GOLD STANDARD: OSCARS '09

[fivebyfive]

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Entering a last-minute Oscar pool? Here are my predictions (and opinions) on the major awards, along with a rundown of my guesses in every category.

Trust me, because I am an expert! And yes, I will be on the news again.

Comments

[asindreams]

Slumdog is many things, but "offbeat?" A rags-to-riches fairy tale is now considered offbeat. I couldn't disagree with that statement, but I think you may be exactly right as far as Hollywood studios are concerned. This is a brave new world.

For fuck's sake, wouldn't you have thought by now that in the times of everything imploding that not making $100 million action movies may be worth trying for a studio? Losing money isn't enough for studios, though - they have to actively actually MAKE money on it for it to mean anything. How much has Slumdog made? Because if it doesn't make a load of loot I don't see the studios bankrolling more "offbeat" fare. And I certainly hope if they did that it would be slightly more offbeat than Frank Capra movies with brown people.

[fivebyfive]

In many ways Slumdog is the classic Hollywood story - underdog, rags-to-riches, guy-gets-girl - which is why it works so well and is so popular, but I do think it has many offbeat elements. The cinematography, the music, the dance number finale. And there's a certain quirkiness to the whole "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" structure. The film refrains, I think, from making any comment on the artificiality of the show, but we the audience know how cheesy it is anyway and sort of fill in that gap. Something about that media commentary also feels offbeat to me.

Slumdog has made considerable coin - $100 million and counting. It may even outgross Paul Blart: Mall Cop. If there is a God. But not likely.

I think the biggest money-wasting travesty was Australia. They let Baz throw $130 million at the screen almost at random. Who ever thought that would make that kind of money money back? (However, in a surprise twist, it actually did - it's made almost $200 million worldwide.) At least in an action movie, the returns are more

[jj79]

"So this award should go to Kate Winslet, for...Revolutionary Road."

Amen. We saw all five Best Picture flicks yesterday and, after The Reader, the three of us said in near unison "THAT got nominated over RR and TDK?" I agree Winslet will get it, but she was MUCH more interesting to watch in RR.

It may just be me, but this is a completely uninspired group of Best Picture movies. None managed to grab me in any meaningful way. Sure, I admire Langella and cry at the end of Button and want Milk to end differently. But none I can really get behind. Bad choices, IMO.

[fivebyfive]

I disagree - I think it was one of the stronger years for the Best Picture race. I did enjoy The Reader and Milk but neither was strong enough in my eyes as a Best Picture contender - although neither was too far off either. But the other three I thought were terrific choices.

Normally only one or maaaybe two of my favorites were nominated - this year three were, including my favorite and second-favorite film of the year. And the fact that a movie like Slumdog swept means the Academy was voting with an open mind, or else something more traditional like Button or The Reader would have been the favorite. It's pretty common for movies like The Reader to slip into the race because they're more traditional and the older voters often prefer that, but the last few years have gone darker and edgier. Look at Forrest Gump, The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love (The Reader would be right at home in that group) versus the more recent Crash, No Country For Old Men, The Departed. This year went lighter but awarded a movie that's not

[joekest]

Not surprisingly, you did very well in your predictions. It was definitely nice to see Slumdog make out so well.

I didn't see the show itself, since 8:30 is my bedtime. However, my trusty DVR has it recorded and I'll go through it bit by bit during the week. Even knowing who won and what they said, I still have to view it.

[fivebyfive]

It was a good telecast - I think you'll enjoy it.