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Should Ratatouille Be Nominated For Best Picture?

slashfilm.com — “Disney/Pixar is contemplating pushing Ratatouille for the Best Picture Oscar at the Academy Awards. Members could vote for the film in both categories. But Oscar campaigners assume that many would choose just one — a dangerous situation, given the small voting pool and the razor-thin margins that can determine a winner.”

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  • estrader, on 11/30/2007, -13/+76A classic movie .. hands down!
    • tonicboy, on 11/30/2007, -26/+22Great, fun movie? Yes. Classic movie? I don't think so. Best Picture?! Definitely not.
      • ProjectRice, on 11/30/2007, -2/+0Yes,because hollywood hasn't made anything else worthwile this year.. well unless you count "The Kingdom"
    • mar1ashai, on 11/30/2007, -12/+5I second that.
      • SkippyDoorknob, on 11/30/2007, -1/+13Then click the little green thumb next to the comment instead of adding a whole new one that adds nothing to the conversation.
    • danc4498, on 11/30/2007, -10/+20This was definitely my least favorite of the pixar films. If Disney was looking to push a pixar movie for best picture, they missed their boat with Finding Nemo.
      • mdesjardins, on 11/30/2007, -0/+10Punny.
      • endlessoul, on 11/30/2007, -0/+11To be honest, I've seen The Incredibles 10 times. I'd happily see it some more. Now that is a good Pixar movie.
        • Dalrek, on 11/30/2007, -2/+2Monsters, Inc. is the Pixar movie that does it for me. It's funny and cute the whole time through.
      • ninsei, on 11/30/2007, -3/+5I'm w/ you, I thought Ratatouille was the weakest of the Pixar films. Very little in the way of 'grown-up humour'
    • Shorties, on 11/30/2007, -2/+7I loved Ratatouille and while the first time I saw it I was disappointed (I really loved Cars) As soon as it came out I watched it again, and I have to say its amazing, every time I watch it, it gets better, and I never seem to get over it. It only came out this month but I have already seen in at least 5 times.
    • NSMike, on 11/30/2007, -2/+5Agreed. I didn't see a better movie this year.
    • ninsei, on 11/30/2007, -1/+1..
  • Fett101, on 11/30/2007, -7/+25Hell Yes! Best Animated Features shouldn't be an issue. Only real competition is Persepolis...
    • neoform, on 11/30/2007, -4/+2Dude, if anything the winners should either be Norbit or Stomp the Yard.
  • chupavacas, on 11/30/2007, -20/+15This is my son's current favorite movie and he watches it over and over again. I've seen it now probably twenty times. While the animation is superb I find the characters leave a lot to be desired. There's no great character like Tow Mater in Cars. Also there's a lot of yelling and peril, which I find unecessary and irritating. Also aside from some good sight gags there isn't a lot of dialogue humor, which is fine I suppose but it seems they tried to make it so but didn't pull it off.
    • Smaulz, on 11/30/2007, -3/+11While I don't agree with some of your statements, I do agree that some of the characters weren't as deep as they could have been. I'm not sure I would have chosen Mater as a litmus test for character depth, but the point is taken. That being said, I absolutely loved the movie. My daughters and I have seen it twenty times or more and, much like Pixar's other offerings, it just doesn't seem to get old. It goes without saying that the visuals were above reproach, but that's come to be expected from Bird and the folks at Pixar. I haven't decided if it replaces Incredibles as my all time favorite, but it's definitely a close second.
      • Enochyang, on 11/30/2007, -0/+9I hope Pixar continues to work with Bird.
    • AirPortPanic, on 11/30/2007, -0/+19I disagree. Ratatouille was a great because they didn't try and push so much dumb humour (hey, kids are dumb!), pop culture jokes (hey, lets make references to pop culture so they think we're cool!), or break the storyline for some song and dance routine (hey, if they buy the soundtrack more money for us!).
    • exscind, on 11/30/2007, -3/+23IMO, Ratatouile is practically Pixar's way of APOLOGIZING for Cars.
      • mikepictor, on 11/30/2007, -0/+9Amen. Cars was by far Pixar's weakest offering. Ratatouille on the other is nearly perfect, funny, touching, well animated, not over the top, engaging..
    • kimmer1, on 11/30/2007, -1/+9They're angry and yelling because they're French.
  • sophiaperennis, on 11/30/2007, -1/+5I like to see it compete with Gone Baby Gone, in the Best Picture category.
  • Mudger, on 11/30/2007, -1/+5'Before the Devil knows you're dead' and 'There will be blood' will duke it out.
  • chris9902, on 11/30/2007, -13/+4If American Gangster gets a nomination and Ratatouille doesn't I going to fire-bomb the Kodak theater.
  • j1337, on 11/30/2007, -10/+11The answer to the question in this headline is yes.
    • Hawkeye315, on 11/30/2007, -3/+4I agree-if the story line doesn't get it, the animation should.
  • ghm101, on 11/30/2007, -22/+13I watched it the other week with my kids, they really enjoyed it. I was bored
    • Shawn4168, on 11/30/2007, -4/+19k
    • pilotss, on 11/30/2007, -14/+3Agreed. This film would be great in a CHILDRENS category.

