comment #1

great scott says ...

O'Neil's the same guy who predicted Sweeney Todd three years ago.

Case closed.

comment #2

DeafBrownTrashPunk says ...

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! Is this a late April Fool's Day joke or what.

comment #3

THE MovieBob says ...

Love, love, love, love, lovel, LOOOOOOOVE to see this happen, but I don't see it happening.

On the one hand, short of a "Dark Knight" for this year, "Basterds" is exactly the sort of thing the new ten-noms angle was designed to let in: A big crowd-pleaser that also makes the under-40 film geeks batty. The absolute BEST thing that could happen for Oscar in terms of staying relevant AND still mattering artistically is for Tarantino to accept Best Picture for a pulp-actioner about righteous Jewish vengeance against Hitler. Place would explode. And it deserves it, too - as much as any movie can, all things considered.

But I think it's going to be "Up In The Air." Setting aside that it's a fantastic film, it's a quintessential modern-day "stuff-Oscar-loves" buffet: A visually-pleasing character piece about an aging baby-boomer reconsidering his life, starring George Clooney and touching just-lightly-enough-to-pretend-at-meaning-something on a topical issue.

comment #4

dggunz says ...

I would also love to see this happen, even though there are probably better films this year.

comment #5

Flash Gordon says ...

If Jeff is right and Invictus has a good shot at Best Picture, that bodes well for Morgan Freeman's Best Actor chances. If they didn't feel compelled to give it to Peter O'Toole, why would they give it to Jeff Bridges who probably still has quite a few years left than the 72 year-old Freeman?

Oh, and Tom O'Neil sometimes makes bold predictions (like Clooney over Day-Lewis and Felicity Huffman over Reese Witherspoon for example) just on the off chance it comes true and he looks like a genius.

comment #6

lazarus says ...

Peter O'Toole was up against a fiery Forest Whitaker performance, whereas Bridges will likely be competing against a typical Morgan Freeman wise man turn. They're both black actors, but that's about it. I don't see how this is the same at all. They won't feel "compelled" to vote for Bridges, but may do so because it's great work from a versatile actor who is much valued in the industry.

comment #7

reverent and free says ...

Would Waltz be leading or supporting actor?

comment #8

Flash Gordon says ...

Bridges and O'Toole are both veterans who have been around forever, been nominated a bunch of times and never won. Plus Whitaker and Freeman are playing real life foreign Presidents. That's how the situation is similar.

comment #9

LexG says ...

Clint is an idol of mine, but man if Invictus isn't giving off that dusty, powdery, snoozy desaturated FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS/CHANGELING vibe.

comment #10

Mr. F. says ...

(here comes D.Z. in three... two... one...)

Lex: don't forget, 80% of the Academy members themselves are "dusty, powdery and snoozy." I'm not saying Invictus will win -- just remember who will be voting.

comment #11

DeeZee says ...

Win? It's not even gonna get nominated. Unless by some miracle Eli Roth, the Saw team, and Robert Rodriguez are allowed to vote now.

Bob: Except it's a small crowd pleaser which is being over-hyped as a comeback story, because it did better than expected. But Harvey's still going down, and QT's still gonna be forgotten around the time Kill Bill 3 comes out. And if you're going to argue it deserves a win, you might as well say the same thing about Cannibal Holocaust and Death Wish.

comment #12

Anthony Thorne says ...

Well, I'm a big fan of Cannibal Holocaust, a film that is certainly worthy of an award in the Grindhouse pantheon of the mind alongside best soundtrack awards for about 30 or more Italian composers from the 70's whose surname isn't Morricone.

I can't see IB winning much, unless its sneaky Nazis-get-what-they-deserve imagery plays with a particular section of the audience.

Just repeating one last time an apology to baron Munchausen by proxy from the crime/Angel Heart thread, who probably expected a more level-headed response to his fairly snappy film quote than what i eventually wrote. I will now take a chill pill for a few hours.

comment #13

scottfeinberg says ...

