Welcome to Oscar Talk.
In case you’re new to the site and/or the podcast, Oscar Talk is a weekly kudocast, your one-stop awards chat shop between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood. The podcast is weekly, every Friday throughout the season, charting the ups and downs of contenders along the way. Plenty of things change en route to Oscar’s stage and we’re here to address it all as it unfolds.
Can you believe it’s already October? Next month every film will have screened and before long we’ll be reporting National Board of Review winners. Contenders are beginning to hit theaters as we move into the fall, so let’s see what’s on the docket today…
• Disney’s “Secretariat” opens this weekend, met with middling reviews that still indicate a pass on the critics’ part. We talk briefly about whether Oscar potential has changed.
• Peter Weir’s “The Way Back” has officially entered the race with a one-week qualifying run in December. Having seen the film, I offer my perspective on awards possibilities and shower some more praise.
• With “Nowhere Boy” also opening this weekend, we’re reminded of a BAFTA fave that could re-insert itself in the conversation this year. Anne has seen it, I haven’t, so we defer to her thoughts here.
• We also talk about Clint Eastwood’s “Hereafter,” which hits theaters next weekend. Though we both find (entirely different) things to praise, we both agree it’ll be a tough road to Oscar.
• There has been a lot of moving and shaking at indieWIRE lately, with Todd McCarthy heading over to The Hollywood Reporter and Anne taking on the role of editor-at-large. Some quick inside baseball on the matter.
• Finally, we took you up on your suggestion and added a listener questions element to the podcast. We answer as many as we can without going too long, making for, I think, a great first installment. Topics include the awards potential of “Shutter Island,” the Best Picture push for “Toy Story 3” and our opinions on the Best Picture winners of the last decade.
Have a listen to the new podcast below. If the file cuts off for you at any time, remember you can click the download link to save it directly or play from the source. And as always, remember to subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.
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Comments
52 responses to “OSCAR TALK: Ep. 35 — ‘Secretariat’ hopes, ‘The Way Back’ enters the race, ‘Nowhere Boy,’ ‘Hereafter’ and listener questions”
Really love the podcast guys.
Not sure I agree that Gladiator was one of the best films of its year, to be honest, but thanks for answering my very off topic question.
Huh? Odd. Tried playing, opening another window, or downloading to my pc, and cuts off at that one minute part or so. Hmmm…odd. As far I know its just me.
Ok you guys definetley need to do more of these listener questions. Hands down my favorite part of this edition.
For my money though, Traffic was the best movie of 2000. For all the other years, In The Bedroom 2001, The Hours 2002, City of God 2003, Sideways 2004, Brokeback Mountain 2005, The Departed 2006, There Will be Blood 2007, Slumdog Millionaire 2008, A Prophet 2009. Just my thoughts.
Great podcast. Again! Thanks for answering my question though I didn’t like the answer :p
And, indeed, the Q&A turned out to be a great idea.
It’d be amazing if Guy joined you from the next one!
Ok myabe I could swap out The Hors for The Pianist
Hours*
Great podcast! Thank you so much for answering several of my questions. :)
Part of my question was forgotten during your conversation, so maybe you can give me your thoughts about it here, Kris: Why is Leo forgotten if his films end up being remembered? Is it that he ALWAYS does ‘oh so serious’ work that these performances are just ‘same old’ from him?
Wait, Guy may be coming on the podcast next time?!? FANTASTIC! Would love to see that.
I’m a little disappointed that the timing of this podcast didn’t coincide with the Ebert/O’Hehir feud over Secretariat. As an Oscar predictor, it would be interesting to see how the film’s chances would be effected if it became known, rightly or wrongly, as the Tea Party Middle-America movie. As a general moviegoer, on the other hand, I’m quickly losing interest in seeing a movie that is being so readily compared to a film as despicable as The Blind Side, and was described by a film critic I respect as presenting a “prettied-up, phony-baloney vision of America in the early ’70s, in a transparent effort to appeal to the ‘family-values’ crowd…”
While I understand that the critics are very important (as you noted, as well Kris), I think it’s just a little shortsighted for Anne to not consider SI’s chances.
I agree with you that industry insiders (along with a campaign) will appreciate it more – and I believe the actors (especially), directors, writers, & editors will remember it. What was the last major Scorsese film to go unnoticed, anyway?
All that said, because Anne is knowledgable & I agree (to a degree) about the critics, it may just fall aside. We’ll see. And thanks, Kris, for shouting out my question. :-)
I should say, for Anne to consider SI’s chances a little more. I realize she doesn’t think it’s an absolute ‘no’, at this point.
