teh Forum

Noms are up. Lots more discussion to come...

Well not "lots more" I guess... But let me get my thoughts in here before the big show tonight.

In general, the Academy has looked to the low budget (specialty market/indie) films because of the lack of studio quality in 2005. The total budget of all 5 Best Picture nominees totals $105 million with $70 million of that belonging to the one studio film, Munich. So what does that say about the industry? Well, for one, it says that the quality of films the studios are financing are not 'Oscar quality.' I don't think it means that this year's indie films are better than last year's studio films - more so just that it was a particularly bad year for the studios. It does indicate that a lower budget film can get the attention of the Academy, which is a positive - but just how Indie are these films? All nominated films have big name actors in them, a requirement to even get an opening at the major festivals these days. All of the films were picked up by specialty divisions of the studios before completion and it would be a stretch to say the filmmakers struggled with the funding in the typical fashion of real indie filmmakers. This trend does not mean that the Academy has turned their back on the studios. It is probably more accurate to characterize these films as a sort of middle range low-budget (high concept?) Hollywood film, usually relegated to the best screenplay categories in years past (Eternal Sunshine and Sideways for instance last year). I think this trend should be generally interpreted as a good thing - at least because it means that it is easier for filmmakers to bring their uniquely personal visions to the screens.

...on to the nominees:

Best Picture/Best Director: Brokeback, Capote, Crash, Good Night and Good Luck (GNGL), Munich
These are NOT the 5 best films of 2005. Munich was horrible (anyone see Ronin? - much better and similar film), GNGL was beautiful but had some serious structural writing issues, and Crash was interesting but full of head shaking coincidences and not quite best pic quality. Capote and Brokeback are the only two whose nominations I am not completely against. Capote was the best written and acted of the bunch and should win out of these 5. However, I believe Brokeback will take home both Oscars because it "is sooo brave" - never mind that it is rather boring. It was a good film - but with tougher competition it wouldn't stack up.

What should have been nominated? Pretty much any of the actor/actress films were better - I would go with: Brokeback, Capote, Pride & Prejudice, Transamerica, and Walk the Line with my award going to Pride and Prejudice.

Best Actress Judi Dench, Felicity Huffman, Keira Knightley, Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon
The only one of these performances I have not yet seen was Theron's in North Country. This is a very competitive category with Huffman and Witherspoon going in as the favorites. If enough members of the Academy were able to see Transamerica, then Huffman will win because her performance was shockingly great and certainly better than Witherspoon's. But there is a good chance Reese will win just because of the buzz, the film, and the perception she is due.

Best Actor P.S. Hoffman, Terrence Howard, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, David Strathairn
Hoffman is the pretty damn clear favorite for his role as Truman Capote and I would be shocked if he didn't win. He deserves it, and if there is any category that Brokeback doesn't include in a sweep it will be this one. Some people are taking about Terrence Howard but I think his performance was better in Crash, although both were good and he isn't about to disappear. Overlooked: Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang - Steve Carrell in 40 Year Old Virgin (??)

Best Supporting Actress Amy Adams, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand, Rachel Weisz, Michelle Williams
Oooh, my weakest acting category as I didn't see June Bug (Adams) or North Country (McDormand). It could pretty easily go to Williams in a big Brokeback showing or to Keener in her more powerful role. Adams won the Independent Spirit Award last night.

Best Supporting Actor Clooney, Matt Dillon, Paul Giamatti, Jake Gyllenhaal, William Hurt
I was a bit surprised to see Dillon get the pick from Crash when there are so many strong performances in the film. Why him and not Howard or Don Cheadle? He has a good chance to win - but so does Gyllenhaal, to whom I would probably give the nod. I wouldn't be too surprised if Clooney gets it, but I would be surprised and disappointed if it goes to Hurt.

Best Foreign Language Film Don't Tell (Italy), Joyeux Noel (France), Paradise Now (Palestine), Sophie Scholl (Germany), Tsotsi (S. Africa)
Damn I wish I had seen more of these. As of now I have only seen Tsotsi and Paradise Now and would go with Tsotsi - although I have both Sophie Scholl and Joyeux Noel queued up to watch in the next week or two.

Adapted Screenplay Brokeback, Capote, Constant Gardener, History of Violence, Munich
Traditionally the screenplay categories go to films other than the best picture winner but I would be surprised if anything other than Brokeback or Capote won.

Original Screenplay Crash, GNGL, Match Point, Syriana, The Squid and the Whale
eeeh, I have only seen the two best picture noms in this category - but they are, again, the two most likely to win. I didn't think either was "written" all that well.

Best Cinematography Batman Begins, Brokeback, GNGL, Memoirs of a Geisha, New World
While I didn't see Geisha or New World, it would be a shame if GNGL did not take this category as cinematography was definitely the film's strength.

Those are the only categories I care all that much about (although I am interested to see which film wins best original song). I am sad to say I haven't yet seen any of the nominees for best documentary. All in all, not too exciting of a year for Academy recognized films. I think I am probably most excited to see host Jon Stewart.