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?
its quite possible the swedish film is a very serious prestige pic (for them anyways) and the people who pick are capable of having the same hang-ups over nominating genre pics as people of any other country.
“The Baader Meinhof Complex” deals with German past but this time not WWII but 70′s left-wing terrorists who killed a view people. Haven’t seen the movie yet but it was very obvious that this film would be sent to the Oscars. The only reason: there was no WWII movie this year and the producer is quite a big number in local movie business.
Film seems to be o.k. but not oscar-worthy.
Had 3 Monkeys on my “If I have time” list for VIFF. I didn’t have time, but I now kind of wish I had made time.
The big secret Oscar voters don’t like people to know is the vast majority of voters haven’t seen any of the movies either. As an added bonus they aren’t required to either.
Yeah I know. That’s bullshit. BULLSHIT!
@ “the vast majority of voters haven’t seen any of the movies either.”
I think Doc and foreign are the exceptions. You have to be on the committee and watch all the films.
My understanding is that “Let The Right One In” was released in Sweden AFTER the October 2008 deadline for making the cut for Best Foreign Language Film. Which means that it could technically be nominated NEXT year.
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).
I’ve seen three of the films on the list and Austria’s “Revanche” was on my VIFF to see list but I couldn’t schedule it in – looked awesome.
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.
I think Doc and foreign are the exceptions. You have to be on the committee and watch all the films.
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.
“certain Row Three favorite”….which one? I’m out of the loops here – Rachel Getting Married?
three monkeys is the best movie i have ever seen in my life.i hope to see they get the oscar!!!!
“3 Monkeys” is a masterpiece which deserves to compete for the Academy Award…
Three Monkeys is best film which i have ever seen recent years. Nuri Bilge Ceylan made the best one.
Marina – yeah.
Which I am seeing again tonight.
That’s enough of your spam now. I’ve caught the last 4 you’ve tried to slip by me with different IP’s. You’re an idiot. There will be no more. You’ve made your point. You like 3 Monkeys.
And many people didn’t like “Three Monkeys”…Most of the reviews I read from those who liked both his previous films “Distant” and “Climates” (I’m among that group) didn’t have great things to say about Ceylan’s latest.
Andrew, should I post that two more times in order to balance things out? B-)
3 monkees is best one for to be considered oscar winner!!!
espérons que Three Monkeys pouvez obtenir Oscar après Cannes
I demand you change the name of this site to Row Three Monkeys!
Rusty, I’ve caught about 30 of these comments now in our spam catcher. Some random web site out there REALLY wants to promote 3 Monkeys. So much so that I’m actually more intrigued by the film.
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.”
Damn, laetita seems to have gotten past my defenses. I’ll let it slide since it is crafty in its nature.
3 monkeys is a super film everybody should watch it all scenes are like goergeous pictures…