Anvil Thwarted!

Sacha Gervasi's Anvil!: The Story of Anvil has been left off the just-announced short list of the Academy's Best Feature Documentary contenders. One of '09's most offbeat and emotionally engaging (one could even apply the term "heart-warming") docs, Anvil! was expected to at least make the short list, but no. I wrote a few months back that it's so earnest and touching in a shlumpy, blue-collar, middle-American hangdog way that it might win.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 18, 2009 at 3:46 PM

comment #1

Mr. F. Author Profile Page says ...

Okay, not making the short list is kind of ridiculous -- can anyone honestly say they're surprised, it's the Academy! -- but all things being equal, it's just as cool that you can download Anvil songs to play in the Rock Band video game. That's definitely a better way to introduce potential fans to the band and their music.

Posted by Mr. F. Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 4:02 PM

comment #2

moveable hype Author Profile Page says ...

They just can't catch a break can they?

Posted by moveable hype Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 4:14 PM

comment #3

Bilge Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff, I'm surprised you're not more up in arms about the alleged snub to TYSON.

Posted by Bilge Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 4:15 PM

comment #4

Jeffrey Wells Author Profile Page says ...

Tyson too! Not right or just! Was this because of Tyson getting into that scuffle at LAX?

Posted by Jeffrey Wells Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 4:33 PM

comment #5

Mr. F. Author Profile Page says ...

To paraphrase Robert Towne:

"Forget it, Wells. It's the Academy."

Posted by Mr. F. Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 4:55 PM

comment #6

Anthony Thorne Author Profile Page says ...

Tyson and Anvil don't make best doc? What a surprise (haven't seen either but have heard both are great)..

Posted by Anthony Thorne Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 5:19 PM

comment #7

The Hoyk Author Profile Page says ...

I should not be surprised, but it galls me just the same.

The one small unrealistic hope is that with the DVD blast that was done to the entire membership earlier, maybe a viable campaign can be made to nominate this for one of the 10 Best Picture slots. It deserves to be there, it's that damned good.

Posted by The Hoyk Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 6:16 PM

comment #8

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

I've been saying it for months: Burma VJ is the film to beat with the Cove coming up close.

Anvil was nice, but in the end, they're two schmucks who didn't become mega-stars because they weren't that great. Being the guy who played his guitar with a dildo isn't exactly enough to hang a career on. It was like Some Kind of Monster without the Klennex. At the end of watching Anvil, I had zero interest in picking up a "Greatest Hits of Anvil" CD. The film gave my ears enough of their music for a lifetime.

Tyson was compelling, but it's a personality driven piece and there's still a lot of old Academy people scared of him.

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 6:42 PM

comment #9

PopcornEyeglass Author Profile Page says ...

No Collapse, either.

Posted by PopcornEyeglass Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 6:43 PM

comment #10

btwnproductions Author Profile Page says ...

List: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011589.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL (my favorite title of the year) was, like THE KING OF KONG, always destined to make Top 10 lists, not win Oscars.

Posted by btwnproductions Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 7:22 PM

comment #11

Terry McCarty Author Profile Page says ...

Re Anthony Thorne's post--
Saw both TYSON and ANVIL. TYSON should have been on the list; I wanted to like ANVIL more than I did.

Posted by Terry McCarty Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 7:42 PM

comment #12

Anthony Thorne Author Profile Page says ...

Maybe not being nominated for best doco will become a badge of honor, as the academy frequently seems to fuck things up with that category, i.e no nod for CRUMB..

Posted by Anthony Thorne Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 7:54 PM

comment #13

DeeZee Author Profile Page says ...

Jeff: It's probably Tyson's history in general. But since AMPAS gave a pass to Kazan and Polanski, maybe a lot of the members lost money on the Douglas fight. It also looks like Capitalism didn't make it, either.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118011589.html?cs=1&ref=ssp

