I's 100 Post, 100 Baits #20-11

Narrator: It’s almost here. We have counted 80 different baits on out list and we are finally on the second to last section of the ceremony. So get ready, because here’s I’s Top 100 #20-11. And here’s your host for tonight, Zgamer!

(Zgamer walks to center of stage)

Zgamer: Hello and welcome to this latest segment for I’s Top 100 Baits of All Time. Before I begin my little intro, I will make a little announcement. Since we are approaching the last spots on our list, we have decided to make the last segment big event. To start it off, we have allowed fellow author Harry to be a guest commentator for this segment. When this is over, we will allow any person who has won Bait of the Month to be a guest commentator on the segment. We’ve had several volunteers and we are excited. Now everyone else who hasn’t volunteered needs to do so. When you do, sign you name and e-mail on the thread “Attention BOTM winners” and we will send you a list of the Top 10 baits of all time (which will not be in their ranking) and have you send back your comments on them. Your comments must be personalized. We don’t want a mini-summary; we want your personal (and positive) opinion on the bait’s success and when you first read it. Ok I’m done.

(Starts walking)

Zgamer: I am honored to be hosting this for the last time before Michael does the final segment. I’m also excited because we now unveil some of the most acclaimed baits of all time onto our list.

(Walks to Hall of Baiting)

Zgamer: I’m very sure this is the last time we will go into the Hall of Baiting for now, since we will probably have a special spot for the top ten. But let’s start this celebration on a high note. Our first bait on this list. Written back in April of 2007, this little bait helped Pat keep his acclaim afloat before the release of Border Man a few months later. With a quirky idea and well picked cast and crew, this was a hidden gem and a surprise hit that month. So let us enter Scarttenow Junction.

Michael: I really enjoyed this bait. It really felt like a movie that would be released and had a Little Miss Sunshine feel to it, which I loved.

Narrator: Scarttenow Junction opened to great reviews, especially considering the fact many thought it was a weak month. Most of the praise went to the film’s quirky feel and top notch cast, as well as it’s welcome familiarity to previous Anderson hits like The Royal Tennebaums.

Harry It was a very touching road movie. I thought it was funny and it’s certainly one of the best baits of April.

Narrator: Scarttenow enjoyed a very good precursor run, with Festival wins for its screenplay and future best picture c/m to complement its three GG wins for picture, actor and screenplay. Scarttenow missed out on winning best picture, but it did make an impact for winning funniest bait and a #4 place in the month. This is one of Pat’s biggest hits.

Daniel: In my top 5 of all time, "Scartennow Junction" is one of the best comedies, and most original, in Bait an Oscar history. This is the ultimate Wes Anderson project and Pat does a brilliant job of illustrating that in his bait. One of the best baits ever.

Title Card: The #20 bait is…

SCARTTENOW JUNCTION

Zgamer: This next bait was the one that helped start off 2007’s successful run. Written by Al in January of 2007, this is considered one of the last great ensemble driven baits of the contest. With a baity subject and an ideal cast and crew, this gave people hope that 2007 could beat 2006’s run. Let us now walk into the Sandstorm.

Harry: Sandstorm manages to omnisciently look at the War of Iraq with unique real stories. This is one of the most unique ensembles dramas in the contest so far. The press section is extremely well-written and describes the tone of the film very well.

Narrator: After a bit of hype, Sandstorm opened to the best reviews of January. While there were other great baits in the month, most readers were drawn into Sandstorm thanks to its subject, well picked cast and quality writing.

Daniel: It's one of the all time great ensemble pieces. All of the characters are original and all worthy of Oscar nominations. This would not only be a large Oscar contender if it were released but also a large Box Office success. It's a fantastic achievement.

Narrator: Sandstorm’s precursor run was a triumph, earning GG wins for best picture, director and a win for supporting actor Cillian Murphy. The Oscars were just as good to the bait, as it not only walked away with the coveted Best Picture and Best Director prize (a rare feat for any bait), but it also helped Al to a best author win. It will go down in history as one of the best ensemble baits of all time and a pinnacle for War in Iraq stories.

Michael: I have to say, when I first read it I was a bit uneasy about it, but after re-reading it, I fell in love with it. Soderburgh and Murphy are perfect choices.

