Here Comes the Family (Films)

This is a great time to go to the movies if you've got families.  "The Muppets" was released to great critical acclaim and has re-introduced the characters in a way that means they'll be coming back in a big way after the dust settles with this film.  "Arthur Christmas" was released to great critical acclaim and is poised to become a new holiday classic for many families.  And Martin Scoresese's "Hugo" was released to great critical acclaim and is hailed as one of the best films of the year.  In fact, these three films are three of the best reviewed films of the year.  I know, I was sort of surprised too.  We're lucky to get one great family film a YEAR (much less three in a WEEK)!

So people have wondered that since the reviews are great, where do these films stand with Oscar?  Well, "Arthur Christmas" is officially the front-runner to win Best Animated Feature.  Provided that Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin" doesn't pull a surprise win, I think this is the one to beat.  "The Muppets" will get a Best Song nomination for "Pictures in My Head," but I think the witty screenplay has a chance of being nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay as well.  As for "Hugo"...well folks, this is the big one.  I think "Hugo" will be running in the race for Best Picture.  Word-of-mouth is going to make this film a sensation.  The 3D may wake the Academy up and make them realize this style of film making needs its own award.

Despite being pretty reliable, Scoresese is an underdog because he's directing a family film instead of a gritty drama (the Academy loves underdog stories).  Finally though, this is a movie (as Sasha Stone constantly reminds us) is a movie the Academy could just "like."  The trick to winning in this race is to be a movie that everyone can like (if not outright love), and in this respect "Hugo" has a lot going for it.  Either way, ignoring the Oscar race altogether, this is rare time when family films are plentiful in theaters, and parents need to take advantage of this because who knows when this much quality family entertainment will just fall into our laps again?

The Double Hitter Oscars?

Never before in all the years I've been watching the Oscars have I seen anything like the potential number of double nominees this year. We have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR actors who are battling themselves in Oscar potential!

George Clooney is the one who stands to get the most Oscar nominations next year. He's a strong contender to be nominated for Best Actor in “The Descendants” and Best Supporting Actor in “The Ides of March.” He also is favored to get nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Ides of March,” and that film is looking like a Best Picture candidate (of which he is one of the producers). Left untouched, Clooney could be looking at FOUR Oscar nominations next year!

Another actor who could pull off a double nomination is Brad Pitt, who is getting rave reviews in his starring role for “Moneyball” and his supporting role in “The Tree of Life.” I think he's got a better chance at winning Best Actor, but a renewed interest in “The Tree of Life” could give this film an unexpected come awards time (and Pitt a Best Supporting Actor nomination).

Philip Seymore Hoffman is also on a role as he delivers two stand out performances in “Moneyball” as a skeptical coach, and in “The Ides of March” as a campaigner who values loyalty above all else. Since both these performances could be run in the Best Supporting Actor category, he can only be nominated for one. If it comes down to it, I think his performance in “The Ides of March” is the juicier role (and Jonah Hill is getting more praise for his supporting role in “Moneyball”).

The true wild card in all this is Ryan Gosling though. He delivers two star making performances in “Drive” and “The Ides of March.” While I believe his performance in “Drive” is the better performance, both performances are so loved that he might split the vote and wind up getting nominated for neither film.

 

There's some talk that Jessica Chastain could be nominated for Best Supporting Actress for either “The Tree of Life” or “The Help,” but I'm not completely buying it. Her performance in “The Tree of Life” is poetic, but since its silent the Academy could rule that Terrence Malicks direction is giving the real performance there. As for her performance in “The Help”...its more likely, but Octavia Spencer is running away with the Oscar talk here, so I'm skeptical. Either way, its going to be VERY interesting to see how this all plays out!

Sizing Up Best Picture: District 9

Now we tackle a rarity in the Oscar race: A science fiction film nominated for Best Picture.  Let's see what the chances are...

District 9

Nominations: 

• Best Picture
• Best Visual Effects
• Best Film Editing
• Best Adapted Screenplay

Going For It:  Audiences REALLY love this movie!  Surprise hit of the year.  A winning producing role for Peter Jackson.  Has more then three nominations including a coveted screenplay nomination.

Going Against It:  Science fiction films rarely click with members of the Academy.  Lack of directing or acting nomination.  Movie came out early in the year (Academy favors winter releases).

Chances of Winning:  Another "lucky to be nominated" film.  That said though this did pick up more nominations then I expected it to (despite the accurate predictions on this site), and it does give more hope that maybe the Academy has warmed up to science fiction enough to nominate more of these films in the future.  But as for winning this isn't likely.

The Dark Dialog

I know that there is a lot of talk about a Best Picture nomination for "The Dark Knight," the one thing that puzzles me is why there is no talk about a nomination for the screenplay as well. I mean, is it even possible to have one of the most complex and exciting action films of the summer...without the characters saying anything interesting? I find that hard to believe in a movie with several quotable lines and unpredictable twists. I think the issue is that people don't know where this could get nominated. Is this an original or adapted screenplay? Well, it's based off a series of comic books but the story itself is original. So hard to choose. Personally I think we should just pull a Two-Face and flip a coin. Heads...



...we put it in Original. Tails...



...we put it under Adapted.


And the category is...


...heads. So (for now) I'm going to put this prediction under the Best Original Screenplay category. Of course, depending on how things play out with other screenplays, this could always end up in the adapted category (and let's face it, it's chances of winning are better there).