The Year In Baits

As this year comes to a close, and everyone prepares to vote for the best of the year, I want to remind you of some of my baits that might just strike your fancy...

AFTER EARTH
The Sci-Fi epic that may have just been a little too epic for some people. My favorites part about these baits was the energy crisis parallel and, of course, Johnny Depp as both Prince Eridos and King Salcazar. I truly do think that he deserved some Best actor recognition and would love to see him get nominated in the end of the year awards.

End Of The Year Possibilities...
Best Actor - Johnny Depp
Most Original Bait


DRAGONTOWN
My adventure into Japanese animation was one of the biggest shocks of my year in baiting. Not only was it praised almost universally, but it ended up winning the award for Best Original Screenplay. For an animated, foreign language bait about demons and the Yakuza, I say that was a pretty damn good showing.

End Of The Year Possibilities...
Most Original Bait


OIL
Ah, another adventure. This was my attempt at baiting "Dallas", the classic prime time soap opera that is, currently, being turned into a comedy movie (BAD IDEA!). The biggest change I made was changing the names of the characters. I made it a tad bit darker and added Benico Del Toro's character. I didn't expect very much from it and then it really shocked me. #2 of the month.

End Of The Year Possibilities...
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor - Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress - Vanessa Redgrave


INSIDE YOU OUT
Oh, the confusion of politics. So many things happening at once and very little of it making any sense. Thats what this bait was really about. Hidden under the facade of a bush-bashing thriller, Inside You Out tried to convey how so much is warped and hidden from us by the media and the politicians. There was much discussion about the title of this bait and i'm finally going to explain it. The word "Inside" means to be in the know about what really goes on in the White House. While "You Out" means that we aren't allowed to know.

End Of The Year Possibilities...
Best Picture
Most Original Bait
Best Actor - Al Pacino
Best Original Screenplay


DEAR, MR. PRESIDENT
Another Oliver Stone bait, but this one is far conventional than "Inside You Out". This being the story of a woman horribly scorned by the Iraq War. A bait I myself deemed "sickeningly baity", this turned in a 6th spot in the awards, as well as won be my second award for Best Actress, this time for Susan Sarandon.

End Of The Year Possibilities...
Best Actress - Susan Sarandon
Shameless Oscar Vehicle
Best Director - Oliver Stone


THE VAMPIRE LESTAT
A bait that took a lot of people by surprise. What it lacked in baity qualities, it apparently made up for in so many other ways. Snubbed by all the precursor awards, "The Vampire Lestat" went on to be nominated for SEVEN oscars, including Best Picture. It helped, I think, open up the gates for unbaity stories to make it into the top awards.

End Of The Year Possibilities...
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor - Peter O'Toole
Best Casting Choice - Jonathan Rhys Myers as Lestat
Best Plot


THE DARK TOWER
Maybe the longest bait ever written? "The Dark Tower" is based on a Stephen King story that reached over 4000 pages. I have been telling it over four baits, the fourth to come in the new year. All three of the current installments have been praised by most authors, and yet have been consistently snubbed at ALL the awards. This may be because of two reasons. ONE: They are EXTREMELY unbaity. TWO: Perhaps the voters are waiting for the fourth, and final, part in order to determine if the story as a whole is worthy of oscar gold? Probably not but you can't blame me for wishful thinking lol.


So there you have it!