Last week I was semi slapped down by Variety’s Peter Debruge for underestimating the Best Picture potential of Bridesmaids. He wasn’t referring specifically to me but all of “my kind.” You know, the bottom-feeding Oscar bloggers that respectable journalists are mostly too embarrassed to admit that they read, god forbid, or converse with? Oscar bloggers are rated even lower than fanboy bloggers, it seems, as that demographic has been promoted to “film critic.” But Oscar blogger continues to twist in the wind, the one person you never want to be seen with on the prison yard.
Nonetheless, the non-Oscar blogging journalists continue to either write about the Oscars because they want to, or they’re forced to write about them because they have to. Either way, once they step on my turf I am involved already. My neck tatts back that up. I think DeBruge thought that he was the only one who ever thought seriously about Bridesmaids.
With the guilds announcing, I can feel his “I told you so” sagging in the sky like a raincloud. Any minute it will drop. “I don’t want to get into an argument,” he said once on Twitter, when I started in with my own rationalizing about Bridesmaids. Arguing with an Oscar blogger about movies must feel a bit like arguing with a prostitute about politics; sooner or later you’re going to come around to thinking, “what the hell does she know?” The new go-to phrase from those I’m debating films with on Twitter is “stick to the Oscars.” Okay. I will. And next time you want a pack of cigarettes or a copy of Hustler don’t come running to me.
But what Debruge didn’t know, perhaps, wasn’t so much that we were “forgetting” about Bridesmaids — you have one of the best Oscar publicists in the business on that movie — do you really think that in a million years we wouldn’t know that Bridesmaids had Best Picture intentions? But it’s a tough sell since they no longer have ten slots open.
The Academy changed the rules so that anywhere from 5 to 9 can be nominated. They said they did their own research going back ten years to see how many nominations there might have been for Best Picture in any given year. They came up with a different number each time. Some years there were 6 and some years there were 8 and 9 and even 5. We don’t know how it’s going to go. But what we do know is that the Oscars aren’t voting like the guilds are voting. They are using a preferential ballot (I am pretty sure the PGA employs the same practice). And in this new way you have to get around 60 number one votes to make it to the second round — and then after that, 250 votes total to be nominee. At least I think that’s how it’s going to go.
Now we are back to squeezing a whole lot of stuff into a few tiny holes. And in that case, it’s hard to see Bridesmaids making it. The main reason, of course, is that the Academy not only has a long tradition of only nominating dramedies – movies that take you to extreme laughter and then to extreme tears (Terms of Endearment, Little Miss Sunshine, etc.) Some of the best comedies ever made weren’t nominated for Best Picture. Satire is something that died along with surreality and vulgarity back in the 1970s. Comedy is one thing, but an out and out vulgar comedy a whole other thing. So now we’re not just dealing with it being a comedy but we’re dealing with “I love my new bleached asshole!” Worse than that, we’re dealing with that overlong dedication at the mic scene, and the taking the bite of the cookie scene and all of the outlandish, very funny comedy set pieces that, trust me, just ain’t Oscar’s thing. But never say never.
It’s funny, by god. It’s well acted, especially by Melissa McCarthy. And well written. It has the beloved Jill Clayburgh in it. It has moments of true sentiment and heartache. Content-wise, there is nothing about it that makes it a viable Best Picture when you look at Oscar’s past. No one on Bridesmaids ever thought to themselves, “hey let’s make a movie for Oscar.” If they had, it would have been terrible. As it is, they were trying to show (with Judd Apatow leading the way because of course you know in Hollywood you can’t really make this kind of thing happen without a guy like that) that women can be every bit as funny and raunchy as men: the female Hangover. Except that Bridesmaids is a lot better than The Hangover (although I have a soft spot for that movie). In every way it’s better.
The money is something to celebrate, especially this year. Bridesmaids is an original screenplay that appealed to varying types of men and women of all different ages. It isn’t a branded sequel, nor an effects-driven kind of thing. It is just a movie with actors. And we know how much the Academy likes that. That Bridesmaids and The Help both made the top twenty at the box office — each making around $160 million — is practically a miracle. And lest we forget that both movies deal with actual excrement. Coincidence?
But the thing that is probably making people stand up and take notice is that Bridesmaids is one of very few movies to hit all of the guilds up to now. Granted, that’s only three. But the SAG and the PGA is fairly significant. I’d say even the ADG kind of, sort of means something. The SAG is the really big one, of course, because it means the actors are squarely behind it — even more than Hugo or War Horse.
The other films to hit all three guilds so far, The Descendants, The Help and The Artist. Bridesmaids will no doubt hit the WGA tomorrow, too. And though it seems a bit premature to say so, but Kristen Wiig could most definitely be up for an Oscar for screenplay – and hell, she might even win. If Diablo Cody can win one why can’t Wiig?
But she’ll have to go up against Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist and Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris. Bleached asshole versus Gertrude Stein and silent movies. Hey, stranger things have happened. There is nothing wrong with bleached assholes, is there? I wouldn’t mind having my own bleached except they don’t let you do that sort of thing in prison.
What Wiig has in her favor is that she’s a she. And there ain’t a lot of those this year in any category. We’re all pinning our hopes on Lynne Ramsay maybe getting in there for We Need to Talk About Kevin but in almost every other major category — writing, directing and producing, it’s all dudes.
So here’s the thing. More power to Bridesmaids. If the Academy is at last ready to embrace comedy I’m sure the world over would cheer them on.
Meanwhile, you might want to look at the research I did a while back trying to find out what the Academy might have discovered when it conducted its own test on the last ten years to find its random number of Best Picture nominees. And here were my best guesses.
2001
A Beautiful Mind (4 wins – Picture, Director, Supporting Actress, Screenplay; 4 more nominations – Actor, Editing, Makeup, Score)
Fellowship of the Ring (4 wins – Cinematography, Effects, Makeup, Music; 9 more nominations – Screenplay, Sound, Picture, Music, Editing, Director, Costume, Art Direction, Actor)
Gosford Park(1 win – Screenplay; 6 other nominations – Picture, Director, Art Direction, Costume, 2 Supporting Actress nods)
Moulin Rouge (2 wins – Art Direction, Costume; 6 more nominations – Actress, Cinematography, Editing, Makeup, Picture, Sound)
In the Bedroom (0 wins; 5 nominations – Picture, Screenplay, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actress)
Would have been contenders:
Black Hawk Down (DGA, WGA, CAS, Ace-WON, ADG) 2 wins – Sound and Editing; 4 more Oscar nominations -Best Director, Cinematography.
Amelie (ASC, ADG)- 5 Oscar nominations, Screenplay, Sound, Foreign Lang, Cinematography, Art Direction
Other films that sort of seem like maybe — David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (but with only one Oscar nomination for Director, probably not), Memento — only editing and screenplay. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with three techs – Art Direction, Costume, Music.
But I think only two movies might have ultimately pushed through — so my guess for 2001: 7 Best Picture nominees.
