OUCH - 'Sweeney' Shut Out of the SAG Awards — Page 2

Phyllis, I wasn't even touching on the "opinion" of the film Dreamgirls. We can leave that for the 3,000 other threads on the subject. That's moot, for this thread.

I was only talking about the facts:

Fact: Dreamgirls was touted as a front-runner to win Best Picture by many the media, and very early on in the year. I'm talking about the advance "buzz" and speculation (which was based on nothing but a few clips and previous Oscar pedigree). Not on people actually seeing the film.

Fact: All five movies nominated for Best Picture (Oscar) last year, and Best Director had screeners sent out to Academy members prior to balloting. Dreamgirls, a supposed front-runner for the win, did not.


Fact: The same companies are handling the Sweeney Todd movie domestically: DreamWorks and Paramount. (MB---Warner Bros. has international rights only for Sweeney. They have nothing to do with domestic marketing or distribution of the film. And I doubt they have much, if anything, to do with the "local" Oscar campaigning either.)

I just hope they fired whoever it was last year that didn't send out screeners for Dreamgirls. Otherwise, we may see an instant replay, if they haven't changed their strategy (or lack thereof).

Sweeney doesn't have the over-hyped buzz of being an Oscar front-runner months in advance like Dreamgirls did. I'm hoping that's to its advantage. And I was hoping that the PR for DreamWorks/Paramount had learned its lesson. At least that's what I was believing so far.

I also think it was physically impossible for them to get screeners out that fast to SAG members, since a final print was still being polished up. But it's been locked for a couple of weeks now... so those screeners had better be going out to all Academy voting members this week, or forget it.

The holidays are when many Oscar voters sit down on their couches (either at home or in hotel rooms) and catch up on films. It's insane the number of screeners that are being dumped into their laps this time of year. This week, and next. If the Sweeney Oscar/PR machine misses the holiday window and sends them out in January, that would be bad too... but not as bad as missing the nomination, film-watching period altogether.

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thank you besty, as usual, you are one of the only ones on here with any sense. I can't (well, I can) believe that people here are whining about the vocal performances when they haven't even seen the actual film, so they can see how Bonham's and Depp's acting choices are dictating how they are singing.

This movie is not a live stage show, folks. once again, it's a different medium, and it takes a different approach. If you had George Hearn's marvelous baritone in this film, he would be laughed off the screen.

And as Sondheim said, this more about the acting, less about the singing. We already have umpteen recordings of Sweeney with wonderful singers, Now let's all take a deep breath, and enjoy a different take on our favorite show.

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I actually think it's great, revolutionary, but I do agree with you about the awards.

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Sorry to be a thread pirate, but can someone clear this up for me?

Atonement screeners were sent out and Sweeney screeners were not. Is that correct?

Thanks. :)

Supposedly Tim Burton's behind the decision to withhold the screeners -- he wants people to see the movie in theatres.
And to be fair - Dreamgirls got 3 SAG noms without screeners last year. It also scored more mentions with critics groups, top tens, AFI, Globe nods, etc. than Sweeney has at this point. And this was AFTER people had seen it, so not just the result of the hype.

Well, not necessarily *after*...

Having been a voter on these kinds of awards, I can tell you that you'd be surprised what people will check off on a nomination ballot based on buzz alone, without having actually seen the film...

If I'm remembering correctly, DREAMGIRLS didn't send out screeners but they did a lot of other screenings and private invitation events to members of SAG and other guilds. Those things really do affect how people vote.

Last year, studios behind LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE and THE DEPARTED sent screeners to the entire voting body of SAG! That's a huge expense but it sure paid off for them...

I'm not sure if Tim Burton is the reason for the screeners being withheld. If there is some concious decision to not issue them, I bet it has to do with a fear of piracy before the release of the movie (given Depp's popularity).

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Roquat - you are somehow equating *quality* with accesibility. There have been plenty of great films this year, and while box office does play a part in many an Oscar win for Best Picture - sometimes smaller films do win.

At this point, I'd say NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN is the surest nominee and probable winner for Best Picture because the people who love the film REALLY love it.

I think we've kind of moved past the "too violent for Oscar" thing. I agree about SWEENEY TODD not being a probable Oscar nominee for Best Picture, but I don't think that has to do with the blood.

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 03:10 PM

Again, to be fair -- Dreamgirls was nominated by almost every guild in January (most crucially the PGA and DGA) and won 3 Golden Globes -- well after the time that the initial "buzz" had died down. A lot of groups had huge affection for that film, including the Academy. In fact, there's a strong chance that Dreamgirls will have more noms than Hairspray and Sweeney combined.

You didn't mention GREAT DEBATERS, which is getting so-so reviews as a standard "inspirational" picture elevated by its performers. INTO THE WILD got VERY divided press, and many people hated it (its box office hasn't been inspiring either), plus a backlash is developing against Sean Penn as an example of Hollywood self-righteousness (I don't share this view, but it's there.) JUNO and DIVING BELL are so "indie" they will need substantial critical and grass-roots support to make it into Best Picture territory at all, let alone edging out SWEENEY (they're more likely to score for acting/writing nominations.)

As for NO COUNTRY, the Coen brothers have been out to lunch both aesthetically and financially for so long I just don't know if this is the movie that'll rescue them. Yes, I know Hollywood loves a comeback...

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There is no buzz on THE GREAT DEBATORS - its not going to suddenly come out of nowhere to be a Best Picture nominee. As Best12 alludes to, it takes a while for voters to get around to seeing all these films. DREAMGIRLS probably got as much early guild support as it did, largely based on "Oscar Buzz" without a lot of people having even seen the movie at all!

The real lesson is, that more and more often, the strategy of opening a film in the last month of the year doesn't work in terms garnering Oscar support.

In this era of DVDS, its the films like THE DEPARTED that opened earlier in the year, that people remember liking, and that most people have had a chance to see (in the theatre or at home) and digest that seem to be making a good showing at the Oscars.

The big lump of December releases is too messy to sort out and decipher, now especially that the Oscars are a month early.

How could they shut out ENCHANTED and WAITRESS for best actress and WAITRESS for best ensemble?

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