It’s often said that the Oscar race always changes once the nominees are announced. And the science-fiction heavy Producers Guild of America’s top 10 list, announced earlier today, raises an interesting question: What if Avatar, District 9, and Star Trek all repeat and score Oscar nominations for Best Picture? Could Avatar, which is widely considered to be the frontrunner at this point, actually be hurt by all the sci-fi love? It certainly seems logical that James Cameron’s opus would lose more votes to District and Trek than it would to, say, smaller indies like A Serious Man or The Messenger. In such a tight race as this year’s, something like that could make all the difference.
Cameron himself acknowledges the three films will affect each others’ chances. As he told my colleague Carrie Bell at the Avatar premiere: “I hope the existence of Avatar doesn’t negate the hard work of a few other directors on some really great genre films this year, like District 9 or Star Trek. But I fear that if [Oscar voters] do get over the historical bias once, they won’t feel the need to do it again in the same year.” So should Avatar fans now be praying that District 9 and Star Trek don’t make it in to the Academy’s top 10? Or is Avatar so far ahead of Up in the Air and The Hurt Locker that one or two other action flicks won’t make a significant enough dent in its lead? I’m thinking the Na’vi can handle one other sci-fi competitor. But if both District and Trek make it in, there could be a problem.
UPDATE In response to several commenters who are mystified by my calling Avatar the Oscar frontrunner of the moment: Believe it, folks. I’ve been resistant to the idea over the last few weeks, but nearly every Academy member I’ve talked to is calling the race over already. As a big fan of The Hurt Locker, Precious, Inglourious Basterds, and Up in the Air (not to mention someone who isn’t a fan of boring, predictable Oscar seasons), I’d like to think it’s closer than they say, but I’m just here to report to all of you what’s going on in the awards battle.
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I am so excited to see District 9 and Star Trek getting some love! They both deserve it. I like Avatar as well, but I think both Star Trek and District 9 are better films.
District 9 was a horrible film. I don’t understand all the hype about it. I agree with you about Star Trek. It was an excellent film. But Avatar was way better than District 9 in my opinion.
What are you smoking? District 9 was one of the best films this year and is certainly better than Avatar. A low budget 30 million dollar movie compared to the Hollywood standard 50 million with some of the most amazing special effects for its budget, an unkown cast, and a first time big screen director with a truly orgrinal story spun off of real events should get your attention.
I am Quoting DUDE from below.
“Our main character works for the government, helping out the military as they attempt to move/relocate an alien presence. The main character has a strange encounter that unexpectedly leads to his living WITH the very same alien beings he is attempting to move. While living there, he slowly realizes that these aliens are not the savages they’re being made out to be. Just because they’re different doesn’t make them inferior! After growing attached, he soon realizes the evil nature of what’s being done to their kind by his own people, and finds himself fighting FOR the aliens as opposed to against them. The military then undergoes a transformation; becoming a one-dimensional “Kill Everything” entity with no conscience. They will kill every alien with no remorse (because, you know, the military is EVIL – and we need to drive that point home at every opportunity).”
Is that District 9 or Avatar? Yet District 9 is a “truly original story”. Bull. They move the same old story to south africa and added local elements and that is your idea of original. Give me a break. They did a lot with their budget but still came up short.
I agree that District 9 and Avatar are very similar in their story, but it sounds like @Andrew is suggesting District 9 ripped off Avatar…when District 9 came out months earlier. I don’t know production schedules but neither was very original. Avatar especially read like Dances with Wolves or The Last Samurai but with James Cameron’s general taste for overstatement. I mean, the story for Titanic was so worn out in other movies I could barely stand to watch it. BTW, Star Trek was great but its story made no sense so I don’t understand the Oscar talk.
