Benjamin Button is looking really good now.

Doubt ain't dead. 10 reviews on RT isn't enough to solidify mediocrity, and more importantly it looks like nothing else is grabbing the 5th slot by the throat right now. Like nothing gets in without at least 87+ at the BFCAs, which Wrester/Doubt/Revo. Road are under right now. Which makes me think Wall-E might, just might, have a shot.

Btw here are six Revo. Road clips for anyone interested

http://www.cinemablend.com/new.php?id=11110

I think it looks bloody awful. The dialog is so stagey and plastic (except unlike in Far From Heaven I don't think it's meant to be that way satirically) and the whole anti American Dream message looks awfully spoon fed and spelled out.

^hmm. We are on the same wavelength tonight Shack. I don't see the appeal at all over Rev Road.

Actually, I can finally say I'm interested in seeing Revolutionary Road after seeing those clips. I feel like I finally have an idea of what this is all about.

Button doesn't need huge ratings, it just needs passionate supporters. Forrest Gump wasn't really universally received.

And yeah, Rev Road looks rather silly, but apparently a lot of people will dispute that.

Becoming the third biggest movie ever can do a lot to curb that problem, a luxury Benjamin Button is gonna very much lack.

Point taken. But as long as it's financially successful...and how about The Green Mile? That was even more divisive, and had a similar long fantasy-drama aesthetic, and was in a REALLY strong year. It had passionate supporters and the public, though. BB seems to have the former, but the latter still remains to be seen.

Plus it's BFCA rating is in the mid-high 80s, I think.

I still think Rev. Road is going to surprise and be fucking awesome.b

I love it that you're referring to a film like Revo Road as potentially being "fucking awesome." That's not far removed from saying Frost/Nixon is going to be "totally killer" or Seven Pounds "the tightest shit ever!"

I didn't know they were announcing the Nominations on the one year anniversary of Ledgers death...

the 22nd? Yeah, apparently some black guy is making a big speech on the 20th, the normal date for announcements.

Figures. They always ruin everything.

I would give you all my predictions, and I'd frustrate the hell out of you with the bold predictions and accuracy ( ), but I'm just not into movies or this stuff anymore, and I only get involved when I know what I'm talking about. (some of you should try that! )

I would guess that it's the Dark Knight's year.

Hmm...

Maverikk endorsing Dark Knight to win .....

Looking over the past few years, thats not an endorsement anyone should be taking lightly.

Remember "Bobby"?!?

He's been right quite a few times, to be fair.

Picking TDK isnt exactly bold (Man on Wire, that would be something).

You should at the very least give us a quick rundown of your picks in the top categories. Where's the harm in that?

You know you want to.

Do you even have to ask?

You know he's going to do it anyway sooner or later.

KST won best actress at the European Film Awards.

Doubt is in the Rotten territory.

http://64.14.20.205/m/10009492-doubt/

I don't really expect it to end with more than 70% anymore.


The Reader is down to 63% too.

Doubt's chances for three Acting noms are dead. I only see Streep and Davis, and that's the end of it.

Jeffrey Wells' list of the top films:

1. Che
2. Man on Wire
3. Revolutionary Road
4. The Visitor
5. WALL-E
6. Doubt
7. Three Monkeys
8. Slumdog Millionaire
9. Nothing but the Truth
10. The Dark Knight
11. Stranded: I Have Come From a Plane that Crashed on the Mountains
12. Milk
13. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
14. Frost/Nixon
15. The Wrestler
16. W.

Wall-E gets a mention again! And TDK.

I want someone to have the balls to put Man on Wire as #1.

Revolutionary Road got its first negative review at RT, and its average got dragged down to 7.3.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has 88%, but the average is still a little low at 7.0.

Doubt is back to the fresh territory, but barely.

Frost/Nixon is looking better and better.

Ben Button should be fine. I don't think a film of its kind needs massive acclaim. 7/10 on RT is still like a 75-80 on MC.

Revo. Road down to 77 on BFCA. Seven Pounds comes in at 73, hopefully we can count Smith out, Pursuit of Happyness had 84.

The Wrestler is up to 86. Looking good as a contender still.

My current rankings would be:

1. Slumdog
2. Milk
3. Button
4. TDK
5. Frost/Nixon

6. The Wrestler
7. Wall-E
8. Revo. Road

I really, really, really want Frost/Nixon to fall. But I guess when you have Boyle, Van Sant, Fincher, Nolan films in at the same time, you sometimes have to bit the bullet and take a little Ron Howard for the team. There's no real weaknesses to Frost right now - The material is there, the acting nominations are there, the BFCA and RT/MC reaction is great, the box-office is great. The only thing I could say against is it being a film lacking passion and just being a boring typical baity nom, but we said that about Clayton too... seems like the right comparison. Though if one of Wrester/Wall-E got in that would make this the coolest BP lineup EVER. By a mile.

I'm still not totally confident in TDK. It might be just me but it feels like Wall-E's gonna get a lot more of the critical passion. Funny coming in we thought TDK would burst the Wall-E bubble, but it might be the other way around yet. I also think Button's box-office success could make a difference. If Wall-E doesn't come close and Button's not a big hit, they kind of have to nominate TDK or risk a 2005-esque group of small noms. Wall-E gets in or Button's a monster though, less leverage.

Zeitgeist of the moment:

BP: Milk losing steam, Slumdog's rising again and is the current frontrunner. Button and Frost are looking good for noms, but not wins. TDK remains a point of disagreement. The Wrestler's growing, WALL-E looks better than most thought it would, but is still far from being in "predicted" territory. Rev Road's chances at a nom are decreasing slightly, and its chance at a win has disappeared.

Director: Following BP. But Mendes is looking somewhat stronger than his movie.

Actor: It's still Penn v. Rourke, but Penn has lost his lead and this could go either way (I say Rourke).

Actress:...is a mess.

Supporting Actor: Nothing new, but Franco and Patel look like possible noms at the moment.

Supporting Actress: DeWitt is either getting in or will be considered a major snub.


Agree?