Movieline Ranks the 4 Biggest Longshots of the 2010 Oscars
BEST PICTURE: District 9
SURPRISE FACTOR: 9
The only person who called District 9 in your office pool is the after-hours cleaning lady, which explains why she mutters "lazy prawns" under her breath whenever she empties your garbage can.
DESERVEDNESS FACTOR: 6
It's an infinitely better script than Avatar's, but detractors complain the third act feels like a video game.
SPEECH FACTOR: 3
Director Neill Blomkamp is modest, considered and well-spoken, as is his low-key mentor and producer, Peter Jackson. Expect sincere shock and gratitude, solemn references to overcoming racial injustice, and not much by way of laughs.
OUTRAGE FACTOR: 2
It might not have its vocal champions in the race, but no one hates it. Quiet admiration is the overall consensus.
OVERALL UPSET SCORE: 20/40
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Comments
Take the number of women in the world. Minus the number of women in the world who worship at the Church of Oprah.
That this is very, ridiculously true makes me laugh, as one of those remaining women. There are women that I know who don't necessarily follow the religion outright, but they do in their hearts and philosophy.
The third act of District 9 felt like a video game, true, but it was such a *better* video game than Avatar. Less "OMG WOULD THE DAMN BOSS STOP GETTING THE F' UP SO I COULD WATCH THE DAMN ENDING CUT SCENES?!?! DEAR GOD."
Oh, man, would I love that upset.
Stanley Tucci - DESERVEDNESS FACTOR: 2?? Really? I thought that was one of the most chilling performances I had ever seen, so brutal and inhuman..
I was not in the majority during District 9 release in the theaters. I could not stand that movie! I will say that District 9 was certainly more original than Avatar, but I could not get into the movie at all. The acting wasn't too good and the writing...all I keep thinking about was that scene where the main character calls his wife on his cell phone. No Bueno.