So there’s this movie that came out today; it’s called Precious. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Ever since its Sundance premiere all the way back in January, people have been using the O-word (no, not Oprah) when talking about the film. Now that it’s finally out, I can run down its chances in all the major categories, followed by two long-shot male performances from the weekend’s other new releases.
PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE
Best Bets
Best Picture: In a year featuring several strong independent films (The Hurt Locker, An Education, A Single Man), it’s easily the indie with the best shot at Oscar.
Best Director, Lee Daniels: With only his second feature, he stands to become the second African-American nominee in this category (after Boyz N the Hood’s John Singleton). Spike Lee must be seething.
Best Actress, Gabourey Sidibe: Her heartbreaking performance will be even more irresistible once Academy members realize she’s actually the opposite of her downtrodden character.
Best Supporting Actress, Mo’Nique: The comedian galvanizes the film with her shocking turn as an abusive mother. She’s another contender who can win over voters as the season continues.
Best Adapted Screenplay, Geoffrey Fletcher: Fletcher skillfully synthesized Sapphire’s brutal novel into a vividly emotional and ultimately hopeful script.
Possibles
Best Supporting Actress, Mariah Carey: Once people get past the strange concept of Carey as an Oscar contender, they won’t be able to deny the power of her few scenes as a social worker. If you ask me, she more than deserves to be in this race.
Best Original Song, “I Can See in Color”: Mary J. Blige’s spare and raw track perfectly reflects the film’s emotional impact. But is it too spare for the music branch?
Long shot
Best Supporting Actress, Paula Patton: She has perhaps the film’s least showy role, but Patton is an angelic presence as Precious’ caring teacher. If the movie becomes a phenomenon, she could benefit with a nod.
THAT EVENING SUN
Long shot
Best Actor, Hal Holbrook: Two years after earning his first career nomination for Into the Wild, the veteran performer is earning raves for his lead role in the southern drama. But will anyone actually see it?
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
Long shot
Best Supporting Actor, George Clooney: The past winner in this category is a hoot in the bizarre comedy. But truly polarizing reviews for the film may count him out. Good thing he’s got his surefire leading-man turn in Up in the Air.
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How weird would it be if Mariah is up on stage next year accepting an Oscar? So I want to see this movie but it isnt on the list to come to my city, but is going to cities smaller than my city of 500,000…what’s up with that. Anyone know if they plan to release it nationwide?
Check the film’s website. weareallprecious.com. They’re expanding the number of cities and theaters every weekend in November
mariah wont be nominated. Id bet anything on that.
Why don’t you bet your life? Then I’ll just hope & pray that Mariah gets a nomination.
“So there’s this movie that came out today; it’s called Precious. Maybe you’ve heard of it? ” EW uses this type of writing almost weekly. It’s lazy writing. We get it…Your being witty by talking about something that has buzz. Not trying to call out Mr. Karger alone, I seriously find a variation of this statement in every issue of EW.
Lighten up, dolt! This isn’t the Washington Post… it’s Entertainment Weekly!
Paula should be nominated
Although all 3 (Monique, Paula, Mariah) are worthy, voters will put their weight behind only one of them,
so as not to split the vote. Their weight will be behind Monique.
Ok, well … now I have to see this Precious movie. You don’t drop ‘Mariah Carey’ and ‘Oscar’ in the same sentence and expect me to not be intrigued … lol
As someone who has performed on the Oscar stage, I can tell you with certainty that Mariah Carey will not be nominated for an Oscar this year. She is really wonderful in “Precious,” but it’s a very small role and doesn’t have a huge impact on the story. Because the Golden Globes love to acknowledge megastars whenever they get the chance, there is an argument to be made about Mariah getting a Golden Globe nomination. All I really know is it was a sincere joy to perform at the Oscars in 2001. I still have stage fright about it, and it’s over. Aw, memories.
I’m surprised you didn’t put in a link to your imdb page.
Go Mimi!!
Go Precious!!
Go M.O.A.I.A.!!!
Booo haterzz!
ugh pathetic… “oh mimi mimi! give me ice cream and rainbows”… delusional little poppets
Though I personally would like to see Mariah get a nom, I’m really cheering against it. (And no, my name isn’t John Kerry.) If Mariah (or Paula) is competing against Mo’Nique, I’m afraid someone else will get the Oscar; same if both Gabby & Mo’Nique go for lead. But if they keep the noms simple–Gabby for lead, Mo’Nique for supporting–I think both will win. (The SAG for ensemble cast can be Mariah’s & Paula’s moment.)
The only exception is if Mo’Nique, Mariah & Paula are ALL nommed for supporting; that may weaken the vote-splitting just enough for Mo’Nique to win. But that’s not likely.
Mo’nique has a great shot at winning, but Gaby is still a long shot to win, although a nomination is likely.
well the movie precious came out this weekend and i had all intentions on going to see it and it didn’t even come to my city. i’m very upset about this i wonder if it will ever become a nation wide film. i would love to see it. if you konw please let me know. thanks
So Dave Karger thinks Clooney could get an Oscar for a movie that Owen Gleiberman gave an “F.” You guys are all over the map.
Granted he said reviews were polarizing. I still think it’s ironic.
what does performing on the Oscar stage have to do with you being able to predict nominees? Just because I have been to Vatican City once doesn’t mean I know who the next Pope will be…
I didn’t think ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats’ was THAT bad. Definitely not as good as it could have, but I would definitely consider George Clooney or (even better in certain aspects) Kevin Spacey in the Supporting Actor category.
I’ll try not to be quick to judge, but ‘Precious’ seems (at least on the outside) a standard drama Oprah and Tyler Perry would produce. It definitely seems more emotionally polarizing, but I fear that it will turn into ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, where it wins everything. I look forward to ‘Up in the Air’, ‘Inglorious Basterds’, ‘Avatar’, ‘The Lovely Bones’, ‘The Hurt Locker’ and ‘Invictus’ at the awards this season. And it will be those I pay attention to.