This past week was relatively slow for Oscar buzz in terms of anything legitimate. I was happy to see a couple of folks mention Elsa Zylberstein’s performance in I’ve Loved You So Long considering it seems to be getting overshadowed by Kristin Scott Thomas despite the fact Zylberstein, in my opinion, is actually better in the film. Will she get a supporting nod? That still remains to be seen, but I’ve Loved You So Long isn’t going to be France’s pick for Foreign Language Oscar.
It was announced on September 19 that France would be submitting Laurent Cantet’s Cannes Palm d’Or winner The Class as its Foreign Language Oscar contender. Adapted from Francois Begaudeau’s novel, the pic chronicles the experience of a teacher in an underprivileged Paris neighborhood. Sasha Stone at Awards Daily points to an interview in which Cantet discusses the film and his casting of nonprofessionals saying:
“I didn’t want to make a version of Dead Poets Society,” Mr. Cantet said in a recent telephone interview, “a film where the teacher is brilliant and heroic and knows everything. I wanted to show a school in all its complexity, where the students don’t always learn, and the teachers are not always sure of what they’re doing. The solution, although risky, was simple enough: use real students and real teachers.”
The list of Foreign Language Contenders is now up to 21 with submissions from Norway, Croatian Society of Film Workers, Brazil, India, Finland, Canada and Sweden have also recently been added. For the complete list and links to more information on each click here.
Meanwhile, a little bit of new word on Ed Zwick’s World War II feature Defiance starring Daniel Craig was announced last week as it will close AFI Fest 2008 on November 9 at ArcLight Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome Theatre. The film will be released on a limited basis by Paramount Vantage on December 12, a month following Craig’s reprisal as James Bond in Quantum of Solace on November 14.
Finally, while we still wait for a high-quality a clean copy of the official trailer for Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road starring Titanic stars Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio is online right here and we have a hi-res official poster which you can see below or click here for a larger version.
Remember to revisit “The Contenders” often for all the latest Award season updates.
