This…
No matter what happens in the short term, you can bet this will be a hot topic of discussion when the entire board of governors holds its annual postmortem on the show and the process. The academy does not take attempts to interfere with its voting process or to contact its members lightly, no matter how big a mea culpa the offender is offering.
…is, I’m sorry, the biggest chunk of bullshit I’ve ever read in an Oscar season, and you get a lot of it this time of year.
I suppose publicists “polling” members by telephone and insinuating this or that in favor of their films isn’t taken “lightly?”
I suppose holding swanky, expensive events for films throughout the season and inviting members to show up and be glad-handed by talent isn’t taken “lightly?”
Give me a f***ing break already.
Comments
63 responses to “There is no plot to thicken”
this is the first year that i’ve followed the oscar “season” from beginning (sundance) to its painful end (now) and it’ll probably be the last. at least the presidential elections has its important outcome, electing the leader of the free world, to balance the petty circus it’s become, so what is oscars excuse for such nonsense?
unless a career can be totally dismantled from having lost an oscar, i can’t imagine why people willingly put their souls on the line to be the talk of a town for about a week (then the conversation turns to next year’s nominees). and you bloggers who cover the event without a hint of irony or awareness of how crazy it is…hilarious.
Harvey and Co never broke he rules. You might not agree with it, but its not nearly as bad, not even close.
“You bloggers who cover the event without a hint of irony or awareness of how crazy it is…”
What the fuck do you think this post is, “snowballa?”
the*
Al: The rules are in place because of what “Harvey and co” did, so spare me the history lesson.
And was it you who said something silly in the other thread along the lines of “they’d have Harvey’s head on a stick” or something like that? Yes, of course they would. He knows better. This is a green fianancier who doesn’t know the game.
It’s a non-story and its perpetuation is sad and probably more pathetic than the initial attempt to solicit votes.
THL – the little film that couldn’t…now shouldn’t.
I find it sad that The Hurt Locker supporters are the ones so riled up about this story coming out. If it had been a producer of Avatar then it would have been reported and condemned with relish. I think some people have way too much invested in a Hurt Locker win and want to brush anything negative away with scant regard for what is acceptable and playing by the rules.
I can’t believe all the hand-wringing that’s happening over this BS letter. I’ll grant the ‘serious ethical violation HERRE!’ camp that it is in contravention of the Academy’s rules and as such, merits whatever penalty they usually give to such infractions. Fair. But to suggest that the film itself deserves to be punished because of it? To seriously make the case that people ought to rank THL in tenth not because they think it is tenth best but because one of its producers has been email spamming them stuff like “THL is underdog, yes? You agree? Help film because underdog, other film big!”
My point isn’t saying Harvey is innocent, its suggesting that there is a double standard at here. Hes condemned for this kind of move all the time, and yet, because its the sweet little Hurt Locker, lets give it a pass.
I enjoyed Hurt Locker, its in my top 5 of 2009. Id be happy if it won just as I would if Baserds, A Serious Man, or UITA claims victory. But I’m just looking for fairness in terms of judging campaigners. If its wrong for someone, its wrong for everyone.
Riled up? When tid-bits like the above keep coming down the pike, how do you not respond? I was happy to leave it relegated to the round-up until the LA Times kept hitting the story.
I have nothing invested in a Hurt Locker win. Look at my top 10 list. I’d pick Avatar over The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air over those two and A Serious Man over all comers (which I guess sort of means my ballot would be cast for UITA, given preferential — haha).
No need to try and twist things.
Al: It’s not “because it’s the sweet little Hurt Locker,” it’s because the guy didn’t know any better. It’s wrong, but are you this blind to publicists pushing the agenda as far as it will go?
Speaking of which, I can’t WAIT to see how many first-time commenters (coughpublicistscough) show up in this thread.
Fight the good fight, Kris. I agree, this is complete BS.
Obviously publicists are using this to push their agenda, im not condoning that. As I suggested, Im not trying to manipulate this into an anti-Hurt Locker campaign. Im just trying to suggest that tactics are acceptable for some and not for others. I don’t care if he didn’t know the rules, it was still quite obnoxious.
Look, you’re obviously not reading what I’m writing, Al. We agree that it’s pathetic and not acceptable behavior. I’ve made that clear.
My point is that the media (certain media, anyway) are jumping on it like red meat, that rival publicists are seeing it as a way to twist the race, that there are those who think the film itself should be penalized (as qwiggles notes above) — all of that is complete and utter NONSENSE.
That’s the point here, not the “right” versus “wrong,” which is clear cut and inarguable in any case.
Perhaps certain media are pushing it because they broke it.
