All These Wonderful Things’ AJ Schnack makes a pretty good case that it is very likely that the five Oscar docs are already “out there.” ¬†Says Schnack:
In the past five years, only one film – last year’s¬†THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS – wasn’t screened by this point in the year and went on to be nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar.
So, chances are,¬†we’ve already seen this year’s five nominees.
He then tosses out a few titles most likely, The Oath, Enemies of the People, Last Train Home, A Film Unfinished, Gasland (but is it eligible?), Inside Job, The Tillman Story.  But then counters those titles with the more high profile ones that rarely break through, Oceans, Babies, Exit Through the Gift Shop and Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work.
Inside Job, I can say, is the film most likely to enrage to Oscar watchers when it is denied by the committee. ¬†It should easily make the cut and will go down not just as one of the best docs of the year, but one of the best films of the year period. ¬†And one every American should see, even if the Wall Street meltdown is now yesterday’s news.
But Schnack makes a point of highlighting Restrepo, as being one that is doing very well with audiences already, making $15k on each of its screens since opening this weekend. Does box mean anything to the voting members? He notes that both the Joan Rivers doc and Exit Through the Gift Shop are both making good money as well.
It’s looking good for Inside Job and Restrepo for Oscar. ¬†Joan Rivers is a controversial person — and there is no telling how Academy members will react. ¬†Will they put their personal feelings aside and judge the doc for what it is? ¬†Or will they be petty about it. ¬†Hard to say.
Inside Job is an activist doc – it has a clear point of view and is imparting a message. ¬†Restrepo doesn’t do that so much, but it is powerful nonetheless. ¬†I am still not sure if Gasland is eligible for the Oscar — will have to check up on that. ¬†It debuted on HBO so probably it is not eligible.
Finally, another doc we should all be keeping an eye on is Countdown to Zero Рa high profile doc about the nuclear arms race.  Valerie Plame is one of the speakers on the film.
Social tagging: Gasland > Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work > Restrepo
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