A James Bond movie nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards? The idea would have seemed ludicrous before the Daniel Craig reboot. It has been suggested that the failure of "The Dark Knight" to snag a Best Picture nomination was one of driving forces behind opening up the Best Picture category to more than five films. The stage is set for the once-unthinkable becoming quite thinkable.
A James Bond movie actually being named the best picture of the year.
When Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes took on the job of making the third Bond movie to star Daniel Craig, he shook his fingers at the gods and announced he wanted his movie to be Oscar-worthy. Many laughed. Others rolled their eyes. More than a few ignored him completely. And then everybody forgot about it and went to watch the summer blockbusters.
But "Skyfall" is almost here and a select few have gotten the chance to preview it. The word rave seems to have been created expressly for the purpose of describing the reviews that describe the power of watching "Skyfall."
But can a rave review for a movie about James Bond translate into an Oscar nomination? A rave review for a serious drama based on a Pulitzer Prize novel? Sure. But a rave review for a James Bond movie? Is it enough to put "Skyfall" into the running for an Oscar nod? That would be like a derivative star-crossed romance with a needlessly tragic ending unimaginatively tacked onto a real life story about a sinking ship winning an Oscar.
And that would just be silly.
The point being that rave reviews of Hollywood movies belong to the discussion of Einstein's theory of relativity. Are the reviews of "Skyfall" rave relative to the James Bond movies that led up to it or the reviews a rave relative to those for "The Master"? If to the former, then the Oscar nominations that Sam Mendes is desperately hoping for will likely not be coming. If the reviews of "Skyfall" indicate raves relative to "The Master" then it may well be a revolutionary night at the 2013 Academy Award ceremony.
'Too bad Seth MacFarlane's lack of originality and imagination will have you turning the channel long before Best Picture is announced.
For more from Timothy Sexton, check out:
James Bond Turns into Shill for Green Bottles From Holland Filled with Vitamin Pee
Why Every Fan of "The Simpsons" Has Already Heard Every Joke the 2013 Oscar Host Will Tell
