Well, I just got back from my yearly pilgrimage to see the nominees for the Best Live Action Academy Award. Compared to other years, this is an interesting field, as I actually liked all the films and see there being no clear winner. Usually I have at least a few of them I don't particularly like but this is a good crop...but there also is no clearly 'perfect' film as well. So, in light of this, my predicting that "The Confession" will be the most likely of the films to win is not at all certain--as I see this as mostly a three film race but any of the five could easily win.
While I certainly would acknowledge that "God of Love" is not exactly profound, it is very different from the other nominees this year. While the other four films are all VERY dark in tone, "God of Love" is the opposite--a quirky little comedy that felt very refreshing when I saw it--it was a nice change of pace. While I don't think it's technically the very best of these films, it is my favorite and it has a good chance of winning since it is so different--although slight.
The film is striking for two big reasons. First, it's filmed in black & white--an unusual but very artistic choice. Second, the actors (particularly the lead) are very non-photogenic--not at all the typical sort of actors you'd see in films. In many ways, though, it reminds me of some of Fellini's films, as he LOVED to but bizarre-looking people in movies and eschewed the typical 'pretty faces' you'd see in other movies. I loved this and appreciated how such non-traditional folks were given a chance.
The film is about a likable loser, Ray (Luke Matheny--who also wrote and directed this lovely film). He is in love with one of his bandmates but she is only interested in his friend, Fozzie. And, Fozzie has no interest in her! So, in desperation Ray prays daily from help from God. And, since the film is a fantasy, the gods decide to help him--sending him a set of cupid-like darts through which he might be able to find the girl of his dreams. The film goes many different directions and never exactly goes where I expected--and I loved this. I also loved the film's quirky sense of humor, unusual style and plot as well as how incredibly artistic and well filmed the movie is--it's a real work of art.
So will it win? Tune in and see--I'll update this review when I find out the results. I think that despite its slight nature it has a good shot, as the other films are all so similar that perhaps they'll fight each other for votes. Also, the other two best films of the crop ("The Confession" and "Wish 143" are so similar in many other ways that I can't help but think that "God of Love" might manage to slip through with enough votes to take the prize. Regardless, Matheny is immensely talented and I can't wait to see him in other projects--whether writing, acting or directing. An adorable and easy to like movie.
UPDATE: Wow, this never happens. I actually picked this category correctly. In a conversation I had with a friend who saw the films with me, I told him that although I thought "The Confession" was the best film that it and "Wish 143" were so similar in tone and style that "God of Love" would win. Insanely enough, "God of Love" won and I think my prediction was correct--something that NEVER happens!
While I certainly would acknowledge that "God of Love" is not exactly profound, it is very different from the other nominees this year. While the other four films are all VERY dark in tone, "God of Love" is the opposite--a quirky little comedy that felt very refreshing when I saw it--it was a nice change of pace. While I don't think it's technically the very best of these films, it is my favorite and it has a good chance of winning since it is so different--although slight.
The film is striking for two big reasons. First, it's filmed in black & white--an unusual but very artistic choice. Second, the actors (particularly the lead) are very non-photogenic--not at all the typical sort of actors you'd see in films. In many ways, though, it reminds me of some of Fellini's films, as he LOVED to but bizarre-looking people in movies and eschewed the typical 'pretty faces' you'd see in other movies. I loved this and appreciated how such non-traditional folks were given a chance.
The film is about a likable loser, Ray (Luke Matheny--who also wrote and directed this lovely film). He is in love with one of his bandmates but she is only interested in his friend, Fozzie. And, Fozzie has no interest in her! So, in desperation Ray prays daily from help from God. And, since the film is a fantasy, the gods decide to help him--sending him a set of cupid-like darts through which he might be able to find the girl of his dreams. The film goes many different directions and never exactly goes where I expected--and I loved this. I also loved the film's quirky sense of humor, unusual style and plot as well as how incredibly artistic and well filmed the movie is--it's a real work of art.
So will it win? Tune in and see--I'll update this review when I find out the results. I think that despite its slight nature it has a good shot, as the other films are all so similar that perhaps they'll fight each other for votes. Also, the other two best films of the crop ("The Confession" and "Wish 143" are so similar in many other ways that I can't help but think that "God of Love" might manage to slip through with enough votes to take the prize. Regardless, Matheny is immensely talented and I can't wait to see him in other projects--whether writing, acting or directing. An adorable and easy to like movie.
UPDATE: Wow, this never happens. I actually picked this category correctly. In a conversation I had with a friend who saw the films with me, I told him that although I thought "The Confession" was the best film that it and "Wish 143" were so similar in tone and style that "God of Love" would win. Insanely enough, "God of Love" won and I think my prediction was correct--something that NEVER happens!