Officially missing from Oscar contention for next year’s Best Documentary Feature category: 8: The Mormon Proposition and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last week released its list of fifteen films that will compete for the final five slots that voters will then choose for Best Documentary; neither of these two outstanding (and obvi-gay) films were selected, though Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop was. [EW]
predetermined
8: The Mormon Proposition Already Blocked From Winning An Oscar
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Mike in Asheville
“Blocked”??? How about “Doesn’t Get Fellow Docs’ Oscar Nod” instead?
Academy members get to vote within the group/section related to their areas. Documentary makers are the ones who vote on documentaries. Unless you have watched ALL of the documentaries submitted for best doc, it seems pretty shallow to quibble over which of those films should be selected for Oscar nomination. The only one I’ve seen was the Tillman story (the Army coverup about the former NFLer Pat Tillman who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan). Bet it wins the Oscar.
Daez
The biggest threat to America as we know it…
The LDS and Catholic churches that would like nothing more than to turn this democracy into a theocracy. I can not think of a bigger affront to American ideals.
Gays and lesbians deserve the right to marry, but what they deserve even more is equal treatment under the law. Perhaps it is time for the government to get out of the marriage business and leave it to the churches. Doing so would create civil unions for all couples regardless of their orientation.
This is an idea that will sell in this country way before gay and lesbian marriage will.
Sadbuttrue
The movie just wasn’t fantastic. Was it bad? No. But it was ham-fisted in a lot of scenes, and presented in such a way that no one that didn’t already agree with the filmmaker’s stance would ever concede its points.
(and why did Dustin Black narrate the film instead of someone with more gravitas?).
Anyway, the bottom line: Critics panned the movie (see RottenTomatoes, Metacritic) while they loved other gay movies. I wonder what the difference could possibly be.
the crustybastard
@Daez:
Marriage is already a civil union.
If churches want something special beyond marriage, they are welcome to add a religious embellishment they’re free exclude outsiders from. I’d suggest they call such an embellishment a “sacrament.” Oh wait. That is already the case.
It’s time for the churches to get out of the government’s marriage business.
Cam
@Sadbuttrue: said..
“Anyway, the bottom line: Critics panned the movie (see RottenTomatoes, Metacritic) ”
_____________________________________
So are you a Mormon Troll or just a liar? I just went over to Rotten Tomatoes and the film scored a 65%, with Audience rating at a 70%.
Those scores are considered positive scores. Here is one of the sample blurbs from Critics, this from the NY Daily News.
“Combining investigative reporting with personal experience, Reed Cowan’s impassioned documentary is unlikely to leave many dry eyes among its audience.”
Oh yeah, wow, what a horrible review!
Eric
That one image of the guy crying (at 1:33) made ME tear up as well.
Too bad this kind of film only reaches people who already agree with it.
Dina
Wasn’t the film released on VOD, before its theatrical distribution? If so, it might have affected its running.
greg
i saw the joan rivers doc. it was really good. actually quite fantastic. didnt see the prop 8 doc though.
both of these films i think were relased VOD, which would make them ineligible. but even still, this was a pretty banner year for docs. also missing from that list- Catfish.
i dont think its a anti-gay bias.
Biff
@greg: While “Catfish” was very fascinating, filmmakers choke on calling it a ‘documentary’.
Marcus M
It wasn’t supposed to be any good.
Sad about Joan Rivers though.
Aaron in Honolulu
These are my predictions:
1. The Inside Job
2. Waiting for Superman
3. Restrepo
4. Exit through the Gift Shop
5. The Tillman Story
Although gay rights is very important for me, I personally thought that these documentaries were better after watching them all. They also had a broader target audience and greater relevancy.
I am very very very very disappointed that “Last Train Home” didn’t make the list. How the hell could that film not be considered for a nomination!?!?!?!?!?