Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The Salad's Oscar nom wrap-up

Best picture
Brokeback Mountain; Crash; Goodnight, and Good Luck; Munich; Capote

Best director
Steven Spielberg - Munich; Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain; Paul Haggis - Crash; Bennett Miller - Capote; George Clooney - Good Night, and Good Luck

Best actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote; David Strathairn - Good Night, and Good Luck; Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain; Joaquin Phoenix - Walk the Line; Terrence Howard - Hustle and Flow

Best actress
Dame Judi Dench - Mrs Henderson Presents; Felicity Huffman - Transamerica; Charlize Theron - North Country; Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line; Keira Knightley - Pride and Prejudice

Best supporting actress
Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener; Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain; Frances McDormand - North Country; Amy Adams - Junebug; Catherine Keener - Capote

Best supporting actor
George Clooney - Syriana; Jake Gyllenhaal - Brokeback Mountain; Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man; Matt Dillon - Crash; William Hurt - A History of Violence

* * *

A bunch of surprises here, from the fact that "Capote" scored Picture, Actor, and Director noms, to Matt Dillon's hammy-ham-hamfisted cop being nommed in "Crash." My take is that it is only really a two-flick race for Best Picture: "Crash" and "Brokeback," but I think they'll give Haggis Best Director so that "Brokeback" can prevail as Picture. I think actress is a two-horse race: Huffman and Witherspoon, and since they're going to give SOMETHING to "Walk the Line," this is all Reese's. That said, pen in Heath Ledger as a lock, defeating Joaquin Phoenix. Supporting: Weisz and Clooney, because she's already won everything, and Clooney has to get something for his three noms (he's showbiz royalty now, too -- new, with added artistic credibility).

My last surprise pick -- "Squid and the Whale" scores best original screenplay, because this is the category that has historically recognized young turk filmmakers whom the Academy doesn't feel comfortable giving the big money to (see "Usual Suspects," "Pulp Fiction," "Sideways," etc).