A few weeks ago, the Hollywood trades were observing (or complaining) that, because of the 2008 presidential election, all the big studio Oscar-bait films had been pushed back into December. I mean, how are mere movies going to compete with that cast? "Obama. Biden. McCain. And Sarah Palin as Jaws."
Last year's Oscar-winner, "No Country for Old Men," played the Toronto Film Festival in early September, the New York Film Festival in early October, and began opening around the country November 9. The critics groups split between "NCFOM" (NY) and "There Will Be Blood" (LA, National Society), which was a 2008 release in much of the country.
This year, it's anybody's guess. "Slumdog Millionaire"? "Milk"? "WALL-E"? Something that hasn't won a critical consensus honor yet? (Right now my hunch is that the National Society of Film Critics will wind up going for either "The Wrestler" or "Wendy and Lucy." Just a hunch.)
UPDATE: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, bestower of the Golden Globules, has announced its nominations... and even with a total of ten best picture slots (in Drama and Comedy/Musical categories) it overlooked "Milk," "The Wrestler" and "The Dark Knight," all of which seem to me like fairly obvious Globuley-Oscary pictures. Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke and Heath Ledger all got acting nods, though. Go fig.
There will be lots to see between now and New Year's Eve -- and I still haven't caught up with "Milk," "Happy-Go-Lucky," "I Loved You So Long," "Ballast," "Rachel Getting Married," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" -- all of which have already opened theatrically. Still to come: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Nixon/Frost," "Revolutionary Road," "The Reader," "The Wrestler," "Doubt," "Seven Pounds"... none of which, however, have made much of an impact with critics groups.
The East Coast and West Coast critics have agreed on a few things here and there: Sean Penn in "Milk," Sally Hawkins in "Happy-Go-Lucky," Penelope Cruz in "Vicki Cristina Barcelona," "Man on Wire" for documentary, but... well, see for yourself:
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Picture: "WALL-E"
Runner-up: "The Dark Knight"
Foreign language film: "Still Life"
Runner-up: "The Class"
Documentary film: "Man on Wire"
Runner-up: "Waltz With Bashir"
Animated film: "Waltz With Bashir"
Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, "The Dark Knight"
Screenplay: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York"
Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Runner-up: Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Supporting actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Supporting actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Elegy"
Runner-up: Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Cinematography: Yu Lik Wai, "Still Life"
New Generation Award: Steve McQueen, "Hunger"
(Full list of LAFCA awards here.)
Picture: "Milk"
Foreign language film: "4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days" (considered a 2007 release by many critics last year, including the National Society)
Non-fiction film: "Man on Wire"
Animated film: "WALL-E"
Director: Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Screenplay: Jenny Lumet, "Rachel Getting Married"
Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"
Actress: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, "Milk"
Supporting Actress: Penelopy Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Best first film: Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"
(Full list of NYCC awards here.)
What happened to THE VISITOR ? Upon it's release critics were claiming it to be a shoo-in for Best Picture. Im still puzzled by MILK's recognition; if the subject weren't so topical it probably would be noted as merely an interesting independent film by Van Sant. I just hope this film isnt used as an attempt by the Academy to pander for not choosing BROKEBACK; which ironically lost to another overly strong handed message film, CRASH.
Sally Hawkins in Happy-Go-Lucky is certainly one of the best performances I've seen this year, but I never see enough movies to make an informed critical judgment. The film itself is powerfully subdued, poignant without being mushy, and honestly a bit devastating. Hawkins really manages to win your heart while seeming to be an alien, a person who could not possibly be so content in such a terrible world. But she is, and that's the joy of the film. I hope you see it and enjoy it!
I've Loved You So Long probably has the best performance of the year, by Kristin Scott Thomas. The film's ending is slightly disappointing (though not a deal breaker), but Thomas really should at least get a nomination.
I have not seen all of the films named by the LAFCA and NYFCC, but I am glad to see some of my favorite names of the past year wind up on their lists. Even when I would have chosen a different actor or film as the winner in a specific category, I find it very hard to disagree with these choices. For example: while The Dark Knight edges out Wall*E in my estimation, it does so only by a nose. I liked Wall*E much more than I’d ever expected to; in the past I’d generally felt more affection for director Brad Bird’s films, but this time round Stanton has really impressed me.
As for the Globes, however… Sigh… I know that lobbying and politics often plays heavily in the choices for both awards ceremonies, but I have always regarded the Globes (rather irrationally, perhaps) as the Oscars “lite.”
