I have to break out of my pseudo/temporary retirement in order to complain about something--so really, this is nothing new or special.
The Motion Picture Academy announced its nominations this morning, and James Cameron's Avatar is included amongst those nominated for Best Picture.
Now I went and saw Avatar in 3D, and I was entertained and especially mesmerized by its spectacle. However, in terms of story, acting, and script, it's an average picture at best.
James Cameron could not write a dynamic character to save his life. Think of the characters in Titanic. They're all static. Rose is the most dynamic of all the characters because she starts the movie as a spoiled brat who looks down on Jack and ends it as a spoiled brat who loves Jack. Everyone other character has the range of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV.
And yet, like Titanic, Avatar is now poised to win awards that it doesn't deserve.
Why?--Because it made a buttload of money? There is no award for this because box-office draw is its own reward.
Why?--Because lots of people like it? This is not the criteria for selecting Best Picture.
Avatar should clean house in every special effects/technical category in which it is nominated. But it does not deserve even a nomination in any other kind of category, especially Best Picture.
...has the range of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV.
ReplyDeleteYeah, but when he said, "I must break you," I believed him.
If you're going to make this argument, you need to define your/the criteria that should/must be used to determine "Best Picture" by the Academy. Is it the film with the best performances? That is the most emotionally and spiritually moving? Or that redefines a style or genre of film with its technical accomplishments? There is no single objective criteria that determines what make a film 'best'. Despite your reservations for democracy, what makes it a less legitimate single criteria to consider?
ReplyDeleteDespite the fact that I don't think it should win for "Best Picture," I think you're still being a little hard on Avatar on account of your loathing of Titanic.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
ReplyDelete