WALL*E's Big Day
I got out of a 3 pm showing of The Day The Earth Stood Still only about 30 minutes ago so forgive my being slow to respond to the news about Andrew Stanton's WALL*E winning the Best Picture prize from the L.A.Film Critics earlier today. Waahhhlleeeee! Big development, you bet.
It's a good decision born of bold and original thinking. Hooray for LAFCA not putting its paws up and yelping for Slumdog Millionaire. They stood up and shot their own wad.
Right now, today, as of this precise minute, the Slumdog juggernaut is idling in traffic, stopped at a red light, and just a tiny bit worried. I wouldn't be. Things will pick right up again tomorrow for Slumdog once the unusual WALL*E win -- the first-ever animated pic to win LAFCA's Best Picture award -- is processed and kicked around. But at least today's surprise win has given the Best Picture race a little contour, a little shading, a little "oh, yeah?" attitude.
The Dark Knight was the Best Picture runner-up. Honestly? It would been a little bit cooler if Chris Nolan's film had won instead of Stanton's. WALL*E, trust me, isn't going to bust into the Academy's Best Picture race, but The Dark Knight might, and it could've used LAFCA's support to pursue this. But what does LAFCA care about the stupid Academy? Nothing. They're playing their own game.
LAFCA's Best Director trophy went to Slumdog's Danny Boyle . It's a sop, of course -- a make-up for the disappointed Slumdog contingent. But as long as LAFCA was going off the script they should have at least given the Best Director prize to Nolan, who was first runner-up after Boyle.
Milk's Sean Penn won the Best Actor award (fine), and The Wrestler's Mickey Rourke came in second (tough break).
This columnist recognizes that Sally Hawkins' performance in Happy-Go-Lucky was crackling and throbbing and gifted-crazy, but the kind of person she played -- a happy fascist who insists on happy-vibing everyone she runs into until they're down on their knees and begging for mercy-- is the sort of positive soul I find personally detestable, so I say "no" to this in order to discourage all of the other happy fascists, both in other forthcoming movies and in real life.
But yay for Best Actress runner-up Melissa Leo, the desperate people smuggler of Frozen River .
The Best Supporting Actor prize went to The Dark Knight's Heath Ledger, and Happy Go Lucky's Eddie Marsan, whose performance I enjoyed much more than the one given by Hawkins, was named runner-up.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Elegy's Penelope Cruz was named Best Supporting Actress, and Doubt's electrifying power-hitter Viola Davis came in second.
Here are the rest of the awards.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 9, 2008 at 3:27 PM
comment #1
MikeSchaeferSF
says ...
I also found Hawkins' character unbearable in HGL and even more annoying is the fact that the only person in the film who challenges her in any way (Marsan) turns out to be a wacko, immigrant-hating right-winger, which gives everyone the easy way out. (Note that the LAFCA also gave Mike Leigh Best Screenplay).
Posted by MikeSchaeferSF
at December 9, 2008 4:36 PM
comment #2
Flash Gordon
says ...
Still no love for Langella. Maybe New York will show him some.
Posted by Flash Gordon
at December 9, 2008 4:42 PM
comment #3
Chase Kahn
says ...
Yeah, it would have been great to see 'The Dark Knight' take it because it needs the boost -- 'Wall-E' is one of the year's best movies, but I still don't see it being a Top 10 contender right now for 'Best Pic'...
Posted by Chase Kahn
at December 9, 2008 4:43 PM
comment #4
berg
says ...
BOLT is better than WALL_e
Posted by berg
at December 9, 2008 4:56 PM
comment #5
erniesouchak
says ...
The decision displays more "bold and original thinking" than the entire second half of "Wall-E."
Posted by erniesouchak
at December 9, 2008 5:02 PM
comment #6
cinefan
says ...
I agree that the first half of Wall-E was stronger than the 2nd half but the 2nd half still contained more "bold and original thinking" than 95% of the films that came out this year.
Posted by cinefan
at December 9, 2008 5:10 PM
comment #7
Edward
says ...
I was enchanted and entranced by Wall-E. How many live action films can you say that about?
Posted by Edward
at December 9, 2008 6:06 PM
comment #8
MilkMan
says ...
"They stood up and shot their own wad."
The genius of this sentence is pretty self-apparent, no? I might have to steal that one, Mr. Wells. That is either a great opening line of a short story or the last line of a great novel. Haven't decided yet. I either want to know what came (no pun intended) before this group of men stood up and shot their own wad, or what happens next, after they are done collectively draining themselves in unison. Or maybe they each take a turn standing up and shooting their own wad. Maybe that makes more sense. What kind of organization, cult, corporation, etc., etc. would such a group of men belong to? I'm thinking something militaristic, vaguely right-wind, like those creeps in those Christian Men's group, er, what are they called? The Promise Keepers. Yah. Like those guys. Those guys seem like the type to stand up and shoot their own wads, as opposed to shooting someone else's, which is what I pretty much do every night when the house is asleep. Last night I shot Darby Hinton's wad for what has to be the 100th time. Sybill Danning is the gift that keeps on giving. Ask Eric Brown, whose wad I shall be shooting tonight, in unsion with Darby's, and maybe Richard Tyson's.
Posted by MilkMan
at December 9, 2008 6:08 PM
comment #9
lipranzer
says ...
Anyone who thinks Sally Hawkins' character in HAPPY GO LUCKY is just a "happy fascist" needs to watch again the scene where she's with the kid who admits to her he's beaten at home. She does not willfully shut out the bad in the world; she meets it head on. Though I do wish Kristin Scott Thomas had won, I'm happy with the choice of Hawkins (I still haven't seen FROZEN RIVER, but I'm glad to see Melissa Leo getting the attention she deserves).
Posted by lipranzer
at December 9, 2008 6:10 PM
comment #10
sumo-pop
says ...
When I saw Happy Go Lucky I wanted to claw out my own eyes for about 45 minutes. Then slowly Sally Hawkins grew on me and to my own amazement by the end of it I found myself liking and respecting the film. Fucking alchemy I guess. That being said I get anybody who has a hateful reaction to it.
Posted by sumo-pop
at December 9, 2008 6:24 PM