Does DREAMGIRLS still have the chance to win Best Picture?- Page 2

[DAME]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 1:44am

Dreamgirls is defintely the frontrunner in the race as of right now. The opening statement in this thread is unfounded. Most reviews were in fact raves and the audience reactions and word of mouth is beyond incredible.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 1:45am

I really hope it has it in it to take the OSCAR. I really think it could!

It's hell...it doesn't open until mid-January over here!

[broadway86]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:45am

Theoretically, if Crash can win (a film that got slightly worse reviews, and won very few precursors), then Dreamgirls can certainly take it.

Besides, it's not the kind of movie that really needs critical support to sweep. Example: Chicago.

[DAME]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 11:54am

Chicago HAD critical support. As does Dreamgirls.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 12:04pm

Like I said before ... both "Chicago" and "Dreamgirls" have an equal critical rating of B+

[DAME]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 12:16pm

According to what? Not questioning you.. just wanting to know. I think the audience word of mouth is even stronger than Chicago.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:13pm

She's probably talking about Yahoo's movie ratings.

I thought UNITED 93 was incredible.

DREAMGIRLS' only competition is THE DEPARTED.

[Luscious]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:20pm

"Oh great. Yet another year where people are going to rail on and on and on and on and on about a film they just don't understand why it's getting critical aclaim and award recognition. YAWN and BLAH."

Jerby... just for the record, I'm fully aware of why United 93 has gotten the critical acclaim and recognition that it has. I just don't agree with it. And yes, I suppose this WILL be another year that people rail on and on about which films do or do not deserve the recognition they do or do not receive. Isn't every year? What fun would it be to agree that all the films released this year were all good and equally deserving of the nominations and awards they receive. Not to mention that, from my perspective, it wouldn't be an honest or accurate statement. So, kindly allow me to have my opinion that United 93 doesn't even come close to being one of the five best films of the year. Thanks.

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 02:20 PM

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:24pm

I don't want everyone to agree. I just don't want to listen to ENDLESS railings on about how much United 93 or Crash or Brokeback Mountain or whatever it is is pissing someone off with its success.

I know God hates me because I have to absolutely adore discussions on the Oscars, but I have to endure certain people who also love those discussions who have to play on like a broken sour record.

That's all.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:28pm

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the breakdown is this:

CHIGAGO = 88%
DREAMGIRLS = 78%

[Luscious]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:37pm

"I don't want everyone to agree. I just don't want to listen to ENDLESS railings on about how much United 93 or Crash or Brokeback Mountain or whatever it is is pissing someone off with its success."

That's what makes the world go 'round. If you don't want to listen to it, then avoid those threads where it's being discussed. Or just ignore those posters whose opinions you deem worthless or annoying. That's what I do.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:41pm

No. No. That wasn't a question.

[Luscious]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:49pm

I wasn't answering a question. I was making a statement.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 2:51pm

That's all.

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 02:51 PM

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 3:06pm

*is in love with Jerby*

I am so watching it again this afternoon.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 3:12pm

"DREAMGIRLS' only competition is THE DEPARTED."

As much as I wish that was true, I don't think it is.

Now that LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA has been released early and is picking up good notices and some precursors, the Academy may very well continue their streak of kissing Clint Eastwood's ass.

Though I'd still say DREAMGIRLS is the frontrunner, LETTERS is very quickly picking up steam.

Plus, DREAMGIRLS was probably hurt at least a little by the Hollywood Foreign Press being complete morons and not giving a nomination to Bill Condon for Best Director, instead choosing to nominate Eastwood twice. Horrible, unfair move.

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 03:12 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 3:45pm

LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA recieved lukearm reception at the Directors Guild this weekend. And I think the war movie needs to take a hiatus.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 3:49pm

Dame, that's good to hear. Hopefully, it'll prevent LETTERS from picking up steam.

I'm sick of war movies and I'm sick of Eastwood.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 4:44pm

I agree about Eastwood. If either Martin Scorsesse or Bill Condon lose the Best Director award at the Oscars, something is very wrong with the voters.

My very early predictions as of now are:
Best Picture: DREAMGIRLS
Best Actress: Helen Mirren, THE QUEEN
Best Actor: Forrest Whitaker, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, DREAMGIRLS
Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy, DREAMGIRLS
Best Director: Martin Scorcesse, THE DEPARTED
Best Adapted Screenplay: THE DEPARTED
Best Original Screenplay: LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA or LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Best Animated Movie: HAPPY FEET
Best Foreign Feature: VOLVER
Best Documentary Feature: AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
Best Art Direction: DREAMGIRLS
Best Cinematography: DREAMGIRLS
Best Film Editing: THE DEPARTED
Best Score: BABEL
Best Original Song: "Listen," DREAMGIRLS
Best Sound Editing: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
Best Sound Mixing: DREAMGIRLS
Best Makeup: APOCALYPTO
Best Costume: MARIE ANTOINETTE or DREAMGIRLS
Best Visual Effects: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

FINAL TALLIES:
DREAMGIRLS: 7 (with one toss-up making a possible 8 wins)
THE DEPARTED: 3
and basically everything else evenly distributed.

I agree with Munk about UNITED 93. I thought it was wonderful and one of the best movies of the year.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 5:35pm

nobody really answered, what about History Boys?

[DAME]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 5:36pm

Not going to happen

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 5:44pm

Well, if your predictions come true that would mean three African-American actors winning Oscars in the same year, plus the first-ever African-American film (meaning "story") to win Best Picture.

And it's long overdue, and I really hope it happens. They are all deserving.


EDIT: By the way, the category is Best Foreign LANGUAGE Film, not Best Foreign Film. This means that "Letters from Iwo jima" is eligible, even though it's a US-made film. Not that you want to switch from Volver... but just know what it will likely be up against.

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 05:44 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 6:08pm

Oh, right...sorry about that.

Also to add to DREAMGIRLS Best Picture favor, I think momentum is a big plus. What with last year's Best Picture nominees dominated by dark, dramatic films I think that the Academy might be ready to award a brighter more energetic film.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 6:24pm

Well, it's definitely brighter than "Crash" but it's still not a happy-peppy-positive story by any means.

The film version is darker in tone (especially in the second half) than the stage show. And the story is a dramatic one.

And then there's that issue of it being a "black film" and I hope to God the voters (and the world at large) are beyond that now. As I said before, it would be the FIRST EVER African-American story to win Best Picture, if it does.


EDIT: You know, it's kinda stupid that we've had several "black" musicals and plays win Tonys for decades now... but Best Picture...

"No, no, no, NO WAY!"

Updated On: 12/18/06 at 06:24 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/18/06 at 9:22pm

True; it's not exactly peppy and bright the entire way through at all. But it's a hell of a lot more upbeat than all of last year's Best Picture nominees put together (Crash, Capote, Brokeback Mountain, Munich, & Good Night and Good Luck).

I can't stress how phenomenal this movie is though. I am an out and proud shill for this epic piece of filmmaking.

It is the first film in a while to whole-heartedly deserve the title "Best Picture." It encompasses everything movies are about. It has a great story line with phenomenal music and incredible direction and cinematography and it features the breakout performance of the last decade. If you see one movie this year, make it DREAMGIRLS...you will not be dissapointed.