The last few months right before the Oscar are mainly of two things: prestige and pure fun. This is the festive season when families seek  a mental escape through  lighter films and this is also the season of contest when  serious cinema competes for Oscar gold.

The way to the Oscar this year is sort of going bonkers. The awards race have just begun and it has already traveled  more ups and downs than any in recent past. The viewers and movie lovers have already started anticipating on issues common like ‘Which movies will be worthy of competing for the Academy Award? ‘ along with things like ‘Which ones will really open in time to qualify?’

Oscar

Few, that would not only have qualified but would also have bagged a few awards, have quited, like the Robert Downey Jr.-Jamie Fox’s homeless musician drama “The Soloist” (rescheduled to release in next spring) and the Viggo Mortensen revelatory drama “The Road” (based on the novel by Cormac). Another major shift has been the “ Defiance”, which was re-scheduled to release on December 31st, the last day for qualifying for the Academy Awards. “The Reader” starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes, was supposed to release in the next year,  moved up to compete the Oscar this year instead of next.

David Poland of Movie CityNews.com said, “Basically, every studio is tight for money and making their bests bets for the Oscar in a much less general way”. He also added that “It costs so much money to be in the Oscar race that if they don’t have to be in it, they’re getting out. The result is a lot fewer movies vying for best picture”.

Poland says, “The illusion that this all happens because a movie is good is out the window. The reality is, there is a structure and a business to campaigning for an Oscar”. Predicting further shuffling he added, “I’m hearing that some films may be getting back into the season because there are so few movies in play”.

The prestige films that have high hopes of bagging a few titles this year, the two most popular ones are  Doubt starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman as a dueling nun and priest, and Frost/Nixon  starring Michael Sheen and Frank Langella as a dueling reporter and ex-president.

Related Posts

Angelina Jolie Hints at Another Adoption

Angelina Jolie and her husband Brad Pitt are reportedly planning to adopt another child. The new member of their family might be a child from India. The couple was in the country in 2006 for shooting of their film.

Sean Penn to Star in “The Three Stooges”

The two time Oscar winner, Sean Penn, seems to have finally decided to act funny. He has accepted that he need not always portray himself as one of those Mr. Super Serious Dramatic Thespian on screen all the time.

Heath Ledger Wins Best Supporting Actor

Late actor Heath Ledger was honored with yet another award for his brilliant portrayal of Jocker in the latest Batman sequel – The Dark Knight.

8 Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire, the story of a Mumbai slum dweller who wins one million dollar by talking part in a game show, wins 8 Oscar in the 81st Academy Award.

‘Slumdog’ Music Director in Oscar Spotlight

With his 3 Oscar nominations, best original score and best original song, for both “Jai Ho” and “O … Saya,”, Rahman is the first Indian bag individual nomination in Oscar. The whole score of the movie was recorded in London.