Hammond's early predix

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Maxim critic, Hollywood Wiretap columnist and Hollywood get-around guy Pete Hammond has done a podcast chat with The Envelope's Tom O'Neil about some early Oscar favorites. His, not mine; I agree with only a couple of them.

O'Neil doesn't specifically allude to Hammond speaking about the inevitability of Tommy Lee Jones as a Best Actor candidate for his Olympian performances in No Country For Old Men and In The Valley of Elah, but apparently Hammond does speak of No Country in the recording.

Hammond also pushes the "magnificent" Don Cheadle for his Talk to Me performance as legendary Washington, D.C. deejay Ralph "Petey" Greene. Trust me -- it won't happen. Cheadle almost always gives exceptional performances, but the character has to embody something that people relate to or believe in, and Greene is shown as a bright firebrand who ended up as a loser and a boozer with addictions that ended his life too soon.

Milos Forman's Goya's Ghosts "is not going to go to the Oscars in anything but a technical category," Hammond predicts. John Waters' Hairspray, however, "delivers...it's a lot of fun." No, it isn't -- it's relentlessly fizzy, repetitive and droning, although I recognize that a lot of people are liking it. (I've had problems with Waters skin-deep films all along, so my reaction came as no surprise.) Hammond also calls it "a mid-July sleeper." Okay, and what does this have to do with Oscar prospects?

Hammond is completely correct is predicting Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose and Julie Christie in Away from Her are almost certain Best Actress nominees, "no matter what comes up the rest of the year." A Mighty Heart's Angelina Jolie "will get a big campaign," yes, but it'll be an uphill effort because of the film's box-office failure.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 11, 2007 at 12:40 AM

comment #1

source188 says ...

Fincher's Zodiac will almost certainly, and shamefully, go completely unnoticed. The "real" contenders have yet to be released (i think), the films released thus far will be lost come winter (well, maybe except Ratatouille and Sicko), 'cept for a couple of the summer tentpoles for technicals.

Posted by source188 at July 11, 2007 2:09 AM

comment #2

Esme says ...

but it'll be an uphill effort because of the film's box-office failure.
-----------------------------------------------
Then the same goes for Away From Her. Honestly I don't know anybody who even knows that such film exists.

Posted by Esme at July 11, 2007 4:47 AM

comment #3

btwnproductions says ...

Like it or not--and I liked it very much--it's not really John Waters' Hairspray, but an adaptation of the Broadway musical that Waters himself had little to do with. Oscars? Likely not, but it's a relief after the stampede of pirates, robots, and silver surfers over our screens.

Sorry, but In the Valley of Elah is a sleep-inducing stiff, including Jones' usual taciturn performance. I don't see this getting much traction with audiences or critics, who have Paul Haggis in their gunsights and will roll their eyes at its "weighty" last shot.

Posted by btwnproductions at July 11, 2007 5:08 AM

comment #4

Daniel Tayag says ...

Based from source188's mention of Zodiac, I didn't know until yesterday that Paramount is releasing a director's cut version of Zodiac for DVD in 2008.

Here's a link to a pic: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews32/a%20zodiac/zodiac%202007%20menu%204.jpg

Posted by Daniel Tayag at July 11, 2007 5:10 AM

comment #5

EDouglas says ...

I agree about Julie CHristie/Away from Her... way too low profile (even compared to Mighty Heart) Only thing that might work is if Lionsgate actively sends out screeners/DVDs later in the year. I don't think Goya's Ghosts stands a chance at anything... it's getting such a minimal release.

Posted by EDouglas at July 11, 2007 5:21 AM

comment #6

bacio says ...

Christie has the old favourite tag working in her favour, Angelina has the Brangelina stigma working against her. we shall see

Posted by bacio at July 11, 2007 6:20 AM

comment #7

romeoisbleeding says ...

I saw "Away from He" and it is a wonderful little movie. Julie deserves a nomination for it. And I am sure she will get one. As for Zodiac, I am hoping that it gets some nominations. It is still one of my favorite movies of the year. I read that the ad for the Directors Cut of the DVD is on the regular DVD that is due out July 24. There are no extras on this dvd. I guess they are saving them all for the Directors Cut. That is a shame as I have been aching to see some of the deleted scenes. Fincher even said himself he had to cut a brilliant scene with Downey to try and make the movie shorter. I am not happy about having to wait until next year to see those scenes but I will be first in line to buy it.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at July 11, 2007 6:36 AM

comment #8

dixiedugan says ...

So...are we thinking Sicko will definately get an Oscar nod in the doc section? Or not? I haven't seen it so I can't judge.

A friend whose opinion I trust saw Away From Her and praised not only Julie's performance but Gordon Pinsent's as well.

Posted by dixiedugan at July 11, 2007 7:02 AM

comment #9

romeoisbleeding says ...

I am glad you mentioned Gordon. He is truly awesome in this movie. He deserves a nomination probably even more than Julie Christie. But together they were just perfect. Also just to add a ps to my note about the Director's Cut of Zodiac.. this was posted on IMDB as being part of that DVD. Again, I wish we did not have to wait so long for this. I have already preordered the bare bones one from Amazon but will have to buy it again when it comes out in 2008. Apparently they know what they are doing and know that nuts like me will buy it twice. Anyway.. this is part of what we can expect.
Commentary by David Fincher, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey, Jr., screenwriter James Vanderbilt, producer Brad Fischer, and special guest James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential)

An in-depth examination of the Zodiac's actual crimes. Including all-new interviews with the original investigators, survivors and informants.

