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Harvey Weinstein is Certain 'Basterds' Will Win Best Picture

by Alex Billington
February 12, 2010
Source: LA Times

The Academy Awards are 23 days away, which means things are starting to heat up in the Oscar race. There has been a lot going on regarding the Oscars recently (check out the nominees again), but this just makes me smile. Power producer Harvey Weinstein told Pete Hammond of the LA Times that Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds will win Best Picture on March 7th. "We're going to win Best Picture," Harvey proclaimed. "This is the movie people love and it's Quentin's time. We are going for it and we are gonna get it." I'd love to see that happen, but I'm not so sure it will. Others are saying Avatar will win big.

"Look, best director may be a question -- and you can quote me on that -- but we won the SAG award for best ensemble, actors are the biggest branch in the academy and they love the movie."

Harvey thinks the Academy will go the Crash route this time, voting for the ensemble movie with a great cast rather than the other best movie of the year (which was Brokeback Mountain, or so Hammond says). I'm not really sure if I think Inglourious Basterds will win. In fact, I was thinking it's going to either be The Hurt Locker or Avatar, but you never know. Harvey "thinks the preferential balloting for Best Picture is a good thing and will benefit Basterds in a big way. That's why he's confident he can pull this out." Although he also thought Rob Marshall's Nine would be his frontrunner, but that film is already dead and buried.

Head over to LA Times to read Hammond's article about Basterds. I'm fond of all of this year's Best Picture nominees (except The Blind Side) and can't wait to see who wins. Will it be Basterds? We'll know in 23 days.

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36 Comments

I really love how certain he sounds. I picture Weinstein sending thugs out around town to bully people into voting for "Basterds." I've been hearing talk that this is now one of the films that might win it, but I just can't see it happening. I truly don't think it's deserving compared to the rest of the field, specifically "The Hurt Locker" "Up in the Air" and "Avatar." I will be shocked if it wins.

Pale Paul on Feb 12, 2010

If Avatar wins over Inglorious Basterds, I think it would be a shame. All Avatar really had going for it were brilliant special effects. Once you get past that, I really don't think you can call Avatar a brilliant movie. It had a mediocre story and decent acting. The Avatar story isn't even original. Dances With Wolves anyone? I think if someone else besides James Cameron hadn't made Avatar and it wasn't in 3D, then it would have been this generation's Battlefield Earth and would flopped big time at the box office and wouldn't be receiving all the attention it has thus far. Then you have Basterds, which didn't rely on special effects, but rather storyline, dialogue, and a great ensemble cast of terrific actors. Sure, it probably wouldn't have done as well if it wasn't attached to QT, but the story is just leaps and bounds better than Avatar. If they want to award a movie based on special effects, then I think Avatar deserves a nod hands down, but based on story Basterds blows it out of the water.

aaron on Feb 12, 2010

It is a shame in my opinion that people think Avatar is worthy of Best Picture. I loved Inglourious Bastards more than any movie this year. Imagine the look on everyone's face if it actually won. The more I think about it the more it seems like something that could really happen. No it will be Avatar Ugh the world is an awful place.

Max Moon on Feb 12, 2010

Inglourious Basterds is easily my choice for Best Picture of the year, followed by The Hurt Locker, Up in the Air, Up, Star Trek, An Education, and District 9 (in that order). Notice Avatar does not make my list.

Kevin on Feb 12, 2010

The Oscars are so pucked this year.

d1rEct on Feb 12, 2010

Its funny how people think Avatar was that "breath of new life" into cinema when really its the movies its competing with that was that breath but yet Avatar will probably win...its a damn shame, I hope Weinsteins right. Avatar=most overrated movie in cinema history hands down

Cody on Feb 12, 2010

I really hope neither of them win. A lot of people like to say this is Tarantino's best work. Personally, I don't think Basterds comes close to his first three films, and it shows his writing is deteriorating. Recently, he has killed off a lot of characters simply because he doesn't know what to do with them. He spent ten minutes introducing this badass in Hugo Stiglitz, and then promptly kills him off in the next scene. What was the point of that? And why does Shosanna Dreyfus have to die? Seriously, why?

notes on Feb 12, 2010

Man I hope not! The Basterds was/is very overrated! Found it slow and mostly boring. The only good part was Christopher Waltz. If I had to give the Oscar it would go to Prescious. Just on the how intense the story is and the acting was amazing. A very real and sometimes disturbing movie.

