Watchmen, early Oscar buzz?

[Kane52630]

http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2009/02/watchmen-oscars.html

From the LA Times

"Watchmen" opens next week and this graphic novel come to life is sure to dominate at the box office. But while it makes lots of green, how will "Watchmen" do at winning Oscars gold? Since not even the critically hailed "The Dark Knight" could break into the top Oscar races (with the exception of supporting actor winner Heath Ledger, that is) "Watchmen" will be limited to contending, if at all, in those crafts categories where "The Dark Knight" and other popcorn pix get secondary notice.

"Watchmen" is directed by Zack Snyder, who co-wrote and helmed the technically innovative "300" two years ago. For his efforts, he won a Saturn Award from the sci-fi crowd and the film won top honors there. In addition, "300" contended at the MTV Movie Awards, the People's Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Awards. And various craftspeople were nominated by the art directors, costumers, sound, and visual effects guilds and groups.

Snyder reassembled some of the key players from "300" to make "Watchmen." Larry Fong once again handles cinematography, and William Hoy edits. Costumes are by Michael Wilkinson who earned a 2007 guild nod in fantasy film ("The Golden Compass" won). He also had a 2006 guild nod for the contemporary film "Babel" ("The Queen" won). The "Watchmen" score was composed by "300" alum Tyler Bates. And stunts were once more coordinated by Damon Caro, whose team lost the 2007 SAG race to "The Bourne Ultimatum" crew.

New additions for "Watchmen" include the art direction team headed up by Francois Audouy, a 2005 guild nominee in period/fantasy for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" ("Memoirs of a Geisha" won). Sound editing is by, among others, 2002 Oscar nominee Scott Hecker (his work on "Road to Perdition" lost to "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"). And special effects are from, among others, 2007 VES nominees Theo Vandernoot, Vincent Serritella and Pericles Michielin (their work on "Beowulf" lost to "Ratatouille").

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Maybe a technical nomination or two, outside of that it has no shot at any other nominations.

 

[Temple Fugate]

seriously

LOLMG ITS GUNNA WIN BEST PICKSHAR!!!!!!!!!

 

[Beanjuice]

i highly doubt watchmen will do anyting oscar worthy. Its just not gonna be that type of film. But yeah some gold would be nice

 

[nathaniel]

It wont win anything Ledger was great but clearly got an oscar because he died.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

It wont win anything Ledger was great but clearly got an oscar because he died.

We are talking nominations, and if I recall correctly, TDK had other nominations outside of Best Supporting Actor.

 

[DDS]

Maybe a technical nomination or two, outside of that it has no shot at any other nominations.

Yeah, honestly, if TDK couldn't break very much new ground in the Oscars (except for Heath's nomination, of course), I don't think Watchmen will be able to either.

 

[Dark Phantom]

It wont win anything Ledger was great but clearly got an oscar because he died.

I know this belongs in the TDK section, but I cannot stand when people say Ledger only won because he died. Do you realize how many screen actors/actresses have died during their flourishing careers, but only a handful of them have been nominated or even won an Academy Award?

The logistics for Ledger's nomination (other than his death) are this...He was nominated in 2005 for an academy award in Brokeback Mountain proving he had the capability to be an Oscar winner. Ledger's Oscar buzz started even before his death. If Ledger truly did not give the better performance than all those nominated for best supporting actor this year, he probably wouldn't have recieved the award.

The academy does not give the award to just anyone. If Drew Barrymore died today and her last film would be "He's Just Not That Into You", you honestly think the academy would be pressured into nominating and granting an award to her? Do you know James Dean was the first actor nominated posthumously for an Oscar in East of Eden and he still did not recieve the award. Why? In comparsion to the competition, he didn't deserve it.

Back to Watchmen, chances are this film will recieve little buzz. Patrick Wilson and Hayley are the only ones I could see even getting some recognition by the academy. but they would have to really prove their worth. You know what gets an acting nomination? When you completley immerse yourself into a role. when you do a 180 from what everyone expects of you as a real person. Maybe Watchmen could get some technical nominations, but think about what other films that watchmen is competeting with this summer.

