Talkback: Which Oscar Contenders Do You Irrationally Refuse to See This Year?

dicaprio_jedgar300.jpgIt's the most wonderful time of year -- that calm October blip where Oscar season's best films are coming up and we dream about how overrated many of them will be. I feel like a little kid again! While this season is far less objectionable than last year's, I can think of a couple movies I'd normally (and irrationally) resist if it weren't my job to deal with them. Can you?

First of all, I still wish I refused to see I Am Love and Black Swan last year. Hurts to this day. Tilda Swinton's hormonal yearnings for shellfish and Barbara Hershey's horrifying love of cake ruined my winter. This year, I'm already dreading J. Edgar. Just too flashy, Oscar-magnetic, and apparently evasive. I actually loved Leo DiCaprio in The Aviator, but he's really doubling up on his face scrunches and monotone proclamations this time around. It's the Brood Diamond, y'all.

If Albert Nobbs starred anyone other than the mighty she-wolf Glenn Close, I'd want to pass. But now that she's an underdog in the Best Actress race, I'm particularly excited to see her pull off 19th-century male jauntiness. In retrospect, I refuse to see The Help. Let's give Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer some statue cred but leave that Easter-colored, happy-clappy morality tale in the dust.

What are your movie nuisances this fall/winter?



Comments

  • Domen says:

    Definitely War Horse. :S
    Allthough, I hope it's going to turn out great, like The Social Network did last year. =)

  • Domen says:

    *Although...

  • AS says:

    War Horse, no contest. While I always watch every single film nominated for a major category no matter what, I refuse to waste 2 hrs of my life and not to mention $8.50, on a sleazy, sentimental, pull at your heart strings Steven Spielberg film, which by the way must be his 3000th war film. Sorry, I can't stomach that horrible John Williams score anymore. I really pray that people have become smarter then this junk. If this is a major contender I'll hang myself.

  • S says:

    Is this person crazy? I Am Love and Black Swan were two of the best movies of recent years.
    Anyway, Albert Nobbs looks horrendous. They should have just gone ahead and cast Robin Williams rather than his female drag doppelganger.

  • Shawn Gordon says:

    Probably War Horse, or Sherlock Holmes 2, for sure if it counts.

  • Cinesnatch says:

    This article is confusing because it's about films the author isn't looking forward to have to seeing, yet that's not conveyed when he discusses the second film, Albert Nobbs. Quite the contrary.

  • Cinesnatch says:

    And I loved Black Swan and I Am Love too (only after giving Love a second chance). The Aviator ... not so much.

  • Ben says:

    I am not excited about War Horse and J. Edgar either. They do feel like movies that belong in another time and place, out of touch, it feels...

  • KRIS the KLINGON says:

    So, I guess the SMURFS are going to get shut-out when it comes Oscar-time and Best Picture, right? RIGHT???
    Kris
    KAG.org

  • War Horse. Good fucking god.
    I'm looking forward to W.E. in the most irony-drenched manner possible.

  • The WInchester says:

    The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Nobody can be better than Noomi, but more importantly, I want to avoid all the blather from online critics about how amazing Fincher is.
    (That being said, I am genuinely looking forward to LISTENING to it, via the no doubt awesome score provided by Ross and Reznor)

  • The WInchester says:

    Also, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Really don't want to see that one, but I'm sure it's a fine motion picture, full of heart, great performances, blah blah, etc.

  • j'accuse! says:

    I still can't do 9/11 movies. I'm not one of those that say they shouldn't be made, I just can't watch them. I skipped United 93 and World Trade Center for the same reason. Just...can't do that. I know a few others in the same position.

  • Neo says:

    Young Adult (Diablo Cody, still don't get it) and We Bought A Zoo (Crowe ain't ever coming back after Elizabethtown).

  • The WInchester says:

    We park our cars in the same garage, my friend.

  • S.T. VanAirsdale says:

    I don't mind 9/11 movies per se, but I must draw a line at 9/11 Oscar bait. Extremely Loud worries me, though the Von Sydow factor trumps virtually everything in terms of getting me in the seat.
    United 93 was one of the most shameless pieces of overrated shit I've seen in the last decade. I still can't believe anybody thought that was executed in good taste, let alone executed well. The Paul Greengrass Kool-Aid must be powerful, powerful stuff.

  • S.T. VanAirsdale says:

    Saw another couple of J. Edgar commercials during the World Series last night. Looks utterly laughable, from the age makeup down to the terrible accents. I can't refuse to see it, I guess; maybe I'll have the most, say, simmering dread for it?

  • Capote99 says:

    Thank you, Stu. I couldn't agree more. When "United 93" was over, I thought, "What was the point of that?"

  • AS says:

    David Fincher is amazing.

  • Megan says:

    J. Edgar is directed by Eastwood correct? If so, that one. Everything he makes just looks like mediocre, Oscar-whoring MEH.

  • bracko says:

    J.Edgar, War Horse, The Iron Lady - It would be so cool if those get 0 nominations.

  • Cameron says:

    Brilliant! I think I'll join you.

  • Nathalie says:

    The Help, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

  • anonymous says:

    War Horse. By and far the best part of the play was the puppetry, take that away and you have a pretty thin story.
    Also, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, particularly because I do not like Sandra Bullock (I wish I could unsee The Blind Side).

  • Andrew says:

    Last year was the first year I manged to see all the major nominees before the awards.
    This year I wanna get all the acting and foreign noms out of the way before the awards too.
    So I will watch all of them unless Human Centipede 2 somehow becomes an awards darling.