Awards Season 2015

[Jeff]

Ida and The Grandmaster did get nominated the last two years, so there is some precedent for high profile foreign arthouse films eking out a spot.

I don't think The Assassin is nearly as high profile though. Ida ended up being a surprise crossover hit, playing for months, and winning best foreign language film. The Grandmaster was an even bigger box office success and had the award-baiting power of the Weinsteins behind it. The Assassin won't even gross 10% of what The Grandmaster did in the U.S., and its distributor, Well Go USA, gave it a paltry release and won't be able to give it much of an awards push. I'd love to be proven wrong, as the cinematography was by far my favorite aspect of the film, but it's going to take a lot of year-end accolades from critics' groups to give The Assassin the kind of push it would need.

[Professor Wagstaff]

I didn't even know The Assassin was released until I started seeing the blu-ray up for pre-order.

[Raymond Marble]

Ida and The Grandmaster did get nominated the last two years, so there is some precedent for high profile foreign arthouse films eking out a spot.

I don't think The Assassin is nearly as high profile though. Ida ended up being a surprise crossover hit, playing for months, and winning best foreign language film. The Grandmaster was an even bigger box office success and had the award-baiting power of the Weinsteins behind it. The Assassin won't even gross 10% of what The Grandmaster did in the U.S., and its distributor, Well Go USA, gave it a paltry release and won't be able to give it much of an awards push. I'd love to be proven wrong, as the cinematography was by far my favorite aspect of the film, but it's going to take a lot of year-end accolades from critics' groups to give The Assassin the kind of push it would need.

While I agree that The Assassin is not high-profile enough to land (much deserved) Oscar nominations, apart from perhaps Foreign-Language Film, I do think the job Well Go USA has done in releasing it has been commendable. As of this writing it's already grossed more than half a million dollars, and is hardly finished with its theatrical run. It has played lots of festivals, and was open on as many as 49 screens nationwide at one point (including many college towns and even some multiplexes and things--it hasn't been restricted to arthouse cinemas in major cities). Frankly, when I heard Well Go picked it up out of Cannes, I figured its theatrical would be dead in the water.

Compare this to Sony Pictures Classics' release of Zhang Yimou's Coming Home earlier this year--that had a similar release pattern to The Assassin in terms of screen count and things, but petered out after accumulating a gross of about $375,000. While The Assassin has been more critically acclaimed than Coming Home, one could argue that due to its director, star, and distributor the latter is the higher-profile film, and perhaps more accessible to the general public besides.

That said, I'm a member of a film critics association, and we have not as of yet received awards consideration screeners of The Assassin, and I severely doubt that we will. I've been doing my best to get our membership to see it before the voting deadline, but it's hard when we're so inundated with screeners and screenings as it is, and this one in particular needs to be gone out of the way for. This kind of thing will really hurt its award chances.

[Trees]

I share much of this skepticism and doubt that the Academy will properly recognize THE ASSASSIN outside of perhaps Best Foreign Language film, but we can hope! It is perhaps noteworthy that THE ASSASSIN's DP Lee Ping-Bin was, IMO, looked over previously for IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE back in 2000, as well as several other masterfully shot films in the interim. One would hope that his reputation may have built up over the years, but with Hollywood and Oscars, who knows. It's a very USA-centered awards.

[domino harvey]

Gold Derby is tracking the Assassin as the thirteenth most likely nominee out of five total slots

[hearthesilence]

Wasn't The Assassin passed over by the (not-so) Indie Spirit Awards? I'd be surprised if it gets nominated for any major Oscars, mainstream Hollywood and Indiewood has never had a great understanding of world cinema.

[domino harvey]

National Board of Review:

Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road

Best Director: Ridley Scott, The Martian

Best Actor: Matt Damon, The Martian

Best Actress: Brie Larson, Room

Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight

Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight

Best Adapted Screenplay: Drew Goddard, The Martian

Best Animated Feature: Inside Out

Breakthrough Performance: Abraham Attah, Beasts Of No Nation and Jacob Tremblay, Room

Best Directorial Debut: Jonas Carpignano, Mediterranea

Best Foreign Language Film: Son Of Saul

Best Documentary: Amy

William K. Everson Film History Award: Cecilia De Mille Presley

Best Ensemble: The Big Short

Spotlight Award: Sicario for outstanding collaborative vision

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: Beasts Of No Nation and Mustang

Top Films:
Bridge of Spies
Creed
The Hateful Eight
Inside Out
Spotlight
The Martian
Room
Sicario
Straight Outta Compton

[hearthesilence]

Wow, what a shitty list of winners. If it wasn't for The Hateful Eight I'd swear they didn't bother watching any more movies after The Martian came out.

[domino harvey]

They are trying to make a statement here for sure with the snubs of Brooklyn, Carol, and the Revenant (and relegation of Spotlight to the also-rans)

[hearthesilence]

They are trying to make a statement here for sure with the snubs of Spotlight, Brooklyn, Carol, and the Revenant

Snubbing Carol is an idiotic statement, snubbing the others means nothing.

[domino harvey]

They're all likely Oscar nominees in multiple categories, it's political. Didn't work last year for 'em with A Most Violent Year, though...

[movielocke]

I didn't even know hateful 8 had started screening.

[Jeff]

I didn't even know hateful 8 had started screening.

