Confusion reigns over whether the Michael Jackson concert documentary "This Is It" may compete at the Oscars. The answer is, well, complicated — like Michael Jackson himself.
As we reported a few days ago, "This Is It" may not compete in the next race for best documentary feature because it missed the deadline — it didn't play in a theater in New York and Los Angeles for seven days prior to Aug. 31.
However, "This Is It " may compete in other Oscar races this year, including best picture. Why not, eh? Reviews are strong. Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) calls it "extraordinary." Elysa Gardner of USA Today gave it three out of four stars, calling it "Equal parts thriller, off the wall, HIStory," adding that it "offers glimpses of Michael Jackson's bygone greatness, and poignant suggestions of what might have been."
But, alas, no documentary has ever been nominated in the past. Some quite famously tried and (disastrously) failed, including "Hoop Dreams" and "Fahrenheit 9/11." Michael Moore refused to enter "Fahrenheit 9/11" in the documentary category because he feared that its presence might dilute its chances of landing in the loftier category. That ploy revealed serious Oscar naivete, considering the two categories have vastly different voting systems. Nominees for best documentary feature are chosen by a relatively small screening committee, not the full academy electorate, which selects the best-picture lineup. In other words, it didn't run the risk of appearing twice on the average academy member's ballot, thus splitting its votes.
This year, there will be 10 nominees instead of the usual five, of course, so maybe this could be it for "This Is It"?
All of these oracles foresee a nomination for "The Hurt Locker," "Invictus," "Precious" and "Up." One of our gurus (Thelma) is boldly going where no pundit's gone before by picking "Star Trek," which, I agree, is a real contender. Kev's also making some way-out choices, admitting to me in an e-mail that "Moon" may just be wishful thinking. Jeff waffles a bit, saying that either "Inglourious Basterds" or "District 9" will get in, so both titles are listed here with question marks. Predictions for "Star Trek," "District 9" and "Avatar" are curious considering the academy's historic reluctance to embrace sci-fi fare. Only two films of that genre have been nominated for best pic in the past: "E.T." and "Star Wars." However, this year there will be twice as many nominees as usual, of course, so there's more room for exceptions.
"Up" is only Pixar's 10th feature film, but it could well win the studio its fifth Oscar for animated feature. Before audiences see "Up," they are being shown a teaser trailer for next year's Pixar picture "Toy Story 3." All of the old toys are back — Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Mr. Potato Head (Don Rickles) and Hamm (John Ratzenberger) — along with newcomers Ken (Michael Keaton) and Barbie (Jodie Benson). The film is directed by Lee Unkrich who co-helmed "Toy Story 2" with a script by Oscar winner Michael Arndt ("Little Miss Sunshine").
Both the original "Toy Story" (1995) and the equally successful sequel "Toy Story 2" (1999) predate the separate animated film category at the Oscars. "Toy Story" contended for best original screenplay ("The Usual Suspects" won) as well as song and musical/comedy score ("Pocahantas" won both these), and the sequel also had a song contender ("You'll Be in My Heart" from "Tarzan" won).
Though its most recent animated movie — "Monsters vs. Aliens" — was a critical disappointment, DreamWorks is back at the drawing board. Today, studio exec Jeffrey Katzenberg announced an ambitious slate of eight toons, all to be released in 3-D, over the next three and a half years. Among the most high profile of these is "Shrek Forever After" due out in 2010. This will be the third sequel to the Oscar-winning "Shrek."
That first film about the lovable green ogre won the inaugural Academy Award for best animated film in 2001. Since then, DreamWorks has had four more Oscar contenders — "Spirit: Stallion of the
Cimarron" (2002); both "Shark Tale" and "Shrek 2" (2004); and "Kung Fu
Panda" (2008) — but has yet to repeat as a solo winner. It did co-produce the 2005 champ "Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit" much as Disney did with 2002 winner "Spirited Away."
Disney's partner Pixar has produced four of the eight animated films to win this Oscar — "Finding Nemo" (2003): "The Incredibles" (2004); "Ratatouille" (2007); and "Wall-E" (2008). And Pixar has a strong contender with tomorrow's release of "Up." (Warners won with "Happy Feet" in 2006.)