      I can only assume that if your diet includes Jerry Springer, Oprah, and a healthy side of reality TV that you would vote this for best picture! Are you Fing serious? this movie....best picture?
      • SkippyDoorknob, on 11/30/2007, -1/+5Not enough explosions and blood for you?
      • ipxodi, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3Soooo..... You didn't actually see the movie, did you....
  • dartmanx, on 11/30/2007, -2/+109An animated film will NEVER become Best Picture. Here's why.
    The Academy Awards are decided by members of the academy: directors, actors, etc. An animated film does not showcase the "talents" of actors, which is insulting to their poor little $20M-per-picture egos. This is why the Best Animated Feature category was created, so the academy could continue to reward themselves.
    • Wargalas, on 11/30/2007, -2/+7Denzel Washington got $40 mil for American Gangster.
    • pilotss, on 11/30/2007, -10/+3Or because the movie just was not that good.
    • solo1181, on 11/30/2007, -5/+0The actors are not on screen. The actors are the animators, they animate the action into the characters. So they are acting. You are right though they want a face with the character's and someone they can pump up and throw into to cheesy future roles so they can say in the trailers "From the oscar winning producer, and oscar nominated costume designer, staring 1 time oscar nominated actor or actress in their most daring film yet, the film critics give two thumbs up. The movie everyone is talking about Garfield 3, in theaters 2009.
    • steelclash84, on 11/30/2007, -3/+1Not really. It's no different then an actor dressing in a costume and performing a roll. Honestly, the actors that do voice work deserve a lot more credit, especially when they pull of a convincing and memorable character.
  • jonmlm, on 11/30/2007, -20/+40no.
    • Aaronthethird, on 11/30/2007, -10/+2100% agree. Why is this even a question? It was a terrible movie, animated or not.
  • NeoCortex, on 11/30/2007, -11/+43I would like to see Bender's Big Score nominated. Futurama deserves an Oscar to go with the Emmy
    • MarrowMan, on 11/30/2007, -14/+5Agreed, and it was actually funny, unlike ratapooie
    • cthulhukb, on 11/30/2007, -2/+7Unless I'm mistaken, Bender's Big Score is not eligible because it never had a theatrical release. To be eligible, a film must be exhibited in a commercial theater in Los Angeles County for at least one week. It may in fact be the case that Bender's Big Score *was* shown in a theater, but I'm not aware of that happening.
      • kosan, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2They did do a premier of Bender's Big Score where they showed it at an LA theater but i don't think it was a general admission type of thing (assuming that's a requirement)
      • cthulhukb, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4Not sure why I'm being dugg down for trying to shed some light on the rules, but here they are so people can read them themselves.
        http://www.oscars.org/78academyawards/rules/rule02 ...
    • jonnyeh, on 11/30/2007, -1/+2The Futurama movie was definitely way better than the Simpsons movie. Best pic though? Come on.
      Have you seen No Country for Old Men? Wow.
      And Persepolis looks like it could win in the animated category, but I haven't seen it yet.
  • Hawkeye315, on 11/30/2007, -9/+4Yes...easily yes. If the story doesn't get it, the animation should.
  • SavageBlackCat, on 11/30/2007, -5/+4It'll never happen, but I'd like to see it.

