Academy Award Noms Announced, Apparently
Hey, the Academy Awardâ„¢ Nominations came out. This exciting fact received no written notice on Box Office Weekly– Until now, that is. (It was noted on the Podcast.)
Gee. Why is that?
Feels like 2005 all over again, if you ask me, especially at the top of the heap. A mound of umpity-ump indies and critical faves that did minimal box office duking it out for the big gold statue. That year, it was Munich, Good Night, and Good luck, Capote, Brokeback Mountain and Crash, with the latter making a surprise win. That is, surprising if you didn’t know most Academy members lived in LA and favored locally-based productions.
This year, it’s Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, and There Will Be Blood in the ring. More umpity-ump indies and critical faves, although Juno seems to be getting some late legs. Unlike when the nominations were announced in 2005, I did not see all of the Best Picture Noms at this point. In fact, the next film I plan to see is Cloverfield. I did see and loved No Country, so I’m biased, and not in a position to pick an early winner. If the “LA-first” criterion from 2005 is still valid, I’d put odds on There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson is So Cal all the way: the film is set here as well).
I would have loved to have seen Ratatouille in the Best Picture noms. Entertaining, successful, thoughtful, and different, that movie. But it’s animated, which will I guess forever get Pixar seated at that little folding card table in the other room.
Snarky comments aside, I’m going to watch the Oscarâ„¢ telecast. That is, I’ll watch IF there’s a telecast this year. In fact, we have an Oscarâ„¢ party every year: $10 per ballot, most wins guessed correctly takes the pot. I’ve never won. You know, if there’s no telecast this year we’ll still have a party– It’ll just end sooner. And I’ll probably still lose.
–Skot C.
January 25th, 2008 at 9:46 am
We have the unimpeachable word of Gil Cates that one way or the other there WILL be an Oscar telecast this year, and he strongly hints that it won’t be a lame press conference/ET segment like the Golden Globes. He’s Phoebe Cates’ dad so you gotta believe him. Oh, and he’s been producing the show for 200 years.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:38 am
I believe him, and not knowing the extent of Mr. Cates’ God-like powers I’ll concede the awards will happen.
But, if for some reason the WGA strike is still going when Oscar day hits, I will cancel our party, come to Hollywood and grab some red velvet rope. O the sights and wonderments to be seen, things too incredible to tell! George Clooney in a screaming match with picketing writers! A striking staffer from “How I Met Your Mother” spitting on Cate Blanchett!
Now I’ve done it: I hope they DON’T settle.