Kathryn Bigelow | pinartarhan.com

I used to make a fuss over the Oscars when I was in high school, especially in my earlier years when the internet didn’t exist or just wasn’t all the rage. I’d really be curious about who would win and would watch the entire show. And my friends would usually learn it first from me. I’ll even admit to fantasizing about winning one (hell, can’t say the fantasy is completely gone). And who won would really matter.

I am not saying it doesn’t matter now. But for me, now I care more about the hosts and the big night than really caring about the winners. I am extremely happy with this year’s winners but had they not won, it really would not be that big of a deal. I mean did we really need that award to know Jeff Bridges is a terrific actor? Of course not. I have been a big fan of Kathryn Bigelow ever since I watched Strange Days and Point Break. I am not saying those movies were Oscar-material (whatever the hell that means) but I am just pointing out to the fact that she is a great director.

Kathryn Bigelow wins! Couldn't be happier. Love her work.

Yep, I admit to being one of those movie nuts who question when her movies don’t get picked. But I can’t help it. I don’t get why one movie gets the oscar when another nominee doesn’t or why an actor is/isn’t nominated. I know about the votes. But what about the voters? What’s their demographics? What’s the racial/gender distribution among them for instance?

So please feel to list your movies/film-makers/actors, etc. that surprised you by not winning or by not being nominated. All categories are welcome. Here are some of mine:

The Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins

Where is the oscar for The Shawshank Redemption? I get the fact that Forrest Gump was there for competition and I like that movie but if I need to compare the effects that it had on me, Shawshank Redemption wins by far. 7 nominations and no wins? And 6 wins by Forrest Gump. Once again, Forrest Gump is a really good film and Tom Hanks is terrific but you do get my point. And again, why was Tim Robbins not nominated for best actor in TSR? Yes, Morgan Freeman was nominated and he was as always good. But did you see how difficult Robbins’ role was? Does anyone think the movie would have been more impressive without him? Where is his nomination?

Mel Gibson won two oscars for Braveheart. The movie won a total of 5 and had been nominated for 10. But actor Mel wasn't nominated for best actor.

Why wasn’t Mel Gibson nominated for best actor for Braveheart? He won best film and best director. But he wasn’t even nominated for best actor. So he excelled at directing everyone in that film and was better than the other nominee directors but he couldn’t direct himself all that well then?

Training Day with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Cool movie. Great performance. Like Denzel never rocked in a role before...Please!

Was Denzel Washington’s best performance in a leading role in Training Day? Like he never had an equally great (if not better) performance before 2001? And let’s not even go over the fact that the academy waited till 2001 to hand out to the leading actor oscar to an African- American.

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win a best director award. First female director to win in 2010???? In the 82nd year of the show??? Yes, she deserved to win. But no other woman did until this year? Of course I am going to question the award!

Why was Kate Winslet even nominated for best actress in 1997 for Titanic? How is that role oscar-worthy? If they really had a shortage, they should have done with 4 nominees. It is not like they can’t stretch rules. This year the best film category had 10 nominees.

My rants can go on but these are the two major ones that bother me. I was feeling bad that Edward Norton didn’t win with Primal Fear (best supporting actor) or American History X but after the ones I pointed out, that really shouldn’t surprise me.

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Strange Days with Ralph Fiennes, Angela Bassett, Juliette Lewis. Written by James Cameron and directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

1999. Los Angeles. The “City of Angels” has never been more chaotic, the cops have never been so corrupt and life is more complicated than ever.

Our (anti-) hero Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) used to be a cop. Now he is a dealer who sells the “drug” of the decade: tapes of real experiences (of real people)- through a device that sends signals straight to their brain. Result? Highly addictive habit of living through other people’s moments. Everything feels real. Who needs porn when you can watch an actual couple having sex and feel every bit of it in your body too? But there is a downside. Crimes have just become more dangerous. There is a psycho out there killing-while he makes his victim watch her own death live- hence doubling the pain, shock and horror.

Lenny is obsessed with his ex Faith (Juliette Lewis), an ex-hooker/singer wannabe who’s dating a seriously bad guy (Michael Wincott).

Lenny does have someone he can count on,though. His best friend Macey (Angela Bassett). But while Lenny turned weak and miserable, Macey has turned into a kick-ass single mom who can do more than take care of herself and she gets Lenny out of trouble quite a few times. Lenny and Macey share an old bond and even though Mace doesn’t approve of Lenny’s conduct, she sets to help him out.

The movie takes exciting twists and turns as the pair needs to uncover a murder that has to do with an infamous rap singer with a huge following, sadistic cops and Faith’s boyfriend/manager who doesn’t like Lenny all that much.

This is one of those gloriously dark movies. It takes you to all the grey areas, multi-dimensional and colorful characters and truly psychotic bad guys. But just when you think, the world is shitty and dark, it does show you love, friendship and hope exist.

The script is highly original, and to me, it’s the best James Cameron has ever written. Forget about every other movie he wrote. Strange Days is a strange gem. It won’t get old.

I was lucky to first see this 1996 film while I was in 1999, on New Year’s Eve, waiting for the millennium. Got to tell, you- it made it extra effective.

Ralph Fiennes is always good and he is a versatile actor. He can scare you or seduce you, make you like or hate him very easily. His character Nero is very likable character despite his flaws. He is weak and strong, he is stupid and smart…All in all, his character is entertaining and very humane.

I definitely adore Bassett’s role. She owns her scenes. The rest of the cast is also impressive with Tom Sizemore, Vincent D’Onofrio, and my favorite baddy Michael Wincott (from The Crow, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves).

The director is Kathryn Bigelow. She is very good at making adrenaline-inducing films. I also love her Point Break (starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze).

It is one of favorite movies ever. Be ready to have fun, to be disturbed and to see real action.

2010: And the Oscar finally goes to Jeff Bridges and a Female Director, Kathryn Bigelow

Strange Days – One Hell of a Movie