That Schwartzbaum review is transparent. She seems hung up on the Awards buzz and hype, mentioning it not once but several times, and clearly it clouded her perspective watching the film. She also admits to hating the stage musical in her final paragraph. So it didn't stand a chance with her.
EDIT: I admit to chuckling over her "Captn. Crunch" comment about Crowe's wardrobe, though. Hey, that was the style back then ... for both Javert and Crunch!
Unfortunately for these negative reviewers, they're not the ones voting for awards. Critics Choice, SAG, and now the Golden Globes have given the film nominations in all the big categories. The Oscars will be no different.
Wow, that EW review was awful. Absolutely nothing but snark, and not even funny snark at that. I respect that she didn't like it, but she never even explained WHY. Why bother writing a review if you can't at least give some reasons?
This is why I stay away from reading most reviews. As an English major, I'm all about the necessity of 'why.' :-p
There's enough "why she didn't like it" in there ... barely ... but you have to dig for it among the repetitive incensed reactions to the Awards hype (which has nothing to do with the movie itself and a critic should be smarter than that) and her bias in hating the stage show, which she should have mentioned up front, not in the very last paragraph.
It was a weak review, weak opinion, and badly written as well.
Still, it's her opinion. She didn't like it. So be it.
She’s a crummy critic to begin with. There may be loads of valid complaints about the movie, but I’m certainly not taking any of her observations with less salt that I put in my oatmeal this morning. (I put way too much salt in my oatmeal this morning; I’m not sure what that does to the metaphor.)
Tim Burton was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the National Board of Review Award for Sweeney Todd, yet was not nominated for the Oscar. Anything's possible.
I really think the top Oscar is between LINCOLN, ZERO DARK, and ARGO. I think at this point, the critics are a little too divided over LES MIZ. But if it proves to be a huge sort of "last minute" box office hit of 2012, it could turn around.
I wonder if it'll win the Golden Globe. I'm guessing yes, since the GGs love musicals and love any movie that is ridiculously larger than life, which LES MIZ seems to be.
I agree, madbrian. I haven't seen Silver Linings PLaybook although I've heard great things, but I assumed it was drama for some reason. Before the announcements this morning, I thought Les Miz had Picture Musical/Comedy and Actor Musical/Comedy in the bag, but SLP and Cooper could give them a run for their money.
If I had to use my power to see the future, I'd say Les Miz will get expected Oscar nominations for Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, Art Direction, Costumes, Sound, Sound Mixing, Editing, Song, and Makeup. And maybe .... director.
I think it stands a good chance of winning Supporting Actress and Sound.
I would throw in Art Direction, but I have a feeling that will be the sole award for Anna Karenina ... with a possible second win for Costumes (but I think Lincoln will take that one).
EDIT: And that is based on hype, word of mouth, and hype, and also hype. Which is how the Oscars work.
The complaints in this thread about Lincoln being long and talky remind me of the dilettante Emperor's complaint in Amadeus: "Too many notes!"
The movie is long, and the characters do talk; it's also a fascinating and well-done work about a fascinating person and period in our history (usually taught reductively in our schools, in order to be quickly and easily digested by tiny children).
When exactly did "long" and "talky" become only bad?
Besty, that's what is so impressive about LINCOLN, the script, direction and acting were so engaging that I never felt like it was a long movie (until the last 10 minutes of the film or so), it just works so well. It felt like watching an amazing play, I was too enthralled to check my watch. And I completely agree, there's films that are less than 90 minutes and they feel eternal, I wanted to claw my eyes out watching CARNAGE, it felt like I was watching a 5 hour movie, nothing about it worked. From these reviews LES MIZ looks like it'll be a nominee in some categories, but it's certainly not going to receive the kind of accolades LINCOLN, ARGO and even SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK.
It does seem that the predictions of many, based solely upon early trailers, that Les Miz would be the Second Coming of Chicago were perhaps a bit premature.
Although I've little-to-no doubt that it will be better than those Phantom or Rent movies.
LINCOLN is what Kushner does best: take political thought and deliberation and turn that into action.
Ever since reading Bright Room Called Day, I've been fascinated by political theater in which the debate is the driving force. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but in the hands of a master (and I would argue that Kushner is THE master of this particular type of writing) it becomes far more thrilling than any action film.
The film should have faded slowly to black as he walked down the stairs after his last line. That was a beautiful moment and a perfect, bittersweet, and profound way to do it.
i 've seen SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, and i think it is a wonderfully acted movie, but i was checking my cell phone time many times during the movie...***SPOILER ALERT****...i knew from the very first moment they met that they would get together by the end...it was only a matter of time...
so i do not see it getting BEST FILM over LES MIZ...the GLOBES love musicals more than comedy...for god's sake they gave SWEENEY TODD the BEST FILM award in it's catagory...
The film should have faded slowly to black as he walked down the stairs after his last line. That was a beautiful moment and a perfect, bittersweet, and profound way to do it."
Agree. But without what happens just before then: Stephen Henderson's watchful gaze as if he knows what is about to happen. You just knew it was only a matter of time before Spielberg's signature discrete cheesiness would betray the consistent intelligence of Lincoln. The next ten minutes are almost sufficiently imprudent to spoil what came before them.
But, thankfully, only almost. On balance, it's a very fine movie.
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joined:6/29/05
Posted: 12/13/12 at 08:15am