2002
Chicago (6 wins – Picture, Supporting Actress, Editing, Costume, Art Direction, Sound; 7 more nominations – Actor, Actress, Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Director, Song, Screenplay)
Gangs of New York (0 wins; 10 nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, Actor, Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume, Song, Sound)
The Hours (1 Oscar win – Actress; 8 more nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Editing, Costume, Score)
LOTR: Two Towers (2 wins – Sound Editing, Effects; 4 more nominations – Picture, Editing, Sound, Art Direction)
The Pianist (3 wins – Director, Screenplay, Actor; 4 more nominations – Picture, Editing, Cinematography, Costume)
Could have been contenders:
Road to Perdition (PGA/CDG/ASC) 1 Oscar win – Cinematography; 5 more nominations -Actor, Art Direction, Score, Sound, Sound Editing)
Adaptation (PGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE) 1 Oscar win – Chris Cooper; 3 more nominations – Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay
About Schmidt (Globes/WGA/ACE/CDG) 2 Oscar nominations – Actor, Supporting Actress
Far From Heaven (ASC/SAG(2)/WGA) – 4 Oscar nominations – Actress, Screenplay, Cinematography, Score
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (PGA/WGA/ACE nominee)
Since there was never ten, this seems to be a good candidate for the year of 9. I’ll guess either Greek Wedding or Far From Heaven failed to make the cut.
My guess for 2002: 9 nominees for Best Picture
2003
Return of the King – (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/ACE/CDG/ASC/ADG) 11 wins – clean sweep – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, Visual Effects, Sound, Score, Song, Makeup, Costume, Art Direction
Lost in Translation (DGA/ACE/ADG) 1 win – Screenplay; 3 more nominations – Picture, Director, Actor
Seabiscuit – (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE/ADG) 0 wins; 7 nominations – Picture, Screenplay, Editing, Sound, Costume, Cinematography, Art Direction
Master and Commander (Globes/PGA/ACE/ASC) 2 wins – Cinematography, Sound Editing; 8 more nominations – Picture, Director, Editing, Art Direction, Costume, Makeup, Sound, Visual Effects
Mystic River – (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE/ADG) 2 wins – Actor, Supporting Actor; 4 more nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress
Could Have Been Contenders:
Cold Mountain (Globes/PGA/WGA/ACE/CDG/ASC/ADG) 1 win – Supporting Actress; 6 more nominations – Actor Editing, Song, Score, Song, Cinematography
City of God 4 nominations – Director, Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
Last Samurai (PGA/ASC/ADG) – 4 nominations – Supporting Actor, Art Direction, Costume, Sound
My guess is that City of God, Cold Mountain and maybe Last Samurai would squeezed in and that for 2003 there would have been 6 Best Picture nominees.
2004
Million Dollar Baby (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE/ADG) 4 wins – Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor, Director; 3 more nominations – Screenplay, Actor, Editing
The Aviator (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE/CDG/ASC/ADG) – 5 Oscar wins – Supporting Actress, Editing, Costume, Cinematography, Art Direction; 6 more nominations – Picture, Screenplay, Directing, Supporting Actor, Actor, Sound
Finding Neverland (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/ACE/ADG) 1 win – Score; 6 more nominations – Picture, Actor, Screenplay, Editing, Costume, Art Direction
Ray (Globes/DGA/SAG ensemble/ACE/CDG/ASC) 2 wins – Actor, Sound; 4 more nominations – Picture, Directing, Editing, Costume
Sideways (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG/ACE) 1 win – Screenplay; 4 more nominations – Picture, Director, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor
Eternal Sunshine (Globes/WGA/ACE/CDG/ADG) – 1 win – Screenplay; 1 more nomination – Actress
Vera Drake – 3 nominations – Director, Actress, Screenplay
Hotel Rwanda (Globes/SAG ensemble/WGA/CDG/ADG) – 3 nominations – Actor, Supporting Actress, Screenplay
So I’m going to guess that all three of these would have made it – and so for 2004 I say 8
2005
Crash (PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE/ADG) 3 wins – Picture, Screenplay, Editing; 3 more nominations – Directing, Song, Supporting Actor.
Brokeback Mountain (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/ACE/ASC) 3 wins – Director, Screenplay, Score; 5 more nominations – Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Cinematography
Capote (PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/WGA/CDG) 1 win – Actor; 4 more nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actress
Good Night, and Good Luck (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG/WGA/ACE/CDG/ASC/ADG)
Munich (DGA/ACE) 5 nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, Score
Walk the Line (Globes/PGA/ACE/CDG/ADG)1 win – Actress; 4 more nominations – Actor, Editing, Sound, Costume
The Constant Gardener (Globes/WGA/ADG) 1 win – Supporting Actress; 3 more nominations – Screenplay, Editing, Score
Memoirs of a Geisha (ASC/ADG) 3 wins – Cinematography, Costume, Art Direction; 3 more nominations – Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Score
I don’t think, in the end, Geisha would have made it. It’s possible. But the pattern that emerges is that the heart of the Academy is Directing, Screenplay, Editing. We already knew that. But I do think that Walk the Line and The Constant Gardener could have.
So my guess for 2005 is 7 Best Picture nominees
2006
The Departed (Globes/PGA/WGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/BAFTA/ACE/ADG) 4 wins – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing; 1 more nomination – Supporting Actor
Babel (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/Sag ensemble?BAFTA/ACE/CDG/ADG/CAS) 1 win – score; 6 more nominations – Directing, Editing, Screenplay, Supporting Actress, Supporting Actress, Score
Letters from Iwo Jima (Globes) 1 win – Sound Editing; 3 more nominations – Picture, Directing, Screenplay
Little Miss Sunshine (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/SAG ensemble/BAFTA/ACE/CDG) – 2 wins – Supporting Actor, Screenplay – 2 more nominations – Picture, Supporting Actress
The Queen (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/BAFTA/Eddie/CDG/ADG)
Dreamgirls (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG ensemble/ACE/CDG/ADG/CAS) 2 wins – Supporting Actress, Sound; 6 more nominations – Supporting Actor, Song, Song, Song, Costume, Art Direction
Pan’s Labyrinth (CDG) 3 wins – Art Direction, Cinematography, Makeup; 3 more nominations Screenplay, Foreign Film, Score
I’m fairly certain that Dreamgirls would have made the cut. Going to throw in Pan’s Labyrinth because clearly they loved that movie. So for 2006 my guess is also 7 Best Picture nominees.
2007
No Country for Old Men (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG enemble/WGA/ASC/ADG/BAFTA/CAS/) 4 wins – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor; 4 more nominations – Sound, Sound Editing, Editing, Cinematography
Michael Clayton (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/SAGx3/ACE/ADG/1 win – Supporting Actress; 6 more nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Score
There Will Be Blood (Globes/PGA/DGA/SAG+1/WGA/ACE/ADG/BAFTA/2 wins – Actor, Cinematography; 6 more nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, Sound Editing, Art Direction
Atonement (Globes/BAFTA/ADG/CDG) 1 win – Score; 6 more nominations – Picture, Actress, Screenplay, Costume, Cinematography, Art Direction
Juno (Globes/PGA/SAG+1/ACE/) 1 win – Screenplay; 3 more nominations – Picture, Actress, Directing
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/ASC/ADG/CDG) 4 nominations – Directing, Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography
Ratatouille (ACE/ADG)- 1 win, 4 more nominations – Screenplay, Sound, Sound Editing, Score
This is a tough call. It’s possible Ratatouille could have made the cut. But I’m more sure Diving Bell would be in there. So I’m going to guess that for 2007 there would have been 6 Best Picture nominees.
