The Debate: Is Little Miss Sunshine Oscar Worthy?
February 22nd, 2007 in Comedy, Indie, Movies, Oscars, The Debate
We’re going to start up a new, hopefully regular, feature on Screenhead called The Debate, where we argue both sides of an argument. Today, it’s possible Best Picture winner Little Miss Sunshine.
Definitely a departure from heavy heavy Best Picture winners like Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Crash (2005) and definitely an amusing little film. But is it Oscar worthy?
Yes it is
Absolutely. Just because LMS doesn’t make you want to slit your wrists like Crash and Million Dollar Baby doesn’t mean it’s not Oscar worthy. There’s no rule that says the Best Picture has to be heavy and prestigous. That’s just the recent trend, and a trend worth bucking. LMS is genuinely funny, from first to last reel. Not in a Martin Lawrence in a fat suit way (ie not) but in a very real, very character driven way.
It’s a great ensemble cast acting generously and unselfishly. And as well as being laugh out loud funny it’s also moving. Disagree? If you didn’t feel something when Alan Arkin and Abigail Breslin have that grandfather-granddaughter “Am I a loser?” moment in the hotel room, then you’re a soulless zombie and I’m sending Simon Pegg round to hit you in the head with a cricket bat.
There’s been a bit of overkill and lately, especially with the Oscar campaign. And if you saw this theatrically, you likely saw it a long time ago, loved it, allowed the emotional aspects to fade from memory and are now sick of seeing that little yellow van poster everywhere.
LMS is a genuinely small, genuinely quirky film (just a solid screenplay and an $8 million budget) and film buffs are always arguing that small films deserve more attention. Well LMS is a small film that got more attention. Initially, I think, because Steve Carrell went from B to A list between this being filmed and this being released. But then it was word of mouth. Think about that. People saw this film because other people told them it was good.
No it isn’t
It would be great to reward an indie film with an Oscar, I’m all for that. But it shouldn’t be the safe, studio approved indie film. Proper indie films don’t star Alan Arkin, Steve Carrell, Greg Kinnear et al. This is a studio movie, with studio backing. LMS is just an identikit wannabe indie flick.
LMS is what happens when you type “indie film please” into the Hollywood vending machine. Wacky characters? We got ‘em: How about that hilarious suicidal guy? The Willie Lomanesque dad? The wise old man? The moody teen? Oh, and the adorably cute kid, obviously. Don’t worry about making them fully developed characters, they’re funny archetypes, people will love ‘em.
Then just rip off the road trip aspects of National Lampoon’s Vacation, the borderline paedophilic talent show of Donnie Darko and the dancing scene from Napoleon Dynamite and hey presto, you’ve got an Oscar winning film. Except you haven’t.
Because Oscar winning films shouldn’t be this predictable. The result of the titular pageant is never in doubt. We know a “moral victory” is on the cards. And it’s obvious from the get go that the family will grow closer on the journey. What else was going to happen?
And Best Picture films do need to be prestigous. They don’t necessarily have to be heavy in the way that the last two winners have, but the point is they do have have to be big enough films to stand the test of time and not just be the flavour of the moment. And that’s all that Little Miss Sunshine is.
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February 22nd, 2007 at 8:14 am
A big NO from me. I liked the film, it was clever and has some good performances from Abigail Breslin and Steve Carell, but better than the other nominated best pictures? Nope. If this wins over say, The Departed, I may have to boycott the Oscars next year (well, I love movies and the Oscars, so that may not happen… but I certainly would feel slighted).
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:35 am
LMS deserves the Oscar…The departed is a remake from hong kong…surely that stands for something
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:57 am
“The departed is a remake from hong kong…surely that stands for something”
Why should that matter? Crash is a terrible remake of every other interconnected-story-lines-faux-indie film I’ve had to sit through, but no one saw a problem giving it Best Picture. Titanic is every cliche in the book, and look how well that paid off. And just because Hong Kong is known for its action flicks, doesn’t mean they can’t produce a heavy drama, or a film in any other genre for that matter. Look at July Rhapsody or anything by Wong Kar-Wai. And who says a pulp crime film can’t be the Best Picture? Pulp is still art, and in many ways its more honest art than the deadening, “serious” sheen lacquered onto films like Babel and Letters From Iwo Jima. Let’s not forget Gladiator’s win. Despite its politics heavy plot, at heart, it’s a pulp revenge flick.
