Comments on: Oscar Update: What's There to Talk About?

By: @ Robert

@ Robert — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:39:20 +0000

I agree with Robert – Depp was great!

By: Scott S

Scott S — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:36:04 +0000

Hey Brad,
I went to the screening of Precious at the New Yorker festival. AND WE ALL KNOW that Mo'Niques performance is probably the top 3 performances ever on screen. I believe that during the November months she will come out and make her mark. But who can beat her? Julianne Moore? I think she is getting nominated more for her being in a Best Movie picture. And now you are talking about Penelope Cruz. She did a fine job in Vicky Christina Barcelona, but it dosent compare to this performance. I hope that you can support someone who just had a baby mind you, and support someone that really deserves this oscar for best supporting actress because if she dosent, its because of people like you saying bad stuff about her (sorry if i sounded rude, but it is true) hope that you can respond to me :) thank you

By: Vinny

Vinny — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:16:09 +0000

Brad, do you honestly think Up will earn a best picture nomination?

By: Vinny

Vinny — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:13:39 +0000

Robert is right. The Academy has installed the animated category for one reason:TO HONOUR ANIMATED FILMS.and all these idiots are swarming to their computers, adding Up to their predictions for best picture. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.GIVE IT UP, PLEASE

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:08:14 +0000

Up isn't gunna get nominated for best picture, neither is Star Trek, The Hangover, District 9 or Where The Wild Things Are like people are predicting. Beauty And The Beast was only nominated for best picture back in 1992 because there was no animated feature category back then.brush up on your history before you type stupid comments. Up sucked anyway but seeing as it's Pixar, it will automatically win, destroying the hopes for Astro Boy, 9, Battle For Terra, etc.

By: asdf

asdf — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:03:07 +0000

what about "the messenger"?

By: Kevin Klawitter

Kevin Klawitter — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:30:32 +0000

The Oscarcast never bombs. It's consistently the second-highest rated TV broadcast of the year, after the Superbowl. It just happens that in recent years viewership has gone down, but then again, that's been the case with TV in general.

In fact, last year, viewership went considerably UP. So stop spreading the bullshit rumor that the Oscars bomb. It's just plain wrong.

By: Dee

Dee — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:53:15 +0000

I think the Oscar show had better enlist the Jolie Pitts to present of something or the show will bomb again. They bring the glamour and the viewers.

By: Dan Tralder

Dan Tralder — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:48:28 +0000

@Bustray: Without very strong competition? We're only in mid-October – I know Buzz is slow now, but with the way things are going, I can't imagine myself calling this year low competition, especially compared to last year.

What category are you thinking for Inglorious? Picture? I have trouble imagining it getting the tenth spot, and find it impossible to imagine it getting any of the first 8 spots. We'll see, but I sure wouldn't bet on it. Luckily, betting's not the point.

Brad…. writing contenders section… when…?

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:49:28 +0000

where is Public Enemies? Johnny Depp was spectacular

By: Bustray

Bustray — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:13:23 +0000

Does anybody think Inglourious Basterds could get a nod? It was a fantastic, sadistic movie that really made me laugh- without very strong competition this year, I think it might have a chance of squeezing in.

By: Brad Brevet

Brad Brevet — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:41:58 +0000

@Kid: I am really beginning to doubt we will see Tree of Life this year. I have a feeling Apparition is going to stick with Bright Star and perhaps get a nod with The Young Victoria. Just a guess of course.

By: Kid

Kid — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:25:59 +0000

"It is the only film still to be released this year without any kind of marketing whatsoever and based on pedigree alone it is considered a top contender."

What about the Tree of Life, its supposed to be released at christmas and we haven't seen any publicity from it either. Not that I disagree with you Brad, I think both films need to start marketing since they are being released in less the 2 months.

By: Dan Tralder

Dan Tralder — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:17:51 +0000

Brad: when are you going to put up a screenplay category in the contenders section? I'm dyin here!

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:57:18 +0000

Trek does have its flaws, but as far as popcorn movies go, it was definitley the best of the bunch for me of this past year, at least of the live action bunch, though Avatar could change that.

