The Los Angeles Times has an interesting piece up about the Oscar chances for Inglourious Basterds. Basterds did better than expected critically and financially in it’s first week of release, and now some critics and Hollywood insiders are wondering aloud if Basterds’ executive producer, Harvey Weinstein, intends to wage a major Oscar campaign on behalf of the film. The LAT’s Golden Derby column (which focuses on the major awards) is claiming that Basterds could pull a Crash. In 2005, producers for Crash memorably waged a stealth and effective campaign, even thought the film had come out in early summer. At the time, producers used the DVD release of Crash as the pushing-off point for the Oscar campaign, which is what the LAT is assuming Weinstein will do.
Surely, the question has occurred to you: Why isn’t Oscar-mad Harvey Weinstein releasing “Inglourious Basterds” in Oscar-friendly November or December? Doesn’t he have faith that “Inglourious Basterds” can run the derby? Hey, Quentin Tarantino proved himself in 1994 when “Pulp Fiction” was nominated for best picture and Tarantino won best screenplay.
Last year, Harvey held back “The Reader” to the last possible stretch, giving it a limited opening in Los Angeles and New York in December, then wide release in January. The strategy paid off with five Academy Award nominations — including a surprise bid (to some, not us) for best picture — resulting in the Big Win at Long Last for Kate Winslet as best actress.
Answer: Harvey plans to reserve that last-minute, ambush strategy he employed for “The Reader” for his other major Oscar pony, “Nine,” Rob Marshall’s adaptation of the Tony-winning musical starring Penelope Cruz, Daniel Day-Lewis and Marion Cotillard. For “Inglourious Basterds,” he plans to use the “Crash” campaign model.
By releasing “Inglourious Basterds” in theaters now, Harvey can give the flick a second wave of ballyhoo when the DVD comes out late this year. Because the DVD will be a mass release, it won’t need to be watermarked with numerals identifying each disc with the name of an academy member or other award voter. That’s one of the sneaky ways “Crash” beat front-runner “Brokeback Mountain” for best picture of 2005 — Lionsgate blitzed Hollywood with more than 120,000 cheap DVDs.
To manufacture and ship a watermarked DVD costs about $20. The cost for a non-watermarked equivalent: $5.
Beware, Hollywood. Given how red rivers flow in Tarantino pix, the town will be engulfed in a blood tide this December when Harvey unleashes his “Inglourious Basterds” DVD campaign. It will probably pay off with two Academy Award nominations: best screenplay (Tarantino) and supporting actor (Christoph Waltz). Maybe more. “Pulp Fiction” got nommed for best picture when there were only five slots; this year there will be twice as many.
[From the Los Angeles Times’ Golden Derby]
So, will Brad Pitt get a nomination for his role as the Apache “Naht-zi” scalper? Doubtful. The two actors getting most of the acclaim from Basterds are Christoph Waltz and Melanie Laurent, both foreign actors. They might have a decent shot at supporting actor noms, I think, Waltz especially since he already won Best Actor at Cannes. Most likely the biggest push will be for Best Picture, Best Director, Screenplay and maybe some of the technical awards, like costumes and make-up. But it’s always nice when Brad’s a contender!
Brad Pitt is shown on 8/13/09 at the premiere of The Time Traveler’s Wife. Credit: L. Gallo/WENN.com
Yes, because the Academy has a long history of handing out nominations for sub-par performances in order to kiss ass with mediocre actors in mediocre roles.
Yes, I have seen I.B. I saw the movie based on my love/hate for Tarantino’s work, and unlike everyone else, I hated the film.
My opinion, so please no hateful comments.
I too thought IB was an obnoxious and asinine film. I was NOT impressed with Pitt infact he was just Pitt in that. I just wanted to cring everytime he opened his mouth and made that silly face.
Waltz was definitely better than Pitt and so was Laurent. I didn’t HATE the movie, but I was not as totally overwhelmed by it as it happened with other Tarantino movies.
Agree with Firestarter about his acting ability. Haven’t seen the film. I liked him so much more when he smoked pot and was rarely out in public. Sick to death of him.
Pitt was the worst thing about the movie.
The Nazi “jew hunter” deserves awards not Pitt. He was dull dull dull.
See, that is why I have a rule about watching anything Brangelina, I just can’t stomach them for that long. Never thought either of them was a particularly good actor. So am missing IB and I can see am happier than most people who watched it.
Oscars lose credibility every time they stunt nominate. But it was nice to see these two lose every award last year.
This was not an “Oscar” type of role. His was more for comic relief, IMO, which he did very well but an Oscar? I think not. There was a lot of serious good acting in that movie. To hand Pitt a statue for his role would be insulting to those who really carried the story, which was a very very heavy story. Waltz stole every frame, I agree with Mon.
Wow, I’m really surprised by the number of negative comments. Not!
this is so typical – and i don’t mean of brangelina this time, i mean it’s the typical harvey weinstein oscar campaigning. his (weinstein’s) oscar rumors are always premature and “wtf” inducing.
Christoph Waltz. ‘Nuff said.
I’ll see him very well near Withertablespoon & Gloops Patrow!
All in garbage!
Oscar sucks!
Apparently, those of us who LOVED the movie are in the minority today. While I don’t think Brad has a chance at getting an Oscar for this role(I didn’t mind his acting but…Def not up to Oscar standards) – I’m sure someone will! My bet goes on Melanie Laurent, or Screenwriting
Saw IG and was very disappointed. Did not like the movie at all. Brad was terrible. Chis Waltz made the movie somewhat worth while. I also CC of Ben Buttons with Brad and I thought that he was terrible in that also. Maybe he should think of staying at home with wife & kids and give up acting, especialy when it comes to movies with accents. When he has good supporting actors/actresses you don’t really realize what a lousy actor he has turned out to be.
I saw IB at a pre-release screening at the Director’s Guild and it received a standing ovation! I loved it and though I think the person most likely to receive an Oscar will be Waltz, or Q, the film was brilliantly written and acted!! You Q haters need to get a life.