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Academy Award for Sale

17 Dec 2008, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Awards, Film, Playground, 1 Comments


Dear Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences,

It has come to our attention that you think your precious golden statue is really something special. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Titanic was a really great movie. Really. I love overacting, unsightly makeup jobs and epic melodrama as much as the next guy. And James Cameron’s a real modest guy. 

But you’ve kind of been slipping in recent years. Crash? Juno? Really? C’mon guys. We all know you’re better than that. Even if public interest is waning, that’s no excuse to award bad films.

I could lecture on movies you should nominate this year (or at least ones you shouldn’t give too much credit too), but that’s not my goal. No, my beef is Mary Pickford’s Oscar statues. So it was a really, really long time ago when you gave the silent film star her awards. Keep word: GAVE. Now, her heirs have them and they want to sell them for charity. But you’re suing those children for disrespecting your award.

I know getting an Oscar is the biggest award in film, and if any Joe the Plumber had one, it would devalue it. But you’re giving people a gold-painted naked man. That’s just tacky. And preventing charitable donations-so not cool. It’s really not a big deal. There’s a ton of people around who have Oscars who don’t deserve them. So what’s a few more. Really? Just let Mary Pickford’s statues go. They were a gift.

Sincerely,
A.O. Hibbard

P.S. I think Hugh is a really be a good choice. I’ll be watching.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

02 Dec 2008, Posted by Andrew Hibbard in Film, Literature, Playground, 0 Comments


Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Rachel Getting Married and WALL-E have already presented strong cases for critics’ top 10 lists and the awards season. While the verdict is still out on Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road and especially David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Mendes’ film comes from a celebrated novel and Fincher’s from a celebrated writer. But Button’s F. Scott Fitzgerald source material has been downplayed. Before you see the film on Christmas, read the story.

BURN-E

18 Nov 2008, Posted by Baishi Wu in Film, Playground, 0 Comments



Pictured: WALL-E Concept Art, Courtesy: filmofilia.com

WALL-E comes out today on DVD. Check out BURN-E, the short film included on the DVD after the jump! Here is a Q&A with the director.

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