I think I have a few Entertainment Weekly Oscar special issues dating back to, oh, 1995 or so. I used to relish in the odds, the Oscar articles cooked up by the magazine’s staff, and, obviously, Dave Karger’s work throughout. Yeah, I’m a bit jaded on the circuit now, but once upon a time, I was excited to see who’d get the Oscar cover.
Ah, who am I fooling? I still get very curious. For the eventual post-nominations cover, that is. For a couple of years, it seemed that designation was a harbinger. Then “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was featured in 2000 and things didn’t go that film’s way for Oscar.
This year, I thought it would be one of two films on the early race issue, the two films I think are duking it out for Best Picture. And sure enough, one of them got it: “Up in the Air.” We’ll see who gets the post-nod cover.
EW’s Pop Watch blog has more of the early scoop. The issue hits stands Friday and will include Karger’s predictions. Click here for a slightly bigger version.
Comments
9 responses to “‘Up in the Air’ gets EW’s first Oscar cover of the season”
by the to duking it out do you mean up in the air and avatar?
I’m going to replace “Nine” in my predictions with “(500) Days of Summer”. Why? Because “Nine” has been a flop so far and I really doubt that the Academy will nominate a film with rotten reviews and bad box-office for Best Picture, even with 10 spots.
On the other hand, “(500) Days of Summer” feels like the type of independent film that the Academy likes to honor (think “Juno”, “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Slumdog Millionaire”). Since “Amelia” was a flop, I think they will be campaigning hard for it. The National Board of Review had it in their Top 10 and the Golden Globes also took notice. It has also been mentioned in other precursors throughout the season.
I think the PGA and WGA will help it to get there. It’s going to be my out there prediction so far. We’ll see if I’m right. Or not.
I’m also getting worried for “A Serious Man” (even the lesser “Burn After Reading” got a Best Picture nomination at the Golden Globes) but I’ll still predict it hoping that the PGA and WGA will take notice.
I think (500) days of summer has a really great shot… Fox Searchlight campaigns hard and the film was well loved and I believe will be seen as a good film for the current teen and twenties generation.
I’d like to see (500) Days of Summer or District 9 make the top 10. Two of the best movies of the year. Also gimme some Joseph Gordon Levitt and Sharlto Copley in best actor while we’re at it. But maybe that’s asking for too much.
Tim, I couldn’t have said it better myself. If one of those films make it to the Top 10, I will be happy. If both of them manage to do it, well then I’d die happy. Same exact thing goes to the actors you mentioned, but yeah that’s definitely asking too much. At least JGL got a Globe nod.
I think (500) Days, District 9 and Julie & Julie are likely to bump Nine out of the BP race
WOW. That is sexy (not like that).
JP, thank you for recognizing Julie & Julia. In a year of unwatchable chick flicks, a good one with strong chemistry could be considered for that slot.
As for (500) Days of Summer, I think it has better shots than Julie & Julia. It’s just too bad more people didn’t see it in theaters.
I haven’t seen District 9 yet, so I can’t give my word on that.
As for Nine, WHO has seen it and WHY is it a failure?
If the reviews for The Lovely Bones improve when it makes it into wide release, then maybe it can get its spot back.
Also: Though it is a front runner for a BP nod, An Education seems to be slipping a bit. In my opinion, if Carey Mulligan can’t seal the deal with a Golden Globe win, the movie as a whole will falter.