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and today the Oscar nominations have verified it: the Academy Awards should be a three-way competition involving Clint Eastwood’s boxing drama “Million Dollar Baby,” Martin Scorsese’s Howard Hughes biopic “The Aviator,” and Alexander Payne’s road-trip comedy “Sideways.”
Any one of those might be crowned most readily useful image of 2004 as soon as the Oscars are handed out Feb. 27. plus it’s anyone’s imagine as to that will triumph. Each holds nominations in most the crucial categories: acting, composing and directing. “The Aviator,” with 11 nominations, is this year’s many nominated movie.
Also nominated for most useful photo are Marc Forster’s “Finding Neverland,” which does not have a most readily useful manager nomination, and Taylor Hackford’s “Ray,” which seems prone to get hold of an Oscar just for its celebrity, Jamie Foxx.
As always, the nominations included shocks in addition to unforeseen omissions. Here’s a roundup of notable developments:
Embarrassment of riches: When it comes to 2nd 12 months in a line, a few popular documentaries have been in contention, such as the clever fast-food satire, “Super Size Me.” additionally selected are “Born Into Brothels,” “Tupac: Resurrection,” “The Story of this Weeping Camel” and “Twist of Faith.” But that leaves out such non-fiction that is excellent as “Touching the Void,” “Home of this Brave” and “Riding Giants,” all of these had been eligible. Eradicated prior to the nominations had been announced had been “Control Room,” “The Corporation” additionally the year’s top-grossing documentary, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which Michael Moore hoped would make a most readily useful image nomination. It didn’t take place.
Mel’s “Passion” recognized. While Moore’s movie received no nominations, the year’s other controversy-stirrer, “The Passion of this Christ,” had been selected for most useful music, cinematography and makeup products.
Year of this biopics: “The Aviator,” “Finding Neverland” and “Ray” all gained nominations for picture that is best. But “Kinsey” and “The Motorcycle Diaries” were mostly shut away.
On the list of missing: Sissy Spacek (“A Home at the conclusion associated with the World”), Eileen Atkins (“Vanity Fair”), Peter O’Toole (“Troy”), Paul Giamatti (“Sideways”), Peter Sarsgaard (“Kinsey”).
Eastwood’s dual nomination. Eastwood happens to be gathering rewards for most readily useful director since their movie made its first, but here is the first time he’s been singled down for most useful star for “Million Dollar Baby” (he had been previously selected for most useful star for “Unforgiven”). Evidently he forced Giamatti from the list — that could tip the scales in support of “Million Dollar Baby” various other categories.
SAG distinctions: Although there’s considerable overlap between Academy voters and Screen Actors’ Guild members, their nomination listings never fall into line completely. The Oscar voters nominated two supporting players whom won Golden Globes but weren’t mentioned within the SAG nominations: Clive Owen (“Closer”) and Natalie Portman (“Closer”). One of the SAG nominees that did make it to n’t the Oscars: Giamatti, James Garner (“The Notebook”), Cloris Leachman (“Spanglish”) and Freddie Highmore (“Finding Neverland”).
No “City of God.” The film that is brazilian arrived away from nowhere just last year by gathering four major nominations (directing, writing, cinematography, movie modifying) have not produced a foreign-language followup this current year. Closest calls: “The Motorcycle Diaries,” which will be up for song that is best and greatest screenplay adaptation, and “The Sea Inside,” which can be selected for most readily useful makeup products and foreign movie.
It’s Annette vs. Hilary, once more: 5 years ago, Annette Bening (“American Beauty”) lost the Oscar to swank that is hilary“Boys Don’t Cry”). This Bening is nominated for “Being Julia” and Swank is nominated for “Million Dollar Baby. 12 months” Too near to call? Will the voters bypass them both for Imelda Staunton’s work that is excellent “Vera Drake,” that also obtained nominations for Mike Leigh’s way and script?
No directing nomination, no most useful image winner: It’s extremely difficult to win the most effective image reward without having to be selected for most useful manager. “Finding Neverland” didn’t carry its manager, Marc Forster, to the winners’ circle, therefore it seems like an also-ran when you look at the battle for most readily useful image. okay, it is happened when since 1932, whenever “Driving skip Daisy” ended up being named most readily useful photo of 1989 while its manager, Bruce Beresford, wasn’t even yet in the running. However a perform appears extremely not likely.
Who’s supporting whom? In “Collateral,” Jamie Foxx shares an awful great deal of display screen time using the celebrity, Tom Cruise, yet he’s been nominated when you look at the supporting category. In “Sideways,” Thomas Haden Church has just somewhat less display time than Paul Giamatti, yet Church is nominated for supporting actor that is best and Giamatti is the lead when you look at the movie. And do Owen and Portman really qualify as supporting actors? Definitely this really is absolutely nothing brand brand brand new: Tatum O’Neal appeared in every scene in “Paper Moon,” and Tommy Lee Jones drove the storyline in “The Fugitive,” but both received oscars that are supporting. Having said that, in the event that you count their display screen time, Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence for the Lambs”) and Patricia Neal (“Hud”) most likely should not have won the major one. Any kind of ground rules here?
Kevin Bacon’s Six Examples Of Omission. Passed away over many times because of the Oscar voters, especially for the remarkable performance in 1995’s “Murder into the First,” Bacon did their many bold, complex strive to date as a young child molester in “The Woodsman.” He campaigned heartily for recognition, but probably the part ended up being too uncompromising. In 1962, Stuart Whitman ended up being selected for most useful actor for “The Mark,” about a prospective son or daughter molester. Maybe Bacon’s error ended up being playing a character whom actually committed the criminal activity.
Lonely at the very top. Catalina Sandino Moreno is nominated for most readily useful actress on her film first in “Maria saturated in Grace,” spanish paper checker but her film is otherwise lacking from essential groups. Exactly the same is true of Annette Bening, also nominated for actress that is best on her work with “Being Julia.”
Foreign-language omissions. The nationwide community of movie experts recently called Ousmane Sembene’s “Moolaade” the best foreign-language film of 2004, but Senegal failed to submit it into the Oscar race, it is thereforen’t up for most useful film that is foreign. Other critics’ teams picked Zhang Yimou’s dazzling “House of Flying Daggers,” that has been Asia’s official entry within the Oscars, however it has also been closed away. Within their spot are a definite mediocre French movie, “The Chorus,” and Spain’s biopic “The Sea Inside,” which won the Golden Globe for most useful foreign movie. Also nominated: Sweden’s “As in Heaven,” Germany’s “Downfall” and Southern Africa’s “Yesterday.”
Ethan Hawke ratings as being an author. Nominated for best supporting actor for “Training Day” a few years ago, Hawke received their 2nd Oscar nomination for co-writing Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset” with Linklater and Julie Delpy. The script is partly centered on Hawke’s experiences as a budding novelist.
Most nomination that is baffling “Shark Tale” for best animated function. Mediocre at most useful, this cartoon that is tediously derivative be contending with “Shrek 2” and “The Incredibles,” which seems like a shoo-in in this category. “The Incredibles,” like the original “Toy Story,” can be selected for best screenplay.
Overdue and underrated. Alan Alda’s nomination for their supporting role as being a corrupt politician in “The Aviator” had not been anticipated. But it’s the time that is first been nominated in an extended profession, and therefore alone could carry him to the winners’ circle . . . Alexander Payne, selected for directing and co-writing “Sideways,” is definitely operating in the fringes regarding the Oscars. He and their writing partner, Jim Taylor, had been selected for “Election” however they had been shut from the race for “About Schmidt.”
Lacking “Rings.” When it comes to time that is first 2001, no hobbits come in the running.