Hollywood Reporter: Three wild cards could impact awards races

Three wild cards could impact awards racesWild card worries: It's October and Hollywood's awards marketers are back in action.

From the looks of things, those who hope to take home the gold have got their work cut out for themselves this year competing for Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations in what looks like an unusually challenging race. The problem is that there are three wild cards to worry about that could impact in a big way on this year's awards competition.


The list includes Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" from Lions Gate Films, IFC Films and Bob and Harvey Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure Group; Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" from Icon Productions and Newmarket Films; and Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein, who might be serving his final season as his company's driving force on the awards front. Between them, these are three 800-pound awards gorillas that could make it harder than ever for everyone else to land nominations.

What makes the situation unusual and potentially worrisome for smaller films is the fact that these are three very high profile forces to contend with. Moore is clearly a human dynamo when it comes to getting what he wants. This has nothing to do with how you feel about him personally or whether you agree with his politics. He's simply an astounding manipulator of the media who knows how to further his cause this way.


By Martin A. Grove
Hollywood Reporter