Ever since the latest announcement that the Academy Awards are extending the Best Picture Oscar nominee list from 5 to 10, I’ve been scratching my head at what films could possibly fill these now watered down slots. Just like diving into an Oscar pool, it’s always hard to differentiate between SHOULD be nominated and WILL be nominated.
I mean, THE HANGOVER was one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time and it’s $183 million B.O. thus far proves it had an audience. (Side note: I have yet to see and refuse to see TRANSFORMERS 2 and its $200 million B.O. thus far proves that Megan Fox’s breasts and metal are akin to holding a bright shiny object in front of people’s eyes and twirling it.) But will THE HANGOVER, a raunchy comedy ever garner a lucrative spot in the Oscar nominee list? No. We all know the abhorrence the Academy has for popular films, especially comedies, so don’t let the extra 5 get your hopes up. To save us all the demoralizing realization that the Oscars are nothing more than a 4 hour fashion show and reason to overeat in front of the TV, I’ve created my snotty nominee list in advance. You’re welcome Academy.
BEST PICTURE FORECAST: (in order of release)
- Star Trek – Because hit comedies and popular comic book flicks like WATCHMEN and WOLVERINE will be ignored as usual, and in some cases for good reason, the Academy will throw geeks a bone… or Bones… ha ha get it? Moving on.
- Up – Although I haven’t seen this yet, based on the amount of crybabies droning on about how touching and inspirational this animated feature is, I’m positive the Academy will pee it’s pants to be so bold as to toss “Cartoons” into the mix this year.
- Hurt Locker - Dying to see this and as it seems it doesn’t go pro or anti war, but just “war is hell”, it’s perfectly safe to join the fray. Oh and the fact that they’ll want ONE female director in the list and Hardwicke is unlikely to get it for TWILIGHT, Bigelow wins.
- Public Enemies - Johnny Depp + Tommy Guns + Michael Mann = shoe in.
- Shutter Island – I think it’s a rule to automatically add anything with DiCaprio and Scorsese on the call sheet.
- Inglorious Bastards – Maybe wishful thinking, but c’mon Brad Pitt’s in it and Tarantino hasn’t won an Oscar since Pulp Fiction, so it’s probably time to get his hopes up again.
- Where the Wild Things Are or Harry Potter and the whateverwhositwhatsit- The Academy would be smart to include a “kids” movie in the mix, I mean, who do they think is going to watch this show in the next 10 years? Most of us gave up after CRASH.
- The Road - hit book, Aragorn, post apocalyptic, sad, father/son journey… need I say more?
- Precious – This tragic JUNO is winning all sorts of indie awards and jerking tears left, right and center.
- #10 TBD - leaving this open for discussion. Suggestions, but really can’t be sure they’ll make the list: MOON, WATCHMEN, MONSTERS VS. ALIENS, THE HANGOVER, BROTHERS BLOOM, LOVELY BONES.
So c’mon – what do you think? Totally off? Right on? So wrong? Who do I think I am? What am I forgetting? No matter what is nominated, just remember, we will have to deal with the watered down bragging rights “NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE” tag line on every trailer, DVD cover, and poster for years to come.
Posted under analysis
This post was written by Jules on June 29, 2009
