http://www.goldderby.com/insidetrack/insidetrack1.asp

"THE AVIATOR" SOARED HIGH AT ITS SCREENING FOR OSCAR VOTERS ON SATURDAY. Attendance size was big -- between 500 and 600. Our spy reports, "Well liked. Strong applause at the end with Cate Blanchett drawing the strongest response by far. Good applause when Leo's name came up and for Scorsese as well, but not as much. For some reason there was also strong reaction to Gwen Stefani, who is in it for about a minute. Go figure. Anyway one member thought the first two hours just flew by and the third hour dragged a little in comparison but was favorably impressed by the movie in every way. Another voter liked its scope and the fact that it tackled Hughes' life as a younger man rather than the senile eccentric he became."

Our spy reports that a voter said he liked "Phantom of the Opera," which also screened at the academy over the weekend, as did "Meet the Fockers" and "Lemony Snickett," but "'Phantom' had far less of a turn-out (estimates under 400)" and the voter we interviewed didn't "recall a strong reaction." Our spy adds, "He had problems with the make-up job on Gerard Butler, saying it looked more like a bad case of acne than what we have come to expect of this character in other versions. This member had nothing nice to say about 'Meet The Fockers' and thought 'Lemony Snickett' was absolutely stunning in terms of its look and production design."

Separately, another spy at the "Phantom" screening reported to GoldDerby that audience response was "polite applause," then couldn't resist adding his own gripe, "I can't get over how they have changed the story, trying to make the phantom not such a monster, but an abused child, for God's sake! Took the whole fear factor out of the film. And where was Hugh Jackman when he was needed?! HE would have been the perfect phantom. I don't think this one will make Best Picture, but should take several technical nods. I hope it doesn't get hair/makeup -- what they hell was that they put on Patrick Wilson!?! It was grotesque!"

*****

ACADEMY SCREENINGS: MILLION DOLLAR BABY LOOKS LIKE A DARLING OSCAR BABY. One of the biggest turnouts of the season at the Academy — estimated at 500 to 600 members — gave Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" sustained applause at the end when it was shown two weeks ago. One voter, who happens to be representing a rival film, was cursing "Baby" because he says it is so good. Another (who has yet to see "Aviator") says this film now tops his list and he will certainly vote for Hilary Swank as well. Buzz in the lobby was the kind Oscar consultants love to hear. One reason for the solid turnout: No DVDs had yet been sent to the Academy so many were actually motivated to see it in a theater. What a concept! Both voters surveyed said they really also enjoyed "Sideways," but don't get the critics' groups adulation. They feel Oscar may not fall in line -- at least yet. "Hotel Rwanda" had its official Academy screening earlier that day but only about 150 were in the audience, according to an observer. That DVD is already in the hands of the Acad and there have been numerous screenings in town. "Spanglish" screened on Saturday with middling attendance (about 300). Reax was mixed.

So 3 films stand a chance for the win right now, IMO:

Hotel Rwanda
Million Dollar Baby
The aviator


I'd give the edge to Million Dollar Baby.


The report confirms what I've already though, Sideways is not a sure thing at all. (Remember, Adaptation got 6 Golden Globe nominations, and that didn't translate into a best picture nomination). Blah. I don't know about it. The attention from critics is overwhelming, but I just don't see the academy going for it....maybe.

How come you've started supporting Hotel Rwanda that much, Rod?

Million Dollar Baby is the movie I'm secretly rooting for, because Clint Eastwood is a hero of mine. I'm very anxious to see this movie that is getting raved about even more than Unforgiven and Mystic River did. Eastwood is remarkably consistant as a director, and always gets great performances.

Im going for the Aviator, still.

Ditto

I'm hoping for Million Dollar Baby, just because it looks better than The Aviator (And it isn't 3 hours long).

I'm hoping Eternal Sunshine will pull through and win, but that's not going to happen.

I'm going with The Aviator until the end. I think it's pretty clear cut that this is the film to win. A director who is due, a great actor who is due, a film about a guy who has mental problems (aka. great Oscar material), perfect opening date, good coverage, and will make a respectable amount at the box office.

Million Dollar Baby could win, but at this point it's too small, Eeastwood has already won before, and I just think more people will go for The Aviator.

Meh.

PEACE, Mike

I think Eastwood might get completely snubbed again like last year....

He might miss out on an Actor nod because of the tight race.
Then.... the only way he MIGHT win something big is if the Academy splits the Picture/Director.... in which voters would be more inclined to give it Picture ideally because he already won dorector, or the other way around, it doesn't matter because either way, I think Scorceses will have just a marginal vote advantage over Clint, only because Aviator is more of an epic and a Hollywood epic at that and the fact that he hasnt won and Clint has.


I have been thinking about Clint Eastwood lately. Though I have barely seen much any of the old western movies, as I'm just starting to catch up on oldies and classic in the film field, I see what a LEGEND and icon Clint Eastwood is. I think he is one of the faces of all of American cinema and I would really like to see an enormous tribute to him one day.