2008 Woodie Awards
Quality films gain recognition from upcoming Academy Awards
By Seth Pardick
Rocket Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Entertainment
The Academy Awards stands alone as perhaps the one awards show that still means something, almost.
Everyone seems perplexed that most of the films nominated for awards this year did not rake in billions at the box-office; many of the actors and actresses are not bona fide superstars. Some speculate that it will be one of the least-watched award shows in years. I think, however, that nothing could be better for Hollywood than something like this. So many good films have been made in the past few years, and it's about time that some of the lesser-known talents be awarded for their work.
In the Best Picture category, "Brokeback Mountain," "Crash," "Capote," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Munich" are the nominees. Most critics say this category is a race between "Brokeback Mountain" and "Crash." The biopic "Capote" is not the type of film that usually takes home the award for Best Picture. Likewise, overtly political films such as "Munich" and "Good Night, and Good Luck" are often passed over in this category.
Ang Lee, Paul Haggis, Bennett Miller, George Clooney and Steven Spielberg are, respectively, nominated for Best Director for the five films above. Impressively, neither Haggis nor Miller had ever directed a film before. Unfortunately, this may deter voters. Spielberg, on the other hand, has been nominated for Best Director five times before, winning for both "Schindler's List" in 1993 and "Saving Private Ryan" in 1998. It is unlikely that Spielberg will win this time, since Academy voters generally have not awarded the same director more than twice.
George Clooney, who also stars in "Good Night, and Good Luck," could win since voters often favor those who direct and star in the same film, such as Clint Eastwood (for both "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby") and Mel Gibson (for "Braveheart"). The award, however, will most likely go to Ang Lee, who has quietly put together one of the best résumés in Hollywood by directing such films as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and the underrated "The Ice Storm."
Everyone seems perplexed that most of the films nominated for awards this year did not rake in billions at the box-office; many of the actors and actresses are not bona fide superstars. Some speculate that it will be one of the least-watched award shows in years. I think, however, that nothing could be better for Hollywood than something like this. So many good films have been made in the past few years, and it's about time that some of the lesser-known talents be awarded for their work.
In the Best Picture category, "Brokeback Mountain," "Crash," "Capote," "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Munich" are the nominees. Most critics say this category is a race between "Brokeback Mountain" and "Crash." The biopic "Capote" is not the type of film that usually takes home the award for Best Picture. Likewise, overtly political films such as "Munich" and "Good Night, and Good Luck" are often passed over in this category.
Ang Lee, Paul Haggis, Bennett Miller, George Clooney and Steven Spielberg are, respectively, nominated for Best Director for the five films above. Impressively, neither Haggis nor Miller had ever directed a film before. Unfortunately, this may deter voters. Spielberg, on the other hand, has been nominated for Best Director five times before, winning for both "Schindler's List" in 1993 and "Saving Private Ryan" in 1998. It is unlikely that Spielberg will win this time, since Academy voters generally have not awarded the same director more than twice.
George Clooney, who also stars in "Good Night, and Good Luck," could win since voters often favor those who direct and star in the same film, such as Clint Eastwood (for both "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby") and Mel Gibson (for "Braveheart"). The award, however, will most likely go to Ang Lee, who has quietly put together one of the best résumés in Hollywood by directing such films as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and the underrated "The Ice Storm."
