District 9 and Star Trek made it onto the Producers Guild list of 10 nominees alongside Oscar frontrunners Avatar, Up in the Air, and The Hurt Locker. I managed to predict 9 of the 10 nominees correctly — I had Julie & Julia instead of District 9. Here are the nominees:
Avatar
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Precious
Star Trek
Up
Up in the Air
Today’s news means that District and Trek are true contenders for those last two Best Picture slots, despite the huge success of that other sci-fi crowd pleaser, Avatar. Left off the PGA list, by the way: A Serious Man, The Messenger, It’s Complicated, and Nine. Their animated nominees are 9, Coraline, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Princess and the Frog, and Up. For Documentary, it’s Burma VJ, The Cove, Sergio, and Soundtrack for a Revolution.
Follow me on Twitter (@davekarger) for instant Oscar updates.
Yes! there is a god.
Star Trek had to be one of the best sci-fi flicks ever. Well produced directed acted and the visuals were spectacular. Glad it’s getting some love.
D9 was just plain fun.
Puhleeeeeze. Khan blows it out of the water on a bad day. Not even in the same league.
I love, love, loved the new Star Trek. Khan was great, but that was a different time. I’m glad the series got a new shine and a new license to go pretty much wherever they want from here on out.
i could not agree with you more Sally in Chicago. Star Trek was pure gold.
Ugh. District 9 was such a grimy, sloppy, uninspired piece of crap. Oh, well. At least I know there’s no chance in hell it will score at the Oscars.
I didn’t like District 9, either, but I can see where many did like it.
DISTRICT 9 was TERRIBLE. someone said it was “just plain fun”, tell that to my mutitude of friends who rented it bc of all the great reviews, and nearly threw up in half the scenes and half of them turned it off halfway through. It gave me nightmares for a while. AVATAR has a much better message anyway!!! who cares about human sufferage ifthere isn’t an inhabitable planet to care about it on!
District 9 was one of those movies that I could understand on an intellectual level why it was well made and powerful and yet I never want to have anything to do with it again.
what a banner year for Sci-Fi films!
R U KIDDING? Nothing in the franchise comes close to Wrath of Khan!
Has anyone actually seen Invictus?
yes, it was great. morgan freeman was born to play nelson mandela.
Why didn’t Princess and the Frog do better than it is? Too bad, that Alvin is making more money than the Princess.
yes its absolutely depressing. Princess and the frog was absolutely charming and the chipmunks are absolutely revolting. im sure the same kids who are watching that also loved Bevery Hills Chihuaua
that’s a great list.
Glad to see District 9 on the list.
Yes, Dave, It’s Complicated was left off the list. That’s what happens to Nancy Myers rom-coms at Oscar time — even the ones that have Meryl Streep in them.
Agreed. Did anyone seriously expect It’s Complicated to be here? Really?
District 9 and Star Trek were the best (by that I mean enjoyable) movies of 2009. YEAH for them!
DISTRICT 9 is a level-A masterwork. So pleased it’s picking up momentum at the right time. The only films I feel poorly about not making the cut (and being forgotten all season long) are: BRIGHT STAR and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE; two of the most achingly beautiful films of 2009. BRIGHT STAR in particular might have a shot at staging a surprise showing at the Oscars. Hoping.
I agree about BRIGHT STAR in particular… Wish this worthy, beautiful film could have gotten more awards traction. I also would’ve liked to have to sen A SERIOUS MAN, A SINGLE MAN, THE MESSENGER, and THE FANTASTIC MR. FOX on this list, instead of some of the more obvious choices. Oh well.
I diddn’t enjoy A Single Man. Way Way too self indulgent for my taste. That being said I would second your Mr. Fox addition and put 500 Days of Summer out for consideration.
I agree that Where the Wild Things Are and A Serious Man deserve more love!!! And where’s Ponyo? That was the most beautiful film I saw last year — it left me deliriously happy. And it can’t even get an animation nod???
Very happy that District 9 made the list! And totally agree about Bright Star. It’s a real shame that it’s been so ignored for all these awards so far. Here’s hoping the Brits remember it for the BAFTAs, and give it a much needed Oscar boost!
BAFTA announces their nominees the day before Oscar ballots are due. If they give any kind of boost it’ll be very small.
“Way. way too self-indulgent” – that would also sum up the Coen Brothers in a nutshell. Thank GOD A Serious Man didn’t make the cut.
Hurrah for Up, Star Trek, and District 9!
Does Clint Eastwood have incriminating photos of some PGA voters? Because honestly, how does a pedestrian sports film like Invictus make any top 10 list at the expense of great films like Where The Wild Things Are, A Single Man or The Fantastic Mr. Fox?
I agree! I’m sick of Eastwood’s award baiting films. If he gets nominated for Best Director over Lee Daniels, I will be very sad
I agree, Invictus was a total bore…..but he got completely snubbed last year with Gran Torino (which was a fantastic film).
Agreed; Invictus was Good at best. Nothing new, exciting, or mind-blowing.
People shouldn’t get so excited. There are more nominations this year but their favorite sci-fi/fantasy film will not win an Oscar. It might be nominated simply to fill up a space and lure viewers. The End.
I’m loving the love for Star Trek, District 9 and Inglourious Basterds – these three are kind of unexpectedly getting some love this award season, and they are, imo, not your typical (read dull) oscar contenders! Finally we’re seeing some diversity!
I’d be very pleased if District 9 won best picture. It was so different that it wouldn’t offend the sensibilities of the oddballs voting for such things. The Star Trek remake was okay but no where near as good as the Voyage Home or First Contact. Having it win would be a slap in the face to those who came before. Chris Pine and Zach Q. are no William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! Chris Pine opened my eyes to the world of Captain Kirk more than I ever thought possible. I don’t believe in no-win scenarios.
I second this, and I loved the original movies. go chris pine!
District 9 wasn’t different it was a remake of District B13 a foreign film. So there was nothing new or original about it, except it was based in Africa.
I have not problem with the inclusion of Start Trek and District 9. Saw both and they deserve the recognition. Way to go Dave! You are the go to guy on the predictions, that is for sure.
I’m suprised to see 9 in the animated category considering it didnt do too well critically or financially- in fact, it kinda just dissapeared… I thought Ponyo wouldve been the 5th nomination…
“Where the Wild Things Are”
animated category, friend… where the wild things are is as animated as Avatar is
I liked 9 well enough, but was also disappointed with the story…whereas Ponyo was pure heaven. In my opinion, Ponyo was the best animated film last year, and deserves a nomination more than any of the five that were nominated!
UP FTW (for the win!)