Relax. The headline is misleading, thank the baby Jesus. Variety is merely wondering if there should be 20 nominees and the only argument they can see against it is that it would make the ceremony even longer?!? Why would anyone propose such a thing? Oh, yes, shameless traffic-baiting is always the why. A website gotta have hits. But since we're feeling generous we've indulged them with a link.
The Film Experience would rather go back to 5 when a Best Picture nomination meant something and was difficult to procure. Even with 10 slots available it's so diluted. One unfortunate side effect is the Best Director category which, despite some fascinating surprises last year, has lost some of its appeal since gone are the days when you could wonder about the "lone wolf" nominee. With any more Best Picture nominees all the tension and drama that comes with annual competition would instantly be sucked out of it, like a zigzagging balloon with knot untied, falling to the ground in a rubbery lump of no fun who cares.
In other stupid news there seems to be a weird notion floating around twitter that the Standing Ovation for August: Osage County is a big deal somehow or that it's "rare". Standing ovations are the furthest thing from rare at festival screenings if the cast or director actually shows up... unless they went and changed the definition of rare while I was up flying the friendly skies. They're kind of expected... that thing you do to say 'thank you for coming, movie stars!'
Julianne, Dermot, Julia, Juliette, Ewan & Abigail at the premiere
Nevertheless August: Osage County is clearly where your head is out (I read the comments sections) and where Twitter's been sl let's discuss the reactions after the jump
Also re: AUGUST OSAGE, Streep & Martindale are sure things, Roberts, best pic and screenplay also possible. But critics won't be big fans.
— Peter Knegt (@peterknegt) September 10, 2013
#tiff. Meryl Streep is do good in August Osage County that its literally scary. Great movie. Best pic nominee without a doubt
— Showbiz 411 (@showbiz411) September 10, 2013
Not surprising Streep, Roberts & Chris Cooper are great in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. It IS surprising Dermot Mulroney steals every scene he's in
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) September 9, 2013
I admired work of Julianne Nicholson and Benedict Cumberbatch in August: Osage County. Would have preferred a movie about their characters.
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) September 10, 2013
Julianne Nicholson really needs to be in more movies. Streep was unsurprisingly great but Roberts steals the show #AugustOsageCounty #TIFF13
— Steph Sharples (@cinemavine) September 9, 2013
Full of the stars but Julianne Nicholson stole my heart. #AugustOsageCounty #TIFF13 @cameron_tiff
— Josh Epstein (@joshepstein1) September 9, 2013
Best "Osage County" perfs, in this order: Streep's Violet, Margo Martindale's Mattie Fae, Jullianne Nicholson's Ivy, Juliette Lewis' Karen.
— Hollywood Elsewhere (@wellshwood) September 9, 2013
I mostly chose these ones to share because opinions seem very diverse about who the standouts are. Beyond Streep of course who wins her usual loud chorus of adulation and genuflection [cue "Handel's Messiah"] ...and she shall reign for ever and ever.... the mighty queen.... the everlasting actress Most of the Streep reactions play like this one.
Just saw a screening of August: Osage County. I have no words for Meryl Streep's performance. She went from the best, to incomprehensible!
— Matt Angel (@MattAngel23) September 4, 2013
This is all a long way of saying it will be interesting to see if they can pull off nominations for any Supporting cast members (and no I'm not talking about Julia Roberts if that happens in that fraudulent category). Since we're still 3 months away from its release I think we can't really say we have "consensus" yet though everyone likes to say that the day after a premiere when the first reviews come in, but if there is one come December and it follows this first wave of excitement it's something like "mediocre movie / awesome performances".
Or, in other words...
August: Osage County didn't work for me, I'm afraid. It felt like PERFORMANCES!: The Motion Picture. #TIFF13
— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) September 10, 2013
Thoughts? I know you're having them in September: [Insert Your County]
Podcast a group discussion of TIFF 13: Oscar buzz, our favorite films, and more
Ambition & Self Sabotage on Gravity and Eleanor Rigby: Him & Her
Mano-a-Mano Hallucinations Norway's Pioneer & Jake Gyllenhaal² in Enemy
Quickies Honeymoon, Young & Beautiful, Belle
Labor Day in a freeze-frame nutshell
Jessica Chastain at the Eleanor Rigby Premiere
Rush Ron Howard's crowd pleaser
The Past from Oscar winner Asghar Farhadi & Cannes Best Actress Berenice Bejo
Queer Double Feature: Tom at the Farm and Stranger by the Lake
Boogie Nights Live Read with Jason Reitman and Friends
First 3 Screenings: Child's Pose, Unbeatable and Isabelle Huppert in Abuse of Weakness
TIFF Arrival: Touchdown in Toronto. Two unsightly Oscars