Yep. This is gonna be my longest post EVER. Oscar Noms 2005

So the Oscar noominations were announced this morning. I'm gonna shotgun picks right now, as uninformed as I am. Why? Because my class got out early, and I've got an hour to kill. Please bear in mind that I haven't been able to see many of these movies at all. In fact, the only leading film I've seen (and fairly disliked, by the way) was the over-nominated The Aviator. But when the Academy sends me my ballot, I need to be ready, so I'm putting out initial feelers now. The stars are my picks.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Don Cheadle in “Hotel Rwanda” (United Artists in association with Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.)
***Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland” (Miramax)***
Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Clint Eastwood in “Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)
Jamie Foxx in “Ray” (Universal)

I'm behind Johnny 100% here. I haven't seen Neverland though it's now on the top of the list. I love Depp, and I think his time is here. I've heard great things about some of the others, however. Only one I've seen is DiCaprio in The Aviator and he was pretty good, though it depends how you look at Howard Hughes as a person. Yep. My vote's Depp.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Alda in “The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Thomas Haden Church in “Sideways” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
Jamie Foxx in “Collateral” (DreamWorks and Paramount)
Morgan Freeman in “Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)
***Clive Owen in “Closer” (Sony Pictures Releasing)***

I've heard great things about Church in Sideways and there's the Golden Globe momentum for Owen (not that it really means anything). Foxx's part in Collateral was very obviously a lead, but I guess they didn't want to give him two parts in the same category. I'm putting mine down for Clive Owen. Haven't seen Closer but I will fix that soon.

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Annette Bening in “Being Julia” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Catalina Sandino Moreno in “Maria Full of Grace” (HBO Films in association with Fine Line Features)
Imelda Staunton in “Vera Drake” (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Council in association with Inside Track Films)
***Hilary Swank in “Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)***
Kate Winslet in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (Focus Features)

Kate Winslet deserves the nod for both Eternal Sunshine and, from what I've heard, Neverland as well. Even still, I'm saying Hilary Swank takes this one. That's going mostly off the previews and reviews, but that's my guess.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Cate Blanchett in “The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Laura Linney in “Kinsey” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
Virginia Madsen in “Sideways” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
Sophie Okonedo in “Hotel Rwanda” (United Artists in association with Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.)
***Natalie Portman in “Closer” (Sony Pictures Releasing)***

As a point of order, my entire soul requires me to be fully behind Natalie Portman on this one, so rooting for her I shall be. I've heard Virginia Madsen is brilliant, so she's probably closest competition for Nat. Cate Blanchett just annoyed me, but that may be because I've never really seen Katharine Hepburn and I don't know what she was like. Laura Linney was good, but nothing amazing, really. Haven't seen Hotel Rwanda. It also goes on the list.

Best animated feature film of the year
***“The Incredibles” ( Buena Vista ) Brad Bird***
“Shark Tale” (DreamWorks) Bill Damaschka
“Shrek 2” (DreamWorks) Andrew Adamson

... I'm sorry... they actually bothered nominating other movies for this? This belongs to The Incredibles, and anyone who questions that ought to be committed.

Achievement in art direction
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Art Direction: Dante Ferretti
Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“Finding Neverland” (Miramax)
Art Direction: Gemma Jackson
Set Decoration: Trisha Edwards
***“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (Paramount and DreamWorks)***
Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs
Set Decoration: Cheryl A. Carasik
“The Phantom of the Opera” (Warner Bros.)
Art Direction: Anthony Pratt
Set Decoration: Celia Bobak
“A Very Long Engagement” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Art Direction: Aline Bonetto

Yeah... where's Sky Captain? I mean, I guess that falls more plainly into Visual Effects, but the whole visual style of the movie was gorgeous and detailed and incredible, despite being almost entirely CG. But anyway... Aviator was pretty, and probably accurate. I'm inclined to go for Lemony Snicket here, just because I liked the design, and I'm pretty sure it's gonna get screwed everywhere else.

Achievement in cinematography
***“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)***
Robert Richardson
“House of Flying Daggers” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Zhao Xiaoding
“The Passion of the Christ” (Icon and Newmarket )
Caleb Deschanel
“The Phantom of the Opera” (Warner Bros.)
John Mathieson
“A Very Long Engagement” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Bruno Delbonnel

It's a strange thing to be torn between two movies I didn't like. I can't decide between The Aviator and The Passion of the Christ. For everything I've said bad about them, they were both beautifully shot. Passion's Jerusalem is gorgeous, and the exteriors for Aviator were beautiful as well. I'll go with Aviator which will probably win since this year looks to be nearing a Scorsese spooge-fest anyway.

Achievement in costume design
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Sandy Powell
“Finding Neverland” (Miramax)
Alexandra Byrne
***“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (Paramount and DreamWorks)***
Colleen Atwood
“Ray” (Universal)
Sharen Davis
“Troy” (Warner Bros.)
Bob Ringwood

You know, I'm sure there's a lot to be said for the accuracy found in four of these, but only one of them shows off any real creativity and originality, so I'm going for Lemony Snicket again. Hitting an era's clothing can be done by anyone. I'm glad they do it well, but that's their job. It doesn't strike me as going above and beyond.

