Unofficial Academy Awards Discussion Board

So glad I found you guys. Your wealth of knowledge, experience, insight and judgment well surpasses that I've found on other film discussion boards. Here, I feel the need to take the discussion and group consensus seriously. And, I have been educated and informed. You guys really care about film for...

Does this board conduct its own selection of the "best of" films each year? Would be fun. Hopefully, most of us will be able to see most of the talked about films by the end of December. Films generating buzz opening in December: Shame Coriolanus Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy We Need to Tal...

I've been able to catch again snippets of Henry Fonda's work over the past several months. He was a prolific actor and did not appear too choosy - a healthy mix of good, mundane and bad works. So, I can imagine how easy it is to be overlooked when you're around all the time. Still, from what I have ...

I have to agree with you Mister Tee regarding William Powell. What performance? It was his usual schtick done not well. The Great Ziegfeld is worthy only for preserving the performances of great vaudeville performers. This is, as you say, the first modern-day slate of nominees, and I think, in this ...

I remember 1984 as an unremarkable year for leading actors. Unfortunately, I have yet to get to Under the Volcano.

What I remember most is the slight (except for the NYFCC) of Steve Martin for All of Me. His brilliant, dexterous physical performance is a marvel.

When I finally got around to seeing Taxi Driver, after hearing the hype for years, I did not like it. The New York streetscape stands out. For the time, the cinematography must have been smashing. Today, it is perhaps somewhat better than what we get on Law and Order. The plot is pedestrian and insu...

Hattie McDaniel works hard and distinguishes herself as a pedestrian maid. That's all - in 2011 terms and, even, in 1939 terms. A shame there was not a better part for her.

I hope you finally saw Scenes from a Marriage. Wonderful film. One of my favorite Bergman, along with Persona, The Naked Night/Sawdust and Tinsel, and Winter Light. As for Pacino's performance in the Godfather films, I have always been bothered by Pacino's ubiquitous dramatic pauses in these movies....

This race is the perfect scenario with which to understand the challenge of assigning "lead" and "featured" status to performances. Screen time and number of lines is only part of the equation. A substantial part, yes. Nevertheless, the focal point of the action, how integral the...

It is interesting that you believe that Streep has "no heart" in Out of Africa. You may be right. I wonder whether this works to the benefit of the performance. She was playing an upper crust European woman on her own in colonial Africa. I would have expected that kind of reserve. I rememb...

The sad truth is that even if MacLaine provides depth, her latter day performances are built upon the sourpuss curmudgeon. I see no compelling reason to finish out all the actress contests by any particular date. We're dealing with a finite number of competitions; why not just go through and let the...

I adore Joan Cusack. In & Out is hilarious. I just couldn't stop laughing. Dated? I don't think it is for small town America, where it is set. Joan was broad here and very well helped provide the comedic punches. Nevertheless, I do agree that more pathos and depth would have served the role imme...

The Morning After represented pure Jane Fonda - the best she can offer as an actress. The movie was pedestrian. Nevertheless, Fonda brought full depth and character, and kept me fully engaged with her performance. I agree that Matlin is a fine actress but not great. I agree with Mister Tee. Fonda is...

Thanks for the news about Face to Face. It is still unavailable on Netflix. A big loss as some critics have called Ullman's performance one of her best. I've not had the chance to see it. As for Dunaway and Spacek, Dunaway was very good, based on my memory of seeing it years ago. But Spacek's perfor...

I concur about the National Society's vote breakdowns, specifically from 1966 - 1971 before Kauffmann and Simon left. I have very much enjoyed learning about the NYFCC voting results from past years. Is it possible that someone could provide the same information from the National Society of Film Cri...