“How can you post Oscar predictions when you haven’t even seen the movies?” This is a comment often seen in my early Oscar prediction posts, which I started posting even earlier than ever before this year. Beyond the fact predictions don’t imply judgment of quality in any way, a new story at The Hollywood Reporter gives even further reason as to why waiting to see the films is all that necessary when offering up predictions.
Earlier this year, on the final day of Oscar voting, February 19, the Weinstein Co. issued a press release announcing a new film titled The Ends of the Earth with a screenplay from Chris Terrio (Argo). So far, so good. Everything is true, but the truth begins to take a different shape after that…
The release said Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell was attached to direct the project with Jennifer Lawrence attached to star. Included in the release was a quote from Russell that read, “She is the most dedicated person I know. She is devoted to her family, and they have been the true inspiration for her… Her acting is effortless, and she always makes it look easy.”
Now read that quote again, notice anything? Such as, there is no mention of the movie Russell and Lawrence will apparently make together.
Word floating around is Russell never intended to make the film as director or otherwise, though THR reached out to Russell’s agents who say he is still considering it. This very well may be true and they simply took the opportunity to use his “consideration” to get a few kind words for Lawrence in the press. It worked.
Also reporting on the story is Kris Tapley at HitFix who writes, “[During Oscar season] Terrio was making it clear to journalists that he had no knowledge of any of it and hadn’t even met Russell.” Tapley also adds, “A few months back, before the release hit, my own source said Russell wasn’t interested because he ‘didn’t want to do another incest movie.'” Obviously referring to Russell’s debut feature, Spanking the Monkey.
One time Variety writer, Josh Dickey, who now works for TMZ took to Twitter to say, “I turned in a deeply sourced column day after Oscars about Weinstein/Affleck awards rivalry/2013 shenanigans, but Variety editors killed it… At the time, multiple sources close to ENDS OF THE EARTH said David O. Russell announcement was TOTAL bogus. Not that it wasn’t obvious.”
Many have noted the kind of underhanded dealings that went on during this past Oscar season such as the charges leveled against Zero Dark Thirty and its use of torture, a Connecticut congressman coming out against Lincoln and more.
For all of these reasons and more, it’s why I look at the Oscars as a game. Politics plays a huge role. Yes, you have to have a good movie, but on top of that you have to play the game. It’s why the small guy rarely has much of a shot because it simply costs too much money to play with the big boys.
To me, the Oscars are a fun way of trying to guess as many of the nominees and winners as possible, while also giving us a chance to talk about some of the better films of the year as well as get excited if some of our favorites actually get a chance in the spotlight.
Now I have to ask, does this bother you? Vote in the poll below and let your thoughts be known in the comments.
