The money-making American Gangster continues packing theaters all over the country but while it has been buzzed as a highly entertaining film by Ridley Scott, it has not been touted as great or Oscar worthy. Thus, the Washington/Crowe crowdpleaser is giving up its spot in the top 5 for Sweeney Todd; the Tim Burton musical that is slowing building new, favorable buzz. Will the mighty B.O. performance of Scott's mob film remain a key factor on its Oscar performance? Of course it will but as of now, momentum has built around the upcoming December releases...Also, the Coens are back to the Best Picture race with No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood is probably going to get honored in Best Actor but not in this category...
What's in your Top 5 right now?
Posts
Of course, my (and everyone's) predictions will change from week to week until all of this year's films have been released. Mine may change tomorrow. But as of today, my predictions are:
ReplyDelete1. No Country for Old Men
2. Atonement
3. The Kite Runner
4. Charlie Wilson's War
5. Sweeney Todd
*Alternate: There Will Be Blood
The general consensus in early reviews of TWBB is that it's a magnificent film. Whether it will be the Academy's cup of tea is yet to be seen; it very well may not be. After seeing the film, Kris Tapley knocked it off of his prediction lists in all categories except Best Actor (in which he switched DDL to the #2 spot and Depp to #1) and Cinematography, and I suspect that's why. Tapley still loved the film and gave it a great review. He praised DDL's performance as well. I'll be able to judge it better after more reviews come in and I've had a chance to see it, but it's possible that its appeal is being underestimated. If it is as magnificent and epic as what people have said, I believe that it could still sneak in there for a best picture nod despite the fact that it's an 'art film' and quite dark.
I'm also including Charlie Wilson's War in my predictions right now. Yes, the trailer is unimpressive but trailers can be deceiving, as we know all too well. Everyone (including me) has declared that it will be this year's Dreamgirls. It very well may be. Or we might all be surprised.
Sweeney Todd is the film that everyone has been underestimating. And this is the one that may end up surprising everyone. Early screeners say that it's great and will blow people away. AMPAS does have a history of snubbing Burton but this may be the film that breaks that tradition, especially if it wins the Golden Globe. The source material he's working with is magnificent, the horror/comic genre is where he's most at home and Johnny Depp is the lead, so he's got the star power. And though the story is dark it's also comical.