Seriously, for a movie that is supposed to be an awards contender we haven#t really hard anything about it as far as I know...and it's coming out next week!

Yeah, I noticed the same thing last week, and that's why I don't think it has any award potential any more. No matter how baity a film looks on paper, no reviews a week before the official release means major trouble. It doesn't look good on the box office front either.

It going wide right off the bat also suggests a lack of confidence.

Any Razzie potential or will this just be a forgotten movie?

What's the budget on this? It wouldn't surprise me if it's at or over $100M. If that's the case, it's going to a mega bomb.

Two polar opposite reactions, including reactions on Swank's performance, from the two biggies:

Rave from The Hollywood Reporter


Pan from Variety

At least 50/100 at MetaCritic isn't that bad. HollywoodReporter's is 90 at MC.

I think that if it manages to stay above 70/100 at MC it is still in play for Best Picture (nomination only) because of the pedigree.

I don't really see a BP nom to be in play. The best it could look for is a Best Actress nom. It reminds me of North Country.

Being a biopic of a famous person helps. Also, Mira Nair is a more acclaimed director.

I don't know, with five nominees it'd be out, definitely, but with ten...? If it manages to gross $20 million or more and grabs Swank an Oscar nom, then I could also see a BP nom happening with solid reviews.

it's 1/3 on RT, which leads me to think its chances are small at this point. Invictus will probably steal whatever inspirational-biopic buzz it does pick up.

Hmm, yeah, not looking good for BP. Actress might sneak in on prestige alone (see I am Sam), but otherwise...

Swank's performance is not being praised though except for THR's review, and given this is a strong year for Actress (we already have five bona fide contenders which films have been seen), her chance is small.

29% at RT, with pans from EW, AP, Variety, and Levy, among the big names. I Am Sam is pretty much the only comparison it can find on the positive side, as this is certainly no Memoirs of Geisha pedigree wise, but IAS was released much later and grossed $40m in total; I'd also argue Swank is still not in the league of Sean Penn in term of getting academy loves.

Heh, funnily enough, Swank has two Oscars at this point and Penn had none back then. But I know what you mean.

Wow, Variety's review at MC was reduced from 50/100 to 30/100.

Time Out New York gave it 40/100

Yeah, this is going to be a dud. I don't even think Swank will get nominated at this point. It has 5 Rotten and 2 Fresh reviews at Rotten Tomatoes currently.

Wow, 38/100 at MC with 28 reviews. OUCH!

Yeah, Swank and techs are out too.

Fox only has 500 Days and Avatar.

This is good news. I thought they'd be too busy campaigning for this to campaign for (500) Days of Summer, but the Oscar chances for this one just went bye bye. Though I wouldn't be surprised if they still did campaign for it, at least for Swank.

Anyway, hopefully they'll put some muscle behind a Summer campaign now.