We’re just past the midway mark and Tom O’Neil has twice embarrassed himself and the LA Times. First was his posting an Oscar voter’s opinion that “This Is It” was going to nominated for Best Picture. Now, O’Neil is predicting that “Inglorious Basterds” is going to take home the statue for Best Picture.
The inanity of O’Neil’s logic is staggering. First, he says that Quentin Tarantino’s Cool Factor (the capitals are O’Neil’s brilliant idea) and the fact that he hasn’t won before will play an element considering that he will probably be running against “refried beans” (again, his words) like Clint Eastwood, Peter Jackson and Rob Marshall. Of course, he unconvincingly shrugs off the strong potential of Jason Reitman because it doesn’t fit his argument.
He also contends that “Inglorious Basterds” is going to earn eight or nine Oscar nominations and will that his sources at the Hollywood Press Association tell him the Golden Globe people love the film and it will clean up there as well (we don’t think it’s impossible that it’ll get nominated for Best Picture at the Globes or Oscars, but winning? And when did the Globes even matter?)
We’re not going to waste any time refuting O’Neil with common sense, because he seems to be immune to it. But if he took his head out of his ass for about five minutes, he might realize that the Weinsteins are pretty much going all-in with “Nine” (if the entire cast appearance yesterday on Oprah wasn’t a hint enough), while positioning the other films in their Oscar stable, “A Single Man,” “The Road” and yes, “Inglourious Basterds” for specific considerations (mostly in the acting categories).
Listen, we know the LA Times has been through some editorial upheaval lately, but to whoever is calling the shots over there, Tom O’Neil is a fucking disgrace. Please put him out to pasture or reduce him to reviewing local theater because he is not fit to be reporting on film.
