For the first time since 1934 a movie took home all 5 of the biggest awards given through the ceremony. The movie that did it was the a film considered to be one of the best ever made, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. It was nominated for nine awards that night and took five. The five that it took home were the highest honors to be given out that night; Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Picture. This would not happen again until 1991. This is the tale of Randle McMurphy, a man whose has been imprisoned on charges of statutory rape. He convinces the guards at the prison that he has gone crazy and needs to be sent to the mental hospital for the rest of his sentence. He does this so he can try and avoid hard labor in the last few weeks of his sentence. He learns very quickly that he is not going to get away with his plan that easy.
Taking home the top prizes of the year does not come without it's concerns. The films rights where bought by Kirk Douglas and he tried for 10 years to get the film into production, but no one would do it with him. He gave the rights to his son, Michael Douglas, and he was finally able to get it off the ground. It paid off United Artist took home the Oscar beating out: Warner Brothers' Baby Lyndon and Dog Day Afternoon; Universal's Jaws; and Paramount's Nashville. This film also earned the right to be preserved by the National Film Registry in 1993.
I have seen this film once before this list. I liked it the first time. Now I have to say that I feel about the same about it the second time around. I didn't find it more interesting or less, I just expected about the same as the first time and that is what I got. I will say that I understood it more the second time watching it. I still feel the movie is a bit out there, which is totally part of its charm, but one that I think everyone should see once. I do say that this is one of Jack Nicholson's best roles I have seen him in. I does the part very well and you can tell it's been well researched.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Best Picture of 1974: The Godfather Part II
The follow-up to the Best Picture of 1972, The Godfather, the winner of the Best Picture in 1974 is The Godfather Part II. This sequel follows the life of Vitto Corleone as he makes his way from Italy to New York in 1901. This story is paralleled with the story of Michael Corleone as he is adjusting to his new role of the Don of New York's most infamous families.
Paramount made history with The Godfather Part II. Not only was the movie nominated for 11 Academy Awards, it was also the first sequel to ever win Best Picture. It was the first sequel to use numbered parts in the movies. The studio did not want to call it "Part II" because they thought people would not want to come and knowingly watch more of a movie that they already watched. Due to its massive success, having sequels name in numbers became the new standard. Paramount basically outshined at the 47th Academy Awards because they had three movies nominated for Best Picture that year. The other two they had were Chinatown and The Conversation. The other films that he beat out were United Artist Lenny and 20th Century Fox's The Towering Inferno. This film made such a splash that it was selected for preservation in 1993.
I really could just copy and paste my statement about The Godfather and put them here. After watching the first one and being disappointed I knew this one was not going to change my mind. Shocker, it didn't.
Paramount made history with The Godfather Part II. Not only was the movie nominated for 11 Academy Awards, it was also the first sequel to ever win Best Picture. It was the first sequel to use numbered parts in the movies. The studio did not want to call it "Part II" because they thought people would not want to come and knowingly watch more of a movie that they already watched. Due to its massive success, having sequels name in numbers became the new standard. Paramount basically outshined at the 47th Academy Awards because they had three movies nominated for Best Picture that year. The other two they had were Chinatown and The Conversation. The other films that he beat out were United Artist Lenny and 20th Century Fox's The Towering Inferno. This film made such a splash that it was selected for preservation in 1993.
I really could just copy and paste my statement about The Godfather and put them here. After watching the first one and being disappointed I knew this one was not going to change my mind. Shocker, it didn't.
Best Picture of 1973: The Sting
You never cheer for the bad guy. In the real world most of us don't. When we see people lying or stealing we want to seem them pay for their actions. When it comes to movies we all sing an entirely different tune. We want to see the bad guys get all of the money, get away with illegal doings, and we love to see them get dangerously close to getting caught. That is why The Sting won Best Picture of the 46th Annual Academy Awards. Two man trying to out smart on of the best bookies in town to make off with a ton of cash is the film you can not help to wish for the "bad guys" to win.