    The last time it was tried was Beauty and Beast vs Silence of the Lambs.
    • Crosshare, on 11/30/2007, -2/+1We learned that from the article if you would've RTFA. Thanks.
  • Discobiscuits, on 11/30/2007, -16/+5Ratatouille is the ***** *****, enough said.
  • totorototoro, on 11/30/2007, -5/+27Why not? A film is a film.
  • Araxen, on 11/30/2007, -17/+11I thought it was just your average CGI comedy animation film. I don't see why this should get best picture nomination. There are far better movies this year. Bourne Ultimatum deserves a best picture nod before this movie.
  • beargrylls, on 11/30/2007, -4/+39People actually care about these award shows? Stop feeding the frickin' celeb's egos.
    • dondara, on 11/30/2007, -5/+8Dugg for great truth. And really, ***** Disney.
      • gasin, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4***** Disney for sure!
        But hats off to Pixar as well! That is one hell of a animation studio...
  • MarrowMan, on 11/30/2007, -17/+3No, because it sucked chocolate salty balls
  • BentCorner, on 11/30/2007, -2/+10If it does, it would make up for the travesty in 1977 when For the Love of Benji wasn't nominated.
  • schad500, on 11/30/2007, -14/+2No. I really disliked this movie. It doesn't really compare to a great animated feature like 2006's Flushed Away. On the other hand, I can't think of a really good movie from this year. Maybe The Golden Compass will be worth seeing?
    • Xlr8ed, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2No Country for Old Men and Gone Baby Gone were both great movies. Both should at least get nominated.
    • moraldebate, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2The Darjeeling Limited, Michael Clayton and Zodiac are also fantastic.
      They say "There Will Be Blood" has a good buzz and it's got the best pedigree: Comes from a great book, a great director who's been a recluse for 6 years, a reclusive actor who's arguably the finest working actor in the business and has a soundtrack written by Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.
    • Smaulz, on 11/30/2007, -0/+1Flushed Away?? Really?
      • schad500, on 11/30/2007, -0/+1Well, yeah. It's actually...you know...funny (makes you laugh). Ratatouille is not funny (does not make you laugh) and has a couple of scenes that unintentionally gross you out - so that a rat cooking your food is just disgusting and not cute.
    • keifusx, on 12/01/2007, -1/+0Oops, thought I was replying to you. See below.
  • rstarr, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4Go big or go home.

    Why not? They've already made/will make a ton of money regardless. The 4-10 age group really isn't very elitist about the individual accolades of their film of choice so why not try to make history when the only thing to lose is the same award you already have by the truck load?
  • MaxMWood, on 11/30/2007, -6/+11Ratatouille was really an amazing film. The animation was absolutely incredible!
    • Pikachelsea, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1Amazing animation != amazing film.
  • blackbelt88, on 11/30/2007, -16/+23I saw Ratatouille last summer and I don't see what the big deal is. I didn't really like it very much at all. I still have a soft spot in my heart for animated movies. I love The Lion King and Toy Story, but this one just didn't really do it for me.
    • Pikachelsea, on 12/02/2007, -0/+1You are absolutely right. There is no big deal.. it's not a funny movie. I am in disbelief that boring, annoying movies like this get praised as "amazing", "incredible" and other ill-fitting adjectives, mostly because of soccer moms' and their brood of children's love affair with talking animal movies. This movie was not even in the same ballpark as "incredible".

      My personal theory is that the average moronic American moviegoer will really just go see anything featuring animated talking animals these days and think it's "amazing". Thanks to the success of Toy Story, we can expect a gamut of "me too" copycats for the rest of time that will not even approach the cleverness and humor (which could actually be enjoyed by people over 3 years old) of that movie.
  • Aleman360, on 11/30/2007, -9/+21I'm really surprised that people liked this one so much. The animation was the best yet but I don't think the storyline stacked up to some of Pixar's previous movies like Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc.
    • SmokeN-DC, on 11/30/2007, -3/+1It was a different type of story more low key. The seen of Paris from the rooftop was amazing and the underlining story of not eating crap was great. People complain that all US animated films are Kids movies with singing and dancing I think this broke out of that mold.
      For a great clue as to where Pixar is going check out

      http://www.buynlarge.com/
      and really go through it I think this is a great
  • nekochan, on 11/30/2007, -14/+2anyone else notice that all the "no" comments are getting dug down?

    also, how could anyone even stand to watch a movie about a large rat rubbing itself all over your food.
    • pilotss, on 11/30/2007, -1/+3Its too bad on Digg you cant see the location of the ISP where the Diggs are coming from. I wonder if many of these are from Pixar Studio. Diggs should be paired with google earth.
    • moraldebate, on 11/30/2007, -0/+7Yes, the no comments get dugg down because most diggers, like most people, like the movie.
      It's a blockbuster and a critical darling, you have to imagine that you're in the minority when it comes to having a negative opinion about the film. Also, having ***** reasons to explain not liking the movie does not help your case.
  • vagrantwade, on 11/30/2007, -8/+2Should a movie like Ratatouille be nominated for best overall film? Short answer, no. I like the film but you really can't compare it to some of these films where veteran actors are putting their heart and soul into a role physically and mentally. I mean in Hollywood you know they think of animated films as a fun experience which is got to be easy money to them. Not saying VAing is an easy gig but I mean come on it has to be much less grueling than putting on a fat suit everyday.
    • MasterFunk, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4Sure, I would raise an eyebrow if a VA got a nod for best actor. But if a cartoon is one of the best movies of the year, why can't it be nominated?
    • moraldebate, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3I see your point, but in the end it's about what moves you most. Actors aren't given Oscars for having to go through the most "grueling" makeup and self-transformation processes.

