An Oscar in Gotham?

Add comment December 4th, 2008

With Oscar nominations due in just a couple of months, the buzz is starting to build — and some of it is pointing in an intriguing direction. From a story on today’s Associated Press wire:

“Web sites such as TheEnvelope.com and Awardsdaily.com rank Nolan and Ledger among key Oscar contenders and list THE DARK KNIGHT alongside best-picture possibilities such as Ron Howard’s FROST/NIXON, Gus Van Sant’s MILK and David Fincher’s THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

“Far be it for me to try and predict, and I think that anybody looks like a (jerk) if you really try to predict what people are going to vote for. But certainly, for me, I think that the serious contenders in this movie in my mind are Heath, Chris for director because he’s done an extraordinary job, and I do believe best picture, as well,” DARK KNIGHT star Christian Bale said Wednesday night at a cocktail reception for the filmmakers and critics.

The movie hits DVD Tuesday, by the way, carried by a wage of hype that can only boost its award chances.

Wes Anderson looks back

Add comment December 4th, 2008

On the occasion of his first film, BOTTLE ROCKET (finally) being released on a Criterion DVD, director Wes Anderson sits down for an interview with the Onion AV Club.

I remember seeing BOTTLE ROCKET when it first hit video (tape, that is) back in the days before RUSHMORE and THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS made Anderson a big name. I thought BOTTLE ROCKET was a very good film — still do, in fact — but what struck me was the guy who played the enthusiastic would-be criminal, Dignan. I thought to myself “I’ve never seen an actor quite like him. I’ll bet he’s going to be a big star someday.”

That guy’s name, of course, was Owen Wilson. Sometimes — not often, but sometimes — my instincts are dead on.