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79th Academy Awards Nominations: Let the Handicapping Begin

Posted by Chris Beaumont (chrisbeaumont@filmschoolrejects.com) on January 24, 2007

Last week we had week we saw the minor league awards. Not to belittle them, but they are prestigious, but they also offer some insight to who may be the front runners for the big league awards. This morning the big league candidates were announced by by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis and Academy member and past Oscar nominee Salma Hayek. The announcement came at 5:30 AM on the west coast and 8:30 on the east. A bit early for the average Joe in the west and a little too late for those on the east to catch live. At least, it was a bit late for me. I had to scrounge a few minutes here and there to peruse the list, only now getting a chance to take a closer look at the films that got the call up. Still, I am not quite ready to make my choices for who will win, that will come a little closer to the telecast.

However, I am not above skimming over the list and giving my impressions. There are some surprises, a few that seem to be nearly written in stone, and a few films that were overlooked in the major categories, to my disappointment. There is something else I noticed as I glanced at the titles, there are a number of movies that I have yet to see. Sure, I have seen the majority of them, but there are still a few that either never came to my town in upstate New York, or scheduling did not permit me to take the time. Still, I think I have seen enough and have enjoyed enough to have a valid opinion on the selections, who I think should have been there, and maybe even who should not have been there.

The first thing that hit me square in the jaw was the lack of Children of Men in the Best Picture category. It was a given that Babel and The Departed were going to move on, and Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen had built up a good deal of momentum heading into the announcement. That leaves one space free, the slot that ultimately went to Letters from Iwo Jima. Sure, it had won a couple of the early critics associations top slots, but it still didn’t have a big push, as it hasn’t even gone terribly wide at the theaters yet. In fact, the reason behind it even being released in 2006 seems to be a consolation prize following the soft response to its sister film, Flags of Our Fathers. I guess I cannot complain too much for its inclusion, as I have not yet seen the film. That still does not soothe my pain of not seeing the brilliant and visionary Alfonso Cuaron film among the final five.

I was also a little surprised not to see United 93 listed. It seems to be a title that has gotten much discussion over the past months. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so shocked. It is a touchy matter, and probably not a likely one that the Academy would like to deal with had it been nominated. One final not on this category is Little Miss Sunshine, it is a fine film to be certain, but I am thinking that it may be slightly overestimated by its crowd pleasing indie status, kind of like the token indie in the land of giants. It may even be considered a front runner based on that. I would have much rather have seen Brick in there for the indie cred, but I think that it is a little more odd and not much of a crowd pleaser.

The actor category has a couple of surprises in it. One of those shockers is Leonardo Dicaprio being nominated for Blood Diamond, as good as I thought he was there, I would have given him the nod for The Departed. Then there is Ryan Gosling joining the big leagues, Half Nelson didn’t have much of a stay in the theater, and is one of the ones that I missed. I would have swapped him out for the fine performance from Clive Owen in Children of Men. Peter O’Toole was also something of a surprise, but probably shouldn’t have been with the steam that Venus has been gathering. It is nice to see Will Smith recognized, his performance was wonderful. This category, though, is owned by Forest Whitaker for his electric portrayal of Idi Amin.

The actress category is a two woman battle, barring any unforeseen upset. This is down to Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep, of which I am fairly confident Helen Mirren will take the top prize. The rest of the noms are something of consolation prizes, although I think that Kate Winslet probably has a smirk after being snubbed at the Globes. One overlooked role that I would have fit in there somewhere is Gretchen Mol for The Notorious Bettie Page, although the other nominees gave strong performances, or so I hear as I missed a couple of the films.

In the supporting categories, I was very happy to see Djimon Hounsou recognized, he was incredibly charismatic in Blood Diamond. Although, I think that Eddie Murphy may be able to repeat his Globe win here, but I wouldn’t count out Alan Arkin’s work. As for the women’s side, there is only one name you need to know, Jennifer Hudson. That’s it, she will be walking away with Oscar. Beyond that, Adriana Barraza gave a touching performance in Babel. As for the overlooked, Geraldine Hughes (Rocky Balboa) and Maribel Verdu (Pan’s Labyrinth) gave memorable performances that are not to be missed.

