Floyd Here: We’ve gotten together with our favorite movie reviewer Christian Toto (outside of our blogfather) to mirror some of his content. We feel it’s mutually beneficial. Christian may soon feel otherwise. Needless to say what follows is from Christian Toto. In the future when you see “What Would Toto Watch?” post titles they will be posts from Christian mirrored here. And please visit his site “What Would Toto Watch?” which is on our blogroll to the left. And now without further ado:
Who cares about the Oscars? I haven’t even seen the films nominated this year …
It’s arguably the most common complaint heard from film fans, and who can blame them?
I haven’t seen all the films vying for the Oscar this year, and I get some movies mailed to my door step.
So it’s about time the Oscars stepped into the 21st century.
Why not let audiences see Oscar hopefuls via Video on Demand or other streaming services?
The system for seeing films this way already exists, and it means film fans can catch up to movies in the Oscar mix even if they don’t have an indie film theater in their neighborhood. And, let’s face it, many of the films which end up with Oscar nominations each year are from independent studios.
Here’s guessing a cinematic treat like “Star Trek” won’t get a Best Picture nomination even though the list will expand to 10 nomination in 2010.
The studios opting to stream their Oscar-bait films will add to their revenue stream, albeit modestly, and the Oscar telecast will have more emotional connections with the audience. It’s far more fun rooting for films you’ve actually seen.
Plus, the movies in question can still be released in theaters later on, and more people will have had the chance to see them and, hopefully, recommend them to friends.
Having Oscar favorites available on demand will make the Academy Award season more accessible and possibly reverse the tide of Oscar night malaise.
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Need help finding a good movie to rent? Unsure which blockbuster is worth your cold cash? Check out WhatWouldTotoWatch.com
I’m on Twitter, too — twitter.com/totomovies
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Christian – I think you need to do a column identifying the key elements of an Oscar-worthy film, as defined by Hollywood that is. I suppose one can sum the required elements as “artsily-fartsily craptastic”, but – as a scientist – I need it broken down a little more.
Actually, if we can identify all of the necessary elements, I’m sure I can plug them all into a spreadsheet and we could do away with voting all together. Which would be – what’s the word – awesome!
I’m pretty sure spreadsheets are responsible for all the evils of the world — and PowerPoint.
“Who plays the best guitar? Who f’ing cares?!?!”
IGGY POP, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2010
Thank you, Eric.
(What the–?)
This is really exciting having you here, Christian. I read everything you write at your blog and BH anyway, but as I’m incredibly ignorant about movies, I rarely comment.
I’m looking forward to reading some of our reader’s (and bloggers) takes on your pieces.
Some of them, I said…
Thanks for having me here … and as for the Oscar worthy recipe, here it is:
You take a sprinkling of ‘biopic,” a half cup of ‘you’re so courageous for taking this role,’ a smattering of groin-kick free humor’ and, of course, four cups of ‘Meryl Streep’s gotta be in it.’
Bake for 40 minutes or until golden in color.
Just don’t go “full retard,” right?
Welcome, Christian! I have enjoyed your blog immensely and am now grateful I have on less link to click on to see it.
As for the Oscars…meh. Only if we could go back in time and give Cary Grant a competitive Oscar instead of the ‘we-should-have-given-him-one-when-he-was working’ life time achievement award or whatever it was.
Nope, CW. Keep visiting Christian’s site, ’cause we’ll only be getting a taste over here, I believe.
Will do, Mike!
Christian,does it get harder every year finding really worthy films?
Christian, Star Trek a “cinematic treat” really? There were entirely too many leaps of logic for me to enjoy that movie.
Chief amongst them, and the one I can’t get around, I suppose that a star ship the size of an aircraft carrier has no chain of command. Just because a couple of officers are out of the picture, a stow-away who was one second away from the brig, who was previously thrown off the ship now becomes the guy in charge. THAT RUINED THE MOVIE…for me anyway. NO I’m not a big Star Trek fan, and I admit I’m kind of fixated on that part of the “plot”, and I’ve been in the Army for twenty plus years so that probably has a lot to do with it…but I can’t get around that.
For those of you who enjoyed the film I am happy for you.
The whole Spok Uhura thing ruined it for me. Talk about a zero chemistry relationship – has to be the poster child for that one.
I can see your point about CoC – Star Trek is famous for having all the high ranking officers, on ship, exploring the new planet. Kind of like having the Captain of an aircraft carrier taking off in an F-18 – ain’t gonna happen in the real world. But, that’s Star Trek, for you.
Toto,
That idea is so brilliant it will never be implemented!
Outlaw — Completely agree with your critique. They did a poor job of massaging the story to get Kirk in the captain’s chair. For me, so much of the film worked as intended that I was able to overlook that.
Seems like an easy problem to fix in the script, but they really wanted to make Kirk the bad boy turned good.
And Spock rose up the ranks rather fast, too!
But Karl Urban really won me over as McCoy, a character I feared would be a caricature at best.
Christian,
Although she’s 99.999% perfect, one of Mrs. Firefly’s few flaws is an appreciation of George Clooney. She insists her attraction is based solely on his acting ability… Anywho, I get dragged to most of his films and, of course, now she wants to see this “Up in the Air” deal. Is it:
A) tolerable enough to keep me in a theater seat for 90 minutes as long as I’ve got a 10 gallon bucket of popcorn drenched in salt and oil on my lap?
b) mediocre but there are no loud noises so I can catch up on some much needed sleep, opening my eyes just before the credits roll in order to please the Mrs., or
c) chick flick. I should put my foot down and insist she see it with a female friend.
Christian! it’s good to have you!
(um, here. It’s good to have you here, she stammered)