Achievement in directing
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Martin Scorsese
***“Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood***
“Ray” (Universal) Taylor Hackford
“Sideways” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox) Alexander Payne
“Vera Drake” (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Council in association with Inside Track Films) Mike Leigh

Unfortunately, I've got little doubt that this is going to Scorsese, though I'm not entirely sure why. Jay makes a good point talking about Sam Raimi's lack of love from the Academy, but I told him that I think they're just holding off his win till they can give it to him for Evil Dead 4, the same year Bruce Campbell gets his Best Actor win. Anyway, I'm rooting for Clint, and hoping for an upset.

Best documentary feature
“Born into Brothels” (THINKFilm)
A Red Light Films, Inc. Production
Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski
“The Story of the Weeping Camel” (THINKFilm)
A Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München Production
Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa
***“Super Size Me” (Roadside Attractions/Samuel Goldwyn Films)***
A Kathbur Productions/The Con Production
Morgan Spurlock
“Tupac: Resurrection” ( Paramount )
An MTV - Amaru Entertainment, Inc. Production
Lauren Lazin and Karolyn Ali
“Twist of Faith”
A Chain Camera Pictures Production
Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt

Interesting to note that Tupac was definitely released in 2003. Eligible? I'd say no. And, apparently, The Story of the Weeping Camel is fictional, which creates concern too. I liked Super-Size Me well enough, even if it did get a little activist-y. I've actually heard really good stuff about Born into Brothels. I'll give Spurlock my vote for th first-time filmmaker sympathy.

Best documentary short subject
“Autism Is a World”
A State of the Art Production
Gerardine Wurzburg
“The Children of Leningradsky”
A Hanna Polak Production
Hanna Polak and Andrzej Celinski
“Hardwood”
A Hardwood Pictures and National Film Board of Canada Production
Hubert Davis and Erin Faith Young
“Mighty Times: The Children’s March”
A Tell the Truth Pictures Production
Robert Hudson and Bobby Houston
“Sister Rose’s Passion”
A New Jersey Studios Production
Oren Jacoby and Steve Kalafer

There are the nominations. I'm leaving this alone, because I know nothing about any of them.


Achievement in film editing
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Thelma Schoonmaker
***“Collateral” (DreamWorks and Paramount )***
Jim Miller and Paul Rubell
“Finding Neverland” (Miramax)
Matt Chesse
“Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)
Joel Cox
“Ray” (Universal)
Paul Hirsch

I'm going with Collateral, but I think Neverland might displace it. I think it was very nicely put together; I feel like even with cuts I got a pretty good feel of how LA is constructed. And nothing touched the relationship between Foxx and Cruise.

Best foreign language film of the year
“As It Is in Heaven”
A GF Studios Production
Sweden
“The Chorus (Les Choristes)”
A Galatée Films/Pathé Renn/France 2 Cinema/Novo Arturo Films/Vega Film AG Production
France
“Downfall”
A Constantin Film Production
Germany
“The Sea Inside”
A Sogecine and Himenóptero Production
Spain
“Yesterday”
A Videovision Entertainment Production
South Africa

Again, I know nothing.

Achievement in makeup
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”
( Paramount and DreamWorks)
Valli O’Reilly and Bill Corso
***“The Passion of the Christ” ***
(Icon and Newmarket )
Keith Vanderlaan and Christien Tinsley
“The Sea Inside”
(Fine Line Features and Sogepaq)
Jo Allen and Manuel García

I will actually give this one to Passion. They worked REALLY HARD to make sure you knew that Christ was in all kinds of pain, and they did it well.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Finding Neverland” (Miramax) Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
***“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (Warner Bros.) John Williams ***
“Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (Paramount and DreamWorks) Thomas Newman
“The Passion of the Christ” (Icon and Newmarket ) John Debney
“The Village” ( Buena Vista ) James Newton Howard

Can't beat John Williams. Despite his Harry Potter music not being his best, none of these other ones exactly jumped out at me, either.


Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Accidentally In Love” from “Shrek 2” (DreamWorks)
Music by Adam Duritz, Charles Gillingham, Jim Bogios, David Immergluck, Matthew Mallery and David Bryson
Lyric by Adam Duritz and Daniel Vickrey
“Al Otro Lado Del Río” from “The Motorcycle Diaries” (Focus Features and Film Four)
Music and Lyric by Jorge Drexler
“Believe” from “The Polar Express” (Warner Bros.)
Music and Lyric by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
***“Learn To Be Lonely” from “The Phantom of the Opera” (Warner Bros.)***
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyric by Charles Hart
“Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)” from “The Chorus (Les Choristes)” (Miramax)
Music by Bruno Coulais
Lyric by Christophe Barratier

I'm saying it. Trey Parker and Matt Stone got screwed. There were a few different choices in Team America, and I would have LOVED for them to be there to perform one. And see what happens for Pixar when Randy Newman doesn't do the music? NOTHING. Nothing here looks good to me, but I'm guessing Phantom gets this, mainly because they got Webber to write something new.

