Why Oscar snubbed ‘Superman’ -- deservedly so

[proud2BlibKansan]

By Valerie Strauss

The documentarians who select the films for Academy Award nominations in the feature documentary category got it right: “Waiting for Superman” was not good/accurate enough to be selected.

The snub to Davis Guggenheim’s tendentious film was well-deserved, given that classic documentaries are factual and straightforward, and don’t, as did "Superman," fake scenes for emotional impact.

Academy Award nominations are heavily political, yet this film didn’t make the cut even though President Obama called it “powerful” and welcomed to the White House the five charming students who starred in the film.

Advertising campaigns have been known to vault films into Academy contention, but not even a $2 million grant provided by the Gates Foundation to market “Superman” worked.

more . . . http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/school-turnaroundsreform/why-oscar-snubbed-superman---.html

[Teaser]

1. The Oscars have always been political

for good or ill.

[Electric Monk]

2. I hope 'Exit through the gift shop' wins. I highly recommend viewing it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I haven't heard anything about it

What's it about?

[Electric Monk]

4. Street art (graffiti) and artists, including Banksy and Shepard Fairey

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587707/

http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMjE2NTg1NDM4Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMzMxOTkyMw@@._V1._SY317_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Sounds wonderful

Thanks!

[frylock]

18. me too

[Hydra]

5. I'm so glad to hear this

The fact that the RW pays millions to get substandard, at best, propaganda is somehow a reassuring thought

[Teaser]

6. I think the film is excellent propaganda

whether or not you agree with it's viewpoint, it markets that viewpoint amazingly well.

Hats off for technical execution, at least.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. I agree.

One of the best propaganda films I've seen in awhile.

And I hated the message.

[Teaser]

12. I found the message far too simplistic

Pinning every problem on teacher's unions is ridiculous. I've heard the filmmaker interviewed. He knows it's simplistic as well. I have to wonder why he admits this in person, but won't admit it on film?

Not that I think teacher's unions get off scott free. My wife is a member, and they can be huge pains in the ass sometime. But failing to recognize the larger systemic issues with urban education is foolish.

That said, I have to wonder if the academy should have considered only the technical merit of the film. As I said above, the Oscars are political. But should they be?

[jimlup]

7. The film sucked

I'm disappointed with Obama for endorsing it.

I can recommend a real film about the education crises. It maybe is aimed at a slightly different problem but it certainly sheds some light on the situation and answers more than that ridiculus excuse for a documentary "Waiting for Stupidman".

I strongly recommend seeing "Race to Nowhere"

http://www.racetonowhere.com/

[Smarmie Doofus]

8. Wow. That's friggin' great! I didn't know.

I was sure it would be both a nominee and a winner because of the $$$ and politics behind it.

In truth, it was superior in technical areas but repulsively dishonest and sickeningly manipulative.

"Evil" is not too strong a word for it.

Seriously... that's the best news I've heard on this subject ( i.e. education) in 6 months.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. The people who nominate and then vote for the Oscars

are virtually all union members. Not sure why you would be sure they would vote for such a film as this.

[Smarmie Doofus]

17. I'm a friggin' pessimist.

Plus... union members are often known to be quite apathetic ( even antagonistic) where the issues of *other* unionists are concerned.


>>>Not sure why you would be sure they would vote for such a film as this.>>>


I figured ( inaccurately, as it turns out) them as Obama-style "liberals". Tweed-jackets, film-school, trendy urbanites. Not much in common with "average" working people. Let alone *teachers*.


I was wrong. And I feel great about it! Someone, perhaps, is actually hearing us!!!

[Reader Rabbit]

10. Best news I've had in a long, long time!

Except for the night when I won $3 each on my PowerBall and MegaMillions tickets—two pints worth of winnings! Woot!


:beer:


Edited to add the appropriate smiley!

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. My BFF won $2400 last week

I had stayed late at school and was on my way to a 6:00 pm meeting. I was planning on going through a drive through to get something to eat and had exactly - only - $5 on me. Then I lost it! I searched my purse, my pockets, my car and that $5 was GONE. I was hungry. late for my meeting, and getting pissed off.

So my phone rings and it's the BFF calling to tell me she had just won $2400 on the penny slots.

I wasn't very excited for her. :(

[Starry Messenger]

13. No Oscars for infomercials!

It's sad with all of the resources and talent that DG could muster, he made this...thing. I would have barfed if it even got a nomination.

[WellsStreetHell]

14. It was B.S.

If Oprah liked it, then that is enough reason to doubt its authenticity.

[Bluenorthwest]

15. Faking scenes disqualifies it utterly. A person 'pretending

reality' is not a documentary. Some of this film is staged, intentionally set up and presented as if it were true, like Blair Witch Project. This film had zero chance of being nominated just because some politician liked it, it does not even qualify.
Plus, the film biz is made up of Union members who know a hit piece when they see one, or to be more kindly, possess a mature and nuanced view of Unions while the film is bombastic and simplistic.
Technical slickness and quality are not the same thing outside the tech awards.