Paths of Glory (1957) February 22, 2010

‘Paths of Glory‘ has something special. More than 50 years later, it is watchable and completely original. Was it the best film of 1957? The Academy didn’t think so, giving it zero Oscar nominations. It’s no ‘Twelve Angry Men’, but it’s definitely among the best.

What makes this film so special? Like anything else, it is different. There is a crucial point towards the end of the film where it has to take a stance one way or another. If the three men had not been executed, if the General would have stopped them from dying, it could have been a pro-military film. But he didn’t, the men were executed, and this becomes so clearly an anti-military film.

‘Crash’ in Retrospect June 16, 2009

Whenever I think back on the movie ‘Crash’, I sort of like it. Then, when I watch it, I am infinitely disappointed. It aims high but the execution is so bad. Everything is spelled out so blatantly the characters may as well have their cliche role branded on their foreheads. The movie itself is simply trite.

Also, I am always frustrated when I recall that it won Best Picture. Sure, the most deserving movie rarely wins, but that does not mean it’s not frustrating.

Movies better than ‘Crash’ nominated for Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Good Night, and Good Luck.
Movies better than ‘Crash’ not nominated for Best Picture: Match Point, Cinderella Man, Junebug, Syriana, The Squid and the Whale, Memoirs of a Geisha, Batman Begins, The Constant Gardner, Wallace & Gromit, and I would even say King Kong.

Now, I’m not saying all of those are Best Picture nominee worthy. I’m simply saying that they are better than ‘Crash’. I think the 5 nominees for 2005 should have been:

Match Point (best movie of the year by far)
Brokeback Mountain (great movie)
Capote (great movie)
Batman Begins (great movie)
Memoirs of a Geisha (visually amazing, decently told story)