"In Contention's Kris Tapley has Basterds and director-writer Quentin Tarantino ranked pretty far down"
So does Feinberg :)
http://andthewinneris.blog.com/2009/11/17/this-weeks-projections-5/

comment #14

lazarus says ...

Flash, who cares that they were both world leaders? Whitaker was playing a maniac. Stylistically those perfs are still miles apart. Also, Freeman has already won (Whitaker hadn't), and Jeff Bridges is nowhere near as old as O'Toole, who's an Old Hollywood antique.. Bridges is also someone who's still considered relevant, even if he doesn't have a lot of recent high-profile projects.

comment #15

Jonathan Spuij says ...

Damn, that's some nonsense right there.

comment #16

Flash Gordon says ...

Lazarus, if "Old Hollywood Antique" O'Toole didn't win, than Bridges, whose only 60 and still has a lot more years left, probably won't either. And the fact that Sean Penn had recently won didn't stop him from defeating Mickey Rourke and Frank Langella last year.

comment #17

LarryGopnik says ...

Didn't you also ask us to "trust you" that Precious definitely won't win Best Picture? Seriously, haven't you learned by now that just because you hate something doesn't mean other people won't respond to it?

comment #18

Flash Gordon says ...

Don't get me wrong. I love Bridges and if he wins it'll be fine by me. But being in a Best Picture nominee is always a plus when you're up for an Oscar. The Wrestler being nominated for Best Picture might have helped Rourke win. Invictus will be nominated for BP and Crazy Heart probably won't.

comment #19

lazarus says ...

It is, but it didn't matter for Forest Whitaker. I just don't understand why you think a vote for Bridges is automatically going to be some sympathy, overdue vote, and that he won't get enough of that sentiment to win. Is is possible his performance is actually THAT good, or good enough to beat a Morgan Freeman performance that is probably not going to surprise anyone, as it's the most obvious casting move in ages?

Langella had nowhere near the industry love & respect that Bridges does, and Rourke still rubs people the wrong way. Plus, Penn gave what many people felt was a towering performance that was totally against type. That doesn't fit for Freeman.

I honestly think Clooney would be a more likely winner based on what I've read.

comment #20

Gordon27 says ...

"The Wrestler being nominated for Best Picture might have helped Rourke win."

I would argue it's the other way around. I do agree with you, I'm just switching the cause and effect. I think that, if Rourke were going to win, the would've been nominated for Best Picture, because the performances that win tend to inflate the movies for the voters, which is why the performances win.

comment #21

Gordon27 says ...

"Enjoyable as it is and admired in some quarters, there is no discernible echo and spiritual after-effect in Inglorious Basterds."

No, Jeff. You didn't feel that because you didn't like it, and because you have blinders on regarding any reaction to any movie that you don't share.

When 'Basterds' gets nominated and "Serious Man" doesn't, you're going to see quite a few articles saying that the Jews in Hollywood would rather see Nazis getting beaten up by angry Jews than a movie with allegedly anti-semitic caricatures. I don't think it's entirely true, but I'm sure the meme will get around.

comment #22

DeeZee says ...

Gordon: I'm guessing Jeff didn't like it for the same reason he didn't like Kill Bill 2, which is that those films exemplify the worst homicidal behavior patterns of the tea-baggers and the people whom they elected.

"you're going to see quite a few articles saying that the Jews in Hollywood would rather see Nazis getting beaten up by angry Jews than a movie with allegedly anti-semitic caricatures."

If that were the case, then Woody Allen's movies wouldn't ever get nominated for anything. But I am amused by your playing defense for once on IB getting nominated, even though only one critic so far has confidence it'll even win.

comment #23

Uncle Milty says ...

DZ

You have even less credibility on this issue than Jeff.

You said, and I quote, "Jerry Maguire was a more talked about, more influential film than Pulp Fiction".

Case closed on your knowledge of film and film history.

comment #24

DeeZee says ...

Milty: I said it was more talked about and more recognized than PF.

comment #25

Uncle Milty says ...

Exactly, and you were wrong on both counts.

comment #26

DeeZee says ...

