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We had two local critics on last night who both seemed to predict FOTR for best picture. I was really annoyed with Michael Medved, though, because he had this snooty attitude about LOTR as if he figured it would win but that it didn't deserve to. I thought I liked Medved, but now I'm not so sure. He seemed to think In The Bedroom was the best film--why is it that most critics think only "slice of life" pictures should win as opposed to "slices of cake?"

On E!, it seemed like the people they interviewed had it down to being between Moulin Rouge and ABM? What is THAT all about?

Here's a question...if we do win this year, what happens to our chances for the next two years? Is it possible that winning this year will mean we won't win for RotK (which I'm anticipating is going to be the absolute best of the three)?

Is it possible that winning this year will mean we won't win for RotK (which I'm anticipating is going to be the absolute best of the three)?

This is hard to say, because there has been no parallel to this filming of three movies at one time. The closest that I can remember is that Back to the Future II and Back to the Future III were filmed together and released a year apart. The Star Wars movies were filmed seperately, and were other action adventures, but like the Back to the Future movies, they were never going to win a major oscar anyhow. Godfather II did win major oscars, but it was filmed years after the Godfather, so there is no precedent for LOTR at all.

the people they interviewed had it down to being between Moulin Rouge and ABM? What is THAT all about?

ABM is successful for a movie which is not a box office smash, and is thought to be of the highest quality. It has been hurt by the Weinstein political attacks. Moulin Rouge has gotten a lot of talk from those who like its corrupt values which are the values of Hollywood, also they like Ms. Kidman, I think.

LOTR has a number of things against it.

It is a New Zealand production with relatively unknown actors directed by a director not taken seriously by many in previous years.
It is a fantasy, and many, including Medved, I guess, look down on all costume dramas, except for historical dramas, like Gladiator.
It has positive values which can even be interpreted as Christian values.
It has made, and will make a lot of money, and while they like to get paid well, they look down on pictures that do well.

The fact that it was even nominated, not to mention being a serious contender, against these considerations is a measure of LOTR's quality.