Amelia's Oscar Potential crashes into the Pacific Ocean forever

Any hope or dreams the Amelia ever had of winning (or even being nominated) for an Oscar disappeared this weekend when it arrived to horrible reviews. Critics say that the only mildly good part of the film was Hillary Swank's performance which can usually lift up any film. Unfortunately there is too much boring, meaningless time wasting going on for it to merit the price of an admission ticket.

Michael Jackson's This is it: Born to Dissappoint?

I can't be the only one who thinks that Michael Jackson's concert flick won't be all that everybody's expecting it to be. We can't yet tell if it will be a glourious close to his life or just another failed attempt at restarting his career. The audience that the film will attract will be huge for the opening week based on the gargantuan hype and the MJ fanbase, but if it turns out to not be as good as many are expecting, I can't see it making too much money with a two week engagement.

What do you think? Will MJ's final performance prove defining, or will you walk out asking "Is that it?"

Empty September

September was a month I would rather forget for it's lack of good movies. There really isn't any real Oscar potential from that month.

Oscar potential for the films of August 2009

Julie and Julia- It's a Meryl Streep film. It qualifies for Oscar on that alone. What more do you want?

Long Shots: Stanley Tucci for Supporting Actor, Amy Adams for Supporting Actress, Adapted Screenplay, Picture

Best Bets: Meryl Streep for Actress

District 9- This film came completely out of left field (left field being Comic Con) and caught a huge audience considering how low profile it was up until a few weeks before the release. The critics absolutely adored it, considering it a possible nominee for best picture. That died quickly, but the praise still stands leaving the overhanging presence of it in the Oscar race.

Long Shots: Film Editing, Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Sharlto Copley for Actor, Original Screenplay, Director Neil Blomkamp

Possibilities: Makeup, Picture

Ponyo- Hayao Miyazaki's scratchless track record continues with this simple and kid friendly film that still delivers the goods to Miyazaki fans. While being light and fanciful, this film keeps with the theme of none of the characters being truly good or truly evil, but still human and flawed.

Best Bets: Animated Feature

Inglourious Basterds- This was really the last big hit of the summer. Expectations were lowered after less than great reception from Cannes. Considerable change to the film has obviously been since then since the final product is freakin' awesome. With some great performances, and expert as usual scripting and directing by Quentin Tarantino, this film is bound to be at least an outside player this Oscar season.

Best Bets: Christoph Waltz (Best Supporting Actor)
Possibles: Picture, Melanie Laurent (Best Supporting Actress), Director, Original Screenplay, Costume Design, Film Editing

Oscar potential for the films of July 2009

Public Enemies- I can't vouch for this film seeing as I haven't seen it, but it had a lot of hype leading up to it which turned into a dull roar. It didn't completely die because it wasn't an awful film. It just wasn't Oscar good.
Long Shots: Sound Editing, Sound Mixing
Possibilities: Cinematography, Johnny Depp for Best Actor

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- Harry Potter has reentered the Oscar arena with this new film. By reentered the Oscar arena I don't mean that this film is going to win any Oscars. I mean that it sets up for the final film (in two parts) to dazzle and win. Half-Blood Prince is a very different and much better film than Order of the Phoenix. I'd be willing to call it the best Potter film yet if it weren't for Goblet of Fire (Prisoner of Azkaban didn't really appeal to me as best of the series). As it is though, I'd say it's a close tie. There were several detractors from this film: Too long, too much romance, Not enough action, Really a set up for the final film, but if it really is then the final film guaranteed won't disappoint.
Long Shots: Visual Effects
Possibilities: Original Score
Best Bets: Art Direction, Cinematography, Best Makeup

Oscar potential for the films of June 2009

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- I didn't like the first Transformers film at all, so when I heard word that the new film was far worse, I was pretty much expecting perhaps the worse movie of all time. The thing is that it was, and I absolutely loved it. Every action sequence, each unneeded bit of comic relief, the ridiculous dialogue, and Megan Foxs "SUPERB" acting made it one of the most enjoyable films of the summer. I did think the technicals were a step down from the first film, but they will all the same get nominations this year.
Possibilities: Sound Editing
Best Bets: Sound Mixing, Visual Effects

The Hurt Locker- I caught this film as soon as I turned 17 and was, sorry to say, underwhelmed. There were a few pleasant surprise cameos by Guy Pierce, and Ralph Fiennes, but I had heard absolute raves about this film before it's release that the film did not live up to. I thought the main character was in all honesty a fool without any real character change, and really simply played. There was the required black guy of course, and there was the somewhat sensitive kid who was the only one with any real emotional arc. The film played out just as I expected it would, and at the end I thought "The Hurt Locker 2?" Not on my time or money. All the same, the resounding praise will get it numerous nominations, but the hype will have all but died by the time award season rolls by.
Long Shots: Anthony Mackie for Supporting actor
Possibilities: Jeremy Renner for lead actor, Sound Editing
Best Bets: Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Sound Mixing, Film Editing