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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want 12 Years a Slave to win all the Oscars?

42 replies

Scarletohello · 31/01/2014 22:47

I saw this film last week and I was blown away by it! Not just the subject matter which was powerfully handled but the acting, the direction, the cinematography and the screenplay. I don't know how Oscars are decided but its a masterpiece IMO and deserves recognition. Film students will be studying it for years and Steve McQueen is a genius...

What do people think?

OP posts:

mummymeister · 31/01/2014 22:51

i think the Oscar giving has a lot to do with guilt. guilt over a good actor/actress who has never won in the past but whom they think should win so they give it for a mediocre film/performance. guilt over something like slavery. lots of American breast beating but no one makes a film about Guantanamo. I lost it with the Oscars when they gave them to Titanic tbh. all far too political with both a small and large P.

softlysoftly · 31/01/2014 22:54

I don't get the mass hysteria over it to be honest. It felt lacking, I don't think it said anything new or changed perceptions in any way.

Felt zero connected emotion to it.

However it can win every Oscar if you like as I really couldn't care less about them.

AlpacaPicnic · 31/01/2014 22:55

I definitely want it to beat American Hustle. My god, that is one dull film. Went to see it last week, the most exciting point was when the cinema had a power cut...

Lighthousekeeping · 31/01/2014 22:57

I fancy Dallas Buyers Club.

SaucyJack · 31/01/2014 23:02

YABVU.

Matthew McConaughey has destroyed what was one of the finest bodies on the face of the planet, and the least they can do is bloody well make it worth the sacrifice.

*might be missing the point

Lighthousekeeping · 31/01/2014 23:08

He's looking like he recovered on Graham Norton

Caitlin17 · 01/02/2014 00:02

I haven't seen it and have no interest in seeing it.

The Wolf of Wall Street was an hour too long. It was a series of clever set pieces all of which outstayed their welcome.

Original poster

Scarletohello · 01/02/2014 00:31

GO SEE IT! it's not unrelenting horror, it's beautifully shot and has some fantastic performances. I didn't really want to see it but I'm so glad I did...

And from the above comments on some of the other Oscar nominated films/ performances, it deserves to win.

We will see tho...

OP posts:

Starballbunny · 01/02/2014 01:08

Please no!
It will just encourage more realistic miserable tell us the world is, was a horrible place films.

I want escapism and fun.

I'm not paying to be depressed, however well it's done!

BitOutOfPractice · 01/02/2014 01:14

Have you seen all the other nominated films?

steff13 · 01/02/2014 01:24

Most of the awards shows are political, IMO. It seems like an "important" film will win over one that is actually better. Of the nominated movies this year, I've only seen Gravity, so I can't say specifically if 12 Years a Slave should win.

I'm with Sarballbunny as far as movies. I want fun or scary movies. I know slavery was (and still is in many places) horrible and sad. I don't need to see it for two hours.

Caitlin17 · 01/02/2014 01:28

Gravity was stunning but it probably will lose out as it's not important as you rightly say.

MusicalEndorphins · 01/02/2014 02:37

We almost saw it on Wed., but decided on Anchorman 2 instead.

Chippednailvarnish · 01/02/2014 02:45

Sex panther!

noisytoys · 01/02/2014 05:39

12 years a slave was fantastic but very long and drawn out. It could have easily fit into an hour documentary and had the same impact.

shartsi · 01/02/2014 06:31

Blue Jasmine was lovely

MamaPain · 01/02/2014 06:45

I've seen all the films except Dallas Buyers Club and Her, but will see them on release.

At the moment I'd give Chiwetel Ejiofor the oscar but not one to the film. Is as really unimpressed by it. It was grim and told a story but it wasn't shocking or harrowing enough to be considered a true depiction. I mean it basically had a happy ending, I know it briefly alluded to this at the end but for the majority there was no happy ending or even the hope of one. To me its much more Hollywood and stylised than it thinks it is. It's well shot and impressive for the budget and filming period. Django was a better film about slavery, that will stay with me longer.

American Hustle could win awards for costume, Jennifer Lawrence was great but film was dire. Gravity was one of the most tedious films I have ever seen.

At the moment I'd give the oscar to Wolf of a Wall Street, I loved that film!

chibi · 01/02/2014 06:49

that is how that story actually ended, though- solomon northup was reunited with his family after 12 years in slavery.

ars you saying something that actually happened isn't realistic enough for you?

DaddyPigsMistress · 01/02/2014 06:51

I thought it was just ok. Certainly wont buy the dvd or recommend it.

It was very slick and loooong.

MamaPain · 01/02/2014 07:06

I am familiar with the story. I'm saying that they specifically picked that story because of its ending. As the film commented, kidnapping of free men and them then living horrendous lives in slavery were 10 a penny, if the film wanted to be as hard hitting as it appears to attempt in some me places they should have told that story, not pick the one which so helpfully ticks the boxes of making a good movie.

chibi · 01/02/2014 07:25

indeed. they could have even made a snuff film, if they really wanted to show suffering. what hypocrites.

BlueStones · 01/02/2014 10:28

I found it hard to feel anything - not sure why because I'm usually oversensitive to depiction of suffering. I don't know ... I just left feeling underwhelmed. I get that it was one man's true story; I just don't feel like we got to know that man. It felt acted, as stupid as that sounds.

isshoes · 05/02/2014 20:45

Very surprised by some of these comments. I thought it was one of the most emotionally powerful films I have ever seen. On a par with Schindler's list at least.

dexter73 · 05/02/2014 20:51

I really enjoyed 12 Years. Gravity was dullsville. Wolf of Wall Street was good but too long.

ShredMeJillianIWantToBeNatalie · 05/02/2014 21:00

I loved it. I can't see how it could be described as a happy ending, I thought it was implicit that while one character "got away", many more were left to suffer a terrible fate. Haven't seen any of the other films nominated, I don't think, so it would be difficult to judge the Oscar-worthiness.

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