A Hollywood adaptation of Maiden will be greenlit in 3,2,1…
Or, would it be a streaming miniseries (sorry, do all the cool kids say “limited series”) nowadays?
In any case, the documentary poses a new wrinkle in my ever-expanding quest to nail down the differences between Tearjerkers and Snifflers; I’ve never considered the tears-of-joy side of this constructed binary! The established formula of sports movie (of which Maiden is my 2019 favorite) — triumphant perseverance in the face of insurmountable hurdles to overcome! — almost can’t help but trigger those waterworks. Whether these emotions are sincerely-earned or artificially-manipulated subjectively separates the snifflers from the tearjerkers.
To me, Maiden falls on the former, fortunate end of the spectrum.
Regardless: the “remake” could be positioned as an Oscar-Baity, Chariots of Fire-esque Best Picture contender.
Speaking of the Academy Awards, this version will vie to be shortlisted for Best Documentary. Its competition, so far (note: the following are predictions, NOT personal preferences):
The safest bet: Apollo 11.
The next safest: The Biggest Little Farm.
Another frontrunner, unless the delayed theatrical release makes it ineligible: They Shall Not Grow Old.
Already ruled out, due to an ill-advised qualifying run in late 2018: Amazing Grace.
If voters want to celebrity-fuck another music doc: Ron Howard’s Pavarotti (admittedly a long shot).
Another conventional(ish) bio-doc: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (will there be enough moolah put behind the campaign?)
The celebrity-fuckiest musical choice (just look at the title!)…if it wasn’t Netflix: Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (…but is it a documentary?!)
Ask the same of: Jean-Luc Godard’s The Image Book (a personal favorite of mine).
Another personal favorite: Black Mother (can it snag the artsy-fartsy slot, like last year’s Hale County This Morning, This Evening? As long as the shortlisters draw attention to it, the rest should be history.)
Am I overlooking anyone?
Echo in the canyon!
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They shall not grow old is not eligible
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