I made this same point last year, and I’m going to repeat it now: the assertion that Leonardo DiCaprio’s chances are hurt by vote splitting doesn’t make sense. If the same actor receives, say, 200 votes for one movie and 300 votes for a second movie — in the same category, lead or supporting — he will be treated as receiving 500 votes for the second performance. I remember reading this explanation of the Academy’s nomitation process from a fairly reliable source. Unless I dreamt the whole episode (always possible), vote splitting doesn’t hurt within a category.
Answering listener questions was brilliant, I’m glad I suggested it. Looking forward to hearing Guy on the next podcast.
As for The Departed, I thought the movie was a bit silly. I realize I’m alone on that.
Nice usage of the Gladiator theme song!
Kris, do you think a supporting actor nom for Andy Serkis in Lord of the Rings would have made any impact on the anti-animation bias among actors?
I believe Toy Story 3 will end up being a loosing battle. Anne makes a great point, an animated film has WON cinematography and art direction but nobody seems to admit it. Its just too bad, this kind of apartheid against animation. The academy simply makes it impossible for the other branches (besides writers, composers & sound guys) to show their support for animation save in the best picture category where there will always be a non-cartoon they can vote for first.
About the BP winners,
Boo!-Gladiator, Beautiful Mind, ROTK, SM
Hmm!-Chicago, Departed
Yeah!-Million Dollar Baby, No Country, Hurt Locker
If had been crowning Best Picture each year, it would have been:
00: George Washington
01: Werckmeister Harmonies
02: 25th Hour
03: Lost in Translation
04: Before Sunset
05: The New World
06: Battle in Heaven
07: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
08: Che
09: Inglourious Basterds
I did not dig MDB, Crash or Chicago.
So between ending this chat with Gladiator music and The Thin Red Line having been recently released. Perhaps the next list can be Zimmer’s ten greatest scores?
Would be interested in seeing your take on that.
I second the call for a Zimmer score column!
And I loved the podcast. I don’t think I’ve ever actually posted a comment about a podcast before, but I’ve never missed a podcast. Love them all.
Secretariat is apparently wildly underperforming on its opening day. The inherent problem with the film is that it’s about an extremely wealthy woman who inherited horse that easily won all three Triple Crown Races without breaking a sweat (seriously, look at the Belmont tape from that year). Where’s the drama? Why should we care?
For me:
2000 – Gladiator.
2001 – Fellowship of the Ring.
2002 – Chicago or The Hours.
2003 – Return of the King.
2004 – Sideways.
2005 – Brokeback/Crash … tied, seriously.
2006 – Babel.
2007 – Assass. of Jesse James …
2008 – The Dark Knight or Slumdog.
2009 – Star Trek.
@ James D: Wow, those are all…interesting choices. Very idiosyncratic.
P.S. — Kudos to you for calling out The Ghost Writer and Shutter Island for what they are on your blog, by the way.
Kris, any thoughts Blue Valentine getting slapped with an NC-17?
I feel more than a little disappointment in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” being simply shrugged off by you guys. I think you make some good points this week, but you’re so sure it’s not going to have a chance at Best Picture? I find that extremely distracting and somewhat unbelievable.
For me:
2000 – Traffic.
2001 – Fellowship of the Ring.
2002 – Chicago.
2003 – Return of the King.
2004 – Million dollar baby.
2005 – Crash(or King kong jaja).
2006 – Babel.
2007 – Atonement(or Juno)
2008 – Wall-e.
2009 – Avatar.
2010- The social network or TS3???
loved how you ended w/ the gladiator music.
I agree with Anne on Shutter Island. It was dumped in February for a reason, that it couldn’t compete with last year’s films. It’s weak on story, DiCaprio is good, but he doesn’t have much to work with. The film is uncharacteristically choppy for a Scorsese film. The cameo cast are great, but most aren’t on the screen long enough to warrant a nomination. It’s done, put a fork in it. They should push DiCaprio for Inception. It has far likelier chance of getting noms.
Now Scorsese’s “Letter to Elia” was great. I don’t know if that would qualify, but it should.
Which Scorsese film?: Unfortunately I think your comment reveals what you don’t understand about this business. The film was not “dumped” in February. And the move had very little to do with the Oscar season. The only overlap concerns money, and Paramount was not ready to mount a fourth major Best picture campaign for a film that, for obvious reasons, wasn’t going to be an easy sell to AMPAS. So it was shifted to the next quarter, where it managed to become the second-highest grossing DiCaprio/Scorsese collaboration to date, and the actor’s fourth-highest grossing film ever (behind Titanic, Catch Me If You Can and The Departed) — until Inception rolled around, of course. So be careful about projecting your own opinion onto the corporate decisions of others.
Duncan: I had hoped we would address the Harry Potter thing, since a number of people asked, but we simply ran out of time. However, I’ll go ahead and address it here.