By: Brad Brevet

Brad Brevet — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:14:33 +0000

@Colin: Yeah, still trying to completely figure out my opinion on The Road and WTWA, as for commercial chances at the Oscars I currently think Avatar stands the best chance only because after watching Star Trek a second time it was still a fun movie, but overall it has a lot of flaws. Of course, depending on how these next few months turn out Trek could still be one of the last ten standing.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:20:20 +0000

Didn't see Iwo Jima, but I remember the year it came out friends of mine couldn't stop ranting about how Eastwood deserved the oscar more than scorsese did and that Marty was only getting it cause everyone felt bad for him.
Baby had its moments, but there were problems with it that overshadowed the positive for me. Freemans drolled out narration that almost felt like a rehash of his work on Shawshank, some bad acting from its supporting cast who were likley chosen more on appearance than anything else. Overwhlemingly depressing, and frankly without much hope for any character in the film. I admired that it was taking on controversial subject matter, but I wonder if the film would still have gotten praise for that if it weren't for the debate over the Terry Chiavo (sp) incident when it came out.

Back to the current Oscar race, Brad, what are the chances you think we could see something as commercial as Star Trek or Avatar get a best pic nod? I won't ask your thoughts on Wild Things, or The Road yet since I'm sure you'll post your reviews of them in a few days.

By: Kevin Klawitter

Kevin Klawitter — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:11:33 +0000

@Brad Brevet: Ah. I misunderstood. You see, I get frustrated when people talk about so-called "Oscar-bait" like it's a bad thing. I want to see more about "Invictus", too. It's just that your comments about it and Clitn Eastwood seemed mean-spirited to me, and that made me angry.

By: Brad Brevet

Brad Brevet — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:58:50 +0000

@Kevin Klawitter: I have a hard time understanding why thinking Eastwood's films are Oscar bait insinuates I have a problem. Aren't Oscar bait films typically good anyway and on top of that, don't they typically enjoy limited releases in December to gain popularity on critic year-end top ten lists and enjoy the wave of marketing and word-of-mouth up and until the Oscars? It seems you are getting insulted over trivial things when my only complaint is the lack of marketing and how I would like to see something for the film. @Colin: I actually liked Million Dollar Baby quite a bit. I was not a fan, however, of Flags of Our Fathers or Letters from Iwo Jima.

By: Kevin Klawitter

Kevin Klawitter — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:52:01 +0000

Massive emotional impact, bravery in handling controversial subject matter, and one of the best supporting performances I've ever seen, for one.

But, I know some people don't like Million Dollar Baby. I'm fine with that. I can understand how some people can consider it flawed. I can understand why some people don't like the work of Paul Haggis. I just happen to love it.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:48:47 +0000

What made Million Dollar baby a perfect film? To me that might have been one of the most overrated features to win best picture.

By: Kevin Klawitter

Kevin Klawitter — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:38:38 +0000

@laremy: So, a movie can't be "good" if it has flaws? I thought a movie with no flaws was "perfect" (Million Dollar Baby), a movie with minimal or unnoticeable flaws was "great" (Letters from Iwo Jima), and a movie with some flaws that didn't distract too much from the rest of the movie was "good" (Flags of Our Fathers). But that's just me. You're free to see the world completely in terms of black and white if you wish.

By: laremy

laremy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:34:56 +0000

@Kevin Klawitter: Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima were both flawed films. If you can't tell the difference between a flawed film and a good movie then I'd say the problem is more with you.

By: Kevin Klawitter

Kevin Klawitter — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:27:43 +0000

Clint Eastwood doesn't make Oscar bait. He makes good movies. If you can't tell the difference, it's more a problem with you than it is with him.

By: Colin

Colin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:27:32 +0000

I'm still hoping for The Hurt Locker to get nominated and with ten slots, why don't we throw big commercial movie into that bunch that's worthy of it? Seriously, I wouldn't mind seeing nominations go out Star Trek or maybe Avatar, though the latter has yet to be seen. While were at it, Joey Levitt for 500 days of summer and could we possibly see Peter Saragaard finally get a nod for an Education?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:01:19 +0000

You saw The Road??? I don't know if I could be more jealous.

I'm very curious to know what your opinion of it is?

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:36:45 +0000

Well Gran Torino was released the same weekend as Invictus, and the trailer for GT came out in the end of October. So I don't think the lack of marketing for Invictus is surprising.

The most interesting film of the whole bunch to me is easily The Lovely Bones, loved the book, the story is unconventional and the movie is filled with amazing actors, directed by one of my favourite directors. Damn, I want to see it right now… and it has all the chances to be a frontrunner in the race.