• David Poland is still in two minds about “Benjamin Button,” but agrees with Kris that “Slumdog” is the one to beat. [The Hot Blog]
• Kim Voynar, meanwhile, surveys the Best Picture contenders, and is as confused as the rest of us. Interesting point about the potential impact of current events on “Slumdog,” though. [Movie City News]
• One Richard on another: with the adaptation of “Revolutionary Road” looming large, Richard Price offers his impressions of Yates. [The Guardian]
• William Friedkin on the shifting makeup of the movie cop. [The Guardian]
• Under the threat of the actors’ strike, Screen International calls for a meeting of minds. [Screen Daily]
• Amid the mixed reactions to “Australia,” Susan King concludes that we still need the epic. [Los Angeles Times]
• Al Pacino pips Dakota Fanning for the top gong in Lou Lumenick’s holiday-appropriate Turkey of the Year awards. [New York Post]
• And, keeping it seasonal, a selection of notable DVD releases, in time for your Christmas wishlist. [New York Times]
Comments
14 responses to “11/28 Oscarweb Round-up”
So now that I’ve seen big big contenders (other than the Dark Knight) like Slumdog Millionaire and Australia (and Milk tomorrow) I finally feel like it’s Oscar season. I really like Slumdog’s chances for Best Picture and Best Director, Benjamin Button’s really gonna have to blow me away. Also, it might just be that I saw it with lowered expectations because of the reviews I read, but I thought Australia was great! Brandon Walters was fantastic, and it has to be a lock for nods in at least Best Score, Art Direction and, Cinematography, with potential for Sound Mixing and Editing.
also:
Just saw a new spot for Benjamin Button using the Arcade Fire song “My Body is a Cage” anybody else seen it yet?
Watching the news last night, I had similar thoughts about Slumdog. I think it adds positively to the experience. I also flipped channels and saw a poor family win a million dollars on Deal Or No Deal. Maybe it’s an omen.
Thanks, JAB. Haven’t seen that yet… but the thought of that song coupled with the “Button” story gives me chills.
Over in the UK, I’m still WAY behind the curve on Oscar films… finally seeing Australia next week, and am happy to hear a good word for it!
“Christian Bale plays a Bush-era Batman not ashamed to use wiretapping, torture and rendition in his battle against a giggling nihilist.” – NY Times DVD wishlist.
Unbelievable.
Sorry but no matter how exuberant the movie may be, I dont see Slumdog winning at all. The Academy will nominate it but they never give the statue to the “little indie that could” which comes along every year. Plus there’s the international, foreign aspect which will distant some AMPAS viewers, not to mention the fact that I highly doubt any of the actors will get nominations. When was the last time a film won best picture without any noms in acting categories?
It’s between Button and Milk IMO. I’d give a better chance to The Dark Knight being nominated and winning than Slumdog.
I’ll give Slumdog prognosticators this…if the film makes over 50 mil, it might be able to do it. Otherwise, no.
“When was the last time a film won best picture without any noms in acting categories?”
THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
Exactly, English. Along with, oh, “Braveheart,” “The Last Emperor,” “Gigi,” “An American in Paris,” etc.
Not an obstacle to winning if they like the film enough, Tony.
Except most of those were much bigger films than Slumdog with nominations in tech categories across the board. The rest were at least more than two decades ago, which makes them irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. Perhaps I phrased my question wrong, when was the last time a small film like Slumdog won without acting noms in the past two decades or so?
You guys constantly state that the actor’s branch is the most influential part of the Academy and yet believe that a film which will probably receive no acting nominations and less than 50 mil at the box office is going to win the prize. Your heart is blinding you…
By the way, how can we be sure that “Slumdog Millionaire” won’t receive any acting nominations? I think a nod for Dev Patel is a distinct possibility.
if not inevitable. that category is so up in the air other than Heath.
“Just saw a new spot for Benjamin Button using the Arcade Fire song “My Body is a Cage†anybody else seen it yet?”
Yeah, I saw it. Amazing song, and it works great with the trailer. Epic organ FTW.