Universal is said to be bullish about the film's awards prospects and, based on the audience it drew and reception it received at its official Academy screening on Saturday night, it's hard to disagree.

Almost all major motion pictures are invited to screen for Oscar voters at the Academy's 1012-seat Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills, but many play to a largely empty room, especially prior to the fall. Compton, however, drew a massive crowd, according to several Academy members with whom I spoke. "It was one of the bigger screenings I've seen in a long time," said one, "maybe 80 to 85 percent full." The week before, he said, a screening drew perhaps 200 people; this one, according to a Universal rep who was monitoring attendance, drew "well over 700." (One caveat: Prior to the fall, members are invited to bring with them up to three guests, so not everyone in the room was an Academy member — but even so, it was an impressive showing.)

The film itself seemed to go over very well. A powerful scene that plays before its opening credits was met with applause, an extremely rare response from hard-bitten members in the middle of a movie. (There have been only a few instances of it in recent years: following some of the numbers in Chicago, Anne Hathaway's show-stopper in Les Miserables and the thrilling finale of Argo. And all of those films went on to win major Oscars.) According to another member, "I talked to many members afterwards and they were very impressed."