October
28A Pop Oscar? Still Theoretical
The Oscars are going “pop,” according to a story in today’s New York Times. The studios are mobilizing campaigns for their tentpole movies like “Iron Man” and “The Dark Knight” which, if successful, will change the face of the Oscar from a celebration of art-house fare into one of Hollywood’s commercial hits.
The only problem is that the story is news to the studios. An “Iron Man” campaign is still theoretical. “The Dark Knight” campaign is Spartan. And Twentieth Century Fox seems in a state of confusion about “Australia,” which was going to be its holiday centerpiece. The studio emphatically denies rumors of a battle about running time, yet still seems to be holding back on screenings and campaigns.
So, yes, the Oscar may go “pop.” Like the Times says. On the other hand, the winner may still turn out to be film on the order of “Doubt” or “Revolutionary Road.”
The only problem is that the story is news to the studios. An “Iron Man” campaign is still theoretical. “The Dark Knight” campaign is Spartan. And Twentieth Century Fox seems in a state of confusion about “Australia,” which was going to be its holiday centerpiece. The studio emphatically denies rumors of a battle about running time, yet still seems to be holding back on screenings and campaigns.
So, yes, the Oscar may go “pop.” Like the Times says. On the other hand, the winner may still turn out to be film on the order of “Doubt” or “Revolutionary Road.”
Subscribe to Peter Bart's Blog Feed
They used to celebrate great movies, then they celebrated very good ones, now they are lucky to find good movies. They have no choice but to switch to popular fare.
Posted by: mkaven | 10/31/2008 2:58:58 AM
The reason Fox is holding back on screenings of “Australia†is because even this close to its November 26 Australian release date, the film is still not finished and Fox has not even announced a premiere.
You may be interested in a recent (Oct 14) interview in the Sydney Morning Herald in which Luhrmann said he was so close to the wire in getting the film finished he was planning to literally deliver it one reel at a time. Even more alarmingly was this quote from Luhrmann: "From the moment Hugh took Nicole up in his arms, we went ''''''''Right, I don''''''''t have to worry about that any more'''''''' I have no problem saying that has been delivered. It''''''''s the other parts of the storytelling that need all the work - just the sheer scale and the mechanics of the storytelling." The OTHER parts of the storytelling? Which ones, pray tell?
Posted by: Eyes Wired Open | 10/29/2008 12:53:26 AM