OSCAR COMMENTARY
by
Nathaniel
R
days until OSCAR NIGHT!
FOREIGN
COUNTRIES -OSCAR RECORDS
/ 2005-LAST
YEAR'S RACE
The Initial 60+ Film Submission List A-F
/ F-N / N-Z
Best Foreign Language Film
The Lives of Others from Germany
Final Predictions I got 4 /5 correct not forseeing the Volver snub which will continue to sting (the snub not the unforseen nature of it) Of the two nominees I've seen both are inferior to Spain's entry. But, as others have noted, perhaps the Academy is Pedro'd out after two wins (F0reign Film in 99 and Screenplay in 02). With Volver out of the running the race gets far less exciting. It should be easy for Mexico to take this unless Germany can rally unexpected support for their entry which has been wildly acclaimed.
Coming Back to Volver -on the film snub and the beauty of Cruz's nominated performanceLong Story Short: Pan's Labyrinth will have to fend off The Lives of Others and those multiple Oscar nominations might keep it out in front. But let's say the'res an upset for Lives and they reward Pan's amply elsewhere.
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release:
12/06/06 running time: 120 language: french/arabic box office: $.02 my grade: n/a other awards: Cannes (2 prizes) synopsis: North African soldiers fight for France and against French discrimination during WW II |
release:
04/28/06 now on DVD running time: 114 language: Hindi box office: $3.2 my grade: B-/C+ other awards: Genie (3 prizes), NBR ("expression"), festival prize, Vancouver Critics (2 prizes) synopsis: Three widows of three generations deal with social ostracization in India in the time of Gandhi |
release:
03/30/07 running time: 120 language: Danish + box office: n/a my grade: n/a other awards: festival prize synopsis: Mads Mikkelsen is an orphanage mgr who discovers a family secret. From the director of Brothers huh? IFC is waiting until a month after the Oscars instead of releasing it while people are still talking about it? |
release:
02/09/07 running time: 137 language: German box office: $.8 my grade: n/a other awards: EFA (3 prizes), Bavarian Awards (4 prizes) Germany's Oscars (7 statues), Festival Prizes, LAFCA (Foreign Film) synopsis: An SSA observes a couple's private life in East Germany during the 80s |
release:
12/29/06 running time: 101 language: Spanish box office: $31 and growing my grade: B other awards: Spain's Oscars 'The Goyas" (7 statues), Many Critics Prizes (Foreign Film) synopsis: Ofelia leads two lives, one fantastical (with fauns and magical tasks) and one fascist (with death and war) both are brutal |
Who
Got Robbed? |
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| Volver, Volver, Volver, Volver, Volver. Did I Mention Volver? At the Spanish Oscars "The Goyas" Pan's Labyrinth took seven prizes but couldn't best Volver for Best Picture (Volver won five prizes total). But sadly, Volver did not triumph with Oscar. | ||||
Should
Win / Will Win |
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| Should
Win:
TBA. Haven't yet seen them all Will Win: The Lives of Others might send Pan's back to the Labyrinth. There's other places to reward Pan's and AMPAS voters aren't totally in love with fantasy films. It's not a confident prediction but I could see it happening. |
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THE
ENTIRE ORIGINAL OFFICIAL SUBMISSIONS LIST |
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