-war film starred TsutomyTatsumi and was set in Japan during the Second World War. It depicted the story of a young boy named Selta who took care of his sister following the death of their mother.

#24 The Green Mile Directed by Frank Darabont, The Green Mile is an American drama film that was released in 1999. Adapted from the novel The Green Mile by Stephen King, this movie starred Tom Hanks and centered on the story of a man named Paul, a death row corrections officer. It was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2000.

#25 Titanic Directed by James Cameron, Titanic is a 1997 American romantic disaster movie starring Leonardo DiCarpio and Kate Winslet who fell in love during the maiden voyage of the Titanic. It was a fictionalized account of the ship named Titanic and at that time was the most expensive film ever made with a budget of $200 million dollars. The film was released in July 1997 and grossed a total of $2.18 billion dollars worldwide, making it the second film to gross over $2 billion dollars worldwide.

Source: List25