Weinstein has conspiracy theory for 'Cold' Oscar snub
02-05-04, 10:13 PM
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Weinstein has conspiracy theory for 'Cold' Oscar snub
Now THIS is good.
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news...&w=RTR&coview=
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news...&w=RTR&coview=
BERLIN (Hollywood Reporter) - Miramax Films co-chairman Harvey Weinstein said Thursday he believes the low Oscar-nomination count for "Cold Mountain" was due in part to stories in the U.S. press attacking the moviemakers' decision to shoot the U.S. Civil War drama in Europe and not America.
Weinstein, who jetted in to support the Anthony Minghella-directed story, which opened the Berlin International Film Festival, hinted that there had been a whispering campaign against the production because the filmmakers chose to shoot largely in lower-cost Romania.
Said Weinstein: "I'm proud of 'Cold Mountain' being a European film. The movie has done $80 million at the U.S. box office so far and is on its way to $100 million. But I think it (being shot in Romania) did hurt us with the Academy (voters)."
Weinstein stopped short of calling it a boycott by voters but said negative press may have resulted in "a move to deny the movie awards." The film received seven Oscar nominations, but not in the key best picture and director categories.
Said Minghella: "There has been a reaction in America and a real campaign to stop movies leaving America to shoot."
While Minghella said he understood the criticism, he defended his decision to shoot in Romania on economic terms. "It was a choice between making the movie (outside America) or not," he said. "We still spent nearly $20 million in the U.S."
Weinstein also attacked what he called American "discrimination" against European films and cited an example of how few are seen in the United States.
"We believe in European quotas because European movies are discriminated against in America," Weinstein said. "The major networks in America have not shown one single European movie in 25 years."
The news conference saw Weinstein face down a question on why the movie's three principal stars -- Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger -- failed to travel for the evening's gala.
He said Law and Zellweger are shooting movies in London, and Kidman had returned to Australia because of a "family situation."
Weinstein said he had offered to buy out the production of "Closer," which Law is shooting, in order to secure the actor's presence in Berlin.
"You know my reputation," Weinstein joked. "If I couldn't get them out (to Berlin), nobody could."
He played down any suggestion that the stars weren't supporting the movie's European rollout, which begins Monday on a release tour of the continent's capitals. Law and Zellweger will be traveling with the film, while Kidman is gearing up to do satellite interviews upon her return to New York.
Other attendees at the news conference included the movie's Philip Seymour Hoffman and Brendan Gleeson.
Weinstein, who jetted in to support the Anthony Minghella-directed story, which opened the Berlin International Film Festival, hinted that there had been a whispering campaign against the production because the filmmakers chose to shoot largely in lower-cost Romania.
Said Weinstein: "I'm proud of 'Cold Mountain' being a European film. The movie has done $80 million at the U.S. box office so far and is on its way to $100 million. But I think it (being shot in Romania) did hurt us with the Academy (voters)."
Weinstein stopped short of calling it a boycott by voters but said negative press may have resulted in "a move to deny the movie awards." The film received seven Oscar nominations, but not in the key best picture and director categories.
Said Minghella: "There has been a reaction in America and a real campaign to stop movies leaving America to shoot."
While Minghella said he understood the criticism, he defended his decision to shoot in Romania on economic terms. "It was a choice between making the movie (outside America) or not," he said. "We still spent nearly $20 million in the U.S."
Weinstein also attacked what he called American "discrimination" against European films and cited an example of how few are seen in the United States.
"We believe in European quotas because European movies are discriminated against in America," Weinstein said. "The major networks in America have not shown one single European movie in 25 years."
The news conference saw Weinstein face down a question on why the movie's three principal stars -- Jude Law, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger -- failed to travel for the evening's gala.
He said Law and Zellweger are shooting movies in London, and Kidman had returned to Australia because of a "family situation."
Weinstein said he had offered to buy out the production of "Closer," which Law is shooting, in order to secure the actor's presence in Berlin.
"You know my reputation," Weinstein joked. "If I couldn't get them out (to Berlin), nobody could."
He played down any suggestion that the stars weren't supporting the movie's European rollout, which begins Monday on a release tour of the continent's capitals. Law and Zellweger will be traveling with the film, while Kidman is gearing up to do satellite interviews upon her return to New York.
Other attendees at the news conference included the movie's Philip Seymour Hoffman and Brendan Gleeson.
02-05-04, 10:15 PM
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Zzzzzz........
He has a million reasons. None of them faulting himself. Maybe the fact that people are SICK of Harvey Weinstein is the reason Cold Mountain was snubbed?
He has a million reasons. None of them faulting himself. Maybe the fact that people are SICK of Harvey Weinstein is the reason Cold Mountain was snubbed?
02-05-04, 10:17 PM
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Originally posted by Grimfarrow
Zzzzzz........
He has a million reasons. None of them faulting himself. Maybe the fact that people are SICK of Harvey Weinstein is the reason Cold Mountain was snubbed?
Zzzzzz........
He has a million reasons. None of them faulting himself. Maybe the fact that people are SICK of Harvey Weinstein is the reason Cold Mountain was snubbed?
02-05-04, 10:36 PM
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I don't know...
The CM commerical touting Reneé that shows a clip of her going on about rain or something or other is kinda funny/annoying..
The CM commerical touting Reneé that shows a clip of her going on about rain or something or other is kinda funny/annoying..