Moving behind the screen, could this be Martin Scorsese’s year? Or is always destined to be a bridesmaid and never a bride? I am leaning toward his finally bringing home the gold. However, I would not count out any of the other nominees, as they all gave fine work for our enjoyment. Looking at the scripts they had to work with, a couple of my favorites are in there on both sides of the border (Adapted vs. Original) including The Departed, Children of Men, and Pan’s Labyrinth. The surprise entrant is Borat, I never would have thought that it would have even crossed the voters minds, and the overlooked would have to be the tightly plotted thriller The Prestige.

In the animated feature category I cannot tell you how happy I am to see Monster House among the nominees. I am not deluded into thinking that it will win, although I would be ecstatic, it is just nice to see such a great film recognized. Over in the foreign language category I was somewhat surprised not to see Volver included, yet the presence of Pan’s Labyrinth gives me hope that Guillermo del Toro’s dark fairy tale for adults will win the gold.

One final disappointment before I turn it over to the list. I was disappointed to not see my favorite score of the year among the nominees. That would be The Fountain from Clint Mansell. I may still be confused by the audaciously experimental film, but the music has drawn me in to its wondrous beauty.

OK, enough of me, let the handicapping begin. Be on the lookout for my predictions to come close to the February 25th broadcast.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Babel
The Departed
Letters from Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

Best Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio, Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling, Half Nelson
Peter O’Toole, Venus
Will Smith, The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland

Best Actress

Penelope Cruz, Volver
Judi Dench, Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren, The Queen
Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet, Little Children

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley, Little Children
Djimon Hounsou, Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg, The Departed

Best Supporting Actress

Adrianna Barraza, Babel
Cate Blanchett, Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

Best Director

Clint Eastwood, Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears, The Queen
Paul Greengrass, United 93
Alejandro Gonz¡lez I±¡rritu, Babel
Martin Scorsese, The Departed

Best Original Screenplay

Guillermo Arriaga, Babel
Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis, Letters from Iwo Jima
Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine
Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth
Peter Morgan, The Queen

Best Adapted Screenplay

Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham, Dan Mazer, Todd Phillips - Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Alfonso Cuar³n, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby - Children of Men
William Monahan - The Departed
Todd Field and Tom Perrotta - Little Children
Patrick Marber - Notes on a Scandal

Best Achievement in Cinematography

The Black Dahlia: Vilmos Zsigmond
Children of Men: Emmanuel Lubezki
The Illusionist: Dick Pope
Pan’s Labyrinth: Guillermo Navarro
The Prestige: Wally Pfister

Best Achievement in Editing

Babel: Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione
Blood Diamond: Steven Rosenblum
Children of Men: Alfonso Cuar³n, Alex Rodrguez
The Departed: Thelma Schoonmaker
United 93: Clare Douglas, Richard Pearson, Christopher Rouse

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Dreamgirls: John Myhre, Nancy Haigh
The Good Shepherd: Jeannine Claudia Oppewall, Gretchen Rau, Leslie E. Rollins
Pan’s Labyrinth: Eugenio Caballero, Pilar Revuelta
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man’s Chest: Rick Heinrichs, Cheryl Carasik
The Prestige: Nathan Crowley, Julie Ochipinti

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Curse of the Golden Flower: Chung Man Yee
The Devil Wears Prada: Patricia Field
Dreamgirls: Sharen Davis
Marie Antoinette: Milena Canonero
The Queen: Consolata Boyle

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Babel: Gustavo Santaolalla
The Good German: Thomas Newman
Notes on a Scandal: Philip Glass
Pan’s Labyrinth: Javier Navarrete
The Queen: Alexandre Desplat

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

An Inconvenient Truth: Melissa Etheridge (”I Need To Wake Up”)
Dreamgirls: Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven (”Listen”)
Dreamgirls: Henry Krieger, Siedah Garrett (”Love You I Do”)
Cars: Randy Newman (”Our Town”)
Dreamgirls: Henry Krieger, Willie Reale (”Patience”)

Best Achievement in Makeup

Apocalypto: Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano
Click: Kazuhiro Tsuji, Bill Corso
Pan’s Labyrinth: David Mart, Montse Rib©

