Letters

Date/From	14th October 2004 - Shona ("Closer")
Letter	I have to admit I am finding it difficult to read your site these days as my most anticipated film of the year isn't receiving much love from you. It has very little buzz these days because it hasn't been seen by many. Those who have seen it, and I believe I have read two reviews: one said it was the best film she has ever seen and the other had some issues with the intensity of it. Infact, very few have witnessed it. I feel less frustrated in knowing that once the movie begins to be seen by many, the buzz should pick up. I also find it shocking that a movie with this type of potential is now a dark horse. It is not dark horse and with the exception of your site and perhaps one or two others everyone seems to agree with me. In fact, the majority of predictors have it in there top 5. Most of the top 5 films have very little buzz or info surrounding them. I think of The Aviator and Alexander. Very little is know on those films as well. They remain in most of the predictors top 5 along with Closer because of their potential. This has been a very strange yr as many of the Oscar favs have had very little said about them so far. Usually by now, word of mouth has begun to surface. I understand that you are going to base your predix on your own thoughts and not try to copy others, but the fact that you are so split from the majority puzzles me. My question for you is how can a film lose all of it steam when it hasn't even begun to rev up? If the buzz is bad, of course the movie loses ground, if the buzz is good, then the movie remains in the top 5. But to drop it so significantly before any of the buzz has come out makes very little sense to me. Especially when the buzz on the film will be surfacing anytime now. Please understand, I am not saying that Closer will be nominated. Heck, there are many films in question. Many critics may dislike the film. I think of the films that have come and gone and had such greta potential (Vanity Fair, Try, Collateral, The Terminal) All are out of the race now. However, at this stage, Closer seems like one of those films where the potential is there. Great script, fine actors, outstanding director. But ah, Columbia isn't an Oscar studio, I cry bullshit on that one. Any studio is capable of putting out an Oscar caliber film. Just because Columbia has done better with comedies in no way suggests that it can't score a home run with Closer. I look forward to the next few weeks when word on Closer begins to leak. I hope it lives up to it potential. Have a great day!
My Reply	Hi! Thanks for your email! I really appreciate when people send me feedback. Believe me or not "Closer" is one of my most anticipated movies of the year and I bet it will end being one of my favorites of this year. However quality doesn't always mean - OSCARS. I am member from OscarWatch forums and all the other owners from oscar websites also are. We receive buzz in first hand as well reviews and thoughts about the upcoming movies. Yes, I agree with you - "Closer" has a lot of Oscar pedigree and potential. But I don't think it will translate into an Oscar nod. Why: 1 - Columbia - Believe me or not this the most important factor. Every year there are dozens of amazing movies who don't make the cut due to their studio's lack of campaign. Columbia is one of them. Every year they have great movies and every year they fail to be recognized. The last one was Big Fish - highly acclaimed by critics and it grabbed just one nod. Columbia was once a mighty study. Not it is one of worst alongside with Touchstone and MGM. 2 - Subject - "Closer" is an edgy movie. It is filled with sex, human relationships and other stuff that Academy doesn't like. Movies edgy like this one are usually recognized in the acting categories and not in the MAJOR CATEGORY. Look to the past BP nominees and you will see what i am talking about. 3 - Box-Office - All the movies that I am predicting for a BP nod seem destined to have a better box-office than this movie. Despite all the great star power from the leading actors (Julia Roberts is the only one that can be called a box-office draw) people won't rush to see a dark and heavy and strong drama like this one. 4 - Mixed Buzz - I don't know which reviews you are talking about. I have read in OW at least 4 reviews who said that the movie was good but not great and definetely not Best Picture material. 5 - Hotel Rwanda - The movie has been receiving raves and Sony just bought MGM so they will likely campaign this as their number one horse. Check my links section and go to to some of the Oscar sites and you will see that many of them don’t have “Closer” listed. Not predicting a movie for the Best Picture doesn't make it less worthy or it doesn't mean that you are dumb for anticipating it so more. I also am anticipating but when I am predicting I never put my personal thoughts in front of me. I try not to be biased and putting Closer down shows exactly that. I still think that in the end "Closer" might get nominated but it will be a long run and it would need an AMAZING critical support and awards. And never forget that a BP nominee isn't always one of the best 5 movies of the year. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is a masterpiece and my number one movie of the year and I think it will remain like that when everything is said and done. However I don't expect it to be nominated for Best Picture. Does that make it less worthy? Of course not. Thank you very much for your letter. I just hope that you will understand that I dont have anything against Closer. And that I never let my personal judgement to blind me. Thanks again. Looking forward to hear again from you soon. And Go Closer!

