How do you get Robert De Niro his third Oscar? Well, if you're the Weinstein Co. you see the Supporting Actor category is up for grabs and four minutes and 20 seconds into your nearly 30 minute featurette for the film you feature the "raging bull" as he sheds tears in an interview with Katie Couric after she asks about playing a role that meant so much to director David O. Russell. I'm not saying the tears are calculated, but the video certainly is.
This year's Oscar race has been intriguing to say the least and the Weinsteins are fully aware several categories may still be up for grabs, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor and they better not rest on their laurels when it comes to Best Actress. Several pundits have started to turn their attention away from Silver Linings Playbook star Jennifer Lawrence and into the direction of Amour's Emmanuelle Riva.
Oscar balloting closes on February 19, which means this latest featurette arrives just in time for any undecided Academy members needing that extra push. You can check out all of my current Oscar predictions right here and stay tuned as they will be updating over the weekend as the American Cinema Editors, Cinema Audio Society, Writers Guild and Motion Picture Society of Sound Editors will all be handing out awards this weekend.
The 2013 Oscar take place next Sunday, February 24 and you better believe we will be live-blogging the entire night and hope you'll join us.
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Yeah, obviously that's calculated! ...but they definitely know how to do that kind of promotion. Even I could imagine voting for the film after watching the video. I never thought that it is the 'best film of the year' and I still don't, but they really caught it's lovely charm through the featurette...I'm certainly looking forward to next Sunday!
now afteer seeing the whole thing, de niro will get the oscar i think. If acadmey members see it as well.
I too think this video boosts Deniro's and Russell's odds to win.Although David may still be in third behind Ang Lee. Should be interesting...
Frankly, I think Deniro's chances may even be better than Lawrence's now that Riva has momentum.
I could see the Academy rewarding Riva under the banner of "this may be the last chance for her". The actress category seems incredibly fluid.
Aside from the Oscar implications, this is truly a great featurette. It captures the essence of the film very well and is very entertaining.
interested in your opinion of the specific implications this video has on the races
I don't know that it particularly has any.
really? I guess I thought with the timing of the release, that harvey believe it will make a diff...
I'm sure the Weinsteins think it may help the movie gain some additional last-second traction, and maybe it will in key races like Supporting Actor, Director, and Picture, but I don't know that this changes the game at all. If Silver Linings picks up several awards come Oscar night, I wouldn't pinpoint this featurette as the defining factor. Maybe there are some voters yet to cast their ballot whom are still on the fence in several races, and something like this could help sway their decision. I'm not sure. It's hard to say given that, if I were a voter, I'd have already cast my ballot on day one with Silver Linings winning most of the awards it is nominated for.
I do, however, think this featurette serves as an excellent highlight reel for the film, and as I said, it really captures the essence of all the love that went into Silver Linings. Maybe it helps in up-in-the-air races, and maybe it doesn't. Either way, all I want to do now is watch the film again.
thanks for your thoughts Jordan! The video is indeed a wonderful and thorough reflection of the film.
Im new at this "awardtology" business!! And I find it incredibly fascinating! In reference to your comment about already voting...what percentage of voters do you think wait until after the bafta or even the last days to cast their ballots?
Interesting question, but I've no idea. I'm sure many voters wait until the final couple of weeks to vote, as seems to be the case with most every voting body no matter what is being voted on.
Mr.Harvey at business.
Boy, Harvey is really milking this one for all it's worth...
Are we allowed to say "Oh Good God! Harvey" or will he put out a hit man on us?