SubscribeForget donuts! Will Homer devour a gourmet rat at the Oscars?
Ay caramba! Is America's worst slob, Homer Simpson, even lower than a rat?
Perhaps not, says Edward Douglas of Comingsoon.net: "I think 'The Simpsons Movie' is going to be Pixar's prime competition at the Oscars," he says, referring to presumed front-runner "Ratatouille."
Other potential contenders: "Shrek the Third" (the original won the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature; part two was nommed), "Bee Movie," "Surf's Up" and, perhaps, "Beowulf."
But according to Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood-Elsewhere.com, "'Ratatouille,' at this stage, has the lead. Apart from the fact that it's one of the best animated films ever."
"The race is largely over for this year with the artistry and box office success of 'Ratatouille' absolutely dwarfing everything else," declares Pete Hammond of Maxim and HollywoodWiretap.com.
To which I add this warning: rats!
Let's recall that last year "Flushed Away" looked like a shoo-in to be nommed for Best Animated Feature, considering its rave reviews and its pedigree: created by DreamWorks and the Oscar-winning creators of "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit." But at Oscar time, it vanished down, well, a rat hole. When it comes to choosing between Homer Simpson and a rodent this year, beware: those snooty Hollywooders may feel compelled to embrace, with pinched nostrils, Springfield's worst.
"Look at how many Emmys 'The Simpsons' has won," Douglas reminds us, "and it's very much in the mainstream public consciousness. And the movie is just as good and just as funny as 'Ratatouille.' They really stepped up their game with the animation from the show and it's pretty amazing what they've done with the normally primitive animation from the show. I'd think that by December (when both should be out on DVD), they'll be neck-and-neck among critics/Oscar voters in terms of favorites. ('Simpsons' is also a bit more current and timely and the script is so solid that I wouldn't even be the least bit surprised if it got into the Adapted Screenplay category.)"
But Wells asserts: "Forget 'The Simpsons,' forget 'Shrek,' and you know where Jerry Seinfeld's 'Bee Movie' will be coming from (look at the one-sheet). 'Ratatouille' says something that is true and generous that everyone recognizes, which is that not anyone can be an artist but that art can come from anywhere. What that means to an Academy person is that an electrician or a makeup artist or a bit player can write a screenplay or direct a film that everyone will love or which might even win awards. That is music to the Academy's Unwashed Masses."
Sizing up the rivals to "Ratatouille" and "The Simpsons," Hammond adds, "I would say if there was another worthy candidate it would be Sony's superb 'Surf's Up,' but it's so-so box office reception probably poisoned the well there. 'Bee Movie' is the one to look out for. Seinfeld can be a mighty force when he wants to be and they are pouring tons of money into its promotion. The trailers are hysterical."
But what about "Beowulf," eh? That's the subject for another, separate riff. See below.
I don't think you can necessarily put "Ratatouille" on the same level as "Flushed Away". One big thing that "Ratatouille" has that "Flushed" didn't have was a big box office performance and the emotional response that has come not just out of kids but their parents. Let us not forget that "Ratatouille" is written and directed by Brad Bird, who won the award two years ago for "The Incredibles". Both "Ratatouille" and "The Incredibles" have a different feeling than even the best Pixar films like "Monsters Inc." and "Finding Nemo". The emotion of the story seems to be on a level that is specifically aimed at the older viewers of the movie. Also, the rats in this movie are much MUCH cuter than the ones in "Flushed Away".
But we will just have to wait and see.
Posted by: Charles | August 03, 2007 at 08:27 AM
Beowulf can't get nominated in the Best Animated Feature catagory under the new rules goverening the catagory starting this year...
See the article Academy tweaks Oscar rules by Carl DiOrio, June 14, 2007 in the Hollywood Reporter...
"The Academy also formulated more precise language governing animated feature nominees. An animated feature now is defined as being at least 70 minutes in length, with production of characters and their movements done by "frame by frame technique." Most characters in the film must be animated, and animation must figure in at least 75% of the picture's running time."
The key being: "with production of characters and their movements done by "frame by frame technique."
That would exclude MoCap.
Posted by: lightyear | August 02, 2007 at 11:41 AM