For my money, The Departed is the best film nominated for best picture. Little Miss Sunshine, I felt, was a good, fun film, and I’m not against a movie without that weighty, prestigious tone winning. In fact, I’m all for it. But Little Miss Sunshine is not that film. It has a flawed script with what I felt was an thrown together ending. And its littered with cliche characters and scenarios that it hides behind great performances and forced quirkiness. If anything, the film is a testament to the actors.
That said, I’d rather see it win over Babel and Letters From Iwo Jima. Little Miss Sunshine is more enjoyable, and a win for it would be better than rewarding two films that just go through the motions.
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:40 am
The Departed will win, hands down. Scorcese has waited far too long, even though this is probably one of his weaker films. None of the candidates really have anything going for them. None are as strong as films we’ve seen recently. It’s getting to be this weird formula for even getting nominated
Heady social issues - Babel
War Epic - Letters from Iwo Jima
Estranged biopic - The Queen
Uber-director nominated because it’s him - The Departed
and Random indie(esque) film - Little Miss Sunshine
Look back at the last couple of years and it’s almost always that way; with a little variance. But I still love the Oscars, and will watch them every year and get super-pissed about something (LOTR, no didn’t deserve it), or become ecstatic at something (Crash, and yes I thought Crash deserved it.)
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 pm
LMS seems to be the favourite at the moment and I could honestly see it taking home the statue though of all the films nominated for Best Picture, the best of the bunch is easily “Letters from Iwo Jima” but if I had to guess the academy’s pick, LMS all the way.
The Departed will easily win the Best Director category but I would be surprised to see it take home the gold for Best Picture.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:58 pm
roc says:
“The departed is a remake from hong kong…surely that stands for something”
Daryl said it best above in his “No It Isn’t” argument. LMS is a ripoff of the first Vacation movie. Not 100%, but the idea of the story flows pretty similar. Wallyworld is the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant. Grandpa dying in the car (LMS) was much like grandma dying in the car (VACATION).
Again, I liked the film, but Oscar big winner, it’s not.
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I’m filled with a sinking feeling that Babel will win, as it’s practically Crash 2: Electric Bugaloo. That’s just how Oscar rolls. Last year it was white guilt, this year it’s American Guilt. Also, I think it speaks to Scorcese’s skill that The Departed is considered by everyone as a “lesser” film. Even if I agreed with that statement, it’s still hands and feet over the other nominees. It was a tight genre flick with great acting, fantastic direction, and all the other things that come with the name Scorcese. Sorry it didn’t change your life.
February 23rd, 2007 at 4:48 am
It would be a great thing if LMS wins! It would be a joyous day for the movie world! Well, maybe not for the blockbusters but still….for the movie art for sure. LMS is a real gem of a movie, its well acted with great story and lots of moments to get you thinking long after you’ve seen its end. But I dont think it will happen!
Departed will probably snatch it away. And I guess no one would mind, yes its a remake, yes its an average-so-many-time-already-seen story but it is really well made, perfectly acted story which also has a great soundtrack!
LMS (it would be nice but) NO! The Departed (because of lot of things and because non of the nominated can really top it) YES!
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 pm
It will be a shame to see The Departed win. It’s enjoyable, but it’s really not that good. Nothing like Martys greats. Then again, I hated Babel and LMS is formulaic American-independent (which should be an oxymoron, but sadly isn’t). Iwo Jima was disappointingly dull too. I would have preferred to see United 93 or Pans Labyrinth win.
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Oh well, If I get to choose Pans Labyrinth is way better than any other movie last year and well worth the Oscar! In my humble opinion that is…..
February 23rd, 2007 at 1:16 pm
igor says:
“It would be a great thing if LMS wins! It would be a joyous day for the movie world! Well, maybe not for the blockbusters but still….for the movie art for sure.”
I have this struggle with a film like LMS winning the big prize on Sunday night. Not because it’s not a good film. But with it being spawn from a independent. It would seem that a win would further blur the line between independent and Hollywood. The whole point of an independent film being made is that Hollywood muscle doesn’t interfere in the process of trying to make a movie that’s based on making money. Don’t get me wrong… making money is a good thing, but it’s when the dollar signs overshadow the film.
That’s why someone like Scorsese couldn’t care about having a major blockbuster. His interest is more in making films. I’d like Scorsese to win for pure recognition.
March 7th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
[...] Actor to Kevin Kline (for A Fish Called Wanda) and recently to Alan Arkin for his work in the way over-hyped Little Miss Sunshine (I’m not saying it isn’t good, just shoved down our [...]
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