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Welcome to Oscar Talk, a weekly kudocast between yours truly and Anne Thompson of Thompson on Hollywood.
Two weeks since our last installment, Sundance is fading away and nominations announcement is a mere four days away. In our last pre-nom discussion, we dig into the following:
• Fresh off of Sundance, we briefly discuss the success of “The Kids Are Alright” and “Cyrus” and potential awards prospects for the films next year.
• The PGA winner was a shocker last weekend as “The Hurt Locker” reigned supreme. We address the implications as the race moves into a David vs. Goliath frame.
• The Oscar nominations announcement is literally around the corner, and in the first year of “the 10,” surely there will be surprises? We talk a few possibilities.
• Has Sandra Bullock really pulled out ahead of Meryl Streep in the lead actress category? Is it actually neck-and-neck? We talk about, arguably, the year’s tightest race.
• With the DGAs on the way tomorrow night, we briefly preview the proceedings.
You can listen to this week’s podcast below, with a little of Michael Giacchino’s Golden Globe-winning score for “Up” leading the way. As always, you can subscribe to Oscar Talk via iTunes here.
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27 responses so far
1 1-29-2010 at 12:22 pm
Craig said...
I have a feeling Invictus isn’t making the ten…
2 1-29-2010 at 12:29 pm
med said...
I enjoy the Oscar talk segments. I am wondering though should not the performances of Bullock and Streep be compared rather than just likeability, box office, looking fabulous, speaches, etc.? If performances are compared, Streep wins hands down and walks away with the Oscar…
3 1-29-2010 at 12:35 pm
Joel said...
Craig: Ain’t no way it’s getting in. I have a feeling that “Invictus” might just be nominating for absolutely nothing.
4 1-29-2010 at 12:36 pm
Joel said...
Or make that, “nominated for.”
5 1-29-2010 at 12:47 pm
Craig said...
I hope you’re right. Invictus was mediocre and Freeman doesn’t deserve a nomination either.
6 1-29-2010 at 12:50 pm
red_wine said...
I would just love it when the orchestra plays that music full blast when Up wins during Oscarcast, what a magnificent score by Giacchino!
I think this Bullock vs Streep thing is gonna come down to the negative vote that Guy talked about sometime back. Like Sidibe fans know that their vote for Sidibe will probably go to waste because its down to Bullock vs Streep so they might vote for Streep if they don’t want Bullock to win.
I’ve now seen Sidibe, Streep & Mulligan and I don’t want Streep to win at all. She’ll face a lot of flak later if she wins for THAT performance. Come on, is that truly Oscar worthy? Mulligan should win this, though I still haven’t seen Bullock. Even not having seen some other performances, based on absolute merit Mulligan will be a good winner. I can’t say the same about Sidibe or Streep.
I love Eastwood and even I must say that film barely even registers. Its not that its a bad movie, its just so forgettable, it adds nothing to Eastwood’s filmography. I really hope it does not get any Oscar nomination. Two fought over slots will be wasted if Freeman & specially Damon(completely agree with you on that one) get nominated.
The worst potential nomination is Screenplay for Avatar. 2nd worst is Supp Actor for Damon.
And DGA does not matter, Bigelow is winning the Oscar.
7 1-29-2010 at 12:55 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
med: Where is this Utopia you describe where people take the proper care with this stuff? I want to be there. Now.
8 1-29-2010 at 1:07 pm
med said...
Kris – Good Point Indeed! I guess I’m just an obsessed Streep fan hoping she gets her due – 3rd Oscar – on March 7, 2010.
The end.
9 1-29-2010 at 1:17 pm
/3rtfu11 said...
“I don’t want Streep to win at all. She’ll face a lot of flak later if she wins for THAT performance. Come on, is that truly Oscar worthy?”
Oscar worthy doesn’t have a standard. Meryl Streep winning for Julie & Julia means the trend of awarding actors for playing real life people continues.
10 1-29-2010 at 1:19 pm
Guy Lodge said...
A win for Bullock would do the same thing.
11 1-29-2010 at 1:26 pm
Andy said...
So would wins for Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan (sort of) and Emily Blunt. The only original character is Sidibe’s.
12 1-29-2010 at 1:31 pm
JJ said...
As far as Best Pic goes, Kris – I would love for you & Anne to discuss, or even just you, your thoughts given this new preferential system; a system that rewards movies that are well liked by the majority, and not necessarily the movie that gets the most votes of #1.
I think the system helps The Hurt Locker who won’t have many people putting it 5th, or 6th, or 9th, etc.