2008
Slumdog Millionaire (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/SAG Ensemble/ACE/ADG/BAFTA/CDG/CAS 8 wins – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Editing, Sound, Score, Cinematography, Song; 2 more nominations – Song, Sound Editing
Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Globes/PGA/DGA/WGA/SAG Ensemble/ACE/ASC/ADG/BAFTA/CDG/2 wins – Visual Effects, Makeup, Art Direction; 10 more nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Supporting Actress, Editing, Sound, Score,Costume, Cinematography
Frost/Nixon (Globes/DGA/WGA/PGA/SAG ensemble/ACE/ADG/BAFTA) 5 nominations – Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Editing
Milk (Globes/DGA/WGA/SAG ensemble/ACE/ADG/BAFTA/CDG/2 wins – Actor, Screenplay; 6 more nominations – Picture Director, Supporting Actor, Editing, Score, Costume Design
The Reader (Globes/SAG+1/ASC) 1 win – Actress; 4 more nominations – Picture, Directing, Screenplay, Cinematography
The Dark Knight (DGA/WGA/SAG+1/ACE/ASC/ADG/BAFTA/CDG/CAS/2 wins – Supporting Actor, Sound Editing; 6 more nominations – Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Makeup, Sound Mixing, Visual Effects
Wall-E (ACE/ADG/1 win – Animated Feature; 5 more nominations – Screenplay, Sound Editing, Sound mixing, Song, Score
Wall-E is a tempting choice. You could probably get seven out of that. You could maybe add Doubt. But I feel like The Dark Knight was really and truly pushing through, like Dreamgirls. This is why I think 2008 would have had 6 Best Picture nominees.
Funny that the ones that ‘just missed out’ often seem to be better movies than the ones that did earn nods/wins. If for no other reason than that, I support the increased nominee group.
I enjoyed Bridesmaids. I am glad I saw it. Bt it has no re-watch value for me. It was good, but it wasn’t that good. It barely scrapes my top 25. Because for every funny thing in that movie there was something else that made me roll my eyes. I was with it on the bleached asshole, even. But as much as I think Melissa McCarthy is an amazing actress and as much as I respect her, her shitting in a sink was the nail in the coffin for that film. After that I could enjoy it, but when thinking about where it would go on my list, that scene always comes up and I just can’t take it seriously.
I have that problem with Kristen Wiig in almost everything she does. It’s funny up to a point, and then I just lose interest. But too much of the running time of that movie went to the terrible microphone speech scene and the girls getting sick at the dress shop. It’s not the “they went there” factor that kills it for me. It’s the amount of time devoted to it, and how poorly done those segments were.
Scott: Then by your logic, A Separation will be sweeping this years Oscars?
Benjamin Button is such an overrated movie! It was good until the last 10-15 minutes, then it just became an unintentional comedy. One thing that makes me the angriest about it is that the worst part seemed to be the part that was considered the best by many.
So because I think it’s absurd for Bridesmaids to even be discussed in the same breath as Tree of Life, I have a bias against comedies? Please. Anchorman is legitimately one of my favorite films. If a movie like Knocked Up was never considered a best picture contender, Bridesmaids CERTAINLY will not be.
Oh and the chances of Bridesmaids earning 60 #1 votes and the Tree of Life failing to do so are hilariously slim.
“Bridesmaids is 10 times the movie The Blind Side could hope to be.”
WORD.
^
For one thing — most significantly — had anybody ever suggested The Blind Side deserved a Best Screenplay nomination they would have been tarred and feathered around here.
I liked In Bruges quite a bit. Makes me want to see The Guard now.
All right so they nominate Bridesmaids as Best Picture. Would someone tell me what production values on that film would support it being considered in the Best Picture category? Cinematography? Editing? Sound? Visual effects? Oh yeah Kirsten Wig’s little dance sequence when she get’s pulled over might get called Visual effects. Is the screenplay really on the same level as the flawed Tree of Life that allows it to stand out as a credible contender in the original category? And yes I know people are going to say in response that lots of films get nominated in the BP category without grabbing a lot of production nominations. That’s true now because of all the gimmicks used in the smack down/shoot em up/aliens invasion/muscle men from magic films that are released. I don’t even call Bridesmaids slaptick. Bridesamaids is one long joke about showing how women can compete with men to attain a vulgarity status. I get that people liked it, I even understand why they liked it. But c’mon Best Picture? Next thing we’ll all be saying that Bridesmaids is a better made film than The Help. Can you imagine making The Help and not getting a BP nomination cause your slot was taken by Bridesmaids? That would be a commentary.
Of the ones I’ve seen, here are the best comedies of 2011:
1. The Trip (the Michael Caine imitations alone make it worthwhile)
2. Bridesmaids (Screenplay nomination, thank you)
3. 50/50 (may be a better film than the ones above, but not as a comedy)
4. Clown (Danish, and is raunchier than anything H.wood can come up with)
5. Horrible Bosses (great moments and acting, but something is missing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIQIpC5_wY
Makes you want to see The Trip, right?
Tero, what did you think of In Bruges?
The Guard has the same attitude as In Bruges (director John Michael McDonagh is the brother of Martin McDonagh) with a little bit of Fargo homage thrown in the mix. Loved it.
really really looking forward to Seven Psychopaths this year — starring Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Christopher Walken, Olga Kurylenko, Gabourey Sidibe, Tom Waits
not sure if they’re all going to be psychopaths — but how hard will it rock if they are?
If this movie receives any nominations it will be a travesty. I have no problem with well-written, clever comedy being nominated but this is an example of lowest-common-denominator garbage which didn’t even elicit a smile from me or my spouse (“Knocked Up”, which received a much better critical reception, made us laugh and even touched us but nobody suggested for a moment that it should be considered for awards). Nonetheless, the whole point of inviting a large number of underqualified new members into the Academy just last year (Rooney Mara for a few minutes onscreen in a best picture also-ran? Russell Brand for his body of work in Judd Apatow films? Really?) was the misguided hope that more “hip” nominatons will result in greater appeal to the most sought-after demographic so I can’t rule out the possibility…
Oh, and to the simpleton who chose the lovely and underappreciated “Finding Neverland” as an example of a film which would not receive a nod under these new rules, you are incorrect. The films which received nominations during this past decade would all have been the first five to qualify under these new rules – the current system simply allows for MORE films to qualify if they meet a certain threshold of support…
If this movie receives any nominations it will be a travesty.
There can be no worse travesty in 21st Century Oscar History that the Best Picture nomination for The Blind Side.
If that can happen, anything can happen (yes, even with the rules change to variable number of nominees.)
The diversity we see in the Academy’s choice is no rare anomaly — the diversity is there in the membership. We see it manifest every year in strangely beautiful and sometimes horrifying ways.
If it only takes 60 people choosing Bridesmaids as their #1 favorite of the year, I have no trouble at all imagining those 60 voters reside among the 6000 membership.
We should stop scorning The Blind Side (and by we, I mean myself included) because of what it told us about the Academy.
The Oscar nominees every year are a personality test for the membership. Expanding the BP nominees to 10 was a slip-up that allowed us civilians to look behind the curtain — we have a more accurate profile of who they are than every before.
(IN NO WAY am I trying to equate Bridesmaids with The Blind Side or saying their Academy supporters are the same group. Not at all. Bridesmaids is 10 times the movie The Blind Side could hope to be.)
Bridemaids is NOT going to get nominated for best picture.
It will not receive 60 number 1 votes and additional number 2 and 3 and 4 votes to get 5% of the votes. Simply not happening.
It might get a screenplay and supp actress – not even sure about that.
