Comments on: Oscar Time! http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/suderman/2023 The blog of Commentary Magazine. Fri, 16 May 2008 08:14:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: David Hecht http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/suderman/2023#comment-84008 David Hecht Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:57:25 +0000 http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/suderman/2023#comment-84008 It should be noted, however that--as seems to have been the pattern recently--every one of the Best Picture nominees (and a goodly number of the movies connected to the other "money" awards [Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress]) were released in the last quarter of the year. Indeed, with the notable exception of _Michael Clayton_--released in October--the other Best Pix were all released in the last two weeks of the year--some on the last weekend. The message seem to be that studios should keep their best (or at least most Oscar-baiting) material for the Christmas season (am I allowed to use that term around Hollywood anymore?), and that the Sargasso Sea of bad movies--currently stretching from the new year to the Oscar ceremonies--will stretch further and further into the year. It should be noted, however that–as seems to have been the pattern recently–every one of the Best Picture nominees (and a goodly number of the movies connected to the other “money” awards [Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress]) were released in the last quarter of the year. Indeed, with the notable exception of _Michael Clayton_–released in October–the other Best Pix were all released in the last two weeks of the year–some on the last weekend.

The message seem to be that studios should keep their best (or at least most Oscar-baiting) material for the Christmas season (am I allowed to use that term around Hollywood anymore?), and that the Sargasso Sea of bad movies–currently stretching from the new year to the Oscar ceremonies–will stretch further and further into the year.

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