AMPAS narrows foreign film race, '4 Months,' 'Persepolis' get the shaft
Jeffrey Wells is livid this afternoon about the Academy's shortlist of Best Foreign Language Film contenders because of the exclusion of "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days." I gotta say, as often as Wells goes on a tirade about things that don't really call for it, I'm with him on this. And I'm no major fan of Cristian Mungiu's film, mind you. But I do have profound respect for it and, frankly, I think this decision points a definitive finger at this branch's woeful lack of taste.That's my piece. Here's Wells' complaint, for the record:
The foreign-branch nominators were in no way obliged to salute this landmark film as their absolute favorite, but to not even put it on the short list (much less include it among the five nominees, from which the winner of the Best Foreign Language Feature Oscar would be chosen) is intolerable and inexcusable. This is truly a Day of Infamy. I'm not trying to be Franklin D. Roosevelt here, but these people have embarassed themselves, the Academy and the industry as a whole...it's laughable.
Personally, I think the biggest travesty here is "Persepolis," far and away the best contender in the mix (from what I've seen, of course), getting the short end of the stick. What, just because it's animated, somehow it isn't worth the foreign branch's effort? What a sad turn of events.
Here are the chosen ones (from AMPAS):
Austria, "The Counterfeiters," Stefan Ruzowitzky, director
Brazil, "The Year My Parents Went on Vacation," Cao Hamburger, director
Canada, "Days of Darkness," Denys Arcand, director
Israel, "Beaufort," Joseph Cedar, director
Italy, "The Unknown," Giuseppe Tornatore, director
Kazakhstan, "Mongol," Sergei Bodrov, director
Poland, "Katyn," Andrzej Wajda, director
Russia, "12," Nikita Mikhalkov, director
Serbia, "The Trap," Srdan Golubovic, director
"The Orphanage" was also snubbed, which might be a surprise to some. I've had my doubts for a few weeks now on that one. Personally, I would expect "12," "The Counterfeiters," "Days of Darkness," "The Unknown" (the US title is "The Unknown Woman") and "The Year My Parents Went on Vacation" to be the final five, but what do I know? Maybe "Mongol" can get a solid boost from Picturehouse.
Red Carpet District is Variety contributor Kristopher Tapley's attempt at making sense of the ever-expanding glut of film awards coverage. He's been on the beat for six years. Email 
This is embarrassing. There have been some really superb foreign films this year: of the twenty best films I've seen in 2007, 4 of them were foriegn: Persepolis, The Orphanage, 4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days, and Lust Caution. That none of them are going to be nominated, one on a technicality, is embarrassing. I normally have faith in at least the foreign language branch of the Academy, but overlooking a masterpiece like 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days shakes my faith in any part of the Academy ever awarding the most worthy film. Also, I had banked on having seen at least two, hopefully three of the nominated films, a rarity for me, but since none of these movies have come out in the States, I haven't seen any of them. Lame.
Posted by: Tom Houseman | 1/16/2008 9:49:36 PM
The foreign language branch of the Academy has always been a joke. Just not a very funny one. This is all you need to know: Monumental German helmer Werner Herzog has never in his 40 plus years of directing classic features and documentaries, received a single nomination from the Academy for anything he's ever done. Sad but true, and this is but one example of the Academy's complete and utter incompetence in judging the best in overseas films.
Posted by: Paddy | 1/15/2008 5:26:30 PM