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Post by Marci on Jul 27, 2015 7:57:01 GMT -8
Official Site: 2015 July's Baits
Contenders
BEST PICTURE The Bicycle Thieves Dollhouse The Fortune Teller I Found the Letters Ice Boys I'm Not Jessica Chastain I'm Going Slightly Mad Skin There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth Two Little Girls We'll Be the Stars Woods Runner
BEST DIRECTOR Ben Affleck (Woods Runner) Richard Ayoade (I'm Going Slightly Mad) Rodney Evans (I Found the Letters) Bryce Dallas Howard (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (The Fortune Teller) Alejandro Jodorowsky (Skin) Gil Kenan (Two Little Girls) Jonathan Levine (Dollhouse) Jonah Markowitz (Ice Boys) Jason Reitman (There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth) Kirsten Sheridan (We'll Be the Stars) Morten Tyldum (The Bicycle Thieves)
BEST ACTOR Jason Bateman (There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth) Christian Borle (The Bicycle Thieves) Joaquim De Almedia (Skin) Dakota Goyo (Ice Boys) Lenny Henry (I'm Going Slightly Mad) Michael B. Jordan (I Found the Letters) Gavin Macintosh (Woods Runner) John-Alan Slatcha (Ice Boys) Max Thieriot (Dollhouse) Josh Wiggins (We'll Be the Stars)
BEST ACTRESS Jessica Chastain (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Lily Collins (The Fortune Teller) Cara Delevingne (We'll Be the Stars) Carmen Ejogo (I Found the Letters) McKenna Grace (Woods Runner) Miranda Hart (I'm Going Slightly Mad) Bryce Dallas Howard (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Malese Jow (The Fortune Teller) Saoirse Ronan (Two Little Girls)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Ben Affleck (Woods Runner) James Corden (The Bicycle Thieves) Grant Gustin (The Fortune Teller) Griffin Gluck (The Bicycle Thieves) Anthony Mackie (I Found the Letters) Felix Moati (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Bill Nighy (I'm Going Slightly Mad) David Oyelowo (I Found the Letters) Barry Pepper (Ice Boys) Evan Peters (There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth) Chris Pratt (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Callum Keith Rennie (The Fortune Teller) Peter Sarsgaard (Woods Runner) Alex Shaffer (Ice Boys) J.K. Simmons (There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth) Gaspard Ulliel (Skin) Cameron Wofford (Ice Boys)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Uzo Aduba (I Found the Letters) Abigail Breslin (Two Little Girls) Viola Davis (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Michelle Forbes (The Fortune Teller) Jennifer Lawrence (There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth) Gugu Mbatha-Raw (I Found the Letters) Carey Mulligan (The Bicycle Thieves) Selinis Leyva (Skin) Odeya Rush (Ice Boys) Annabelle Sciorra (We'll Be the Stars) Maggie Siff (Woods Runner) Katerina Shpitsa (Dollhouse) Liv Ullman (The Bicycle Thieves) Julie Walters (I'm Going Slightly Mad) Rachel Weisz (We'll Be the Stars) Alfre Woodard (The Fortune Teller) Rumer Willis (Dollhouse) Samira Wiley (We'll Be the Stars)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Richard Ayoade, Miranda Hart and Lenny Henry (I'm Going Slightly Mad) Bryce Dallas Howard (I'm Not Jessica Chastain) Gil Kenan (Two Little Girls) Jason Reitman (There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth) Rodney Evans (I Found the Letters) Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (The Fortune Teller) Jacob Forman (Dollhouse) Eric Roth and Kirsten Sheridan (We'll Be The Stars)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Graham Moore (The Bicycle Thieves) Alejandro Jodorowsky (Skin) Jonah Markowitz and Michael Dowse (Ice Boys) Ben Affleck and Gary Paulsen (Woods Runner)
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Post by Marci on Jul 27, 2015 10:05:11 GMT -8
Marci's Reviews
The Bicycle Thieves written by Matthew Joseph Jenner I find this bait incredibly realistic. I dislike movies with fake happy endings, life is not that simple, really. This bait has a European-tone which is definitely the standout element, I think only European films can make a whole story around a unique idea (the bicycles and their importance) unlike American movies which are mostly about the same five topics (racism, gay rights, mental illness, war, politics). Your casting is good: Borle, Gluck and Carey Mulligan are all outstanding. Very nice bait, Matt! Another piece of your brilliance!