Actuall District 9 was a remake of a foreign film District B13… look it up. Avatar is a lot of great visuals, but no real substance. With a extremely similar story line. I enjoyed Star trek, but my vote would go to the Hurt Locker.
what a sad day it will be for the Oscars is Avatar wins best picture. I understand they feel back out Dark Kight, but Avatar didn’t have heart or the acting brillance in Dark Knight.
Avatar was written long before District 9 but that really does not matter. I am not saying anyone ripped from the other. They both used the same old hollywood storyline. We’ve seen that character plot many times in different situations yet District 9 gets praise for having a “truly original story”. That’s Bull although, I give District 9 credit for better recycling. The screenplay is the only aspect of the movie I can say is better than Avatar.
“Avatar” belongs on the People’s Choice Awards. Nowhere near the Oscars. NADA.
Fully agree mate, district 9 was soooooo bad. Anyone who said district 9 was original didn’t see blood diamond. Watch both, there are literally identical conversations, same idea just a different victim. Even down to the end, “You and your boy get on the plane with the important stuff to make a better tomorrow for your people while i stay to fight to the end.” Avatar was an obvious adaptation of Pocahontas, yes. But at least it was good.
What are youuuuu smoking??? Can you say plotholes galore?!? District 9 was a good popcorn flick and thats it. If it gets nominated for best film i will crap my pants, really i will…
Uh…Michael, maybe you should look it up or, better yet, watch the movies. District 9 and District B13 have nothing to do with one another.
@ @Michael… maybe you read more, and realize yes. District 9 is directly based on District B13. The writers of the movie based it on District B13. Reading is an amazing attribute. More people should do it.
The difference is they substituted Aliens for Druglords. But walled off community where the government catalogs because they are not good enough to be in regular society. Instead of searching for a nuke, they are searching for Alien artifact to start a ship. Ex-criminal/cop verse ex-paperpusher. No there is no relationship what so ever… who cares what the writer say.
I think district 9 was an amazing movie
Hahahahahaha “District 9″ is by no means based on “Banlieue 13″. As a huge fan of both movies, I’m insulted that you would even try to tarnish either one’s credibility. That’s like saying “Remember the Titans” is based on the original “Clash of the Titans”, just because they share A WORD IN THE TITLE. Any one who has seen both would completely agree. Hahahaha Silly Michael.
And by the way, saying “the writers of the movie based it” is incredibly dumb considering Neill Blomkamp came up with the idea years ago and made a short film that the movie is ACTUALLY based on. And plus, all the dialogue was improvised. So I don’t know to which writers you might be referring.
Agree about STAR TREK gettin’ the love. I thought it was an AMAZING film. Such a fun brilliant re-boot with a perfect story/cast/design. A+++++ Think AVATAR will get love too because it deserves to as it is ALSO wonderful and groundbreaking. To make the year a total success (for me) would be that Sandra Bullock wins the Oscar. She’s been a rockin’ actress/producer since SPEED. Go Sandy! And go STAR TREK (JJ Abrams) & AVATAR (James Cameron)!
Star Trek was GREAT – JJ Abram’s reboot deserves all the love it can get. Avatar was good, but it felt like a 3D Fern Gully… without the tech, would we care so much?
District 9 has my vote, ultimately – who knew a blockbuster action sci-fi adventure could be so fundamentally heartbreaking?
It’s also lovely to see sci-fi getting some of the respect it deserves from the industry as more than a perceived nerd-fest/excuse for explosions.
Actors make up the largest voting block in the Academy. My guess is that technicians are second largest, but I might be wrong. I’m kinda baffled why you’d think a Producers Guild list has all that much influence on Oscar nominees. This just seems like another post inviting Avatar fans and haters to fight it out to 24 pages of comments. Honestly, all 3 of those movies were wonderful… if any one of them gets nominated or even wins Best Picture, I’d be pleased.