Happens all the time in news – whoever breaks it, pushes it. Whoever missed it, disses it.
Dunno if it applies here but just saying.
I note the odds of Hurt Locker remain unchanged since this development. Bookies are usually on the money at the Oscars.
I heard of all of this early in the week. It’s been in the ether. So no, it doesn’t apply here. I just chose not to take the lead bait from a rival publicist…
I don’t know if it will affect the film’s chances or not. Most ballots go in early but people may have taken their time this year.
We’ll know in a week.
Roger that.
Dunno if we will know in a week. Don’t think we’ll never know, sadly.
Off topic, but do you think Renner is the best chance of a spoiler?
I do.
I think I already addressed and condemned those using this as an opportunity to weaken the Hurt Lockers chances. Obviously its nonsense and I wasn’t trying to seem like I supported that.
This is just really stupid. Not only did he not know any better, being a first time nominee, it isn’t that bad or bad enough to ruin THL best picture chance. What’s the difference between this and a For Your Consideration ad, special screenings, and, like Kris said, publicists polls. I understand it was a producer and they shouldn’t campaign (that’s up to the studio) but come on, don’t kill the film.
The problem I personally have with the email is that it specifically attacks another film. It’s not just saying vote for The Hurt Locker, it’s saying vote against the $500 million film aka Avatar.
@kristopher: your call that rant humorous or aware of the ridiculousness of oscar season or words from someone genuinely fed up with a contest attempting to compare different artists? i say latter.
Maybe you’re right.
I find this kinda annoying because if the hurt locker loses, they may use this as one of the reasons when in fact another film is better — Inglorious Basterds, which should sweep. I find your headline funny that the plot line does not thicken — because the hurt locker is just one plot and Basterds has multiple plots — I like the hurt locker and if the choice was between that and avatar, i’m for the hurt locker all the way but with that Basterds would win.
Having said that — what is the difference with an email — vs, ads in Variety? Does anyone believe that this email will work if people didn’t like the film? It’s crazy they would even try something like this since they have been winning everything left and right. Is the real issue that they dissed Avatar? He’s not even accurate its a 600 million dollar film.
I think most people will have forgotten this email “event” happened two weeks from now. Just sayin’…
I agree with A.J. The producer has chosen in his email to bring Avatar into the discussion. I still believe The Hurt Locker will win but the producer has only himself to blame for creating this whole mess and trying to place the blame on the person who reported it, as some blogs are doing, is not the answer.
I wish the Oscars were over already so we can start talking about movies again.
Matthew — that is so offensive to me, why are you even on this site? the oscars are the most exciting event for me as a moviegoer, so no, I do not wish for it to be over already and no I don’t want the show to be one hour long.
I love the Oscars, it’s my favorite day of the year. Even if the movie I want to win doesn’t win.
Jamie, the best part about what you said was not wanting to to be an hour long. Im glad to see someone else concerned over Shankman’s and Mechanic’s desire to rush through the show.
I think it’s pretty obvious why this email brouhaha got so inflated–the Oscar race, or at least the majority of the categories, has been so tighty sealed up, that any blip in the radar has been magnified just to shake things up a bit.
People are getting bored and exanimate from the race an want to light fire under a few complacent asses.
I do think it’s a big deal, but only because people are making it a big deal.
And like I said, I don’t really give a shit, because at least it’s making things interesting.
You are all going to get stomach ulcers and/or aneurysms at this rate, people. Just ride this amusing wave with me.
The email is embarrassing because it is sent by the producer of the sure-fire winner. When a losing movie smears the obviously winning one, that`s bad but kinda understandable. But this is just WTF. Hurt Locker has been sweeping awards left and right and stands an excellent chance to win more Oscars than originally projected. It`s a lock for winning Picture, Director and Editing and now is almost a lock to win Script, Sound(s),Art Direction and Cinematography. So what did the producer of such a robust frontrunner thought he would gain by smearing the movie is likely to lose minor awards it was tipped to win before Locker`s unstoppable sweep? Is his email really aimed at securing best Picture win or attempt to suck in technical awards that Locker stands a great chance of winning but are still not locked? Greedy,much?
I don’t understand why something so unimportant is taken so seriously. I feel like Greg Kinnear watching the child beauty pageant in Little Miss Sunshine.
Entertainment Weekly just did their little thing where they interview four random, anonymous Academy members and see what their picks are. Interesting – 3 to 1 pick “Avatar” and Meryl Streep. Don’t even tell me Sandra Bullock has this locked up. Ha.
Can there still be ties with the preferential ballot?
