Here are nine movies you haven’t seen. Out of the initial 65 titles, these are the nine finalists to be voted on by “specially selected” committee members to narrow it down to the five that will eventually be officially nominated for best foreign language film at the 81st annual Academy Awards.
Austria, “Revanche,” Gotz Spielmann, director;
Canada, “The Necessities of Life,” Benoit Pilon, director;
France, “The Class,” Laurent Cantet, director;
Germany, “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” Uli Edel, director;
Israel, “Waltz with Bashir,” Ari Folman, director;
Japan, “Departures,” Yojiro Takita, director;
Mexico, “Tear This Heart Out,” Roberto Sneider, director;
Sweden, “Everlasting Moments,” Jan Troell, director;
Turkey, “3 Monkeys,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director.
Ok, so maybe you’ve seen Waltz with Bashir, but other than that, ever heard of any of these? Me neither. Sweden was dumb enough not to nominate Let the Right One In as their pick (hence you see Everlasting Moments on the list) and Gomorra is mysteriously vacant from the list as well.
From Oscars.org:
Foreign Language Film nominations for 2008 are being determined in two phases. The Phase I committee, consisting of several hundred Los Angeles-based members, screened the 65 eligible films between mid-October and January 10. That group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist.
The shortlist will be winnowed down to the five 2008 nominees by specially selected committees in New York and Los Angeles. The committee members will spend this Friday, Saturday and Sunday viewing three of the films each day.
Looks like I’ve got some work to do. Any thoughts?
If you want to watch it onl1ne for free,...
Comment by Goon — January 14, 2009
Film seems to be o.k. but not oscar-worthy.
Comment by Andreas — January 14, 2009
Comment by Colleen — January 14, 2009
Comment by Matt Gamble — January 14, 2009
Comment by Andrew James — January 14, 2009
I think Doc and foreign are the exceptions. You have to be on the committee and watch all the films.
Comment by Rusty James — January 14, 2009
I’ve heard of 7 of the 9, but unfortunately haven’t seen any. “The Class” has received excellent reviews and is likely the top pick along with Bashir (though I’ve heard Revanche and Baader bandied about as good picks).
Comment by Bob Turnbull — January 14, 2009
As for the omission of Gomorra, I’m not surprised it’s missing – it was a huge disappointment. Flashy but overall boring considering all the plotting and killing going on. Looked good but it nearly put me to sleep.
Comment by Marina Antunes — January 14, 2009
Committee members are not required to watch all of the films, as it is impossible to enforce. Its why politics and bankrolls have played such a huge role in the results in recent years. If you have the money to pay to get screeners in voters hands and make sure they watch them you have a huge advantage over your competitors. The Weinsteins are notorious for their efforts in persuasion by rounding up voters and paying for them to watch their Oscar eligible films.
Right now a certain Row Three favorite is starting up their campaign to try and snag an Oscar by getting the film re-released. The film isn’t making money yet the film remains in release. How does that happen? Studios financially back the release so the theatres can cover their losses. Studios do this because the more screens their film is on come the voting period, the easier it is for them (the studio) to direct voters on where to see the film.
Crash used this same technique to great effect a couple of years ago.
Comment by Matt Gamble — January 14, 2009
Comment by Marina Antunes — January 14, 2009
Comment by ezgi kartal — January 14, 2009
Comment by Néssaire Pèquer — January 14, 2009
Comment by uyuyang — January 14, 2009
Which I am seeing again tonight.
Comment by Andrew James — January 14, 2009
Comment by Andrew James — January 14, 2009
Andrew, should I post that two more times in order to balance things out? B-)
Comment by Bob Turnbull — January 14, 2009
Comment by Rusty James — January 14, 2009
Comment by laetita — January 14, 2009
Comment by Rusty James — January 14, 2009
All of these spams have come from different IP addresses, but they all say basically the exact same thing, in the same broken English “dialect.”
Comment by Andrew James — January 15, 2009
Comment by Andrew James — January 15, 2009
Comment by orkn — January 17, 2009