Date/From	10th September 2004 - Dominik Rose (Predictions)
Letter	Hi Diogo! Since last year when the Oscars jumped one month forward the intresting pictures with ambitions are on their way right now. I am really anticipating if "Finding Neverland" can manage to make a big success (maybe 100 Million Dollar) in US, cause a blockbuster success plus good reviews (it already had some) is really nearly a Best Picture Nod, I think! What are you looking forward to the most? I am more and more thrilled about "A Very Long Engagement", I didn´t know that it´s a historical setting, World War I, some drama, some comedy (a bit like some Hemingway-novels maybe?) Audrey Tautou, Jodie Foster, the director of Amelie...how the hell could we not expect a masterpiece! Alright, now some words to your predictions, most of it are in congruence to mine, so I just talk about some differences: - Best Picture: I just wouldn´t count on "Ray", cause I expect a failure at the box office (nominee for Jamie Foxx, ok, but not for Best Picture) - Director: Theres sometimes something widely unexpected, kind of a wildcard nominee, I think this could be Amenabar for "The Sea Inside", I would replace Mel Gibson (how many religious fanatics are in the Academy to share his very very bloody passion?) - Actor: Don´t count out Kevin Bacon, even if the academy seems to ignore him all the time...(very delicate role that he plays) - Actress: Not everyone was excited about the Vera Drake-victory in Venice, especially german critics were kind of "lukewarm", very tendentious movie, conventional etc. (most german critics raved for the asian Kim Ki-Duk-movie, Empty Rooms) I wouldnt ecpect Staunton to win, but she will get a nominee...If Kate Winslet gets a nominee (I really hope so!!), it might likely be for the bigger success, "Finding Neverland"- she might even win for that...Tautoo would be fantastic (so cute)! Julia Roberts? Never again! Academy knows shes not that great and a win for Erin was more she could expect in her career (That year I counted on Laura Linney, cause I loved You can count on me)...Best performance was Kidman for "Dogville", but we know americans are kind of angry if their country gets attacked... - Supporting: Dont count out Jude Law for "Aviator" (he plays a legend, Clark Gable!) and Anthony Hopkins in "Alexander" (if Alexander will rule for the academy, it will get at least one acting nominee... Alright, I just made for the fun of it some really early winners-predictions (last year I was at the same time in October correct about Lost In Translation and Sean Penn): Best Picture: Alexander Director: Scorsese Actor: Javier Bardem (or Kevin Bacon) Actress: Kate Winslet, Finding Neverland Supp. Actor: Clive Owen (ru: Jude Law, Aviator) Supp Actress: Cate Blanchett, Aviator (very close: Laura Linney, Kinsey) Screenplay: Finding Neverland & The Aviator Lets wait what the critics say later in this month, maybe some hopes will get effaced! Bye
My Reply	Hi Dominik! Thanks for your letter! The movies that I am most anticipating are: "The Aviator", "Finding Neverland", "Kinsey" and "Closer". I also agree with you about "A Very Long Engagement" - it looks wonderful and I hope it turns to be an Oscar Contender. As for your comments: - Best Picture: I have been loosing faith in "Ray" and I might well move it down in my next update. However we can't forget that Universal is behind it - the same guys who grabbed 7 nods for "Seabiscuit". - Best Director: I don't expect "The Sea Inside" to be a major contender outside of acting so I don't expect Amenabar to score. If a foreign director is nominated I expect Jeunet or Salles to be there. The thing about Mel Gibson doesn't have to do with money. Everyone agrees (lovers or haters) that "The Passion of the Christ" is a big acomplishment - Gibson believed in his dream project, used his own money to create it and the movie turned out to be a major success. Gibson also just won an award for Producer of the Year because of this and I think that the Academy might want to recognize him. Plus they love him. - Best Actor: The buzz for Kevin Bacon has been very quiet. I have to wait and see. - Best Actress: I also can't see Imelda Staunton winning the big prize though she is for now the frontrunner for at least a nomination. - Best Supporting Actor: Jude plays Errol Flynn in "The Aviator". But he only has one scene in the movie - it's like a cameo so he doesn't have a chance of being nominated. As for Hopkins I also think his role is too small and I have been hearing great things about Kilmer so I expect him to take the spotlight. I hope that I answered everything! Keep sending your emails and I will gladly answer them! Thanks for your support.

Date/From	16th August 2004 - Graeme O'Neil ("Crash")
Letter	Hi there. I just wanted to give you a little info about "Crash" cause I saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival. First of all, it's AWESOME, and got a great reception from the audience at the premiere. Paul Haggis, the director, said the film was finished less than 2 weeks prior, and no one had been allowed to see it. Not even the potential distributors, who were all in attendance at the premiere (which explains why there was no buzz on the film). When it comes to your predictions, you have Newton in Lead and Bullock is supporting. These are the 2 best performance in the film, so you are right on the money, but Newton will definitely be supporting as well. There is no lead in the film. Each actor probably only has about 15 minutes of screen time. And when it comes to Newton vs. Bullock. Both are wonderful performances, and will probably both get some attention, but I'm sure Bullock will get the bigger push because she is a big star and it's a change of pace for her. It's a great performance. Her big scene, which occurs earlier in the film, caused the kind of stir in the audience I have never seen or heard before. There was applause, hollers, and lots of buzz. The audience didn't settle down for about a minute. I fully expect Bullock to be the big push for supporting in the film.
My Reply	Hi Graeme! Thanks for all the information! I'm really anticipating this movie. "Lions Gate" bought the rights of distribution but I have just heard that the movie was moved to 2005. I don't know and understand why but it seems that it's going to happen. Thanks! Keep sending your thoughts.