The Oscar Nominations

The Oscar nominations have just been announced and here are the biggies.

Best Actor

Philip Seymour Hoffman
CAPOTE

Terrence Howard
HUSTLE & FLOW

Heath Ledger
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

Joaquin Phoenix
WALK THE LINE

David Strathairn
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK

I like all those guys though I would go for Philip Seymour Hoffman if I had to pick one I wanted to win. Much like Chris Cooper a couple of years ago David Strathairn is finally being rewarded after his years of excellent supporting roles and leads in John Sayles films.

Best Supporting Actor

George Clooney
SYRIANA

Matt Dillon
CRASH

Paul Giamatti
CINDERELLA MAN

Jake Gyllenhaal
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

William Hurt
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

George Clooney has been nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Director, which I think is a first. It may also be a first for a nominated director receiving an actor nomination in the same year, for a film he didn't direct. To add to that he also has a Best Original Screenplay nomination.

Nice to see Matt Dillon being nominated for Best Actor. He's a guy I've always liked. Beautiful Girls is one of my favourite films and he has a good body of work throughout his career and he usually turns in a great performance even if the film itself isn't up to much.

I would be happy also to see Paul Giamatti get this one. He didn't get a nomination for his outstanding performance last year in Sideways and he deserves his nod this time.

I'm completely puzzled at William Hurt's nomination though. He appears in a ludicrous cameo in what's become the most overrated film for me this decade.

Best Actress

Judi Dench
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS

Felicity Huffman
TRANSAMERICA

Keira Knightley
PRIDE & PREJUDICE

Charlize Theron
NORTH COUNTRY

Reese Witherspoon
WALK THE LINE

This is the one the British press will focus on as there are two Brits in the nominees in Judi Dench and Keira Knightley. Nice to see Felicity Huffman and Charlize Theron in there as I've enjoyed them both on TV in Sports Night and Arrested Development respectively.

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams
JUNEBUG

Catherine Keener
CAPOTE

Frances McDormand
NORTH COUNTRY

Rachel Weisz
THE CONSTANT GARDENER

Michelle Williams
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

I'm a fan of Catherine Keener, who was nominated before for Being John Malkovich. For Frances McDormand this now makes 4 nominations with one win for Fargo.


Best Director

Ang Lee
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

Bennett Miller
CAPOTE

Paul Haggis
CRASH

George Clooney
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK

Steven Spielberg
MUNICH

Interesting category this one, some first time directing nominees in there along with a previous nominee in Ang Lee and the two time Best Director winner Steven Spielberg.

Best Picture

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN
CAPOTE
CRASH
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK
MUNICH

Hard to work out who's going to win. Will people think Munich is too controversial? Is Brokeback Mountain too gay? Is Capote too gay? I think Crash might sneak this one.

March of the Penguins and Murderball are both up for Best Documentary Feature.

In the Documentary Short category the one that catches my eye is THE DEATH OF KEVIN CARTER: CASUALTY OF THE BANG BANG CLUB by Dan Krauss.

Paul Haggis has picked up a screenwriting nomination, just as he did last year. Woody Allen is back with his 21st Oscar nomination for original screenplay for Match Point and his first nomination since Deconstructing Harry in 1997.

Good also to see Crash getting so many nominations. That was my favourite film of last year that's eligible in this year's Oscars. The two that I placed higher were included in last year's Oscars.

Wallace and Gromit are nominated for Best Animated Feature.

So only now to arrange an Oscars party and the traditional sweep. Sunday March 5th.