DreamWorks is also producing a prequel of sorts to "Shrek" as the 2012 "Puss in Boots" showcases this popular cat character voiced by Antonio Banderas with Salma Hayek as his love interest.
Oscar also-ran "Kung Fu Panda" gets a 2011 sequel subtitled "The Kaboom of Doom." And the "Madagascar" series continues with a third installment, due out in 2012, in which the talkative animals join the circus.
First up among the new films is "How to Train Your Dragon" out in the spring of 2010. Based on the bestselling children's book by Cressida Cowell, this is the story of the son of a Viking who teaches his pet dragon how to be a hero. Gerard Butler and America Ferrera are the most notable names among the voice talent. Then in November 2010, comes "Oobermind" with Robert Downey Jr. and Tina Fey among those giving voice to the story of a supervillain who has vanquished all the do-gooders only to realize how boring life can be on his own.
"Monsters vs. Aliens" may win the box office this weekend, but this new 3-D animated feature is unlikely to be contending for any major awards. Based on overall mixed reviews, "Monsters vs. Aliens" scored a mere 55 at Meta Critic and a barely better 59 with the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Of the top critics, only Claudia Puig of USA Today was enthusiastic about "Monsters vs. Aliens," noting, "Dazzling colors, winning characters and energetic visual effects all work in concert, with the 3-D animation serving to intensify the experience." However, most reviewers agreed with the sentiments of Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who says, "I didn't find the movie rich with humor, unless frenetic action is funny. Maybe kids have learned to think so. Too bad for them. Think of the depth of 'Pinocchio.' Kids in those days were treated with respect for their intelligence. 'Monsters vs. Aliens' is also lacking in wit."
"Monsters vs. Aliens" is written and directed by Rob Letterman, who helmed the 2004 Oscar-nominated "Shark Tale," and co-directed by Conrad Vernon, who was part of the team behind "Shrek 2," another 2004 Oscar nominee. Both those pictures lost the animated feature race to "The Incredibles."
This new movie about supersize heroes is unlikely to be another contender for DreamWorks, which has a honored history with the Oscars. The studio won the first animated feature Oscar with "Shrek," in 2001 and was nominated four more times on its own — "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" (2002); both "Shark Tale" and "Shrek 2" (2004); and "Kung Fu Panda" (2008). In addition, it co-produced 2005 champ "Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit."
Last month's animated 3-D release — "Coraline" — did far better with the critics, earning a solid 80 at Meta Critic and 79 with the top reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes. That film, based on the acclaimed book by Neil Gaiman, was directed by Henry Selick, who helmed two highly acclaimed stop-motion films — "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993) and "James and the Giant Peach" (1996) — that predated the introduction of the animated feature category at the Oscars.
If you thought Anne Hathaway was brave for singing and dancing with Hugh Jackman on the recent Oscarcast, that was a walk in the park compared with her next performance — playing Judy Garland on both stage and screen. The Oscar-nominated actress ("Rachel Getting Married") is to star in upcoming film and legit adaptations of Gerald Clarke's 2000 biography "Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland."
With the Weinstein Co. producing both these properties, Anne Hathaway is in good hands. While there is no word as to any of the other creatives involved in these projects, the source material is rich with possibilities, including as it does material in Judy Garland's own words. Gerald Clarke's biography of the late, great writer Truman Capote was the basis for "Capote," which was nominated for five awards at the 2005 Oscars including best picture and won lead actor for Philip Seymour Hoffman.
If Hathaway can pull this part off, she would be a leading contender at both the Oscars and the Tonys. Seven of the last
10 women to win lead actress at the Academy Awards did so by playing real-life roles. The irony of course is that Judy Garland never won a competitive Oscar. In 1939, she was awarded an honorary one for her timeless performance in "The Wizard of Oz."
However, she lost both of her Oscar races. In 1954, Judy Garland made one of the all-time great screen comebacks, proving herself a triple threat with her acting, singing and dancing in the musical remake of "A Star Is Born." So sure was the academy that she would win the lead actress Oscar that they set up a television camera in Judy's hospital room where she was resting after having given birth to son Joey just days before. However, it was Grace Kelly's name that was announced, for her role as the dutiful wife to an alcoholic actor (Bing Crosby) in "The Country Girl." And while Judy Garland was nominated for her 1961 supporting performance as a witness in "Judgment at Nuremberg," she lost to Rita Moreno for "West Side Story."