But the best picture category is a very crowded one this year and only if there were 13 slots it might get in. The only thing I see going for it is the fact that it’s the only Universal Studio entry, so if every person working for Universal who happens to be an academy member puts it at number 1 (or every person involved in the production) – but even then, other people won’t give it 2nd or 3rd slots to help it make the 5%. It’s simply not happening.
I’m kind of terrified that Harry Potter might get nominated, because then Scott and c3po are going to not shut shut up about how it should win. When we know it has very weak changes of getting nominated, and zero chances of winning. I am saying this from an analytical perspective – I enjoyed the film very much.
I strongly agree with the comment about how Warner Brothers screwed up HP’s chances. They must have been so sure that J Edgar and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close are shoe-ins. At this point I wonder if WB will even have a BP nominee this year. I don’t have any statistics, but don’t they always manage to have at least one BP nominee? It’s normally a very strong studio when it comes to the Oscars. I think out of the three, EL&IC has the strongest chances because it’s a WB/Paramount collaboration (double support), it’s a serious, oscary subject matter, and a huge tear jerker. Plus stephen Daldry as a director helps with prestige and the British vote. But even with all that, it seems that this movie is a bit DOA. No one has even spoken about it on here – has anyone seen it? I’d love to hear what people think of its BP chances.
@Ryan Adams: A lot of those Beginners screeners will never have the security seal broken.
Worse, these tapes make it all the way to China and replicated a thousand-fold quicker than you can say Kung Pow!
RE: Bridesmaids. Let the guilds nominate it for all I care, it’s going to get a big shiny ZERO at the Oscars.
@Ryan Adams: The Trip is fantastic; so far it’s the only film I’ve seen twice so far this year. It doesn’t feel like a movie, though. It was originally a television mini-series and since Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon play versions of themselves, it’s almost like a docucomedy or something.
Tree of life is like a film that was intentionally shot for cinematographers. Bridesmaids over Tree of life? Why not? It has happened at SAG and PGA, so I supposed those voters are all full of shit?
The bias against comedy is laughable.
@Ryan Adams:
There were definitely some other funny movies from last year that have plenty of LOL moments if you feel lacking in that department these days.
Cedar Rapids
The Guard
Paul
The Trip
50/50
Our Idiot Brother
Horrible Bosses
Chris Price. I’m watching The Guard right now!
I came to the comments for the express purpose of saying I’ve found another movie that made me laugh this year.
(50/50, pretty funny, I’ll have to agree. Horrible Bosses, ok, it had some moments.)
really looking forward to The Trip.
The funniest films of the past couple of years, for me, were Four Lions and In the Loop. UK humor suits my temperament better.
Would the academy dare nominate Bridesmaids over Tree of Life..? Really? I mean they’re mostly full of shit, but I don’t think they’re capable of something -that- absurd.
Always bridesmaids, never brides.
When we wake up on nomination morning, no one will be shocked shocked shocked to hear bridesmaids excluded from BP a la cold mountain, dreamgirls, or dark knight. Instead people will cheer that it got script and supporting actress like – I dunno – a fish called Wanda. The few noms will seem like reward enough. Just you watch.
Oh and Sasha deserves more respect than what this vf douchebag says.
Bridesmaids was one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Something about it really appealed to my sense of humor. I never ever laugh out loud b/c in general I think I’m funnier than most people……anyways, Bridesmaids had me sincerely laughing a lot. I even received the BD for Christmas b/c my partner picked up how much I loved it when we saw it in the theater. And I watched it again at home last week and it was STILL that funny to me.
I don’t think I am alone in these feelings. What makes a great film to me is one you take with you when yer done in some way. And while this film did not impact me in a cerebral manner, it left me quoting lines from it for some time. It left an imprint on me….and many people. It’s not high art, it’s not changing the world, it’s not opening anyone’s eyes to something horrible in the world or in themselves, but it’s making them happy and man, these days something that makes you really happy can be special.
I forgot about Dreamgirls. Unfortunatelly that would surely have been nominated with 10.
@ Kholby
2007 Oscars is one of the reasons why I think the Academy should have stayed with the previous top 10. Imagine which films would probably make the cut: United 93, Pan’s Labyrinth and Children of Men, my favorite films of that year along with The Queen. And the 2 other nominees could be Little Children and Notes on a Scandal, two very well written and acted dramas.
I like Bridesmaids. It made my top 10 of the year. At 10. If it makes it in and any of my other top 9 don’t… I’ll go ape shit… for about 3 minutes and then continue to oscar watch. Such is the way of things.
I’m sorry to hear that Oscar bloggers are seen as bottom of the barrel, but I’m grateful to get to spend some time with you lot, so I’ll take it. 🙂
Also. I think that Children of Men would have made it into the 2007 Oscars (2006 Movies). Technically it’s a masterpiece and I remember there being a lot of uproar that it didn’t get nominated…. It may have been mostly me… I was mad… and then I kept watching…
Phantom’s Brit Vote stats are pretty astounding. If a British movie makes it… can 3? HP7.2, Shame and TTSS?
Well those others are examples of genre bias…and they probably would have got in had there been 10 nominees in their respective years.
That would make sense except Harry Potter would hardly be the first film this happens to. Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Eternal Sunshine – I’m not going to look up all their numbers, but I know they’re high. I really don’t disagree with you that it’s plain wrong from an industry standpoint for Harry Potter not to at least have an equal shot. No way should it have been shut out of the PGA when the PGA nominated the first Harry film (even though I thought the early films, especially Azkaban, were better!). It’s just nothing new, or to me that surprising when you look past the numbers and reviews, and therefore, I’m one of the many that finds this kind of discussion frustrating in the end. Of course, if I felt like I had a dog in the race, I would probably feel much differently!
Alright, back to Bridesmaids…
What could benefit Bridesmaids greatly if it makes a concentrated awards run comes in the form of the talent involved. If Wiig, McCarthy, Apatow, and even Hamm go out on the circuit and campaign, you have very funny, very likable people involved in its promotion. All four would be great in interviews conferences and the continued presence of Wiig and McCarthy on comedic television only raises the overall profile of Bridesmaids further. Sandra Bullock the charming personality probably made more of a difference to The Blind Sides’ fortunes than Sandra Bullock the actress.
Actually, as I said before Zach, most of the time they get it right. Sure, The Social Network (96%, average rating: 9/10) was better reviewed then The King’s Speech, but at least it was nominated. If Harry Potter truly is snubbed out of Best Picture any sensible person would look at the reception of the film and cry foul! In fact I think the only precedent for a film with such fantastic critical reception that wasn’t nominated was The Dark Knight (94%, average rating: 8.4/10)…and we all know what a shit storm that brought on the Academy.
To me that’s what sweeping storytelling meant in the case of Avatar – not that it had a great script or unique story – hell, I didn’t think it was great by any means, but the FX were unparalleled and did further the little story presented. The point is three things are usually necessary for top Oscar support: a compelling narrative, a visually compelling presentation, and a compelling backstory or other industry support.
You just have to accept that what is the most critically acclaimed film and what the industry as a whole thinks is most Oscar-worthy and what any one of us cinephiles thinks is most Oscar-worthy are three entirely different things. Nothing new and it will never change.
Avatar sweeping storytelling? No way.
It’s Cameron least inspired storytelling actually. The concept of being an Avatar is great but the Pocahontas plot… we all have seen that zillions times before and it was not even close to emotional as Titanic.
