Though
2005 was often called a slow year for film, the nominees for the 78th
Academy Awards are strong contenders. The films leading in nominations
and for best picture are Brokeback Mountain, Crash, Good Night and
Good Luck, Capote and Munich.
Among
the ten women nominated for best actress, only two are in the top
five films. In a leading role, Reese Witherspoon's performance in
Walk the Line has the bast chance at an Oscar win. Felicity Huffman
is a close second, and definitely more worthy for her performance
in Transamerica. Few actors today have enough dedication towards a
film to set aside vanity and immerse oneself in a role to a point
beyond recognition.
Amy Adams (Junebug) is a sure bet for the supporting actress category.
It's sometimes said of the arts that painting in all black is easy
to do; Adams is one of the rare shining spirits among variations of
the same old stars. Not only does she portray her simple character
without condescension, she is able to show depth and gravity as an
actress as well.
The men also give strong performances. Heath Ledger has often been
called a shoe-in for the leading role in Brokebeck Mountain, but it's
Philip Seymour Hoffman who deserves to win. Hoffman's depiction of
novelist Truman Capote gives a quiet, unsettling look at a man whose
morality is tested to an extreme.
Both George Clooney and Paul Giamatti as supporting actors, have near
equal chances at winning, even though their two roles are worlds apart.
Clooney plays a CIA agent caught up in an intricate web of corruption
in Syriana.
Giamatti plays a boxing manager helping an underdog fighter in Cinderella
Man.
Every nominee managed strong work in the directing category, but Ang
Lee definitely stands out as the director most likely to win for Brokeback
Mountain.
His influence on this film's every aspect is dead-on, appropriate
and very very effective.
Although only three films were nominated for best animated feature,
there should be no contest. Howl's Moving Castle by renowned director
Hayao Miyazaki should take the Oscar. While Tim Burton is a fan's
favorite, his long-awaited claymation film, Corpse Bride, was greatly
below par to his earlier greats. He also directed The Nightmare Before
Christmas and Edward Scissorhands.
Much overlooked Capote is the picture that should win best film of
the year. Though Brokeback Mountain has taken a deserved place in
the spotlight, Capote is a film that includes the components that
attracts Oscar buzz. While many biography pictures are just shy of
documentary monotony. Capote has immense performances from every member
of the cast.
It is a compelling story with a competent director at the helm who
did it right.
