Hammond Had It

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Who wasn't shocked at yesterday's announcement about Stephen Daldry's The Reader being one of the Best Picture Oscar nominees? The Envelope 's Pete Hammond, for one.

In the wake of last week's BAFTA announcement in which The Reader received several key noms including best picture, Hammond wrote that "this is the movie that has cropped up again and again in conversations I've had with academy members, not The Dark Knight.

"That decidedly unscientific survey has again proven to be right," Hammond said yesterday. "My 'group' has in previous years pointed clearly to upset victories for My Cousin Vinnie's Marisa Tomei, Crash and Marion Cotillard winning for Best Actress. I'm getting on the phone with them right now to see who wins on Feb. 22. I'll let you know."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 23, 2009 at 7:17 AM

comment #1

NDH says ...

Yeah. Thanks Pete. You get on that.

Posted by NDH at January 23, 2009 7:46 AM

comment #2

byanyother says ...

It wasn't just Pete. Scott Feinberg actually predicted it and Awards Daily wrote a piece about it being the biggest threat to upset the Dark Knight. Those paying attention saw it coming.

Posted by byanyother at January 23, 2009 7:56 AM

comment #3

byanyother says ...

Oh and p.s. that theory has proves itself wrong more often than it has proven itself right.

Posted by byanyother at January 23, 2009 7:57 AM

comment #4

raygo says ...

If memory serves me, wasn't Nicole Kidman originally set for The Reader, as her reunion project with Daldry? In retrospect, Kidman's participation probably would have changed the reception of the film ... or in a perfect world would it have restored her reputation? Who can say.

Posted by raygo at January 23, 2009 7:57 AM

comment #5

raygo says ...

And Marisa Tomei rules, btw. She's developing a really interesting body of work (pun intended).

Posted by raygo at January 23, 2009 8:01 AM

comment #6

actionman says ...

Seeing The Wrestler (finally) this Sunday. Can't wait.

Posted by actionman at January 23, 2009 8:09 AM

comment #7

raygo says ...

And Crash is and always will be crap. Did finally catch In the Valley of Elah last week. Decent film. Better than Crash by a mile.

Posted by raygo at January 23, 2009 8:10 AM

comment #8

raygo says ...

Driving home from work yesterday, I passed one of Pittsburgh's remaining independent theaters. Now playing ... "I've Loved You So Long" Yea! Movie weekend is shaping up.

Posted by raygo at January 23, 2009 8:13 AM

comment #9

Breedlove says ...

Raygo, it's an interesting point about Kidman, I was thinking the same thing. She was attached for quite some time and dropped out at the last minute, I think. Kind of interesting trivia if Winslet wins the Oscar. My guess is that Kidman, who was like nails on a chalkboard in the otherwise very watchable AUSTRALIA, who seems to be a bad-luck charm at the moment who is in nothing other than flops and disappointments, would have brought the movie down, and not the other way around. But who knows? Maybe she wins her second Oscar and turns her career around.

Posted by Breedlove at January 23, 2009 9:16 AM

comment #10

Tiny Tim says ...

Is this "decidedly unscientific survey" the same one that
leads Hammond to rave over every crap movie?

I'm surprised he didn't predict a Best Picture nomination for Seven Pounds, since he considers it a masterpiece.

Posted by Tiny Tim at January 23, 2009 9:30 AM

comment #11

K. Bowen says ...

Maybe next time Batman should try fighting the Nazis.

Posted by K. Bowen at January 23, 2009 9:58 AM

comment #12

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

lol, Bowen.

I'd watch that, actually...

Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at January 23, 2009 10:13 AM

comment #13

nola says ...

Nicole dropped out when she became pregnant.

Posted by nola at January 23, 2009 10:44 AM

comment #14

MindlessObamaton says ...

Bowen FTW!!! LOL while scarfing down my apple!!

FYI: That Roger Friedman guy on foxnews.com called it a few weeks back. Christ, I suck.

Posted by MindlessObamaton at January 23, 2009 11:15 AM

comment #15

lipranzer says ...

Finally saw THE READER. I didn't hate it, and it's certainly the first Stephen Daldry movie that didn't make me want to throw something at the screen, but it was sort of dull. The only scene that resonated at all was the scene at the end with Lena Olin. I'm sure the intent was sincere - to illustrate why "ordinary" people would participate in such a horrifying event - but it isn't very well dramatized. And I don't think Winslet deserved a nomination either.

Posted by lipranzer at January 23, 2009 4:55 PM

comment #16