I disagree. Chartier’s email aimed to TELL people how to vote. He wasn’t “polling” members or inviting them to a party.
It’s not THAT interesting, Speaking. Entertainment Weekly could have easily picked four random Academy members who 3-1 pick District 9 and Carey Mulligan, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s a completely unscientific poll.
Leone: I think you’re a bit naive. Trust me when I say Chartier unfortunately was caught because there was an actual paper trail. There are phones in this town, and votes are consistently solicited directly.
Nikki Finke is pissed!
http://www.deadline.com/2010/02/academy-may-discipline-hurt-locker/
this is her closing paragraph:
“Tonight, I’ll show how this is but the tip of the iceberg. I have a complete wrap-up on why this was the worst Oscar campaign season for media manipulation I can remember. And I’ll be naming names.”
Imagine the shit brewing if Cameron or Harvey Weinstein had done this.
Jamie was that really that “offensive” to you? Me saying I wish the Oscars were over? Give me a break.
I don’t like the Oscars. They are always late as hell and and boring. By the time they air we all know the winners of the major categories.
Why do I come to this site? I love movies and I respect the writing and opinions of Kris, Guy and Chad. I want to know what they think of what is going on out there in the film world.
I can’t fathom how the Oscars are the most exciting time of the year for some people. The most exciting time for me as a film lover this year is when I sit down and the lights go out for Inception or True Grit, not watching the damn Oscars. Am I crazy or something?
Not at all, Matt. In fact, that may be one of the most sane things a movie lover can say.
I think the difference is between movie lovers and movie makers — for many of us the oscars is the dream — so watching the oscars is an exciting time for many people for this reason. I also do find it offensive especially to say it on a website called incontention. You want to know what is going on in the film world go to variety, but this website is dedicated to the world of oscar so it is puzzling that you say you can’t wait for it to be over — this website will never be over about talking about oscar because they do it yearround. I am personally just sick of those people who say the oscars are too long or whatever — it is a once a year event that is truly exciting. I have loved the oscars since I was a kid, i love movies and I enjoy the celebration and the suspense. I would think this would be the one place that there would be people who are not that cynical nor anti-oscar. Am I crazy?
Matt — you hate the oscars? wow, that’s even more offensive — you know just do us all a favor and get off this site. I love the Oscars and can’t wait until March 7th, you are just bringing us all down.
I think the newsweek/time article about the accuracy of the hurt locker is more hurtful to this movie than this ridiculous emailgate. What is upsetting is that some might say if the hurt locker doesn’t win that this had something to do with it, which is ridiculous — would you change your vote if you received this email?
get em Kris. this dude isnt playing.
Yeah, Matt, how DARE you disagree with Adam and not come to this site for the same reasons he does! How offensive.
(NOTE: Different Adam from the previous Adam)
@Robert: It’s not some grave offense that he doesn’t like the Oscar coverage, but coming to a site that explicitly is about awards coverage and complaining there’s too much awards coverage is like going to an all vegan restaurant and then getting pissed when you can’t order steak.
“Imagine the shit brewing if Cameron or Harvey Weinstein had done this.’
had done what? They didn`t write and send the email. The email is the problem not the person who retaliated by disclosing the email to the media. When you send the email to many people including those you don`t know, chances are that someone won`t like what they read and will do something about it. If you got your hands on the email that tries to hurt you, you would do something about it.
Nicholas Chartier started the bad blood trail and his email getting leaked to the public is karma. he had a bad intention and now it backfired on him because the competing camp seized the opportunity that HE served them on the plate. Chartier = pwned.
Some of these responses really crack me up.
Sam: Don’t tell me to go to Variety. First of all I do read Variety it is a good site for news. However I clearly stated in my last post that I respect the opinions and writings of Kris, Guy and Chad and that is why I come here, to read their opinions on films and film news.
Also where does it say this web site is dedicated to the world of Oscar? It could be In Contention for SAG, Golden Globes, Broadcast Critics, NYFC.
Also you think this would be the one place where people would be not that cynical? There is no place on the internet where people are not cynical. Even Kris is often cynical in his Oscar related entries.
And are you crazy? Well if you are more excited for the Oscars this year than you are for Inception and True Grit then yes you are crazy.
I have already seen Kathryn Bigelow, Jeff Bridges, Sandra Bullock, Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique accept an award about ten times each this year. What is going to make it that much more exciting next week?
Adam: Your response is just funny. I never said I hate the Oscars. I said I don’t like them, big difference. I will still watch them. And yes there is such a thing as too much coverage.
So actually it is more like going to a vegan restaurant and getting too much lettuce and not enough tomato.