As for the remaining categories, I am happy to see the old school-style Disney songs from Enchanted up for Best Original Song, though all three of their nominations may lose out to Glen Hansard and Marketa Irlgova’s “Falling Slowly” from the great Irish musical, Once. It was also nice to see the music fable August Rush recognized. I’m also relieved that Charles Ferguson's valuable political documentary, No End in Sight was not overlooked for its objective, factual analysis of the Iraq war and that Michael Moore finally has a more deserved nomination for his documentary critiquing the health care system, Sicko.
Overall, that there are so few nominations to question or doubt and that nearly every single movie mentioned is worth writing home about is a testament to how wondrous a year 2007 was for movies. Having had such a year should be a screeching call for studios to quickly settle the writers’ strike so that the Oscars® can properly celebrate it with a proper starry ceremony. We can only hope.
Footnote: After the news of Heath Ledger's passing that was also announced on Tuesday, I cannot end without saying how heartbreaking it is to think that he will now never make it to the Oscar podium when he had every talent and potential to do that, and that his two-year old daughter will grow up without seeing him there.
Article comments
1 - handyguy
I don't really expect the Oscars to reflect my taste, but it's good to see worthy films get recognized:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly [director, script, photography and editing] must have come in 6th or 7th for Best Picture, and that shows some people with good taste are voting. I was very glad to see the brilliant Taxi to the Dark Side nominated for Best Documentary. And Hal Holbrook's performance is miraculous and I hope this causes more people to see it. Some of my favorites like Zodiac and Across the Universe were overlooked, but that's not surprising.
2 - Donald Gibson
I was quite surprised and disappointed that Angelina Jolie didn't receive a nomination for A Mighty Heart.
I'm also discouraged by the lack of diversity in the Best Song category. Alan Menken getting three of the five nominations just demonstrates that voters didn't look (or listen) hard enough to find other worthy songs.