There are still close to 37 weeks till the Academy Awards, but that hasn’t stopped the good folks at Movie City News from putting together a ranking of the 20 leading contenders for Best Picture — plus an additional 18 challengers. Admittedly, I’m in full popcorn mode right now (I saw the surprisingly funny remake of The Omen this weekend — riddle me this: What pre-K kid has red satin sheets on his bed?), and yet the prospect of a full fall slate of Important Films fills me with giddy anticipation.
On that note, here’s a tough exercise for all of you: Let’s say you were restricted to seeing only three of the 38 movies on MCN’s roster, and you had to decide right now which ones they’d be, which would you choose? I’d go with Dreamgirls (yeah, I’m predictable, but for the love of J.Hud, I am telling you that I’m going), The Black Dahlia (terrific book, and it looks like it’s snagged the right cast and director), and Babel (check out a clip here).
Okay, I’m not going to lie: That hurt my brain a little. But c’mon, folks, it’s important to keep those brain cells in working order between viewings of RV and Little Man, so have at it!
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I said when I first heard that Annette Benning was cast as the mother in Running With Scissors is…she is finally going to get her Oscar. And I still stand by that statement. Mark my words!
Only three, huh? Well, hopefully The Da Vinci Code won’t count against me since I have already wasted those two hours of my life…uhmm, let’s see.
#1 Slezak, though predictable, you are right about “Dreamgirls”, though you have the wrong Jennifer when you mention why this film is so drool worthy. Granted Jennifer Holliday is not actually in this version, but if it means a new generation of divas will be introduced to one of the greatest of them all through replays of her “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”, then bring on the movie musical.
#2 The Good Shepherd looks quite titilating even with a sans-Brad Angelina. Matt Damon starring, Robert De Niro directing, and a story revolving around the ever intriguing CIA, how can you not want to see this movie? With all the local espionage going on in this country, everyone could use a good thriller. And, besides, since Anjelina will be playing Matt Damon’s wife it will be interesting to see if her relationship with Brad makes it out of post-production alive.
#3 I love Sofia Coppola. Love, love, love her. The preview for this movie looks awesome and though Kirsten Dunst has not been my favorite since, well, forever, the prospect of seeing her meet her end at the hands of a guillotine makes me perfectly giddy. And to think I might learn a little (stylized Hollywood envisioned) history is a little bit of a turn on too. Oh, and PS Jason Schwartzman and Molly Shannon (will she be serious? will she be hilarious?); enough said
My three: The History Boys, Babel and Volver. But I’ve already seen Marie Antoinette and Southland Tales, so it’s kind of cheating
And, dear God, Southland Tales should NOT be on that list. But it will probably sweep the Razzies.
Oh….and though it should be obvious, the Sofia Coppola/Kirsten Dunst vehicle I was describing is, of course, “Marie Antoinette”.
Crystal… slightly sad news: we never seen Kirsten Dunst get the chop in Marie Antoinette. The film ends before she and her family meet a bloody end. It’s sad, really, because I would have LOVED to see the final chapter of her life dramatized.
But Dunst has some really moving dramatic moments, and Schwartzman gives his character a loveable oddball angle that really works.
Who cares? The wrong movie will win again, like this years Oscars
#1 The Good Shepherd
#2 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
#3 Babel
I’m going for the Pitt-Jolie trifecta. Becuase i’m a glutton for punishment.
I definitely hope Annette Benning gets her Oscar this time for her role in Running With Scissors. I think this is the one movie I really cant wait to see this year. What a book!
I am looking forward to Dreamgirls and Running with Scissors.
I just took a look at the link to Movie City News and have officially taken offense that they dismiss Dreamgirls as a Best Picture contender because it is a black film.
Running With Scissors
Maria Antoinette
For Your Consideration
Generic? Maybe. That’s just how I roll
You’re gonna tell me that after the reception that “Southland Tales” got at Cannes that this list has any credibility?
Wayyyyyyy to early to tell. and I always find that the Oscar nominees come out of no where… Shakespeare in love wasn’t even a bleep on the map till it robbed Saving Private Ryan of it’s oscar for best picture. (then again I did like in love better.)
