Will District 9 Win at the Oscars?
With the Oscars approaching and the documentary style science fiction film District 9, directed by relative newbie Neill Blomkamp but endorsed by the iconic Peter Jackson, nominated in four categories but not slated to win any, hopes for a sequel may face delays due to a lack of industry enthusiasm.
At the end of District 9, it is obvious that a sequel is possible due to the continuation of the alien, or “prawn”, inhabitation on earth. The plot prospects are endless; will Christopher Johnson return, to stage a rescue of his people or to declare war on humankind? Will the aliens ever integrate? Is Wikus Van de Merwe alive in Joburg? These are all questions left unanswered, and Blomkamp himself has expressed a desire to fill in the gaps.
In August 2009, two weeks before District 9’s cinematic release, Blomkamp hinted that if the first film was successful enough then a sequel may be in order. He has also posed the idea of the next film in the franchise being a prequel, as he has explained “I’m not so interested in aliens coming back and blowing things up”. However, with so much emphasis placed on District 9’s success, the question of Oscar performance raises possible doubt. Although it enjoyed relatively good box office takings, standing out as a film that generated strong business despite its little-known casting, to be nominated for 4 Academy Awards and probably miss out on them all seems somewhat disheartening.
The main reason for District 9’s poor Oscar prospects is, of course, James Cameron’s Avatar. District 9 utilised incredible special effects and CGI technology and therefore earned itself nominations for Best Film Editing and Best Visual Effects, but The Hurt Locker and Avatar beat its odds of 69/5 from BetFair for Editing and Avatar is sure to take the prize for visual effects with odds of 1/80 from Bet365 compared to District 9’s 16/1. Also nominated for Best Film, District 9 is almost sure to lose out to one of the big two, trailing also behind Inglorious Basterds, Up in the Air, Up and Precious with odds of 125/1. Finally in the category of Best Adapted Screenplay Bet365 offers odds of 14/1, trailing behind the favourite to win, Up in the Air, which took the BAFTA, at 2/7.
All odds correct at time of writing and are subject to change
Place your bet now with Betfair
