United 93 vs. WTC
Despite recent vigorous efforts by Paramount and Universal to promote World Trade Center and United 93, respectively, as Best Picture contenders, “an Oscar consultant not connected to either film” said to Hollywood Wiretap‘s Pete Hammond a few days ago that “this expensive grab for renewed attention by both films will result in a wash as neither is likely to get into the Best Picture circle.” Maybe not — I don’t entirely agree with whoever said this — but if sheer moviemaking craft mattered to anyone (and I don’t mean the application of nuts- and-bolts know-how but the knack of knowing how to make a picture work in just the right way so what it’s saying comes through without obstruction), United 93 would, no question, be a slam-dunk contender. The reason it’s not being talked up much is because a lot of people out there refused to go see it. I almost used the word “babies” but I thought better of it.
Wouldn’t a source not connected to either film make such an effort to discredit either film’s chances?
That said, I’m certainly not expecting either to make it in.
I don’t know how many members of the Academy are Foreigners, but my guess is up to 20 %. And I’m pretty sure most of them wouldn’t vote for WTC, – they might in part vote for U93, because it’s a much better movie (and it’s a British production).
And in a fiveway race if you can’t count on 20 % of the votes, forget it…
Paramount should save the money and put it somewhere else…
Universal should do a minimal campaign for U93 just out of respect for the movie. Because now many more people have seen WTC and might be willing to give U93 a chance. And they will discover that the movie is one of the year’s best (it certainly is in my book)…
I love “United 93″ but I’m not a fan of the initial Oscar consideration trade ad – “A movie can matter.” Of course a movie can matter, and not just because its subject matter is regarded as “important.” If “United 93″ is nominated for Best Picture (as I hope and believe it will be) it won’t be because “It was the first film to bravely confront the most devastating event of our lifetime” as the self-important studio copy reads, but because it is flat out great filmmaking. Just get the dvd to Academy members and the movie will speak for itself.
I also love United 93 but it’s too jarring, too much of an action movie for the geriatrics of the Academy to swallow. If either movie gets nominated it’ll be World Trade Center, which offers easier sentiments and soothing platitudes.
I think one of the problems with both movies is that there are a large number of people who just don’t want to watch a movie about 9/11. I had a friends turn me down when I invited them to be my guest for WTC when I saw it a second time for that very reason, and it’s going to be hard to get a movie into the BP race where some Academy members might refuse to watch it. While I think United 93 is clearly a better movie, the lack of name actors or a well known director will hurt it, just like it did at box office, and World Trade Center is just too hokey. Maybe they can push Oliver Stone and some supporting credits for Gyllenhaal and Pena, but otherwise, it’s going up against much stronger movies already.
Let’s not forget that ‘Brokeback Mt.’ got shafted last year for precisely this reason — many Academy voters simply refused to see it. This is too bad for ‘United 93,’ which is a much better and very different movie from ‘WTC.’
If the average member of the public doesn’t care to see U 93 for whatever reason, that is their business. If someone who is an Academy member refuses…then yes they are a baby or worse.
I suspect this film would have been hard for many Academy members to see. It’s hard to watch the cold bone of reality in U93 then slurp down a double coke while watching all those facile, anti-American docs and flicks (DOAP, Dixie Chicks) that so permeate the industry.
In a perfect world Greengrass would get best director. That he is not even really a serious contender is why I do not take the Oscars seriously.
Indeed, I had to force myself to watch it — AND, no one wanted to see it when offered a chance to borrow a DVD of it. The thing is, the wounds are still fresh. I don’t think it means we’re “babies,” just that humans are by nature inclined to avoid anything they know will be painful. It’s a survival instinct. Ironically, U93 is not a tearjerker. It’s interesting and ultimately uplifting because it sends the message that we don’t have to sit back and take it if in a hostage situation. I think everyone should see it because it’s great training, if nothing else. Seems like every movie made about hostages shows them cowering in the corner – this one shows you can do something if enough people are brave enough to go for it.
I didn’t want to see it or World Trade Center in the theaters because I just can’t bear the firemen. Everyone has the thing about 9/11 they can’t bear and for me it was those firemen who rushed in at the last minute to save people when the tower fell on top of them. I can’t bear it; I don’t think I should have to. Life is painful enough.
biped, I live between two firehouses, one of which lost nine men, the other eleven. One had pictures of the men with their families posted outside the first year, they all had kids. It’s very sad.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t the sadness that stopped me from seeing WTC. I was just so offended at the kitschy-ness of it (judging from reviews & trailers I admit). On another subject, OK, but not this one. And it didn’t help matters when politicians started lauding it.
I understand Stone will have to turn out some drek as atonement for Alexander before making another movie he wants to make. Just sorry it had to be about this.
I liked U93, it’s well worth the nod, but it’s too “thriller” for the Academy, not pretentious enough in its form for BP. I did find it a bit hokey-er than some of the people on this board, but still beautifully done. And sincerely done, I thought.
I wouldn’t put WTC in my top 50 films of 2006. What a crock it was! United 93 was far better, but I don’t see any noms going its way either.
Thanks for your argument-baiting, Nicol. Come back when you actually want to have a discussion.
United 93 is a staggering achievement. Definitely deserves a Best Picture nomination. WTC is a mediocre snorefest. It’s a Hollywoodized, overly sentimental Lifetime movie that is not worthy of the attention it’s been getting.
I have to say that the husband and I sat down last night and watched United 93 and were taken aback at how excellent it was. We had wavered back and forth about watching it, for obvious reasons, but reasoned that the film was ‘too much’ at any point we’d take it out of the ole player.
Yes, it was hard – there were actual moments in the film when the tension in the film made me grit my teeth – but the film is so gripping and as jeffmcm said ‘staggering’ that I can do nothing but applaud the director.
That being as it is, United 93 probably won’t get any nominations…because after viewing it I respected the film makers and was so engrossed by it. Nothing I truly love ever does.
It could be like 2004, when ‘Passion of the Christ’
and ‘Fahrenheit 9/11′ weren’t nominated due to
certain political strikes against both films.
I’m in the ‘World Trade Center’ camp and would
love to see Stone up for Best Director as well as
Pena up for Best Supporting Actor.
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