_I’m kinda baffled why you’d think a Producers Guild list has all that much influence on Oscar nominees._
Because traditionally, the PGA nominees tend to be as close-as-it-gets to predicting the likely Best Picture nominees for the Academy Awards as the Directors’ Guild nominees get to predicting the likely Best Director Oscar nominees. Traditionally, if there’s any difference between the PGA nominees and the Oscar nominees for Best Picture, it’s, like, a one picture difference. This year *might* be different simply because the Oscar Best Picture category has more nominees, but I think, based on precedent, it’s completely reasonable to use the PGA nominees as a gauge of what the Oscar Best Picture race looks like.
Good point. I may stand corrected then. BTW, do only producers get to select Best Pic nominees? Or do all Academy members get to participate? I realized after posting that I may not know the answer to that.
Crispy, I’m under the impression that while actors choose acting nominees, directors choose directing nominees, etc., everyone has a say in the BP nominee. If I’m incorrect, anyone is free to set the record straight. But that’s the impression I’m under.
That’s what I thought too… but I haven’t been able to confirm.
I agree. I think Avatar is a lock, but if Star Trek or District 9 get nominated it would be neat.
Crispy, for once, you are 100% right.
LOL. Thanks. I think.
Avatar is REALLY that far ahead in the race?!? I disagree. It’s a big hit with kids but Academy voters skew a lot older and aren’t dazzled special FX. Actors who vote aren’t impressed by CGI magic that eliminates their jobs. And, more importantly, many voters do not like James Cameron and would love to stick it to him and snub his latest blockbuster. I’m sure many of them think he’s made ar too much money and regret voting for Titanic 10 years ago.
Lest we not forget TITANIC was a big hit with the kids as well. At the time I was 12 and I saw it 6 times in theaters…
Academy voters ARE dazzled by special effects and actors DO vote for CGI magic. Remember that little film from New Zealand called Return of the King? It sweeped the Oscars that year.
Swept the Oscars.
Return of the King was not just a great movie but a culmination of a truly ground breaking movie experience. Remember its 2 predecessors didn’t garner more than a couple of techincal Oscars because the Academy considered them one big movie and held off until ROTK was up to give the entire series the awards it deserved. Avatar was a good movie but nothing like the Lord of the Rings. Sorry Avatar is good but it is vastly over-hyped, not ground breaking in any way.
You can’t give one example and state it is evidence that they are dazzled by special effects. What about the other years. ROTK was an exception to the rule and won not just because of the effects. In fact, I would say it won despite the fact it was fantasy film with special effects.
Oh and it did not win best picture due to CGI. The acting, directing, writing, music…. all together made it best picture worthy. No movie will ever win best picture because of special effects. Special effects support the movie they don’t make the movie. Hollywood and many people are forgetting that as the world gets dumber and dumber.
The Truth is absolutely 100% correct.
As someone who loved District 9 and Star Trek, but couldn’t stand Avatar, I hope there IS an upset. That would be amazing.
I agree Cate. I didn’t hate Avatar, but I definitely thought the other two, particularly Star Trek, were much better. I really, really hope this means one of the other two will get a best pictures nomination!
same. Liked all three, but Avatar, I thought, was the lesser of the three. I probably enjoyed Star Trek the most.
Personally, I don’t think Star Trek or District 9 have a great chance at getting Best Picture nominations. If one or both do, I don’t think it’ll hurt Avatar’s chances at the actual award.
In what circle of hell is Avatar “widely considered to be the frontrunner”? That’s the first I’m hearing such a silly claim. Will it nab one of the 10 nominations, absolutely. But frontrunner??? Surely you jest. The race is between Up in the Air, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hurt Locker…I’m not saying this as a huge fan of any of these movies (bad year for movies in general, but I am pulling for the Basterds) but rather as an avid follower of the Oscars. Avatar has ZERO chance of winning Best Picture.
LMAO… INGLORIOUS?! You silly little Kevin… Inglorious is this year’s “The Reader”
Inglourious Basterds has been highly more regarded than The Reader and has been getting loads of nominations all around. The Reader was a last minute surprise, not to mention that it isn’t even very good of a movie. Really, the only thing they have in common is Harvey Weinstein.
