MovieChat Forums > Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Discussion > Worthy of Best Picture, NOT Director.

Worthy of Best Picture, NOT Director.

posted 8 years ago by powermandan
9 replies | jump to latest

I will say that Kramer vs Kramer is the very best film of 1979. The subjects of divorce and parenthood are relevant now more than ever before. Plus the acting by the three main leads (especially by Hoffman) are virtually unbeatable.
But I will say that this was not worthy of winning the Oscar for Best Director. I know Best Picture and Director often go together, but this should have been one of those instances where they are separated. While I do think this was the best of the year, the general moviemaking really wasn't anything special. Apocalypse Now and Alien were 50x harder to create.
Best Director should go to the best movies that were the hardest to create. So movies like Kramer vs Kramer, Ordinary People, and Chariots of Fire should have lost that honour. And movies like the English Patient, Dances With Wolves, Born on the Fourth of July, and Braveheart were all worthy.

[–] rascal67 8 years ago

Yes, Coppola should have won director for his epic and hellish vision of Vietnam. APOCALYPSE NOW, was by every means, a directors film. I have no problem with KvK winning picture. Nor would I if any of the others nominees had won, except for 'All That Jazz'.

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[–] RobbieCalifornia 8 years ago

Best Director should go to the hardest film to create? Have to disagree with you there. What about performances?

[–] rascal67 8 years ago

Compared to Kramer, it was still more of a director's film and while performance can be a result of excellent direction, I would think in the instance of KvK, that Hoffman would have done much string pulling himself. AN, also had good to excellent performances. Benton's film could have been directed by any number of talented directors and pretty much achieved the same result. Apocalypse Now', came from a genuine auteur and was a vision that others couldn't so easily replicate. KvK as far as I'm concerned, was not the best directed film of 79'. I have no issue with it's picture status.

Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

'What about performances?'
-----------------
Streep and Hoffman directed themselves. They didn't need that much direction in a film like this.

[–] scorsese-1 8 years ago

Apocalpse Now deserved both BP and BD.

[–] rascal67 8 years ago

I would have had no qualms about APOCALYPSE NOW winning picture; but it wasn't a film that resonated with as many viewers, or had the same emotional impact as KvK at the time. It also had important and relevant themes. AN, was a dark, disturbing and horrific film in parts and wouldn't have been as popular choice with many academy members. We don't even know if it was runner up. I have a feeling that might have been ALL THAT JAZZ. Besides, they had honored a Vietnam film the previous year, THE DEER HUNTER, and that one did have a stronger emotional pull with many viewers.

Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:💩

[–] taran-rod 8 years ago

Yeah, I have a mixed feeling about Braveheart...

[–] Benjatron_Gear_Solid 8 years ago

I'm actually currently watching Apocalypse Now and yeah I'm trying to figure out why this didn't win Best Director.

[–] dr-mutallimov 7 years ago

I think Woody Allen's Manhattan better than this movie too.