BITCHFEST '06!

I’ve made it a tradition to complain about Oscar nominations each year, and I’m finding it harder to get too hot and bothered about 'em. C’mon, it’s the Oscars—they’re silly, they’re ephemeral, they give the top award to crap like BRAVEHEART and GLADIATOR. Still, I can’t help but make a few observations. (By the way, I scored a not-bad .775 average with my predictions.)

1. BROKEBACK MOUTAIN is the expected frontrunner (8 nods), and props to CAPOTE, which received a surprising, none-too-shabby five, (as did MUNICH). But A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE wasn’t so fortunate. I expected an Adapted Screenplay nod, but William Hurt for Supporting Actor? He was good, but only onscreen for less than ten minutes. David Cronenberg, Viggo Mortensen, Maria Bello, Ed Harris, even Ashton Holmes (as the son) are more deserving.

2. Just as I predicted, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA was only honored outside the major categories (Cinematography, Sound Design, Musical Score, etc;). Still, six nominations? It’s in a three-way tie for second-most nominated film with GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK and CRASH.

3. Only three songs for the newly fatuously-titled Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)? And one is from TRANSAMERICA? Even though I’ve never heard it, I’ll be rooting for “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from HUSTLE AND FLOW, if only for its title.

4. Three quality entries for Best Animated Feature? Sweet! And refreshingly, none of ‘em are from Disney.

5. In the tradition of Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, AMERICAN SPLENDOR, and BEFORE SUNSET, one of the year’s best films walks away with one nomination for its screenplay: ladies and gentlemen, I give you THE SQUID AND THE WHALE.

6. In addition to THE SQUID AND THE WHALE’S cast, a few more sorely overlooked actors: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (MYSTERIOUS SKIN), Bruno Ganz (DOWNFALL), Ziyi Zhang (2046), Robin Wright Penn (NINE LIVES), Jeffrey Wright (BROKEN FLOWERS), Romain Duris (THE BEAT MY HEART SKIPPED), Nathalie Press (MY SUMMER OF LOVE), Marilou Berry (LOOK AT ME).

7. This year's slate of Criminally Ignored Films: ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW, MYSTERIOUS SKIN, 3-IRON, THE BEST OF YOUTH, TROPICAL MALADY, GRIZZLY MAN, 2046, NOBODY KNOWS, MY SUMMER OF LOVE, CACHE.

8. Finally! Paul Giamatti gets his first-ever nomination (for CINDERELLA MAN), and his over-honored co-star Russell Crowe gets nothin'. Yes!

And, on a somewhat cheerier note, click on the link for this year's Chlotrudis Award Nominations.