January 31, 2006

• Oscar Nominations

  

  Oscar Nominations: 1/31/2006

  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  78th Annual Academy Awards Nominations were announced this morning. As usual, I will list the nominations, and my predictions, plus who I would like to see win if I don't think the Academy will choose the right selection. Since I didn't go out to the movies as much in 2005 as in past years, due to the ridiculous increase in ticket prices, the dearth of good films to see, and the COMMERCIALS that play endlessly before the feature starts, I didn't see a lot of these choices.  That doesn't stop me from making my guesses, however. Besides, I go to an Oscar Party, and you don't have to see the films to pick the winners! I copy/pasted this list from imdb.com and all the links take you to the page on their website for the actor of film mentioned.

  Best Motion Picture of the Year
    Nominees:

  Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  Capote (2005)
  Crash (2004) 
  Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
  Munich (2005)
  I think this is going to be the year of the "gay cowboy movie". I plan to see "Brokeback Mountain" this weekend. I must say I wasn't interested in seeing it until it started getting awards. I love Ang Lee, who directed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", my Oscar pick for 2000, not to mention "Ride with the Devil", "The Ice Storm" and "Sense and Sensibility". I love the work of both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. The film has lots of credibility, but the idea of "gay cowboys" tends to get me thinking that it's a good thing John Wayne and Gary Cooper are dead. Liz is finally interested in seeing it, so we plan to go this coming weekend. I've only seen "Crash" of the other nominees. It was fine, but a tad overbearing.
  Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    Nominees:
  Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote (2005)
  Terrence Howard for Hustle & Flow (2005)
  Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  Joaquin Phoenix for Walk the Line (2005)
  David Strathairn for Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)

  I've seen exactly one of these performances. Joaquin Phoenix in "Walk the Line". I understand Philip Seymour Hoffman disappears into his role as Truman Capote. Interesting that Heath got an actor nod and Jake Gyllenhaal only a supporting nod for Brokeback Mountain, but now both actors actually have more of a chance. I admire Terrence Howard, and saw him first in Mr. Holland's Opus in 95. David Strathairn has  been excellent in a variety of movies, and frequently stars in John Sayles' films. I'm saying the academy will pick Philip Seymour Hoffman. I'd pick Strathairn, but I haven't seen "Good Night, and Good Luck". (I could also be  completely wrong, and Joaquin will win for Walk the Line, since it was an excellent performance. )
  
  Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
    Nominees:
  Judi Dench for Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005)
  Felicity Huffman for Transamerica (2005)
  Keira Knightley for Pride & Prejudice (2005)
  Charlize Theron for North Country (2005)
  Reese Witherspoon for Walk the Line (2005)

  I have always admired Reese's work, and she is thrilling as June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line". She has won other awards this season for the role, most recently the SAG award. I want to see Keira's performance in "Pride and Prejudice", and Charlize is always wonderful, but she's won an Oscar recently. I don't think a lot of folks in the Academy have even seen Transamerica or Mrs. Henderson Presents. (I haven't either, for that matter.)
  
  Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    Nominees:
  George Clooney for Syriana (2005)
  Matt Dillon for Crash (2004)
  Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man (2005)
  Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  William Hurt for A History of Violence (2005)

  I've seen all of these except for Brokeback and Syriana. Paul certainly deserves the award, but not for this performance. William Hurt is only in History of Violence for about ten minutes. I go for Jake in Brokeback and Matt Dillon in "Crash". In fact, I want Jake to win but I'm pretty sure it will be a nod for Matt, since he deserves an award for his  body of work anyway, and turned in a stellar performance in "Crash".
  
  Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    Nominees:
  Amy Adams for Junebug (2005)
  Catherine Keener for Capote (2005)
  Frances McDormand for North Country (2005)
  Rachel Weisz for The Constant Gardener (2005)
  Michelle Williams for Brokeback Mountain (2005)

  Great. I haven't seen any of these performances. "Junebug" is out on DVD. Probably nobody even knows about this performance. It was a surprise to me. I love Catherine Keener in anything she does, but I understand her role in Capote is rather small. I'd love to see her in more starring roles. Rachel Weisz is somebody I didn't really like in the Mummy movies, but she is impressing me as she appears in more films. (not in movies like "Constantine" but she was really impressive in "The Shape of Things" a few years ago.) Frances already has an Oscar, and I won't assess Michelle Williams until I see Brokeback. But right now, I'll go with Catherine, both for myself and for the Academy. 
  "Capote" is a must see for me now.
  
  Best Achievement in Directing
    Nominees:
  George Clooney for Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
  Paul Haggis for Crash (2004)
  Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain (2005)
  Bennett Miller for Capote (2005)
  Steven Spielberg for Munich (2005)

  It'll be interesting if Spielberg gets the Oscar, but I definitely think it's Ang Lee's turn at the podium. I think the Academy is going to agree.
  
  Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
    Nominees:
  Crash (2004) - Paul Haggis, Robert Moresco
  Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) - George Clooney, Grant Heslov
  Match Point (2005) - Woody Allen
  The Squid and the Whale (2005) - Noah Baumbach
  Syriana (2005) - Stephen Gaghan

  It's rather fun this year,  because I haven't seen everything. So it's rather like picking a horse race. Here I think Clooney will get a nod. Woody never shows up at the ceremony. I already said Crash was heavy handed. Squid and the Whale got some good press. Accounts say Syriana is somewhat confusing.
  
  Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
    Nominees:
  Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Larry McMurtry, Diana Ossana
  Capote (2005) - Dan Futterman
  The Constant Gardener (2005) - Jeffrey Caine
  A History of Violence (2005) - Josh Olson
  Munich (2005) - Tony Kushner, Eric Roth

  Brokeback again. If it sweeps the awards. (or at least the 8 awards for which it was nominated) it should definitely get screenplay. A movie about gay cowboys has to have an excellent script in order for it to  be getting all this attention.
  
  Best Achievement in Cinematography
    Nominees:
  Batman Begins (2005) - Wally Pfister
  Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Rodrigo Prieto
  Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) - Robert Elswit
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - Dion Beebe
  The New World (2005) - Emmanuel Lubezki

  This will have to be a complete guess. I haven't seen but one of these entrants (Batman Begins) and don't think that's a very good movie anyway. (Ninja Batman, I call it) So I'm playing it "safe" with Brokeback Mountain. It is always nice to see a black and white film in the running (Good Night, and Good Luck). I want to see "The New World" too. It might be really stunning.
  
  Best Achievement in Editing
    Nominees:
  The Constant Gardener (2005) - Claire Simpson
  Crash (2004) - Hughes Winborne
  Munich (2005) - Michael Kahn
  Walk the Line (2005) - Michael McCusker
  Cinderella Man (2005) - Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill

  Here I'm thinking that Opie's film will get a nod. (Since Brokeback isn't in the list.) Crash was well edited. I'm surprised that "Walk the Line" didn't get more nods (like director or picture.) I'm snubbing Steven Spielberg's picture, but I absolutely HATED "War of the Worlds" so there's a bad taste in my mouth. "Munich" could be the best pic and the best edited, for all I know, but I'm thinking Cinderella Man here, since it was well edited.
  
  Best Achievement in Art Direction
    Nominees:
  Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005) - James D. Bissell, Jan Pascale
  King Kong (2005) - Grant Major, Dan Hennah, Simon Bright
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - John Myhre, Gretchen Rau
  Pride & Prejudice (2005) - Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - Stuart Craig, Stephanie McMillan

  The art direction and production design in King Kong were monumental. If anything, I actually "thought I was there", so Kong deserves this award.
  
  Best Achievement in Costume Design
    Nominees:
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - Colleen Atwood
  Walk the Line (2005) - Arianne Phillips
  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - Gabriella Pescucci
  Mrs. Henderson Presents (2005) - Sandy Powell
  Pride & Prejudice (2005) - Jacqueline Durran
  

  Even though I haven't seen any of these except for Walk the Line, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,  I'll give the costume award to the costume picture.

  
  Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
    Nominees:
  Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Gustavo Santaolalla
  The Constant Gardener (2005) - Alberto Iglesias
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - John Williams
  Munich (2005) - John Williams
  Pride & Prejudice (2005) - Dario Marianelli

  I have no idea why I'm willing to think the Academy will award Brokeback Mountain with a sweep, but I'm tending to pick the film for each award for which it is nominated. John Williams must have a whole room full of Oscars in his house.
  
  Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song
    Nominees:
  Hustle & Flow (2005) ("It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp")
  Crash (2004) ("In the Deep")
  Transamerica (2005) ("Travelin' Thru")

  I'm sure there's a song in Brokeback. I think it's sung by Emmylou Harris, if memory serves. Of these, let's pick "In the Deep" from Crash, although I don't remember the song having seen the film so long ago.
  
  Best Achievement in Makeup
    Nominees:
  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
  Cinderella Man (2005)
  Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

  Why not?
  
  Best Achievement in Sound
    Nominees:
  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
  King Kong (2005) 
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
  Walk the Line (2005)
  War of the Worlds (2005)

  Dead heat between Narnia and Kong. I saw them both on the same day too. I was more impressed with Kong in the sound arena.
  
  Best Achievement in Sound Editing
    Nominees:
  King Kong (2005) - Mike Hopkins, Ethan Van der Ryn
  Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) - Wylie Stateman
  War of the Worlds (2005) - Richard King

  I'll go for Kong for sound editing too. I wasn't really "blown away" by the movie. And since Narnia made more money, neither was the moviegoing public. But of these choices, I'll pick the big monkey movie.
  
  Best Achievement in Visual Effects
    Nominees:
  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

  King Kong (2005)
  War of the Worlds (2005)

  Another one between the monkey and the lion. I'm picking monkey.
  
  Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
    Nominees:
  Corpse Bride (2005) - Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
  Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004) - Hayao Miyazaki
  Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) - Steve Box, Nick Park

  Believe it or not, I haven't seen any of the nominated animated features. I'm a fan of Nick Park's Wallace and Gromit. I love Tim Burton's stop motion films. But I'm a sucker for Miyazaki, the "Disney" of Japan, and sight unseen, I think hes' going to win the award, and I also think the Academy will give it to him. ("Howl's Moving  Castle" is the English title.)
  
  I'm not going to list any of the others nominations. 2005 has been a weird moviegoing year. Frankly, if I had the ability to pick the nominations, Sin City, directed by Robert Rodriquez and Frank Miller (with Guest Director Quentin Tarantino) would have gotten my nominations. I thought it was the "best film" this year.

  
  

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