2008 Woodie Awards
For your viewing pleasure...
Oscar nominees announced
By Ivan Moore
Rocket Movie Critic
Issue date: 2/3/06 Section: Entertainment
Mar. 5 may not be marked on your calendar, but it is certainly marked on mine. It is not a national holiday, it is nowhere near as big as the Super Bowl, but it will be a huge night for Hollywood because it's Oscar night, baby! This Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences handed out its nominations for the movies of the past year. Let's take a look.
Leading the pack this year is the atypical story of love and deception that created a blizzard of buzz, "Brokeback Mountain." The film is sporting eight nods including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Picture and Best Director. For those who are numb to the fire that is the entertainment world, "Brokeback Mountain" is about two cowboys who fall in love while out on a cattle drive and then try to live "normal" lives away from each other. It has been said that love will find a way, and critics definitely found a way to fall in love with this story. The film already won The Golden Globe for Best Drama, so it will more than likely run away with the top prize this year.
The category for Best Actor is harboring what could possibly be the toughest competition of the Awards. Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman roll into Mar. 5 with the most momentum, as they bring with them their Golden Globes (Phoenix for "Walk the Line" and Hoffman for "Capote"), but don't count out underdog Terrance Howard and his "Hustle & Flow" performance that was just one of his many solid showings this year. Then there is Heath Ledger, who could very easily ride the coattails of this year's juggernaut "Brokeback Mountain" all the way to the podium. Still, my pick is Phillip Seymour Hoffman for his stellar portrayal of the homosexual author Truman Capote.
Best Director might be just as close, however, as it features a stew of veterans and newcomers. Naturally, Ang Lee grabs a nod for "Brokeback Mountain" and he did earn the Golden Globe, but the Oscar is hardly guaranteed. Joining him in this category is the man, the myth, the legend Steven Spielberg for his work in "Munich," former doctor George Clooney for "Good Night, and Good Luck," writing mastermind Paul Haggis for "Crash," and newbie Bennett Miller for "Capote." Directing got Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford statues in the past, so I'm looking for Clooney to keep the hunky actor turned director trend alive and pick up the award.
Leading the pack this year is the atypical story of love and deception that created a blizzard of buzz, "Brokeback Mountain." The film is sporting eight nods including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Picture and Best Director. For those who are numb to the fire that is the entertainment world, "Brokeback Mountain" is about two cowboys who fall in love while out on a cattle drive and then try to live "normal" lives away from each other. It has been said that love will find a way, and critics definitely found a way to fall in love with this story. The film already won The Golden Globe for Best Drama, so it will more than likely run away with the top prize this year.
The category for Best Actor is harboring what could possibly be the toughest competition of the Awards. Joaquin Phoenix and Phillip Seymour Hoffman roll into Mar. 5 with the most momentum, as they bring with them their Golden Globes (Phoenix for "Walk the Line" and Hoffman for "Capote"), but don't count out underdog Terrance Howard and his "Hustle & Flow" performance that was just one of his many solid showings this year. Then there is Heath Ledger, who could very easily ride the coattails of this year's juggernaut "Brokeback Mountain" all the way to the podium. Still, my pick is Phillip Seymour Hoffman for his stellar portrayal of the homosexual author Truman Capote.
Best Director might be just as close, however, as it features a stew of veterans and newcomers. Naturally, Ang Lee grabs a nod for "Brokeback Mountain" and he did earn the Golden Globe, but the Oscar is hardly guaranteed. Joining him in this category is the man, the myth, the legend Steven Spielberg for his work in "Munich," former doctor George Clooney for "Good Night, and Good Luck," writing mastermind Paul Haggis for "Crash," and newbie Bennett Miller for "Capote." Directing got Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford statues in the past, so I'm looking for Clooney to keep the hunky actor turned director trend alive and pick up the award.