Milty: Pulp Fiction's 15 minutes ended with From Dusk 'Til Dawn. right around the same time that Seven, Heat, and Fargo grabbed the spotlight. Jerry Maguire, on the other hand, was quoted ad nauseum to the point that even Jeff revisited it in his blog a little while ago.

comment #27

Uncle Milty says ...

No, Pulp has continued to be an influential film on an entire generation of filmmakers. I know so many people that rank it among their favorites.

Jerry Maguire, which I like, is mostly remembered for two catch lines of dialogue. Not for the movie itself.

Pulp is on AFI's top 100, Maguire is not.

Pulp is ranked high on IMDB's top 250, Maguire isn't on there.

I doubt there is a major critic in America that would put Maguire on their top 100 favorite films. I'm sure there are dozens of MAJOR critics that would list Pulp on their top 100.

Maguire never influenced anybody. Pulp influenced many great, good, and terrible films.

I wouldn't expect you to know that, with your next to nothing knowledge of film.

comment #28

DeeZee says ...

Milty: "Pulp has continued to be an influential film on an entire generation of filmmakers."

That's what I keep hearing, but you can never name any of 'em.

"Jerry Maguire, which I like, is mostly remembered for two catch lines of dialogue. Not for the movie itself."

Well, the only thing most people remember PF for is that conversation about the McDonalds in the Netherlands.

"Pulp is on AFI's top 100, Maguire is not."

There are a lot of flicks not on AFI's top 100. I just got a bunch from http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/list-o-mania/Content?oid=896619 via Wikipedia.

"Pulp is ranked high on IMDB's top 250, Maguire isn't on there."

IMDB'ers also put a Besson movie in the top 250, so...

"I doubt there is a major critic in America that would put Maguire on their top 100 favorite films. I'm sure there are dozens of MAJOR critics that would list Pulp on their top 100. "

It's got an 84% fresh @ RT, so you never know...

"Maguire never influenced anybody. Pulp influenced many great, good, and terrible films."

Too bad you don't know any of 'em.

comment #29

Gordon27 says ...

"But I am amused by your playing defense for once on IB getting nominated, even though only one critic so far has confidence it'll even win."

Saying that it will get nominated, and what people will say when it does and 'Serious Man' doesn't, is not "playing defense" on it getting nominated. As to the second half of your sentence, you realize that winning is *more* than being nominated, right? I agree, yes, only one critic is saying it will win. I happen to think he's wrong. But the fact that it has more-or-less no shot at winning has nothing to do with it being nominated [in most years, 60% of the Best Picture nominees have no shot at winning; this year, expect it to be at least 70 but more likely 80%].

But, please, continue to explain your points about Jerry Maguire vs. Pulp Fiction, as they are always hilarious. Oh, hey, I've got one -- Cameron Crowe said that Tarantino had some influence over him, specifically feeling that, after 'Jackie Brown', he had to step up his game regarding song usage. So, by your usual standard of logic, I'm pretty sure I just proved that 'Pulp Fiction' sucks.

comment #30

Uncle Milty says ...

"That's what I keep hearing, but you can never name any of 'em. "

Troy Duffy, for one. And even though Rodriguez may have had the jump on Pulp with El Mariachi, his later work is all Tarantino influenced. There are many more, but I'm sure you'd dispute all of them.

"Well, the only thing most people remember PF for is that conversation about the McDonalds in the Netherlands."

No, that's all you remember it for. Probably because you've never seen it.

"IMDB'ers also put a Besson movie in the top 250, so..."

And yet still not Jerry Maguire. As for your link, I didn't click on it. I'm not going to bother clicking a link that isn't relevant.

"It's got an 84% fresh @ RT, so you never know..."

And Pulp has a 94%, bitch.

"Too bad you don't know any of 'em. "

Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
Desperado
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Rules Of Attraction
2 Days In The Valley
Suicide Kings
That horrible Troy Duffy movie with the bad title
Out of Sight
The Departed
Oldboy
Everything by Guy Ritchie
Trainspotting
Boogie Nights
The Jacket
The Dead Girl
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
In Bruges
Intermission

All of these were in one way or another inspired by Pulp Fiction. And you really can't PROVE otherwise.

comment #31

DeeZee says ...

