The Oscars

the oscar's were last night apparently and my ignorance of most things mainstream continues! I don't think I've ever actually watched the ceremony, but I always check in the next day with the slightest hopes of my favorites being winners. And for the most part I wasn't surprised. I knew Black Swan had some great reviews and I was hoping it would win more than it did, but I can't say I really thought it would. With such a dark, almost horrific movie, the fact it was getting such popularity was a surprise already. I'm just glad Aronofsky is getting the props he has deserved for the last ten years. I can't really complain about it losing to The King's Speech, as it was a much more "likable," maybe accessible is a better word, movie and was definitely a quality film. I was glad Inception didn't get forgotten and was probably helped by the fact that it was released recently, thrusting it back into the public eye. Bansky's loss was a little surprising, but once again, the content and "aura" that surrounds that "scene" probably didn't help it make any friends in the "high society" side of things. I was glad it was well-liked and respected, but it obviously doesn't fit the mold for the usual cookie-cutter oscars.

One thing that I wasn't all that happy about was Black Swan's miss on any of the main technical awards. I thought cinematography and editing had a chance and still think it's VERY lame that Mansell didn't get nominated for original score. He has made some fantastic music and always seems to get passed up. Sure it was based on an existing piece (the ballet being performed) but how else do you write a score on a ballet? It was an original song, just with inspiration. I guess that's a new argument for a new time, but if we've learned anything from art, it's that the line between inspiration and copying is very thin, if not completely nonexistant

Anyway, overall I can't complain about the choices too much. Natalie Portman was the surefire win for Black Swan and anything else would have been gravy. Were there any huge surprises? Not really...but would you actually ever expect a pshycological-erotic-horror-thriller to win much? Not at the Oscars...