In Contention

Tag: Waiting for Superman

  • John Legend and The Roots perform ‘Shine’

    In lieu of a proper “listen to” item on John Legend’s “Shine” from “Waiting for Superman” (since I’ve already featured the tune twice), I thought I’d post up this video of the singer performing the song with The Roots in studio.

    At the end of the day, I think this track has a real shot at being our Best Original Song winner.  Though some point out that Melissa Etheridge won here in 2006 for “I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth” (another doc hit with AMPAS), that was before the current voting practice of viewing contenders in the context of their films.  So it’s possible Legend misses the nod altogether.  But I think it’s also worth pointing out that, like “I Need to Wake Up,” “Shine” doesn’t just play over a traditional credit role, but instead an animated “fact roll,” if you will, with various bits of information making an extension of the narrative.

    And after the nod?  Tough to stand up to that charisma and such a chance to do well by the issue by shining (pardon the pun) a spotlight on a film that may not win in the doc feature field (given the stiff competition), especially when you’re working with frothy tracks from animated features and musical numbers in films that don’t appear to be major Oscar threats in general.

    Check out the video after the jump.

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  • Obama meets with the ‘Waiting for Superman’ kids

    In one of the round-ups this week I mentioned the White House visit that has been a nice bit of publicity for the “Waiting for Superman” cause (also discussed at length in today’s Oscar Talk podcast).  Below is a brief video of the meeting, which has been making the rounds.

  • 10/12 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: Obama with the ‘Superman’ kids, handicapping the docs, ‘Debt’ delayed

    • President Obama met with children featured in the film “Waiting for Superman” yesterday. [Associated Press]

    • Handicapping this year’s documentary feature Oscar race. [Vulture]

    • Dave Karger explains his Gurus choices, calls “Love & Other Drugs” (one of his predicted Best Picture nominees) one of the sexiest films he’s seen in years. [Oscar Watch]

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  • 10/8 OSCARWEB ROUND-UP: ‘Superman’ does well, Paramount grabs Reitman’s next, Lane on ‘Secretariat’

    • Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting for Superman” has performed better than several other high profile releases. [The Envelope]

    • David Poland sits down with “Let Me In” director Matt Reeves. [Movie City News]

    • Paramount to distribute Jason Reitman’s “Young Adult,” written by Diablo Cody. [Hollywood Reporter]

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  • John Legend performs ‘Shine’

    A few months back we featured a video of John Legend performing Best Original Song contender “Shine” from “Waiting for Superman.” Today, though, via Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog, I stumbled across this more, well, “produced” video of the singer crooning the tune.

    It’s a gorgeous piece of music (and a highpoint of a post-screening LAFF shindig back in June).  I imagine it’ll be in the thick of the hunt this season, possibly even the eventual winner.  I don’t think any of the Disney contenders have the gravitas to win and after that it’s, what, stuff from “Burlesque” and “Country Strong?”

    Speaking of which, I updated the Best Original Song category in our Contenders section with all of the possibilities I could round up.  Let me know if I forgot anything.  (I’m sure I did.)  Check out Legend’s WSJ performance of “Shine” after the jump.

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  • ‘Waiting for Superman’ does Oprah

    I offered up my thoughts on Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting for Superman” back when the film played the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.  My position is that the film, however emotional, doesn’t necessarily tell us anything we don’t already know and plays loose and fast with facts in order to slightly sensationalize the issue.

    All of that said, if it’s not quite there as a piece of art, it is extremely successful and commendable as a piece of activism.  And who in their right mind would argue with its message?

    The film opens in limited release tomorrow and got a big boost from Oprah Winfrey earlier this week when she brought Guggenheim, D.C. school district chancellor Michelle Rhee (who features prominently in the film) and recent tag-along Bill Gates onto the show to spread the message to an obviously gigantic audience in her farewell season.  (Interestingly enough, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg will announce his intentions to donate $100 million to New Jersey public schools on tomorrow’s show — talk about image spin/control.)

