RSS
January 28, 2008
An Oscar Sized Nuclear Bomb Explodes In My Brain
UPDATE: Looks like the forces of Truth, Justice and the Irishican Way prevailed everyone - It's not hard in here for a Once after all:
"The Academy’s music branch executive committee has met and endorsed the validity of 'Falling Slowly' as a nominated achievement. The committee relied on written assurances and detailed chronologies provided by songwriter of 'Falling Slowly', the writer-director of Once and Fox Searchlight."
So there you go - The good guys win and Once remains in contention for Best Original Song. And yours truly can save that stroke for something else, like when Meet the Spartans is nominated for Best Picture in 2009.
*******************
Hold onto whatever it is that pops whenever you have a stroke, because as you can read over at Chud, the geniuses who determine "Oscar-worthiness" might be cooking up some more of that ol' Hollywood Magic:
When The New York Times' David Carr reported on Saturday that "Falling Slowly", the lovely Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova ballad from Once, was in danger of being ruled ineligible post-nomination, I immediately suspected shenanigans and a quick denial from the AMPAS. As Kris Tapley points out at Red Carpet District, this matter was dealt with months ago; though "Falling Slowly" was included on an LP released prior to Once's theatrical debut, that isn't a violation of the Academy's rules in and of itself. So what's the snag? Apparently, the veracity of Hansard's claim that he wrote "Falling Slowly" specifically for the film has come into question.And just who would gain from nagging the Academy about what seems to be a baseless accusation? There are only two other films up for the award. Shouldn't be hard to figure out.
That's right folks, apparently the nominee for Best Original Song that's actually worth a damn might be removed from contention because, well, shite, I don't know. Once recieved one nomination. Enchanted recieved More Than That. This makes no sense whatsoever, unless, maybe, the Best Original Song is actually a secret code for "Best movie that should have, but didn't, give everyone Eyeball AIDS, for which we are grateful.")
Hey Oscars, I have an idea - why not just re-nominate Three 6 Mafia? It's Hard out Here For a Pimp is way more terrible than even Enchanted could hope to achieve. Hell, while you're at it, let's just bring Dances With Wolves back so you can give that cinematic tumor the Best Picture Oscar all over again. Apparently, it was better than Goodfellas, so it's got to be better than No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood, right?
Watching the AARP Oscar voters reward Enchanted is going to hurt almost as much as it did watching them pretend Elliott Smith had a chance against Celine Dion.
Luckily, the Oscargenarians haven't dropped the Hatchet yet. So, while we wait to find out whether or not they need to be driven out of town on the next train, why not listen to one of the best Ballads the 2000's have yet produced, the obviously suprior, Oscar Worthy Song that is up against multiple crap songs from the same crap movie, and join me in contemplating the possibility that the Oscar Committee people might just be, if their capacity for disappointing anyone in America with an IQ over 60 is any judge, the 2000 US Supreme Court in disguise.
| 
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
[ report this ]
Well EFFING said! I couldnt believe 3 6 mafia one an Oscar? Was that a joke? Seriously. WHY ARE TWO SONGS FROM ENCHANTED NOMINATED? AND WHY IS AMY ADAMS EVERYONES NEW FAVORITE DARLING? SHE WAS IN CRUEL INTENTIONS 2, YA KNOW? aND NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE PERFORMANCE LEFT SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR HER SKILLS AS AN ACTRESS.
[ report this ]
I will totally freak out if Once gets pulled from the Oscars.
[ report this ]
Ughh I am outraged. I love this movie and this song should win, if we were in a perfect non insane world, must remind myself that many other wonderful movies have been denied Oscars.
On another note, I can't tell the difference between Amy Adams and Isla Fisher.
[ report this ]
whats wrong with Enchanted? Everyone loves stephen schwartz. I guess its too mainstream for everyone.
[ report this ]
I think this is all much ado about nothing. "Falling Slowly" will remain in the Best Song category and (if there is any justice/taste in the Academy) win. I think Carr is just trying to stir the pot. The song was attached to a workprint of Once when they were trying to get buyers interested. It was only after it looked like Once may not find a buyer (this was pre-Sundance), that Hansard decided to add it to the albums to raise the profile of the movie. That said, as much as I loved "Falling Slowly", I thought "When Your Mind's Made Up" was the best song in the movie (as well as the best staged).
[ report this ]
Whoa whoa, Falling Slowly is a great song and deserves its nomination but let's ease up on Enchanted. Sure, three nominations may be a bit excessive but Steve Schwartz and Alan Menken wrote some pretty great, genre appropriate tunes that managed to be funny and sweet without being sappy, cynical or crude. Enchanted's earnest Disney vibe might not be as hip as the low-tech Once but that doesn't make it terrible.
[ report this ]
in 3 years everyone will look back and wonder why anyone really cared about Once and the music from it. they will realize that all the music is a 2nd rate ripoff of Damien Rice. they will realize that thousands of lame college meat heads with guitars sing the same exact songs, over and over.
it's hard out there for a pimp was worthy for a nomination and award because none of what i said above applies to it.
[ report this ]
Wait, you're kidding, aren't you Kino?
Meanwhile, I'd like to point out that Alan menken wrote the following:
*"Wonderful Ways to Say No" from cartoon All Stars to the Rescue
*Newsies
*Sister Act The Musical
*Aladdin
*The Little Mermaid
And Stephen Schwartz wrote the Lyrics to Wicked. WIcked. That's not a musical, it's cancer of the eardrum.
These aren't musical works, they're exihibits from a trial for Crimes Against Humanity. Giving these clowns an Oscar is like giving Kissinger a Nobel Prize. oh, wait...
[ report this ]
I forgot about Pippen and Godspell. Egad!
Though I will concede that Schwartz also wrote "Butterflies Are Free," which is very excellent.
[ report this ]
if any awards show could possibly be a worse judge of good music -- not to mention originality -- than the Grammys, it's the Oscars.
I say we picket on principle if the song from Once is cut, WGA strike or no strike.
Good movie. Great songs.
[ report this ]
Andy, if we're counting years after 1970, there is an award show worse about judging good music. The Tonys. Even "It's Hard In Here..." is better than Wicked.
[ report this ]
i want to hug the writer of this
[ report this ]
Arguing about what is great music is right behind arguments about politics and religion.
And Dances with Wolves is not as bad as someone here thinks. It ain't no Goodfellas, surely, but give me a break. Add Art to the list above.
Steely Dan forever!!
[ report this ]
I don't want to bash the other nominees, but personally, none of those songs resonated with me as much as the songs from ONCE. They were easily more memorable and emotional and worthy to be BEST SONG.
Now that the FALLING SLOWLY eligibility has been settled ... let's all get back to hoping the WGA strike is settled soon!
[ report this ]
Once is crazy awesome. boner-inducing.
[ report this ]
Its Hard Out here for a Pimp is better than any song in Wicked, fa sheezy.