Basterds isn’t like the Reader at ALL. It’s a totally different style of film, totally different core audience… and the people who dislike it have completely different reasons. Why would you even compare the two?
Avatar is clearly a frontrunner. Most Oscar prognosticators have put it at the top of their lists. When the film was screened to capacity for the Academy, insiders say it received rapturous applause. After the uproar over the exclusion of The Dark Knight, the Academy would love to honor a populist film. Avatar is considered groundbreaking in many quarters and Oscar doesn’t want to neglect the event. Those are all signs that Cameron’s opus is clearly at the top of the pack.
I doubt all three will be nominated at the Oscars; I’d be surprised even if Star Trek or District 9 made the cut although, no offense to Avatar, which I thoroughly enjoyed, they’re the better two films. As others have said, the PGAs are hardly the biggest indicator of the Oscars. Also, Avatar isn’t exactly the “clear” front-runner. Although the critics are not the Academy, The Hurt Locker and Up in the Air have been sweeping there, with Avatar and Inglourious Basterds are two other films I’ve seen a lot of strong arguments for. The only real bonus Avatar has over the other films is its box office and popularity, but it’s been a while since either have lent itself to the Academy.
I think he might mean front-runner of the sci-fi movies.
You might be right, but if so, he should edit the original post to avoid anymore angry comments. >.>
I am Ava-tired! EW is totally pandering for an explosion of comments. Would it be too much to ask for some variety (non-enema related, please)? Could we have something about Big Love’s upcoming return, for instance?
Ha, the tables are turned, my friend. At least with Twilight, EW posted about the clothes, the music, the villains, the director’s notes, that ugly guy’s abs. With Avatar, it feels like the same love-it-or-hate-it? post over and over again. And the same comments over and over again. Which is a shame because the rich world of Avatar is ripe for broader commentary. Has no one around here seen Sam Worthington’s abs?
he did not have abs in that movie… he definately has them in clash of the titans… anyway- ambient life, im sorry to say but the Avatar exposure on EW is way less than their Twilight fest… I dont know, I dont think i want avatar to win best picture just cause it wasnt as deep as it shouldve been and the characterization (did i speel that right?) was kinda off… whatever- my opinion doesnt sway the AMPAS in anyway and there have been worse best picture winners (Gladiator & Crash come to mind)
Hey, I WAS sympathetic with you and your band of merry haters concerning the oversaturation…but yes, now I do more personally feel your pain.
And I too am I’m surprised they can’t seem to find a more creative, analytical approach to bringing up Avatar though. You’d think someone would want to talk about the cutting-edge technology, the story, something – right?
As for your adorkable Sam Worthington, IF I can set aside the fact that he’s (shudder) an Australian actor, I’ll agree he’s kinda delicious.
100% agree.
If you think this is bad, please recall that we were getting posts about Robert Pattinson’s body odor, items breaking down a 15-second snippet of “New Moon” on “Entertainment Tonight” and Q&A’s with, seemingly, every actor who was ever offered a part in “New Moon.”
For better or worse, this is what this site does now: it identifies what stories will generate the most comments (even if most of those comments are the same 10 people arguing back and forth) and pounds it into the ground.
I’m actually pretty shocked that we haven’t seen any items obsessing over Stephen Lang’s arms the way we did with Lautner’s abs. (I guess since he’s actually over 18 years old, it just wouldn’t be creepy enough.)
Can I tell you a secret? All the Avatar bashing around here has made me a teensy bit sympathetic to Twilight fans. At one point, I started to comment “It’s just a movie, people!” but quickly realized my hypocrisy, deleted it, and crawled under my desk and wept.
Oh, crispy. You bring me great joy.
“At one point, I started to comment “It’s just a movie, people!” but quickly realized my hypocrisy, deleted it, and crawled under my desk and wept.”
