I heard a comment from a critic today who suggested that people go see The Apostle..."a real movie with real people...no special effects...sinking ships..."

Do you think there is a possibility that there will be a Oscar backlash against Titanic? Academy members that will vote for the so-called little guy instead of the obvious choice for best picture, director etc... I would hate to see that happen. What do you think?

-- Beverly (foo@bar.com), February 11, 1998

Answers

Possibly there might be a backlash by critics. But if there is then there might be a backlash against the Oscars! A *lot* of people loved this movie and to see it snubbed at Oscar time would make the voting members look like elitist snobs who can't seem to come down to the level of the average movie goer. That could be deadly. Look what's already happened in the vilification of the Time mag critic.

-- Dave Cook (dcook@idirect.com), February 12, 1998.

I love critics! Surely they could have put Jack and Rose in a rowboat in a swimming pool in this moron's back yard and told the same story the way he or she sees it. Does he or she think the Titanic never existed? Does he or she think that the 1500+ people that died that night weren't "real" people? People like this ought to study history a little before making inane reviews like that. Who is this clown anyway?

Regards, Peter (I'll try to calm down now!)

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), February 12, 1998.

One possibility I've heard is that there will be retaliation by the Academy members because much of the film was done in Mexico using non-union labor. I hope voting will be done based strictly on the merit of the film. If so, Titanic should clean up at the Oscars.

-- Bobby (bfugitt@muw.edu), February 12, 1998.

Beverly, I saw that review too - it was Gene Shalit of the Today show. Of course I have crossed him off my list of reviewers to follow. Two I will be paying attention to are Janet Maslin (NY Times) and Joel Siegel (Good Morning America) - both chose Titanic as #1 for 1997.

-- Bob Gregorio (rgregori@pacbell.net), February 12, 1998.

I saw Gene Shalits review on the Today show. It was the only review I saw before going to this movie, and I was disgusted by it!!! He actually had to nerve to say that this movie "had no soul". Can you believe it?! I agree that some of the critics are so wrapped up in the "movie making" of this film, that they seem to lose sight of the fact THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED!!!!!

I just want to yell at these idiots..."What, watching the suffering of those poor people onboard the Titanic wasn't "entertaining enough?", "didn't have enough soul?" The only people who have NO SOUL, are the critics that have the nerve to bash this movie, "because it cost so much", "because it has such terrific special effects", "because the love story is fictional"

I honestly believe that the critics that didn't like this movie, went into this movie already not liking it, and there was NO WAY it was going to be any different for them.

I hope the Academy members are uneffected by all this hype. I hope they just see this movie for what it is....A great interpretation of a historical event that still affects people to this day.

This was more than a "great flick", it is something that really happened and alot of people died, and I hate to think that people are forgetting that.

-- Caron (bianchi@iserv.net), February 12, 1998.

I'm already miffed that Leo didn't get nominated, but this takes the cake! If Titanic doesn't get recognised the way it should I will never watch the oscars again! Out of my three favourite movies, James Cameron made two of them, he is the greatest filmmaker of our time. It seems Australia isn't the only country to indulge in the tall poppy syndrome.

-- Lianne (liannegraham@one.net.au), February 12, 1998.

Peter, the critic is Gene Shalit on the Today show. I never agree with his reviews anyway.

It just made me wonder how many others (that may have some Oscar influence) are out there like him. Strange and unexpected things happen at award ceremonies sometimes. Have the People's Choice awards aired already. If not, I would expect Titanic to win all awards, hands down.

-- Beverly Lyons (foo@bar.com), February 13, 1998.

Beverly, the People's Choice awards aired about a month ago. Titanic was not mentioned in any of the awards, presumably because of its late release date.

Cheers!

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), February 13, 1998.

I've often thought that many critics bash a great movie just to get attention. Look how it stirred you guys up! I never have and never will listen to critics. In fact, I don't even read their articles. I am my own judge of how great a movie or album is. As for the Oscars, if Titianic doesn't win, I know my heart will go on.

-- Donna Sadoway (donakyle@oanet.com), February 19, 1998.