    Check out a clip from the episode after the jump (Oprah at her giveaway best) and do try to see the film when it comes your way.

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  • 9/17 Oscarweb Round-up

    • The Chateau Marmont, setting of Sofia Coppola’s “Somewhere,” is ready for its close-up across the pond. [The Independent]

    • Jay Fernandez reports from the Washington premiere of “Waiting for Superman,” which received a “monumental stamp” when Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called it a “Rosa Parks moment.” [Hollywood Reporter]

    • Trent Reznor releases five tracks from his and Atticus Ross’s wonderful score for “The Social Network.” [Nullco]

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  • 9/7 Oscarweb Round-up

    • The Gurus o’ Gold step up to the plate of a fresh season, each of us picking 15 unranked bets for Best Picture likelihood pre-Toronto. [Movie City News]

    • Jeffrey Wells begs to differ on the notion that Gemma Arterton has a shot at awards success in “Tamara Drewe,” which he calls “the most loathsome film of Stephen Frears’ long and distinguished career.” [Hollywood Elsewhere]

    • “Waiting for Superman” turns up the publicity heat and fuels the public education debate with a big ole’ spread. [New York Magazine]

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  • 8/30 Oscarweb Round-up

    • Rooster Cogburn must be a leftie this time out, because his patch covers his right eye!  See! [American Thinker]

    • Naturally, Thomas Friedman goes to bat for “Waiting for Superman.” [New York Times]

    • Lane Brown points out a strong season of lead actress contenders on the horizon. [Vulture]

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  • Calling all original song contenders

    As we get closer and closer to the film awards season, I thought maybe it was a good time to round up all the potential original song contenders.  It’s generally a good idea to keep track of these things, so let’s see what we have so far.

    One of the best bets is probably Randy Newman’s “We Belong Together” from “Toy Story 3.” As usual for Newman, it’s not the kind of song that dives too far beneath the surface, but it’s a delightful jingle that helped sum up one of the year’s biggest critical and popular hits, so it should be considered formidable.

    Speaking of animated films,“How to Train Your Dragon” has an original song, “Sticks & Stones,” from Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi Birgisson.  It’s a fast-paced bit of happiness that probably doesn’t have what it takes to push through to a nomination, but it’s in the field nevertheless.

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  • More halfway-mark blues

    A few weeks ago, I commented upon the scarcity of viable awards contenders released in the last six months, coming to the unsurprising conclusion that there hasn’t been much to, well, comment upon. In the past few days, however, Variety’s Tim Gray and EW’s Dave Karger have revisited the subject … and haven’t come up with very much either.

    A common emerging sentiment is that, with such a meagre first-half slate, filling 10 slots on a Best Picture ballot could be a challenge for many voters – and could ultimately result in a decidedly weak nominee field, one with more “Blind Sides” than “District 9s.”

    Sasha Stone has challenged this by suggesting that, in what she (if not everyone else) believes will be “a great year for film,” the Academy may end up looking to arthouse or non-summer genre fare to fill the gaps – though, to take two of her listed alternatives, it has to be said that while most critics would be down with “Winter’s Bone” making the list, “Shutter Island” would be a much more contentious nominee.

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  • Still waiting…

    Liberal Hollywood is all set to shoot its wad over Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting for ‘Superman,’” which held its Los Angeles premiere last night at the LA Film Festival and opens in theaters sometime in the fall.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because if nothing else Guggenheim’s film will start a much-needed conversation.  The decision-makers at Paramount, Participant, Walden, etc., they’re all unlikely heroes for getting the film out there to the widest possible audience.  It’ll be a big kumbaya moment for everyone involved.

    That doesn’t change the fact that the film casts a broad net when it would have been something more as a focused study.  The most effective elements include the revelation of a KIPP schooling program that proves a failed system can be changed, perspectives from four children who clearly want a brighter future and a warranted attack-dog position against the AFT and president Randi Weingarten, as well as the NEA, unions that consistently slow the process of change.

