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November 18, 2009
The Doc Shortlist
A very strong list... heavy on good deeds with a few titles about show biz thrown in for entertainment value.
Of course, the first thing many of us wonder about is who got left out... and so... docs that have been released, had some real heat, and did not make the cut...
Capitalism: A Love Story
Anvil: The Story of Anvil
The September Issue
Tyson
It Might Get Loud
We Live in Public
Crude
The Yes Men Fix the World
Collapse
It is possible that a couple of these were not qualified or were disqualified. (Anvil may have been last year's qualifier) But after We Live In Public went through the process of actually getting dispensation from The Academy for a webmaster webcast, we know that political positioning does not always take in this very odd system of nomination.
Every Little Step, The Cove, and Valentino: The Last Emperor would have to be considered the frontrunners now, though I would be keeping an eye out for Garbage Dreams, and The Beaches of Agnes coming up from behind.
Of course, the way things work at The Academy, any number of those 5 titles could miss the final nominations list.
(You can meet the filmmaker behind Garbage Dreams in this DP/30... and the Every Little Step guys are here...)
ADD 4:20p - It seems there is going to be a lot of whining, screaming, and general complaining about this list. I would guess that less than 10% of the whiners have seen all the movies and that less than 20% have seen 10 of the 15.
That said, much as I personally care for some of the left out titles, the only one that strikes me as truly offensive in its absence is Tyson, a movie that does such a mighty job of getting through that history and a truly unique interview with the man, showing skills far more complex than the split-screen shenanigans. It is worthy in the way Errol Morris' The Fog of War was.
But there is not a single title on that list that urges me to wonder how "that piece of crap" made the list. Some are better than others, but even on the weaker ones, it is pretty clear why a committee would find them so compelling.
And frankly, the guts to leave Michael Moore off the list for the first time since they idiotically snubbed Roger & Me, aside from the dubious removal of Fahrenheit 9/11 from consideration, is kinda a winning notion. He made a weak movie. Happens. And he didn't get a free pass for being America's best-loved doc filmmaking character. He will recover. He's a very smart and capable man.
The September Issue was very overrated, a shadow of the Valentino doc. I'm not 100% sure Collapse was qualified, but it is also a chat doc based on an little known guy. Loud & Yes Men are not really Academy speed. Crude is- can't believe I am actually typing this - last year's issue. And Public might have been too public for the committee, perhaps hurt politically by the special treatment it was given. Or maybe they just didn't like it.
In any case, not as shocking a list as I think some are saying. Not the greatest year ever for docs. The system is still a bit screwy. But overall... pretty good.
Posted by dpoland at November 18, 2009 03:55 PM
Comments
No "Outrage." =/
You wouldn't consider "Food Inc." one of the frontrunners?
Posted by: EthanG ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 18, 2009 05:16 PM
"Food, Inc." is the agricultural version of "An Inconvenient Truth". The only difference is it's not being financed with cash collected by Al Gore at the Buddhist temple.
Posted by: Chucky in Jersey at November 18, 2009 07:01 PM
Wow I didn't know Food Inc was a 2 hour powerpoint hosted by a famous figure!!!
I guess that means "Sicko" isthe Inconvenient Truth of healthcare, and IOUSA the "Inconvenient Truth" of debt. Come to think of it, "The Cove" is The Invonvient truth of fishing! Great analysis as usual Chucky!!!=)
And if it were the "Inconvienient Truth" of Food, wouldn't that make it a front-runner?
Posted by: EthanG at November 18, 2009 07:15 PM
I'm just glad there's NO docs about non-political figures, NONE that are fun and NONE that don't have you leave the theater being enlightened or feeling anything but concern, fright or more conscious of the world around you. Yay for docs! They're serious stuff. Always. That is, if you want to be awarded for one.
Posted by: don lewis (was PetalumaFilms) at November 18, 2009 09:23 PM
I'm surprised "We Live in Public" didn't make the cut, especially given its reception at Sundance and the mostly positive notices it's gotten in industry media.
On the other hand, I thought "Tyson" never really had a shot, because it's sometimes difficult for people to separate a documentary from its subject. The audience's perception of Tyson the man likely had a negative impact on the Oscar hopes of "Tyson" the film.
Still, this is a good shortlist. I think "The Cove" will win, but I'm rooting for "The Beaches of Agnes".
Posted by: Tam at November 18, 2009 09:44 PM
I agree that Tyson never really had much of a chance, but that's the one I feel most deserved it as well - it's simply a richer and more complex film than most of the others.
Chucky, it's not clear from your post who you consider to be the most offensive: Al Gore, Buddhists, or environmentalists. A little more explanation and a little less frothing maybe?
Posted by: jeffmcm at November 18, 2009 10:37 PM
I've only seen eight of them, and that does not include "The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsburg and the Pentagon Papers." But if that movie is any good at all, it sure sounds like a doc Oscar nominee.
(And it sucks that Berlinger wasn't even nominated in previous years for the brilliant "Brother's Keeper," "Paradise Lost" OR "Metallica, Some Kind of Monster," but, although I like "Crude," it's just not in the league of those films. Me, I'm rooting for the lovely, witty "Beaches of Agnes.")
Posted by: chris at November 18, 2009 11:59 PM
Overall a generally respectable slate of films.
"Food, Inc." and "The Cove" seem to have the do-gooder edge (always a factor when it comes to Academy voting).
I'm partial to "The Beaches of Agnes" and "Every Little Step" myself.
The latter is, admittedly, a sentimental favorite, but it's as well-made--and yes, entertaining--a doc as any I've seen in recent years.
Posted by: movieman at November 19, 2009 05:31 AM
I saw "Food, Inc." Manipulative and pandering just like Al Gore and his cronies. Easily the worst movie of the year.
For those like jeffmcm who have a short attention span I direct your attention to what Slick Willie's veep really did.
Posted by: Chucky in Jersey at November 19, 2009 09:35 AM
Okay, thanks for indirectly answering the question - you hate Al Gore. (Hatred of Buddhists and/or environmentalists remains undetermined.)
Posted by: jeffmcm at November 19, 2009 02:19 PM
Does "Burma VJ" have a shot? Saw it recently and was deeply moved.
Posted by: Discman at November 21, 2009 01:39 PM
I agree with you. I would be watching out for Garbage Dreams, it is an amazing film and I am should make the top 5 count. I can't say the same about the Beaches of Agnes, though. I wasn't feeling that one.
Posted by: Josh at November 28, 2009 10:10 AM
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