I'm Going Slightly Mad written by Matthew Joseph Jenner I have to admit, that this bait has quite a good plot. Very well-detailed – the exact reason why long baits are important in our game. Of course Miranda Hart is the heart and soul of this movie. Very lovable character and strong performance for sure. Hands down, she should win the Oscar. I’m also flattered because of the fact that she didn’t starve during the film. Food is important. People need to deal with it. And let me just say that Julie Walters deserves a supporting Oscar for the singing scene alone. I expected a laugh out loud comedy, but it’s more like a bittersweet dramedy which is even better. Great ending, too. Very well done, Matthew!
There I Said It: the Trial of Brian Wordsworth written by Kevin Klawitter I admire your ability to deal with a well-known genre, and make it so unique and interesting that it can stand next to the other popular ones in originality. Your writing here is pure joy – it’s one of the most well-written baits this month. I really love your cast – especially Lawrence, she’s amazing in the role of Diane Weeston. It’s so hard to write a normal role to one of the hottest and most beloved girl on earth, but you did it. Overall I really enjoyed this one, Kevin. It’s not on the same level as your classics such as "Thawing Out" or "The Final Fantasy Trilogy", but it’s definitely among the best this July.
I Found the Letters written by Chris Perkins I’m very mixed on this one. First of all, I love your director choice, and the awards campaign is spot on, but the story itself is a bit short, confusing and your casting is questionable. I liked your lead protagonist, but the rest didn’t do much for me – big, popular names, not so detailed roles. Last month I supported you with nice words, and many votes for being so brave by showing us a personal piece, but this one is a bit too average. Your writing is always so intelligent, real and entertaining, so I do think that there is so much more in you. Overall, solid work!
"Woods Runner" written by Evan Peck Dunbar It reminds me in certain elements of "The Hatchet Trilogy", and also for real life films such as "How I Live Now" and "Hanna" in action & storyline. Aside of these, it’s really an effective and emotional story. Macintosh is very awesome (like in all of your baits), and you really make the best out of Affleck (in both acting and directing). They are both worthy, and the others are also good. However, this bait is hardly as brilliant as some of your old ones like "Never Alone", "Let it Burn" or "From Darkness" (my three all-time favorite by you). Interestingly I expected more paragraphs for a story like this (especially around the middle), but maybe it’s all because I have no imagination today. Solid work!
"Ice Boys" written by Evan Peck Dunbar I’m so disappointed! I love sport-centered stories - I think it’s important to have projects like this, because these films are very good examples for the youth - but then you made it into a gay-themed film. I have no problem with gay-themed films, but here I felt like it’s a very unnecessary thing to do. Like even if we call this contest "Bait an Oscar", I do believe that sometimes we should skip the baity elements. I think this bait would have been perfect about topics like sport, family and friendships. And the thing is with the gay-theme, that the originality of the story is a bit questionable now, as it’s too similar to "Summerstorm" (one of my favorite films). Don’t get me wrong. This bait is very fucking perfect in the way it is, but I expected something lighter, something different this time. Especially because you did baits like this before. Good work, but it could have been better.
"We’ll Be The Stars" written by Evan Peck Dunbar Oh my God. Oh my God. No way! This is by far the best of your baits this month. So unique, so human,and pretty much tear-jerking. This bait has an outstanding ensemble & crew, a great plot and very powerful scenes. The ending made me cry, you bastard! Well fucking done, Evan! A definite contender for the Best Picture prize!