    However, those highlights are a bit overwhelmed by Guggenheim’s addiction to flashy infographics and figures that wash over you rather than landing with impact.  And as someone whose mother was a teacher, I couldn’t help but notice (and with her in attendance, be verbally reminded of) some modest stretching to make the point all the more sensational along the way.

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  • John Legend’s ‘Shine’ from ‘Waiting for Superman’

    Paramount is having a nice to-do for Davis Guggenheim’s “Waiting for ‘Superman’” June 21st during the Los Angeles Film Festival.  To say the least, following great notices at Sundance, it’s a documentary feature hopeful come year’s end.  Legend will be on hand to perform “Shine,” his original song for the film, which apparently plays over the closing credits.  As we all know, that may or may not be a deal breaker for the song’s Oscar chances, but I clicked around and came up with this You Tube clip of Legend performing the track.  Thought I’d share:

  • ‘Waiting for Superman’ trailer

    Note the added quotes.  Something had to give with the trademark.  I’ve heard nothing but stellar things about this since Sundance.  From Davis Guggenheim:

  • ‘Winter’s Bone’ takes Sundance gold

    Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's BoneTalk about a good day for female filmmakers. Hours before Kathryn Bigelow’s history-making triumph at the DGA Awards, Debra Granik took the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance (in the U.S. Dramatic strand) for her critically lauded sophomore feature “Winter’s Bone.” Granik and co-writer Anne Rosselini also took screenwriting honors for the film.

    The film is one I had highlighted last month as a title to watch, so I’m glad to see it living up to expectations. I’m an admirer of Granik’s 2004 debut “Down to the Bone,” which put Vera Farmiga on the map — hopefully, “Winter’s Bone” can similarly boost the fortunes of young Jennifer Lawrence, who so excelled in “The Burning Plain” earlier this year.

    Granik’s film stars Lawrence as a resilient teenager searching for her missing father in the Ozark Mountains. Comparisons have already been made to Courtney Hunt’s “Frozen River,” which took the same award at Sundance two years ago.

    The corresponding Grand Jury Prize winner in the documentary category was Sebastien Junger and Tim Hetherington’s debut effort “Restrepo,” a chronicle of one year in the lives of the Second Platoon in Afghanistan’s deadly Korengal Valley.

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  • 1/22 Oscarweb Round-up

    (from left) Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin• Nikki Finke says Oscarcast producers may be secretly considering a third host. [Deadline Hollywood Daily]

    • Julian Sancton talks to the brilliant (and all but forgotten this season) Anthony Mackie. [Little Gold Men]

    • Davis Guggenheim’s education crisis documentary “Waiting for Superman” is Sundance’s first pick-up. [The Wrap]

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  • Ones to watch at Sundance 2010… maybe

    Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling in Blue ValentineI always get a curious thrill from looking down the list of films selected to compete at the Sundance Film Festival — the 2010 batch of which has just been announced by festival directors John Cooper and Trevor Grath.

    You know there are at least one or two titles there that we’ll all be talking about in precisely one year’s time, just as “Precious,” “An Education” and “The Cove” have blossomed from festival darlings to surefire awards contenders in the space of 11 months. What’s far harder to tell is which of the 58 titles listed here might be “the one.”

    Still, last year I played something of a guessing game with the lineup, singling out one film from each of the competition’s four strands that seemed of particular interest to me: my faith in “An Education” was, obviously, handsomely repaid, while “Big Fan” (a winner at this week’s Gotham Awards), “Afghan Star” (the UK’s foreign Oscar entry) and Doors documentary “When You’re Strange” have done respectably for themselves.

    OK, I missed “Precious” — so as far as that particular game goes, I’m going to quit while I’m behind. Still, what follows is a selection of ten titles that I’m keeping an eye on.

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