Breznican on Oscar benefits

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"With the pressure to recognize big films declining, the Oscars' role in movies has become more like that of Oprah's Book Club in promoting literature: highlighting the obscure, unusual or unexpected.

"'The academy is more concerned with rewarding the best film now than they ever have been. They're less concerned with rewarding popular entertainment," says Sasha Stone, who runs the industry blog AwardsDaily.com.

"That trend expands the eternal disconnect between the tastes of the academy and the tastes of the public. Would even fans of last year's top box office-earner -- Spider-Man 3, which took in $336.5 million -- call it the best of the year?

"There Will Be Blood has to have awards success to do anything. It has to prove itself within that landscape," says Kristopher Tapley, who follows award season for Variety's Red Carpet District column. "You can't ignore that Juno is the biggest (platform release) since My Big Fat Greek Wedding," the 2002 film that took in more than $240 million.

"No Country for Old Men, which has taken in $61.3 million, 'is the Coen brothers' highest-grossing film to date,' Tapley says, referring to filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen, known for their offbeat storytelling. 'So there is obviously box-office bulk to be had (from the Oscars). There is an algorithm there.'"

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 23, 2008 at 7:58 AM

comment #1

George Prager says ...

"Would even fans of last year's top box office-earner -- Spider-Man 3, which took in $336.5 million -- call it the best of the year?"

Only those who went to BestBuy, whipped out their Providian Silver card (with a 29.7% APR) and bought BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER.

Posted by George Prager at February 23, 2008 8:29 AM

comment #2

Josh Massey says ...

"The academy is more concerned with rewarding the best film now than they ever have been."

Is she being ironic?

I mean, I loved The Departed, but I don't think it's the best example of "the eternal disconnect between the tastes of the academy and the tastes of the public."

And when did the Academy ever reward the Spider-Man 3s of the world? Around the World in 80 Days?

Was the Academy really concerned with rewarding the best film when they selected Crash? Chicago? A Beautiful Mind? Gladiator? Crash?

(I know, I mentioned Crash twice, but that's just how goddamned absurd the selection was).

Posted by Josh Massey at February 23, 2008 8:29 AM

comment #3

Glenn Kenny says ...

"You can't ignore that 'Juno' is the biggest [platform release] since 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding,'" sayeth Mr. Tapley.

No, I suppose you cannot. And by the same token, one cannot ignore that 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' got one Oscar nomination (Nia Vardalos, for Best Original Screenplay, imagine that) and took home no awards.

Granted, 'Juno' has more credibility wid da yout than "Wedding" didÃ¢â‚¬â€what was the line about the critic who hadn't seen it, but his grandparents did?Ã¢â‚¬â€but comparing 'Juno' to 'Wedding' really doesn't help advance its Oscar cred much.

Although I'm gathering there are a lot of people out there hoping that Diablo Cody goes on to have as stellar a career as Vardalos...

Posted by Glenn Kenny at February 23, 2008 8:31 AM

comment #4

StoneFan1 says ...

This is TOTAL BULLSHIT!

Somebody has way too much time on their hands.

Didn't "Chicago" gross $170 million+?

Didn't "Return of the King" gross $300 million+?

Didn't "A Beautiful Mind" gross $170 million+?

Didn't "Gladiator" gross $180 million+?

I recall in the mid-80's the Best Picture
winners weren't huge hits!

This is just a phase and it won't last!

The main problem is that all the "big time" movies
haven't been very good for the past 3-4 years.
Once Hollywood makes another big event film that
critics like, it'll be up for Best Picture and
might even win it.

Posted by StoneFan1 at February 23, 2008 8:39 AM

comment #5

cust71 says ...

Seems like a director will get a movie to do "on credit" after winning an Oscar, so if NCFOM wins, I wonder if the Coens will still do the Chabon movie, or use some muscle to try "To The White Sea" again.

Posted by cust71 at February 23, 2008 8:43 AM

comment #6

Jay T. says ...

Oh man... I'd LOVE to see a film of To the White Sea -- based on the descriptions in James Dickey's book, it would be a visual masterpiece if handled correctly (which the Coens could do). No dialogue for at least an hour would be pretty damn risky, and in comparison would make Cast Away look downright chatty.

Posted by Jay T. at February 23, 2008 11:20 AM

comment #7