Avatar got in because it was the most astonishing film ever made in terms of visuals, had some good concepts involved with its storytelling and revolutionized the 3D technique.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2- 96%, average rating: 8.4/10
Best Picture Winners of the Last 10 Years:
The King’s Speech- 95%, average rating: 8.6/10
The Hurt Locker- 97%, average rating: 8.4/10
Slumdog Millionaire- 94%, average rating: 8.2/10
No Country For Old Men- 95%, average rating: 8.6/10
The Departed- 93%, average rating: 8.2/10
Brokeback Mountain (’cause we all know this should have been the real winner) – 87%, average rating: 8.2/10
Million Dollar Baby- 93%, average rating: 8.2/10
Return of the King- 94%, average rating: 8.6/10
Chicago- 88%, average rating: 7.8/10
A Beautiful Mind- 78%, average rating: 7.1/10
Yeah, ’nuff said…
It’s Zach with an H, not that I really care, but when you’re calling someone out for ignoring you and then you can’t even bother to spell his name right, what does that say about you? All snippiness aside, if you were talking about something like the Metacritic average, which accounts for varying levels of praise, well, then I don’t know what to say. How accurate are those things and who really cares? The BFCA didn’t nominate Harry Potter despite its high score, so obviously even for the critics it’s not all about the numbers. Since when did the critics push a blockbuster into the Best Pic lineup anyway? Titanic, LOTR, Avatar, and Gladiator didn’t get nominated because they were critically praised (if even); they won top Oscars and got top nominations because the industry rewarded their box office successes because they also thought they were “Oscar material” with sweeping storytelling. They know it when they see it. Rambling over, my point is that any AD regular would be quick to tell you Oscar rules are made to be broken, and so much more is about what feels right and looks good on paper.
@Scott: Not everything has to do with Vietnam, Walter. Listen to the end of “Infant Kiss” by Kate Bush. She sings “let go, let go, let go” so sweetly. Take heed my passionate friend. And when the next round of awards either honors or ignores HP8, you should chime in again. But try to space out the comments on it for now. They’ll have more impact that way.
If Potter doesn’t get in and Bridesmaids does, then yes the reason will be Bridesmaids and Hugo and Ides of March or whatever else gets in that wasn’t as well received. In addition to WB’s decision to split and release Part 2 in July instead of November.
Zack, for fuck sakes…did you ignore what I said about the AVERAGE SCORE?! 8.4 out of 10 is pretty damn incredible…means a lot more then just everyone kinda liked it. It means a lot LOVED it. Perhaps not all 96%, but a significant majority.
Everyone cites those RT %s, but %s alone are stupid. Useful only for a love-it-or-hate-it? kind of analysis. Once again, 96% doesn’t mean that 96% all LOVED the movie.
If Bridesmaids does get the Best Picture nod, some Oscar purists will smirk, roll their eyes, or even cringe; some of us will laugh, for any number of reasons; and some of us will be (secretly or not) very happy. Bridesmaids is NOT the Blind Side of this group though. That would be more like if Soul Surfer got nominated and Dennis Quaid was winning an Oscar. Content-wise, The Help is closer to TBS, even if much stronger. Bridesmaids is a comedy in the genre of Animal House. Its nomination would be surprising but not unwarranted given the weakness and tedium of much of this year’s “traditional” Oscar crop, regardless of what happens to Harry Potter. And I don’t think Bridesmaids is the reason Harry Potter isn’t getting in.
I do agree Bridesmaids was a little long in stretches, though Wiig’s character development ultimately set it apart for a film of this genre and supposed maturity level.
I’m not even fully convinced Bridesmaids will get a single Oscar nomination. I still think Bridesmaids isn’t even that strong for screenplay because it was improvised and because writers can be picky. The WGA will definitely recognize it, because they’re friendlier to popularly successful, funny comedies like Mean Girls and, I believe, The Hangover. It’s not the Oscars’ style, but the Original Screenplay category is so weak and open-ended (Win-Win?) and Bridesmaids’ success and strengths may put it closer to Borat and My Big Fat Greek Wedding than Wedding Crashers (even though Borat was a satire, yes).
And I don’t think McCarthy will be nominated. Maybe Redgrave and McTeer will get in and both McCarthy and Woodley are out.
The funniest movies I’ve seen this year were THE RUM DIARY (only in select moments), HORRIBLE BOSSES and PAUL. If you can tolerate DRIVE ANGRY it’s funny in a bad way. There were several laughs in MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL. And the guy who played Sid in THE DESCENDANTS was funny. Adrien Brody was funny in his cameo in MIDNIGHT IN PARIS and I believe the leads were meant to be funny but they didn’t do their jobs. TOWER HEIST should have been a lot funnier but they put most of the funny parts in the trailers/talk show clips. Oh and Gwyneth in CONTAGION. That was awesomely funny.
Last year had a great comedy. COP OUT was one of my favorites last year. This year is a bomb from every angle. XD
“Academy Award-nominee Judd Apatow” takes some getting used to….
Comedies really seem to dominate the category this year…. which i personally kind of enjoy…. It shakes things up a little…
Yawn. Of course Bridesmaids won’t be get a Best Picture nomination. What a stupid, stupid question.
Let me tell you something about Bridesmaids. It would have been much better if the creators would have trimmed the film down about 20 minutes. Though it was a funny film, it was long for a comedy. It, like The Blind Side, if nominated, will be labeled the “undeserving movie that doesn’t belong”. Especially if it gets in over The Tree of Life or Drive.
Kristen Wiig was the standout for me. Her character was not really likable, yet it was a good performance. I pitied her choices throughout. McCarthy was just comic relief for me, and I think some of this unnecessary nominations for the performance is because of the speech she gives to Wiig towards the end. All she would do is take up space for superior performances like Carey Mulligan in Shame.
What does Harry Potter have to do with Bridesmaids – was he the ring bearer in a deleted scene, or something? The little bugger keeps popping up everywhere, now, apparently, at weddings.
*not to mention most previous Best Picture winners
I mean for fuck sakes…a film with such universal acclaim should at least garner a nomination! It pleased both the critics and the general public with the best reception of the entire series, on a level equal to and in some cases higher then any of the Lord of the Rings films…what more could you ask for?
I think at this point all us Potter fans are asking is that people stop sweeping it under the rug and at least acknowledge that is truly is deserving and is inexplicably getting snubbed in ways that LotR, Titanic, Avatar, Inception, etc were not.
Wrong Zack…look at the average score, not just the tomatometer…Deathly Hallows has a higher % then RotK (not to mention 100% from Top Critics, something RotK didn’t get) and practically the same average score. So actually Harry Potter at its best IS in the same league as Lord of the Rings.
The Harry Potter series was never typical Oscar material. OK, LOTR wasn’t typical Oscar material either based on its genre, but the difference is that Harry Potter at its best wasn’t in the same league as LOTR. You can blame WB all you want, but I’m tiring of the “Potter had it all” talk. So what if it got a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes? That just means everyone (at least) liked it, not that it was had the love or level of respect a film typically needs to be nominated for Best Picture. For a popcorn film, it delivered, which is more than 90% of them do now anyway, so I for one don’t think the critical praise means much.
I assume you know that Jessica Chastain is going to play Princess Di.
Um Phantom…WB has put forth a 100 mil campaign for Potter. The problem is in their decision to release it during the summer…as well as perhaps the decision to split the finale into 2 parts.
Lord of the rings won the sag ensamble. you have to add it to the list sasha
Zach
Yes, after seeing ‘The Help’ the Monroe-comparisons were inevitable. Considering the outstanding and remarkably versatile work she delivered in 2011, I think it’s safe to say she could have nailed that iconic role, too.