Judy Garland never appeared in a Broadway musical in her all-too-short life. In 1967, she was so eager to take over from Tony winner Angela Lansbury in "Mame" that she watched the show from the wings for nights on end. However, the producers could not get the insurance to cover the costs should Garland not appear. She did win an honorary Tony Award in 1952 for "for an important contribution to the revival of vaudeville through her recent stint at the Palace Theatre."
Broadway usually favors the fanciful over the fact-driven, though the last two Tonys for lead actress in a musical went to hopefully heightened portrayals of real-life women — Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and Patti Lupone ("Gypsy"). While Hathaway has never appeared on Broadway, in 2002 she tackled a Tony-winning role for five performances of a concert version of the 1961 musical "Carnival." As the orphaned Lili (a part that earned Anna Maria Alberghetti the lead actress award), Hathaway shone opposite Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell ("Kiss Me Kate"). This summer, Hathway is to star in a production of "Twelfth Night" as part of the Public Theatre's celebrated Shakespeare in the Park series in New York's Central Park.
The big question is whether Anne Hathaway will sing the songs so associated with Judy Garland or mime along to recordings. In 2001, both Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis won Emmy Awards for playing Judy Garland in the mini-series "Me and My Shadows." They both lip synced to Judy's unique song stylings. In 2004 Isabel Keating earned a Tony nomination as featured actress in a musical for her portrayal of Garland in "The Boy From Oz." She lost to Anika Noni Rose for "Caroline or Change."
While Isabel Keating performed musical numbers as Judy, she was not singing Garland songs. Rather, as the musical told the story of one-time Garland son-in-law Peter Allen, she sang some of his tunes. And bringing this item full circle, Hugh Jackman won the lead actor in a musical Tony Award for playing the singer-songwriter once married to Liza Minnelli.
Below is a clip of Judy Garland singing the Oscar-winning "Over the Rainbow" during a 1943 radio broadcast of the morale-boosting "Command Performance." She is introduced by Bob Hope who had featured the young singer on his radio show during the 1939 season. Four years later, Garland had become one of the biggest stars on the MGM lot.
If Johnny Depp is the actor most overdue to win an Oscar, is Michelle Pfeiffer his female equivalent? Twenty-one years ago, she earned the first of her three Oscar nods for playing the innocent in "Dangerous Liaisons." Michelle Pfeiffer lost the supporting actress race to Geena Davis at her quirkiest in "The Accidental Tourist." Since then she has contended twice for lead actress, losing her 1989 bid for "The Fabulous Baker Boys" to "Driving Miss Daisy" star Jessica Tandy and her 1992 nod for "Love Field" to Emma Thompson for "Howards End."
Following a fallow period in her career, Michelle Pfeiffer returned to the screen two years ago as the campy villainess in "Hairspray," which earned a SAG ensemble nod. (It lost to eventual Oscar champ "No Country for Old Men".) In that frothy musical, Pfeiffer put the moves on Christopher Walken in a sizzling song and dance number. In "Cheri," due out June 19, she stars as a seductress who woos the young son (Rupert Friend) of her courtesan friend (Oscar winner Kathy Bates, "Misery").
The film reunites Michelle Pfeiffer with "Dangerous Liaisons" director Stephen Frears ("The Queen") and screenwriter Christopher Hampton, who won an Oscar back then for adapting his play. Now he has worked his magic on the landmark 1920 novel by Colette ("Gigi"). In and out of gorgeous costumes, Michelle Pfeiffer certainly does not look her 50 years. If any veteran actress can keep pace with the younger fillies in the awards derby it is this stunner.
Certainly, Michelle Pfeiffer is likely to be a Golden Globe nominee, especially if the film is categorized as a comedy where there is always a need to fill the ranks. She earned six consecutive Golden Globe nominations beginning in 1988. She lost her first comedy Globe nod for "Married to the Mob" in 1988 to "Working Girl" Melanie Griffith and her second in 1991 for "Frankie and Johnny" to Bette Midler in "For the Boys." Michelle Pfeiffer did win the drama Globe for "Baker Boys" and contended three other times for that award. She lost all three of those races to the eventual Oscar winner — in 1990 for "The Russia House" to Kathy Bates ("Misery"), in 1992 to Emma Thompson, and in 1993 for "The Age of Innocence" to Holly Hunter ("The Piano").