Universal had a power house on their hands when this movie came to be. Rob Cohen found the script in the slush pile when he was working as a reader for Mike Medavoy. Medavoy told Cohen that he was going to try to sell it to a studio by the end of the day off a recommendation. He said if he did not sell it he would fire Cohen. Universal bought it that afternoon. It was a good move on their part. The film was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2005 and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. It won seven and took home the Best Picture beating out: Lucasfilms' American Graffiti; Cinematograph's Cries and Whispers; Avco Embassy's A Touch of Class; and Warner Brothers' The Exorcist.
Paul Newman is just one of the characters that you look forward to watching on the screen. He does not disappoint when it comes to The Sting. The movie was such a fun film to watch! The story of how the movie came to be truly shows that it's a diamond in the rough type of film. I have would say that this film is not one that you will regret not seeing but it would go ahead and put it on your watchlist.
Universal had a power house on their hands when this movie came to be. Rob Cohen found the script in the slush pile when he was working as a reader for Mike Medavoy. Medavoy told Cohen that he was going to try to sell it to a studio by the end of the day off a recommendation. He said if he did not sell it he would fire Cohen. Universal bought it that afternoon. It was a good move on their part. The film was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2005 and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards. It won seven and took home the Best Picture beating out: Lucasfilms' American Graffiti; Cinematograph's Cries and Whispers; Avco Embassy's A Touch of Class; and Warner Brothers' The Exorcist.
Paul Newman is just one of the characters that you look forward to watching on the screen. He does not disappoint when it comes to The Sting. The movie was such a fun film to watch! The story of how the movie came to be truly shows that it's a diamond in the rough type of film. I have would say that this film is not one that you will regret not seeing but it would go ahead and put it on your watchlist.
Best Picture of 1972: The Godfather
The mob. One of the most interesting parts of our history deals with the mob. Dealings, deaths, unsolved cases and the glamour and fame that comes along with it. From the infamous Al Capone to what the unknown sidekicks we are fascinated by this group of people. So when The Godfather hit the silver screen in 1971 it was a smash hit! The story of two generations of the Corleone line pulled together to tell the story of the current head of the family and how the role is passed to the new head of the family. You don't get to become one of the most notorious families in New York by playing by the rules.
Becoming one of the best movies of all time didn't come without its controversy and skill. The skill came from the directors and writing working to get the movie off the ground. Using everything they could to make this movie coming to life. That also included using the directors own family members through the movie and pushing to get the right people of the right parts. The controversy comes from the famous horse head scene. That was not a prop from a department. That is was real severed horse head. They production got it from near by dog food factory, where the horse was going to be killed weather the movie was made or not, and used it to put into the bed. Somehow it all worked out for them because The Godfather by Paramount beat out: Allied Artist's Cabaret; Warner Brothers' Deliverance; Svensk Filmindustri The Emigrants; and 20th Century Fox's Sounder for Best Picture that year. It was also selected for Preservation by the National Film Institute in 1990.
I was looking forward to this film. I have heard about this film all of my life growing up and it's one of my older brother's favorite films of all time. I thought I was going to watch a thing of beauty when I saw this film. Turns out.... I could not stand it. Don't get me wrong I can totally see why everyone loves this film. How it has captivated millions of people is a feat I will not undermine. However, the movie is three hours long and I feel a lot of that could have been cut from the film. I get that this movie is more of a mind game and a story of how this young man becomes head of the house, but it was boring. The were some parts that I loved but for the most part this was not the film I thought it was going to be when it started playing.
Becoming one of the best movies of all time didn't come without its controversy and skill. The skill came from the directors and writing working to get the movie off the ground. Using everything they could to make this movie coming to life. That also included using the directors own family members through the movie and pushing to get the right people of the right parts. The controversy comes from the famous horse head scene. That was not a prop from a department. That is was real severed horse head. They production got it from near by dog food factory, where the horse was going to be killed weather the movie was made or not, and used it to put into the bed. Somehow it all worked out for them because The Godfather by Paramount beat out: Allied Artist's Cabaret; Warner Brothers' Deliverance; Svensk Filmindustri The Emigrants; and 20th Century Fox's Sounder for Best Picture that year. It was also selected for Preservation by the National Film Institute in 1990.
