"This year, Maltin has championed two films: 'Songcatcher' and 'Diamond Men.' … "

As reported in the THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: “OSCAR WATCH: CRITICS PICKS” January 11, 2002 by Stephen Galloway

“Leonard Maltin, the well-known critic for ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ however, has little faith in his or his peer’s ability to impact any movie.

‘If critics had any real influence, there would never have been a “Friday the 13th” part two, let alone part eight,’ he quips. ‘Conversely, the little films we love to champion would go on to great success-and that doesn’t happen very often.’

This year, Maltin has championed two films: ‘Songcatcher’ and ‘Diamond Men.’ … As for ‘Diamond Men’, he says, ‘I happened to check online the other day, and the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Los Angeles Times all gave it excellent reviews and went out of their way to praise Robert Forster. I like to believe that will make a difference to discerning voters.’”