Just like everything I seem to write lately, this is coming right down to the wire. Below are my picks for winners and personal choices, as well as any pertinent notes. Hopefully I will do pretty well, as I tend to be way off on these sort of things. So, without further ado, please read on.
You can also see my personal top lists for 2005.
Best motion picture of the year
- WILL and SHOULD WIN: Brokeback Mountain
- Capote
- Crash
- Good Night, and Good Luck.
- Munich
- Notes: The shepherd's romance has a big head of steam going into the awards ceremony, although there are rumblings that Crash could pull out the upset win, which I would not be against. I am a bit disappointed that The Constant Gardener did not get nominated here, as I thought it was better than any of those that did get nominated. I did rank GNGL higher than Brokeback, but think that, of the nominees, Brokeback is tops.
Achievement in directing
- WILL WIN: Brokeback Mountain Ang Lee
- Capote Bennett Miller
- Crash Paul Haggis
- SHOULD WIN: Good Night, and Good Luck George Clooney
- Munich Steven Spielberg
- Notes: Ang Lee has this one sewn up, he has crafted a fine film which has entered the public consciousness like no other in recent memory. However, despite not making my personal list, I think that George Clooney should walk away with the top prize, he made a fantastic film with a great look. Again, surprised at the snub of Fernando Meirelles for The Constant Gardener. I do like seeing Bennett Miller recognized for Capote, a fine film about a unique individual.
Performance by an actor in a leading role
- WILL and SHOULD WIN: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
- Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow
- Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain
- Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line
- David Strathairn in Good Night, and Good Luck
- Notes: Hoffman nailed Truman Capote, he disappeared in the role and will surely be recognized for his work, although Heath could give him a run. The only difference between this list and mine is swapping Terrence Howard for Viggo Mortensen. I haven't seen Hustle & Flow yet, but have heard very good things about it. All of these performances are very good. One final note for Phoenix, wonderful Johnny Cash.
Performance by an actor in a supporting role
- WILL and SHOULD win: George Clooney in Syriana
- Matt Dillon in Crash
- Paul Giamatti in Cinderella Man
- Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain
- William Hurt in A History of Violence
- Notes: This is a tough category, as I think this could go one of three ways. First is who I believe to be the ultimate winner, George Clooney, after him are both Jake Gyllenhaal and Paul Giamatti, both of which could make strong play. I am just saddened by the snubs, in particular, my favorite supporting role, Mickey Rourke as Marv in Sin City, wonderful work. Then there are other genre film supporting cast members such as Michael Caine in Batman Begins and Ian McDiarmid in Star Wars Episode III.
Article comments
1 - Triniman
I was very pleased to see Crash win best picture. Honestyly, as good a film as Brokeback Mountain was, it just didn't move me and I wouldn't have even considered it as a nominee for best picture.
I enjoyed Rachel Weisz's role in The Constant Gardener, but not the film itself as much. I picked Michelle Williams to win for her fine performance.
It's unfortunate, but some of the nominated films came and went too quickly, so I will have to wait for them to show up in the second run theatres or see them on DVD. I missed GNGL, The Squid and the Whale, North Country and Mrs. Henderson Presents.
Sin City was one of my favorite films from last year, and it's absence is a shame. Mind you, it's not your typical Oscar material with its subject matter. Ditto for Ian McDiarmid. He's been the Emperor since 1983's Return of the Jedi!
2 - Neil
Chris,
Excellent predictions. You seem to be a little bit more in tune with the Academy than we were at Film School Rejects. But I am sure that will come with time.
I was also very surprised to see Crash take best picture. I felt that Brokeback would win despite Crash being a better overall film. I think this years Oscars showed a certain irreverence to hype and buzz that has rarely been seen in the past. I applaud the Academy for really showing the guts to make some very deserving performances the focus of the recognition.
3 - Chris Beaumont
I have to go through and do a recap, see what my percentages were....
Funny thing, as I thought there were a lot of good films this year, I found it tougher to decide who I was going to put in my top ten, where last year, I pretty much had trouble trying to keep films out!