I was looking forward to this film. I have heard about this film all of my life growing up and it's one of my older brother's favorite films of all time. I thought I was going to watch a thing of beauty when I saw this film. Turns out.... I could not stand it. Don't get me wrong I can totally see why everyone loves this film. How it has captivated millions of people is a feat I will not undermine. However, the movie is three hours long and I feel a lot of that could have been cut from the film. I get that this movie is more of a mind game and a story of how this young man becomes head of the house, but it was boring. The were some parts that I loved but for the most part this was not the film I thought it was going to be when it started playing.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Best Picture of 1971: The French Connection
Nominated for eight Academy Awards The French Connection is a film that is still loved to this day. Based off the true story of New York City Cops trying to bust a narcotics operation. It's a story filled with mystery and action.
20th Century Fox's The French Connection won Best Picture beating out Warner's A Clockwork Orange, United Artists Fiddler on the Roof, and both of Columbia's nominees The Last Picture Show and Nicolas and Alexandra. This film was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2005.
Really I don't have a lot to say about this film at all. I thought it was really boring. I really did just play with my phone most of the time that I was watching. I was super glad that it was over. Truthfully, Fiddler on the Roof should have one best picture that year. I am fond of musicals, and out of the other it's the only one that I have see, but that was a much better film than The French Connection.
20th Century Fox's The French Connection won Best Picture beating out Warner's A Clockwork Orange, United Artists Fiddler on the Roof, and both of Columbia's nominees The Last Picture Show and Nicolas and Alexandra. This film was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2005.
Really I don't have a lot to say about this film at all. I thought it was really boring. I really did just play with my phone most of the time that I was watching. I was super glad that it was over. Truthfully, Fiddler on the Roof should have one best picture that year. I am fond of musicals, and out of the other it's the only one that I have see, but that was a much better film than The French Connection.
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Best Picture of 1970: Patton
When is comes to Best Pictures we have learned that there are many the involve war in some shape, form or fashion. Many have been about a group of people serving, or have served. Some are about the families that they left behind. However, up until now we have not had one that was about a one man. Let me tell you folks this is not any man we are talking about. We are talking about General George S. Patton. General Patton is one of the greatest Generals to have ever graced a war. His ideals about war, and the art of war, were a tad crazy a time but revolutionary. It has been said that he was an enigma of a man when he was alive. Which made that much harder making a movie about him after he had passed. The movie is a tribute to the all the man, myth, and legend that Patton was. Patton and all of its glory is a film that I believe only begins to scratch the surface of subject that it's about.
Not only did Patton take home the top prize but it also tied that year for the most nominations with Airport. Patton took home Seven out of the Ten awards. However, that was not the talk of the town the next morning. After the dust settled from all the awards and celebration the world was told that George C. Scott, the man who played General Patton, had not only won the Award for Best Actor but he REFUSED the award! Now, Mr. Scott was not present at the ceremony that night and did not give some horrible speech in front of everyone but he did tell everyone later that he did not like how the voting worked for the award. He wasn't a fan of the Oscars it seems. In an interview about that show he said that it was a "two hour meat parade". There is not a super long history of people refusing and Oscar, out of all the awards given there is a small handful of refusals. However, George C. Scott was the first to ever refuse an Academy Award. 20th Century had a masterpiece on their hand and that was proven when Patton beat out: Universal's Airport; Columbia's Five Easy Pieces; Paramount's Love Story; and their own M*A*S*H. To further its prestige Patton was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2003.
So, by this point I am so sick of war films. I have seen many in a very short amount of time. I was at my parents house before I watched this film and they were asking me which films where next. When I said that Patton was the next one he got very excited. Now, my dad likes to watch a lot of movies. He is not a fan of many. Most of them he hates actually. However, he said he LOVED this film. My mom says that it's like the only film that if he is flipping through channels and it's on he will finish watching the film. My dad does not watch ANY movie unless it is from the very beginning. So, I knew that had to have been a good film if my dad will watch it from any point. My theory was correct from the second I turned the movie on. That giant American Flag taking up the whole screen and Patton coming out to make a speech is a scene that was wonderfully executed. I have to say that this movie has one of the best opening lines I have ever heard in a film. This movie is must see in my opinion.