Title Card: The #19 bait is…

SANDSTORM

Zgamer: Take a deep breath and let’s continue on with the next bait on our list. Now, this bait has been considered controversial for its win for BOTM back in May of 2007. In a competitive race against heavy hitters like Dominion and Rush, some felt it shouldn’t have beat Tony for his first win. However, I’m sure most everyone can agree that this was a very well written and baity character piece. Along with its unique idea and quality writing, it also sported one of the most unique and balanced casts I’ve seen. This is Rivalry at 6 P.M.

Harry: “This was Patrick D’s breakthrough bait and an unexpected bait of the month winner. It’s one of the best of May”

Narrator: Rivalry at 6 P.M, opened to mostly favorable reviews back in May. Though it did have strong competition from Dominion supporters, it also had a lot of people backing it up, most notably BOTM winners. Most people praised its strong cast and crew.

Michael: My favorite bait in May. I love everything about it and I think it will go down in history as one of the greatest baits.

Narrator: Rivalry was one of the first baits to ever have a huge boost in buzz thanks to the newly organized Festival, earning many of its top prizes. It also won supporting star Ethan Hawke awards at the SAG and GG and won awards for Winstone in the GG and the ensemble for SAG. In the end, it’s biggest win was at the Oscars, as it won BOTM, best plot and best original screenplay. A great breakthrough for Patrick.

Daniel: The casting in this bait is near flawless. The bait is quite suspenseful. It's a great bait.

Title Card: The #18 bait is…

RIVALRY AT 6 P.M.

Zgamer: Next up is one of the veteran baits by veteran authors. Written back in September of 2006, this was one of the first successful team baits, written by Brett and Dpac. With a compelling story and foreboding atmosphere, this is one of those classic baits that can live past any flaws of age. We now walk down Cielo Drive.

Daniel: This is one of the best ensembles ever in a bait. I remember when this came out I admired it for that same reason. It's a great bait and the casting is pitch perfect.

Narrator: Cielo Drive opened to some of the best reviews of the month. However, the bait had a lot of competition from films like The Breadwinner and Ironic Nonfiction. It rose above them in most fields though, as it was consistently praised for its story and beloved cast.

Harry: “The atmosphere is the best trick of this bait. You never expect what will happen next. This is one of my favorites, if not my favorite team bait of all time. The press section is pure genius and the director choice is simply perfect.”

Narrator: Cielo Drive had a modest precursor run, tying Little Miss Murder for the SAG Ensemble award. Unfortunately, this didn’t improve its Oscar chances. It only walked away with a best crew win, though it did also place #3 for the month. However, the bait lived on through word of mouth and popularity. A great example of both atmospheric writing and team bait success.

Michael: The opening line of the synopsis for me, puts me in the mood for this classic team bait. Simply put, it's really great.

Title Card: The #17 bait is…

CIELO DRIVE

Zgamer: Foreign film. Where would the Oscars be without them? Well, only a bit less popular than it is now, given they don’t award many. However, one foreign film caught the eyes of many when it was released in March of 2007. Written by Brett, this was his comeback bait after many months of hiatus. With a great cast and crew, a great plot and a compelling story, this was an ideal foreign film vehicle. Now repeat after me: the window=”La Ventana”.

Harry: With one of the greatest and most powerful stories of all time, La Ventana excellently explored psychological and philosophical content in a very unique way. The atmosphere introduction in the synopsis is one of the most inspiring factors in the contest today. I’m enraged because this bait should be a lot higher in the list.

Narrator: La Ventana opened to a plethora of raves when it released. In a month where many veterans were flaunting their stuff, Brett was able to garner good word of mouth with his unconventional comeback. People consistently raved over its great lead actors and well written story.

Daniel: I really like "La Ventana" for a number of reasons. I think that a "Rear Window" update in a different country is a very bold idea that has to be nailed perfectly in order for it to work...and it is nailed perfectly. The casting and the crew are right on in this bait making it one of the best baits ever written.

Narrator: Surprisingly, La Ventana had no real precursor support on its way to success, with its nominations beaten by more popular choices like Wicked and Imagine. However, it came out strong at the Oscars, winning BOTM and the coveted best plot/synopsis. One of the greatest foreign films ever made for the site.

