UPDATE (8:41pm): Glenn from Stale Popcorn wants it known he was lord of this observation a long time ago. With the animated film “$9.99” thrown in to boot. Got it?
EARLIER: Gregory Ellwood has made a shrewd observation about next year’s Oscar race that could prove to be an interesting source of confusion for some voting bodies. Here’s the crux of his argument:
Now, it’s rare that Hollywood studios don’t work out movie titles before production begins. In fact, that’s one of the unknown benefits of being a member of the MPAA, they make sure everyone plays fair in such matters (or they make you play fair). However, two movies with the same title, but spelled differently, are heading for release later this year: Focus Feature’s CG animated flick “9” and the Weinstein Company’s expected last gasp, “Nine.”
Normally, this wouldn’t matter much except for one thing: “Nine” is a total Oscar bait flick. Meaning? Although it’s filled with big names like Nicole Kidman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench and Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson, the musical’s box office performance is highly dependent on Awards Season love and, just about a year from now, Oscar nominations to drive its second wave of revenue. And yet, when the list of possible Oscar nominees appear on voter’s doorsteps (known as the Reminder List of Eligible Releases), do you know what title will be at the top of the list? “9.” No, not Harvey’s hope for “Chicago Deux,” but the post-apocalyptic animated flick that has online geeks buzzing. See, the nominee list members receive is alphabetical, but numbered titles appear first and there is little doubt that “9” will be a part of that list as well.
Can’t believe I didn’t think of this already. Anyway, check out the rest at HitFix.
Comments
16 responses to “‘9’ vs. ‘Nine’ in…2009”
Some people noticed it a while ago, actually.
Am I the only person that thinks ‘9’ looks like a piece of animated apocalyptic crap?
Neither have me silly with expectation.
The trailer for 9 was absolutely abysmal, but mostly because of that godawful music. I expect the movie to be better than that. If the whole movie is full of that, I probably won’t make it past the first act.
Nine has a 99.9% chance of being a waste of time.
The only saving grace perhaps being a performance from the wizard of the craft that is Daniel Day-Lewis and solid direction from Rob Marshall, but aside from those factors, it’s still an adaptation of a bad musical and a horrible adaptation in and of itself, stuffed with overrated actresses.
If the Weinsteins think they’re going to save the company by sucking Fellini’s teet, they might as well have just remade 8 1/2. Something they would have done in a heartbeat if they thought they could get away with it, I’m sure. Because of the those tasteless Weinsteins, the whole production stinks of remake by proxy anyway.
Sorry smarty pants…I mean, Glenn. We missed it.
Well, I didn’t mean it like that, Kris. You can’t be expected to read every blog out there whether they have readerships of 1 or 1million. I’ve grown accustomed – as I’m sure many other bloggers without ad dollars and mountainous readerships are, and even those that do – to having larger more well-known publications get credit for things that have appeared elsewhere.
Granted, this little bit of info wasn’t exactly time consuming, but I’ve seen plenty of big blogs/sites linked for data and stats and news that I saw earlier on smaller sites and I at least try and bring it to their attention. Usually to no avail.
Thank you anyway.
Harmonica, if the Weinsteins are wanting to save their company there are a few people a bit more capable of that Fellini.
Just funnin’ ya.
Don’t imagine this will present a problem. Also he is the greatest living actor, but Daniel is completely wrong for this role.
Kris, I know it’s unrelated but I can’t believe you removed the beautiful Nicole Kidman from the picture.
I hate numbers in titles for bands, movies, etc…
it always means multiple spellings and not sure exactly how to search for them.
9/Nine sounds like a potential disaster with the 9 and nine being two different products.
I read this article about “nine” movies and there were nine comments and i just destroyed that, but i digress
What if they released it as Nine: The Movie Musical or something like that.
i can see a judi dench nom over the horizon and maybe loren.
you know they could just put -animated and -musical after the titles on the ballot, i don’t see this as a very big deal…
I hope Marion Cotillard (she has the largest role) and Sophia Loren will be nominated for the film… That would be awesome: The onyl two actresses in the history of the Oscars who won the leading prizes for a foreign language performance together in a film and both nominated!. But Cruz has the most compelling role.
Is that true Kidman’s performance is only a cameo?
Won’t 9 be at the very top and Nine with the Ns? Won’t it also have the director and/or the studio next to the name of the film?
Doesn’t Judi have the role that won the Tony? But yeah I can definitely see some Loren action. I wish to hell Bardem had done this.
NEVER underestimate either DDL or Cotillard .