NBR Abnormalities: The Misfit List
Thomas: What are you doing here?
Carter Chambers: Fighting for my life.
~ The Bucket List
For all its earliest bellwether mystique, The National Board of Review manages every year to bewilder us by naming at least one film that fails to advance much further than square one. Here’s a look at some of the titles honored as one of the NBR’s Top 10 that unfortunately found little to no traction with the Academy.
2008 – Defiance
2007 – The Bucket List
2006 – The History Boys
2005 – Match Point
2004 – Kinsey
2003 – The Station Agent
2002 – Thirteen Conversations About One Thing
2001 – The Pledge
2000 – Croupier*
1999 – Cradle Will Rock
1998 – Lolita
1997 – The Rainmaker
1996 – Everyone Says I Love You
1995 – (tie) Carrington, Persuasion, Smoke
There’s another exchange from The Bucket List that could easily represent a metaphysical argument between the NBR and the Oscars.
Thomas (NBR): I’m proud of you.
Edward (Oscars): Nobody cares what you think.
Toasted one day; toast the next. Care to wager which movie named to the 10 best of 2009 will see its Oscar dreams begin and end with the NBR this morning?
DBibby says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:29am
If It’s Complicated, The Blind Side, Crazy Heart or The Messenger end up on here, I think that will be the start and the end for them (acting aside).
Mind you, I’m not predicting any so this is a bit of a cop out prediction.
(The Real) Dan says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:30am
The Blind Side……please!?
Mark G. says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:32am
I beg to disagree about Match Point. The film was nominated for an Original Screenplay Oscar as well as four Golden Globes including Best Picture and Director. Memoirs of a Geisha was way more of a misfit. That film was just a big ole’ hot mess!!!
As for this year’s misfit; I’m going to say Brothers is the film to make the top 10 which won’t get any awards traction at all, except for a possible score nomination.
Ryan Adams says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:33am
Before I get jumped on, let me say upfront that I’m not making a value judgment about these NBR anomalies. I’m fond of a few of them.
Match Point earned a very respectable Best Screenplay nom and was one of my personal favorites of 2005. The Rainmaker is a fine film too.
Croupier is a sharp sophisticated thriller I’d recommend Netflixing. There’s an asterisk by its title because wiki says it was disqualified for Oscar consideration after it aired on Dutch TV. Seems to me there was a similar issue with Lolita.
Ryan Adams says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:37am
We were typing simultaneously Mark G. but you’re quicker on the draw.
Match Point was a tough call that pained me to include here. But please notice I was careful to phrase in the original post: “little to no Oscar traction.”
For some years I singled out the film least recognized by the Oscars and other awards groups. In no way does that mean all these are on the same head-scratching level as The Bucket List.
(In defense of Memoirs of a Geisha, it got 6 Oscar nominations and won 3 — Best Cinematography, Best Costumes, Best Art Direction)
greg says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:43am
I’m personally predicting The Blind Side to take this spot however, I wouldn’t be surprised to see It’s Complicated, The Hangover, or The Fantastic Mr. Fox….cuz why not.
arjay says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:57am
Julie and Julia.
philivan says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:11am
The Informant!
Kholby says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:24am
Can I just put it out there that The Station Agent is one of my favourite films and it breaks my heart that it’s on this list?
Yes, I can. And I just did.
Also Kinsey, Match Point and the Pledge are damn fine films worthy of any positively minded list.
Based on this list possibly Bright Star might take the spot this year. Which BREAKS MY HEART since it’s one of my absolute favourites this season.
stereoman says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:27am
This year’s list will be interesting if only to see if they try and match Oscar TEN-for-ten!
If you miss out, you REALLY do miss out!
In regards to the question…oooh, The Messenger. I don’t think the bulk of AMPAS will embrace it.
Kholby says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:34am
Addendum: American films… oops…
A Serious Man. Especially because it was brilliant.
Ross says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:52am
Well, I was too little at the time to care about Oscars, but thinking about it now, I think that a list that includes Carrington and Smoke is far more interesting than a list that includes Braveheart. I think the NBR voted for Carrington mostly because of its Cannes Film Festival best actor win and of course, it had both Emma Thompson and Christopher Hampton on board, was about two famous intellectuals.
Anyway, with ten slots this year at the Oscars, I think we’ll have more of the same films represented than usually. I don’t know why people think that with 10 slots we’ll have more films like The Dark Knight on the list. I actually think that we’ll have more films like The Reader. The Academy enjoys what it enjoys.
Ross says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:57am
@ Kholby,
I love The Station Agent as well.
Anyway, I think people are underestimating Bright Star. Come on, it has a very good shot at a best picture nod.
It’s about a doomed love affair and voters are suckers for films like that (Atonement, The Reader got into the final five without much precursors’ support other than the Globes/BAFTAs). It has Jane Campion’s name attached to the project. It may have lost some momentum, but it’s critically acclaimed and it could get nominations all over the board – art direction, costume design, original score, cinematography, best actress, best original screenplay and even (even though I don’t think it’s going to happen) best directing – Campion). And best picture simply makes sense.
