In other news (apolitical thread)...

[bayareabadger]

I get that, and it makes perfect sense.

But, I also don't remember the movie studios struggling when they made quality films, either.  Can they do both?  Give the thinking man a bone to chew on.  Sheesh.

Are we just full go money grab now?  I suppose I shouldn't be shocked.

I think it kind of clears out the middle. You either have big bets that you hope have big payoffs or small stuff that you can make cheaply. Or out and out award plays that can be hit or miss.

[betarhoalphadelta]

I get that, and it makes perfect sense.

But, I also don't remember the movie studios struggling when they made quality films, either.  Can they do both?  Give the thinking man a bone to chew on.  Sheesh.

Are we just full go money grab now?  I suppose I shouldn't be shocked.

Eh. I think they're still making those. As you said yourself, a few of those nominated films are "outstanding". Clearly even if you think Hollywood perhaps doesn't match your sensibilities with some of the artsy / statement movies they make, they're still making SOME good ones. 

The other aspect is that we have a tendency to fetishize the past because we only remember the good movies. Let me pick a number out of a hat--1978, when I was born. These were the top grossing movies of 1978:



#1 is a pop bubble gum musical. #2 is an action superhero movie. #3 is a crass comedy. I don't recall #4-6. #7 is an action sequel. #10 is a action horror movie. 

And then look at the awards. Only two of the movies on this list really show up anywhere on the awards:




So I won't sit here and say that the past was just SO much better... Our tastes as movie consumers haven't really changed much... We still reward superhero, action, horror, etc. 

[jgvol]

Eh. I think they're still making those. As you said yourself, a few of those nominated films are "outstanding". Clearly even if you think Hollywood perhaps doesn't match your sensibilities with some of the artsy / statement movies they make, they're still making SOME good ones.

The other aspect is that we have a tendency to fetishize the past because we only remember the good movies. Let me pick a number out of a hat--1978, when I was born. These were the top grossing movies of 1978:



#1 is a pop bubble gum musical. #2 is an action superhero movie. #3 is a crass comedy. I don't recall #4-6. #7 is an action sequel. #10 is a action horror movie.

And then look at the awards. Only two of the movies on this list really show up anywhere on the awards:




So I won't sit here and say that the past was just SO much better... Our tastes as movie consumers haven't really changed much... We still reward superhero, action, horror, etc.

Although 1978 is not great (for highest grossing films) --- if that is the measuring stick --- it is still an All-Star lineup when compared to today.  I see 5 iconic films on 1978's list.  Which one of 2024's has the potential to be iconic, or even vaguely recalled?

[utee94]

Dune was great, Deadpool and Wolverine was extremely well-made and a lot of fun, and Wicked was a very good adaptation of a very entertaining musical.

I saw a handful of the others and they ranged from okay, to not so great, but 3/10 of the top-grossing movies were very good, even if they might not be your cup of tea.

[jgvol]

Dune was great, Deadpool and Wolverine was extremely well-made and a lot of fun, and Wicked was a very good adaptation of a very entertaining musical.

I saw a handful of the others and they ranged from okay, to not so great, but 3/10 of the top-grossing movies were very good, even if they might not be your cup of tea.

I'll take your word for it.  

Moana 2 is the only one I am likely to see (about 100 times probably).  I've seen the original Moana about 200 times already.

[FearlessF]

there's a stoopid movie thread somewhere, buried for good reason

[utee94]

Well we gotta use this thread for something...

And no, we don't need to use it for discussion of chess moves.

[FearlessF]

maybe super bowl party food and drink?

[utee94]

There's already a food thread, but sure why not.

We're having pizza, chicken wings, and beer.

[betarhoalphadelta]

We're going to have jalapeno poppers (ABTs specifically), pizza pretzels with marinara, and smoked pulled pork nachos during the game. 

Being out here in Pacific Time, that means we'll still have to have a dinner afterwards, which I think is just going to be chili dogs and tater tots. 

Yeah, it's going to be a rare junk food day with the kids lol...

[SFBadger96]

r.e. --- Oscar nominated movies (Best Picture)

I love movies, though obviously not a professional critic ---

I used try to watch most of the yearly nominated films, and my take is ---- a few are outstanding, a few are predictable noms of some virtue signaling cause (that are not very good, and not my taste), and a few that are shockingly bad, to the point of being unwatchable.

But, I'm just a caveman, so.....

This is similar to me. Having kids running around the house makes watching a lot of movies difficult, and it constrains what kinds of movies one watches (at least it does for me). That changes as they get older, but it's still true. But Hollywood is still making great movies.

I have tired of the superhero epics (including Star Wars), but there were some really good movies mixed in there for a while. There are other really good movies being made. I thought Conclave was solid. Dune was very good. Everything Everywhere All At Once is one of my favorite movies ever. It hit a lot of really high points for me.