02-05-04, 10:49 PM
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Cold Mountain is pretentious crap!!! Only movie I seriously thought about walking out of. I stayed because I did pay for a ticket and didn't have much to do. I felt so dumb after seeing it. Like I had just been duped into buying something I didn't actually want.
02-05-04, 11:33 PM
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As much as I detest HW I have to agree with one of his points (and disagree with him at the same time)
This is true:
"Weinstein also attacked what he called American "discrimination" against European films and cited an example of how few are seen in the United States.
"We believe in European quotas because European movies are discriminated against in America," Weinstein said. "The major networks in America have not shown one single European movie in 25 years."
YET....HE is also the reason why so amny European films never make it to US shores!!
This is true:
"Weinstein also attacked what he called American "discrimination" against European films and cited an example of how few are seen in the United States.
"We believe in European quotas because European movies are discriminated against in America," Weinstein said. "The major networks in America have not shown one single European movie in 25 years."
YET....HE is also the reason why so amny European films never make it to US shores!!
02-06-04, 12:46 AM
#8
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This is what, three days after he claimed that Cold Mountain didn't get any oscars because it was released in December? He's really grasping at straws here. Plenty of Hollywood films are shot in Europe. This is the first time I've heard of it being a problem.
02-06-04, 01:44 AM
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Ha, what a joke. I doubt most people even knew where the damn movie was shot until Harvey started bitching about it. Why did this movie not get a best pic nod? Did Harvey ever consider that maybe, just maybe, there are five other movies that people favored over his flick? And if we are to consider some movie political motive for it not getting nominated, it's as said before...because people HATE Harvey's Oscar push, and they are sick of him shoving his movies down everyone's throat. Really, he needs to shut up and let the movie speak for itself. It's on its way to 90 plus million dollars, has been well reviewed and nominated for a few awards. When a movie is considered a disapointment for not getting best picture nods, well, geez, perhaps they're jsut expecting too much.
02-06-04, 02:23 AM
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Hey Harv....people didn't like the movie that much.
And Harv....put some dirt on Nicole if she's supposed to be a civil-war era country gal in hard times. Just a suggestion.
And Harv....put some dirt on Nicole if she's supposed to be a civil-war era country gal in hard times. Just a suggestion.
02-06-04, 02:30 AM
#11
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Originally posted by jaeufraser
When a movie is considered a disapointment for not getting best picture nods, well, geez, perhaps they're jsut expecting too much.
When a movie is considered a disapointment for not getting best picture nods, well, geez, perhaps they're jsut expecting too much.
02-06-04, 07:23 AM
#13
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Originally posted by Suprmallet
Well, the English Patient did get an ungodly amount of nominations and awards. I'm sure Harvey was expecting a repeat, and perhaps more, due to the bankability of the main stars.
Well, the English Patient did get an ungodly amount of nominations and awards. I'm sure Harvey was expecting a repeat, and perhaps more, due to the bankability of the main stars.
I like Nicole but think she is over-exposed these days. Glad she is finally shutting up about her divorce.
02-06-04, 07:28 AM
#14
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I didn't even know the film was shot in Europe until I read this thread. Quite frankly, I'm sick of Weinstein making excuses for Cold Mountain. Harvey, your film didn't nominated: GET OVER IT!
Not to mention:
Return of the King was shot in New Zealand
Lost in Translation was shot in Japan
Master and Commander was shot in Ecuador and Mexico
Mystic River was shot in Iraq
Not to mention:
Return of the King was shot in New Zealand
Lost in Translation was shot in Japan
Master and Commander was shot in Ecuador and Mexico
Mystic River was shot in Iraq
02-06-04, 08:28 AM
#16
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How about bad marketing. None of the previews looked remotely interesting. Looked like a standard chick flick with the civil war as a back drop, not a civil war movie with elements of a love story.
02-06-04, 09:35 AM
#18
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Did the thought ever occur to him that Cold Mountain simply may not be Oscar material? I enjoyed the movie, but did not feel that it deserved an Oscar nomination.
02-06-04, 11:31 AM
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Originally posted by boston george
God he is such an Oscar whore. Why do they (Miramax Films) feel such a need to pander to/beg the Academy for nominations?
God he is such an Oscar whore. Why do they (Miramax Films) feel such a need to pander to/beg the Academy for nominations?
02-06-04, 12:56 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Geofferson
Did the thought ever occur to him that Cold Mountain simply may not be Oscar material? I enjoyed the movie, but did not feel that it deserved an Oscar nomination.
Did the thought ever occur to him that Cold Mountain simply may not be Oscar material? I enjoyed the movie, but did not feel that it deserved an Oscar nomination.
02-06-04, 01:51 PM
#23
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by Groucho
...
Mystic River was shot in Iraq
...
Mystic River was shot in Iraq
It's a common mistake mixing up the Mystic and Euphrates Rivers.
02-06-04, 02:17 PM
#25
Senior Member
Originally posted by pro-bassoonist
[B]
"Weinstein also attacked what he called American "discrimination" against European films
[B]
"Weinstein also attacked what he called American "discrimination" against European films
And oh yeah, The Return of the King was released December 17th, just two weeks before the end of the year, yet somehow it seems to lead the Oscar field with eleven nominations.
Grasping for straws, grasping for straws...