Best motion picture of the year
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
A Forward Pass/Appian Way /IMF Production
Nominees are still to be determined.
***“Finding Neverland” (Miramax) ***
A FilmColony Production
Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, Producers
“Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)
A Warner Bros. Pictures Production
Nominees are still to be determined.
“Ray” (Universal)
A Universal Pictures/Bristol Bay Production
Nominees are still to be determined.
“Sideways” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
A Sideways Productions, Inc. Production
Michael London, Producer

Sad that this will probably go to Aviator without most people batting an eye. Had I seen these, I think my vote would go down for Neverland.

Best animated short film
“Birthday Boy” An Australian Film, TV and Radio School Production
Sejong Park and Andrew Gregory
“Gopher Broke”
A Blur Studio Production
Jeff Fowler and Tim Miller
“Guard Dog”
A Bill Plympton Production
Bill Plympton
“Lorenzo”
A Walt Disney Pictures Production
Mike Gabriel and Baker Bloodworth
“Ryan”
A Copper Heart Entertainment & National Film Board of Canada Production
Chris Landreth

I got nothing. A little sad to see that Pixar's Boundin' didn't get one, even though it definitely wasn't their best. Still, it was pretty, and kinda fun. But right now I begin the official campaign to ensure that Don Hertzfeld is on next year's ballot for The Meaning of Life, which premiered last week at Sundance.

Best live action short film
“Everything in This Country Must”
A Six Mile LLC Production
Gary McKendry
“Little Terrorist”
An Alipur Films Production
Ashvin Kumar
“7:35 in the Morning ( 7:35 de la Mañana)”
An Ibarretxe & Co. Production
Nacho Vigalondo
“Two Cars, One Night”
A Defender Films Limited Production
Taika Waititi and Ainsley Gardiner
“Wasp”
A Cowboy Films Production
Andrea Arnold

I got nothing.

Achievement in sound editing
“The Incredibles” ( Buena Vista ) Michael Silvers and Randy Thom
“The Polar Express” (Warner Bros.) Randy Thom and Dennis Leonard
***“Spider-Man 2” (Sony Pictures Releasing) Paul N.J. Ottosson***

I'm rooting for Spider-Man 2. It's unfortunate that something this fun will only get recognized in the technical categories. I've already talked about Raimi, and there are some years you could make a case for a Supporting Actor nod for Alfred Molina. Maybe not this year, but he was no slouch.

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Tom Fleischman and Petur Hliddal
“The Incredibles” ( Buena Vista )
Randy Thom, Gary A. Rizzo and Doc Kane
“The Polar Express” (Warner Bros.)
Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis Sands and William B. Kaplan
“Ray” (Universal)
Scott Millan, Greg Orloff, Bob Beemer and Steve Cantamessa
***“Spider-Man 2” (Sony Pictures Releasing)***
Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Joseph Geisinger

Again, pulling for Spidey.

Achievement in visual effects
“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (Warner Bros.)
Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, John Richardson and Bill George
“I, Robot” (20th Century Fox)
John Nelson, Andrew R. Jones, Erik Nash and Joe Letteri
*** “Spider-Man 2” (Sony Pictures Releasing) John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara and John Frazier ***

Yep, this is a what the hell moment if I've ever seen one. Sky Captain owns this category, and yet it's not even nominated. This is probably this year's glaring omission. Jay's right, the lack of love that movie got is astounding. I will be picking up that DVD this week, and I will give it all the love it can handle.

But yeah. Spidey once again.

Adapted screenplay
“Before Sunset” (Warner Independent Pictures)
Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke
Story by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan
***“Finding Neverland” (Miramax)***
Screenplay by David Magee
“Million Dollar Baby” (Warner Bros.)
Screenplay by Paul Haggis
“The Motorcycle Diaries” (Focus Features and Film Four)
Screenplay by José Rivera
“Sideways” (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox)
Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

Cool that Sunset got nominated, though I have no idea what it's based on. The only thing I can think is that they're saying it's based on Before Sunrise, which is just all kinds of silly. Anyway, I'm hoping Neverland takes it.

Original screenplay
“The Aviator” (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.)
Written by John Logan
***“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (Focus Features)***
Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman
Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth
“Hotel Rwanda” (United Artists in association with Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.)
Written by Keir Pearson & Terry George
“The Incredibles” ( Buena Vista )
Written by Brad Bird
“Vera Drake” (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Council in association with Inside Track Films)
Written by Mike Leigh

There's no reason Charlie Kaufman should lose this one. Eternal Sunshine it is.

So that's that. Obviously, I have a lot of ground to cover before the end of February, most notably Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby, Closer, Sideways, Hotel Rwanda, and Ray. Hopefully I'll be able to hit at least a few of those, night owl that I am.

I will say that I am gonna try to get this thing going again. The Aviator motivated me to write something less than nice, but I haven't gotten there yet. Also, I have some thoughts about Saved! that I want to put down, because I finally saw it the other day. So stay tuned, and hopefully I'll get back on track.