"Skin" written by Matthew Joseph Jenner I think this bait is goodly written, but not terribly impressive or creative. I give you a standing ovation for the casting, though – using unknown actors that well is a huge deal. I’m very proud of you. The story itself is a bit slow, but definitely moody enough for me to enjoy. Overall, solid work, but if I’m honest, your other two baits are much better.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 10:38:50 GMT -8
"Dollhouse" by Marci Though I admire your creativity, I found the story to be a bit perplexing. The initial set up of a television advertisement seems a bit unrealistic. I would’ve preferred a more inspired device to get your main protagonist to this strange dollhouse. Visually I could see the sets being creepy and unsettling. But unfortunately the description reads more like a haunted house attraction opposed to an effective setting for your characters. Also, I felt that the characters were lacking in development and context. We are immediately thrown into the situation without getting a sense of who the lead is. Also watch for poor word choice and transitions. Overall, a flawed yet inspired effort.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 10:54:16 GMT -8
"The Bicycle Thieves" by Matthew This bait has a lot of potential and is based on worthy source material. Unfortunately I found a few distracting problems. The sentence structure is a bit awkward. There are too many instances of run-ons and repetitive word choices. With a few more re-edits I believe the reading experience would flow more cohesively. There are also specific scenes that could be cut to produce a more straight forward narrative. Sometimes subtle detail is more effective. Also, I'm not a huge fan of the tagline. It reminds me of a mash between Forest Gump's "Life is a like a box of chocolates" and Finding Nemo's "Just keep swimming". I think a more creative line would've established the profound message within the story.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 11:11:44 GMT -8
"The Fortune Teller" by Marci I think you do an admiral job of establishing the relationships between these women. Plus I respect your decision to continue a series that appeals to your preferences. However, I felt this installment would be more suited for the small screen opposed to a theatrical release. Even in your press section, I kept seeing the word "episode". It reminded me of a cult drama on FX or Sci-Fi. The original, though not my particular favorite, had more of an impact on me as a reader.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 11:39:49 GMT -8
"Ice Boys" by Evan What I appreciate about the story is that it feels authentic to your interests. I got a strong sense of admiration for the sport, it's characters, and the small town in which it's set. However, this is an example of where extensive trimming could have elicited a more effective synopsis. Sometimes less is more. Especially in the case of a story that the press section explains is small in spirit but big at heart. There was so much detail that the core message was lost. A coming of age film like this feels more intimate and character driven. Yet I felt like the setting, characters, and situations all clash into one streaming trail that never gets from point A to B. On the surface it's pure Oscar bait. Your writing is great as usual. But a more simplistic approach would've made the revelations match the heartfelt intentions of the overall story.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 11:54:37 GMT -8
"I'm Not Jessica Chastain" by Marci The concept doesn't work for me. Yes it's amusing. Yes both Chastain and Howard have red hair. But besides that I have never heard anyone confuse the two. Maybe a funnier scenario would've been "I'm Not Zoey Deschanel". She looks like 10 different Hollywood actresses (plus Katy Perry). But even then the concept is still lacking in substance and merit. It feels more like a three minute online parody at best. I was expecting a corky, off beat comedy full of irony or at least a unique message about the appearance of women in film. But instead I was disappointed by a bizarre description of their major public appearances that don't really add up to much of a story.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 12:15:08 GMT -8
"I'm Going Slightly Mad" by Matthew Little and charming are two accurate words to describe this solid gem. Unlike "The Bicycle Thieves", I feel that each of the scenes add substance to the story and pushes them further. The characters are also well defined. Particularly the lead role. Her description is worthy of a nomination alone. The transitions from paragraph to paragraph are a great improvement as well. However, I did catch some incomplete sentences (ex: Penelope is in a state for the next two weeks). Overall I think is a sufficient comedy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 12:27:07 GMT -8
"Skin" by Matthew A very impressive story that grabbed my attention immediately. The synopsis is written with such professionalism. The word choice, character arcs, and overall mood is sophisticated. The transitions between time periods are also an effective dramatic touch. Not to mention, your poster does an adequate job of fulfilling the atmosphere in which this story is illustrated. My favorite bait from you this month.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 12:45:49 GMT -8
"There I Said It" by Kevin A solid courtroom comedy. I appreciate the attempt at creating a completely inventive defense for this Brian Wordsworth character. He is essentially the force in which makes this story so amusing. The other pivotal characters are a bit conventional but are cast sufficiently well. Evan Peters is truly the standout though. His role is the most well defined and worthy of praise. Overall this is a funny bait with an entertaining message about how celebrity, crime, and reality are all intertwined in one way or another.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 13:16:02 GMT -8
"Two Little Girls" by Marci I was let down by the end. The initial set up is intriguing because of the atmosphere and mood. It felt creepy with unexpected turns just waiting to happen. But there is no explanation for the events which occur and why. It's reads like an unfinished idea. Plus I think Ronan and Breslin are miscast.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 13:33:14 GMT -8
"We'll Be the Stars" by Evan A lovely and gentle bait. Despite the strained explanation of the main protagonists' first encounter, I admire how you approach the unlikely kinship with sincerity. The message of friendship is definitely this story's strong point and the synopsis does an adequate job of elaborating that idea. I'm not huge on the Susan character because she seems like such an obvious plot device, but the Jayson Wolfe role is written genuinely. For the most part, this is a respectable and cute endeavor with some great supporting players as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 14:13:16 GMT -8
"Woods Runner" by Evan This bait is brimming with action. Each scene was described with just enough detail to keep my imagination alert with what to expect. There's also a great emphasis of atmosphere displayed in your description of setting and character. It was a brisk but significant read too. Despite the lengthy synopsis. I was never distracted and was fully entertained. Nice work.