 

[bunk]

Having not seen the movie yet, I would say Art Direction could be a pretty serious contender.

 

[Steelsheen]

unless for some strange reason Watchmen get re-released during the holidays with much fanfare, i dont think it would have any chance other than the usual MTV/ People's Choice Awards.

about Ledger's win at the Oscars, lets be clear about this: yes his death has some influence to him winning the award, however his performance had to be strong enough to get nominated in the first place, and thank goodness it was.

however had Ledger still be alive today he would have a harder time getting into the nominations list, it wouldnt be a shoo-in like what happened. mostly because he, like everything else about TDK, would suffer the stigma of being "in a comic book movie". i'm not saying that he wouldnt have been nominated had he been alive, i still think he could've made it, however WB would be fighting tooth and nail to get him in, just the same way it did for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography etc.

know this: TDK didnt become great because of Ledger's passing, it was Ledger's passing that focused the spotlight on the great movie that was TDK.

 

[[A]]

it'll get a nom........if someone from the cast dies.

 

[CBGB]

I'd say if anything, it would get nominated for costumes, art direction, and cinematography, and maybe editing. Whether it will win or not, we'll have to see.

 

[bkey]

I would love to see a supporting actor nod for JEH but I doubt it will happen. Maybe he will get one with Shutter Island later this year.

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

It wont win anything Ledger was great but clearly got an oscar because he died.

what a tired remark...its obvious he didnt get it because of his death...
listen to Dark Phantom and feel shame....
also Watchmen wont win anything...might be nominated for maybe one or two things...but definitely dont see oscars in the future

 

[Motown Marvel]

by the sound of reviews, it should garner some technical awards, but not much more.

 

[TLH]

I'd say a few nominations in secondary categories is probably a lock.

 

[Mister Sinister]

Maybe if it was a factual drama set during the holocaust starring Meryl Streep. But for now we're going to have to settle for Best Sound Mixing.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I'd say if anything, it would get nominated for costumes, art direction, and cinematography, and maybe editing. Whether it will win or not, we'll have to see.

Agreed. I expect nothing more than that, if anything at all. I'm just happy the movie is almost here.

 

[chosen1]

R these guys serious? Oscar for this?? wow. and no this movie will not make that much money. Sorry guys.

 

[Boom]

-Art Direction for sure.
-Costume Design for sure.
-Makeup for sure.
-Special Effects for sure.
-Cinematography a strong possibility.

That's five right there.

 

[Lando81]

it'll get a nom........if someone from the cast dies.

ssssoooo much ignorance....

 

[The Guard]

Given the logistics of adapting this...and the idea that this was unfilmable, I can see a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

 

[AnorexicBatman]

Imagine Rosarch accepting an award...

Rosarch: Hurm. Like to thank academy. Good for something.

Ozy: 35 minutes ago... a giant squid killed 50 FOX studio members so that the rest would learn how to produce good films...

Manhattan: Accepting this award will not change it's atomic structure. However, it looks like a golden me so I'll take it...

Nite Owl: UM... uh... th.. thanks! I'm going to have sex with Silk Specter 2 now....

 

[The Apocalypse]

Imagine Rosarch accepting an award...

Rosarch: Hurm. Like to thank academy. Good for something.

Ozy: 35 minutes ago... a giant squid killed 50 FOX studio members so that the rest would learn how to produce good films...

Manhattan: Accepting this award will not change it's atomic structure. However, it looks like a golden me so I'll take it...

Nite Owl: UM... uh... th.. thanks! I'm going to have sex with Silk Specter 2 now....

More like..Um...uhh...I can't get it up.

 

[Infinity9999x]

It wont win anything Ledger was great but clearly got an oscar because he died.

That's fairly biased actually. If you were paying attention to the news over the last year, Heath was generating Oscar buzz before a trailer even came out, and when the trailer did come out, the Oscar buzz hit the roof. And if you recall, that was all before he died.

So, I think it's safe to say your statement is clearly open to argument


Back to Watchmen...I would be surprised if it did get nominated for anything major, but who knows?