BITCHFEST '05
This year's Oscar Nominations are in. I'm having trouble working up as much bile as in years past; for the most part, it's become too predictable. No surprise that THE AVIATOR got 11 nods and that TIME OF THE WOLF got none. Oh well, ten thoughts/rants:

1. No Best Actor nod for Paul Giamatti? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! I suppose those who were nominated in this category deserve to be there, though not Johnny Depp--he’s been better in films that were far more interesting than the limp noodle that is FINDING NEVERLAND.

2. Congrats to SIDEWAYS for at least getting the Best Picture indie wild card slot. As for the other four nominees, ho-hum, but I’ll bet RAY wouldn’t be there if Charles was still alive and well.

3. Best Surprise: I expected Imelda Staunton for Best Actress, but Mike Leigh receiving a Director nod for VERA DRAKE? He’ll never win, but this film’s worthier than the slightly overrated SECRETS AND LIES.

4. Tightest Race: Best Actress. I haven’t seen MILLION DOLLAR BABY, but this is a sterling slate of nominees, even if it’ll eventually come down to Hilary Swank vs. Annette Bening (BEING JULIA).

5. Deserving actors (besides Giamatti) who got the shaft: Javier Bardem (THE SEA INSIDE), Gael Garcia Bernal (BAD EDUCATION), Julie Delpy (BEFORE SUNSET), Nicole Kidman (DOGVILLE), Bill Murray (THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU), Liam Neeson (KINSEY), Peter Sarsgaard (again, for KINSEY), Sissy Spacek (A HOME AT THE END OF THE WORLD), Mark Wahlberg (I HEART HUCKABEES).

6. A few worthy films that were criminally ignored: BAD EDUCATION, DOGVILLE, GOODBYE DRAGON INN, I HEART HUCKABEES, LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE, THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU, MOOLAADE, THE RETURN, TARNATION, UNDERTOW (I could go on and on…)

7. I haven’t seen THE AVIATOR yet, so I’ll just have to take the Academy’s word that Alan Alda was that good playing against type.

8. SHARK TALE for Animated Feature Film? Was everyone who voted for this high on crack?

9. In a just world, VERA DRAKE (3) would’ve received more nominations than LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (4)--even if the latter’s are all in techie categories.

10. Finally, The Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN/AMERCIAN SPLENDOR Memorial Award for a great film that received one measly screenplay nod goes to BEFORE SUNSET. And since even Chlotrudis entirely ignored the film, that's enough.