"Saying that it will get nominated, and what people will say when it does and 'Serious Man' doesn't, is not "playing defense" on it getting nominated."

It is when you assume A Serious Man will get the boot to IB.

"As to the second half of your sentence, you realize that winning is *more* than being nominated, right?"

In QT's case, anything to save Harvey's bacon is important, 'cus no one else will actually pay him for these vanity projects.

"I agree, yes, only one critic is saying it will win."

And the majority are saying it won't even make the cut.

"Cameron Crowe said that Tarantino had some influence over him, specifically feeling that, after 'Jackie Brown', he had to step up his game regarding song usage."

Crowe's still been in the biz longer than QT, though, so...

"So, by your usual standard of logic, I'm pretty sure I just proved that 'Pulp Fiction' sucks."

You need logic to prove that?

"Troy Duffy, for one."

And what kind of impact did Boondock Saints have on our culture again?

"And even though Rodriguez may have had the jump on Pulp with El Mariachi, his later work is all Tarantino influenced."

I thought it was John Woo-influenced. I'm also not sure what part of Spy Kids, Planet Terror, From Dusk 'Til Dawn, and the Faculty are QT-esque.

"Probably because you've never seen it. "

No, I have seen it, and the only people influenced by it were people with little creativity themselves.

"And yet still not Jerry Maguire."

So you're trusting the opinions of people who like the guy behind the movie which got remade with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon and the guy who directed a friggin' troll cartoon over a guy who's actually had a legacy in the industry?

"And Pulp has a 94%, bitch."

So does TDK, while IB has only has an 88%. Someone's slipping.

"Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
Desperado
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Rules Of Attraction
2 Days In The Valley
Suicide Kings
That horrible Troy Duffy movie with the bad title
Out of Sight
The Departed
Oldboy
Everything by Guy Ritchie
Trainspotting
Boogie Nights
The Jacket
The Dead Girl
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
In Bruges
Intermission"

You're fucking hilarious, man. You're saying Scorcese was influenced by QT, and not the other way around? I guess that means Goodfellas doesn't exist in your universe, and if it did, RD "improved" it. And Boogie Nights? Um, if you looked up PTA's IMDB credits and autobiography, he was familiar with film long before QT and PF came along. What else? Out of Sight? You do know Soderbergh was winning awards before people even knew who QT was, right? And attributing every recent Brit gangster flick to PF discounts the impact of movies like Get Carter. As for Oldboy, I don't remember any pointless dance sequences, random references to pop culture or
Bible quotes from Sonny Chiba movies. In fact, it says a lot about his lack of originality that QT was on the jury which gave Oldboy a Palme. And Trainspotting was based on a novel which predates PF, but nice try anyway. But either way, most of those flicks were forgotten, and didn't mean shit for pop culture any more than PF.

comment #32

Gordon27 says ...

"Crowe's still been in the biz longer than QT, though, so..."

This is the first thing in this post that actually makes any sense as a response to what I said; your problem essentially appears to be that you think that an artist stops being influenced by anything as soon as they make money. Thus, you dismiss quotes from Cameron Crowe, Paul Thomas Anderson, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, and other people acknowledge that Tarantino influenced their work. Yes, obviously, not all of their work, just the work that came after 'Pulp Fiction'.

"Um, if you looked up PTA's IMDB credits and autobiography, he was familiar with film long before QT and PF came along."

He made a few shorts. Then, Tarantino came along, and PTA had a path for how to make a feature to ape. Then he made another one, also influenced by Tarantino.

"I'm also not sure what part of Spy Kids, Planet Terror, From Dusk 'Til Dawn, and the Faculty are QT-esque. "

You are so pathetic that you are actually arguing that 'From Dusk Till Dawn' isn't Tarantino-esque. You're just a big fucking moron, and every word you said above conclusively proves it.

comment #33

DeeZee says ...

Gordon: "your problem essentially appears to be that you think that an artist stops being influenced by anything as soon as they make money."