Scott, it might be time to stop blaming contenders that dare to SEEM stronger than ‘Deathly Hallows Part II’ (The Tree of Life, Bridesmaids) and focus all your anger on Warner Bros : if they can’t secure the highest-grossing – and one of the most critically acclaimed – film of the year AT LEAST lock-status, their campaign might be the problem, not the other contenders. WB probably thought they had the top2-contenders (J.Edgar, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) so they clearly didn’t pay the kind of attention to ‘Deathly Hallows’, they should have and now – after those two are not in the picture anymore – it might be too late.
‘Deathly Hallows Part II’ had it ALL on paper
– One of the best reviews of 2011
– The Best Box Office of 2011
– Sentiment/Nostalgia, it IS the franchise-ender after all
– Stunning British Ensemble that should have scored a SAG Ensemble nod, had the film gotten a stronger (or at least existing) SAG-campaign
– Technical categories
I still think it will get in (the power of British-vote and Technical Branches), but if WB couldn’t capitalize on ALL THOSE great things, they clearly fucked up. I mean what kind of campaign have they been running, if they couldn’t secure a PGA-NOMINATION for the highest-grossing film of the year that also happens to be one of the best-reviewed AND the last chapter of the biggest franchise out there?
Bridesmaids is strong because it has a great, effective Oscar-campaign that highlights the great reviews (HP had better), the great Box Office (HP had better), and most importantly – the Actors dominate the Academy after all – the great cast (HP had better). Whoever is behind the HP-campaign, should learn a thing or two from the one who is behind Bridesmaids.
And the only sin ‘The Tree of Life’ has in your eyes, that it MIGHT have the passionate fanbase in the Academy that could provide that crucial 5% No1.
Still, if those two films will get in instead of HP, WB should be to blame and NOT the Bridesmaids/Tree of Life-people … latter two just did what they had to, to stay in the race…something WB clearly didn’t, or at least not well enough. They should have pushedpushedpushed for PGA/WGA/SAG, all three should have happened with those reviews and a stronger campaign.
This might be more applicable here…
“Deathly Hallows is not going to be nominated for Best Picture, swept under the rug by the summer hit that for whatever reason the awards seem to favor– that would be Bridesmaids”
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Harry-Potter-Won-t-Ever-Nominated-Best-Picture-Oscar-28609.html
“Richard 3:20PM
Posts: 42,977 100 likes
hold on… hold on… Bridesmaids?.. BRIDESMAIDS? L.M.F.A.O
Ok this world is definitely ending soon. I cant even.. LOLOLOL… This is the funniest thing ever honestly.”
It’s funny you should say that about Jessica Chastain because I’m not even a real fan of hers – it took me to the second viewing of The Help to better appreciate her performance and really think she would deserve a nomination – but after that second viewing, I wondered what her Marilyn Monroe would have looked like.
LOL, I’m not even kidding when I say that a few days ago the thought of Jessica Chastain playing Rose Byrne’s character crossed my mind 🙂 After seeing her in a bunch of films recently, I started thinking about what OTHER roles could she have nailed last year and Rose Byrne’s Helen and Bejo’s Peppy came to mind : she has that high-society-look to pull off the former, and the remarkably cinematic face to pull off the latter. Ok, stupid fun over 🙂
I’ve been reading here for 12 years … stopped caring about the Oscars at least 5 years ago. I’m here to read Sasha, the subject doesn’t matter. If Geoff Dyer and Sarah Silverman had a love child that they chained inside a dungeon and forced to blog about the Oscars non stop for eternity, it would read much like Sasha.
Of those would-be nominees, Bridesmaids is closest to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, except even there you have the magical little-indie-that-could backstory plus the cultural aspects and modernized Moonstruckish romance. Bridesmaids has a romance too, but I think it’s closer to being a being a dramedy than the kind of rom-coms the Academy nominates.
I don’t think About Schmidt would have been nominated since its screenplay was surprisingly shut out even though it won the Golden Globe (big deal, but strange). About a Boy beat it to an Oscar nod.
Also, in a field of 10, Finding Nemo would have probably been nominated in 2004. And American Splendor.
Also, United 93 and Into the Wild? At least with 10 nominees.
Another, light movie that Bridesmaids reminds me of in terms of guild support and a Globe nod (though no ADG nod, interestingly) is Hairspray. Regrettably, no Oscar nods. For the record, it lost the Globe to Sweeney Todd, which entered the season with a lot of hope and still got Depp nominated, so it probably would have been in the top 10.
It won’t make it into BP. Jessica Chastain is not in it, which is weird retrospectively. I feel she somehow belongs into that movie.
^
ha!
iggy should be a casting director.
I personally hated everything about Bridesmaids, except Melissa McCarthy. Nevertheless, if this were last year, I can definitely see it being nominated in a field of ten (which is why I put it on my PGA contest entry.) If Oscar likes serious films about individuals overcoming obstacles to achieve unexpected success–and it does–it also likes films whose own stories mirror that meme. Bridesmaids is something that hadn’t been done before, with a female protagonist and virtually all-feamle ensemble, and certainly over-performed at the box office. I can see that overcoming what would otherwise be obstacles to a BP nod, like the raunchy comedy genre.
It all depends on how the Academy members game this new voting system. If Bridesmaids were anywhere on my top-five list and the other four were clearly locks, I’d rank it first just because my other four choices are safe. If people don’t game the system, then it probably doesn’t have enough first-place votes. But with all the studio politicking that goes on, surely plenty of Academy voters know how to get it through the first round by letting others nominate their true favorites.
Bottom line, if there are eight or more BP nominees, it’s in.
Funny People > Bridesmaids
Maybe it’s just me, Sasha, but I don’t think any of your writing is really about Awards. More like erotica for misanthropes. Well, maybe just this misanthrope.
Maybe it’s just me, Sasha, but I don’t think any of your writing is really about Awards.
it’s just you, and yer nuts.
anyone not interested in broader context or deeper insight beyond prediction formulas has stumbled onto the wrong movie site.
the context, implications and cultural significance of awards choices are the most fascinating aspect of following this annual circus. The shiny trophies mean nothing to me.
(frankly, I doubt if they mean a whole lot to most artists who receive them. Awards are the kind of gift you get for people who already have everything.)
Bridesmaids is a mostly funny, occasionally generic, female take on The Hangover. Yes. But it is also something more, something to cherish, even: I think it strikes a beautiful, delicate balance in quite a number of scenes where the humor is offset by the sadness and desperation of the protagonist (there is a certain tenderness to the scenes that Wiig shares with Maya Rudolph in particular).
The “shit” scene? Not my idea of great fun, a bit cheap. And the romance between Wiig and O´Dowd? It’s stereotypical rom-com stuff. But overall: a good film that deserves the acclaim.
Beginners? I’m so with you on that one, Sasha! The dog and the romance, the narrative structure of the movie, it didn’t work for me, it was annoying, actually. And you sit with a constant frustration inside of you: Why not get more of Plummer?? He is only ever there in quick flashback! I so wanted more of THAT story (instead of the story that I was presented with, including the reliance on the quirky “exotica” of Melanie Laurent, charming as she is…)…
Ryan, blame away ! 🙂
I firmly believe ‘Atonement’ get in thanks to the British-vote BUT it should be emphasized that it was their only viable option that year. I could easily see ‘Pride and Prejudice’ and ‘The Constant Gardener’ splitting votes and cancelling each other out in 2005.
