In Contention

Tag: The Rules of the Game

  • LIFE WITHOUT OSCAR: 1939 and 1940

    Catch up with the idea behind this series here.

    We’ve come to the year that is generally referred to as the greatest in Hollywood history. Why? As far as I can tell, it’s because somebody said it once and nobody has put up much of a fight since. Plus, there was “Gone With the Wind,” a film that changed cinema and Guy Lodge forever. It also saw the birth of the Visual Effects category, with “The Rains Came” defeating “Gone With the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz,” in an early example of the Academy’s pathetic short-sightedness.

    We also saw our first African American winner and Bob Hope handle the mic for the first time. David O. Selznick took home the big prize both years, with “Rebecca” earning Best Picture in 1940. No complaints there, but what other treasures were overlooked?

    1939 – “The Rules of the Game” (Jean Renoir)

    Derided by the French public and government upon release, the film didn’t hit the States until 1950 and didn’t achieve masterpiece status until the 1960’s. Now, it commonly sits at the top of Sight & Sound’s list of the greatest films of all time behind “Citizen Kane” and “Vertigo.” Jean Renoir’s classic comedy of manners has influenced everyone from Woody Allen to Paul Thomas Anderson to, most famously, Robert Altman and his Best Picture nominee, “Gosford Park.”

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  • OFF THE CARPET: Memo to the Academy

    The Academy Awards–MEMO–

    TO: Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
    FROM: Kristopher Tapley

    RE: The ballot you recently received

    Ladies and gentleman,

    As you sit to ponder the year’s best in your various fields of professional expertise, you might find yourself strong-armed into the consensus view 2008’s film product has been whittled down to over the last 30 days.  You might even find yourself at a loss, cramming as much as you can after a year of constantly working with nary a moment to spare a trip to the cinema.  Such last minute jitters can yield an unconsidered and, certainly, lackadaisical approach to your annual responsibilities as AMPAS members.  But I implore you to take your time with this, be measured, and above all, take pen to paper with a level of seriousness.

    While I would never presume to tell you how to go about filling in your respective ballots, I hope you don’t find it too bold of me to offer a few closing words of encouragement and suggestion as we close the book on 2008.  The glut of film awards season fades into a numbing hum you’d perhaps rather ignore until the holidays have run their course, so come back to these words at a later date if you must.  They merely represent the humble opinion of one passionate film lover who believes in the potential of your organization and the ideals it stands for.

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