I definitely agree with the "backlash" position on Slumdog Millionaire. It's not just how embarrassingly cliched the last third or so of the movie is -- not so much a Bollywood tribute as a tribute to Hollywood triumph-of-the-underdog-who-gets-the-girl-too-in-an-even-more-dreary-subplot movies -- but that these cliches undermine the best parts of the movie, making the whole less than the sum of the parts. Although I would vote for Van Sant among the five nominees I don't necessarily begrudge Boyle his inevitable best director award; it's a tribute to his style and craft that the movie is as entertaining as it is despite its considerable flaws. But if the screenplay wins it's a joke.
In addition, I should also say that The Wrestler isn't just a movie with two great performances, it's a tremendous movie, period, easily the best American movie of the year. For a full account, I'll outsource to Stevens and Scott. One thing I do want to address, though, is the idiotic argument (sometimes made by defenders of the film) in some quarters that it's just a Rocky clone with better acting/direction. I can't imagine missing the point more. Pro wrestling makes such a great subject for a movie -- and avoids the sports movie cliches that mar this year's Best Picture winner -- precisely because there can be no heroic triumph (or near-triumph) when there's nothing to win. Neither the pre-destined winner nor the loser in wrestling are permitted the dignity of competition that made Rocky seem like a winner even when he lost, and the implications of this are explored with great effect. And there are lots of other nice touches -- for example, the amazing scenes of the washed-up wrestlers hawking VHS tapes at the American Legion hall, the parallels between pro wrestling and sex work that are never belabored or (so rarely in the age in which Aaron Sorkin is considered a genius) theorized about by the characters. There are some minor flaws: in particular, the movie needed either more or less of the daughter, and ultimately the attempt to create a substantial arc with little screen time created a last scene between them that was glaringly implausible and sitcommy. But overall it's a superb piece of work, and in addition to Rourke being a great story it's gratifying to see a director of considerable promise and less accomplishment really pull it together.
I guess this should be an Oscar open thread.
...nice to see the shutout to the Maysles.
...I suspect a lot of pools just died on the best foreign film award.
...he is a great actor, and it's certainly not surprising -- you had to bet on him -- but I'm still pretty disappointed that Penn won and Rourke's historic performance was overlooked.
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