Best Achievement in Sound

Apocalypto: Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Fernando C¡mara
Blood Diamond: Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Ivan Sharrock
Dreamgirls: Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, Willie D. Burton
Flags of Our Fathers: John T. Reitz, David E. Campbell, Gregg Rudloff, Walt Martin
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man’s Chest: Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes, Lee Orloff

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Apocalypto: Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar
Blood Diamond: Lon Bender
Flags of Our Fathers: Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman
Letters from Iwo Jima: Alan Robert Murray
Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man’s Chest: George Watters II, Christopher Boyes

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man’s Chest: John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall
Poseidon: Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chas Jarrett, John Frazier
Superman Returns: Mark Stetson, Richard R. Hoover, Neil Corbould, Jon Thum

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Cars: John Lasseter
Happy Feet: George Miller
Monster House: Gil Kenan

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

After the Wedding (Denmark)
Days of Glory (Algeria)
Pan’s Labyrinth (Mexico)
The Lives of Others (Germany)
Water (Canada)

Best Documentary, Features

Deliver Us from Evil: Amy Berg, Frank Donner
An Inconvenient Truth: Davis Guggenheim
Iraq in Fragments: James Longley, Yahya Sinno
Jesus Camp: Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady
My Country My Country: Laura Poitras, Jocelyn Glatzer

Best Documentary, Short Subjects

The Blood of Yingzhou District: Ruby Yang, Thomas Lennon
Recycled Life: Leslie Iwerks, Mike Glad
Rehearsing a Dream: Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon
Two Hands: Nathaniel Kahn, Susan Rose Behr

Best Short Film, Animated

The Danish Poet: Torill Kove
Lifted: Gary Rydstrom
The Little Matchgirl: Roger Allers, Don Hahn
No Time for Nuts: Chris Renaud, Mike Thurmeier

Best Short Film, Live Action

Binta and the Great Idea: Javier Fesser, Luis Manso
‰ramos Pocos: Borja Cobeaga
Helmer & Son: S¸ren Pilmark, Kim Magnusson
The Saviour: Peter Templeman, Stuart Parkyn
West Bank Story: Ari Sandel

Read more articles by Chris Beaumont

michael class says:
February 17th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

Before Oscar Night: Magic Picture Frame Author Michael Class Picks Best Movies of 2006

His Second Annual ‘American Values Awards’ Adds 10 Movies to List of 600 Movies Every American Should See

Michael Class, author and publisher of the award-winning American history book, Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame, is announcing the winners of the Second Annual American Values Awards for Movies: His picks for the ten best movies of 2006. The Award recognizes movies that reflect the traditional values that Americans hold dear: Movies that celebrate love, honor, marriage and family, discipline and commitment, personal responsibility, and the drive for excellence and achievement.

“These are movies that reflect deeply-held American values,” says Class. “These movies are inspirational. These movies remind us that the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose, and that doing the right thing always matters.”

Class sees movies as a teaching tool: He included nearly 600 movie recommendations in his history book for kids, Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame. In the book, stunning digital photography places the author’s twelve year-old son, Anthony, in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis with Charles Lindbergh, on the moon with Neil Armstrong, in the laboratories of Thomas Edison and Jonas Salk, and on Normandy beach on D-Day. Anthony “time-travels” into America’s past to learn valuable lessons about right and wrong, choosing one’s destiny, strength of will, dedication to purpose, and love of country. It’s all historically accurate: Even Anthony’s conversations with American heroes are based on things they really said. The 600 movies are part of a larger list that includes books to read, music to listen to, and places to visit: fun for kids, and a built-in teaching tool for parents and teachers. The book is recommended for readers in Grade 6 to Grade 12+. The captivating photography can be seen on the book’s Web site: http://www.MagicPictureFrame.com.

Class knows that his picks for best films may not win on Oscar Night. “But, wouldn’t it be refreshing,” asks Class, “to see a special Academy Award for the movie that best reflects positive American values and role models? Or, a special Academy Award for the movie that best inspires America’s young people to greatness? That’s what I hope to achieve with the American Values Awards. The winners are movies that parents can share with their children. The winners are movies that every American should see.”

The winners for 2006 are:

1. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: The true story of Chris Gardner, a down-and-out and sometimes homeless salesman, abandoned by his wife, and suffering from a string of bad decisions. But, Chris Gardner holds fast to the American Dream: He retains his optimism, protects and nurtures his young son, works long and hard, and never gives up. Chris Gardner is rewarded for keeping the faith.