Before I put aside the hyperbole of your comments aside (“distracting?”), I have to wonder what’s so jaw-droppingly appalling about being reserved on the Best Picture chances of the final installment of a franchise of films that just hasn’t been very good.
However, I understand the logic. It is the final chapter of a beloved series of books making its way to the big screen. But I can confirm that WB will be going for broke next year on Part 2 more so than Part 1, so this conversation may leak into 2011.
The usual comparison is The Lord of the Rings. But I find that to be ludicrous. You’re talking about the second-best-selling book of all time (next to the Bible) being compared to what amounts to little more than young adult fiction, and that’s before we consider the fact that the first two installments of LOTR were nominated, while this Academy has shown no indication that it holds a similar level of respect for the Harry Potter franchise.
I don’t want to appear like we’re taking a dump on a series you clearly like, Duncan. Though I really don’t know what about our discussion would lead you to feel such a swell of “disappointment.” But chin up. Don’t be “distracted.” I can’t imagine there are two people who matter less in your day than me and Anne.
The only non-deserving Best Picture winner of the last decade was “The Hurt Locker.” “Gladiator” and “A Beautiful Mind” shouldn’t have won either, but they’re not bad at all.
I’m sorry if I occasionally sound crass, and I don’t intend to be. I definitely understand where you’re coming from. The film series has had its occasional pit falls, and I’d say that at least half the series so far has failed to truly excite. Still, I wouldn’t say that the films have ever been simply bad. In fact, they have the potential to be something fantastic.
Ignoring the inevitable “Lord of the Rings” comparison, the first 500 pages of the final book, which “Part 1” is mostly based upon, are filled to the brim with heavy emotional consequences. There is intense conflict, not only on the grand scale, but in a more intimate setting. It’s something that I frankly believe that “Part 2” has the potential to lack.
I’m sure that this film will get the technical nominations that it without a doubt deserves. I feel like it’s not too far-fetched an idea to believe that in a year this disappointing, a film like this could garner a nomination at least. I highly doubt it will be as great as “The King’s Speech”, “The Social Network”, or “The Kids Are All Right”. I simply believe there to be a chance.
I apologize if I’ve been harsh on your opinions, as I do respect them. I’ll try to keep things on a lower key from here on out. Thank you for at least taking the time to let me know your opinion.
Gladiator was great!
Count me is as a Crash lover as well.
I think the “Crash hate” is a very American thing (don’t know why). Or maybe it’s just an Oscar lover thing? All my European friends love it, so I don’t know…
I rooted for it and screamed of joy when it won.
My choice for Best Picture:
2000: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2002: The Hours
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004: Million Dollar Baby
2005: Crash
2006: PAN’S LABYRINTH!
2007: Juno
2008: Wall-E
2009: Avatar/Inglourious Basterds/Up/Coraline (can’t decide – probably Avatar just for the once-in-a-lifetime experience that it was)
My opinion on Harry Potter is that the series is far better than it needs to be and that the studio and the people behind the film clearly put a lot of resources and effort into ensuring a quality product. Having said that, I’m a fan and even my yearly top 10 list is always missing a Potter pic, so I understand if its missing from the Academy’s too. However, I strongly believe that the series deserves a bit more praise from the technical categories, where I think that maybe being a non-American production has hurt its chances.
“I think the “Crash hate” is a very American thing”
Well, this Brit-South African hates it too.
On Crash: I remember (months and months after the Oscars were over) my dad calling me and telling me he saw an amazing movie; the best he’d seen in a while, and it was called ‘Crash’.
He had no idea that it had won BP at the Oscars (as he doesn’t really follow that stuff). But yeah, I really enjoyed it, as well. And I, to this day, while still preferring Brokeback, can understand how it could win.
Love the podcast, Kris.
I do agree that Anne thinks critics are a little more integral and key than she thinks. I think it’s key for Winter’s Bone but not a film like Shutter Island.
Also, The Blind Side got in with 66% RT, so The Reader isn’t the only precedent here.
Just listened to the podcast, so since that’s the game we’re playing:
2000: Traffic (though I increasingly find it flip-flopping with Erin Brockovich)
2001: Moulin Rouge!
2002: Gangs of New York
2003: Lost in Translation (though Master and Commander keeps growing on me)
2004: The Aviator
2005: Brokeback Mountain
2006: The Departed
2007: No Country for Old Men
2008: Slumdog Millionaire (though I like it less and less, and it’s one of the lamest BP fields the Academy ever assembled)
2009: The Hurt Locker
So basically, I’ve been thinking like an Academy member for the past four years. How depressing.
“I do agree that Anne thinks critics are a little more integral and key than she thinks.”