So, although the mythical British-vote could do wonders to ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’ (a BAFTA-sweep would be welcome first), it MIGHT split votes with the all-British-except-the-money Harry Potter franchise-ender in the end…the good news, that unlike in 2005, now we could have as many as 10 bp-nominees, so IF the legendary ‘British-vote’ exists (Atonement is the proof it probably does), it’s time to show the world what they are made of.
‘Bridesmaids’ is a tough one, because the problem here is NOT not getting traction – it gets plenty –, it is the public perception. Could a female-centered broad comedy get a best picture nomination ? Are we really that sure that there are 5% in the Academy who will put ‘Bridesmaids’ at No1 ? I think, even if there is the considerable girl-power in the Academy to pull that off, they are probably championing The Help, another film that might sound VERY strong, but could be hurt by the new voting system. These kind of impressive precursors would have put ‘Bridesmaids’ in lock-status last year, but this is EXACTLY the kind of film that could prove that the bp-precursors might have become irrelevant this year because the Academy changed their voting system in the Best Picture category…and the others did NOT.
i am here to say how happy it makes me there is a movie site where we have comments come from all of us >>
Jake G
Jake G.
Jake G.!
The romance scenes in Beginners were less well done than the Christopher Plummer scenes. But they are important and, I think, quite good once you realize that they are there so you can follow Ewan McGregor’s character arc. His inability to express himself outside of his art is the real conflict he’s undergoing. Watching him early on struggle with this is maddening, to be sure.
(Vaguely Written Spoiler) It all fell together for me in the final scene with his father’s lover when they discuss why they didn’t see each other after the father died. Sometimes you need to know how a movie ends before you see how all of the puzzle pieces fit together. This was one of those movies.
Bridesmaids was a great comedy, dont get me wrong, but when you have The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Tree of Life, and Young Adult who are all more worthy, it would be sad if the Academy nominated Bridesmaids over those great films!
Sasha, what about ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in 2005 ? Although the Guilds ignored it, it still pulled off 4 (!) Oscar nominations including Best Actress, although Knightley was snubbed by the SAG and even BAFTA. I think that might prove that the film had a strong fanbase in the Academy OR that the myth of the power of the British-vote really exists. And even if it wasn’t clear then, it was definitely proved two years later, when Atonement received 7 nominations including picture, writing, acting WITHOUT a single mention from the PGA-DGA-WGA-SAG quartet…granted the other 3 big precursors (BAFTA, HFPA, BFCA) embraced it, but still. The lack of guild-love in both cases and the fact that in the end one ended up with 7 nods including Best Picture and the other 4 nods including Best Actress, makes me wonder : was ‘Pride and Prejudice’ that far away from the best picture/best adapted screenplay nods ?
Those are exciting exceptions to the rule, phantom.
If Tinker Tailor Solider Spy fails to nab Oscar nominations in top categories, I’m blaming you for getting my hopes up.
“It seems like something I should like because of my female handicap and it just pisses me off.”
I’ll never support a movie strictly based on the “cards” (gender card, race card, gay card, patriot card), either. I had a couple of giggles watching Bridesmaids, don’t “hate” it, but it was just an extended SNL sketch for me. It was funnier than The Hangover, by far, but I’m sure there are at least a dozen better films to represent 2011 for posterity.
I think Bridesmaids will get the Best Picture nom partly due to the female vote. Yes, the Academy likes men & make-dominated films more but somehow I think female voters will give Bridesmaids plenty of no. 1s.
I don’t mind if it gets nominated. It was quite funny.
In a very early review of Bridesmaids, Anne Thompson panned it and said it was a shame that it represented the final screen appearance of Clayburgh. I guess the best part of Bridesmaids’ success is how it proved her comment wrong.
And I just visited Devin Faraci’s site and in his Dragon Tattoo pan, he said that Lisbeth was a masturbatory fantasy for Larsson, which, well…that’s a big whiff on his part. Yeah, stick to comic-con, brother.
The thing is, Bridesmaids is so the guilds’ type of thing. It was always going to do better there than anywhere else. A WGA nomination looked likely even before the season got underway, and its SAG and PGA successes weren’t entirely unexpected either. But I don’t see the Academy chiming in with the same level of support, and I never have.
Also Sasha, your article says that anywhere from 5 to 9 can be nominated – it’s anywhere from 5 to 10, as I know you know anyway.
I was looking forward to seeing “Bridesmaids” — had to wait for DVD — and the only reason I kept watching it was because I didn’t want to go out and shovel snow.
Melissa McCarthy was fun, but really, there were only one or two moments where I laughed out loud or felt anything for the characters. It seemed like the writers thought of something funny and then replayed it ten times to make sure we (the audience) knew it was supposed to be funny. But, sadly, most of it wasn’t funny the first time…
oh, I thought Bridesmaid was quite funny. I really enjoyed the gasp-inducing girl-talk, and all the more naturalistic interactions were enormously charming and amusing.
Just because I don’t laugh out loud much in public doesn’t mean I’m humorless (not necessarily).
Just not a fan of broad humor or physical schtick, despite my Buster Keaton demeanor.
What kind of asshole says “stick to the Oscars?” I think any thoughtful individual who’s seen a huge number of films is worth listening to, at least initially. And since this site manages to generate, like, 200 comments every times some guild announcement is posted, it’s odd that critics or general film journalists would dismiss its value. I’ve been coming to this site because it expands my knowledge of film in overall, not just the Oscar process. Variety never did that, although it did expose me to terrible headline puns.
@himynameiscole: The shit scene in Bridesmaids turned me off, and I’m a young guy. I don’t know how well that bodes for Bridesmaids chances when it’s relying on the support of older voters. I read that the original script by Wiig and Mumolo was less broad and the inclusion of Apatow led to heightened raunchiness. I can’t remember what was added to the script, but I have a feeling Apatow was behind the diarrhea scene…I did like Wiig’s long, downward spiral, though. Reminded me of a Richard Yates novel.
What kind of asshole says “stick to the Oscars?”
https://twitter.com/#!/TheInSneider/status/154014995414384640
me: #tattletale
Actually I think he might have been kidding but Devin Faraci said it in all seriousness a few weeks back. Things can get mighty heated on Twitter.
Devin Faraci should stick to ComicCon
“Trying to remember movies that made me laugh this year. I think only Moneyball and Crazy Stupid Love.”
The Tree of Life made me laugh! Quite a bit … 🙂
Why hasn’t there been ANY talk of Kristin Wiig being a possibility for Best Actress? The film doesn’t have any shot at BP, there’s no way it’ll get enough first place votes to get through the first round. However, I’d make that it’s her performance that should be recognized as the true stand-out in the film. From a degree of difficulty standpoint, the precision of her comedy is every bit as challenging, impressive, and successful as the impersonations pulled off by Streep and Williams, or the deep character work of Davis, Close, and Mara. That film does not work without her at its center, period.
Oh, I liked the romance, quite poetic. But I usually don´t like love stories that much, especially in big Hollywood productions. It often feels cheesy or faked. But not in this one, at least for me. 😉
Oh, I liked the romance, quite poetic.
I can watch Ewan McGregor and Melanie Laurent pretend to have sex all day long. More like that, please.