And while plenty of people will put Avatar in 1st (who absolutely love it), it could very well have a swell of haters who put it in 10th or leave it off entirely. I don’t see a loathing for Hurt Locker.
Which films, to you, benefit from the system? I say Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, & Up.
I don’t mean to leave Up in the Air off, it’s up there … I just think buzz is so quiet right now, while buzz for “only” Reitman/screenplay is solid.
13 1-29-2010 at 1:32 pm
JJ said...
On Sandra/Meryl … ‘Julie & Julia’ was also a hit. Meryl has also won BFCA, GG, & critics awards. I agree with you on the ‘SAG gave it to Meryl last year for Doubt’. And I think sentimentalism will go far for her; at least I hope so.
14 1-29-2010 at 1:35 pm
JJ said...
Sorry for multiple posts, last one, I promise. :-)
I also question Mirren for the 5th spot. I could see a sneak-in Blunt or Ronan (they’ve both popped-up in multiple places lately). And finally, poor Cornish. :-(
15 1-29-2010 at 1:37 pm
Loyal said...
Another great podcast (I’m gonna miss these fuckers when Oscar season ends).
I was just talking earlier this week about how the DNA of the DGA might lean towards a Cameron win this weekend. I’m still picking Bigelow BUT if she doesn’t win, I at least saw the possibly coming and the reasoning behind it.
Also, Anne Thompson sounded drunk/exhausted. Sundance does take a lot out of you .
16 1-29-2010 at 1:48 pm
Kristopher Tapley said...
JJ: Hurt Locker and Up in the Air, I’d say.
17 1-29-2010 at 2:44 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
god Im looking forward to nominations
if both women from basterds show up thats definately a sign of strength
if mackie shows up the race is over
if saldana gets in for actress avatar wins
if this all happens, good god who knows
18 1-29-2010 at 2:53 pm
Big Braveheart said...
What about Mesrine for best film? I don’t care about it being a foreign film, i watched parts 1 & 2
combined and this was 2009′s best film full stop!
Vincent Cassel for best actor!!
Tom Hardy also to get shout for Bronson, seriously why not?
19 1-29-2010 at 3:24 pm
/3rtfu11 said...
“A win for Bullock would do the same thing.”
Damn you I didn’t think about that. However, Julia Child is beloved here in the states — Bullock is playing a Republican.
20 1-29-2010 at 3:36 pm
mjb said...
Kinda off topic, but kinda in response to Big Braveheart and his mention of Tom Hardy…I don’t think the entire actor’s branch should be responsible for choosing the nominees in the acting categories…a small sect of actors should be chosen and be responsible for watching all eligible films throughout the entire year, just like your standard film critic. After they choose the nominees, the academy as a whole can pick the winner. Therefore the entire academy is only responsible for watching 20 films as opposed to hundreds of films and performances. Maybe then indie roles from the likes of Sam Rockwell and Tom Hardy and Tilda Swinton will be better represented come nomination day.
21 1-29-2010 at 4:32 pm
N8 said...
Thrilled to hear that “The Road” places in your top ten shots. Best photography of the year in my books.
22 1-29-2010 at 6:13 pm
Ben said...
I agree that Invictus is very vulnerable. I mean it probably makes it in, but it seems like a movie thats #7 on everyones ballot.
23 1-29-2010 at 6:46 pm
Jason Travis said...
If Streep loses this year, she will never win again. Voters will show they have no intention on giving her anything in the future- since this year she was the frontrunner forever and just because Bullock is popular and took a default SAG, she’s suddenly frontrunner? Just goes to show how bandwagons are made.
24 1-29-2010 at 11:13 pm
lucy said...
I agree with you med and Jason!!!!, If the Academy has credibility and enough respect left, STREEP WILL WIN HER THIRD OSCAR THIS YEAR!!!!
25 1-30-2010 at 2:57 pm
Sean said...
I would not be surprised nor shocked to see Waltz not win. His speeches have been…umm….bizarre?
26 1-30-2010 at 3:21 pm
Guy Lodge said...
They’re not bizarre — they’re just a little old-fashioned and over-rehearsed. He’s new to this craziness.
Bottom line: they’re well-meaning, they’re appreciative, and he has nothing to be concerned about.
27 1-31-2010 at 12:43 pm
patricia said...
Streep’s performance was better all-around. She did so much more with that character than was in the script and it’s ridiculous that she should have to keep waiting after nearly thirty years of outstanding performances and nothing more than nominations.
Bullock, on the other hand, has one real performance in a serious role and suddenly is considered Oscar material. This is undoubtedly the best performance of her career, but Streep’s performances are consistently better than everyone else’s best.