Archive for June 11, 2012

The Oscar Quest: Best Picture – 1950

This year is sure a contentious one, isn’t it? I tried to think of something more to say about the year, but that’s what it seems to be about — All About Eve vs. Sunset Boulevard. Which is a good situation to be in.

All About Eve wins Best Picture, Best Director for Joseph L. Mankiewicz (talked about here) and Best Supporting Actor for George Sanders (talked about here). It’s clear which way the Academy went on this decision. I like the Supporting Actor decision, don’t mind the Best Picture decision, and hate the Best Director decision. (Carol Reed seriously deserved that so badly.) Best Actor was José Ferrer for Cyrano de Bergerac (talked about here), which is a pretty boring decision. Best Actress was Judy Holliday for Born Yesterday (talked about here), which is pretty weak considering she beat Anne Baxter and Bette Davis for All About Eve and Gloria Swanson for Sunset Boulevard. She was good, but — not as good as those other three. And Best Supporting Actress was Josephine Hull for Harvey (talked about here), which was a spirited decision.

So it’s clear that the Academy sided with All About Eve. I can’t tell which of the two (if either) has held up better over the years. Either way, it’s a good year, and when the choice is between two great films, everybody wins.

BEST PICTURE – 1950

And the nominees were…

All About Eve (20th Century Fox)

Born Yesterday (Columbia)

Father of the Bride (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

King Solomon’s Mines (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Sunset Boulevard (Paramount) (more…)

June 11, 2012 | Categories: Movies, Oscars, The Oscar Quest | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pic of the Day: “I’m going back to my dorm.” “Wait, wait! Is this real?” “Yes!” “Okay, then wait. I apologize, okay? “I have to go study.” “Erica…” “Yes?” “I’m sorry, I mean it.” “I appreciate that, but I have to go study.” “Come on, you don’t have to study, you don’t have to study, let’s just talk.” “I can’t.” “Why?” “Because it is exhausting! Dating you is like dating a StairMaster!” “All I meant is that you’re not likely to… currently. I wasn’t making a comment on your appearance, I was saying that you go to BU. I was stating a fact, that’s all. And if it seemed rude, than of course I apologize.” “I have to go study.” “You don’t have to study.” “Why do you keep saying I don’t have to study?” “Because you go to BU!”

June 11, 2012 | Categories: Movies, Pic of the Day | Tags: | Leave a comment