Oscar Flubs & Snubs

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

A constant argument I always engage myself in with fellow film intellectuals (if such a title exists) is the validity of the Academy Awards. Take for instance this year's nominations for Best Picture:

• THE AVIATOR (Miramax)
• FINDING NEVERLAND (Miramax)
• MILLION DOLLAR BABY (Warner Bros.)
• RAY (Universal Pictures)
• SIDEWAYS (Fox Searchlight)

Now this is the first time in a couple of years I haven't seen all the nominated films -- my work load has been increasingly arduous and time consuming this year and my film partner has gone AWOL (no one else likes to see more than three movies in a given day) -- so I won't make a personal selection, but I have seen two: "The Aviator" and "Finding Neverland."

The former garnered 11 nominations confirming yet again the short-term memory problem of the Academy. As "The Aviator" is playing now, it is up for more awards than any other film. Yes, the Scorsese film was impressive but not worthy of so many nominations. Eleven awards is "Return of the King" caliber and "The Aviator" was no "Lord of the Rings."

"Finding Neverland" was a great film, one that touched me emotionally and deserves to be nominated. But aren't a few films missing?

Wasn't there that movie about Jesus that made over $300,000,000 at the box-office? Why did "Passion of the Christ" only get three nominations in lesser categories: cinematography, makeup and original score? No best actor for Jim Caviezel?

And before you liberals start smiling, Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" got snubbed completely. Not a single nomination! No best picture nomination for the controversial film "Kinsey," "Garden State" fell completely below the radar and the Academy must have forgotten that Jim Carrey was pretty damn good in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind."

There are only two good things about the Academy Awards this year: "Tupac: Resurrection" is surprisingly up for Best Documentary, and the presentation will be hosted by one of my favorite comedians, Chris Rock.

Other than that, let the self-loving and pretentiousness begin.