So it's already been panned by Variety, and the other several reviews have also said it's a real drag. So maybe it's because I found that Don Cheadle's performance and the powerful subject matter, not the direction, really carried Hotel Rwanda. Terry George just didn't prove himself enough for me to just be on board his next project, especially one so contrived. We've seen what the tragedy of losing a loved one has done to plenty of suburban families, what does this really have to bring to the table? And for a forum that so complained about Crash's outrageous connections, how incredibly convenient for the movie is it for the guy who ran over Phoenix's kid to also be his lawyer?

So the movie didn't live up to it's manufactured prestige. Was anyone else expecting this reaction? And what other films coming out do you think won't live up to the hype? Personally...
- I think The Kingdom will have plenty of supporters on this board but will be absent from any real Oscar talk.
- Trade will surely be DOA if not even fuckin' Lionsgate would try and release it.
- We Own the Night probably won't be remembered for even the performances, though it might make a nice buck if Sony's smart and just sells it to older action fans that made Departed a hit.
- I don't see Gone Baby Gone setting the world on fire anymore than Affleck's last prestige film Hollywoodland.
- Things We Lost in the Fire is a bit of a wildcard because the director is talented, but I could see it getting lost in the shuffle.
- Marc Forster didn't impress me enough with Stranger Than Fiction to think The Kite Runner will be an automatic home run, although it does have the book's fans on it's side.
- If Match Point could only get what it did I don't think Cassandra's Dream will do any better.
The Bucket List's trailer quite frankly looked lazy. If it wasn't Nicholson no one would give a shit.
- Youth Without Youth has a realllly uphill battle to impress people considering it's Coppola, and what's worse a Coppola who hasn't impressed in god knows how long.
- As much as I think he's become a hack I'll admit Tim Burton has the recognition and qualities to impress a lot of people potentially, and his best movie was a musical, but if this is PG-13 bombs away!

The Kingdom is not an oscar pic.
Its one that will get recognition from some awards for its political matter and strong cast but at its core its an action thriller and those films are rarely awarded by the Academy so making that call is hardly stating anything new.

Most of the films you've listed aren't really awards horses.

I think right now Rendition will not do so great. I mean, early reviews are so/so on it. It'll probably have a decent box office showing upwards of $60m but i doubt it will be recognised so widely by the academy.

The Kingdom cannot disappoint simply because there are no awards expectations towards it anyway.

Cassandra's Dream looks to be an obvious bust.

I'd add Lions for Lambs

I'm gonna go out and say Charlie Wilson's War isn't going to get nominated for BP/BD, and honestly I think it's going to get shut out in the acting categories as well. The trailer was incredibly underwhelming.

Yeah, i'll jump on that boat as well. The prestige could propel it even if it's somewhat underwhelming, but I just dont see the good in the film, nothing about it looked remotely interesting or compelling.