I saw it and thought it was most interesting because I had relatives on both sides who fought right here in GA. When nothing hangs, it is our fault for not changing our votes and demanding our reps express our views: not theirs!
Stipple: “Much better ratio of good movies that way.”
“Much better ratio of movies I’ll enjoy” is probably more accurate, but there’s nothing wrong with that. If you wouldn’t enjoy the movie, you’re better off not seeing it.
Gore Bane: “Ironic that Ben Affleck, who deserved Best Director, was snubbed by his own community for daring to be behind a film that might be viewed as pro-military.”
That assessment would be more accurate if it were about Kathryn Bigelow and “Zero Dark Thirty” (and there WAS a concerted campaign to shut “Zero Dark Thirty” out of any wins, which I’m convinced robbed Jessica Chastain of her due win). “Argo” was hardly “pro-military”; as Chris Terrio (the screenwriter) said in his speech, ""Thirty-three years ago, Tony [Mendez], using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, got six people out of a very bad situation, and I want to dedicate this to him … and to people all over the world, in the U.S., in Canada, in Iran, who use creativity and intelligence to solve problems non-violently."
The Director nominees are determined by other directors, and as far as I know, no other director holds any grudge against “Argo” for its politics. Among the industry at large, the movie was loved, as shown by both its Best Picture win AND the meme that Affleck was “snubbed” (although, Affleck’s own words on the matter were “I wasn’t nominated for acting in the movie either, and nobody’s saying I got snubbed there”).
“Argo” was a fine movie; entertaining, suspenseful, funny at times, well-acted, well-written, and (yes) well-directed. I don’t think it was the “Best Picture” (my vote would have gone to either “Lincoln” or “Zero Dark Thirty”), but I can understand why it won and I don’t have a problem with it. Frankly (to address Stipple’s “Not sure why, but those close to the industry cannot see their own product objectively”), I’m pretty sure it got a boost because, at least peripherally, it’s about movie-making. Movie-makers love movies about movie-making (especially when they’re making fun of movie-making), and that’s understandable. If the Oscars were voted on by plumbers, plumbing contractors, and plumbing-supply manufacturers and retailers, then movies about plumbing would win a lot more Oscars.
“It’s a great film, it’s great. But at the same time it was a Canadian story that’s been, all of sudden, totally taken over by the Americans.”
No offense, but I’m imagining the Canadian version of “Argo” as shown on “SCTV”, or “The Incredible Man” (the Canadian answer to “Wizard of Oz”) from the old SNL. :-)
Simon_Jester about 11 years ago
I did see…and you heard wrong.
Which at least makes you right about nothing ever changing
nanellen about 11 years ago
I saw it and thought it was most interesting because I had relatives on both sides who fought right here in GA. When nothing hangs, it is our fault for not changing our votes and demanding our reps express our views: not theirs!
fritzoid Premium Member about 11 years ago
Stipple: “Much better ratio of good movies that way.”
“Much better ratio of movies I’ll enjoy” is probably more accurate, but there’s nothing wrong with that. If you wouldn’t enjoy the movie, you’re better off not seeing it.
Gore Bane: “Ironic that Ben Affleck, who deserved Best Director, was snubbed by his own community for daring to be behind a film that might be viewed as pro-military.”
That assessment would be more accurate if it were about Kathryn Bigelow and “Zero Dark Thirty” (and there WAS a concerted campaign to shut “Zero Dark Thirty” out of any wins, which I’m convinced robbed Jessica Chastain of her due win). “Argo” was hardly “pro-military”; as Chris Terrio (the screenwriter) said in his speech, ""Thirty-three years ago, Tony [Mendez], using nothing but his creativity and his intelligence, got six people out of a very bad situation, and I want to dedicate this to him … and to people all over the world, in the U.S., in Canada, in Iran, who use creativity and intelligence to solve problems non-violently."
The Director nominees are determined by other directors, and as far as I know, no other director holds any grudge against “Argo” for its politics. Among the industry at large, the movie was loved, as shown by both its Best Picture win AND the meme that Affleck was “snubbed” (although, Affleck’s own words on the matter were “I wasn’t nominated for acting in the movie either, and nobody’s saying I got snubbed there”).
“Argo” was a fine movie; entertaining, suspenseful, funny at times, well-acted, well-written, and (yes) well-directed. I don’t think it was the “Best Picture” (my vote would have gone to either “Lincoln” or “Zero Dark Thirty”), but I can understand why it won and I don’t have a problem with it. Frankly (to address Stipple’s “Not sure why, but those close to the industry cannot see their own product objectively”), I’m pretty sure it got a boost because, at least peripherally, it’s about movie-making. Movie-makers love movies about movie-making (especially when they’re making fun of movie-making), and that’s understandable. If the Oscars were voted on by plumbers, plumbing contractors, and plumbing-supply manufacturers and retailers, then movies about plumbing would win a lot more Oscars.
Dr Lou Premium Member about 11 years ago
Amen…and I agree.
Argo was a manipulative lie and cheesy propaganda to boot told as ‘history.’
fritzoid Premium Member about 11 years ago
“It’s a great film, it’s great. But at the same time it was a Canadian story that’s been, all of sudden, totally taken over by the Americans.”
No offense, but I’m imagining the Canadian version of “Argo” as shown on “SCTV”, or “The Incredible Man” (the Canadian answer to “Wizard of Oz”) from the old SNL. :-)
fritzoid Premium Member about 11 years ago
“Argo take care of yourself now, eh?”
Ketira about 11 years ago
That’s why I hated Starship Troopers —Heinlein was the first SF author I read. The movie was nothing like the book.
pirate227 about 11 years ago
Do people on this site no the difference between a movie and a documentary? Apparently not.