Extensive behind-the-scenes supplements covering nearly every aspect of the creation of David Fincher's landmark film.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at July 11, 2007 7:19 AM

comment #10

dixiedugan says ...

Romeo, I feel your pain..I'd suggest just renting the barebones Zodiac when it's released, or buy it used if you must have it - then just get the SE next year. I'm so sick of the studio SE release tricks...and now with all this Blu-Ray business. I've worked too hard and long to build up the collection I want to start converting to the Blu-Ray...can you imagine the Criterions going that way? And the money involved? I don't want to know...

There's exceptions to every rule though. I bought Dark City eons ago, and when the SE (supposedly this year) gets itself released I would buy that because it's been so long. Less than a year though isn't worth it. Or, when the deluxe super duper Ben-Hur came out with the silent included I double dipped on that.

Posted by dixiedugan at July 11, 2007 7:29 AM

comment #11

Rod32303 says ...

How's Pfeiffer in "Hairspray"? She looks likes she's having a ball, all Cruela...

Posted by Rod32303 at July 11, 2007 8:15 AM

comment #12

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Rod32303: Pfeiffer is very cool at first -- she has the chilly-prissy attitude down just so, and the white-frosty makeup is just right, and you say to yourself, "A Baltimore Cruela de Ville...I get it, great beginning!" And then a half hour passes and she's doing exactly the same thing -- no new wrinkles or variations. And then an hour passes and she's doing exactly the same thing, and so on. Like everything else in the film, the performance doesn't develop.

Posted by gruver1 at July 11, 2007 8:32 AM

comment #13

NYCritic says ...

The problem with Pfeiffer's role in HAIRSPRAY is that someone (the screenwriter?, the producers?, the director?) decided to make the character an all out villain. Instead of allowing her to be redeemed at the end (as in the stage version), she remains the "bad guy."

It was just great to see Pfeiffer back on the big screen and she does a great singing job. Wish she had been allowed to play EVITA.

Posted by NYCritic at July 11, 2007 9:10 AM

comment #14

Aunt Sassy says ...

"John Waters' Hairspray, however, "delivers...it's a lot of fun." No, it isn't -- it's relentlessly fizzy, repetitive and droning, although I recognize that a lot of people are liking it."

Or could it be, just maybe, that you have a pathological hatred of the musical, don't understand the artform, couldn't tell a good musical from a bad one if a gun was held to your head, and wouldn't admit liking one even if you did because it would jeopardize your status as a straight-talkin', hard-lovin', Harley-drivin', bad-ass showbiz blogger?

Incidentally, my buttplug recently had coffee with your buttplug and they both agreed that if you want to maintain that tough guy image, you really should switch from translucent magenta with glitter to one with a solid black finish. It's a classic.

Posted by Aunt Sassy at July 11, 2007 9:30 AM

comment #15

soundoftheground says ...

just a heads up if it wasn't obvious, re: zodiac dvd's. the directors cut release next year will not include the theatrical cut. if you want the the theatrical cut you'll have to get the barebones release this month...david prior has some info posted up at dvdtalk.com

Posted by soundoftheground at July 11, 2007 9:38 AM

comment #16

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Aunt Sassy: I worship "Evita," I love the old Arthur Freed musicals, I love "Swingtime" and I melt every time I watch "Carousel," I love parts of "West Side Story" (although I prefer listening to the original B'way album), I love parts of "Oklahoma," I love "A Hard Day's Night" and "Cabaret," I love "Damn Yankees" and I'm head over heels about the best musical to come down the pike in ages -- "Once."

Posted by gruver1 at July 11, 2007 9:46 AM

comment #17

PanTheFaun says ...

http://robscheer.blogspot.com/2007/06/hairspray.html

In my "spoiler" section, I talk about what they do/did to Pfeiffer's character in the new film.

Posted by PanTheFaun at July 11, 2007 10:19 AM

comment #18

Arizona Joe says ...

I realize why they remade "Hairspray." The play made a lot of money, and this will make a lot.

But how can you have "Hairspray" without Divine or Debbie Harry yelling out "mashed potato" ?

After "The Producers," I am dubious.

Posted by Arizona Joe at July 11, 2007 10:49 AM

comment #19

George Prager says ...

I'm waiting for Cry Baby the musical followed by Cry Baby the movie inspired by the musical inspired by the movie. John Travolta can play the Polly Bergen role.

Posted by George Prager at July 11, 2007 10:59 AM

comment #20

Aunt Sassy says ...

"Wells to Aunt Sassy: I worship "Evita," I love the old Arthur Freed musicals, I love "Swingtime" and I melt every time I watch "Carousel," I love parts of "West Side Story" (although I prefer listening to the original B'way album), I love parts of "Oklahoma," I love "A Hard Day's Night" and "Cabaret," I love "Damn Yankees" and I'm head over heels about the best musical to come down the pike in ages -- 'Once.' "

I stand corrected, Jeff. You can stick with translucent magenta; you've...you've earned it (promised myself I wouldn't cry).

Posted by Aunt Sassy at July 11, 2007 11:22 AM

comment #21

ArchiveGuy says ...

I think Jeff's wrong about Cheadle--he's been a supporting player for years, but now that he has a foot in the door with the Academy (thanks to the "Rwanda" nod), he's more likely to gain more attention in the future--*especially* when it's a showpiece starring role which almost fixates on his charisma. If Robin Williams could do it for "Vietnam", Cheadle is definitely a contender (though some likely stiff competition in the category hardly make him a sure thing).

Posted by ArchiveGuy at July 11, 2007 2:02 PM

comment #22