Not only did Patton take home the top prize but it also tied that year for the most nominations with Airport. Patton took home Seven out of the Ten awards. However, that was not the talk of the town the next morning. After the dust settled from all the awards and celebration the world was told that George C. Scott, the man who played General Patton, had not only won the Award for Best Actor but he REFUSED the award! Now, Mr. Scott was not present at the ceremony that night and did not give some horrible speech in front of everyone but he did tell everyone later that he did not like how the voting worked for the award. He wasn't a fan of the Oscars it seems. In an interview about that show he said that it was a "two hour meat parade". There is not a super long history of people refusing and Oscar, out of all the awards given there is a small handful of refusals. However, George C. Scott was the first to ever refuse an Academy Award. 20th Century had a masterpiece on their hand and that was proven when Patton beat out: Universal's Airport; Columbia's Five Easy Pieces; Paramount's Love Story; and their own M*A*S*H. To further its prestige Patton was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 2003.
So, by this point I am so sick of war films. I have seen many in a very short amount of time. I was at my parents house before I watched this film and they were asking me which films where next. When I said that Patton was the next one he got very excited. Now, my dad likes to watch a lot of movies. He is not a fan of many. Most of them he hates actually. However, he said he LOVED this film. My mom says that it's like the only film that if he is flipping through channels and it's on he will finish watching the film. My dad does not watch ANY movie unless it is from the very beginning. So, I knew that had to have been a good film if my dad will watch it from any point. My theory was correct from the second I turned the movie on. That giant American Flag taking up the whole screen and Patton coming out to make a speech is a scene that was wonderfully executed. I have to say that this movie has one of the best opening lines I have ever heard in a film. This movie is must see in my opinion.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Best Picture of 1969: Midnight Cowboy
The story of unlikely friends have never been told in such a way that Midnight Cowboy has done. A Texas man who dreams of becoming hustler in New York decides to pack up his bags and just go for it. When he gets there he meets a man that goes by Ratso. The two are not fast friends but they slowly find that they need each other more than they have ever thought.
Midnight Cowboy was produced by United Artist. It took home the 1969 Academy Award for Best Picture. It took the prize home over the likes of: Universal's Anne of the Thousand Days; 20th Century Fox's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Hello, Dolly; as well as O.N.C.I.C's Z. The National Film Registry also selected Midnight Cowboy for preservation in 1994.
I did not have a whole lot to say about this film because I flat out hated it! I did not understand why this film was made. I have no idea what the point of it was. I mean there was a lot of sex and drugs but I mean I didn't find any meaning to this film at all. I really just wanted to turn it off as soon as it started really...
Midnight Cowboy was produced by United Artist. It took home the 1969 Academy Award for Best Picture. It took the prize home over the likes of: Universal's Anne of the Thousand Days; 20th Century Fox's Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Hello, Dolly; as well as O.N.C.I.C's Z. The National Film Registry also selected Midnight Cowboy for preservation in 1994.
I did not have a whole lot to say about this film because I flat out hated it! I did not understand why this film was made. I have no idea what the point of it was. I mean there was a lot of sex and drugs but I mean I didn't find any meaning to this film at all. I really just wanted to turn it off as soon as it started really...
Best Picture of 1968: Oliver!
"Please sir, can I have some more". You pretty much have to be dead to not have ever heard that line said. This line has been used as jokes in movies, or parodies in cartoon/ tv shows. People have used it as jokes in online videos or in public to their friends. Most people know that this is a line that was said by Oliver in the book Oliver Twist. This famous line also makes an appearance in the
Best Picture of 1968 Oliver!. The musical adaptation of the classic tale of a young orphan living in an orphanage. Oliver Twist gets caught up in an adventure he never could have imagined himself in. With crazy characters with strange ideas, or cute lads that can steal almost anything from anyone Oliver winds up great friends and a family to boot. However, in order to stay with this family he must get away from Bill Sikes because Bill thinks that by getting this new family Oliver is putting Bill's way of life on the line.