LOL, Crispy. Funniest thing I’ve read all day.
If I’m not mistaken, I could’ve sworn I saw your name several times in anything Twilight-related.
You would even point out to haters that if you didn’t like it, don’t comment.
Talk about hypocrisy…
While I’m a hypocrite about plenty of things, this isn’t one of them. I actually didn’t have a problem with haters spending time crapping all over Twilight/New Moon. I thought the personal attacks some of them made against the fans were excessively cruel, but I don’t buy into “fan comments only”. Dissenting opinion makes the world go ’round, my dear.
I agree. All I heard for months was the over saturation of Twilight and New Moon and everything wolf boy and vamp boy. Now it’s Avatar this and Avatar that. Isn’t Lost coming out soon?
I know I am a little hypocritical on this, but you know, it would be nice to not have a new article every day on Avatar and how many people hate it or love it.
Exactly!
It actually does seem strange to me that Star Trek is being considered since it’s based on a TV show. I can’t remember a best picture nom for something like this.
‘The Fugitive’ was up for Best Picture back in 1994.
1993
I sure hope Trek and District 9 hurt Avatar. Both are better films.
But yes, if all 3 get nominated they will cancel each other out for sure.
Avatar and District 9 are the same freakin’ movie!
“Our main character works for the government, helping out the military as they attempt to move/relocate an alien presence. The main character has a strange encounter that unexpectedly leads to his living WITH the very same alien beings he is attempting to move. While living there, he slowly realizes that these aliens are not the savages they’re being made out to be. Just because they’re different doesn’t make them inferior! After growing attached, he soon realizes the evil nature of what’s being done to their kind by his own people, and finds himself fighting FOR the aliens as opposed to against them. The military then undergoes a transformation; becoming a one-dimensional “Kill Everything” entity with no conscience. They will kill every alien with no remorse (because, you know, the military is EVIL – and we need to drive that point home at every opportunity).”
Hey… which one am I talking about?? Oooooo I’ll leave it up to YOU to decide! WHY ALL THE HYPE!? They’re both such retread trash.
Avatar isn’t like District 9 at ALL. It’s a totally different style of film, totally different core audience… and the people who dislike it have completely different reasons. Why would you even compare the two? (Sound familiar, DUDE?)
I don’t know what your point is. Yes, I wrote that about The Reader and Basterds. One is about a woman on trial who can’t read and hides that fact. Basterds is clearly very different. For D9/Avatar, I wrote an entire paragraph EXPLAINING with FACTS why there are huge similarities in SEVERAL of the main plot points. The basic overview of one film could be mistaken for the other. If you’re gonna try to argue with me or disagree, why don’t you use some LOGIC or REASON? It’s like saying you don’t like a movie “cause it sucks.” Real insightful.
My point remains. Regardless of the minor plot similarities, they’re still different styles of films, with different audiences, and different flaws. Ya know, the exact same things you said about The Reader and Inglorious Bastards. There’s far more to a movie than its premise (or basic overview as you call it), and if you don’t know that, you’re not too bright.
HAHAHAHA “MINOR similarities” !!!
You’re hysterical. God forbid someone dislikes your favorite movie! sniff…
Basterds & Reader both take place during the WW2 time-period. But if you outline the film start to finish, they’re not even remotely similar.
With Avatar & D9 – All 3 acts are identical. And if you need more of an explanation, read my original post. It’s anything but MINOR. Go enjoy the movie all you want, but the ENTIRE story from start to finish being the same is a ‘minor’ likeness is just… well, “NOT TOO BRIGHT.” The only thing MINOR are the differences.
