SubscribeDerby dark horse: Batman returns?
Hey, whatever happened to all that cyber-buzz about "The Dark Knight" winning best picture at the Oscars? Was all that just rah-rahing led by secret Batman fanboys back before we had other front-runners
like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"?
Now new hype for "The Dark Knight" builds as the film reopens in theaters and the DVD sales rocket (13.5 million copies in its first week).
"The Dark Knight" wasn't nominated for best picture at the Golden Globes, but does that really mean anything? "Crash" and "The Sting" bagged the top Oscar after getting shut out of the Globes.
Consider this possibility: On Jan. 22, "The Dark Knight" leads with the most Oscars nominations, including best picture. That could happen — and throw the derby into turmoil. Being the noms leader gives a contender a huge psychological edge. And an edge among oddsmakers. Over the past 20 years the movie with the most noms won best picture 15 times.
Photo: Warner Bros.
juno2023
If they would nominate heath for Best Actor his chances to win would slim, as good as he is, the competion in that category is much harder...Best Supporting actor gives him much more chance to win...so it's a good thing he's in the categorie of supporting actor.
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Posted by: erik | January 06, 2009 at 08:14 AM
Why hasn't there been any musings as to whether Gary Oldman will be nominated for best supporting actor as Commissioner Gordon? I mean, c'mon, he was phenomenal. Look at how much he commanded the role, especially compared to 'Batman Begins.' Furthermore, I'm kind of shocked that Warner Bros. didn't have Heath Ledger competing in the 'best actor' race for the Joker-- after all, it was definitely the role that defined the movie, and Anthony Hopkins won for his 16 minutes in 'Silence of the Lambs.'
Posted by: juno2023 | January 05, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Dean,
What makes the movie damn mess?
Posted by: Owen | January 03, 2009 at 04:56 PM
I agree with Dean..what's the big deal about The Dark Knight? I said it before and I'll say it again--it was a stupid, noisy, plotless, excessive movie. Only Heath was worth the price of admission.
Posted by: peter | January 03, 2009 at 04:19 AM
If I'm in the minority on this, I'm glad. I was also in the minority that thought TITANIC was a lumbering clunker (save for the disaster sequence), that ENGLISH PATIENT was a massive bore, that BRAVEHEART was a dunderheaded revenge tale, and that FORREST GUMP was a well-meaning but ultimately mean-spirited criticism of left-wing ideals. ALL HAIL THE MINORITY. I wear my badge proudly, and let the sheep fall where they may. The day we start picking what gets nominated for Best Picture based on what gets a 98 on Rotten Tomatoes is the day I forget about the Oscars, and permanently.
Posted by: Dean Treadway | January 02, 2009 at 01:01 PM
I certainly hope The Dark Knight gets a Best Pic nom over that other supposed "front runner," The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I'm at a complete loss as to why this soporific, plot-less, sleep aid would be on ANYbody's "10 Best" list, much less 5 per the Oscars.
Posted by: Markus H. | January 02, 2009 at 09:48 AM
I still believe "The Dark Knight" will slip in for a Best Picture nomination. In the end, Best Picture will be conteded between "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Milk". I feel the overated movie going in is "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button". The more people and critics see the movie the more the buzz will die down. It should not be a shock if Brad Pitt is left off the Oscar Ballot for Best Actor.
Posted by: ArthouseGuy | January 02, 2009 at 09:48 AM
That is very cool The dark knight really does need a best picture nomination. It has higher ratings on rotten tomatoes and metacritic than many other movies people here about getting considered such as Frost/Nixon, the reader, revolutionary road, The curious case of benjamin button, defiance, doubt, burn after reading, and etc.... It also has higher ratings than alot of previous best picture winners such as Crash, a beautiful mind, gladiator, Titanic, and etc.... So its a good thing that it would get nominated. The Academy will get HIGHER RATINGS and something very important CHANGE(first superhero movie nominated).
Now I haven't seen slumdog millionaire,milk, or alot of other movies so i'm not saying it should win BUT IT SHOULD GET A NOMINTION FOR BEST PICTURE!!!!!!
Posted by: Marvin | January 02, 2009 at 02:53 AM
Well, Dean, I think whether the movie is a mess is a personal opinion, not a fact. Your points are well taken, and indicate possible reasons why The Dark Knight might not bag a Best Pic nom. But fanboys with low self-esteem? That sounds like a comment from someone who suffers from, well, low self-esteem.
Posted by: James | January 01, 2009 at 09:21 PM
THE DARK KNIGHT SHOULD GET NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE.ITS ONE OF THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR AND WILL BE REMEMBER FOR A LONG TIME AND I'M NOT A FANBOY I HATE COMIC BOOKS BUT THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT.
Posted by: shirley | January 01, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Best Picture: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Wall-E, Milk & Changeling. Other movies like Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Wrestler are more acting nominees.
Posted by: Lali | January 01, 2009 at 09:21 PM
To Dean Treadway:
"the movie is a damn mess". Really? I guess you're in the minority. Go back to rottentomatoes.com and read on. The consesus of critics have given it high marks (94% fresh rating on the site's scale). Lest I remind you these are no fanboys. Neither am I.
So your opinion about the overall feature falls in the minority...
Therefore, the feature is a contender for several Oscar noms regardless of your less than stellar opinion.
Posted by: volante | January 01, 2009 at 09:21 PM
THE DARK KNIGHT has indeed been trumpeted by fanboys with low self-esteem as a possible Best Pic nominee. And it very well might happen. It will have to overcome three HUGE hurdles though: (1) it's a superhero movie, obviously, and we know what that means to the Academy: absolutely nil; (2) it's a sequel, and for it to be nominated for the top slot would make it the first sequel ever to garner that honor without its predecessor landing a nomination, too, and the biggest one: (3) Save for Heath Ledger's performance, the movie is a damn mess.
Posted by: Dean Treadway | January 01, 2009 at 05:35 PM