Romulus Films had a very interesting take on this film when they made it into a musical. It ended up working for them because it beat out: Columbia's Funny Girl; Embassy's The Lion in the Water; Warner Brothers' Rachel, Rachel; and B.H.E Productions Romeo and Juliet for the top prize that night. The National Film Archive also thought it was great enough to be selected for preservation in 1998.
I have to say that when I turned on this film and everyone started singing I had to pause the movie. Not because the singing was bad but because I had no clue that it was a musical. I thought I had gotten that wrong movie to watch and wanted to make sure it was right. Sure enough, it was the correct movie! It is also one of the most fun ones that I have seen on the Best Picture List. I thought it was a very funny and very charming film. I will say that the movie is called Oliver! but it felt it really was not about him. Not that I am complaining but it's just funny to me that they use this boy just as an excuse to take us to the places where the creators of the movie wanted to go. I am not sure if that is what they did in the book or play but that is what it felt like here. Whatever the case, this was a joyous film to watch.
Best Picture of 1968 Oliver!. The musical adaptation of the classic tale of a young orphan living in an orphanage. Oliver Twist gets caught up in an adventure he never could have imagined himself in. With crazy characters with strange ideas, or cute lads that can steal almost anything from anyone Oliver winds up great friends and a family to boot. However, in order to stay with this family he must get away from Bill Sikes because Bill thinks that by getting this new family Oliver is putting Bill's way of life on the line.
Romulus Films had a very interesting take on this film when they made it into a musical. It ended up working for them because it beat out: Columbia's Funny Girl; Embassy's The Lion in the Water; Warner Brothers' Rachel, Rachel; and B.H.E Productions Romeo and Juliet for the top prize that night. The National Film Archive also thought it was great enough to be selected for preservation in 1998.
I have to say that when I turned on this film and everyone started singing I had to pause the movie. Not because the singing was bad but because I had no clue that it was a musical. I thought I had gotten that wrong movie to watch and wanted to make sure it was right. Sure enough, it was the correct movie! It is also one of the most fun ones that I have seen on the Best Picture List. I thought it was a very funny and very charming film. I will say that the movie is called Oliver! but it felt it really was not about him. Not that I am complaining but it's just funny to me that they use this boy just as an excuse to take us to the places where the creators of the movie wanted to go. I am not sure if that is what they did in the book or play but that is what it felt like here. Whatever the case, this was a joyous film to watch.
Best Picture of 1967: In the Heat of the Night
It is my theory that when is come to classic films there is the feeling you get that just tells you that you are watching something truly special. Now, when it comes to all of Best Picture films that I have watched I don't get that feeling the with all for them. Some I am ask myself "why has this film even been made". Then you come across a film that you think in not going to impress you or leave a mark and it takes you by surprise. In the Heat of the Night is one of those films.
When one for the richest men in town is shot, with not witnesses, the police are very concerned about what to do next. Their little town has never come across a murder before. So, they are not even sure who they need to look for because they do not know who would do such a think to a man who was going to bring new jobs to their community. When searching new by they run into Virgil Tibbs. A well dressed black man waiting at the train station to go home. Being that it's the south in the 60s, they bring him in for questioning. When he tells Officer Gillespie, the officer in charge, that he has no idea what he is talking about Gillespie is ready to charge him with the murder. Tibbs tells him that he can't do that because the evidence would not match up to what him Gillespie says that Tibbs would have no idea about any of this. Tibbs corrects him by telling him that he is a Detective in Philadelphia. Gillespie thinks he is lying until he calls Tibbs' chief where he confirms his story. The chief asks Tibbs to help them out until the next train for Philadelphia comes through again. Reluctantly he agrees. Between the murder and a black man working the case to whole town slowly gets turned upside down.
