The big Julia Roberts movie? From last summer? It could happen. Although the movies that fill out the Best Picture category at Oscar time usually are released in the fall, 2000 has proven to be quite a different story.
Films such as “Pay It Forward,” “The Legend of Bagger Vance” and “The Contender,” all of which generated plenty of Oscar buzz in pre-release, ultimately proved disappointing. “Almost Famous,” touted as one of the best movies of the year by critics, did infamously mediocre box office and soured its chances for big awards.
Many Oscar contenders are due in the next six weeks, but none has much buzz so far. This list includes “All the Pretty Horses,” “Before Night Falls,” “Cast Away,” “Chocolat,” “Finding Forrester,” “Pollack,” “Proof of Life,” “State and Main,” “13 Days,” “Traffic” and “What Women Want.” Of those, many are small or have yet to be seen. One last Best Picture contender is Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”–though selling a movie in Mandarin will be tough.
And only a few films can build on good word-of-mouth, a la “Life is Beautiful.” “You Can Count on Me” and “Billy Elliott” could both end up with Best Picture nominations.
All this means Hollywood studios have started looking in the rearview mirror to find movies to promote for Academy Award consideration. Paramount has already dusted off “Wonder Boys,” which did very small box office when it came out earlier this year. The studio rereleased it a few weeks back.
And then there’s “Erin Brockovich,” the summer blockbuster that will almost certainly lead to an Oscar nomination for Julia Roberts if not a win in that category. The studio has started placing ads for the movie, touting not just Roberts but also the film as the Best Picture of the year.
Similarly, DreamWorks is putting its hopes on “Gladiator,” the summer hit starring Russell Crowe. And Sony’s likely to push the Mel Gibson vehicle “The Patriot.”
Of course, summer releases can often do just fine. Three such movies–“Unforgiven,” “Braveheart” and “Forrest Gump”–all went on to win Best Picture during the 1990s.
Perhaps “Brockovich” will win and the millennium will start a new trend: summer as showbiz’s most serious season.
