Categories One-by-One: Animated Film
Re: Categories One-by-One: Animated Film
Heh. He's clearly a good guy - every time I hear someone talk about del Toro, it's always positive about his humour and emotional generosity. And he talks about his cinephilia with such ardor and warmth that it's hard to be that begrudging [but not impossible].
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Mister Tee
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Re: Categories One-by-One: Animated Film
Puss in Boots finally arrived on DVD, so I can chime in.
Except for The Sea Beast, which qualifies as not-horrible (though hardly distinguished), I'd say this is one of the better slates of recent years. None of these was a chore to sit through.
I found Marcel the Shell with Shoes On the most moving, overall. I certainly agree it seemed vulnerable to an "Is this really animated?" campaign -- it was more akin to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, clear animation within just as clear reality framing. But, given the designation, I responded to the story -- finding it, simple though it was, appealingly tender.
Turning Red, as I wrote in the review thread, is a perfectly likable Pixar for (mostly) teenage girls. Had it come out later, or made a bigger splash, it might make a companion piece to the probable best picture. I don't think it quite has win "stuff", but I'm happy to have it along.
After a slightly slow start, Puss in Boots: the Last Wish takes off like a rocket, and manages to flash consistent wit at the same time it successfully sells a "there's no place like home" message. I don't think AMPAS has shown much appetite for offshoots/sequels (beyond the infinite number of Toy Storys), but I wouldn't be surprised if this were the runner-up.
It really amuses me just how much Del Toro sticks in your craw. We all have certain artists who just don't speak our language, and it's your misfortune in your case it's a guy who's in a longtime relationship with the Academy. For the record, I share a little bit of your misgiving about the film's disappointing performance in nominations -- I never took the screenplay/directing notions seriously, but score and song were serious misses. (Basically, the things that made Everything Everywhere looked beloved that morning came at Pinocchio's expense.) I also didn't love this film quite the way some on this board do. But I did like it, and appreciated the many flashes of imagination, that filled out and expanded the familiar story into new, interesting territory. Still and all, I could be wary of the film's success a week hence...except for the seeming unanimity of precursors. When the Globe, Broadcasters, BAFTA and PGA all converge, it doesn't necessarily make a sure thing...but it does make it the way to bet.
Except for The Sea Beast, which qualifies as not-horrible (though hardly distinguished), I'd say this is one of the better slates of recent years. None of these was a chore to sit through.
I found Marcel the Shell with Shoes On the most moving, overall. I certainly agree it seemed vulnerable to an "Is this really animated?" campaign -- it was more akin to Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, clear animation within just as clear reality framing. But, given the designation, I responded to the story -- finding it, simple though it was, appealingly tender.
Turning Red, as I wrote in the review thread, is a perfectly likable Pixar for (mostly) teenage girls. Had it come out later, or made a bigger splash, it might make a companion piece to the probable best picture. I don't think it quite has win "stuff", but I'm happy to have it along.
After a slightly slow start, Puss in Boots: the Last Wish takes off like a rocket, and manages to flash consistent wit at the same time it successfully sells a "there's no place like home" message. I don't think AMPAS has shown much appetite for offshoots/sequels (beyond the infinite number of Toy Storys), but I wouldn't be surprised if this were the runner-up.
It really amuses me just how much Del Toro sticks in your craw. We all have certain artists who just don't speak our language, and it's your misfortune in your case it's a guy who's in a longtime relationship with the Academy. For the record, I share a little bit of your misgiving about the film's disappointing performance in nominations -- I never took the screenplay/directing notions seriously, but score and song were serious misses. (Basically, the things that made Everything Everywhere looked beloved that morning came at Pinocchio's expense.) I also didn't love this film quite the way some on this board do. But I did like it, and appreciated the many flashes of imagination, that filled out and expanded the familiar story into new, interesting territory. Still and all, I could be wary of the film's success a week hence...except for the seeming unanimity of precursors. When the Globe, Broadcasters, BAFTA and PGA all converge, it doesn't necessarily make a sure thing...but it does make it the way to bet.
Categories One-by-One: Animated Film
The nominees
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The Sea Beast
Turning Red
The Sea Beast barely got this nomination that should have gone to Strange World or My Father’s Dragon. Netflix has another contender in this race that they’ve been pushing harder.
While the critics were VERY excited over Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, I think it would be a shocking winner. It’s such a tiny film and frankly, I’m surprised it wasn’t disqualified given how much appears to be live action.
I expect both Puss in Boots and Turning Red will have their adherents (“ME” he shouts, “ME!!”) and neither would shock me as winners. Puss in Boots, in particular, has carved out a fairly decent performance at the box office and stands out for perhaps the most grown-up aspect of the five movies [and if it’s Pinocchio you want..]. I also think Turning Red has very enthusiastic support.
One of the hurdles that comes from talking as extensively about the Oscar races as we do is that there is the desire to argue yourself into different positions – you overthink things. So I’m tempted to predict something not Pinocchio. It was supposed to be a contender for del Toro outside of this category (for song, score, production design, adapted screenplay…. Even director) and couldn’t get any of them. On the other hand, we’ve been taught that the race resets itself after nominations and this is a specialist category, so why bring it up? But the last time del Toro was in a specialist category, his film missed out. But the last time he was an Oscar frontrunner, he was very successful. Netflix has underperformed more than not when it comes to actually winning prizes (see last year). I’m probably grasping at straws because I didn’t care for it, but is everyone else just confident it’s going to win?
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
The Sea Beast
Turning Red
The Sea Beast barely got this nomination that should have gone to Strange World or My Father’s Dragon. Netflix has another contender in this race that they’ve been pushing harder.
While the critics were VERY excited over Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, I think it would be a shocking winner. It’s such a tiny film and frankly, I’m surprised it wasn’t disqualified given how much appears to be live action.
I expect both Puss in Boots and Turning Red will have their adherents (“ME” he shouts, “ME!!”) and neither would shock me as winners. Puss in Boots, in particular, has carved out a fairly decent performance at the box office and stands out for perhaps the most grown-up aspect of the five movies [and if it’s Pinocchio you want..]. I also think Turning Red has very enthusiastic support.
One of the hurdles that comes from talking as extensively about the Oscar races as we do is that there is the desire to argue yourself into different positions – you overthink things. So I’m tempted to predict something not Pinocchio. It was supposed to be a contender for del Toro outside of this category (for song, score, production design, adapted screenplay…. Even director) and couldn’t get any of them. On the other hand, we’ve been taught that the race resets itself after nominations and this is a specialist category, so why bring it up? But the last time del Toro was in a specialist category, his film missed out. But the last time he was an Oscar frontrunner, he was very successful. Netflix has underperformed more than not when it comes to actually winning prizes (see last year). I’m probably grasping at straws because I didn’t care for it, but is everyone else just confident it’s going to win?