Michael: The best foreign bait ever. The story is well crafted and I can see myself enjoying it a ton. Pure Oscar Bait.

Title Card: The #16 bait is…

LA VENTANA

Zgamer: Age usually kills many of the great baits of old. Whether its because of changed views on casting or writing style, some baits just can’t survive by our revised standards. This one is a great exception. Written by Brian of Arizona back in October of 2006, this bait remains one of the most original stories ever done and one of, if not the, best baits Brian has written. This is iLife.

Michael: One of the best ensemble baits ever. The casting is great, the story is great, everything about it is fantastic. One of my favorites of the month.

Narrator: What more can be said. iLife opened to stellar reviews across the board and was the pinnacle of Brian’s biggest run of successes. Most everyone loved its quirky and original story, along with its inspired casting and director choice.

Harry: While the execution needed to be more concise, this is another extremely original idea. Brian wanted to make a parody of technology and he ended up writing one of the most original baits of all time next to “Bootleg”, “Quiet Room” and “Mail Order-Bliss”.

Narrator: iLife started a little weak at the precursors, only snagging a screenplay win at the GG’s. However, it got a lot more love at the Oscars. Along with a #2 rank for the month, iLife won awards for most original bait and best original screenplay, a rare feat for many films. Still one of the most original stories on the site after a year since its release.

Daniel: "iLife" is one of the most original, best casted, best written, and one of the funniest baits ever to be written. With a brilliant director choice of Terry Gilliam, Brian (AZ) creates the perfect atmosphere. The bait is a classic and rightfully so.

Title Card: The #15 bait is…

iLIFE

Zgamer: Many had doubts that the contest could keep itself afloat after so many successful hits in the early months of 2007. However, when April rolled around, a little bait from Maia began a rise in power. With an original and very baity concept, an ideal cast and crew and likable characters, this emerged as 2007’s semi-equivalent to iLife. This is Bootleg.

Harry: “While I’m not a fan of the execution, I simply don’t understand where Maia got that idea. This is one of the most original, unique and creative ideas I have seen in the contest so far. The characters are also well-developed and unique. Drea de Matteo as a journalist is one of the best supporting roles in the contest too”

Narrator: Bootleg opened to good reviews when it released in April. While it was sometimes overshadowed by other baits like River City Blue, The Vampire Lestat and Faded Red, Bootleg garnered a huge fan base thanks to Maia’s promotional posters, good word of mouth and the bait’s great writing and cast.

Daniel: "Bootleg" is my second favorite bait of all time, second only to "The World's Longest Suicide". The bait has fantastic mix of comedy and drama and that mix works unbelievably well. The characters are fantastic and the casting for these characters is just as great. This is Maia's best bait to date and the best of 2007 so far.

Narrator: Bootleg struggled in its precursor run due to genre confusion, incorrectly being placed as a drama in the GG’s and barely winning an ensemble prize at the SAG’s. Then the Oscars came and changed its luck. Along with the BOTM prize, Bootleg also walked away with wins for most original bait, best cast and best original screenplay. One of Maia’s best just for being so true on its subject matter.

Michael: When I first read this bait I was worried that people wouldn't warm up to it, but I still loved it. However, everyone adored it and may I say Aaron Eckhart is perfectly choosen and my favorite Actor candidate of the month.

Title Card: The #14 bait is…

BOOTLEG

Zgamer: Do you love stories so complex and intriguing that you’ll be scratching your head as well as applauding its greatness? Well this next bait is mostly like that. Written back in April of 2007, Ross scored big with this compelling, well casted and well written thriller. We now look into the streets of River City Blue.

Michael: Gaghan is a great choice as well as Clooney. The story is very well crafted and it's complete Oscar bait.

Narrator: River City Blue opened to great reviews upon its release. Most everyone enjoyed its plot and stellar cast highlighted by star George Clooney.

Daniel: One of the best baits ever written. When it was released, I liked it but I've reread it several times since then and it has elevated, to me, as one of the best ever written. The casting is fantastic and the director choice is inspired. It is also written extremely well which is one of the bait's strengths.

