Comments on: Why "Dreamgirls" Lost, The Eastwood Factor, and Other Reactions http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/ All Oscars, No Fluff Sun, 30 May 2010 12:46:07 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-753 John Sat, 27 Jan 2007 07:25:58 +0000 http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/#comment-753 There's one other reason -- a big one -- that "Dreamgirls" didn't get nominated: DVD screeners. I watched "Dreamgirls" at home and found it middling with a spectacular anchor performance by Jennifer Hudson. Tonight, I went to see it in a theater, which was full even after the nomination announcement (or, perhaps, because of it?). Huge surprise: I absolutely LOVED "Dreamgirls." The audience really got into it, applauding after several numbers, including "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," and I noticed some subtleties in the performances and the design that I had completely overlooked on TV. On the other hand, "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Queen" and "The Departed" are great home-viewing fare. On TV, it's much easier to be impressed by plot and acting. Make no mistake, I still think "The Queen" was the best movie I've seen this year, but having experienced "Dreamgirls" with an audience in a theater, I'm both stunned that this marvelous film wasn't recognized ... and also a little more able to understand its snub. I'm not sure why Dreamworks didn't subtly insist that Academy members see the movie in theaters; had they really pushed this angle hard, particularly among older voters, there might have been a very different outcome. No matter your home-theater setup, "Dreamgirls" suffers on first viewing outside an auditorium. There’s one other reason — a big one — that “Dreamgirls” didn’t get nominated: DVD screeners. I watched “Dreamgirls” at home and found it middling with a spectacular anchor performance by Jennifer Hudson. Tonight, I went to see it in a theater, which was full even after the nomination announcement (or, perhaps, because of it?). Huge surprise: I absolutely LOVED “Dreamgirls.” The audience really got into it, applauding after several numbers, including “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” and I noticed some subtleties in the performances and the design that I had completely overlooked on TV.

On the other hand, “Little Miss Sunshine,” “The Queen” and “The Departed” are great home-viewing fare. On TV, it’s much easier to be impressed by plot and acting.

Make no mistake, I still think “The Queen” was the best movie I’ve seen this year, but having experienced “Dreamgirls” with an audience in a theater, I’m both stunned that this marvelous film wasn’t recognized … and also a little more able to understand its snub.

I’m not sure why Dreamworks didn’t subtly insist that Academy members see the movie in theaters; had they really pushed this angle hard, particularly among older voters, there might have been a very different outcome. No matter your home-theater setup, “Dreamgirls” suffers on first viewing outside an auditorium.

]]> By: Rayven http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-735 Rayven Fri, 26 Jan 2007 07:39:27 +0000 http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/#comment-735 I hope clint does not steal marty's thunder this time...I love clint - mystic river is one of my favourite movies of all time and I really enjoyed flags but not as much as Iwo Jima, but still, The Departed and Babel were better movies of the year!!1...And best picture and best director must go to The Departed!!...It will be a SIN not to reward marty with a best director award this time around I hope clint does not steal marty’s thunder this time…I love clint – mystic river is one of my favourite movies of all time and I really enjoyed flags but not as much as Iwo Jima, but still, The Departed and Babel were better movies of the year!!1…And best picture and best director must go to The Departed!!…It will be a SIN not to reward marty with a best director award this time around

]]> By: Sam http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-725 Sam Thu, 25 Jan 2007 13:49:24 +0000 http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/#comment-725 The Dreamgirl snub does not surprise me. There are lots of Brilliant films with black actors, but this one is not one of them. It's just not substantive, and kind of average. 3 of it's nominations are for best song which I don't believe will win. J. Hudson is the movie and will probably win, tho I believe Blanchett was better. I agree with you on "Letters". I believe it will win - it's a masterpiece and is far more credible than the others. I thiink the biggest snub was "The Painted Veil". I think it deserved some nominations. The Dreamgirl snub does not surprise me. There are lots of Brilliant films with black actors, but this one is not one of them. It’s just not substantive, and kind of average. 3 of it’s nominations are for best song which I don’t believe will win. J. Hudson is the movie and will probably win, tho I believe Blanchett was better. I agree with you on “Letters”. I believe it will win – it’s a masterpiece and is far more credible than the others. I thiink the biggest snub was “The Painted Veil”. I think it deserved some nominations.

]]> By: Johnny http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-724 Johnny Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:26:47 +0000 http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/#comment-724 Casino Royale got the shaft -- even Click and Poseidon got nom's. Pathetic. Casino Royale got the shaft — even Click and Poseidon got nom’s. Pathetic.

]]> By: Bill http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/comment-page-1/#comment-722 Bill Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:57:08 +0000 http://www.oscarfrenzy.com/commentary/why-dreamgirls-lost-the-eastwood-factor-and-other-reactions/#comment-722 I just reviewed most of the oscar sites. I agree with the folk writing that the DREAMGIRLS snub was not such a bad thing. The movie was NOT as involving as it it touted to be. BUT, more importantly, someone mentioned something about a backlash. Well, watch out people, but I'm predicting a possible backlash against Helen Mirren. True, so far she seems to be handling the nomination with real grace and humility which will help, but, like me, I suspect a lot of folk got tired of seeing her accept awards at the Golden Globes. And no matter how you look at it, Meryl Streep has been gracious and charming too (and LONG overdue). Wouldn't that be a shocker - Merly takes Best Actress instead of Mirren? My gut tells me it could really happen. I just reviewed most of the oscar sites. I agree with the folk writing that the DREAMGIRLS snub was not such a bad thing. The movie was NOT as involving as it it touted to be. BUT, more importantly, someone mentioned something about a backlash. Well, watch out people, but I’m predicting a possible backlash against Helen Mirren. True, so far she seems to be handling the nomination with real grace and humility which will help, but, like me, I suspect a lot of folk got tired of seeing her accept awards at the Golden Globes. And no matter how you look at it, Meryl Streep has been gracious and charming too (and LONG overdue). Wouldn’t that be a shocker – Merly takes Best Actress instead of Mirren? My gut tells me it could really happen.

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