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Post by Evan on Jul 27, 2015 20:06:45 GMT -8
I wanted to get a few reviews out to you guys now. The rest will be up tomorrow!
"Two Little Girls" written by Marci Hmmmm I'm on the fence with this one, Marci. While I can see it being visually impressive and very dark and gritty, the story isn't all that original. I understand that it's a short, but it really seems like you could have conceivably fleshed it out into a feature with more defined characters. I really liked your use of Ronan as I love her voice and find it incredibly distinctive, she would be a wonderful choice for this. While it's not really an awards contender for me, you do a great job with atmosphere and feeling here and I applaud that!
"There I Said It" written by Kevin Klawitter I know that this bait is meant to be satirical, but it really left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't even remotely buy into the whole premise as it just seems so impossible that the satire is a bit lost. I could actually see someone like Adam Sandler in the main role because it's that audacious. I think your writing is beautiful as always and Jennifer Lawrence and Evan Peters would both shine, but the story doesn't work for me and the message of this bait really left me feeling empty.
"Skin" written by Matthew Jenner I dunno, Matthew, I dunno. I feel like your baits are always more successful when they are real, deep stories like "Hellfire" or "The Remains Of The Feast" and not these "haha got you!" type of baits that you do sometimes. I really liked this story and thought it was beautifully detailed... until the plot twist. For me, that's just not needed and seriously detracts from your amazing skill as a writer and storyteller. It really felt like a gimmick. Not one of your strongest pieces.
"I Found The Letters" written by Chris P. This bait reminds me a lot of what baits were like back in the old days (short, sweet, editorialized). Oh. how the times have changed. For me, with the newer way we write in the contest, this bait was a little bit too short and not as detailed as i would have liked. However, the story is really great and I could see the film clearly in my head. I think Gugu and Oyelowo are the standouts for me here, they're really perfect for their respective roles. On another note, I understand that we all have topics that interest us most and we are most passionate about (I've done about 15 gay themed baits and over 50 child-centric baits) but it would be really great to see you branch out a little and write a bait that isn't (at least in part) about race or sexuality. I think that would make baits like this coming from you seem a little fresher. Nevertheless, a very good bait.
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Post by My Name is Matthew on Jul 27, 2015 23:14:35 GMT -8
Dollhouse First of all, I am so happy that you have submitted four baits this month. I know how difficult it is for you, and being the only non-English speaker in the contest is tough, but you handled it so perfectly and this month could be your very best first. Now it is impossible to criticize any of your baits this month, as they are all absolutely perfect. Dollhouse is my least favorite from you this month, but I still adore it so much. It is equal part terrifying as it is exciting, and you capture the real terror perfectly. I will tell you that as a young child I was absolutely terrified of dolls and dollhouses. As a bait, this is probably your most well-written ever, and reading this, I would never once guess that English wasn't your first language. Dollhouse is tightly written, and is a great bit of commentary on the idea of reality television and game shows. It is a terrifying, brilliant and very dark bait and one of the reasons I love you as a writer! I Found the LettersIt is really great to have you back, Chris, and I have to say while I was very harsh on you last month with Pieces of the Rainbow, you do have a very interesting talent that you bring to BAO. I Found the Letters is very wrenching for me, because I have a lot of conflicting feelings about it. First and foremost, it is superbly written - your language flows beautifully and your passion shows. Your casting is also very good, as I could see each of these actors in the lead role - I just felt that you didn't give these big names enough to do. I would've liked some more background on Sharif's immigration and Na’eemah's reasons for hating Olisa. My other complaint is that there doesn't seem to be a resolution to the story - it is quite short (but not in a bad way where I think making it longer is better), and I think a short bait like this is fine, but I need to know how the story progresses, which plays an important role in how I feel about a bait. But that's just me being a persnickety English major. On a positive note, I do like historical baits like this, and you're a great writer Chris, you just need to refine a few small problems which contribute to the overall feel of the bait I Am Not Jessica ChastainI read most of the baits last night before I went to sleep, and for some reason, I Am Not Jessica Chastain truly stuck out to me so much, I actually dreamt about it. I could see this bait fully, every moment as if it were a real film. Of course, this bait is very strange because it doesn't have a proper story, and it is quite silly at times - which is why it is an absolute masterpiece. It isn't supposed to be taken seriously, and it isn't meant to be a meaningful story. I say that if people like Kevin Hart and Adam Sandler can make their silly, ridiculous comedies, then surely a