Now that "The Reader" has proved the continued strength of Holocaust films in the awards derby, reaping an overdue Oscar for Kate Winslet plus nominations for best picture, director, screenplay and cinematography, there should be keen interest in "Irena's Vow." The Broadway play, which opens March 29, has already been optioned for a feature film and shows strong potential, just like "The Reader," in the lead actress race.
"Irena's Vow" is based upon the real-life experiences of Irena Gut Opdyke, a Polish Catholic who saved 12 Jews from extermination by hiding them in the basement of a Nazi officer's villa. The Broadway production at the Walter Kerr could finally earn theater veteran Tovah Feldshuh her first Tony Award after four losses: "Golda's Balcony" (lead actress in a play, 2004), "Lend Me a Tenor" (featured actress in a play, 1989), "Sarava" (lead actress in a musical, 1979), "Yentl" (lead actress in a play, 1976).
Feldshuh is known primarily as a stage actress, but has appeared in films too. However, she won't be offered the screen version of the title role as the character is being retooled radically by playwright Dan Gordon ("Hurricane: The Hurricane Carter Story," "Murder in the First," "Passenger 57," "Wyatt Earp"), who's writing and directing the film. Instead of featuring Irena as she is on stage — an older woman looking back at her life as a young woman enduring the drama during wartime — Gordon plans to set the film entirely during World War II when it begins production late this year.
Rumor has it that Gordon and producers may be discussing the role with Scarlett Johansson, in part because she shares such a striking resemblance to the real-life Irena. If cast, Johannson would be strong awards bait. She's received four Golden Globe nominations ("Girl With the Pearl Earring," "Lost in Translation," "Love Song for Bobby Long," "Match Point") and, as every Oscarologist knows, is overdue for academy notice.
As this year's Oscars fade into memory, you can revisit some of the best bits from the telecast at the academy's official YouTube channel. Over there you will find the acceptance speeches for the top eight awards — picture, director, the four acting categories and both screenwriting races. And you can see host Hugh Jackman's standout opening number. Beyond that, there is a recap of the sci-tech winners by mistress of ceremonies Jessica Biel and a two-minute report on the nominees luncheon. But that is it. While the academy is understandably protective of its biggest asset — the Oscarcast — it is frustrating that more of the memorable moments from both this and previous years are not readily available.
Though the academy is stingy with sharing segments of the Oscarcast itself, it has become very generous at granting the public access to both backstage and the press room. Over at the official Oscar website, there are loads of fly-on-the-wall moments as dazed winners like Kate Winslet and Penelope Cruz come offstage holding their Oscars. And there are lengthy clips of the winners answering questions from the masses of media as well. All of this would make for great additions to a DVD release.
Back in 1992, the academy produced a VHS tape called "Oscar's Greatest Moments (1971-1991)" which showcased the highlights and low points of two decades of Academy Award ceremonies. Then Academy president — the Oscar-winning actor Karl Malden ("A Streetcar Named Desire") — hosted the 110-minute special. Various segments reviewed the controversies — lead actor winners George C. Scott ("Patton") and Marlon Brando "The Godfather" just saying no; the comedy — Bette Midler resurrecting her career as she presented 1981's best song in her own inimitable way; the clothes — a parade of Cher's hits and misses; and, yes, the actual winning moments including Louise Fletcher's moving acceptance speech and Sally Field's declaration of dependence.
At the conclusion of this speed walk down memory lane, Malden promised that the academy would unlock the vault and bring out more of these treasures for our enjoyment. Seventeen years later we are still waiting. Compilations like this no doubt require complicated negotiations with Hollywood guilds and unions to get rights clearances. And facing that ordeal again is probably what's behind the lack of an update.
But if it could be done once, why not again? Since the academy included that saccharine 1977 scene of Debby Boone singing "You Light Up My Life" while a chorus of children sort of signed it on the first highlights reel, it owes us the pleasure of revisiting that terrific production number Baz Luhrmann just staged for Jackman, Beyonce, "High School Musical" sweethearts Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, and "Mamma Mia!" couple Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper.
If you thought 
