After the wealth of Oscar-baiting releases from last weekend, everyone seems to be staying out of the way of Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are. Could we have an awards contender on our hands? Here’s how it may fare in the top races.
POSSIBLES
Best Picture: Most of the top-tier critics are drooling over the film. But what will real people think? It may not be a complete lock like Precious or Up in the Air, but with 10 slots, I’m liking its chances.
Best Director, Spike Jonze: Some voters will laud his idiosyncratic vision (as they did when they nominated him for Being John Malkovich). Others will scoff at the film’s rough edges. But in a weak year, anything’s possible.
Long shot
Best Adapted Screenplay, Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers: Expanding Maurice Sendak’s 350-word kids’ book into a full-length feature was a daunting task indeed, and the two geniuses pulled it off. Too bad every big Oscar movie this year also has an adapted screenplay.
Image credit: Matt Nettheim
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Just saw this movie this morning and it was amazing. The whole theater was crying at the end. What a beautiful piece of art. Definitely deserves nods for Best Pic, Director, Screenplay, Art Direction, Costumes, Visual Effects, Sound. Heck, even the little kid should get a nomination
I have to disagree with you. I thought this was a HORRIBLE movie. Not only was it not appropriate for kids, but it had nothing for adults either. If you’re into seeing a spoiled brat for 90+ minutes–then go see this movie. I really didn’t like anything about this movie. The characters, story, everything were terrible.
geez John…Horrible? Good thing most everyone else who saw it disagrees with you. I thought it was lovely. Psssst: did you read the book?
I gotta agree with John and yes, I’ve read the book. This movie was too dark and obscure for words. I enjoy alternative, metaphorical films just as much as anyone but I am scratching my head as to why people love this movie. If it’s nominated for Oscars, I will boycott the ceremony on principle. I enjoyed the beginning but once the monsters were in the picture, I wanted to fall asleep, I was so bored.
I have to agree with you, John, 100%. I did not like this movie at all. It was very depressing and hopeless. It was not appropriate for kids. I was in owe at one point when the monsters were tearing down all of the trees and burning the forest, and having fun!? Then I realized the monsters destroying the forest were just going along with the monster that was out of his mind. This movie does not have a positive message for children. The boy in the film bites his mom and runs away in the middle of the night, gets on a boat and sails in the ocean for days, then climbs a side of a mountain escaping a fall!!? I felt bad for all of the parents in the theatre. I felt worse for all of the people in the theatre wearing crowns, expecting a good movie. I think this is the worst movie I have ever seen. Definitely, not worth my $11.00 movie ticket and definitely not worth an Oscar.
Apparently, John, subtlety is lost on you. The book is incredibly subtle and speaks volumes in very few words. If you went to see the movie, you had obviously resigned yourself to the fact that this film would be a major adaptation, so I’m kind of wondering how you couldn’t appreciate what Spike Jonze did. He captured the spirit and soul of the book, while making sure that his own artistic vision was realized as well. I was in awe of the subtlety and irreverence, and I thought Max Records was terrific. He’s an amazing talent. Kudos to the makers of this film. They satisfied myself, my husband, and my six and seven year olds, and made some art while they were at it. Bravo!
Most years adapted movies run the race. I disagree that most of the top-tier critics are drooling. Less than a 3rd of the critics on MC give it above an 80; more than a 3rd of RT CC critics say it’s outright bad.
EW, Rolling Stone, and Roeper all rave about the movie, and there’s really no need to listen to anyone else.
Amen!
Praise by these 3 sources and these 3 sources won’t make a Best Picture nominee. Therefore, other critics DEFINITELY MATTER.
EW and Rolling Stone are about as good a source of thoughtful, intelligent, balanced movie criticism as my four year old. Roeper has terrible, terrible taste in 9 out of 10 movies also.
dont think so
I think it needs to be nominated, especially if there are ten nominees for best picture. If people are discussing Star Trek and the Hangover, this should be mentioned in the same populist breath. Every aspect of this movie worked so well together.
“Every aspect of this movie worked so well together.”
Except for teh clumsy writing, heavy handed film-student-ish art direction, overly pretentious premise and general fluster-cluckery of this morass. Sure.
what exactly do you mean by “heavy handed film-student-ish art direction”? and what is it about the premise that seems pretentious?
How about Best Visual Effects? Or Best Cinematography? I’d say it’s a LOCK for Best Art Direction…
Poetic, wise and moving. I hope this movie will be nominated for many Oscars.
This movie was brilliant. A touching and painfully realistic portrayal of a young child’s thoughts, loves, pains and fears. This film deserves all the accolades that will come its way. Simply, well done.
Children should be seen and not heard.
If I wanted to watch a movie with big hairy beasts in it I’d watch 80s porn.
WOW clever joke, or at least you seem to think so, as you’ve posted it on every single WTWTA comments section on this site. Get a life, and enjoy your ’80s porn.
If I wanted to watch a movie with big hairy beasts in it I’d watch 80s porn.
If Benjamin Button can get nominated for all the major Oscars, then Wild Things should be a lock.
Call me crazy, but I think Max Records delivers an astonishing performance that tore at my emotions. I think he could be a runner-up, if not a contender for Best Actor.
Personally, I think its an overall MEH.
Since I thought it was a horrible movie, I am sure it will be Oscarworthy.
Don’t forget about Max Records – that kid gave a performance that makes you forget that he was only 9 years old when he filmed this.
Loved the first third, but after the wild rumpus, it was just boring and long and lame. The human voices of the characters and neuroses were annoying, and I left feeling like it was 50 minutes too long. Visually beautiful, but a best picture? Please.
The soundtrack is also very good. Haven’t seen the movie yet, but have downloaded the soundtrack and both me and my 8-yr-old love it.