Perceptions of Depth: Avatar throws down the gauntlet

Trying to measure a movie like Avatar against typical awards-magnet films is an exercise doomed to provoke friction and frustration. Over the past few days of discussion, we can’t even agree whether the value of a script should be weighed in units of substance, eloquence, relevance, or — in the case of Avatar — transcendence.

Are there more “literate” screenplays than Avatar this year? Of course, and they deserve our respect. Traditional scripts are a fluent scaffold¬†propping up the dramatic structure of films that are all about verbal volleyball. But in a film with the visual velocity of Avatar, we’re racing around the autobahn at top speed. We don’t have the time — or desire — to listen to talky theatrical witticisms. All we need are plain-spoken signals guiding us forward. Simple signposts, easy to grasp and digest at a glance: Merge, Yield, Detour, Caution. A movie like Avatar doesn’t rely on elaborate speeches and fancy banter to propel its story along. It asks that you quit listening to the blathering audio-book and keep your eyes on the road. Stop trying to find scripty bumper stickers to read, and let the spectacular scenery define the scenes.

Avatar blasts standard checklists of cinematic achievement right out of the clouds.¬† It demands to be judged on purely visceral terms and dares other films to match the thrills it delivers. We’ll all have our favorite moments at the movies this year, so feel free to compare yours to mine — in the same fabricated categories, if you like:

• Best bang for my 9 bucks, 2009: Avatar
• Most thought-provoking ethical quandaries, 2009: Avatar
• Most harrowing epic journey of self-discovery, 2009: Avatar
• Best role models for friendship and family bonding, 2009: Avatar
• Most visually astonishing artistic achievement on film, 2009: Avatar
• Most sensitive depiction of a life-altering career-path crisis, 2009: Avatar
• Most convincing love story of 2009: (tie) John Keats & Fanny/ Jake Sully & Neytiri
• Most beautiful single shot of 2009: seeds from the Tree of Souls alight on Sully’s shoulders
• Most suspenseful action sequence, 2009: Trudy, Jake and Dr. Augustine, jailbreak & getaway
• Most exhilarating cinematic moment of 2009: Jake Sully’s triumphant return to the Na’vi clan

• Most gut-churning symbol of contemporary relevance: destruction of an iconic towering cultural landmark
• Most despicable villainous performances of 2009: (3-way tie) Giovanni Ribisi, Stanley Tucci, Christoph Waltz
• Most powerful statement of racial oppression, 2009: attempted genocide of Na’vi (and other indigenous peoples)
• Best casting that keys into memories of an actor’s past characters: Sigourney Weaver (Ripley + Dian Fossey = Dr. Augustine)
• Sexiest hero and heroine of 2009, drama, comedy, musical or any other damn genre: Jake Sully & Neytiri
• Fastest and most fluidly-paced 162 minutes at the movies of the past 5 years: Avatar
• Only two American movies of 2009 that have lived up to their hype: (tie) The Hurt Locker & Avatar
• Quote most worthy of Buddha, Jung, Alice & Oz: “Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world and in here is the dream.”
• Single most kick-ass cheer-inducing line of dialogue, 2009: “You’re not the only one with a gun, bitch.”
• Single most meaningful line of dialogue, 2009: “When people are sitting on shit you want, you make them your enemies.”

Whew, ok, enough bio-luminescent enthusing for now. Just when I think I’m left dangling from the rim of a floating mountain, Steven Spielberg swoops in to back me up with this money quote: “The most evocative and amazing science-fiction movie since ‚ÄòStar Wars.’ “