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and from now on the Oscar nominations have actually verified it: the Academy Awards would be a three-way battle 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 these might be crowned most readily useful photo of 2004 as soon as the Oscars are given out Feb. 27. Plus it’s anyone’s guess as to that will triumph. Each holds nominations in every the categories that are essential acting, composing and directing. “The Aviator,” with 11 nominations, is this year’s many film that is nominated.
Also nominated for most readily useful picture are Marc Forster’s “Finding Neverland,” which does not have a most readily useful manager nomination, and Taylor Hackford’s “Ray,” which appears prone to get hold of an Oscar just for its celebrity, Jamie Foxx.
As always, the nominations included shocks along with unforeseen omissions. Here’s a roundup of notable developments:
Embarrassment of riches: For the year that is second a line, a few popular documentaries come in contention, like the clever fast-food satire, “Super Size Me.” Also selected are “Born Into Brothels,” “Tupac: Resurrection,” “The Story for the Weeping Camel” and “Twist of Faith how to write a formal lab report.” But that leaves out such exceptional non-fiction films as “Touching the Void,” “Home associated with Brave” and “Riding Giants,” all of these had been qualified. Eliminated before the nominations had been established had been “Control Room,” “The Corporation” additionally the year’s top-grossing documentary, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which Michael Moore hoped would make a picture nomination that is best. It didn’t take place.
Mel’s “Passion” respected. While Moore’s movie attained no nominations, the year’s other controversy-stirrer, “The Passion of this Christ,” had been nominated for most useful music, cinematography and makeup products.
12 months associated with biopics: “The Aviator,” “Finding Neverland” and “Ray” all earned nominations for most useful photo. But “Kinsey” and “The Motorcycle Diaries” were mostly shut down.
Among the list of missing: Sissy Spacek (“A Home by the end of this 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 manager since their film made its first, but here is the first time he’s been singled away for most useful star for “Million Dollar Baby” (he had been previously selected for most readily useful star for “Unforgiven”). Evidently he pressed 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 people, their nomination listings never fall into line completely. The Oscar voters nominated two supporting players whom won Golden Globes but weren’t mentioned when you look at the SAG nominations: Clive Owen (“Closer”) and Natalie Portman (“Closer”). Among the list of 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 Brazilian movie that arrived away from nowhere this past year by gathering four major nominations (directing, writing, cinematography, film modifying) have not produced a foreign-language followup this present year. Closest calls: “The Motorcycle Diaries,” that is up for song that is best and greatest screenplay adaptation, and “The Sea Inside,” that is selected for most useful makeup products and international 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 selected for “Million Dollar Baby. 12 months” Too near to call? Will the voters bypass them both for Imelda Staunton’s excellent operate in “Vera Drake,” that also received nominations for Mike Leigh’s way and script?
No directing nomination, no most useful photo winner: It’s extremely difficult to win the greatest photo reward without having to be selected for most useful manager. “Finding Neverland” didn’t carry its director, Marc Forster, in to the winners’ circle, so that it appears like an also-ran when you look at the battle for most useful image. okay, it is happened when since 1932, whenever “Driving skip Daisy” had been known as picture that is best of 1989 while its manager, Bruce Beresford, wasn’t even yet in the running. But a perform appears extremely not likely.
Who’s supporting whom? In “Collateral,” Jamie Foxx shares a lot that is awful of time utilizing 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 definitely the lead within the movie. And do Owen and Portman really qualify as supporting actors? Undoubtedly it is absolutely absolutely absolutely nothing new: Tatum O’Neal starred 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 time, Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence for the Lambs”) and Patricia Neal (“Hud”) most likely should not have won the top one. Any kind of ground rules right here?
Kevin Bacon’s Six Levels Of Omission. Passed away over many times by the Oscar voters, such as for the performance that is remarkable 1995’s “Murder into the First,” Bacon did their many daring, complex work up to now as a young child molester in “The Woodsman.” He campaigned heartily for recognition, but possibly the part ended up being too uncompromising. In 1962, Stuart Whitman ended up being selected for actor that is best for “The Mark,” about a possible son or daughter molester. Maybe Bacon’s blunder had been playing a character whom really committed the criminal activity.
Lonely at the very top. Catalina Sandino Moreno is selected for actress that is best on her movie first in “Maria saturated in Grace,” but her film is otherwise lacking from essential groups. The exact same applies to Annette Bening, also nominated for best actress on her behalf 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 within the Oscar race, so it’sn’t up for most useful film that is foreign. Other critics’ groups picked Zhang Yimou’s dazzling “House of Flying Daggers,” that has been Asia’s official entry into the Oscars, nonetheless it had been additionally closed down. Inside their destination are a definite mediocre French movie, “The Chorus,” and Spain’s biopic “The Sea Inside,” which won the Golden Globe for most readily useful international movie. Also selected: Sweden’s “As in Heaven,” Germany’s “Downfall” and Southern Africa’s “Yesterday.”
Ethan Hawke ratings as being a author. Nominated for supporting actor that is best for “Training Day” a couple of years ago, Hawke obtained 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 being a budding novelist.
Many baffling nomination: “Shark Tale” for best animated feature. Mediocre at the best, this cartoon that is tediously derivative be contending with “Shrek 2” and “The Incredibles,” which appears like a shoo-in in this category. “The Incredibles,” like the original “Toy Story,” can also be selected for most useful screenplay.
Overdue and underrated. Alan Alda’s nomination for their supporting role as a politician that is corrupt “The Aviator” had not been anticipated. Nonetheless it’s the time that is first been selected in a lengthy profession, and therefore alone could carry him in to the winners’ circle . . . Alexander Payne, selected for co-writing and directing“Sideways,” is definitely operating regarding the fringes of this Oscars. He along with his writing partner, Jim Taylor, had been nominated for “Election” however they had been closed out from the race for “About Schmidt.”
Lacking “Rings.” For the time that is first 2001, no hobbits have been in the running.