One of the more interesting parts of this film is the subject of this film. We are in a very divided country when it comes to civil rights at this time in history and the fact that this film was popular as it won the Best Picture is truly astonishing. One of the most famous scene happened in this film. The scene where Tibbs and Gillespie go to the home of Eric Endicott, a man who idealizes the "Old South". He still lives in a plantation that is run by black workers. He never comes out and says that he thinks black people are beneath him but does heavily allude to it through the whole conversation that they have. Things get a little heated when Tibbs interviews him. To the point where Endicott slaps Tibbs in the face and Tibbs does the unthinkable and slaps Endicott back. It is in during this scene when you can tell in the movie theater if there were more blacks or whites in the room during the showing. If the audience mainly gasped then it was mostly white people, if the audience cheered it was mostly blacks. Subject aside this film had to beat out some pretty big names to take home the prize. United Artist beat out: Warner Brothers' Bonnie and Clyde; 20th Century Fox's Doctor Dolittle; Embassy's The Graduate; and Colubia's Guess Who is Coming to Dinner. To add to the honor of winning Best Picture, in 2002 In the Heat of the Night was selected for preservation by the National Film Institute.
Like I said before this film was something special. It was not was I expected when I stated watching it. I thought it was going to be way more violent, crude when it came to the subject of race in the 1960's south. However, I was very impressed at the fact that it balanced everything out. It showed what it was like for the cop, who obviously did not like this black man, to work with Tibbs to solve the case. However, you can tell that he was starting to see Tibbs more like a human being and not just a "black man". Not only did he notice it but the people around him started to notice it as well. It did allude to the crudeness of some people not being tolerable to Tibbs at all. They threatened him and they tried to kill him at one point. Yet, Tibbs kept a cool head about it through most of the film. I have to say that this is one of my favorite roles that I have seen Sidney Poitier in.
When one for the richest men in town is shot, with not witnesses, the police are very concerned about what to do next. Their little town has never come across a murder before. So, they are not even sure who they need to look for because they do not know who would do such a think to a man who was going to bring new jobs to their community. When searching new by they run into Virgil Tibbs. A well dressed black man waiting at the train station to go home. Being that it's the south in the 60s, they bring him in for questioning. When he tells Officer Gillespie, the officer in charge, that he has no idea what he is talking about Gillespie is ready to charge him with the murder. Tibbs tells him that he can't do that because the evidence would not match up to what him Gillespie says that Tibbs would have no idea about any of this. Tibbs corrects him by telling him that he is a Detective in Philadelphia. Gillespie thinks he is lying until he calls Tibbs' chief where he confirms his story. The chief asks Tibbs to help them out until the next train for Philadelphia comes through again. Reluctantly he agrees. Between the murder and a black man working the case to whole town slowly gets turned upside down.
One of the more interesting parts of this film is the subject of this film. We are in a very divided country when it comes to civil rights at this time in history and the fact that this film was popular as it won the Best Picture is truly astonishing. One of the most famous scene happened in this film. The scene where Tibbs and Gillespie go to the home of Eric Endicott, a man who idealizes the "Old South". He still lives in a plantation that is run by black workers. He never comes out and says that he thinks black people are beneath him but does heavily allude to it through the whole conversation that they have. Things get a little heated when Tibbs interviews him. To the point where Endicott slaps Tibbs in the face and Tibbs does the unthinkable and slaps Endicott back. It is in during this scene when you can tell in the movie theater if there were more blacks or whites in the room during the showing. If the audience mainly gasped then it was mostly white people, if the audience cheered it was mostly blacks. Subject aside this film had to beat out some pretty big names to take home the prize. United Artist beat out: Warner Brothers' Bonnie and Clyde; 20th Century Fox's Doctor Dolittle; Embassy's The Graduate; and Colubia's Guess Who is Coming to Dinner. To add to the honor of winning Best Picture, in 2002 In the Heat of the Night was selected for preservation by the National Film Institute.
Like I said before this film was something special. It was not was I expected when I stated watching it. I thought it was going to be way more violent, crude when it came to the subject of race in the 1960's south. However, I was very impressed at the fact that it balanced everything out. It showed what it was like for the cop, who obviously did not like this black man, to work with Tibbs to solve the case. However, you can tell that he was starting to see Tibbs more like a human being and not just a "black man". Not only did he notice it but the people around him started to notice it as well. It did allude to the crudeness of some people not being tolerable to Tibbs at all. They threatened him and they tried to kill him at one point. Yet, Tibbs kept a cool head about it through most of the film. I have to say that this is one of my favorite roles that I have seen Sidney Poitier in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)