The whole Oscar season is like something from a horror film or “Dr. Strangelove.”
Now, half of the movies don’t have press meet and greets because the studios are afraid of someone asking a celebrity if they sexually harassed anyone. Me, I can’t imagine exactly how that conversation would go: “Did you like making this film? Did you force yourself on anyone during the shoot? Was there potted plant involved?”
The second worst thing: embargoes. These are usually for bad movies so the reviews won’t get out and into the public consciousness early enough to kill the box office. Like the public has no idea a movie is DOA in advance. But okay. Some films this season blocked reviews being published until after the movie opened. It didn’t help,one way or another.
For Steven Spielberg’s “The Post,” which we saw this past Sunday, first there was just an infinity embargo. “Never mention this to anyone,” someone said. Now we’ve all received an email with instructions.
REVIEW & SOCIAL SENTIMENT EMBARGO:
Social sentiment is permitted beginning Monday, November 27th at 9:00PM PT / 12:00AM ET.
ALL formal reviews must be held until Wednesday, December 6th at 6:00AM PT / 9:00AM ET.
Okay, The Post publicists have invented a new term: Social Sentiment. I’ll be able to tell you only on Monday via Social Media whether “The Post” is any good. Social Sentiment is already probably registered as a scent for Glade Air Fresheners, also a Vanity Fair napkin, and a box of chocolates for the holdays. (See Stop & Shop.)
Then we have to wait 10 days to review it. By then the New York Film Critics, Hollywood Foreign Press, and other groups will have announced their nominations. So the reviews will be moot because all those groups will have nominated the movie, the director and its stars. So why review it at all? I don’t know.
“The Post” is directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. What do you think? Good? Bad? What could it be? Also, who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb?