The critics are in agreement that this was a good year for serious, thought-provoking pictures (and imagine what would've happened had those that LOOKED promising been RELEASED this year!; i.e. "The Road" by John Hillcoat!)...
I agree that "The Visitor" seems to be losing momentum and gaining short shrift as we sink into "awards season" late this and early next year... However, one thing's certain: "Milk" looks to be great! :)
Hi, Jim! Long time no comment!
I too have plenty of catching up to do, and if I play my cards right this weekend might be a big one. Possible contenders for a Saturday marathon include Che, A Christmas Tale, I've Loved You So Long, Rachel Getting Married, Frost/Nixon (the David Frye tribute film), Milk, Doubt and Gran Torino-- I'm sure I'm forgetting something. (I've stumbled into a screener for The Class, so I'm hoping at least that one I can see very soon, for strong personal reasons as well as the usual general-interest-in-film thing.)
Like you, Danny Boyle has never impressed me, yet Slumdog Milionaire did. However, I doubt it will find its way into my top ten. And given that Santa stopped by early this year with one of them HDTV doohickeys, I think another screening of Wall-E is in my very near future, necessary since I only saw it at a drive-in and, frankly, I wasn't as bowled over as I felt I should have been. The whole Dark Knight thing should be yesterday's news, but I have a feeling it's about to get all stirred up again. (And I did find it odd that Patrick Goldstein in the L.A. Times seems so convinced of the morose superhero's Oscar chances while at the same time dismissing Wall-E with the old "An animated film has never won a Best Picture Oscar" argument. Who cares?)
I'm most happy about Sally Hawkins and the recognition for Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days and Man On Wire, though this year is so rich with documentaries that I almost think that might be the hardest category of film in which to pick just one "best." (Will anyone remember Alex Gibney's Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson?) And what about Brendan Gleeson in In Bruges? Or Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia? (Just checking to see if you were awake!)
I am really looking forward to your year-end list(s?) and everyone else's, as well as trying to piece together a creditable one of my own, way behind the pack as usual, of course. May there be a huge surprise in store for all of us on a movie screen near us between now and December 31, preferably where we least expect it! And if I don't manage to say so before another two weeks pass, merry Christmas and happy holidays!
Anyone else confused by the fact that WALL*E won best picture but not best animated film?
I'm glad to see the recognition, but doesn't best picture kind of necessitate best animated film?
I think it's odd that the Academy even has a "Best Animated Film" category, seeing as how a majority of Pixar's work alone (not to mention the brilliant films TRIPLETS OF BELLEVILLE, SPIRITED AWAY, and PERSEPOLIS) were easily as good as any of the best picture winners in most of the previous years since the category's introduction.
Remember the days when the likes of BABE and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST were nominated and acknowledged like the achievements in cinema they were, and not written off by an academy (and casual viewer) as "kids films" and unworthy of a wide adult audience.
Whoever doesn't enjoy animation, regardless of the inclusion of "edgy"/"adult" humor, is a soul I have no use for.
it overlooked "Milk," "The Wrestler" and "The Dark Knight," all of which seem to me like fairly obvious Globuley-Oscary pictures. Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke and Heath Ledger all got acting nods, though. Go fig.
Actually, I think you've hit on something here. It's de rigeur to say every year has just been a terrible year for movies, but I think we're a little spoilt for choice in 2008. That the HFPA spread their nominations so far and wide is a sign of this. I'm just glad IN BRUGES is getting some recognition... there's such an incredible range of emotion in that movie.
I was all prepared to mock the LAFCA list but then they went and picked "Still Life" for best non-English pic, so now I have to give them some props. Even though I saw it two years ago, I guess it played a week in L.A. in 2008 so it's eligible now. It's certainly one of the handful of new releases I've seen the last few years that I believe deserve the label "modern masterpiece."
I'm mildly surprised at the near unanimity for Man on Wire in the critic's polls. I think it's one of the better docs of the year but if this had come out five years ago, there would have been a lot of kvetching about how it's "not really a documentary" because it uses so much recreation. Now it seems that the critical mainstream has finally thrown off the yoke of cinema verite.
However, I think they may be shying away from extending the definition of "documentary" to "My Winnipeg" as seen by Ebert giving it a special jury prize.
For me, there's no need to hedge. My Winnipeg is a doc because that's how it's being labeled (even if Maddin calls it a "docu-fantasia") and it's possibly the best film of the year, not to mention the best doc, so it'd be nice to see it get more love.
And it's truly a shame that nobody can seem to find room to honor Michele Williams for a performance that dwarfs anything else I've seen on these lists or all year long.