2. GLORY ROAD: The inspiring true story of how a small school in West Texas, with an unproven coach, and an all-black starting team of basketball players changed history. It’s a story of character, integrity, and overcoming prejudice. It’s a story of inner strength and doing something that is bigger than yourself.

3. FLIGHT 93: The true story of the ordinary Americans who fought back against evil on 9/11 and became heroes to remember in the War on Terror. The movie makes you wonder whether or not you would have had the same strength and courage.

4. FLYBOYS: The true story of the volunteer American pilots who fought for France before America officially entered World War I. These young men volunteered because they wanted to fly airplanes, but they got more than they bargained for: a lesson in courage, heroism, sacrifice, and friendship - and the unforgiving brutality of war.

5. WORLD TRADE CENTER: The true story of John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, two New York Port Authority policemen, trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center on 9/11, after they went in to rescue people. It’s a story of family, love, faith, and courage - qualities that kept the two men alive. And, as you watch firemen ask strangers, “Remember my name and please tell my wife and children that I love them,” before crawling deep down into the building wreckage, it’s also a movie that begs the question: “Would you do the same?”

6. AKEELAH AND THE BEE: The true story of Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old girl who overcomes the odds to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Yes, Akeelah can spell! But, the story is really about developing the mindset to be a winner, and choosing to win only in the right way.

7. INVINCIBLE: The true story of 30-year-old Vince Papale, a bartender and part-time schoolteacher who gets the chance to play football for the Philadelphia Eagles thanks to an “open tryout” offer to Philadelphia citizens by coach Dick Vermeil in 1974. It’s an inspirational underdog story that reminds us that anything is possible - if we only try.

8. JOYEUX NOEL: The true story of the World War I Christmas Truce. It’s an important film because most young people today don’t know very much about World War I, and because the Christmas Truce was an unbelievable and almost miraculous event. In 1914, during the first Christmas of World War I, soldiers in opposing trenches - against orders - called out to each other, shared Christmas greetings, and sang Silent Night together. Some soldiers even ventured out into No Man’s Land to meet their enemies and exchange gifts.

9. CHARLOTTE’S WEB. Yes, Charlotte’s Web. Why? Because, it is one of the best children’s stories of all time, based on the remarkable book by E.B. White. It’s a story of family, friendship, self-sacrifice, and the wonders of God’s creation. You probably haven’t looked at the book since you were a child, or since the last time you read the book to your children. Re-read Goodnight Moon, by Margeret Wise Brown, too. Smile.

10. ROCKY BALBOA: See the first Rocky (1976) and see this one - forget the rest. The whole story is here, and it’s good! This final movie in the Rocky series has heart. Its the story of a very decent and simple man, who overcame the odds to succeed, realized fame and glory, and then fell back into obscurity. Rocky Balboa, now much older, struggles to understand his life and a world that has changed around him, though he has never changed himself. And that’s good - because Rocky learns that the reward for staying true to himself and his faith all these years is that he still has something to share with others, that he still has something to give. Rocky learns that, in the simplest ways, he can still make a difference in the lives of others.

11. THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN (released December 2005): The true story of Burt Monroe, an elderly gentlemen from New Zealand who travels to America to race his antique Indian motorcycle on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. Amazing everyone, Munroe sets the Under-1000 cc World Motorcycle Land Speed Record. Munroe’s record still stands. Emotional impact comes from one line near the end of the movie, when Burt is lying on his back on the Bonneville Salt Flats after setting the record and crashing his motorcycle: He says, “I did it.” Those three words mean a lot.

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame was named Outstanding Book of the Year and Most Original Concept of 2006 by Independent Publisher; Reviewers Choice by Midwest Book Review; and Editor’s Pick by Homefires: The Journal of Homeschooling Online. Nationally syndicated talk-show host Michael Medved calls the book “entertaining and educational.” Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin says “parents and teachers will appreciate the inspiring message this unique history book holds for America’s next generation. I recommend this book to all young Americans, may they take us to the stars and beyond.”

Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame (hardcover, 225 pages, $25.00) is available at http://www.MagicPictureFrame.com, by calling toll-free 1-800-247-6553, at select bookstores, and on http://www.amazon.com.

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