I have to stick up for Anne here, not that she needs my support. But Kathryn Bigelow gave credit to the critics for keeping The Hurt Locker afloat and in the race, her words “but I have to say it is the love of the critical community that has meant so much to this movie and I applaud them. That was like wind in sails and that just created a momentum that would not stop. I hope somehow the critical community could know how much we appreciate it.”
They won Best Picture! C’mon, Anne has a point.
Here’s my picks for Best Pictures:
2000: Traffic
2001: Fellowship of the Ring
2002: The Pianist
2003: The Return of the King
2004: The Aviator (or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)
2005: Brokeback Mountain
2006: Pan’s Labyrinth (but I love the Departed
2007: There will be Blood (but, again, I love No Country)
2008: Wall-e
2009: Inglourious Basterds (or Up)
JTag: Last year was interesting but we can’t call it a bellwether moment yet, obviously. The critics kept The Hurt Locker alive, yes, but there was also a vibrant and driven campaign behind the film (brought to you by the people who won Oscars for Crash and No Country).
I don’t disagree about them being integral to the Hurt Locker—that’s exactly the type of film that needs it. It just seems like she’s saying every film is the same in that regard: I repeat, it’s key for Winter’s Bone, but less so for The Town or Shutter Island, etc.
Here’s my picks:
2000: Gladiator
2001: A.I. Artificial Intelligence
2002: Minority Report
2003: Lost in Translation
2004: Before Sunset
2005: Caché
2006: Breaking and Entering (Children of Men is this close.)
2007: Once (Though, Atonement and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly are very close.)
2008: In Bruges
2009: The Hurt Locker
Alright, I’m gonna try my hand at these picks:
2000: Gladiator
2001: The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
2002: The Pianist
2003: The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
2004: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (I’m sorry! It was the best experience I’ve had at the theater that year, both visually and emotionally. Sue me.)
2005: Crash
2006: The Queen
2007: There Will Be Blood
2008: Frost/Nixon
2009: Inglourious Basterds
Here’s my list:
2000: Traffic
2001: Fellowship of the Ring
2002: The Pianist
2003: Return of the King
2004: The Aviator
2005: Munich
2006: Children of Men
2007: There Will Be Blood
2008: Milk/TDK
2009: Up in the Air
Confining myself to the actual nominees…
2000: Gladiator
2001: LOTR:FOTR (but why wasn’t Black Hawk Down nominated?!)
2002: LOTR:TT
2003: Master and Commander
2004: Aviator
2005: abstain (least favorite movie year ever)
2006: Letters from Iwo Jima
2007: Atonement
2008: Slumdog Millionaire
2009: Inglorious Basterds
Here are my picks among the nominees and, in parenthesis, my favorite film of the year if it wasn’t nominated.
2000 – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2001 – The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Mulholland Drive)
2002 – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Adaptation.)
2003 – Mystic River
2004 – Million Dollar Baby (The Incredibles)
2005 – Capote
2006 – The Departed
2007 – There Will Be Blood
2008 – Milk (The Wrestler)
2009 – The Hurt Locker
And by the way, I’m French and I also hated Crash. Loved Brokeback Mountian and Capote, and I really liked Good Night, and Good Luck.
2000: Gladiator
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2002: Minority Report
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2004: Collateral
2005: Pride and Prejudice
2006: The Departed
2007: Atonement
2008: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009: Avatar (or Up, I can’t decide)
Kris – I have a question for the next podcast: What do you and Anne feel are the single best male and female performances to win Oscars over the past 25 years [lead or supporting], or maybe just 10 years if that helps narrow it down a bit.
Thanks.
Question for the next podcast: What are the chances of “Easy A” for a Best Picture nomination, Emma Stone in the actress race, and maybe Patricia Clarkson in Best Supporting Actress since you’ve mentioned that it is a soft category and I assume Clarkson is a loved person in the academy. I just got back from seeing this film at Bengies Drive-In (thank god for our local drive-in) and it’s absolutely one of my favorite of the year. Unlike other films that have came out and been bandied around in the Best Pic discussion, like The Town, Easy A didn’t hit one false note for me (like The Town’s central relationship did).
2000:
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
2001:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings
2002:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003:
Lost in Translations
2004:
The Aviator or Sideways
2005:
Crash
2006:
The Departed
2007:
No Country for Old Men
2008:
Slumdogs Millionaire
2009:
The Avatar
2000:
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
2001:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings
2002:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003:
Lost in Translations
2004:
The Aviator or Sideways
2005:
Crash
2006:
The Departed
2007:
No Country for Old Men
2008:
Slumdogs Millionaire
2009:
The Avatar
Save the questions for Wednesday’s solicitation post. Better to have them all in one place.