Lots of conflicting soundbites have been bandied about this week regarding “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” but here’s the first one I’ve seen with a credibly named source. In an article on indieWIRE, the site’s editor, Eugene Hernandez, discusses the awards race with colleague Peter Knegt, and offers this carefully-worded take on the still-embargoed film:
While I feel that “Benjamin Button” is, on first viewing, hardly a lock for best picture, the attention that will justifiably be paid to its considerable technological achievements could sweep it into the higher profile categories. (“Forrest Gump” was popular with the Academy and there are some parallel’s here). But, as I was telling a friend today, for a much more striking and beautiful marriage of technology and ideas, I’d encourage folks to watch “WALL-E” again.
Knegt, meanwhile, suggests that “Button” might follow a similar course to “Dreamgirls” two years ago, raking in the technical nods, but missing out in top categories.
Other topics of conversation include “Milk,” which they posit as a clear frontrunner for Best Picture, and a “lock” for acting and screenplay nods. (They also side with Kris in selecting Josh Brolin as the film’s strongest supporting contender.) Meanwhile, they pretty much write off “Doubt” as a Best Picture contender, and go on to suggest some underdogs on the rise. Like me, they think “Gomorrah” could be one to watch:
Recent word that IFC is putting “Gomorrah” in the race for categories beyond Foreign Language Film is definitely something to consider. The Academy has a history of surprising us with foreign films in big categories. If “City of God” can take nods for director, screenplay, editing and cinematography, I can’t see why this couldn’t too. Especially if some of the Hollywood big guns crash and burn … (Roberto) Saviano’s story is going to draw attention to the film itself, which I can’t imagine voters won’t be impressed by.
Other dark horses mooted include “Hunger” for Best Actor and Best Director, while they think “The Wrestler” could surprise beyond the slam-dunk nomination for Mickey Rourke. It’s a really interesting discussion — read the rest here.
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9 responses to “indieWIRE surveys the race, questions ‘Button’”
“Button” should never be questioned… it’s going to be HUGE, guaranteed.
Doubt was so much more successful than Milk. Milk has one great lead performance, a bunch of solid supporting performances (Brolin, Hirsch — Franco isn’t in it enough) and that’s it. I don’t feel like I know anything about the man that someone who was living in San Francisco around that time wouldn’t know. I don’t think Van Sant and Black did a great job of showing us the man behind the issues. It’s an issue-driven, rather than character-driven film. It was very good, don’t get me wrong, but it failed to meet my admittedly high expectations. I teared up 3 times and it earns those moments but I didn’t experience the emotional wallop I thought I would. Doubt, on the other hand, is a first-rate drama and for my money, Hoffman was even more impressive than Penn. It provokes really interesting debate. I thought it was excellent. Milk disappointed me a little.
Well this is making sense no one has really seen the film yet(except these guys it seems) and there are other films waiting to take its place. Like “The Wrestler” i don’t think anything sounds clear except for maybe “Slumdog Millionaire” and maybe “Milk”
I´ve loved Fincher work so long however since the first time I saw TCOBB trailer it doesn´t excited me. The visual achievment is astonishing but it´s no enough I think Pitt and Blanchett are lack of chemistry.
My bets on best picture…
Australia
The Dark Knight
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
My bets on my top five
Hunger
Gomorrah
Milk
Reprise
Slumdog Millionaire
Yeah, I’m hoping I AM emotionally walloped by ‘CCoBB’ because based on the trailers, the people in it, the subject matter, if it DOESN’T wallop me … all I see are technicals, as well.
Sneider: Totally disagree on Doubt. And Milk played a lot better the second time.
hmm….i feel like many critics are really trying to hype up Milk–no matter how much it didn’t live up to their high expectations– and disregard many other films. I think Milk’s edginess and current relevance really intrigues the Academy. I’m very anxiously awaiting to see Milk when it’s released in a couple of weeks, but I have to agree…the first early reviews were fine, but none of them truly seemed like flat-out raves, which is something that Slumdog Millionaire is highly achieving.
I say this because The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Australia have received a lot of bad press recently (other than Oprah)…and speaking of Oprah, why is it crucial that she scream out “OSCAR!!” at the top of her lungs…the woman was freaking ecstatic about the movie–I feel like many people are this whole thing out of proportion…I’m sorry, but there seems to be some genuine desire by many film critics to want to see TCCOBB and Australia fail miserably…and I feel like it’s because they do not want to see a “typical” “genre” film—-no matter how powerful and/or terrific it is!
I’m sorry, but why is 2 critics a reliable assumption that TCCOBB is going to fail? This is the current problem with the Oscar race—films are hyped incredibly too much, which rubs many critics the wrong way, and as a result they drastically look for any way to tear it down…
…just my thought…
“I’m sorry, but why is 2 critics a reliable assumption that TCCOBB is going to fail?”
You’re putting words in my mouth, Aaron. I never said it was a “reliable assumption” — I simply thought it was an interesting perspective that was worth quoting.
And from what I can gather, “Milk” isn’t exactly “edgy,” unless simply being about a gay man qualifies as edginess these days.
This is a very interesting start but how can you leave A.R. Rahman’s amazing original score for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE off the list. It is almost a character in the film.