Slumdog 8 Oscars--Why ?

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TheWombat

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Went to see Slumdog with Mrs Wombat on sunday.A decent film and we both enjoyed it-----But 8 Oscars including best picture----Surely not.The film touched on several serious subjects all of which were glossed over as quickly as possible and never fully resolved within the context of the story.The fast cut editing gave the film the pace of a pop video---fine for the action sequences but hardly condusive to coherent story telling.Mind you there was some brilliant cinematography.The end result is a fast paced feel good film that is certainly very enjoyable.A best picture Oscar film-----No way.
Pete.
 
I completely disagree :) It was the best film I've seen for years.
 
Got the screener of this last month along with Benjamin Button.
Turned Slumdog off after about 10 minutes.
Benjamin Button on the other hand is pure genius.

Paul
 
KayJay said:
I completely disagree :) It was the best film I've seen for years.
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Glad you enjoyed it Kayjay---Why do you think it the best though?
Pete.
 
I thought it was fantastic because as an Indian I felt it was about time that there was a hard hitting film showing some of India's less attractive features, something which Bollywood regularly ignores.

I also really enjoyed the way it was filmed, very stylized. The fact that they used local children and actors to fill roles was also commendable. I shed a tear a couple of times in the film as did my wife, we found it very moving both for the good bits and the less glamorous ones.

I'm also a big fan of some of the artists chosen to provide music for the sound track. It was mainly these reasons that I enjoyed it so much. For me it was something different.
 
:plusone: for Benjamin Button.

Ive seen it 3 times already :D I havent seen a good movie for last few monts (or year even) and this one I find just great and definite buy when it comes out on blueray :D
 
I think I need to see Benjamin Button though to make a really informed decision on this. I've heard it is meant to be fantastic.
 
KayJay said:
I thought it was fantastic because as an Indian I felt it was about time that there was a hard hitting film showing some of India's less attractive features, something which Bollywood regularly ignores.

I also really enjoyed the way it was filmed, very stylized. The fact that they used local children and actors to fill roles was also commendable. I shed a tear a couple of times in the film as did my wife, we found it very moving both for the good bits and the less glamorous ones.

I'm also a big fan of some of the artists chosen to provide music for the sound track. It was mainly these reasons that I enjoyed it so much. For me it was something different.
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I too liked the film for a lot of the same reasons although I suspect your knowledge of the background is much deeper than mine.But just because a film is enjoyable doesnt make it a "Best Picture".I felt disappointed that the serious content was glossed over and trivialised for cinematic effect.I think Slumdog is a case of "less is not necessarily more" and that the film would have benefitted from more time telling the story.An enjoyable film though.
Pete.
 
I don't know if it was trivialized. The imagery in the film had a big effect on people in the audience when I went. I didn't see a single person leave for the toilet right the way through the film. It would be interesting though to see if anyone else jumps on the bandwagon and produces a more thorough movie. A lot of the background to the main story line was missed, I'd agree with that.

I think I'm going to try and catch Benjamin Button tomorrow after work.
 
Its made me want to go and buy the book.
Pete.
 
It was an OK film. Not as good as everyone is making out. I'm just glad Penn won the best actor award.
 
because the movie was made with an 8 million dollar budget and still made as much impact as any blockbuster out this year.

And it was a great film :D
 
what I don't get was the prize for special effects, when it was up against dark knight ect, whatever the films merits it didn't have special effects so why was it in the running for that particular oscar?

Also I didn't like the film
 
The film touched on several serious subjects all of which were glossed over as quickly as possible and never fully resolved within the context of the story.
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Sounds like the film industry and hollywood to me. Shallow, superficial, fleeting.
 
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Very rarely when a film sweeps the boards is it one that i have enjoyed.
 
It will interest me as I spent a few days wandering around the slums of Chennai a couple of years ago. It's quite an experience. I'll put some pics up some time - it's on the list of things to do. I'm also going to do the same thing in Calcutta in a couple of weeks.
 
tikkathreebarrel said:
Sounds like the film industry and hollywood to me. Shallow, superficial, fleeting.
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AGAIN... sounds like they only had an $8 million budget to make a full feature film, there were people sobbing all across the theatre when i went to watch it

I will admit that its not my genre but i can see why it won awards
 
What I don't understand is why all these Oscar nominated films have just come out, both Slumdog and Benjamin Button came out at the start of February. Is it just coincidence or good timing? They don't seem to focus on anything else that was released during the year - bar Dark Knight and Wall-E...