@Michele, so being a what you called “chick flick” is the reason that it should be shut out from the Best Picture race? It was funny, and it also had heart and substance. I love to see how horrified some of the bloggers here who just can’t believe Bridesmaids is potentially becoming a possible contender after PGA, and SAG’s endorsement. The definition of “best picture” is subject to opinions. I wasn’t surprised that Bridesmaids got a best ensemble nod at SAG. I am glad SAG members see past the bias and prejudice against this “CHICK FLICK”, and I am very glad that it brings out the snobbishness and pretension of people here who think the “best picture” has to be like films like “Tree of life”. I am pleasantly surprised Tree of life gets shut out.
Sure Ryan, we are talking about basic observations relating the awards race, not “Beginners” in particular. The BO failure is not the only thing that stands against it´s Best Picture prospects.
It´s also a quiet and elusive little film, probably not “weighty” or showy enough for Academy Awards. Let´s not forget, aside critics and Box Office, the candidate has also be the “kind of movie” the Academy likes. Just take a look at their history or more important, the history of acclaimed movies that failed to receive nominations!
saying that people wouldn’t list this in a field of ten because of female comedy bias is ridiculous. i am guessing people don’t list it because it’s a rauncy r-rated comedy. when you have a scene where the main characters are shitting in sinks and in the middle of the street (a comedy low that the hangover didn’t even go to. poop jokes, that is), i don’t see how anyone can be surprised that people just don’t take it as seriously as something like moneyball or drive.
even though there was that scene where brad pitt shit in the dugout, but that was crucial to the plot.
I am a sad person. I don’t laugh at many movies.
I don’t understand how Midnight in Paris is a comedy. It barely made me smile, much less laugh.
Trying to remember movies that made me laugh this year. I think only Moneyball and Crazy Stupid Love.
I am a very sad person. Help me. Somebody please help me.
(oh and Rango too. Talking lizards make me laugh.)
Love the Clayburgh mention, by the way.
God I hope not….I enjoyed this film, but it is NOT a best pic. Although, I am even more horrifed that SAG gave it an ensemble acting award. I liked it….it was fine, it was even funny….but,it was a chick flick that was not particularly ground breaking.
I found Bridesmaids retrograde, fundamentally lacking insight into how human beings interact, and its supposedly realistic portrait of depression superficial at best. The praise confounds me. A BP nod for this would be as bad as the blunder the Academy made with The Blind Side, I’m afraid.
Sasha, not even the cute little dog?? 🙂
Sasha, not even the cute little dog??
The dog was cute but the love story=putrid. To me anyway. I kept wanting the movie to only be about Plummer and McGregor. The romance BUGGED HARD.
Ryan, totally agree. It´s either the Box Office or the critics (and critics awards, especially) that makes most Academy members watch the right screeners.
But still, sometimes wonderful strange things happen: 2003 (?) flips into my mind, when Pollock received 2 acting nominations out of the blue. It happens, but it´s rare. And sure I know Beginners will get nothing aside supporting actor- doesn´t change anything about me liking it very much!
Am I the only one who thought that Bridesmaids was long, boring, unfocused, and (outside of Melissa McCarthy) not funny? Probably…but man that felt good to finally get out.
I wouldn’t mind having my own bleached except they don’t let you do that sort of thing in prison.
I wanna make mine tartan. You seem to have bigger problems. Sounds like you need to get a shiv. Who knew blogging could turn so nasty?
The thing that bothers me about this movie is that if it gets nominated I’m going to have to watch it. I never wanted to. I never saw a Hangover either. But I feel like this is like a Hangover for women. And I hate things made especially for women, or for anyone. I can’t stand pandering like that. I mean it’s like wearing womanface instead of blackface. I knew if I saw it I’d probably walk out angry. Same with THE HELP tbh. Oprah’s book club is no different imo. It seems like something I should like because of my female handicap and it just pisses me off. I saw the scene with the sink on some show and my outraged eyes opened so huge that my eyelids flew off.
“It’s funny, by god. It’s well acted, especially by Melissa McCarthy. And well written (..) It has moments of true sentiment and heartache.”
I must have seen another movie then ! Or did they have two versions of it and you saw the director’s cut? What I saw was a cliche-filled vaguely vulgar American teenage flick with adults overacting that would not stand a comparison with any episode of the Sex & the City series.
I doubt The Dark Knight would have made it with the new system – infact some of the nominees in previous years wouldn’t have made it with the new rule.
Finding Neverland with 250 No. 1 votes? I don’t think so.
The new system clearly favors passion movies, not broadly liked movies. Wall-E, Diving Bell are the kind of movies that would have made it in, passionately loved by a minority but over 250 strong.
Bridesmaids getting 250 No. 1 votes? Nah.
Tree Of Life? Very much so, I could see that happening.
Tinker Tailor – well sure as hell there are more than 250 Brits in the Academy.
If they go for dramedy, I wish they´d choose “Beginners”. But that one didn´t make any money, did it?
Anyway, I´ll bet a crate of beer against “Bridesmaid”!
If they go for dramedy, I wish they´d choose “Beginners”. But that one didn´t make any money, did it?
We all like to talk about money like it’s filthy lucre and shouldn’t factor in the assessment of a movie’s artistic worth. And we’re right. Money isn’t a measure of anything — except to get a sense of how many people wanted to watch it.
And that’s where box-office is reflected in awards — in the watchability department.
Doesn’t matter how great Olivia Coleman might be in Tyrannosaur if nobody sees the movie. (This is the same problem Tilda Swinton has had the past two years with Julia and I Am Love).
Anybody who thinks every Academy member watches every single screener they get is living in a dream world.
These people are busy as hell being famous. They don’t have 500 spare hours to watch all 250 eligible films. It’s not a shock or muckraking to point this out, is it?
So all I’m saying: Academy members aren’t that different from you and me. (That’s MY DREAM WORLD delusion and I’m sticking to it!) They want to watch the movies that most of the rest of us want to watch.
So it’s always going to be harder for a movie like Beginners to get ahead of a movie like Bridesmaids — because fewer Academy will have seen Beginners. A lot of those Beginners screeners will never have the security seal broken.
Ugly truth, but somebody has to say it.
I loved Christopher Plummer in Beginners but the rest of it made me want to carve my eyes out with a fork. Sorry.
Just to be clear: although I liked Beginners a lot, I’m not saying it should be a Best Picture nominee.
Beginners is #27 on the list of my favorite movies of the year.
Some films to consider
2006: Children of Men – Screenplay, Cineatography, Film Editing
2005: Syriana – Supporting Actor, Original Screenplay
2003: In America – Actress, Supporting Actress, Screenplay
2002: Talk to Her – Director, Screenplay
2001: Shrek – Animated Feature, Adaped Screenplay
Nothing is impossible. After “The Social Network” snub in the end for Academy last year, everything is possible. All chaos.
I think Bridesmaids would make it in a field of 10 and anyone who doesn’t list it in field of 10 (and many aren’t) are doing so because of the bias against female comedy. If this happened with ‘The Hangover’ there would have been zero backlash. Sasha you didn’t even list it in your predicts for PGA and Tapley did and he hates the Bridesmaids love! (but again, he’s a guy, thinks it’s on the same level as ‘The Hangover’ puhlease! Bridesmaids has heart // The Hangover was mindless and much more ‘raunchy’. Any other film with all the accolades it’s gotten and no one would be doubting it!
Sasha you didn’t even list it in your predicts for PGA and Tapley did and he hates the Bridesmaids love!
Well to be fair I only predicted 9 and listed two alternates. One was Tree of Life and the other Bridesmaids. So I kinda did. 🙂