      An acting performance should be judged on how a character made you feel and if the VA had a lot to do with it than so be it. It could be argued that some of the award could go to the facial animators, but I still think a VA can rightfully gain consideration.
  • JasonCox, on 11/30/2007, -13/+8No, because that movie bored the hell out of me.
  • MasterFunk, on 11/30/2007, -4/+6Yes I think it should be nominated for an Oscar, it is in my top movies of the year. But it most likely won't, Beauty and the Beast was an animated drama and a really good one at that. Ratatouille is an animated comedy, with coming of age plot. I mean I was impressed that the academy pickout Little Miss Sun Shine last year for a nod. But that was a social satire with elements of drama, a little more up the Oscar’s ally
  • Renuvian, on 11/30/2007, -3/+6After Happy Feet won best animated picture, that category really has very little credibility in my mind. Sure dancing penguins are cute... but it was motion capture, not animation and it was bad motion capture at that. They didn't look like dancing penguins, they looked like creepy dancing men in penguin costumes.
    Cars probably should have won. The Ant Bully should have been nominated instead of Happy Feet.
    • HouseofEl, on 11/30/2007, -1/+2Only the dancing was motion capture, not the entire film. It was also only about 70/80% CG. The rest was actually live action. I do agree that it should not have won best animated picture. It was a cute film, but the film turned too sharp a corner three quarters of the way through.
  • crawfishDigger, on 11/30/2007, -4/+13Well...it's better than a lot of past Best Picture nominees.

    Even so, I vote no. It's not even close to being the best Pixar movie (Incredibles, Toy Story 1 and 2 and Finding Nemo are all much better).
  • MarrowMan, on 11/30/2007, -13/+4This movie still sucks despite me being dugg down for admitting it sucks. I hate how ***** movies like this are even acknowledged to be even anywhere near the Oscars. It does nothing new, it doesn't add anything that hasn't been done since Bambi (Anthropomorphizing animals) so ***** OFF about this horrible movie
  • MacDaddyMac530, on 11/30/2007, -1/+4yes.
  • Ub3rg33k, on 11/30/2007, -6/+25Should an animated movie be allowed to win best picture? Absolutely.

    Is Ratatouille that movie? I don't think so.

    If the last two or three Miyazaki films couldn't land it, and they were clearly better stories, I don't know why people think Ratatouille should get it.
    • BassCadet, on 11/30/2007, -1/+3If Spirited Away didn't win Best Picture, neither should Ratatouille
    • standalonematt, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2Spirited Away had to deal with 2 biases - being animated and being foreign. I do think Spirited Away should have been nominated along with a few other Gibli films (at least Grave of the Fireflies back in the 80s) - but the Academy Awards are always going to skew American and films that appeal to an older audience - and in this country that isn't animation.
  • koft, on 11/30/2007, -5/+7ummm, hell no
    It was a cute movie though.
  • MikeFallopian, on 11/30/2007, -1/+1It was a fun little movie, but best picture? No Country for Old Men should have that ***** on lockdown.
  • rossberry, on 11/30/2007, -3/+1don't decide too quickly. no country for old men just came out in theaters, and in my opinion should win best picture hands down. go see it! it's the best film that has come out since city of god, which i think was last years best picture.
  • BassCadet, on 11/30/2007, -3/+16Honestly I thought Ratatouille was not in the same league as The Incredibles. Pacing was much slower, the whole "pulling hair to control the gangly boy" gimmick was more "huh?" than entertaining.
    • exomni, on 11/30/2007, -6/+1I was disappointed with The Incredibles. Only Pixar film I really wasn't completely gung-ho about.
      • BassCadet, on 11/30/2007, -1/+6You are one of the few people I know who think that. The Incredibles is probably Pixar's finest moment.
      • deivys, on 11/30/2007, -1/+1you are not the only one that feels that way. I think the reason it gets high praises around here is most likely do to the fact that most people here like comic books and such and that movie plays well to that audience but as a story film it was ok at best. Now finding nemo on the other hand is an amazing movie.
  • ashwinmudigonda, on 11/30/2007, -3/+3No. While the movie started off ok, it went overboard with the adult themes - wills, loves and health inspections. It really didn't sound right when you do the post mortem.
  • rossberry, on 11/30/2007, -3/+0it should definitely be nominated; however, no country for old men should win. of course, if city of god can't win best picture, i don't think there is hope for anyone.
    • hopadoonanadoo, on 11/30/2007, -0/+0City of God is a foreign language film. It can't win best picture.
  • syroncoda, on 11/30/2007, -11/+5i found Ratatouille to be rather childish. but sure if thats what ***** america wants then thats what ***** america gets.
  • Treoinmypocket, on 11/30/2007, -6/+7"Should Ratatouille Be Nominated For Best Picture?"

