Awards Season: Road to the 2018 Oscars

[Dominic Brehetto]

Get Out addressed it's racism. Three Billboards presented it as tangential characteristics of the town/characters but didn't have anything to actually say about it. Which is cool, I guess, but having nothing to say about the issue you're using as a setting, while still using stock black prop characters in your narrative with huge tonal shifts makes it feel clumsy.

That’s my point though. Get out is a film about racism. 3 billboards isn’t.

It merely presents it as one characters trait. It’s like saying a film can’t have a character be an alcoholic unless it’s a deep dive of a film all about alcoholism. Having a character be racist isn’t something that suddenly means the film should morph into a film about racism.

 

[StraxStrax]

Another way to phrase this is all of the black characters are stock 2 dimensional props while all of the white characters are interesting and developed.

No? :sean_:

 

[MartyMcFly]

But,that’s not what the film is about. You’re basically saying a movie can’t touch on racism unless the film is about racism. That’s judging a film for what it isn’t instead of what it is.

The last statement would be true if I said I didn’t like it. I think it handles it clumsily but it’s still a fine flick.

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

Another way to phrase this is all of the black characters are stock 2 dimensional props while all of the white characters are interesting and developed.

Eh, I’d say there was really only 3 main characters and everyone else were window dressing regardless of race.

 

[FlyRy]

@shutterguy are we changing the thread title or what?

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

The last statement would be true if I said I didn’t like it. I think it handles it clumsily but it’s still a fine flick.

But what are the steps you’re saying it uses for racism? I saw none personally but I’m interested in what you did.

 

[Tasha And]

That’s my point though. Get out is a film about racism. 3 billboards isn’t.

It merely presents it as one characters trait. It’s like saying a film can’t have a character be an alcoholic unless it’s a deep dive of a film all about alcoholism. Having a character be racist isn’t something that suddenly means the film should morph into a film about racism.

I agree with you in theory, and there are films and tv shows that do this well. But execution matters. The black friend in jail feels like a dangling thread they didn’t know how to bring back into focus, so it just happened in the most clumsy way possible.

The film doesn’t have to be a deep dive into racism. But if you’re going to take the time to write black characters that are affected, at least prove you have something to say about the subject by writing a scene with them that does have something to say about their inclusion in the story. Honestly, one good scene with a black character saying something insightful and funny is all it would take. It didn’t need to be preachy since this was a dark comedy.

 

[MartyMcFly]

But what are the steps you’re saying it uses for racism? I saw none personally but I’m interested in what you did.

Again my interpretation: that all it takes is a well meaning white guy who was stuck in his ways to actually make a difference. That if he only uses that rage and anger for the right thing (Mildred’s cause) then he’s all good and maybe one day he could use that towards other issues. But even if he doesn’t, he’s a good dude because he’s helping this woman deal with her serious issue and her very real pain even tho he once used that power for bad. And I think the film hints at exploring that issue but never does outside of using it as a way to show how bad a character is. But for a movie that takes place in Missouri, I felt like it should’ve been more foreceful.

But like you said that’s not what the movie is about. I get that. But I also feel like that’s lazy storytelling.

Which is where I make the crash analogy because that said the same thing to a degree. Obviously crash said more than that but it’s definitely one of the things on its mind.

 

[the next guy]

@pickles wherss your boy this year? Decided to let everyone else eat while he films another Harry Potter spin off? Is he ever coming back for the title?

And real question: who’s starting the thread this year?

I'll do it.

 

[BXKingPin82]

3 Billboards was wack!

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

Well, I still disagree but I get where you guys are coming from now. @MartyMcFly @Tasha And

 

[MartyMcFly]

Well, I still disagree but I get where you guys are coming from now. @MartyMcFly @Tasha And

Word. I'm with you that it's not what the movie is about. You're 100% right so maybe it doesn't need to handle it as well as something like Get Out or even a movie like Losing Isaiah.

Either way, can't wait for the show tonight. Coli Oscar watch parties are the best watch parties on the forum. Maybe second to the raw and WWE PPV watch parties

 

[shutterguy]

Nah. This is the awards season thread. That SHOULD morph into the Oscar thread lol.

I'm slighty confused here. Are we listing what we think should be nominated?

@shutterguy are we changing the thread title or what?

I think the thread title is fine. Although the link in OP is different then the thread title.

 

[FlyRy]

just realized there wasnt on of these this year.

I'll say i'm gonna be pissed if/when collette, steven yeun and hawke dont get nominated. i was reminded of this by an RT editorial