Oscars 2014: July Preview

The To Do List

The To Do List Release date: July 26 Oscar prospects: Bad At this point, and possibly forever, The To Do List is most (in)famous for Aubrey Plaza's (Parks and Recreation) Kanye West-ing Will Farrell during his acceptance speech of a lifetime achievement award during MTV's Movie Awards. Whether this bit of stunt promoting will prove to be ultimately beneficial or detrimental (or more likely, incidental) has yet to be seen, but a quick read of the film's synopsis will tell you this one was never meant for the Academy's consumption. Written and directed Maggie Carey (aka Mrs. Bill Hader), The To Do List chronicles the adventures of a high school senior (Aubrey Plaza) who decides she wants to check off a few sexual adventures before she goes off to college. The film promises to be a the type of R-rated comedy that has regained prominence since the rise of producer/director Judd Apatow. Despite the popularity of Mr. Apatow's films though, the Academy has more or less totally ignored his comedies and the films of their ilk (even the ones that were roundly and enthusiastically praised by critics), so I don't think The To Do List has much of a shot at the Academy. Now the bigger question is will Aubrey Plaza crash anyone's Oscar acceptance speeches? I sure hope so, especially if it's George Clooney. Possible nominations: None
Contributor
Contributor

A film fanatic at a very young age, starting with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies and gradually moving up to more sophisticated fare, at around the age of ten he became inexplicably obsessed with all things Oscar. With the incredibly trivial power of being able to chronologically name every Best Picture winner from memory, his lifelong goal is to see every Oscar nominated film, in every major category, in the history of the Academy Awards.