K on Feb 12, 2010

@7, most of the characters die in ALL Tarantino movies. Think about it. Only pink lived in RD, I think a majority in Pulp and Jackie Brown die, Kill Bill? yea.

theotherbluth on Feb 12, 2010

#9, in RD, there was purpose. Only one major character dies in Pulp. I think Kill Bill is a joke.

notes on Feb 12, 2010

Inglorious Basterds was, in my opinion, too boring and too flawed. There were some great scenes and the last third was phenomenal but it was lacking in some areas. It was drawn out and had some pointless scenes (like the one with mike myers where they just talk about german cinema). It had such potential; had there been more scenes with the Basterds, it would have been more enjoyable, but instead, the movie is wasted on long-ass scenes with no point. It was a good movie and I liked it but I don't think it should get best picture. Avatar was great fun and highly enjoyable...its special effects blew me away and I think Cameron should win Best Director for his work. If it wins best picture, I will be content because it was a good production. The Hurt Locker was a great movie as well and probably should win Best Picture. It was captivating, extremely suspenseful and very meaningful. It was interesting, fresh, and dealt with a contemporary issue. At the end of the day though it is lacking the magic of a usual best picture winner. An Education and A Serious Man were two fantastic movies and I'm glad they were nominated. In my opinion they were better than any of the above films, but all the 10 nominees are good and deserving movies aside from The Blind Side, which I have not seen so can't judge.

Joey on Feb 12, 2010

I loved IB but I would love The Hurt Locker to win, it's simply the better film it has way more intensity and Jeremy Renner was cooler than all the Basterds combined.

CLAW on Feb 12, 2010

the only thing that carried inglorious basterds was Christopher Waltz. You take his performance out and this wouldnt even be mentioned in the oscars. The only chance they have is for best supporting role/actor. thats it. Hurt locker will probably win best picture while avatar will clear house on VFX, directing (bar none the most technically challenging movie to date to make), UP will grab best animated picture because its pixar and its cliche as usual so thats that. Past that, its anyones guess. As for the weinsteins, the only good movies they put out are the ones they have nothing to do with.

buggy166 on Feb 12, 2010

Alex you have seen the blind side by now right because if you havnt yet its realy getting old to hear you griping over a movie you havnt even seen yet and it might not be as flashy as the others but it still was a quality movie

rowdy on Feb 12, 2010

1.District 9 2. Up in the air 3. The hurt locker then IB > avatar > up i have not seen the others but am looking forward to catching A Serious Man sometime. If avatar wins it would be a joke. The effects are of course astounding but the actually movie almost ruined how amazing everything looked. With IB i really hope Christoph Waltz wins best supporting actor

Janny on Feb 12, 2010

If Quentin Tarantino does win Best Director it will be because Robert Zemeckis isn't nominated this time around. Disney did numourous for your consideration ads for A Christmas Carol including Best Director for Robert Zemeckis, who's Forrest Gump beat out Tarantino's Pulp Fiction to the same Oscar in 1994.

Eric on Feb 13, 2010

Harvey Weinstein's a fucking moron. Inglourious Basterds will not get best picture. It would be ridiculous. I don't really like it but The Hurt Locker is going to win this year.

Raymond D. Douche on Feb 13, 2010

Basterds was the best film of last year but that does not mean it will win.Avatar was awful and the Hurt locker did nothing for me.I really liked District 9 too,but its hardly best picture.

tir na nog on Feb 13, 2010

If there is any justice in the world District 9 will win every award it was nominated for, including best picture, vfx, and adapted screenplay. I would literally shite myself if that happened, I kid you not. Please vote District 9, best film of 2009.

Linkfx on Feb 13, 2010

IB in no way deserves to win best picture. I love Quentins movies but this one really wasn't that great. ThereL were long drawn out scenes that had to do with nothing and it seemed like scenes were missing. What happened to the really short basterd? Halfway through the movie hes nowhere to be seen. Plus B.J. Novak all of a sudden is captured at the end of the movie without an explanation of how, when, or why. If a movie has bad editing which this did it doesn't deserve best picture. The only thing it deserves is Christopher Waltz winning best support because he made that movie. District 9 should win hands down but it wont.

Hale18 on Feb 13, 2010

harvey's reasons are the reasons I've been saying all year for a potential Basterds win. I really hope it comes true. Avatar was nothing but predictable plot mixed with great effects, and it does deserve some wins - for effects.

Al on Feb 13, 2010

i'd love to see this win best picture but it won't,i really want it to be district 9 but it will be either avatar or the hurt locker.

DEADPOOL,MERC WITH A MOUTH on Feb 13, 2010

Inglourious Basterds is nothing but a typical "guys movie". It bored me to tears. Not to mention that Weinstein has been WRONG about most-to-ALL of his predictions this awards season. But who knows-that moron got the utterly horrendeous shakespeare in love to win best picture. Personally, I'd say its down to either Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Avatar because it was an amazing production-and bp would be a deserving award for their clear hard work. The Hurt Locker - I didn't like it - but again, amazing and unique production with top notch action sequences.

chrissi on Feb 13, 2010

It's pretty obvious that this is just Weinstein's lame attempt to influence voters. That's all. In any case, all the Avatar hate on this thread is getting pretty old now. We get it. You're upset so many people liked this movie. Enough already. Why didn't we have to listen to this sort of shit all the time last year when the Dark Knight was overhyped? Oh wait, I guess that's because that was seriously a masterpiece, right? Give me a fuckin break.