film like this, which is actually based in more fact than anything Tyler Perry has ever done, can get a free pass. Because I am an indie lover, this might be my favorite bait from you this month. I have some small problems with the bait, such as Bryce Dallas Howard directing this film, which is an interesting idea, but just seems slightly...uninspired. However, it is an excellent bait. Bravo. Ice BoysI know you have a passion for hockey, Evan, which makes criticizing a bait like this very hard for two reasons - firstly, I know nothing about hockey (it just isn't a thing in my country) and secondly, someone writing about their passions is always bound to have them bringing in personal connections. So I won't criticize it too much, because it actually doesn't warrant that much criticism at all. Its a melancholic bait with some wonderfully sweet moments, and the ending is very poignant. This bait feels a lot like one of those burned-out, calm but heartbreaking young adult films, and its a mood you are brilliant at writing at Evan. Unfortunately, I don't see anything new with this bait that we haven't seen before, but that doesn't warrant criticism as I know how busy you were this month (many of us were), so you relied on doing something safe. Its not a bad thing, I also do it occasionally, and it doesn't mean you're a lazy writer, its just sometimes, inspiration can't strike us with every bait. Its a good bait, but I preferred your others this month. The Fortune TellerI honestly didn't think you could ever top the Dead Simple saga when it comes to series of films, but you do so very effectively with your Witches series, and these could possibly overtake Dead Simple to become your most cherished and brilliantly iconic baits. The problem with many series of films (both in the contest and in real life) is that they start out brilliantly, and then the sequels try and follow the same formula to be as good as the first one, but they hardly ever are. What you do here that is different is you see each of these films as an independent, different production using the same actors in the same roles, but removing some and adding others - it makes this bait seem less like a follow-up to the first bait, but instead makes it seem more real - characters in a bait don't go and put themselves in the cupboard when the film ends, but they also don't necessarily have to follow a single story and events. Their lives can be different and completely separate from before. This is why your baits in this series are so brilliant, because they aren't sequels at all - they're just different chapters of the same world with so many brilliantly diverse and wonderful characters. Malese Jow, Michelle Forbes and Alfre Woodard steal the show for me, and Grant Gustin is a reliable supportive boyfriend. Brilliant work There I Said ItI love this bait Kevin - you are always so reliable in bringing very interesting and diverse stories to our contest with very little problems in them. I think Jason Reitman is a safe choice for director, but your cast is absolutely brilliant, particularly Jennifer Lawrence, who I think we are forgetting has her roots in indie comedies, and is not only a blockbuster actress, but someone who can do something small and wonderful like this. It is a quirky little bait and a wonderfully interesting story, and it is always fantastic when you submit, because you have a knack for some very interesting stories and you're a great writer. Woods RunnerThis felt way too much like Hatchet for me. I know Gary Paulsen wrote both (and he's a great writer, but my goodness he has limited range) yet I find myself a bit worried about the fact that you chose Ben Affleck to direct this. He was well-selected for the Hatchet films, but choosing him made this feel like a ill-fitting cousin of Hatchet, and it was a slight mistake, because now we are kinda forced to compare this to Hatchet, whereas it would've been a much better bait alone on its own merits. However, it is very well-written, your cast is very good and its an interesting story you've adapted. Good job Two Little GirlsI don't know if anyone here knows of a film called Pennies from Heaven? It was a divisive little musical drama that made quite a splash, with some people hating it, some loving it. A film critic wrote that there are two kinds of people who watch this film - people who love it, and people who don't understand it. This fits in right there with Two Little Girls - if you're going in expecting a coherent, straight-forward film, you'll be sorely mistaken and have a bad time. If you are expecting an off-beat, strange little experiment, this is clearly it. While it might not be Best Picture material, it most certainly is the most inspired bait of the month, and something truly very stellar and wonderfully different. I could have easily seen this extended to be a full-length film with some more characters, but as it is, it is a bold and exciting little experiment, and has inspired me to pursue my own abandoned dream of adapting a graphic novel into an animated film for BAO. Well done, Marci! We'll Be the StarsThis is a great bait Evan. I have minimal complaints about it. It isn't your most perfect bait, but it has a lot of heart and soul behind it. I wasn't a big fan of Josh Wiggins and his character, but I adored Rachel Weisz and Samira Wiley. Care Delevingne was also amazing, and hopefully she can get an afterglow nomination after he win in May. This will stand as one of your best baits, mostly because of the heart contained within it, and your hypnotic writing style. Brilliant job!
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