Soundworks has just posted a new mini-doco on the team behind the soundtrack for Tarantinos Inglourious Basterds check it out:
With the Oscar finalists being announced tomorrow morning which films are your picks for best Sound Editing? Sound Mixing? Score? Here are the picks from Indiewire:
Best Sound Editing
1. Avatar
2. Star Trek
3. The Hurt Locker
4. District 9
5. Up
Best Sound Mixing
1. Avatar
2. Star Trek
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Transformer: Revenge of the Fallen
5. District 9
Best Original Score
1. Avatar
2. Up
3. Star Trek
4. The Informant!
5. A Serious Man
And from the In Contention site: Best Sound Editing part one and part two plus Best Sound Mixing part one and part two
I went & saw Avatar in 3D this morning – technically it was obviously very complex but as a film I was rather underwhelmed with the one dimensional characters & totally gratuitous violence, but those faded into insignificance when compared to the overall themes of the film which made me queasy, and not in the way as obviously intended. Game changing? Not in my opinion. Re-inventing cinema? Not even close. But what really struck me was that now, half a day later I struggle to really re-engage with anything from the film, and yet a ‘small’ film I saw over a week ago has still got me thinking about it. Sorry Mr Cameron but Kim Ki Duks Birdcage Inn 1, Avatar 0. But I guess Avatar will pick up best VFX for the monumental work done by WETA… My picks? I’ll be loyal to the locals & cross my fingers for District 9 for both sound editing & mixing – not to be parochial but because D9 had such a memorable soundtrack with a lot of original ideas beautifully woven into it. The other contender in each category for me would be Up for sound editing and Star Trek for mix. And for Best Film Score I loved Carter Burwells work on A Serious Man…
And you?
Avatar score. Uninspiring I thought. This says it all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkj_u8THXLU
I didn’t watched avatar, and after this, i dont think i will. But i’m very curious about Birdcage Inn. I’ll try to find it here in Brazil. thx for the tips
When I went to watch Avatar (in IMAX 3D) I was indeed quite blown away by the technical visual side of the show. In addition to slightly more depth of field usage which is nice in a 3D film, the shots and motion capture, etc…is of superb class not to mention the 3D images looked tighter and better than other 3D films I have seen.
Regarding one dimensional characters and queasy themes and story, I was not expecting anything else…after all…its James Cameron! Regarding sound design, I thought it was normal and ok but nothing special AT ALL…could be the visual side impressed me so much more and took away from the sound.
Anyways, I have to admit that although walking out of the movie theatre really impressed by the visuals and so on…it has not made it anywhere on my top list of films and I am not thinking about the film at all now that a few weeks have gone. However, upon doing some reseatch for a film I will be doing sound on in a month or so, I watched City of God (which for some stupid reason I hadn’t watched before) and WOW! I was REALLY impressed by the editing, cinematography and enjoyed the use of sound! It has immediately jumped up to my top list of films and have watched it a second time this week plus a 3rd time just skipping to some interesting sound design moments and so on!
So regarding Avatar, though I might see it some time again once its out on DVD at some friends place…I won’t run and buy the DVD. Its a big bang/bright lights fireworks display to be enjoyed with popcorn, 3D glasses and a large screen.
+1 District 9.
For all the visual and aural binge that Avatar is, my heart stays with D9.
Really like the tune on main page of your website! Nice. Tom
YES QUEASY IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT WORD. I felt like i was in a giant swirling 300 million dollar james cameron ejaculation.
hm…I’m trying to find “birdcage inn” on netflix and they seem to not have it. They have “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring” and I enjoyed this film a lot a couple of years ago and I am very interested in this recommendation of yours.
As an aside, as I respect your work and vision, it would be cool if you had a section that you listed films that you enjoyed at festival. I know you mention them all in your blog but a list would be nice for those of us who want to follow what you watch
good idea – i’ll setup a page & link to it in the sidebar….
ps have you seen Three iron by the same director? An excellent film!!
Nope but I just added it to my list. Thanks