I’m calling Dreamgirls as nomination for Eddie Murphy in the best supporting actor category. Why? well, the academy hardly recognizes his years as a comic genius, but I know this musical and his character has a huge oscar clip scene coming his way… I think the academy could see it as a way to reward all those years of great work, as well as calling it the comeback story of the year.
The History Boys just cleaned up at the Tonys, but this may be another Proof… great on stage, but not a great film. On film it would lose a lot of its theatricality and could come off as a little edgier version of Dead Poets Society. I loved this play on Stage but cannot imagine it making a great film, it would lose a lot of its stage immediacy.
I would like to throw in the film – The Namesake — it looks beautiful, the trailer is amazingly touching, and it could be the surprise sleeper hit of the award season.
So “United 93″ has no chance? Wasn’t someone in your magazine (S. King?) positively raving about that film this past week?
With only three to choose from, I’ll go with Scorcese’s “The Departed” (though I’ve seen the original, so I know what happens), De Palma’s “Black Dahlia” and David Fincher’s “Zodiac”, with “Stranger Than Fiction” as my saftey if De Palma gets terrible reviews. But the movie I’m looking forward to seeing the most this fall isn’t on the list at all: Hugh Jackman and new mom Rachel Weisz in Darren Aronofsky’s sci-fi epic “The Fountain”. I know, sci-fi and fantasy don’t usually mean Oscar gold, but anything’s possible since “Return of the King” cleaned up.
I’m with Big E; I know the Academy perhaps wouldn’t honor it because of the taboo surrounding it (and it’s good, too, which means it’s definitely not getting anything) but I’m pretty sure it deserves it.
If I had to see three movies from the list, they’d probably be Youth Without Youth, Babel, and Stranger Than Fiction. Nothing really appeals that much to me, though; as opposed to last year, there’s nothing that’s really all that interesting or controversial. It all just seems like Oscar-bait to me.
I’ll probably end up seeing “Dreamgirls” three times, so there you go…
What happened to United 93?
Little children will get Winslet her long due Oscar. Its deglam and it has Jennifer Connelly in it too. Its being directed by Todd Field, the man who wrote and directed the surprise nominee in the bedroom
Dreamgirls! To celebrate here is a link to the new beyonce single which I was looking for a reason to share
It’s at this website:
http://www.beautynthebeat.blogspot.com/
So, because i’ve already seen Marie-Antoinette (it’s been out for 2 weeks in France already), i’ll rule it out. And i can already tell you, it’s good, but certainly not oscar worthy. Watch out for the Converses though, it’s priceless.
So i’ll go with :
* The Good Shepherd : Jolie’s back, that’s almost enough for me. Plus De niro, Damon, CIA… I just can’t wait.
* The Illusionist : What can i say? Norton has been my favorite actor the day i saw Primal Fear, back when i was 12. I even sat thru Death to Smoochy… Plus it has the always good & merlot-less Giamatti, and i’m convinced Jessica Biel can act!
* The Black Dhalia, for the same reasons as my blogmate Slezak.
Now, living in an american-idol free world, I really wonder what’s all the fuss about Dreamgirls… I mean, guys, ANOTHER musical biopic ? Can it stop already ?
Oh my God yes! save one of those five spots for UNITED 93. It was a gut wrenching, I dry heaved twice, and ultimately moving experience. I go with United 93, over the hyped sentimentality of Stone’s WTC.
The Departed
The Black Dahlia
For Your Consideration
The Departed
The Good Shepherd
Flags of our Fathers
The Good German, All the Kings Men, Babel, Youth without Youth, Good Year, and Bobby will all contend (for my attention and Oscars) as well.
Is it just me, or is this list kinda blah. Therefore if I had to go with just 3, it would be BABEL (of his previous efforts, this is supposedly Inarritu’s best to date), VOLVER (Almodovar is a god!), and … Marie Antoinette? I like Kirsten Dunst, so sue me!
I’m not necessarily a Sofia Coppola fan (never saw VIRGIN SUICIDES and hated LOST IN TRANSLATION), but the premise and execution of this film sound interesting. Plus, it has to be said that Dunst is growing as an actress, and Jason Schwartzmann rocks. He was robbed in SHOPGIRL.
If it’s even possible, this year seems even more indie than the last.
Nicole Kidman is so getting nominated for Fur.