Copied and pasted:
“Our main character works for the government, helping out the military as they attempt to move/relocate an alien presence. The main character has a strange encounter that unexpectedly leads to his living WITH the very same alien beings he is attempting to move. While living there, he slowly realizes that these aliens are not the savages they’re being made out to be. Just because they’re different doesn’t make them inferior! After growing attached, he soon realizes the evil nature of what’s being done to their kind by his own people, and finds himself fighting FOR the aliens as opposed to against them. The military then undergoes a transformation; becoming a one-dimensional “Kill Everything” entity with no conscience. They will kill every alien with no remorse (because, you know, the military is EVIL – and we need to drive that point home at every opportunity).”
The whole story is outlined there — and can apply to both.
avatar is a lot more like district 9 than reader is like inglorious bastards. i just needed to point that out. the whole bastards movie is about a jew hunter and a gang of nazi killers. reader was kate winslet as a woman who couldnt read that was on trial for killing jewss. i guess the only thing alike is they both have jews in them. the other two both had aliens getting kicked out and people becoming friends with them and helping them fight off the army
actually there is a BIG difference between both protagonists. in D9 the main character was forced into his situation wheras in Avatar it was strictly voluntary… basically in D9 the guy wanted Out- in Avatar he wanted In
If they’re the same movie, then District 9 was the better of the two.
I liked Avatar but it in no way deserves all of the hype and box-office it’s making.
One cannot say a movie “deserves” to make more money than the other. That’s just silly. While I loved District 9 even more than Avatar, many people obviously find Avatar to be the most groundbreaking experience. Judging from the consistent amount of ticket sales and 90+% audience approval rating from most movie webesites, Avatar was/is the must-see movie event of the year.
CRISPY – I don’t know what’s funny about that. I wrote an entire paragraph EXPLAINING with FACTS why there are HUGE similarities in SEVERAL of the MAIN plot points. The basic overview of one film could be mistaken for the other. A detail like “well in one he was forced, in one by choice” is a minor difference between two plots and story arcs that are incredibly similar. If you’re gonna try to argue with me or disagree, why don’t you use some logic? It’s like saying you don’t like a movie “cause it sucks.” Real insightful.
There is no room for all three at the Oscars. Let’s not get carried away. Last year the PGA got everyone excited with TDK but we all know that ended. But in the what if scenario, I agree it is bad news for Avatar and at this point I don’t think avatar is that far ahead of the competition to not be hurt by only one other sci-fi film. I still don’t buy avatar as the front runner. I still have hope for Inglourious Basterds.
These are all great films (especially D9 and Avatar)…but Avatar is clearly the best film of the year.
If true (which I do NOT believe), then it’s just proof that 2009 was a bad year for film.
Kevin, I don’t think 2009 was a bad year for film but I also don’t think it was a particularly good (or spectacular) year. It was sort of in between.
Avatar wins best picture! James Cameron is a genius. Avatar is taking the world by storm and continues to break records on a weekly basis. One billion in 17 days! Will become the second biggest film in motion picture history in about 7 days. Will overtake Titanic in another month or so. Avatar deserves to win hands down. End of story!
Let’s just hope when he accepts his award, he doesn’t say, “Thank you, Academy. I SEE YOU.”
He should go with Trudy Chacon’s “You should see your faces.”
Hah! Even better.
Or “COME TO PAPA!! GRRR!!!” Such quality dialogue by our one-dimensional villains. “IT’S NOT OVER… WHILE I’M BREATHING!! ARG!”
the movie is ugly.. walang earth kdoginm sa movie. kyoshi island un kung saan me mga earth bender na hindi maka pag bend dahil merong gate na gawa sa yero. at walang kyoshi warriors na pinakitabook 1 episode 4 warriors of kyoshicrossed withbook 1 episode 6 imprisoned book 1 episode 6 ang mga earth bender pero instead na nasa metalic floating prison sila. nasa lupa lang sila at nasa mismong kyoshi island. kya hindi tugma tugma ang dialog.marami pang crossed at scrammbled na episodes sa movie. at manood ka ng tahimik na 1 min intro. at blank screen na text intro for another 1 min..