"i dont mean to start and argument but how do u figure "oscar season" is oct-dec. there r plenty of films that have won best picture from early to mid year release dates"
This is actually a fact. Studios agree -- and this is why they begin releasing their FYC (For Your Consideration) ads in October. Academics also agree -- which is why one of the most respected books for introductory film courses, Bordwell and Thompson's "Film Art" -- identifies those months as Oscar season. Finally, there may be "plenty" of films that won Best Picture Oscars with early to mid year release dates, but only one of them has been released in the last five years. Cases in point:
Shakespeare in Love (December 11, 1998 )
American Beauty (September 17, 1999 limited; October 1, 1999 wide)
Gladiator (May 1, 2000, and then it had to be released in November to boost its chances)
A Beautiful Mind (December 21, 2001)
Chicago (December 27, 2002)
And of course the film that was most successful at the Oscars in the 1990s - Titanic - was released on December 19, 1997.
Don't worry about starting an argument. There is absolutely nothing to dispute. Nominations for early to mid-year releases are possible, but Best Picture wins for them have proven unlikely in recent times.
Updated On: 10/29/04 at 10:53 PM