    No.
  • exomni, on 11/30/2007, -1/+4Nominated? Yes, I definitely think so.

    But that's a different question than "should it win". Should it win? I don't think so. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, There Will Be Blood, Gone Baby Gone, No Country for Old Men, etc... there are allot of good films coming out during "Oscar season" that would quite easily push it out of even the nomination.
  • SupaSolly, on 11/30/2007, -8/+2I'm so sick of all these animated movies with the talking animals & the adult humor. No wonder kids today are so ***** up
    • bluetoast, on 11/30/2007, -1/+2Yeah, I mean *****. DIdn't they learn their lesson with Bambi? Not to mention The Jungle Book! My word, that scat music from King Louie was just too much!
      • SupaSolly, on 11/30/2007, -2/+0I'm not talking about 30 year old movies. & king louie is a negative stereotype
  • omnithought, on 11/30/2007, -2/+13I think the film was awesome, and sadly lost on most of the American audience. For some reason we tend to value explosions and dick jokes over a good story with heart which can appeal to everyone. Don't get me wrong, explosions and dick jokes are awesome, but we've really got to expand our mental repertoire here.

    I think a lot of those who don't like this movie probably think Carlos Mencia and the Blue Collar Comedy assholes are great.
    • SupaSolly, on 11/30/2007, -0/+1Who doesn't love a good dick joke
    • steelclash84, on 11/30/2007, -0/+1I agree.

      More often than not, people don't find things funny unless the comedian is slinging vulgar language around and having subject material mostly contained to sex and bathrooms.

      Many of the "comedy" movies that have come out have not even made me crack a smile. Mostly because the talent core as a whole is starting to dry up and standards are being lowered because of it.
    • zolaar, on 12/01/2007, -0/+1Given your nickname, you make some sweeping generalisations.
      I know I was completely uninterested in seeing that movie. I am a huge fan of Pixar films, but Cars and Ratatouille just didn't appeal to me the way Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles do. I would love to be shown otherwise, but I'm not one to spend that kind of money when I don't feel I'd enjoy myself.
      For the record, I find Carlos Mencia and Blue Collar Comedy guys entirely insipid (except for Ron White, whom I pity for being associated with the others).
  • nihility, on 11/30/2007, -2/+3I believe that animated/CGI movies should be eligible for best picture, I just don't think Ratatouille necessarily deserves it this year.
  • theundone, on 11/30/2007, -2/+4I've gotta say, despite all the hype that movie got, I was really disappointed in it. Pixar movies have always been so clever and funny. Ratatouille: not so.
  • pseudo.hero, on 11/30/2007, -2/+1I think No Country for Old Men should be Best Picture. Ratatouille was good but not Oscar good.
  • numlok, on 11/30/2007, -0/+5H-E-L-L
    Y-E-S
    .
    As a related side-note, should Beowulf be classified as an Animated Film, even though there were live actors behind the motion captured characters (vs. traditional hand-keyed animation)?

    How should movies like "Waking Life" or "A Scanner Darkly" be classified? (they were basically hand-crafted effects over live-action plates)

    Maybe there should be yet another new category for "Continuous Effects Film"?

    FWIW, my opinion is that the lines between these classifications are getting less and less clear, as well as less and less relevant.
    • MikeFallopian, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2Interesting question. I think motion-capture films like Beowulf and A Scanner Darkly should not be considered animated, since creating realistic-looking characters is probably the hardest part of animation.
  • MightyDevil, on 11/30/2007, -7/+1That movie sucked! Kids giggling in front of an animated flick are no reference whatsoever for an oscar it's just inexperienced brains tickled by bright colors and silly faces. The movie portrayed such an "American" view of the french and, call me a purist or simply a "non-us" citizen but, the scenes with guns in the first half hour of the movie were just uncalled for and trivialized the use of guns. In a Disney KIDS movie, way to go! Sucked almost as much as Flushed Away.
  • Dyogenez, on 11/30/2007, -0/+1I like Paprika for best animated feature myself. It was released in the US last May, so seems like it should be a possibility. I heard that Beowulf is also in the running for animated feature (although I don't think it should be).
    • Dyogenez, on 11/30/2007, -0/+1hmm, nevermind. Looks like Paprika was put up for nomination last year but didn't make it.
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