Last night’s Golden Globe telecast told us a few things:
- Host Ricky Gervais will never be invited to do the honors at the Oscar ceremony.
- Jeff Bridges is a lock to win Best Actor for “Crazy Heart” – they gave him a standing-O, fer crying out loud.
- “Avatar” has an excellent chance of winning Best Picture after earning the Best Drama prize last night.
The latter stands as the biggest news of the night, bar none.
Who couldn’t have guessed Gervais’ barbs would be so toxic?
Several factors are playing into a possible “Avatar” win on Oscar night. One, there’s no clear front runner in the Best Picture category. “Up in the Air” comes close, but it’s not great enough to shake away the competition.
The Academy is likely tired of being seen as elitist, so trumpeting the most popular film of the year – and second most of all time – will go a way toward righting that wrong.
“Avatar” director James Cameron is an avowed lefty, and that could change a few voters’ minds.
And the films 3-D innovations will help keep the film industry profitable for the forseeable future. And that’s sure to make voters breathe a little easier about movie making in the new decade.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
If “Avatar” wins it’s pure politics. I can hear Cameron’s gushy, self-appreciative, nauseous speech in my ears now. Eco terrorism? I’ll probably turn all the lights on in my house, start-up my 15 MPG pick up truck and chop down all the trees in my yard just to get it out of my ears.
I haven’t read one review (gushing or otherwise) giving it a nod for story, substance or any acting (has a Best Picture winner never had one actor nominated, or even buzzed about in the least?). It’s all visual nonsense, which will seem dated in four or five years anyway, and correct politics.
Let them award “Dancing With Smurfs.” Let the academy further sink into irrelevance.
If “Avatar” wins the Best Picture Oscar, it will be yet another example of a movie that’s rewarded for its allegedly noble aspirations rather than its true artistic merit.
I’m going to have to go on YouTube today and see some of Ricky’s jabs first hand. I usually think he’s very funny, and if I remember not, you are not really a fan! I didn’t start watching the awards until the end, because as far as I’m concerned the Golden Globes are the Oscar’s drunk little brother.
I believe Avatar will likely win the Oscar and it will be a travesty of massive proportions.
Yeah, even the raves for “Avatar” state, “sure, the story is weak and dialogue is awful, but …”
I liked the film for its spectacle, but never would I call it the year’s Best Pic.
I don’t think I’d mind if Cameron won the Oscar for Best Director… but if Avatar wins Best Pictures I say, boycott the Academy.
Great point, Heidi … as a director he had to orchestrate so much – the actors, the effects, the 3-D, so him winning that award makes sense on some level.
But Best Picture? Really?
1997 – Best film, Titanic and Director, James Cameron. Personally, I think Boogie Nights should have been nominated. When was the last year of balanced nominations on Oscar night or a list of best films nominated that made total sense?
Christian~
Not sure about all the teeth gnashing over the Academy choosing a less-than-best film. With something so incredibly subjective, and their entire relevance at stake due to influence of independent writers and blogger, who is surprised that they may pick the crowd pleaser?
Will you be reviewing the film soon? Don’t see it on your list.
Avatar is a movie with some good intentions, but from that to be considered as “Best Movie”? It makes me sick… I would rather say Inglourious Basterds should be the one
Avatar was my favorite, but Up in the Air deserved it the most.
I wish a “real life” Ryan Bingham kind of person(someone who fire people) should fire everyone in the academy….