Do most of those guys you name-dropped make money? News to me. No, I'm just suggesting that they probably would've used different artistic approaches to film eventually, with or without the advent of QT or PF, because, unlike QT, they're artists who like to expand their horizons. They're just citing the guy, because they watched his stuff, back when it got a lot of buzz. But their experiences are still more essential to the final product than QT's so-called "legacy".

QT, on the other hand, rides on his collection of old grindhouse movies. He's too culturally and intellectually devoid to call himself a true artist.

"He made a few shorts. Then, Tarantino came along, and PTA had a path for how to make a feature to ape. Then he made another one, also influenced by Tarantino."

I don't ever remember PTA ripping off old HK and Besson movies and calling them his own. Nor did he do so, because without those references, he'd be stuck making crappy home movies no one would watch. Nor do I know of QT making any movies discussing porn stars, oil wells, or dysfunctional families.

"You are so pathetic that you are actually arguing that 'From Dusk Till Dawn' isn't Tarantino-esque."

It's not, unless suddenly all movies with robberies are Tarantino-esque. Then you can go backwards and say the same thing about Dog Day Afternoon and The Killing, which I'm sure a lot of QT geeks like to do nowadays, since he's truly the only director who's ever made crime and martial arts movies up until now.

comment #34

Gordon27 says ...

Can you please expand upon how Quentin Tarantino had no influence over 'From Dusk Till Dawn'? I'd like to hear more about this theory of yours. I'm assuming your blind hatred for Tarantino is eventually going to lead you down the alley of saying that 'Pulp Fiction' may have been influential, but Tarantino wasn't responsible for the influential parts.

"They're just citing the guy, because they watched his stuff, back when it got a lot of buzz."

So they're citing his specific influence over specific films that they made only because they watched it, not because he actually had any influence over them? Sure, Deez, that makes perfect sense.

I'd also like to point out that you can dismiss filmmakers who have unequivocably stated in print that Tarantino influenced them all you like, but you still haven't been able to find a single person who cites 'Jerry Maguire' as an influence over their work. Nice job there.

comment #35

DeeZee says ...

"Can you please expand upon how Quentin Tarantino had no influence over 'From Dusk Till Dawn'?"

'Cus it's RR's story, and likely RR's casting?

"I'm assuming your blind hatred for Tarantino is eventually going to lead you down the alley of saying that 'Pulp Fiction' may have been influential, but Tarantino wasn't responsible for the influential parts."

Maybe because he wasn't responsible, and even he (begrudgingly) admits it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVZo1Jjfshw

"So they're citing his specific influence over specific films that they made only because they watched it, not because he actually had any influence over them? Sure, Deez, that makes perfect sense."

What I'm saying is that they used QT's films to go in different directions, but they didn't actually rely on his style or material for the final product.

"but you still haven't been able to find a single person who cites 'Jerry Maguire' as an influence over their work. "

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116695/movieconnections
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Maguire#Reception
Also, for the person who said AFI ignored it, Wikipedia says it made the top 10 sports movies list by voters.

comment #36

DeeZee says ...

Needed to fix one of my links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM7MyIeDkww

comment #37

Uncle Milty says ...

"nd what kind of impact did Boondock Saints have on our culture again? "

Never said it did.

" I'm also not sure what part of Spy Kids, Planet Terror, From Dusk 'Til Dawn, and the Faculty are QT-esque."

I'm not surprised that you're not sure. Spy Kids I haven't seen. The other three are very much QT-esque.

"So you're trusting the opinions of people who like the guy behind the movie which got remade with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon and the guy who directed a friggin' troll cartoon over a guy who's actually had a legacy in the industry?"

I have no idea what any of this means. And neither do you.

"So does TDK, while IB has only has an 88%. Someone's slipping."

88 is still higher than Jerry Maguire, bitch.

"You're saying Scorcese was influenced by QT, and not the other way around?"

For The Departed, yes.

" I guess that means Goodfellas doesn't exist in your universe, and if it did, RD "improved""

I never mentioned Goodfellas or RD.

"And Boogie Nights? Um, if you looked up PTA's IMDB credits and autobiography, he was familiar with film long before QT and PF came along."

