This is my first official year as a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association which means I will be voting for this year’s Critics Choice Movie Awards. And it also means that I will be getting screeners – a lot of screeners. In fact, a few have already arrived, including Sony Pictures Classics’ documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”, which I haven’t been able to see on the big screen. I’ll now be watching it on my smaller screen.
Last year, I only watched one of the big award-season releases as a screener. It was “The Artist”, which, of course, was nominated for and won the Best Picture Oscar. It was certainly a different experience watching a major film in the comforts of my own home. Luckily the phone didn’t ring and nobody came to the door while the film was playing. And, since it’s a great movie (my favorite of 2011) I wasn’t tempted to grab the remote and turn it off (a temptation I may have to fight when screening bad movies).
I’m really looking forward to getting more screeners, especially of the major movies that will only be out in limited release (or not at all) before I have to fill-out my nomination ballot in early December. I’ve been watching the Critics Choice Movie Awards for years and haven’t always agreed with the winners so it will be fun to add my opinion as to who should be honored. And if I happen to vote for an actor or film that ends-up tied with another, I can proudly say: “If it weren’t for me there wouldn’t have been a tie and you wouldn’t be holding that statue.”
As for watching all these important films at home – well, my bed is a lot more comfortable than any theater seat I’ve ever sat in and this may be the perfect reason to get a bigger TV.