Chat with Film Critic Keith Van Sickle about Oscar nominees for Best Picture.
February 23, 2007
And the nominees for Best Picture are: Babel, The Departed, Letters from Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine, The Queen Watch an 8-minute video of excerpts from the movies before this chat.
49abcnews.com invites you to discuss the Oscars with Film Critic Keith Van Sickle.
Submit your question to Keith, and then log on for a discussion about the roles and films that have earned high acclaim in Hollywood.
And on February 25, watch the Oscars to find out if your favorites have won. The Oscars’ live broadcast will be broadcast at 7 a.m. on Channel 49, your local ABC affiliate.
Keith Van Sickle appears each Friday on Good Morning Kansas when he reviews movies opening in theaters. See his latest reviews here.
Moderator: Hi. This is Lisa Coble-Krings, and I’ll be the moderator for this chat. Film Critic Keith Van Sickle joins us to talk about those films earning Oscar nods. We have a lot of questions. That’s great. But, keep them coming. And you better make them good. At the end of this chat, Keith will send a message to the person whose question impressed him the most. If you get a message from Keith, you have just won a free DVD. Let’s get started.
shoobes132006: Was there another film that you believe should have been nominated for Best Oscar?
Keith Van Sickle: Pan's Labyrith should have been in there also United 93 as well.
Pittsburgh: When it comes to animated movies, are there any other actresses you would have liked to see get nominated?
Keith Van Sickle: I think there is two questions there as far as animated I believe Flushed Away should have been nominated and how about Diane Lane in Hollywoodland who was snubbed this year.
charliegirl612: Keith- Truthfully, I have not seen any of these. The only one that somewhat interests me is, Little Miss Sunshine. Do you feel that the Oscars have lost there touch with the audience by picking films that are not fan favorites, or did they ever have one? Along with that, what do you think the top 5 movies of the year for the average movie goer would be?
Keith Van Sickle: Yes they have lost touch with the average audience but with that being said did they ever have it? Let's look at the last couple of years with Spiderman 2 and Batman Begins two huge fan favorite, box office giants and two great movies that made my top ten both years. The Academy seems to feel they are above nominating such films. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Night at the Museum X-Men 3 Superman Returns Casino Royale
oread: Do you think Letters from Iwo Jima, which is almost entirely in Japanese, has a real shot at winning? If so, do you think it is at all due to the fact that it is not really a foreign film, having been directed by Oscar winner Clint Eastwood?
Keith Van Sickle: When it comes to the Oscar's anything's possible so you can never say never. I think the great Clint Eastwood has been honored before and will again but this is not his year to win. Your right in the way foreign films are looked at in the Oscar race Iwo Jima was produced by an American company (Warner Brothers)but it was a movie based on a Japanese story so it doesn't count as an official foreign film.
DTrain: Does a movie's box office increase if it's nominated for an Oscar?
Keith Van Sickle: It can because many of the movies are released again in theaters and they can pick up extra cash on curiosity alone. If a movie wins it can be worth 25-30 million dollars more in its box office total and that's not counting dvd sales and rentals.
shoobes132006: Why aren't comedies or even horror movies ever up for Oscar's?
Keith Van Sickle: This is something that has bothered me for years as well when it comes to the academy looking down on these two genres. I believe people believe these generes aren't really Oscar worthy. The hardest thing to do in my opinion is to make people laugh or scare the heck out of them. I had two comedies (Clerks 2 and Little Miss Sunshine) and one horror movie (The Descent) on my top ten list so I feel your pain.
DTrain: What chance do you think Little Miss Sunshine has to win Best Picture?
Keith Van Sickle: Not very good due to the genre (comedy)even though I believe its the year of The Departed it would be cool to see this wonderful film pull the upset.
oread: I loved Little Miss Sunshine, but don't think it will win, because it is largely considered a comedy. Do you think the Academy has an anti-comedy bias that will hurt the film's chances?
Keith Van Sickle: Absolutely and you can go back to such comedy greats like Animal House or Stripes and the great performance from Steve Martin in All of Me. That was some of the best physical comedy I've ever seen in a movie. To this date the apparent lack of humor that is the Academy continues! Little Miss Sunshine is a gem and one that everyone should take the time to watch.
DTrain: What do you remember as the biggest disappointment as far as Best Picture winners of the past?
Keith Van Sickle: When Goodfellas lost to Dances With Wolves in 1990 what a crock that was. How about when Annie Hall beat Star Wars or Ghandi beating out E.T.? The list is long and memorable and it still irritates me to this day.
Moderator: Hey Keith, I’m thinking about going to the movies tonight. Of those movies opening in area theaters – The Astronaut Farmer, The Number 23, Reno 911: Miami – which one do you think would be most worth my $8?
Keith Van Sickle: I missed the screening of The Number 23 but for a pure slice of life film I really enjoyed The Astronaut Farmer. The story is far fetched but well acted and directed. I also liked the sweetness of the story and the fact the entire family can see it. The core of the story is we should all have a dream we can all hang on to and go for.
Comments
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Sep. 27, 2007 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)DrGiggles (anonymous)
I was wondering if there is going to be another Slash-N-Bash this year. If so when will it be and what movies will be shown?
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