I!'s 100 Posts, 100 Baits: The List 80-71

Michael: Welcome to the 3rd edition of the first ever Bait an Oscar Top 100 baits sponsored by I! Blog. Just in case you haven’t read the past two editions, here is a little recap…

Michael V/O: Previously on I!’s 100 Posts, 100 Baits…

81. Gray Daze
82. The 27th Victim
83. Fresh Heir Vol. II
84. The Wilder Side of Life
85. The Justices
86. Brian Damage
87. Standardized Test
88. Fred & Ethel
89. Glitz
90. Marilyn
91. Terri
92. The Curious Case of Phineas Gage
93. Listening
94. Balton Productions
95. Wicked (July ’06)
96. All Alone
97. A Work of Fiction
98. Green River
99. Watts
100. Tavistock Place

Michael: Nabbing the 80th spot in our countdown is 3rd Connor to hit the list. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Christian Clemenson, Flowers for Algernon told the story of the mentally retarded 32 year old Charly and is by far one of the most embraced of all Connor’s baits…

Daniel: The first line of the awards campaign says it all; this bait is truly stunning. This is a sure fire winner for Best Actor if this were a real film. This is an extremely well done adaptation with inspiring casting all around.

Narrator: Opening to widely acclaimed reviews, the bait was considered to be a fantastic adaptation. Gaining the most buzz in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories it managed to score both those nominations and a Best Picture Nomination at the March Golden Globes. Even though it didn’t win anything at the Globes, Clemenson walked away with the SAG, Igloo, and Oscar.

Zgamer: I don’t think there’s really a good way to match Cliff Robertson’s great performance in Charly, but this film comes very close in topping its predecessor in all fields. Bravo Connor!

Title Card: And 80th place goes to…

Title Card: Connor’s Flowers for Algernon

Michael: Next Up is 79th place. Matt was widely praised for his biopic of Andrea Yates, in the first month of 2007. Going on to win Best Actress at the Oscars, it didn’t have the easiest journey there.

Zgamer: This kind of reminds me of that Mighty Heart film for some reason, but I think what really made Andrea stick out for me was that it convincingly campaigned Sandra Bullock for an Oscar. That gives this bait my vote.

Narrator: Although many authors praised the bait for taking on it’s hard story, it was many loved for Bullock’s and Moore’s performances. Both received Golden Globe nominations, and Oscar nominations, but neither won any except for Best Actress at the Oscars for Bullock. Widely considered one of the best female roles in the contest, it ended the month on a good note receiving 6th place for the month.

Daniel: This has always reminded me a little of "An American Crime" with Catherine Keener. This would be one of those controversial movies but also one that is praised highly. I could see this getting a Best Picture nomination and Best Actress win if it were an actual film.

Title Card: Getting 79th place…

Title Card: Matt’s Dear Andrea

Michael: Coming up kicked off what is considered to be the best comedic trilogy in the contest. Cigarette Burns starred Mary-Louise Parker who played the role of Sarah Newman an unsuccessful movie star who when she doesn’t try to act in her new film, it becomes an instant hit.

Zgamer: I don’t think I truly appreciated this bait until I read Negatives, but now that I look back I realize it was a really good bait. I think this would be a good idea for the Weitz brothers to do for a film.

Narrator: Cigarette Burns kicked off the “Hollywood Sucks” trilogy, all written by Ben Miller, in December 2006. Managing to obtain 2 nominations at the Golden Globes and winning Best Actress for Mary-Louise Parker. Surprisingly, it acquired 6 Oscar nominations and won 2 of them, but Parker didn’t attain a Best Actress nomination.

Daniel: This is an extremely original and funny bait. I personally would have preferred if this were the only bait in the series it is in. Mary-Louise Parker's role is one of my all time favorites.
Title Card: Achieving 78th place…

Title Card: Ben Miller’s Cigarette Burns

Michael: I have to say, this spot personally makes me the happiest. When I wrote Pygmalion, I didn’t think that it would be at all the success that it was. I was nervous about everything in my bait, but it has turned out to be my most successful bait to date.

Zgamer: I absolutely adore this day for two reasons: Michael Caine and Emily Blunt. If there is a better pair for these roles, please show me because I think this would be flawless.

Narrator: Opening to semi-positive reviews, Pygmalion was a moderate hit when it first premiered. Quickly gaining momentum after winning 3 of the 4 acting categories at the festival, a feat accomplished by no other bait, and Emily Blunt had a complete sweep of the precursors, but did not win Best Actress, the first actress to do so. The bait was praised for its groundbreaking Online Awards Campaign and it received it’s one and only Oscar for the campaign.

Daniel: This is a huge marker in the contest's history for the Online Awards Camaign and for that reason should be remembered. This bait's campaign showed how to do it correctly.

Title Card: Accomplishing 77th place…

Title Card: Michael’s Pygmalion

Michael: We segway from one February Best Actress vehicle to yet another, Dinah Was…. Starring Anika Noni Rose in the role of Dinah Washington, is still considered one of the greatest casting choices of 2007.

Daniel: This is a great biopic. I loved the casting of Dinah Washington. She could do wonders with this role. This is the type of project that is not only an excellent vehicle but also has an important point to prove.

Narrator: Opening to mostly positive reviews, the bait drew some raves, and was represented at the Golden Globes scoring 5 nominations, more than any drama that month and at the SAG’s it received 4 nominations, more than any other bait. At the months Oscars, I would be nominated for 9 Oscars, including Best Picture.

