Forecasting the Oscars ® since 2003

"It's not about who we want to win,

It's about who will"

EVENING: WHAT WENT WRONG?

"Evening" is one of the first failed Oscar hopefuls of 2007

FEATURES

By Christopher Shappley

When a movie like Evening comes out, it is obvious that a decent amount of buzz will precede its release. Looking at the cast alone caused Oscar bloggers and writers around the country to start talking, and then the fact that the film is adapted from a book by the same author of The Hours is thrown in making people go even crazier with anticipation. Just take a look at the cast: Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, Toni Collette, Glenn Close, Claire Danes and Patrick Wilson among others. Who wouldn’t think Evening would have some chance at becoming an Academy favorite this year?

Well, reviews have been coming in and they are not good. At the moment this article is being written, the film stands with a staggering 26% on Rotten Tomatoes. So, one cannot help asking the question: What went wrong?

This is something that usually happens a few times each year. A film has a decent cast and, boom, it becomes an Oscar buzzed film over night, and when time gets closer to the film’s release we scratch our heads wondering why we even gave the film the time of day. It reminds me of films like The Good Shepherd and The Good German, two films that were gaining steam in the races up until people actually started seeing them, and then they became box-office and awards disappointments. Could Evening have the same fate as those two films? It is a real possibility.

However, Evening has not been completely thrown out of the race yet. Even if the critics don’t like the film as a whole, many are praising its performers. So, if the cards are played correctly, and Focus Features puts out a decent campaign for the film’s leading ladies then there could be a prayer of some acting nominations in the future. Even if the film does not receive any Oscar nominations, there is still a very good chance it could walk away with a few Golden Globe nominations.

But, let us think about this realistically. Even if the critics and the Academy do not always agree, it is hard for me to believe that a film doing this poorly with critics will have a lot of hope at becoming an awards contender, especially a summer release at that. By the time Oscar season heats up, most people will probably have forgotten about Evening. Even if the Academy really wants to honor Meryl Streep for a fifteenth time, they will have Lions for Lambs to nominate her.

After the next few weeks, we will know for sure whether or not the film will stand any chance of getting any awards recognition. If it does unusually well at the box-office, then its chances will stay alive. However, if it gets lost amongst the big blockbusters opening over the next several weeks, then its chances will be dead. All we can do now is wait and see how the public reacts to the film. But, I will end on one idea, and that is to never underestimate the power of Meryl Streep.

With Evening apparently out of the acting races, what are your new predictions?
 

Comments?
 

COMMUNITY

REVIEWS