Going for Brokeback

2006 Academy Awards Up for Grabs

By Sara Michelle Fetters

Senior Editor - Theatrical

www.moviefreak.com

Here we go again.

The Academy Awards are two weeks away and with the handing out of the BAFTA’s the majority of the preseason contests are over and done with. No more Golden Globes, not more SAG, no more Director’s Guild, no more critics’ awards. In fact, only the Independent Spirit Awards (and the Razzies, but they don’t really matter here) are left to be handed out, but those night-before-the-ceremony awards aren’t exactly known as Oscar indicators.

Or are they? Four of the five films up for the top prize; “Crash,” “Capote,” “Good Night, and Good Luck” and favorite “Brokeback Mountain;” are all indies, each of their budgets probably not even equaling the catering bills for Steven Spielberg’s “Munich.” The last time Oscar featured so many non-studio productions “The English Patient” edged out “Fargo” for the honor, the only other studio flick amongst the nominees was Cameron Crowe’s superstar love story “Jerry Maguire.”

But that Tom Cruise mega-hit at least won a couple of Golden Guys (and also made a ton of money at the box office), the chances Spielberg’s disappointing Olympic thriller taking home a single statue of its own currently hovering somewhere between snowballs flying in hell and my getting a date with Heath Ledger. More so than any other year, the 2006 ceremony truly is the year of Independent Film, the majority of the winners sure to be divided by the features not backed by Hollywood during their initial conception and financing.

It is “Brokeback Mountain” which, if you haven’t heard already, made the most noise on the award circuit. It is the favorite, heavy favorite if you believe bloggers and Oscar pundits, and goodness knows it is a worthy nominee. I’m not so sure it is as much of a lock, though, as everyone out there seems to think. Paul Haggis’ “Crash” has come on like end-of-year gangbusters, the Academy embracing the racial potboiler with far more exuberance and gusto that they have the gay cowboy melodrama.

Does that mean it isn’t going to win? Is it secretly dead in the water? And what about the other categories? Is Reese going to burst Felicity’s transgender bubble? Will Heath lasso Oscar out of Phillip’s squeaky voiced grip? Does John Williams (with two nominations) really deserve another Academy Award? Will a rap song proclaiming, “It’s hard out here for a pimp,” walk away with a statue? And, finally, can a popular bloke named Spielberg pull off one of the biggest shockers in Oscar history based upon the strength of his good name and not the quality of his film?

These questions and many more will be answered live on national television Sunday, March 5 on ABC. Until then, all we can really do is make our picks, throw our money into the pool and wait on pins and needles to see who comes out on top. That said, we here at MovieFreak are making some subtle changes to our proselytizing this year, not the least of which is having DVD and film critic Rachel Sexton (who needs to be reminded to make selections in all the categories next year) join webmaster (and editor-in-chief) Dennis Landmann and myself in the guessing game. What remains unchanged is the bet, and while I’m still not exactly sure what that bet really is I can at least keep hoping a raise is somehow involved after I win for the third consecutive year. (Someday this cockiness is going to bite me in the butt. Hopefully, this year isn’t that year.)

Jennifer Esposito, Don Cheadle and Kathleen York in "Crash"

And with that, here are our picks for who is going to walk away with Oscar and who is going to be left out in the cold come next Sunday.

BEST PICTURE

THE NOMINEES: “Brokeback Mountain,” “Capote,” “Crash,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Munich”

Sara Michelle: Still don’t understand the inclusion of Spielberg’s flawed “Munich,” and I don’t get the extreme popularity of Bennet Miller’s good but not great “Capote,” but the other three are certainly deserving. Clooney’s “Good Night, and Good Luck” was last year’s best feature but that’s not going to matter. This is a two horse race between Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” and Haggis’ “Crash,” and momentum aside recent comments by some of the motion picture academy’s elder statesmen (like Tony Curtis) make me think this contest is far closer than anyone thinks. Don’t be surprised if there is an upset. MY PICK - “Brokeback Mountain”

Dennis Landmann: I can’t comment on “Capote,” “Good Night” is a bit overrated and while “Munich” is a good film, it’s kept very quiet during its run. “Brokeback” deserves recognition and all that, but it’s not the best film of the year (though it’s sure to win). “Crash” is the most poignant, dramatic and stimulating film here, which makes it my favorite film of 2005. Cowboys and mountains ain’t got nothing on the various people and cultures in Los Angeles. MY PICK - “Crash”

Rachel Sexton: I love this group of films as they’re intellectually stimulating in so many different ways. I don’t think I’ve ever been this completely enthusiastic about a group of Best Picture contenders. Though it has almost completely dominated this awards season, I don’t think any true film fan will complain when “Brokeback Mountain” wins, as it is simply the most well-done film of the year managing to leave behind all preconceptions and genre conventions. (I also wouldn’t be upset at all if “Munich” somehow pulled off a gigantic surprise and won!) MY PICK - “Brokeback Mountain”

BEST ACTOR

THE NOMINEES: Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (“Capote”), David Strathairn (“Good Night, and Good Luck”), Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”), Joaquin Phoenix (“Walk the Line”)

Sara Michelle: Let’s be clear, as good as the other nominees are (and in any other year any of them could win this award) this is a two man race between Hoffman and Ledger. What’s more, both men are deserving, delivering rich, complicated portraits up there with some of the very best in film acting you are ever likely to see. Personally, I liked Ledger’s work a bit more, but I can’t help wanting to see the superbly talented Hoffman win. Which, by the way, he will. MY PICK - Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Dennis Landmann: Viggo Mortensen should be here instead of Strathairn, but that’s another issue. Phoenix is this year’s Ray Charles, while Howard’s turn is daring breakout material. Ledger’s performance is the best of his career and what little of Hoffman I’ve seen is very interesting. MY PICK - Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Rachel Sexton: I have respected and enjoyed Strathairn for years, he’s always excellent, and Howard’s performance is a true breakthrough while Phoenix sings the Man in Black to perfection. It’s Hoffman and Ledger who have my heart in this race, though. The Capote accent will almost make you forget that Hoffman was the best thing in “Twister,” and check out Ledger in the scene where he cries but is touching his face almost as if he doesn’t know what the tears are. Brilliant. MY PICK - Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line"

BEST ACTRESS

THE NOMINEES: Judi Dench (“Mrs. Henderson Presents”), Charlize Theron (“North Country”), Keira Knightley (“Pride & Prejudice”), Felicity Huffman (“Transamerica”), Reese Witherspoon (“Walk the Line”)

Sara Michelle: Another two-horse race, only this time the other three contenders probably shouldn’t even be on the track. This was a lousy year for women in film, 2005’s richest performances (Joan Allen in “The Upside of Anger,” Ziyi Zhang in “2046”) unjustly ignored. But Huffman and Witherspoon were every bit as good as advertised, their performances so strong and unparalleled they simply must be considered career bests. Who will win? Like the race for the top prize, this one is closer than people think. While Witherspoon has won the majority of the preseason awards, Huffman’s work is far more distinct and laudatory. Being on America’s favorite television show certainly helps her cause. MY PICK - Felicity Huffman

Dennis Landmann: Judi Dench is taking up valuable space here, which is too bad as there are better performances out there. Witherspoon’s performance is the best one of the year and she deserves to win. MY PICK - Reese Witherspoon

Rachel Sexton: Knightley and Theron, though good, are the weakest here, and although Dench is the dark horse Huffman and Witherspoon will be the contenders. Her SAG win puts Reese in the winners circle. A personal connection with the character and her upbringing as a Southerner helped Reese excellently channel June Carter Cash. MY PICK - Reese Witherspoon

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