TM

Awards Pages Index *
History of Oscar 2001

 

Best Foreign Film Final Predictions!
Green: Locks. Yellow: Makes sense. Blue: Vulnerable? Orange: On the Rise
* Thanks to My Secret Insider Academy Correspondents! As well as readers: Geert, Johanna, André, Ali, Zeusefer, and Juan for their input.

Precursor Awards: Euro: Amélie NBR: Amores Perros (not eligible) New York: In the Mood for Love (not eligible) LA: No Man's Land Boston Amores Perros (not eligible) Southeast Critics: Amélie Las Vegas: No Man's Land Texas: Amélie National Society of Film Critics: In the Mood for Love (not eligible) Globes: No Man's Land Satellites: No Man's Land BFCA: Amélie

2/08/02 Here are the final predictions, upset possibilities, and longshots. Anything else can be considered out of the race... and once again, as with the English language portion of the awards -the Oscar chances are not always indicative of quality... but rather of quality mixed with mindset mixed with genre mixed with politics, etc... You know the drill.

Submission List with Notes on Every Film: Algeria-Iceland/ India -Yugoslavia / Tally Per Country

The 5 Predicted Nominees
-No locks as this committee votes differently than others and there's no accurate precursors to a select group of people in a room giving any film a rating after a screening.
France
31 noms. 12 wins
Argentina
4 noms. 1 win.
Norway
3 noms. 0 wins.
Bosnia
never nominated
Canada
2 noms. 0 wins
Amélie
(official site)
El Hijo De La Novia
(Son of the Bride)
Elling
No Man's Land
Atanjurat: The Fast Runner
Now Playing in US
(Miramax)
Opening in 2002
TBA
No US release scheduled yet
Now Playing in US
(MGM/UA)
Opens in June in US
(Lot 47)
Story:
Oh you've already seen it! Amélie is an adorable painfully shy waitress who plays mischievious games with friends and enemies in a fairy tale Paris (Montmarte region to be specific)
Academy reaction?
The same as the rest of the country. Some love it. Some find it wayyy overrated. Considered to be the probable winner if it gets past the nominations board. ! :)
Story:
(The Son of the Bride)
This is a story about a divorced restaurant owner arranging a church wedding for his elderly parents. His mother (played by celebrated actress Norma Alejandro) suffers from Alzheimers. The Hollywood Reporter gave it a rave.
Academy reaction? Very positive. Alejandro is 'better than Dench' in Iris. "This one has it all."
I speak Norwegian! (badly...but I do)
Story:
This winner of the Best New Director special mention prize at the St. Sebastian Festival is the tale of a man who is trying to integrate back into normal society after two years at a psychiatric center for his neurosis (something akin to agoraphobia)
Academy reaction?
The committee is reportedly ga-ga for it -although its been low on the radar up till now.
Story:
The Cannes winner for screenplay. The Globe winner for foreign film.. But with this Bosnian production the real question is this: With it's dark satiric tone and messy political turmoil will it stir too many fresh or conflicting emotions in the voting branch? Oscar doesn't usually embrace dark comedy...
Academy reaction?
The buzz is there and its a fine film.
Story:
This three hour long epic Canadian film is the first Inuit movie ever -so it has a place in history right there. Why Lot 47 is waiting till June to release it when it's expected to be a strong contender for a foreign Oscar nomination is beyond me!? Start the campaign before it's too late!
Academy reaction?
Said to be very involving and beautiful...but honestly the fifth slot is a crapshoot.
The 4 Strong Alternates
(These films are all considered to have a good shot at the fifth slot.)
Czech Rep.
8 noms. 3 wins
Italy
26 noms. 12 wins
Denmark
6 noms. 2 wins.
India
2 noms. 0 wins.
Dark Blue World
(official site)
The Sons Room
Italian for Beginners
Lagaan
(official site)
Now Playing in US
(SonyPicturesClassics)
Now Playing in US
(Miramax)
Now Playing in US
(Miramax)
Already completed its US run.
Story:
From the director of the Oscar winning Kolya this is about two WW II soldiers in love with the same woman. Rather traditional apparently but when has that ever be a detrimant to Oscar glory?
Academy reaction? They highly enjoyed it. Basically it's like a big Hollywood movie.
Story:
This year's Palme D'Or winner is about a family who loses their teen-age son in an accident -some critics have compared it unfavorably to the semi-similar (theme only) American film In the Bedroom.
Academy reaction?
Very positive. A really good shot at making the final five. It's considered to be the most accessible Cannes winner in years.
Story:
If Oscar is in a lighter mood, they may go for this popular 'Dogme 95' comedy. The film seems easy to love. It's about five lonely souls who enroll in a night class to learn Italian.
Academy reaction?
It's a notable contender because of the high profile and due to Miramax. Feel good films "shouldn't be underestimated" warns the insider.
Story:
It's a period epic about villages risking it all on a game of crickets with the landowners to whom they pay an exorbitant tax (lagaan) Apparently all the Bollywood conventions are firmly in place but the film is an eye popper and a crowd pleaser.
Academy reaction?
Enthusiastic. No walk outs in a four hour film and applause. It could make the top five.
The 10 LongShots
(This category is always tough to predict. And usually there's surprises.) To read more continue on...
Mexico
5 noms. 0 wins.
Iceland
1 nom. 0 wins.
Iran
1 nom. 0 wins.
Albania
no nominations
Perfume de Violetas
Seagull's Laughter
Slogans
Spain
18 noms. 3 wins.
Russia
13 noms. 4 wins.
Portugal
zero noms.
Sweden
12 noms. 3 wins.
Juana de Loca
The Romanovs
Camarate
Jalla! Jalla! (official site)

 

Full Submission List Info Here A -I / I-Z