The 2001 Fall and Winter Film Preview: Part 1
As is tradition in this column every year, it's time to take stock of film year 2001 so far, and look ahead to the films to be released in the next few months, and do some early predicting on which ones will be nominated or may even win at the 74th Annual Academy Awards. First, it's time to stop and look back at the first eight months of the year, and see if there is any film that can survive to the film awards season.
Pearl Harbor didn't live up to its promise, a film that earlier on looked like it might be a serious Oscar contender. Only look for it in technical categories, and it will only be a few if any. Shrek was an enormous success, becoming the highest grossing film of the year. I expect it to win the Academy's first ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature. It was a truly wonderful film, and could even gain a Screenplay nod. It will also be released to video and DVD in November, and that will get the film back in the minds of Academy voters. Memento still may survive for Oscar consideration, but only if it wins some critics awards, which I expect it may do. I'm definitely hoping for at least a Screenplay nomination for a truly innovative film. A.I.'s Oscar chances are much more difficult to guage at this point. I thought it was one of the year's best films for sure, and one of the boldest and unique films that Steven Spielberg ever made. It's boxoffice was not up to Spielberg standards, and I've sensed a real dropout of support for this film. If it doesn't gain any critics awards, it may unfortunately be forgotten for Picture or Director nods. However, I still expect to see the young Haley Joel Osment in the lead acting circle, and it should be nominated in almost every single technical category.
There will no doubt be several of the films from the summer which will be nominated in technical categories, including Planet of the Apes, which should just be given the Makeup Oscar right now. But as far as major nominations, I don't see very many coming from the first eight months' worth of films. A lot of people say Memento could be up for Best Picture, but to do so, it will have to win some major critics' awards in the Oscar pre-season. I'm personally hoping for it and A.I. to be remembered for serious consideration.
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