I speak, of course, of the Muriels, the most glamorous and prestigious movie of awards named after Paul Clark's guinea pig. (You can put a comma in the previous sentence if you like. Anywhere you like.) More than thirty movie bloggers (including yours truly) cast their point-weighted ballots in umpteen fabulous categories. The winners, the runners-up, and the voters' comments about them have been announced every day since February 6. And now, they're all here. Nibble Feast away.
Other big winners: "Rachel Getting Married," "In Bruges," "Man on Wire"...
Meanwhile, live from Istanbul: Ali Arikan liveblogs the Oscars!
More about the Muriels later, but first...
Well, worth pointing out that Rachel Getting Married won Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress, as well as #2 film of the year. I think that puts it ahead of some of the films in your lede. :)
I love how "In Bruges" started out so obscure early in the year - even I thought it would fade into oblivion - but has now been voted #7 favorite film of the year by these online voters. And if you take away "Wall E" and "Man on Wire" (because one is animated and one is documentary, both of which tend to have their own categories) then it ranked within the top 5. It's the quirkiest kind of crowd pleaser. And I think that's maybe why I didn't think much of it at first.
Even when I put it on my top 10, I ranked it in the bottom half. Curiously now, I think it might just be the high watermark of the comedy-drama-hitman-thriller genre. Because it's really so much more than that when you see it again. And not only is it deeper than at first glance, it is that without ever losing its edge. As Jim said, like listening to a masterful album. Not just the execution or the themes but intangibles... Harry has a bump in his throat but shoots Ken anyway, Ken hiding behind his back the gun he had pointed at Ray's head before Ray was about to shoot himself and "Do you think this is good?" "Do I think what's good?" "You know, going around in a boat, looking at stuff." "Yes, I do. It's called sightseeing." Just to name a few so hilariously-inmistakably human moments that replay in your memory afterwards and just don't seem to pop up in other films.
Then again, I guess all the great films have their moments. Aint that one of the big reasons "On the Waterfront" is a classic? Brando playing around with the lady gloves. His theory of life explained by raising a fist and symbolically 'stickin' it to em' and, of course, "I coulda been a contender".
Thought of you during the Oscars, Jim, when the Pineapple Express duo laughed at Doubt for five minutes.
I'm sorry, anyone else having trouble finding anything but the Best Picture category?
Also, man, I just never stop disagreeing with Ali Arikan. :)
JE: There's a Muriels directory to all the awards in the Archive, down the right column a ways. I've also updated the link to bring up all posts in the 2008 Muriel Awards category:
http://opalfilms.blogspot.com/search/label/Muriel%20Awards%202008
Ah! Cheers, Jim.
I have to say, I love the inclusion of the "best body of work" category. Those are five seriously talented people there.
Stephen - You are not alone - for once. People whose opinions I value incredibly highly, such as Roger Ebert, have all been singing the praises of this year's show. I did have a very hectic day ahead of me, so maybe I just was not in the mood - they're going to show it again sometime this weekend, and I might try to catch it once more. Now that's dedication (or fetish - to-mah-to, to-may-to).
Wait. wait. wait. wait. wait. one. second.
4 Months, 3 weeks...came out in 2007, didn't it? I remember seeing it...or was it January? It missed the nomination last year, which means it had to have been released in 2007. Right? RIGHT??? Am I going crazy here????
Ali Arikan--
"For once?" Ouch. Sick burn, as the kids, say. Anyway, you're certainly not alone yourself--I've seen plenty of people say that the opening number was the worst they've ever done, for instance. Oh well. I thought Sweding the Oscars was pretty funny, and I thought it was a really nice touch to recognize the actors individually and try and make the old saying of it being "an honor just to be nominated" a little more true. Viola Davis, Richard Jenkins, etc. deserve some spotlight beyond three-second clips that, out of context, do no justice to their talent. Of course, one could certainly argue that the Directors deserve it, too, but I suppose you need to draw the line somewhere, and Steven Soderbergh Peter Jackson, and Jonathan Demme might not have the same stage presence as your Nicole Kidmans and your Ben Kinglseys...