"Bobby" reaction

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Say what you will about Emilio Estevez's Bobby (Weinstein Co., 11.17), but it seems to have tapped into something fairly strong with the over-50 set. Or it did last night, anyway, when it screened at Pete Hammond's KCET class out at the TV Academy in North Hollywood. It was election night, of course, and perhaps people were reflecting back on those old Bobby Kennedy highs. Or maybe the movie just got to them. The crowd, in any event, really responded when the lights came up and Hammond introduced Estevez.

"It was the longest and strongest applause I've ever seen happen at this class," Hammond told me earlier today. "When people greet a guest the applause usually goes 30, 40 seconds...usually less than a minute. This went on and on and on, and then everyone started to stand up. Very unusual. These are all upscale movielovers. I asked how many had voted and they all raised their hands."

I never know to what extent a reaction like this is may be about things other than the film iself, but I remember what an exceptionally positive reaction Crash got when I showed it an older, well-heeled crowd at the UCLA Sneak Previews in the spring of '05, and we all know where that one led. And we all know that a typical Academy member tends to fit the same profile -- 50-plus, liberal, etc. So maybe this means something. Or not.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 8, 2006 at 2:14 PM

comment #1

Movie fan09 says ...

CRASH?!

are you serious?!

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 8, 2006 3:47 PM

comment #2

Matthew Lucas says ...

Not liberal enough apparently. There were a surprising number of so-called liberal Academy members who were turned off by "Brokeback Mountain" last year.

Posted by Matthew Lucas at November 8, 2006 3:58 PM

comment #3

Arnzilla says ...

I thought the TV Academy was in beautiful downtown North Hollywood.

Posted by Arnzilla at November 8, 2006 9:58 PM

comment #4

jeffreywells says ...

Wells to Arnzilla Okay, it's technically in North Hollywood, big deal...but it's just a stone's throw from Burbank.

Posted by jeffreywells at November 9, 2006 1:48 AM

comment #5

The Movie Man says ...

This sounds just pandering and mediocre enough to be this year's Scorsese upset and, of course, the best picture winner. Estevez even has the former actor thing going.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 9, 2006 6:00 AM

comment #6

Dave Polands Gut says ...

Over 50? You mean aging boomers who have a fondness for their idealistic times???

Please. Half of them are still living in the sixties.

Posted by Dave Polands Gut at November 9, 2006 6:46 AM

comment #7

bipedalist says ...

Say what you will indeed. Since when do the Academy vote with the "hipper than thou" set? They rarely do, only if forced. When I saw Bobby there wasn't a dry eye in the house and these people were OLD. I don't know how you can't be moved by the film. How many times do we all go into Oscar season with the knowledge that Oscar votes from the heart. Yet, come Oscar season, it's all about the heady movies. I don't know why it's dropped off the radar online - it hasn't even opened yet. Did anyone catch the Daily Show Midacular - well, did you happen to count how many times they ran the trailer for Bobby?

Posted by bipedalist at November 9, 2006 7:02 AM

comment #8

bipedalist says ...

Sorry, I guess that would be Mid-tacular...

Posted by bipedalist at November 9, 2006 7:03 AM

comment #9

The Movie Man says ...

bipedalist-I was only partially kidding, I think this might be a contender, unless the reviews are so harsh that the Academy is embarrassed into ignoring it. It has everything, the "no one wanted to make this movie" story that we hear nearly ever year about the best picture winner, the washed-up actor makes good factor (both behind and in front of the camera in this case), the vague historical context that makes this IMPORTANT in the Academy's eyes, the schmaltz, etc., etc.

I'm gonna tell you guys one thing, The Departed WILL NOT win best picture and Scorsese is probably only about 50-50 himself. If not Bobby then something else will come along at the last minute.

Posted by The Movie Man at November 9, 2006 7:35 AM

comment #10

bipedalist says ...

Movieman, I'm with you. I'm starting to think Bobby could win this thing. Am I nuts? Departed doesn't sit right with me entirely either; Dreamgirls I haven't yet seen so it's impossible to say. Bobby has it all. And yes, unless it's hammered by the critics (and believe me - it will have to get HAMMERED) it has it all. And check it out: let's say Emilio and Marty are up against each other and EMILIO wins?!

Martin Scorsese -->Robert Redford
Martin Scorsese -->Kevin Costner
Martin Scorsese -->Clint Eastwood
Martin Scorsese -- Emilio Estevez

Are you starting to see a pattern? :-)

Posted by bipedalist at November 9, 2006 10:52 AM

comment #11

bipedalist says ...

Good lord, I'm batting a thousand today -- Movie Man I see you already brought up the former actor thing!! Spot on! I didn't see your comment earlier.

Posted by bipedalist at November 9, 2006 10:55 AM

comment #12