Academy Award Nominations – They don’t suck!

Even though I’ve seen fewer movies this past year than in previous years, I feel comfortable saying that this is a terrific set of nominations. No lame Oscar bait (ex. “Cinderella Man”), no big box office winner, and – thank God -- no Lasse Hallstrom film. Sure, I dislike “Crash,” (hate it in some ways), but it ain’t “Erin Brockovich” or some other movie that elicited a “what the fuck?” from me when it was nominated.

Here are my thoughts on the individual categories. Having not seen “Brokeback,” I can’t say for sure who I want to win. That’ll be in a future posting.


Best Picture:
"Brokeback Mountain" (Focus Features)
"Capote" (Sony Pictures Classics)
"Crash" (Lion’s Gate)
"Good Night, and Good Luck" (Warner Ind. Pictures)
"Munich" (Universal/Dreamworks)

All but one is an independent/small studio/sub-studio release. That’s shocking. I’m so happy to see that “Munich” made it even without the normal big-studio hype. It’s a very strong, affecting film that really grows on you weeks after you’ve seen it. But I’m sad to see that “Walk the Line” didn’t make it. “Capote” seems a little lucky to be there, as I’ve heard that it’s Hoffman and not the film that makes it accomplished. My prediction: “Brokeback” will take it.

Actor:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Capote";
Terrence Howard, "Hustle & Flow";
Heath Ledger, "Brokeback Mountain";
Joaquin Phoenix, "Walk the Line";
David Strathairn, "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Wow, I have nothing to say other than that I have no problem if any one of these actors wins. My favorite would be Phoenix, but I haven’t seen the top three yet.

Actress:
Judi Dench, "Mrs. Henderson Presents";
Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica";
Keira Knightley, "Pride & Prejudice";
Charlize Theron, "North Country";
Reese Witherspoon, "Walk the Line."

Yeah, Reese’ll win. But Keira “my mouth is always open” Knightley got very high praise.

Supporting Actor:
George Clooney, "Syriana";
Matt Dillon, "Crash";
Paul Giamatti, "Cinderella Man";
Jake Gyllenhaal, "Brokeback Mountain";
William Hurt, "A History of Violence."

Yeah Fat Clooney getting a nomination. I don’t think he had much to do though. Who the hell is gonna win this category? Giamatti was ignored for “American Splendor,” but “Cinderella Man” doesn’t have much momentum anymore. Jake is too young. William Hurt was dynamite, for about 15 minutes of screen time. Could it really go to Matt Dillon? Jesus, what a strange year.

Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams, "Junebug";
Catherine Keener, "Capote";
Frances McDormand, "North Country";
Rachel Weisz, "The Constant Gardener";
Michelle Williams, "Brokeback Mountain."

I bet Jude loves that Adams is up there. As for me, I haven’t seen any of these films, but I would guess the favorite is Weisz.

Director:
Ang Lee, "Brokeback Mountain";
Bennett Miller, "Capote";
Paul Haggis, "Crash";
George Clooney, "Good Night, and Good Luck.";
Steven Spielberg, "Munich."

Mimics the Best Picture race. But I don’t think Lee will be awarded for some reason. In a strange turn of events, Spielberg is actually the underdog this year. “Munich” was largely ignored (unless I’m completely out of the loop). But him winning over all these new faces (except Lee) just wouldn’t feel right. So who will it be? Haggis a writer-turned-director and Miller doesn’t have the name recognition. I think it’ll be Clooney. He’s well-liked and well-respected in almost all Hollywood circles, especially now that he made an anti-McCarthy film. And he’d be getting credit for the politically-charged “Syriana” as well.

Foreign Film:
"Don't Tell," Italy;
"Joyeux Noel," France;
"Paradise Now," Palestine;
"Sophie Scholl - The Final Days," Germany;
"Tsotsi," South Africa.

I’ve only heard about “Paradise Now.”

Adapted Screenplay:
Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana, "Brokeback Mountain";
Dan Futterman, "Capote";
Jeffrey Caine, "The Constant Gardener";
Josh Olson, "A History of Violence";
Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, "Munich."

Capote was a writer, so maybe that’ll get it. I’m so smart.

Original Screenplay:
Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco, "Crash";
George Clooney & Grant Heslov, "Good Night, and Good Luck.";
Woody Allen, "Match Point";
Noah Baumbach, "The Squid and the Whale";
Stephen Gaghan, "Syriana."

Another distinguished collection of nominees. Only one I don’t want to win? You guessed it: “Crash.”

Animated Feature Film:
"Howl's Moving Castle";
"Tim Burton's Corpse Bride";
"Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit."

No Pixar slam-dunk this year. It’s for the taking.

Art Direction:
"Good Night, and Good Luck.,"
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,"
"King Kong,"
"Memoirs of a Geisha,"
"Pride & Prejudice."

Pretty, pretty pictures. But I still want “P&P” to walk away empty-handed.

Cinematography:
"Batman Begins,"
"Brokeback Mountain,"
"Good Night, and Good Luck.,"
"Memoirs of a Geisha,"
"The New World."

It’s a joke that “Batman” is on here, especially versus the competition. Even though I haven’t seen it yet, I’m confident “New World” is the most deserving.

Sound Mixing:
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,"
"King Kong,"
"Memoirs of a Geisha,"
"Walk the Line,"
"War of the Worlds."

I loved the sound job in “Worlds.”

Sound Editing:
"King Kong,"
"Memoirs of a Geisha,"
"War of the Worlds."

Ditto.

Original Score:
"Brokeback Mountain," Gustavo Santaolalla;
"The Constant Gardener," Alberto Iglesias;
"Memoirs of a Geisha," John Williams;
"Munich," John Williams;
"Pride & Prejudice," Dario Marianelli.

Original Song:
"In the Deep" from "Crash," Kathleen "Bird" York and Michael Becker;
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from "Hustle & Flow," Jordan Houston, Cedric Coleman and Paul Beauregard;
"Travelin' Thru" from "Transamerica," Dolly Parton.

The fact that there is an Oscar nominee with the word “Pimp” in it speaks volumes about this year’s awards. I hope it wins. God I hope it wins.

Costume:
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,"
"Memoirs of a Geisha,"
"Mrs. Henderson Presents,"
"Pride & Prejudice,"
"Walk the Line."

Documentary Feature:
"Darwin's Nightmare,"
"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,"
"March of the Penguins,"
"Murderball,"
"Street Fight."

Hmm, tough crowd. “Penguins” is the big $$$$.

Documentary (short subject):
"The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club,"
"God Sleeps in Rwanda,"
"The Mushroom Club,"
"A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin."

Film Editing:
"Cinderella Man,"
"The Constant Gardener,"
"Crash,"
"Munich,"
"Walk the Line."

Not “Crash,” and not “Munich.” Both had pacing problems. I’ve heard that “Gardener” is slow at times too. Gotta go with “Line” or “Cinderella” (the fights were fantastic).

Makeup:
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,"
"Cinderella Man,"
"Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith."

Gah, when will we have a year without Star Wars?

Animated Short Film:
"Badgered,"
"The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation,"
"The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello,"
"9,"
"One Man Band."

Live Action Short Film:
"Ausreisser (The Runaway),"
"Cashback,"
"The Last Farm,"
"Our Time Is Up,"
"Six Shooter”
“Swerve”

;)

Visual Effects:
"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,"
"King Kong,"
"War of the Worlds."

Gotta be Kong.