Never said he wasn't. He has said he was influenced by QT. And they are very good friends.

" What else? Out of Sight? You do know Soderbergh was winning awards before people even knew who QT was, right?"

What does Soderbergh's pre-pulp career have to do with Out of Sight? His career was floundering, he made a hip, non linear crime film to get back on top.

"And attributing every recent Brit gangster flick to PF discounts the impact of movies like Get Carter"

Not every recent Brit gangster flick. Just the ones I mentioned.

." As for Oldboy, I don't remember any pointless dance sequences, random references to pop culture or
Bible quotes from Sonny Chiba movies."

Yeah, those aren't in there. Everything else was influenced by Pulp though. And the fact that you think the dance sequence was pointless shows you are unable to understand film.

" And Trainspotting was based on a novel which predates PF, but nice try anyway. "

The novel was written, not directed. Boyle's style of direction was clearly influenced by Tarantino.

"But either way, most of those flicks were forgotten, and didn't mean shit for pop culture any more than PF."

He influence the films. That's what I said he did, and that's what I proved.

comment #38

Uncle Milty says ...

Jerry Maguire is a good movie. That's something I've said several times. Cameron Crowe, not counting a couple of his most recent films, is a terrific writer/director.

But Jerry Maguire is not an influential film. Say Anything is. Singles is. Fast Times is. Jerry Maguire is not.

comment #39

DeeZee says ...

Milty: "Never said it did."

That's not my point. If PF was so influential, it would be responsible for a whole generation of notable gangster/homage films. But most of the wannabes ended up below the public radar, which means that PF didn't really have any impact. It was a gimmick, not a pioneer in film.

"The other three are very much QT-esque."

Yes, Planet Terror is so QT-esque that you can't tell it apart from Death Proof. Oh, wait...! And The Faculty? Um, that possessed by aliens thing's been around since at least the Body Snatchers. As for FDTD, about the only thing remotely QT-esque is Cheech Marin's lines about hookers.

"I have no idea what any of this means. And neither do you. "

My point is that their opinions have less validity, if you evaluate Besson's entire output.

"88 is still higher than Jerry Maguire, bitch. "

It's also where Almost Famous is, so he's still slipping.

"For The Departed, yes."

That's weird. I don't remember PF ever taking place in Boston or featuring a cop who takes anti-depressants.

"He has said he was influenced by QT. And they are very good friends. "

I don't doubt it, but the influence is still superficial. PTA would've still been able to make his movie without QT's help.

"What does Soderbergh's pre-pulp career have to do with Out of Sight? His career was floundering, he made a hip, non linear crime film to get back on top. "

Well, IMDB indicates he did work on a noir-themed show before PF was released, so...

"Not every recent Brit gangster flick. Just the ones I mentioned."

"Everything else was influenced by Pulp though."

I don't remember any grand schemes to lock up someone for ten years in PF.

"And the fact that you think the dance sequence was pointless shows you are unable to understand film. "

It was another "tribute" and a gimmick.

"The novel was written, not directed. Boyle's style of direction was clearly influenced by Tarantino. "

Boyle's been in the movie and tv business long before Tarantino moved on from My Best Friend's Wedding. In fact, Shallow Grave predates Pulp Fiction.

"That's what I said he did, and that's what I proved. "

You proved that some of those flicks were in some way impacted by PF, but not that PF was influential.

"But Jerry Maguire is not an influential film. Say Anything is. Singles is. Fast Times is. Jerry Maguire is not. "

Again, if that were the case, we wouldn't be getting so many office culture-based films and shows since its release.

comment #40

Gordon27 says ...

"'Cus it's RR's story, and likely RR's casting? "

Ah, so your argument is contingent on 'From Dusk Till Dawn' being written by Robert Rodriguez -- which it wasn't, it was written by Quentin Tarantino -- and cast by Robert Rodriguez -- which, according to Rodriguez, it wasn't; Tarantino insisted on playing one of the two leads, and pushed George Clooney, whom he had recently directed, for the other one.

So, two for two on that one. But please go on.

comment #41

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