Bob Burns says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 6:27am
The Station Agent would have been a lovely Oscar nominee.
In that spirit…. 500 Days of Summer.
sijmen says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:09am
Oh my God, awaward season hasn’t started yet, and the words ‘misfit’ and ‘out of touch’ are all ready here! There should be a punishment for using those words.
There are only two possibilities in the world: or we are all clones from one another, all thinking the same (and then all award groups would honor the same films), or there are different opninions out there (and then some award groups will honor films you don’t like, or won’t be nominated at the Oscars).
Which of those two options would you prefer?
Please Don’t use those words EVER AGAIN!!! (it makes me angry every year)
Fivus Viener says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:14am
Where the Wild Things Are
Murtada says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:16am
i think we have a winner The Blind Side. or at least concensus. Could be The Messenger or A Serious Man.
Patrick says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:24am
I have been confused over the years why some independent films make the top 10, and a separate 10 make a second list. So in a way, my own shock last year was seeing “Mr. Foe” make their top 10 indie list. A great little film with a wonderful lead performance by Jamie Bell.
Free says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:31am
Just FYI, both “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” “Star Trek” and “Up” received Grammy nominations yesterday for their music scores.
I’m not sure how important those are, but “Up” will end up being nominated for an Oscar, and while I’m not so sure about “Potter,” I personally loved the music, and glad to see it recognized for it.
Loyal says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:34am
Though it’s one of my top films of year, fitting the theme of this article
District 9
Clayton says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:34am
I think “Brothers” gets a nod from NBR, then dissipates without much of a trace.
Noah R. says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:36am
Yeah I’m gonna say Brothers.
A. J. Roscoe says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 8:37am
First Sherlock Holmes review
http://www.awardscircuit.com/Reviews09/sherlockholmes.html
Grilled Cheese says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 8:43am
Amelia, of course
Derek says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:53am
Brothers
richard crawford says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:59am
the hurt locker may win…
I’d like An Education
this group is always nutty.
Jon says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:29am
Most of the films are fine films (The Station Agent, Croupier, Match Point, The Pledge).
But films such as The Rainmaker, Bucket List, and Defiance are obvious head scratchers. Almost makes me wonder if they actually saw the movies or voted for them based on the movie poster and plot synopsis.
mileshigh says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:51am
“Everyone Says I Love You” is one of my all time favorites. Good to see it had some traction back in the day. I also really liked The Pledge, The Station Agent, Match Point, and, yes, Defiance.
I think “Kite Runner” needs to be on this list.
Peter F. says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:17am
I could see Crazy Heart filling that spot.
unlikelyhood says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:44am
Coraline
or maybe
The Hangover
Bill W. says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 12:17pm
Avatar
tmoves says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 12:56pm
The Hangover
Chris138 says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:26pm
I actually liked The Bucket List, but it wasn’t anywhere near the best movies of 2007.
Defiance sure as hell wasn’t anywhere close to being one of the best movies of 2008, either.
nick says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 3:35pm
this year the one on that list will be “Where the Wild Things Are”. A wonderfully shot, but terrible movie that had a lot of buzz.
Kad says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 4:12pm
Seems to be pretty stupid to single out something as wells received (and Oscar Nominated!) as Match Point. Considering that Match Point earned 4 top noms at Golden Globes I really do think you’ve singled out the wrong film. Between that and Definace there were far FAR more bizzare choices on the NBR’s part (maybe not that particular year but still hardly the most bizzare choice and a certainly worthy one).
Alan of Montreal says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:20pm
hey Ryan, why the asterisk beside Croupier?
Ryan Adams says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 7:24pm
I felt like it was unfair to list it with other NBR that didn’t do well with the Oscars, because the reason Croupier wasn’t nominated is because it got disqualified. It aired on Dutch TV in the wrong time frame, and that made it ineligible.
Plus, I liked Croupier and want to make excuses for it — luckily there’s a good one.
I feel like this is also a way for the NBR to differentiate itself and pick up stray movies that fall through the cracks because of Oscar rules. It’s the NBR’s way of saying, “See what a mess you get into with your arcane regulations? We’re not bound by the same silliness.” This is what they’re saying by nominating Let the Right One In this year too.
Brian says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:13pm
My Beg to Differ List
Match Point
The Pledge
Beyond that, I start to waver on my opinion. There are some good movies here but Match Point and The Pledge were clear stand-outs. It should be noted that I’m a Woody Allen fan and I think Scarlett Johanssen is one hot poa.
PD says:
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:05pm
Thirteen Conversations is a great little movie. One of Alan Arkin’s top performances, and might also be the best thing Matthew McConaughey’s done (at least before Tropic Thunder). Hard to compare it to Bucket List/Defiance types, even if they all missed out on Oscar.