Bill Maher's "Religulous" Out Of Oscar Contention

Bill Maher's documentary exploring religion, "Religulous," is out of Oscar contention after being left out of the final 15 list released by the Academy in the Best Documentary category.

Other notable snubs: "Dear Zachary," "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" and "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired."

Instead, the final 15 are:

"At the Death House Door"
"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"
"Blessed Is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh"
"Encounters at the End of the World"
"Fuel"
"The Garden"
"Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Parts"
"I.O.U.S.A."
"In a Dream"
"Made in America"
"Man on Wire"
"Pray the Devil Back to Hell"
"Standard Operating Procedure"
"They Killed Sister Dorothy"
"Trouble the Water"

The film was directed by Larry Charles and has made almost $13 million on a budget of just $2.5 million since its October 1 release.

Comments

[TrishR]

When I'm choosing a movie to watch, I don't research whether it's won any Oscars. There are great movies that were never nominated, and winners that are yawners. Some films with 10 or more nominations that do nothing for me: Mary Poppins, Dances with Wolves, Terms of Endearment, The Exorcist, Tooties, Bugsy. Some nominated pictures are lame hogwash - Mrs Miniver springs to mind. Jaws got 4 nominations - so we know Oscar nominations haven't got anything to do with brilliance.

What makes Religulous an enduring film? Bill Maher gave a microphone and access to a national/worldwide audience to those whose views are different from his own so we could see for ourselves how vapid, ill-educated, ignorant and vain are the people who claim to follow a man who repudiated wealth & power & said, "Give up everything you own & follow me."

[provgrays]

The Academy knows what side it's ticket receipts are buttered on.

[PaxMundis]

Yes, because it snubbed Religulous for all those high-grossing documentaries. (note: that was sarcasm)

I've heard people 1) argue that it wasn't nominated because it was too edgy and all the Academy cares about is money and 2) gripe that they haven't seen any of the other movies, some of which have been barely released. Can't have it both ways.

[honeydiva]

As if.

[sparkey]

Well, good, now that Religulous is out of Oscar contention, maybe now I can illegally download it. I couldn't see paying ten dollars plus food and drinks to see it at a theater

[Mabo]

Good.

[americanzutroy]

Academy is no doubt looking to control the image this category will represent at the ceremony. But you must be a young babe to think that the Oscars are a real representation of quality and esteem. Sure there are those that squeeze through the cracks (I'm looking at you Casablanca!) but quite often the politics of the system and quality don't meet at the same point. Crash, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind are three movies that will no doubt fade away as time passes. Regardless, Maher's film would not win out...not to diminish its importance, but there are much more important and revelatory docs out there that would no doubt overshadow the film in the end. We can probably bet even money that "Man On Wire" will win unless "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" gets more steam behind it. My choice would be "Encounters at the End of the World," which was like a meditative exploration of mankind's ambitions, dreams and the symbiosis that many humans find themselves running towards as they become frustrated with the human social experience. My guess is that Bill Maher got lumped into the Michael Moore category of, "Yeah if you can call that a documentary," which is very unfair because Religulous has balls, and manages to both pierce the mind's understanding of the world and remain down right funny. I guess Bill will have to settle for the bags of money the film will no doubt make when the DVD drops.

[HFR]

When is religulous going to be released in Australia, we have these religious nutters infesting far right political parties here in Australia as well, but they have lost the last 22 elections, just like your republican party has just started to lose?

[LeiftheLucky]

That's too bad. It limits overseas distribution and the good destruction that might have otherwise wraught, an it damages irreparably the smart ass industry parading as intelligensia.

http://allanerickson.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/ten-commandments-vs-humanist-precepts/

[MountPanic]

It's out of contention because it was never really a contender.

Much as Maher was never really open to the possibility of having his perspective changed.

[Hirnlego]

Bah, you're only happy if he believes in something supernatural too.. why change perspective to something so silly?

[lordball]

Don't feel bad for Maher, afterall Passion of the Christ didn't get jack.

[LeiftheLucky]

Other than huge box office, international distribution, and thousands upon thousands of converts. (...but not jack....)

[lordball]

I meant Oscar nomination.

[3worldusa]

BESIDES MAHERS, I HAVENT HEARD OF ANY OF THE OTHERS. HOLLYWOOD SUCKS

[MountPanic]

So that means Hollywood sucks? Religulous is the most "Hollywood" of the bunch.

Maybe YOU suck for failing to support independent cinema.

Not a statement, just something to consider.

[MissElaineous]

I liked the content, but it was very uneven and got, um, preachy at the end.

[ihavenobias]

Maher's movie was awesome for the first 50-60% or so. Then it really lost a lot of stream which was disappointing.

It could've been a great film and instead end up being just "ok". Still, I highly recommend that everyone watch the first half or so.

PS---The scenes with the drug guy were completely unnecessary and pointless. They only served to discredit Maher in very minds of the people who needed to see the move most.

[MissDialectic]

What a shame!! This film should be required viewing for ALL of humanity.

[LeiftheLucky]

Spoke like a true Leftist Tyrant, but I repeat myself.

[Pupadup4oBama]

No, spoken like someone who is sick and tired of the so-called religious right implementing their ideals and perversions on everyone else.

Your comment was spoken like a true right wing hypocrite.

[Hirnlego]

What about the tyranny of religion? For centuries indoctrinating people and parents teaching their children something that they themselves could not possibly know.

[Eric8869]

Trouble the Water is a great film. Standard Operating Procedure was fascinating.