And I agree that not all movies have to be art house fare. I really liked Inception, but even more blockbuster-y, I enoyed the Mad Max reboot, and the first two John Wicks (I haven't seen the next two). I really liked La La Land. I know it wasn't all that groundbreaking, but it was a fun night at the movies. Was it the best picture that year? I have no idea, but I enjoyed it. And the Death of Stalin? Gold. There are plenty of really good movies in lots of different genres that have come out in the last year, five years, ten years, etc. 

There are lots of others. You just have to sift the wheat from the chaff, and good lord Disney and Warner Brothers are pouring a lot of chaff into the superhero mill. (And, damn it, I want to see Deadpool and Wolverine, I just haven't yet.)

I'm probably more open to the virtue signaling--or I likely have a different perspective on what virtue signaling is--than you do (based on my perception of our political differences), but I agree that ham-handed virtue signaling is off-putting, regardless of whether it supports my world view. That said, art--definitely including movies--has always pushed societal norms. Is that virtue signaling? You say potato (I also say potato, because no one says poh-tah-toh). Two movies from the recent past that stand out to me: Do the Right Thing and Brokeback Mountain. They were really important movies, the latter probably more so than the former as far as its social reach. Have I gone back to watch either again? No. I didn't think they were ham-handed, but they definitely pushed a perspective. I'm ok with that. Art, even popcorn art, influenes culture. It always has.

[bayareabadger]

The hosts of the Super Bowl party I usually go to are skipping town. Which is annoying, because I found a place to pre-order upscale barbecue. Maybe next year.

That’s a good lil business, BBQ preorders for the Super Bowl. Solves a ton of logistical problems with supplying food for the game.

[jgvol]

This is similar to me. Having kids running around the house makes watching a lot of movies difficult, and it constrains what kinds of movies one watches (at least it does for me). That changes as they get older, but it's still true. But Hollywood is still making great movies.

I have tired of the superhero epics (including Star Wars), but there were some really good movies mixed in there for a while. There are other really good movies being made. I thought Conclave was solid. Dune was very good. Everything Everywhere All At Once is one of my favorite movies ever. It hit a lot of really high points for me.

And I agree that not all movies have to be art house fare. I really liked Inception, but even more blockbuster-y, I enoyed the Mad Max reboot, and the first two John Wicks (I haven't seen the next two). I really liked La La Land. I know it wasn't all that groundbreaking, but it was a fun night at the movies. Was it the best picture that year? I have no idea, but I enjoyed it. And the Death of Stalin? Gold. There are plenty of really good movies in lots of different genres that have come out in the last year, five years, ten years, etc.

There are lots of others. You just have to sift the wheat from the chaff, and good lord Disney and Warner Brothers are pouring a lot of chaff into the superhero mill. (And, damn it, I want to see Deadpool and Wolverine, I just haven't yet.)

I'm probably more open to the virtue signaling--or I likely have a different perspective on what virtue signaling is--than you do (based on my perception of our political differences), but I agree that ham-handed virtue signaling is off-putting, regardless of whether it supports my world view. That said, art--definitely including movies--has always pushed societal norms. Is that virtue signaling? You say potato (I also say potato, because no one says poh-tah-toh). Two movies from the recent past that stand out to me: Do the Right Thing and Brokeback Mountain. They were really important movies, the latter probably more so than the former as far as its social reach. Have I gone back to watch either again? No. I didn't think they were ham-handed, but they definitely pushed a perspective. I'm ok with that. Art, even popcorn art, influenes culture. It always has.

You are my favorite dipstick liberal that I've never met.

Great post, and I can't find much to disagree about here.  My opposition to the virtue signaling movies, are those of the overt, transparent variety.  The making of the movie, just for the sake of pushing a narrative --- and that can go either way politically.  Both are ick for me.

You listed a couple of good ones there that are culturally relevant and informative, without the 'in your face', condescension.  The ones that don't make you feel like Hitler, if you have a different perspective.  Just tell the story, without dehumanizing one side, or the other.  Those are effective, and I can get down with it.

I am a particular fan of the historical pieces on the marginalized.  Glory, Dances with Wolves, Men of Honor, etc ---those types, even if some of them are fictional, or take creative license.  Feel good films, that hit the ole ticker.

[Riffraft]

When I first retired, I joined the amc a-lister for $20 a month to see up to 3 movies a week.  Saw more movies when they first came out then I ever have in my life. Personally most just weren't that good.  Favorite by far was Deadpool & Wolverine.  Really is a great entertaining movie saw 3 times in the theater and then bought the steaming version of it.  Conclave was entertaining.  Hadn't heard of the book so didn't know about the ending.  Bonhoeffer is one of my favorite people in history so I enjoyed it.  Wicked was ok,but not my thing (wife loved it).  Gladiator II was bad in my opinion. Red One was cute.  Here was absolutely boring. Joker II was terrible.  Venom, a few entertaining scence but overall typical superhero film. With Reagon being one of my favorite presidents I really like the movie

Saw quite a few other movies that bored, slightly entertained etc.  Gave up the subscription because most of the movies were out streaming with a few weeks of release, no reason to go to the theater to watch. 

Personally I find that I actively dislike most of the oscar nomimated movies through the years.