Anyway...
Courtesy of Scott Green @ AICN Anime, interview w/ Anderson on 'Fox.
http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1311
Defending Your Life gets a "remake".
http://tinyurl.com/yc54dbu
Cast update for Zac Snyder's all-owl answer to Avatar.
http://tinyurl.com/y9wru63
Meeoooww....
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/martha-stewart-slams-rachael-ray/31433?nc
Demi Moore enhanced for photo-shoot?
http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/a-line/demi-moores-w-cover-worst-photoshop-ever/306?nc
Forbes overpaid actors.
http://tinyurl.com/y89m67n
Eddie Murphy in an R-rated Babe-like film?
http://tinyurl.com/yap7st8
The Blind Side crew gets defensive about the Precious analogies.
http://tinyurl.com/yc9bu49
Cinematographers roundtable.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ibd6a20f7ac9abaef561248571d1dba81
French Wolfman trailer.
http://www.themoviebox.net/movies/2010/Wolfman,The/trailer.php
Is Sidibe a strong contender for Best Actress?
http://tinyurl.com/ykbkn6r

Posted by DeeZee Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 8:28 PM

comment #14

TulseLuper Author Profile Page says ...

Doesn't surprise me. They only ever nominate documentaries that appear to be "important." Exposing conspiracies and crimes is all well and good but that doesn't necessarily make a documentary great. The King of Kong easily should've been up for it two years ago, but hey, it's about video games so who cares? And where was Julien Temple when he made Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten and (my favorite doc of all-time), The Filth & The Fury? Fucking snobs.

Posted by TulseLuper Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 8:30 PM

comment #15

lipranzer Author Profile Page says ...

I was more surprised CAPITALISM and THE COLLAPSE didn't get nominated. ANVIL is on my top 10 list so far this year (as is IT MIGHT GET LOUD, which also got ignored), but I agree it's either because it isn't deemed "important," or just as likely the Documentary Branch is as antiquated in their music taste as the Music Branch is.

Posted by lipranzer Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 8:44 PM

comment #16

DeeZee Author Profile Page says ...

Direct link for that Forbes thing.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/12/11/hollywood-kidman-crowe-biz-media-cz_dp_1211overpaidcelebs.html
Oh, and Depp won People's Sexiest Man Alive thing.
http://tinyurl.com/yaz4p99

Posted by DeeZee Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 8:44 PM

comment #17

The InSneider Author Profile Page says ...

Anvil got robbed! Great documentary with real heart and feeling. A true American story. So was Tyson but that just wasn't nearly as good. Tyson was NOT snubbed, gang. The first 15 minutes, I thought I was watching an all-time great documentary. But it went downhill from there. We're still waiting on THE GREAT Tyson doc. Toback was too close to his subject. There was too much Mike, not enough context. But Anvil! is every bit as good as The Cove. Frankly, I'm surprised Food Inc. made it. That was so 'meh.' Obviously important but it was all over the place. Fuck AMPAS' doc branch.

Posted by The InSneider Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 9:07 PM

comment #18

DeeZee Author Profile Page says ...

Waddya know? Bush was responsible for the disaster in New Orleans, and not Blanco and Nagin.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091119/ap_on_re_us/us_katrina_flood_lawsuit

Posted by DeeZee Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 9:09 PM

comment #19

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

Anvil is a Canadian band.

as obscure Canadian metal from the 80s goes, Aldo Nova kicks their ass - even though Aldo smartly struck gold making Celine Dion hits

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at November 18, 2009 9:17 PM

comment #20

Aris P Author Profile Page says ...

Aldo Nova is hardly metal.

Posted by Aris P Author Profile Page at November 19, 2009 7:29 AM

comment #21

MikeSchaeferSF Author Profile Page says ...

According to several posters at AwardsDaily, the cutoff was August 31st (?) which if true would explain "Capitalism" and "Good Hair" not being there.

Posted by MikeSchaeferSF Author Profile Page at November 19, 2009 9:12 AM

comment #22

SaveFarris Author Profile Page says ...

Thank you DZ, for proving once and for all that George W. Bush was President during the 1960's, when the New Orleans Levee system was designed and constructed.

Posted by SaveFarris Author Profile Page at November 19, 2009 10:11 AM

comment #23

DeeZee Author Profile Page says ...

Farris: He was President when it needed to be updated, which he did not do.

Posted by DeeZee Author Profile Page at November 19, 2009 2:25 PM

comment #24

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

Anvil was good, but seemed more like a promotional movie for the band than a genuine doc. And anybody who believes that it's even 50% genuine is crazy. At the very least, the "break up" was entirely staged for the cameras.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at November 19, 2009 8:51 PM

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