I haven't seen Slumdog or Benjamin, can't say I'm to fussed. I can wait till their on TV.
 
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Some people must just not like going to the cinema. The whole cinema going experience is great. "I'll wait till it comes out on TV". Fair enough. But they are both movies to be seen on the big screen in my opinion, otherwise you won't get the full effect.
 
KayJay said:
Some people must just not like going to the cinema. The whole cinema going experience is great. "I'll wait till it comes out on TV". Fair enough. But they are both movies to be seen on the big screen in my opinion, otherwise you won't get the full effect.
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Completely agree with that.
Pete.
 
Don't get me wrong, I like the cinema experience. There are just some films I personally feel I don't desperately need to watch (especially if their the type of film I don't normally watch). I watched There Will Be Blood last night, and I really enjoyed it. However I can't say I'm too fussed about not seeing it at the cinema.

Not to mention the expensive ticket prices and the idiots who either talk during the film or **** about :p.
 
We've got the monthly ticket thing with Cineworld. It's a fantastic thing if you're an avid movie goer.
 
david1701 said:
what I don't get was the prize for special effects, when it was up against dark knight ect, whatever the films merits it didn't have special effects so why was it in the running for that particular oscar?
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Did it get an oscar for special effects then ? that does sound surprising when you consider "The Dark Knight", i've not seen slumdog yet not to fussed really, i will wait for it to come on the TV, i used to love going to the cinema, i used to go at least once a week after work, lost interest the last few years don't really know why.
 
i go to the cinema at least twice a week, i like all genres so i have no issues, but some films are made to win oscars, Sulmdog and Benjamin were both made with oscars in mind and thats why the release was so soon to the oscars...

Seriously i found it a little hard moving away to a third world country with a crappy little cinema and one english film a month. Then i cam back with the broken limb and watched a whole bunch of movies on the TV that i would have enjoyed more on the big screen
 
david1701 said:
what I don't get was the prize for special effects, when it was up against dark knight ect, whatever the films merits it didn't have special effects so why was it in the running for that particular oscar?

Also I didn't like the film
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Sorry, what? There is no category for 'special effects'.

The closest there is would be Visual Effects which TCCoBB won and Slumdog wasn't even nominated for.
 
KayJay said:
I thought it was fantastic because as an Indian I felt it was about time that there was a hard hitting film showing some of India's less attractive features, something which Bollywood regularly ignores.
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So its "fantastic" in the sameway that Brokeback Mountain was "fantastic" for having gay cowboys?

Worst film I've ever seen; all the 'twists' were blindingly obvious, barely any story other than supressed sexual desire... If not for appealing to a minority who raved so much about it it would have blown over within 2 weeks and have been known as the dross it really was :bang:
 
Uneducated_Rick said:
So its "fantastic" in the sameway that Brokeback Mountain was "fantastic" for having gay cowboys?

Worst film I've ever seen; all the 'twists' were blindingly obvious, barely any story other than supressed sexual desire... If not for appealing to a minority who raved so much about it it would have blown over within 2 weeks and have been known as the dross it really was :bang:
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lmfao. Doesn't deserve a serious response. I bet you enjoyed Waterworld.
 
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You're also forgetting that it's not only won 8 Oscars, but a shed load of other awards too. Well deserved in my opinion. Can't wait to own it on DVD. For me also it was great to see various Indian people involved in the project get awards. Not very often that happens at the Oscars.
 
Uneducated_Rick said:
Worst film I've ever seen; all the 'twists' were blindingly obvious, barely any story other than supressed sexual desire...
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It's meant to be a modern fable, not a thriller. You know the boy will get the girl; it's about enjoying the how and the why rather than the if.

Saying the film is blindingly obvious is a bit like complaining that you knew the ending of Valkyrie before you went in.
 
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