5 ms·
Getting nominated was fantastic but very few* believed the Academy would have the guts to actually give them the Oscar. I'm very positively surprised. *Edit: I
by sqren 12y ago
Getting nominated was fantastic but very few* believed the Academy would have the guts to actually give them the Oscar. I'm very positively surprised.
*Edit: I stand corrected. It was clearly not the underdog I thought it was. I never checked the bookmakers so my comments are purely from a personal perspective of what people I've talked to believed. This doesn't change the fact that I'm positively surprised :)
- jgwest 12y agoThe recent past seems like such a dark time for people who are skeptical of all this State Spycraft stuff. An award to a good film about an essentially important issue, with a little dark (or darkly sinister, take your pick) levity by Mister Oscar, and you start to feel that there is a glimmer of hope... The EFF can justifiably rant and rave and they do a good job at it. But a little nod from a general public institution seems, to me at least, to provide a special sort of boost.
- aaronbrethorst 12y ago> very few believed the Academy would have the guts to actually give them the Oscar. Citation needed
- thedz 12y agoDefinitely needs citation. From some cursory reading prior to the Oscars, CITIZENFOUR appeared to be heavily favored to win.
- michaelbuddy 12y agoPeople sometimes talk about the academy as if it's not all the people there in the audience. Like it's 20 other elitists behind closed doors trying to control our hearts and minds. The academy has its admin staff but the voting is done by the collective just like the nominations are. if it's nominated it's a potential win. The result tonight tells me how annoyed even Hollywood is with the current President on this topic.
- icantthinkofone 12y agoYou're thinking of the ratings board. The Academy consists of hundreds. Politics in Hollywood is a cause that will win you awards just like gays, race, AIDS/HIV, Africa and a multitude of other subjects.
- dragonwriter 12y ago> Politics in Hollywood is a cause that will win you awards Politics is not a cause. Politics is a domain, within which there are many (often opposing) potential causes.
- modfodder 12y agoCITIZENFOUR was considered the heavy favorite. Vegas had 1/8 odds. Virunga was closest @ 4/1.
- WarDekar 12y agoI have no doubt it was the heavy favorite in betting markets, but to be clear you can not bet the Oscars legally in Vegas or anywhere in Nevada. Anything that directly involves human decisions can not be wagered on in Nevada Sportsbooks.
- icantthinkofone 12y agoI'm not surprised. I'm no big time Hollywood guy but have 45 years of experience. Such ceremonies will award trophies based on subject matter without regard to quality. Not to sound like I'm disparaging the doc but anything about this subject, now, plus gays and racial and political issues will win you votes because these types always feel the need to side with causes to make them feel better about themselves. No. Not everyone. And I should mention I have relatives who are actors but don't feel that way. Some may remember, a few years ago, the director who lost and said, "Next time I'll make a film about a gay, Latino who's politically suppressed". I got stories to tell but I won't.
- michaelbuddy 12y agoI was thinking the exact same thing. It's a good doc by any measure but if it were about another topic, it wouldn't have won on cinematic merit. BUT at the same time, it tells the story well being mostly told through a hotel room and narration. So with that said both the content and how it was made is still noteworthy but not outstanding. So it's all about all of it coming together too. Documentaries are a lot of luck and skill and pulling together the story that people can appreciate.
- zafka 12y agoI was right there with you. I only watched 20-30 minutes of the show, but made the authoritative pronouncement to my GF that citizenfour would not win, as the powers that be owned Hollywood. I am glad I was wrong in this case.