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.
Given the indie film announcements of the week, it seemed a good time to bring indieWIRE‘s Peter Knegt back on to discuss those events and add perspective to the usual topics, of which there are plenty. Let’s dive in and see what’s on the docket today…
• The National Board of Review announced its list of award winners yesterday, “officially” kicking off the 2010 film awards season. We discuss the slate and the curious omissions.
• Earlier this week the IFP Gotham Independent Film Awards were held in New York. Peter was in attendance and offers his perspective on the ceremony.
• Also announced this week were the nominations for the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which its own share of curious snubs and inclusions. We discuss.
• The Coen brothers’ “True Grit” finally came out of hiding this week with screenings on both coasts. Peter hasn’t seen the film yet but Anne and I offer our thoughts on this very traditional western.
• Also dropping this week was the news that Anne Hathaway and James Franco will be hosting the 83rd annual Academy Awards, an unexpected choice to say the least. We give our thoughts.
• Finally, reader questions, including queries about a hypothetical five-film Best Picture slate, an apparent influx in populist cinema finding room in the Oscar race and how we all got our starts in the blogosphere.
Have a listen to the new podcast below, with Johnny Cash solemnly leading the way. If the file cuts off for you at any time, try the back-up download link at the bottom of this post. And as always, remember to subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.
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Back-up download: Oscar Talk Episode 43
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30 responses to “OSCAR TALK: Ep. 43 — NBR, Gothams and Spirits, ‘True Grit’ and Franco and Hathaway as Oscar hosts with special guest Peter Knegt”
Buried’s win for best screenplay – talk about thinking inside the box.
Couldn’t resist.
I think Colbert wouldn’t be a bad host.
I think Colbert wouldn’t be a bad host.
Oh I almost forgot, what’s the song at the end of the podcast?
Re: NBR’s top ten lists, the way I always figured it is that the indie list is reserved for any indies that didn’t make it onto the main (true) top ten list. It’s not one mainstream list and one indie list, but rather one proper top ten, and then another list used to highlight the often lesser seen, lesser heard of indie films.
When you look at it that way, the lists do make a bit more sense, Gray. Even the confusion over the exclusion of “Black Swan” and “The Kids are Alright” goes away. Thank you.
I also think someone in the movie vein should be hosting the Oscars. Not a big fan of comedian/comediennes. For me, Bob Hope & Billy Crystal were always the best.
Ricky Gervais remains the best person to host. I’ve said it for years and well, the HFPA finally scooped him up last year. I’d also love to see Eddie Izzard host but I’m probably alone on that one.
Kevin Spacey for whatever reason seems off-putting.
As for Franco, I find him fascinating but he wouldn’t be my pick for Oscar host. I loved him during the THR actor roundtable, he’s so damn strange!
At a guild screening of Frankie and Alice (Golden Globe nomination?) last night, I told two SAG members that I was looking forward to finally seeing what I’m sure will be my favorite movie of the year next week, but when I said it was True Grit, they shook their heads. They’d seen it the night before and were not thrilled. (They did think that Hailee Steinfeld was great.) In fact, they said if I liked Black Swan and Blue Valentine I would be bored by True Grit. They’re probably wrong, but there you have it.
Not to complain, but… how do you add Peter to the show and still end 5 minutes shorter? Did you run out of things to talk about or something?
Kris,
I love your site, enjoy the podcasts, and admire all that you and your team are doing. So I don’t mean to seem ungrateful when I ask (yet again) why you and Anne continually fail to mention John Hawkes, even during a week when there were multiple opportunities to mention your thoughts on his performance or its chances. Again, not trying to complain, but I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that he was just as good, if not better, than Jennifer Lawrence in that film, and yet he seems to be getting completely ignored in discussions such as these. Hope to hear a response soon.
They should have Mark Zuckerberg host the ceremony.
Or Karl Pilkington.
We’ve addressed Hawkes in the past.
Peter had to run and catch a screening.
Fine, though it must have been a long time ago. I just don’t fully understand why he’s being so overlooked, especially now that the film is proving to be a viable presence.
Also, I’m surprised none of you mentioned Toy Story 3 as being among the Top 5 if the Academy did only 5 Best Pic noms this year. Was that intentional or did you just accidentally overlook it at that moment?
Peter’s jittery energy makes me nervous.
He spent most of his childhood chained to a toilet, so now he’s making up for lost time.
I guess there’s just not much to add. It’s a fine performance and one that will likely be overlooked. Happens every year.
And I don’t think Toy Story 3 would be one of five.
Thanks for responding. I also think that with the number limited to 5 it would be relegated solely to the Animated category. In fact, I’m beginning to wish it would just be nominated there and there and alone come January, because it won’t win Best Pic and will likely take up a spot that could go to some other deserving film that doesn’t have the opportunity of also being recognized in the Animated category.
I agree with Keil. But I don’t think that’ll happen. :(
I think once we see more critics groups giving love for 127 Hours it will solify its nomination.
I’m sorry, but does Anne seriously think that Dianne Weist will win her 3rd Oscar for “Rabbit Hole”? Three wins on three nominations! For Dianne Weist?
Weist was nominated three times, Dylan. She is also a fine actress, who is obviously very respected.
I forgot about her “Parenthood” nomination, sorry. And I don’t disagree that she’s a fine actress, but three wins would put her in a club that I just don’t think the Academy would ever put her in.
Maybe “crowd pleasing” would have been a better word than “populist,” but I think it still led to an interesting discussion.
By the way, is there any Gotham footage online? I would love to see that Portman introduction.
It’s really interesting, that the way the race is looking right now, this will be the first time in 10 years not a single person of color was nominated in the acting race.
Oscar Race…or Oscar Racist?
Discuss.
I`m with Anne when it comes to Kevin Spacey. He`s always given me the creeps. Heard some gossip about him that confirmed my suspicions.`
I believe Best Picture nominations are tabulated the same way as other categories, with preferential voting. It’s only the voting for the winner where it is done differently (preferential voting versus the usual one vote per voter).
So the top 5 vote-getters with 10 nominees would be the same as the top 5 with 5 nominees.
Dylan, I think it’s possible that Weist could get in “the club” by, how it, often happens, a fluke (read, because people might vote for her without any preconcieved notions, especially since she’s not on the radar as the frontrunner).
It’s possible. But if her name comes up in the conversation, I think it will spark in their minds that she’s already won twice, and they’ll vote for someone. just a gut feeling. And I would just like to make it clear that I was never trying to say Weist was a bad actress, because she isn’t. I just don’t think she’s worthy of three oscars, that’s all.
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