The wrong movie won the 'Best Picture' Oscar

"Atonement" is a better movie than "No Country For Old Men." There. I said it. I'm preparing to have the gods of moviedom strike me dead, given my audacity in opting to break the Coen of Silence. But I finally saw "Atonement" on Saturday night (it takes me a while to get around to these things), and it's baffling to me that anyone could have chosen a different film as the top one of 2007. It was simply superb: riveting, powerful, extraordinarily acted and masterfully crafted in every way -- with plot twists you never can see coming. What an amazing piece of filmmaking. My only criticism: Keira Knightley really does need to eat something.

Never thought I'd say this, but the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. got it right this time (except for that hideous travesty of a Golden Globe Awards show, I mean). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences dropped the ball. The Globes bestowed its top honor on "Atonement," while the Academy Awards erred, I believe, in honoring "No Country." Having seen them both, I've got to say that "Atonement" was the far more fulfilling moviegoing experience, entertaining as it is on every level. By contrast, "No Country For Old Men" is technically ingenious and undeniably edge-of-your-seat creepy. But to my mind, it's still basically an exceptionally well-produced and atmospheric slasher movie. The only thing that ultimately stays with you is the image of Javier Bardem's ice-cold, cattle-killer glare.

Anyway, I know this ship has long-since sailed. And each and every one of you (presuming more than one person is reading this) is sick to death of awards season, which really does desperately need to be put to bed. But I felt compelled to toss my two-cents into a debate that isn't even a debate, I realize. I enjoyed "No Country For Old Men" just fine. But unless we're measuring greatness in terms of number of pints of blood spilled, it wasn't the best film of the year, merely the most disturbing -- in my humble opinion.

Comments

[BB]

You are one dumb guy, Ray Richmond. The best film of the year was "I Know Who Killed Me" for sure. You call yourself a critic? I bet you never saw "The Hottie and the Nottie" either? You need a lesson in taste. You are missing fine movies and seeing trash. No wonder Hollywood is so liberal and smokes cigarettes.

[Alicia]

Everybody's different I guess. Atonement was pretty. It was well edited. I won't argue that the field for best picture was, well, a stretch. Better than No Country? Not better acting. Not better directing. Not better writing. Maybe No Country was not the best picture of last year, but chances are, none of us saw the best picture of last year. The best picture died a quick death in the publicity machine and desperation took hold of the Academy. Give us your near best pictures, they cried. The public won't notice the difference, and we have a show to put on.

[Sonja]

I didn't see the movie Atonment, but I agree Ms. Knightly Needs To eat something she is skin and bones.

[Sandwich]

If you people think Knightly is 'skin and bones' I would certainly hate to know what you consider 'fat'. Ya'll must be from the 'Rachel Ray is normal weight' club. Rachel Ray is chubbo. Knightly is healthy. Any questions?

[Micha10589]

Comment without irony: If you honestly want to see the best picture of 2007 go see the Palme d'Or winner "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days".

[patrick]

Atonement was a great flick. it looked and felt a lot like Pride and Prejudice... come to think of it, both movies have the same director, leading lady, both are based on books and both take place in England