Oscar Nominees
This year at the Academy Awards it is all about diversifying. There is a little of this and a little of that included throughout the categories. From the traditional heavy dramas to family comedies and everything in between action-adventures to musicals, all found their way onto the nominees list.
Action-adventures “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (three nominations, including Achievement in Visual Effects and Sound Editing) and “The Prestige” each earned a nomination for Achievement in Art Direction and even a murder-mystery and a science-fiction film each made their way on the list for Achievement in Cinematography.
The otherwise disappointing “Black Dahlia” earned an Oscar nod for its cinematography, as well as “Children of Men” (three nomination also including Achievement in Film Editing and Best Adapted
Screenplay).
Despite the fact that the critically popular “Superman Returns” bombed with mainstream audiences, the action-adventure film earned a nod for its achievements in the area of visual effects.
The critically hot and cold character study “Marie Antoinette” by Sofia Coppola was included, unsurprisingly, for Achievement in Costume Design and the late released “Curse of the Golden Flower”
snuck its way onto the nominees list as one of its competitors.
The critically acclaimed and publicly well-received “United 93” (two nominations including Achievement in Film Editing) was also not left out, earning director Paul Greengrass a nod from Oscar for Achievement in Directing.
Not even the super sinker “Poseidon” failed to earn a place amongst the nominees alongside “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “Superman Returns” for Achievement in Visual Effects.
A fantasy film was also included amongst the contestants. The dark fantasy adventure “Pan’s Labyrinth” has been receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and it showed with a slew of nominations, including Achievement in Art Direction, Cinematography, Makeup, Best Foreign Language Film, Original Score and Original Screenplay.
One of the oddest selections occurred in the Best Picture category. The quirky comedy “Little Miss Sunshine” about a functional dysfunctional family made the list, ousting out the hit musical “Dreamgirls” (led the competition with eight nominations, including Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Achievement in Art Direction and Costume Design, Best Original Song and Achievement in Sound Mixing).
Unsurprisingly, however, Golden Globe winner “Babel” (seven nominations including two for Best Supporting Actress, Achievement in Directing, Film Editing, Best Original Score and Best Original
Screenplay) and receiver of the Critic’s Choice Award “The Departed,” both for Best Drama, were included in the Best Picture category.
Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Language Film “Letters from Iwo Jima” (four nominations including, Achievement in Direction, Sound Editing and Best Original Screenplay) also moved up the list to Best Picture.
The nominees for Best Actor matched the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice Awards to a “T” with forerunners Leonardo DiCaprio for “Blood Diamond” and Forest Whitaker for “The Last King of Scotland” leading the way.
However, there were some small surprises in the area of Best Supporting Actor. Djimon Hounsou of “Blood Diamond” rightfully made his way onto the list and Alan Arkin from Best Picture nominee
“Little Miss Sunshine” was also included. However, Hounsou and Arkin will likely play second fiddle to Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award winner Eddie Murphy for “Dreamgirls.”
On the other hand, there were no surprises in the categories of Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress with the nominees matching that of the Golden Globes and Critic’s Choice Awards exactly. The lists were led by Golden Globe winners Helen Mirren of “The Queen” and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson of “Dreamgirls.”
Mel Gibson earned the biggest slap in the face from Hollywood for his recent transgressions. His brilliant Mayan epic “Apocalypto” was left out of the Best Foreign Language Film category all together and earned only little nods for Achievement in Makeup, Sound Editing and Sound Mixing.
The stars of the show are likely to be “Dreamgirls” followed closely by “Babel,” but judging by the array of nominees, everyone is bound to get a little something on Oscar night. In an unusual twist from past years, the dark, heavy drama is not going to run away with all the statues. Hollywood seems to be opening up to more audience-friendly genres this year and rewarding their critically acclaimed efforts with Oscar nods. It looks like not just the film connoisseur, but the mainstream moviegoer just might get something out of the Academy Awards this year.