Features







2007-08 Oscar Calendar



[Monday, December 3, 2007]

Official Screen Credits
Forms Due.


[Wednesday, December 26, 2007]

Nominations ballots mailed.


[Saturday, January 12, 2008]

Nominations polls close
5 p.m. PST.


[Tuesday, January 22, 2008]

Nominations announced
5:30 a.m. PST
Samuel Goldwyn Theater


[Wednesday, January 30, 2008]

Final ballots mailed.


[Monday, February 4, 2008]

Nominees Luncheon


[Saturday, February 9, 2008]

Scientific and Technical
Awards Dinner


[Tuesday, February 19, 2008]

Final polls close 5 p.m. PST.


[Sunday, February 24, 2008]

79th Annual
Academy Awards Presentation
Kodak Theatre

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« Columnless Week #2… | Main | Ink for a Friend… »

The British Are Coming

venus.jpg


Okay, so the story is kind of floating around and is worth commenting upon. There is a giant British contingent in the awards race this year. At the end of the day, the Oscar telecast might even largely resemble the BAFTA awards ceremony.


Just look at the names in play: Jeremy Brock, Michael Caine, Sacha Baron Cohen, Brian Cox, Judi Dench, Stephen Frears, Richard Griffiths, Toby Jones, Jude Law, Kevin Macdonald, Patrick Marber, Helen Mirren, Peter Morgan, Peter O'Toole, Michael Sheen, Julie Walters, Kate Winslet...it really seems to keep going and going.


I recently took in two films in two nights that are certainly in the thick of this "British Invasion" and a part of the Oscar bruhaha: "The History Boys" and "Venus." Neither struck me enough to flesh out full reviews (especially the former), but they're worth discussing briefly, given their stake in the awards push. So let's get on with it.

I never caught the stage production of "The History Boys," and so my full knowledge of the Tony-winning play comes from my viewing of the film Sunday night. Now, my guess is the film is pretty much the play on celluloid, so I'm confident in commenting on Alan Bennett's work on all levels. So...this story - I must reside in some minority - is potentially more full of excrement than anything I've come across this year. Maybe I just don't "get" what's being done here, but aside from the whole mess being a tiresome bore, I can't believe something so empty, however apt at posing as though it had something of substance to offer, became the film to tie "Death of a Salesman"'s record for most Tony wins. But that's neither here nor there.


As a film, the thing really just sits there, flat and impotent. I don't know what could have been done cinematically to something like this to engage a viewer and exist as an exmplary - or at least acceptable - piece of filmmaking. Nonetheless, it's a filmed play, nothing more. And the use of instrumental intros of tunes from The Smiths, The Clash, The Cure, etc., is more annoying than anything on those segues. Just my personal take.


I really have nothing positive to say about this film...


Anyway, moving on, Roger Michell's "Venus" is another snooze on a number of levels. Peter O'Toole's performance is fine, but what is there to gain from watching an old, withering legend simply playing an old, withering legend? It's an interesting role I suppose, especially when you toss in the random bits of lust and sexual intrigue that lie at the heart of a character hoping to feel something in his waning years, but I just can't say I cared all that much. I guess this the one that will finally secure O'toole a proper Oscar, but it's just a bit dry, and confined by a plodding, sluggish film with no real sense of itself or its aspirations.


I tend to take similar umbrage with most of Michell's work, to be quite honest. His sense of filmmaking is all about ambiguity, with nothing lying underneath, and therefore, no sense of subtext. It seems as though there might be the intention of working on some other level, but it's never there. It's out of touch, and Michell ultimately seems to be making his films for an audience of one.


In any case, sorry for the somber report on two rough film-going experiences this week. But I guess it's only one guy's opinion...

Comments

I saw Flags of our Fathers tonight. Firstly, Eastwood really needed to end the movie about 15 minutes earlier. It reminded me of LOTR:ROTK - whenever I thought it was about to end, that guy who was in the shadows a lot would start narrating something again.

Secondly, the whole cross cutting all over the place was annoying as hell.

Lastly, those scenes back in America were just boring. Personal issues. Men get introduced. Raise flag. Indian gets drunk. Yawn.

Still, I'm VERY interested in Letters From Iwo Jima because all their war tricks were fascinating and I've love to learn more.

You forgot Sacha Baron Cohen. And don't give me the "he's not in the race" crap.

If Michael Caine, Brian Cox, Toby Jones, and Kevin Macdonald are considered "in play," then so is Cohen.

He's not in the race.

But I'll oblige. :)

Thank you... I guarantee you Cohen will be nominated for (and win) many more awards this year than Toby Jones.

And while Cohen's Best Actor Oscar chances may be slim, I bet you a lot of voters will put him in their #1 slots just for the hell of it.

Well...Technically Peter O'Toole is Irish, sweetie. But I guess it wouldn't be right to nitpick...

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2008 Year in Advance Predictions


UPDATED: 2/25/2008





Main Charts | Tech Charts



[Motion Picture]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Revolutionary Road”

“The Soloist”



[Directing]

David Fincher
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Ron Howard
“Frost/Nixon”

Gus Van Sant
“Milk”

Sam Mendes
“Revolutionary Road”

Joe Wright
“The Soloist”



[Actor in a Leading Role]

Benicio Del Toro
“The Argentine”

Jamie Foxx
“The Soloist”

Frank Langella
“Frost/Nixon”

Sean Penn
“Milk”

Brad Pitt
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”



[Actress in a Leading Role]

Vera Farmiga
“Nothing But the Truth”

Angelina Jolie
“Changeling”

Julianne Moore
“Blindness”

Meryl Streep
“Doubt”

Kate Winslet
“Revolutionary Road”



[Actor in a Supporting Role]

Josh Brolin
“Milk”

Russell Crowe
“Body of Lies”

Robert Downey, Jr.
“The Soloist”

Heath Ledger
“The Dark Knight”

Michael Sheen
“Frost/Nixon”



[Actress in a Supporting Role]

Amy Adams
“Doubt”

Kathy Bates
“Revolutionary Road”

Cate Blanchett
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Catherine Keener
“The Soloist”

Carice van Houten
“Body of Lies”



[Writing, Adapted Screenplay]

“Body of Lies”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Writing, Original Screenplay]

“Changeling”

“Hamlet 2”

“Milk”

“The Soloist”

“WALL·E”



[Art Direction]

“Australia”

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Red Cliff”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Cinematography]

“Australia”

“The Dark Knight”

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Costume Design]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Doubt”

“The Other Boleyn Girl”

“Red Cliff”

“Revolutionary Road”



[Film Editing]

“Body of Lies”

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Defiance”

“Frost/Nixon”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”



[Makeup]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“The Dark Knight”

“Red Cliff”



[Music, Original Score]

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“The Soloist”

“Revolutionary Road”

“WALL·E”



[Music, Original Song]

coming soon



[Sound Editing]

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Iron Man”

“Speed Racer”

“WALL·E”



[Sound Mixing]

“Defiance”

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom
of the Crystal Skull”

“Cloverfield”

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian”

“WALL·E”



[Visual Effects]

“The Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian”

“The Incredible Hulk”

“Iron Man”



[Animated Feature Film]

“9”

“Kung Fu Panda”

“WALL·E”



[Foreign Language Film]

coming soon



[Documentary, Features]

coming soon



[Documentary, Short Subjects]

coming soon



[Short Film, Animated]

coming soon



[Short Film, Live Action]

coming soon