Narrator: River City Blue enjoyed a good precursor run, winning best picture at the GG’s and also earning supporting star Forrest Whitaker a GG and SAG win. Oscar time was just as fortunate for the bait. Placing #2 for the month, River City Blue also earned awards for director Stephen Gaghan and another win for Whitaker, which marked probably the only time all four Oscar winning actors pulled a trifecta (Geoffrey Rush, Patti LuPone and Rachael Weitz all won the Oscar, GG and SAG for their baits). Ross’s best bait to date.

Harry: The tension of the story and the atmosphere are its unique factors. I also adored the director choice and the casting and crew choices. This is one of the smartest baits of the contest.

Title Card: The #13 bait is…

RIVER CITY BLUE

Zgamer: Alex S. has been on the site for a while now. However, he wasn’t recognized as much until this bait came out in July of 2007. With its baity story and strong supporting cast, Alex was able to live past the fact he had no press section in the bait. This is The Banality of Evil.

Daniel: Gary Oldman's character in this bait is one of the all time Best Supporting Actors. I admire this bait for the dynamite story and also how it is written.

Narrator: The Banality of Evil opened to good reviews considering it was in one of the most competitive months of all time. Though some bickered over its lack of press section, most praised its unique idea and great supporting cast, particularly Gary Oldman.

Harry: This is one of the most complex human studies that I have ever read. The premise is also extremely baity and the press section is groundbreaking. Alex S. is definitely one of the biggest rises in the contest and this was his breakthrough bait and one of my favorites of all time as well.

Narrator: Banality’s precursor run was not so hot, only winning an SAG for supporting actor Gary Oldman. However, the Oscars were much friendlier to the film. Along with a surprise #2 rank for the month, Banality won for its online campaign, adapted screenplay and another award for Oldman. It will go down as the bait that skyrocketed Alex S.’s career and for just being so darn baity.

Michael: This is definately one of my favorite baits of 2007. Hayden was a risky choice, but it totally worked for me and I fell in LOVE with this bait.

Title Card: The #12 bait is…

THE BANALITY OF EVIL

Zgamer: We are down to the last bait of this section. Be ready, because our next section will reveal the Top 10 baits of all time as voted by the public. So now we unveil our #11 bait of all time. Written by Daniel back in October of 2006, Daniel reached the pinnacle of his biopic stride with one of the most unique and best written biopics of all time. With a compelling topic, spot on director choice and strong lead, Daniel pumped out yet another Oscar hit. You saw it coming two lines ago, because it’s that Salvador Dali biopic we all love: Dali.

Michael: Can I say, best director choice of 2006. Ugg, I'm so jealous. Definatley one of my favorite biopics ever.

Narrator: Dali opened to raves when it released. Everyone praised its inspired director choice along with its great cast and baity subject matter.

Harry: Despite some typos, I really liked the way Daniel mixed the life of one of the best painters of all time with a surrealist style. The descriptions of Tim Burton’s directing are unique and I loved the surrealism of the bait. This is one of the first best biopics in the site.

Narrator: Dali’s precursor run was a little weak due to the fact all the attention was focused on director Tim Burton, who won the GG. Come Oscar time, it was kind of the same story. Along with the expected director win, Dali also placed #5 for the month. However, it will go down in history for having one of the best director picks for a bait ever.

Daniel: "Dali" was a lot of fun for me to make. I had wanted to tackle Salvador Dali for a while so I put a lot of work into this. I think Tim Burton is the only director who could pull this off and I've very proud of this bait for the director, casting, and also the dream sequences that I mentioned.

Title Card: The #11 bait is…

DALI

Zgamer: That’s our show for tonight. Remember, if you want to be a part of the commenting for the next section, post it on the “Attention BOTM Winners” thread. This is also my last time hosting the ceremony, so I wish Michael the best of luck when writing the last section. Congrats to everyone so far and I look forward to seeing everyone at the next section.

Recap Time

#20 Scarttenow Junction
#19 Sandstorm
#18 Rivalry At 6 P.M.
#17 Cielo Drive
#16 La Ventana
#15 iLife
#14 Bootleg
#13 River City Blue
#12 The Banality of Evil
#11 Dali