It’s looking like I may be in the minority in thinking that Doubt, the upcoming Meryl Streep/Philip Seymour Hoffman drama, has a good shot a scoring a Best Picture nomination. It stands in seventh place in Awards Daily and InContention‘s Best Picture polls, for instance. I understand where the naysayers are coming from: An intimate character piece, Doubt doesn’t boast the expansive production values of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Australia, or even Revolutionary Road. And with crowd-pleasers like The Dark Knight and Slumdog Millionaire in the picture, a tougher film like Doubt could get squeezed out. But here’s why I think it may make the final five. It’s looking fairly likely that four of the film’s actors—Streep, Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis—will earn acting nominations for their work in the movie. Since the Academy Awards began, 22 films have received four or more acting nominations. All 22 of them also made it into the Best Picture race. So for now, Doubt‘s got Oscar history on its side. But if one member of its acting quartet begins to lose momentum (Adams is probably the shakiest of the four, since her role is the least showy), then I could very easily end up being dead wrong.
Nov 4
2008
08:13 PM ET
Best Picture doubts for 'Doubt'?
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I hope Viola Davis does get her nod–she’s a brilliant actress.
This movie looks great, and I think it’ll end up nominated for Best Picture along with Benjamin Button, Revolutionary Road, Wall-E, and The Dark Knight.
Well, all four stage actors received Tony noms for the play, so I’m hoping the film cast all receives noms as well. I have a hard time believing the film won’t get nominated- I’m almost certain the script will be nominated at least.
Why do you believe Frost/ Nixon is a sure bet also? and what do you think of Tom O’Neil and Pete Hammond’s video about your predictions?
I think when it gets closer to Oscar time we’ll have a better idea. Everyone hasn’t seen the films so it’s hard to say what will gain or lose steam. I’m REALLY looking forward to Doubt and I agree that Viola Davis is brilliant and I hope she’s recognized.
i saw the wrestler at the toronto film festival and if you ask me, mickey rourke should definitely get recognized for his unbelievable performance. he really shows us what true acting is at its greatest. good film but remarkable performance.
Maybe PSH will be the one not to be nominated…but Supporting Actor field is weak.
Nomination Correction – “22 films received 4 or more acting nomations and all 22 of them also made it into the Best Picture race.” 1st film to get 4 acting nominations was “My Man Godfrey” (1936) and it didn’t receive a Best Pictue nod.
I watched the trailer for this, and I am very intrigued. I will definitely be seeing this when it comes out.
If the movie does get an Oscar, I fear that Amy Adams won’t even be nominated. From what I’ve seen of the trailers, Streep and Hoffman dominate the movie. Having said that, since I’ve been familiar with Adams as far back as “Psycho Beach Party,” and became a fan of her after “Enchanted,” I’m going to see this movie anyway.
I believe Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis will be nominated, but that Amy Adams won’t (she deserved to win for 2005′s Junebug).
TPFly is correct; “22 films received 4 or more acting nomations and all 22 of them also made it into the Best Picture race” is wrong. It’s 32 movies, and Othello wasn’t nominated for Best Picture either. Check out the list: http://knol.google.com/k/yonatan-doron/80-years-of-oscars-best-picture-and/3v239w1m4c5v1/8#H20-Movies-with-the-most-acting-nominations