I’m having one of those moments again where I liked a film, but am shaky on the write-y. I’m grasping for motivation to continue my quest to watch every single Best Picture winner possible, yet I’m struggling alongside simultaneous feelings of anxiety and contentment – content because I really did like 1929’s winner The Broadway Musical; anxiety because I still have miles and miles to go on this journey.
Is any other twenty-something in the world watching these films? Which then begs the question of whether or not anyone even gives a rat’s ass about my words here. I started this bad boy last September and I’m kinda jeepin’ about the whole thing. How long is this actually going to take!? I CAN’T HAVE ANYBODY FREAKIN’ OUT HERE!
Alright, enough whinin’! The Broadway Melody (1929 version, people!) was the second film to win Best Picture and the first to feature dialogue and music! (The more you know!) The movie’s about two sisters (Anita Page and Bessie Love) who hit the big city to try their luck out on Broadway. They’re small-town heroes and talents, but struggle to find their place in a larger pond. Older sister Hank’s entanglement with a song-and-dance man becomes even more complicated as he begins to fall for her younger sister Queenie. The film won Love a nomination for Best Actress, among other accolades, and her performance really reminded me a lot of Joyce DeWitt, as the two share a lot of the same quirks and demeanor.
This movie is from an ancient land, man! It’s over 80 years old! It reminds me of this professor I had once. He was super pretentious and douchey, but loved Art History and taught it very well, despite his overwhelming douchebaggery. He would always lecture that it was “art HISTORY….art HISTORY…” always putting the right emPHAsis on the right syllABle. Through the art, he urged us to stop and catch a glimpse of what life was like during the time of the art’s conception. He wanted us to peer into the minds of the artists. I find myself doing the same lately, only this time with writers, directors and actors. What were those roaring 20’s like and how did the vastly different social, political and economical landscapes affect this movie’s production?
Food for thought as I schlep forward.
Later today, I head back to the 1940’s for Gentleman’s Agreement with my pal Zoe from SexyTofu. Gregory Peck is in it. That dude was in The Omen. The Omen was cool.
I DO care that you keep posting (and by the way I am 20). I am too watching Oscar films and is its fun to know someones else is too. There is some other people in internet who have seen these films but they are all some kind of film nerds or students. The is this one person on b plus movie blog who is 24 but has seen all movies that have been nominated for all categories that are not technical, so its fun to read opinions of someone that is not that dedicated. Those kind of people mene me feel really lazy.
I have seen only 30 so far but only started in May. I originally was going to see all films before September but I doubt I will finish on time but for me it is just a fun thing hobby.But keep posting these because I think is fun to have a race between us:) Don’t be so serious. And sorry for the long post.
Thanks for checking in! I considered watching every single nominee for Best Picture, but that would be incredibly intense! Baby steps – winners first 😉
Just watched another one last night and in my next post, I’ll be officially starting my countdown – I want to say I have 30-35 left to go…hit me up on Twitter so we can chat about which ones you’ve seen! @LittlestWinslow!