For Your Consideration: The Hangover

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 23, 2009

Earlier today I caught a glimpse of a ‘For Your Consideration’ ad (click to enlarge above) for Warner Bros.’ comedy The Hangover over on First Showing. Alex had clipped it from Variety and posted it with a big question mark: “The Hangover for Best Picture?!” As Alex points out, It sounds like a ludicrous suggestion for Warner Bros. to be pitching The Hangover to awards voters in any, not to mention all categories. But it is no joke — and I object to his rather naive assessment of this, saying that he thought it to initially be “a big joke.” It isn’t a joke, and it’s not just about the Golden Globes.

Paramount had success with their campaign for Tropic Thunder, the breakout comedy of 2008. Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise earned Golden Globe nominations, with Downey scoring an Oscar nom as well for Best Supporting Actor. There’s nothing to suggest that The Hangover can’t get some consideration. I know that I will be taking the screenplay and the ensemble cast into consideration when I make nominations and votes for the Austin Film Critics Association awards later this year. I would also consider comedies such as 500 Days of Summer and Zombieland for awards voting, so The Hangover isn’t far off the mark.

What films would you consider worthy of awards consideration?

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