Zgamer: I think the best way to summarize this is Dreamgirls just much better. It’s the musical that would really deliver for Broadway quality singing and Oscar quality acting.

Title Card: And 76th Place goes to…

Title Card: Brian from Minneapolis’ Dinah Was…

Michael: Getting right back into it, we have what could be called Marcus Dennis’ crowning achievement. Even though it opened to strong raves, it had very little buzz going for it until the Golden Globes of March. While it only received 1 nomination, it was the 1 nomination everyone would choose if they were only to get 1 nomination…

Zgamer: I loved this bait so much I almost forgot it had some serious grammar issues. John Singelton really needs to get back into the Oscar race and this would be a great film to help him do so.

Narrator: As Michael said, it opened with little buzz, but managed to pull off one of the most surprise wins every at the Golden Globes, taking Best Picture Drama away from the heavily favored La Ventana. It received 5 Oscar nominations (that is including Marcus’ Best Author nomination), but one won only one, Best Tagline.

Daniel: This is an extremely emotional and effective bait. It's also a great ensemble piece. Overall, this bait really had a lot to say and it was executed brilliantly.

Title Card: Our 75th bait of all-time is..

Title Card: Marcus Dennis’ Glass

Michael: Back in May of 2006 when the contest was just getting started a little bait was released starring Jim Carrey called Buster. It was about comedian Buster Keaton, and everyone seemed to agree, Jim Carrey was perfect for the part.

Daniel: This would win Jim Carrey an Oscar. A really good, old fashioned biopic. This is a distinct point in the contest for sure as a precedent of how to do a biopic right. I know I used it for inspiration for some of baits such as "Steamboat Disney" and "I. Bergman".

Narrator: While it didn’t receive any creative awards or even an honorable mention, Buster still managed to receive an unofficial 5 nominations in the May Big 8. It scored 1 award in the Big 8, Best Actor for Carrey’s portrayal of the comedian.

Zgamer: I’ve actually never seen a Buster Keaton comedy, but this bait really made me want to. Jim Carrey is a very good choice to help bring out the best of a veteran comedian.

Title Card: The 74th spot in the countdown goes to…

Title Card: Todd’s Buster

Michael: December 2006 was the first month that baiters would be allowed to only send in one bait for the contest. Some baiters, like myself, were a bit worried, because if this one bait didn’t work out then, it would be a pointless month. However, this didn’t stop Brian from giving us one of the best adaptations of all-time…

Daniel: This is a fantastic adaptation. The casting is great all around and the crew is equally as good. Although this may be forgotten by some, it is still fresh in my mind.

Zgamer: I’m going to read the book very soon and this bait is the main reason why. Though Brian made a few changes, the way he really brings out the best of the story is still in effect. Plus, Ed Harris seems like a very good choice for the lead role.

Narrator: The Road opened to semi-positive reviews, but not the kind of reviews that one would think would garner a Best Picture nomination and the nomination count showed it. It didn’t make the Metacritic Top 10 and the only other nomination the bait received at the Oscars than Best Picture, was Best Actor. Still, the bait when down in history as one of the best, it just one of the biggest puzzlements in contest history.

Title Card: 73rd place goes to…

Title Card: Brian (AZ)’s The Road

Michael: When Zgamer and Ryan announced that they would be writing a musical comedy about the what going to rehab has become in our society, everyone because immediately excited. Featuring the team behind Avenue Q writing the music and lyrics and a widely embraced cast, you could tell that it would go down as a revolutionary bait.

Zgamer: I didn’t see the potential in Rehab at first until I actually thought about the story a good time. I’m just glad that Ryan and I wrote it during the height of the celebrity drug stories craze.

Narrator: Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical opened to rave reviews and quickly became the bait that everyone was talking about. It acquired 4 Golden Globe nominations, 1 SAG nomination, and 5 Oscar nominations, going on to win 1 for Best Casting Choice. The bait has been remembered and will always be remembered as one of the greatest team baits ever.

Daniel: One of the funniest baits ever in the contest. The risky choice of Lindsay Lohan paid off. This was truly a hilarious bait that also had a very good message about the stars of today.

Title Card: Grabbing 72nd place is…

Title Card: Zgamer’s and Ryan’s Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical

Michael: Wrapping up this edition of I!’s 100 Posts, 100 Baits we have another widely praised comedy, except this one was released in January of 2007, and is probably the best second installment of a trilogy in the contest.

Daniel: I loved the casting of Maggie Smith. This would make a very interesting film.

Narrator: Negatives did not open to negative reviews, but the most across the board positive reviews. It was by far the most embraced comedy so it was a surprise to the entire community when Balton Productions ran away with the Best Picture Musical/Comedy award at the Golden Globes. It went 0-5 at the Globes, but still had the buzz to gain a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars along with 6 other nominations, and it would go on to win 2, Funniest bait and Best Original Screenplay.

Zgamer: This was the bait that really made the series standout for me. I think what really helped was the fact it felt original. The story wasn’t overused like the other two, the cast felt fresh and it just felt like such a distinct bait. This would be yet another good story for the Weitz Brothers.

Title Card: Being rewarded with the 71st slot...

Title Card: Ben Miller's Negatives

Michael: Well that ends this edition of the countdown, here is a recap for the losers who didn’t read the ceremony…

71. Negatives
72. Rehab!: A Contemporary Musical
73. The Road
74. Buster
75. Glass
76. Dinah Was…
77. Pygmalion
78. Cigarette Burns
79. Dear Andrea
80. Flowers for Algernon

Michael: Thanks and join us next time!