Oscar noms hit this morning.
Without further ado, here are my immediate (jotted down this morning in shorthand) thoughts on the major nominations:
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM OF THE YEAR
The Frontrunner
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE
With an Oscar already under his belt for Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki's latest trippy fantasy adventure has been out of theatres for months, but like all of Studio Ghibli's movies, it sticks with people.
The Underdog
WALLACE & GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT
A huge hit with the American and British public, the endearing claymation pair of Wallace and Gromit stand an outside chance of swiping this award from Miyazaki on sympathy (the original models were burned in a fire) and hard work (claymation can take years and years).
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Frontrunner
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS
My mother, an avid National Geographic documentary lover, hated this movie. It bored me out of my skull, and it made insane amounts of money. Why? At the time, it was the only kid-safe movie out, and people took their kids out en masse for a welcome reprieve from the house. It makes it more bearable that Morgan Freeman's voice narrates the thing, but it's epic in boredom.
The One That Should Win
MURDERBALL
This stirring, uplifting story of Quadriplegic (you read that right) Rugby players was painfully overlooked, mostly thanks to its title (the original name of the sport). For anyone who has felt run over by circumstance, this empowering film leaves you feeling as if you could take on the world.
DARWIN'S NIGHTMARE
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM
STREET FIGHT
ACHIEVEMENT IN VISUAL EFFECTS
The Frontrunner
KING KONG
I find it hard to believe anything can topple the 800-pound gorilla in this category in particular. The motion capture on Kong alone, not to mention the Brontosaur stampede and the T-Rex royal rumble were absolutely stunning.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE
WAR OF THE WORLDS
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES
(ORIGINAL SCORE)
The Frontrunner
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Composed by the same guy who did The Motorcycle Diaries, Gustavo Santaolalla, one of the most memorable themes in cinema this year comes from this film.
THE CONSTANT GARDENER
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
MUNICH
PRIDE & PREJUDICE
ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURES
(ORIGINAL SONG)
The Frontrunner
"It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" - HUSTLE & FLOW
I don't even remember the other two songs, let alone do I care about either one's contribution to the film in question. "Pimp" is so vitally integral to H&F's story that you couldn't separate them and have the same movie.
"In the Deep" - CRASH
"Travelin' Thru" - TRANSAMERICA
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR
The Frontrunners
PARADISE NOW and TSOTSI
The first is a powerfully moving tale of two best friends-turned suicide bombers, and the second is the powerfully moving tale of a young gang leader in Johannesburg. Foreign Film is always a toss-up, and this year all I have to go off of is what my industry sources mention.
DON'T TELL
JOYEUX NOèL
SOPHIE SCHOLL - THE FINAL DAYS
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Frontrunner
CRASH
A popular pick rather than one chosen on merit, this screenplay is great not for the efficiency of the prose, but for the social impact it has had. Not the best script of the year, or even written by Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby), but it's almost definitely it.
The Underdog
MATCH POINT
No, it has nothing to do with racial strife, or geopolitical fraud, or communist persecution, or even screwed up family relationships. Woody Allen's latest film is the most sharply-written, however, and that still counts for something, doesn't it?
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
THE SQUID AND THE WHALE
SYRIANA
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
The Frontrunner
Rachel Weisz - THE CONSTANT GARDENER
This award is a bit of a toss-up, but Weisz's performance is easily the most haunting and indellible of the pack.
The Newcomer
Amy Adams - JUNEBUG
According to most who've seen it, Amy Adams is a good enough reason to see the whole movie, and I agree. Her sweet, nosy southern girl was one of the most charming and disarming performances in recent memory.
Catherine Keener - CAPOTE
Frances McDormand - NORTH COUNTRY
Michelle Williams - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
The Frontrunner
George Clooney - SYRIANA
"Fat Clooney", as many have referred to this part, was one of the most stunning performances Clooney has put on film, and Clooney himself is the new filmmaking golden boy, as 2005 really was his year. Good Night, and Good Luck may not win anything, but Clooney will triumph here.
The Guy Who Should Win
Paul Giamatti - CINDERELLA MAN
In recent years, this guy has gotten unrightfully snubbed, first for a nomination for American Splendor and then for Sideways last year. A truly deserving actor who got the SAG Award for this part, which for many actors means more than the Oscar.
The Big Surprise
William Hurt - A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Who saw it coming that Hurt's over-the-top, gangster godfather performance in one of the year's most critically-acclaimed films would punch through and take the place on the list most people thought would house Don Cheadle's name? Not me!
Matt Dillon - CRASH
Jake Gyllenhaal - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
The Frontrunner
Reese Witherspoon - WALK THE LINE
She's essentially won every award she could for this part, and March 5th will be no different. Her portrayal of June Carter is touching and authentic, and even for people who aren't fans of all her other work (me), she pulls it all off very well.
The Big Surprise
Keira Knightley - PRIDE & PREJUDICE
Don't get me wrong, I loved Pride & Prejudice, but I never thought for a moment while watching that this was an Oscar-caliber performance. Knightley plays the part, but doesn't nearly blow you away in the way Matthew MacFadyen (Mr. Darcy) and others in the movie do.
Judi Dench - MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
Felicity Huffman - TRANSAMERICA
Charlize Theron - NORTH COUNTRY
PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
The Frontrunner
Philip Seymour Hoffman - CAPOTE
With a Golden Globe, SAG Award, and multiple other honors under his belt already, Hoffman is the main contender here. Heath Ledger's Brokeback performance is a big deal compared to his past work, but it's nothing compared to the virtuoso portrait of one of America's greatest writers.
The Big Surprise
Terrence Howard - HUSTLE & FLOW
Howard's pair of strong performances in this film and Crash skyrocketed him to the A-list. A truly deserving actor giving a powerful performance in one of 2005's overlooked great movies.
Heath Ledger - BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
Joaquin Phoenix - WALK THE LINE
David Strathairn - GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
The Frontrunner
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - Ang Lee
One of the many awards Brokeback is said to certainly win, director Lee is one of the most versatile auteur voice working today. He's a great director and he has put together a movie that could have been horrible in the wrong hands.
The Outside Shot
CRASH - Paul Haggis
The way Hollywood was rallying around Brokeback for months is what's starting to happen with Crash, so who knows, Haggis may just pick up a statue in place of his movie winning for Best Picture.
CAPOTE - Bennett Miller
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. - George Clooney
MUNICH - Steven Spielberg
BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
The Frontrunner
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
There isn't much more to be said about the awards behemoth that is Brokeback. While I don't see it picking up any acting awards, this one it's a lock for almost certainly. Why do I say almost?
The Outside Shot
CRASH
Crash has seen a major late surge in support and promotion from Lionsgate and the Hollywood community. Go figure, that with a cast of 70something actors, that lots of people across Hollywood are invested in this movie. The blunt racial commentary and strong performances cover up a didactic script and make this movie important socially.
The Big HUGE Surprise
MUNICH
It was widely expected that the fifth nominee for Best Picture would certainly be Walk the Line, but then Spielberg's Munich Olympics opus came in like a thief in the night. Widely criticized, and as a result highly controversial, this movie will pick up viewers as a result of the nomination, but certainly won't win.
CAPOTE
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.