It screened for the NBR, SAG, and I think the Golden Globes nominating committee a couple of weeks ago. Started large scale critics' screenings tonight, and Twitter is filled with very positive notices.

[movielocke]

I didn't even know hateful 8 had started screening.

It screened for the NBR, SAG, and I think the Golden Globes nominating committee a couple of weeks ago. Started large scale critics' screenings tonight, and Twitter is filled with very positive notices.

ahh, it didn't show up on weinsteins screening rsvp website til yesterday, but press screenings make sense.

[lacritfan]

New York Film Critics Circle Awards :
Best Picture - Carol
Best Director - Todd Haynes, Carol
Best Screenplay - Phyllis Nagy, Carol
Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Actor - Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Best Supporting Actress - Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best Cinematographer - Edward Lachman, Carol
Best Animated Film - Inside Out
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary) - In Jackson Heights
Best Foreign Language Film - Timbuktu
Best First Film - László Nemes, Son of Saul
Special Award - William Becker and Janus Films
Special Award - Ennio Morricone

[movielocke]

New York Film Critics Circle Awards :
Best Picture - Carol
Best Director - Todd Haynes, Carol
Best Screenplay - Phyllis Nagy, Carol
Best Actress - Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Actor - Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Best Supporting Actress - Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Supporting Actor - Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best Cinematographer - Edward Lachman, Carol
Best Animated Film - Inside Out
Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary) - In Jackson Heights
Best Foreign Language Film - Timbuktu
Best First Film - László Nemes, Son of Saul
Special Award - William Becker and Janus Films
Special Award - Ennio Morricone

Is that what they actually think or just a political reaction to carols surprise snub yesterday?

[Ribs]

I dunno, I've been expecting the critics races to be largely a two-horse race between Mad Max and Carol; for what little they count, supporting Mad Max could really work to bring it into the conversation as a serious contender for nominations in major categories, whereas supporting Carol could help it's chances at turning its certain major nominations into potential wins. It'll be interesting how this turns out as more Critics' races pop up, though I think Mad Max has the leg up as Weinstein is doing a crazy slow roll-out in other markets (both with an actual release and in press screenings) of Carol that could mean the critics won't be able to see it before they do their voting.

[Trees]

It kind of amazes me that MAD MAX would be taken seriously for best-picture awards. The entire time I was watching it, all I kept thinking was "Why don't they just shoot the tires?" You have these ridiculous, illogical (though admittedly beautifully choreographed) action sequences where you are having car-to-car battles for 20 minutes nonstop, and no one thinks to shoot out the tires? Made no sense. Also, the story is shallow. Hard to take it seriously, even if it was entertaining. Pickings must be slim this year if films like MAD MAX and THE MARTIAN are serious contenders. Both are well-made and entertaining films, but they are a far cry from THE GODFATHER.

[Gregory]

Deja vu. Why did anyone ever take Stagecoach seriously as a film?

[Cremildo]

Pickings must be slim this year if films like MAD MAX and THE MARTIAN are serious contenders. Both are well-made and entertaining films, but they are a far cry from THE GODFATHER.

Congratulations. You've won the award for most random comparison.

[Trees]

Pickings must be slim this year if films like MAD MAX and THE MARTIAN are serious contenders. Both are well-made and entertaining films, but they are a far cry from THE GODFATHER.

Congratulations. You've won the award for most random comparison.

I was just comparing the overall quality of the films. Some years are better than others at the Oscars

[swo17]

Pretty sure The Godfather is ineligible for Oscar consideration this year.

[Raymond Marble]

I dunno, I've been expecting the critics races to be largely a two-horse race between Mad Max and Carol; for what little they count, supporting Mad Max could really work to bring it into the conversation as a serious contender for nominations in major categories, whereas supporting Carol could help it's chances at turning its certain major nominations into potential wins. It'll be interesting how this turns out as more Critics' races pop up, though I think Mad Max has the leg up as Weinstein is doing a crazy slow roll-out in other markets (both with an actual release and in press screenings) of Carol that could mean the critics won't be able to see it before they do their voting.

I live in a market where Carol doesn't open until Christmas Day, and we've already had two theatrical press screenings, I got an awards consideration DVD of it in the mail, alongside an awards consideration copy of the screenplay. Don't underestimate the Weinstein Oscar machine--they know what they're doing.

While both films stand a chance at a Best Picture nomination (though neither a lock for it), I'd venture that it's fair to say that if only one of the two makes it, Carol is much more likely. This suits me fine--Carol is a vastly superior film.

[Ribs]

Yeah, I think Carol will absolutely make it through to the major nominations - my point was that if every single critics association were to rally behind it, it could incentivize Oscar voters to think the movie more deserving of the big prize. Whereas the goal of Mad Max winning some would result in it maybe being nominated, though it doesn't have a chance at an eventual victory in any major category in my book. I think Mad Max's biggest problem in terms of the "mainstream genre film" slot that'll probably appear at the moment is probably Creed, which has an overall better narrative behind it going to the Oscars (and Sylvester Stallone has a huge shot at winning, as somehow this year's most exciting race has become Best Supporting Actor).

(I do think Mad Max will end up walking away with the most Oscars, though, with a nigh-sweep of the technical categories)

[Werewolf by Night]

"Why don't they just shoot the tires?"

The tires are metal frames covered with rubber, some filled with straw or rags. They are not inflated. Next question.