whatever on Feb 13, 2010

I suspect that Harvey Weinstein is simply promoting the idea that Inglourious Basterds is still a viable best picture candidate. If Inglourious Basterds can get enough second and third place votes, it is entirely plausible that it could win. This is the current results of a Box Office Mojo poll. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/oscar/oscargame.htm?page=results&p=.htm Film Will Should Avatar 68.0% 42.0% The Hurt Locker 27.7% 21.0% Inglourious Basterds 1.6% 16.2% Up in the Air 0.9% 4.4% The Blind Side 0.6% 2.0% Precious 0.6% 2.1% District 9 0.3% 4.4% Up 0.3% 6.3% An Education 0.0% 0.8% A Serious Man 0.0% 0.8% http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=18765 Awards Daily Nominations Project, Final Results Posted by Ryan Adams On February - 1 – 2010 This is an illustration of how the preferential voting system could select the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Dan Dassow on Feb 13, 2010

whatever, chill.

Xerxex on Feb 13, 2010

Basterds has my vote followed by Hurt Locker. PS District 9 sucked hard

David on Feb 13, 2010

I would love for Basterds to win, since it was my favourite film from last year. However, this just sounds like wishful thinking.

Sean Kelly on Feb 13, 2010

The Hurt Locker is soooo overrated!! The Messenger was waaaaaaaay better! It would be cool if Basterds win, I pray Avatar doesnt win.

People's Champ 3D on Feb 14, 2010

Avatar will Clean up the oscars I think with The Hurt Locker a good second Inglourious Bastards will be left in the Cold.

Cineprog on Feb 14, 2010

Guys Gals, the whole gang. who ever said that Oscars were to be given to the movie that has the best story???? The Award itself is pretty clear...The Best Picture... movies are not about stories alone its about how that story is presented. I dont know why there has never been an Animated Feature to win the Best Picture. of all the stories, why guys playing girls, girls getting beat up raped, alcholics, etc etc is perceived as a road to Oscars??? why not a comedy feature has won an oscar.. are they not worhty?? dont they have "original" stories??? i hope you get my point. i loved Inglorious Basterds. 've seen in theatres two times and two times on bluray. its not that it doesnt deserve an oscar. But what i am saying is, Avatar deserves it too and shouldnt be discarded just because there are blue 2.5 meter aliens in it and the story is not original... remember its how the story is presented to us that makes it magical. how the moving pictures have been used to deliver that story no matter how usual the story itself is. anyways those are all my own ideas... just wanted to share them 😀 and i am not out to change how the opposing oens think. just a food for thought. 😀 and I believe Hurt Locker should get some little golden men too 😀 Hell i even would love to see The Hangover get some too... both were hellova movies 😀 cheers...

Burak "D'aequitas" on Feb 15, 2010

I love how everyone is still jerking off about how much they are against Avatar winning best picture. I dont think it should, it would honestly be silly. But I loved it enough to see it 3 times and I dont think anyone who cries BASTERDS even knows what makes or encompasses a movie that deserves best picture. If a movie is nominated it officially dosent suck and we cant act like we really know what great or genius filmmaking is because we have never been involved in filmmaking . Part of "Best Picture" is of course the quality, appeal, and entertainment value, but thats also subjective. People find Avatar overrated and garbage and I believe they are pretty damn shallow and ignorant if they cant see that there is more to it than special effects. Camerons dream was to make an epic and immersive sci fi film of his own creation more than a decade ago, and since then invented and built and created the technology to make the movie and the entire planet it took place in. Nothing is there for flash and dazzle, there is an entire planet that gives us an experiece that few movies have dared to try. Theres also the very moving message of respecting life, fighting for ones rights, and understanding differences. Getting to see and learn from this new world through Jakes eyes was very effective and worked very well for the story. The story itself is so-so but its not ripping off anything, do any of you remember critters? It was just trying to ride on the gremlins popularity. Basterds is just another WWII movie so dont tell me thats ok but Avatar cant use the colonialist or "pocahontas" premise. Despite my praise Avatar still isnt the right movie to win it but I cannot concieve why Basters deserves best picture. Its a purposely innacurate war movie that has almost no action and has more excruciatingly long moments of banter than moments with the falsely advertised stars, the Basterds. I was losing my mind during the nazi bar scene because it dragged on for so long that felt like i was actually sitting in a chair eavesdropping on a regular night at a bar. I did love the opening sequence, the acting was great and i found the end very satisfying, but also more disturbing than seeing my dog die. Basterds and Avatar dont have my vote for BP but Cameron has worked harder than anyone this year to make his movie. It would be a damn shame if he wasnt recognized by the academy for his hard work in some way. Tarantino has a good film but I think its just the thought of kicking more nazi ass thats keeping it from recieving any of the hate Avatar gets. Avatar will become outdated, but it will be remembered by far more people than the Basterds. The Hurt Locker is honestly the Best picture and THAT will all make more sense in the long run.

CW on Feb 22, 2010

This movie was one dimensional. Moderately entertaining, but nothinbg beyond that. No Best Picture for it.

SlashBeast on Mar 5, 2010

@34 explain one dimensional

David on Mar 5, 2010

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Chaim Paddaman on Apr 1, 2010

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