My Quest to See All 5 Oscar Films in One Day
Filed under: Awards, Fandom, Exhibition, Oscar Watch
Confession: I have been watching the Oscars for as long as I can remember but I have never, and I mean ever, managed to see all five best picture contenders before the ceremony. Embarrassing? Maybe. But this year I have made myself a promise. I'm going to see all five films before the winner is announced on Sunday. Lord knows I watch a lot of movies, so how did these five slip through the cracks? I don't want to point the finger, but I blame the Academy -- wait, hear me out. This was the year that I thought I was on top of my game. So like most of the civilized world I went to see The Dark Knight assuming that it was an Oscar lock (and how wrong I was). Then, I thought, hey, Revolutionary Road is bound for glory, right? I'll catch it early, but nope, other than an acting nod for Michael Shannon, I had managed to pick another dud.
Like most people, I have a job and a life outside of a movie theater (even though it doesn't seem that way sometimes), so there isn't always as many hours in the day to see all the movies I would like. I usually end up seeing the rest of the films after the awards season has long past. I have probably wasted a little more time than I should have watching films that didn't have a chance in hell of making it to the podium -- Thanks a lot Mr. Shyamalan.
So maybe this is an ambitious plan but thanks to AMC's Best Picture Showcase this Saturday in Toronto, I will finally be able to hold my head high. Plus, when I start shouting at the TV when or if I disagree with the winner, I'll actually have something other to go on than "Well I didn't see ____ but ____ was way better" -- not exactly what you would call an informed opinion. But this year, I won't have to slink to the box-office to see the Oscar nominated films long after that little gold man has been handed out -- you know whoever said that confession was good for the soul was really on to something, I feel better already.
So I hand it to you out there...do you try and see all the films before the winners are announced? And when you make those Oscar pool picks, do you vote from the heart, or the head? Leave your picks for Best Picture below...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-19-2009 @ 6:51PM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Common problem here in Charleston SC. One tiny art house at the far edge of town (for me anyway.) During the year, it's the only place you'll see Milk, Wrestler, Reader, In Bruges etc. Then the noms are announced, and everything is shoved back into release at once, and then there's no time!
So good luck with your marathon. Bring a cushion! And my pick is Slumdog Millionaire.
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2-20-2009 @ 9:12AM
Kevin said...
Tell me about it. I went to CofC, so seeing decent movies was a pain in the ass. The only decent theater was that one all the way out in Mt. Pleasant, but it doesn't play anything but blockbusters (didn't they shut down the theater downtown on King St. where you could get a beer and see a movie? That place was cool). Its nice working in DC and living in Bethesda where there are two fantastic art house theaters within walking distance. Kinda wish we could get that Charleston weather up here though...
2-20-2009 @ 9:23AM
Cincinnati Mike said...
I think the one on King is now used for business meetings. I go to the Ad Club meetings there sometimes. So, it's The Terrace on James Island for Indies. Tho, sometimes you can get a good indie in Mt P, at the the Cinebarre. Still a trek for me, tho!
2-19-2009 @ 7:54PM
brian said...
I already have my ticket for Saturday! My brother and some friends are driving 4 hours to join me too.
I'm like you. If I'm lucky I see 2 or 3 movies before the show.
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2-19-2009 @ 9:17PM
Monika said...
Bad movie fan I am.. I'll be shopping across the street instead!
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2-20-2009 @ 7:51AM
Nick said...
I actually saw all five nomiees before they were announced. Some more than a few times.
I have a feeling this is atypical.
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2-20-2009 @ 1:37PM
CPav said...
I'm going to the marathon in St. Louis, with my older son. We did it last year and it was a blast. You may want to know that they're pretty relaxed about their "outside food" policies for that day (at least here), so you can pack a lunch or something.
I made it a point to see The Wrestler and Doubt after the noms, so the only four films with nominations in the Big Five categories that I haven't seen (besides the Best Pics tomorrow) are Revolutionary Road, Frozen River, The Visitor, and Rachel Getting Married, and I'm going to try to catch a couple of those on PPV or from other sources before the ceremony.
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2-20-2009 @ 1:46PM
Lisa said...
I did the AMC Best Picture Show last year with my mom and loved it. I was supposed to be out of the country for it this year and felt bad as no one we know seems to be able to do nothing but sit and watch movies for an entire day.
With a strange twist of events I'm ended up staying in the country and we have our tickets for Saturday as well. People think we're crazy, 5 movies in a row and my mom just always says "What, I'd be sitting at home watching 5 movies in a row on TCM anyway!"
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