FilmJerk Favorites

A group of unique directors and the essential works that you've got to see.

||| Henry Koster |||
Henry Koster

Although his name is not a household one, Koster is responsible for some of the most beloved and endearing films of the late studio system era.

This is a delightful comedy starring Cary Grant as a suave angel helping distraught bishop David Niven with a new cathedral and his wife's (Loretta Young) affections. This is a deftly handled comedy set within the religious world that never preaches, nor disrespects it’s subject matter - and Cary Grant ice skates!

Another comedy slash drama with religious overtones, that doesn’t stoop to pandering an opinion to its audience. Koster wisely allows this simple, but potently charming tale of two European nuns to unfold before our eyes as they come to New England and, guided by their faith and relentless determination, get a children's hospital built.

James Stewart stars as a good-hearted drunk whose constant companion is a six-foot, invisible rabbit named Harvey. In lesser, or heavier hands, this Broadway success may have suffered, but Koster allows Stewarts natural charm and audience appeal to be the fuel that runs this whacky engine.

Recommended by CarrieSpecht

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Oscar Handicap 2008: Animated Features

By EdwardHavens

February 18th, 2008

FilmJerk.com begins its annual Oscar Handicap with the newest category to the Academy Awards, Best Animated Feature

Oscar Handicap 2008: Animated Features

(For explanations as to how our scoring system works, make sure to read our first article in the series, Best Picture of the Year, linked at the bottom of this article.)

With only six years of awards being handed out, there is not a great amount of statistical data to break down, and what data there is appears to be spread out pretty evenly.


The Breakdowns
1) Winners of the Annie Awards (the International Animated Film Society’s highest honor) have gone on to win the Oscar 5 of 6 times (83.33%) since the Best Animated Feature category was introduced at the Academy Awards in 2001. Advantage: Ratatouille
2) The nominee with at least two major pre-award wins have won 4 of the 6 awards (66.67%). Advantage: Persepolis, Ratatouille
3) Computer animated films have won 4 of the 6 awards (66.67%). Advantage: All nominees
4) Films released before October 1st have won 3 of 6 (50%). “Advantage”: Ratatouille, Surf’s Up
5) The film with the highest gross has won 3 of 6 (50%). “Advantage”: Rataouille

By The Numbers
If you were reading this section last year, you would have seen that every Annie Award winner had gone on to win the Oscar. Someone forgot to tell AMPAS voters that, who proceeded to vote for Happy Feet instead of Annie winner Cars. This year, it appears Brad Bird will win his second Academy Award, but do not count Persepolis out just yet. The multi-languaged, non-CG picture has an ace up its sleeve in Kathleen Kennedy, the one-time Spielberg protégée heavily respected around town and who has herself been nominated five times for Best Picture.
Persepolis: -1, +2, +3, -4, -5 (15 of 30, 50%)
Ratatouille: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5 (19 of 30, 63.33%)
Surf’s Up: -1, -2, +3, +4, -5 (13 of 30, 43.33%)

Personal prediction for Best Animated Feature: Persepolis


All articles in this series:
Best Picture of the Year
Best Director
Best Actor and Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress
Best Cinematography
Best Score, Best Editing and Best Art Direction
Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Animated Feature