Article
Our Review of the 78th Annual Oscar Nominees
Written by Eric, Patrick, Scott
First Posted: February 5th, 2006
With a combined Box Office total for the five best picture nominees being less than $200 million, it's obvious that not everyone has seen this year's crop of Oscar nominated films. To assist you in knowing which movies are worth seeing before the big night, we offer our reviews of this year's nominated films.
Brokeback Mountain directed by Ang Lee
Deeply moving with its achingly beautiful love story and absolutely riveting performances of its two leads.
Capote directed by Bennett Miller
The movie itself serves only as a showcase for Hoffman's acting ability.
Crash directed by Paul Haggis
Features some fine acting and has moments of fairly gripping drama, but it lacks cohesiveness and beats its message into you with a sledgehammer.
Good Night, and Good Luck directed by George Clooney
A fascinating time capsule of a film that succeeds at entertaining and educating, but fails in its attempts at creating an analogy with today's relationship between politicians and the media.
Munich directed by Steven Spielberg
Spielberg's revenge themed movie might carry a message, but it also contains action and suspense of the type you don't normally see in an Oscar nominated movie.
*For the first time in 24 years, the nominees for Picture and Director match.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: Capote
Hoffman buries himself in the role of the famous New York writer and social gadfly of the 1950s and 60s. His voice, his mannerisms and even the way he carries himself are all slavishly devoted to recreating Truman Capote. It's a masterful performance.
Heath Ledger: Brokeback Mountain
Heath Ledger gives an iconic performance as Ennis Del Mar. Like your stereotypical cowboy he’s a man of few words, but you always know what he’s feeling.
Joaquin Phoenix: Walk the Line
Phoenix inhabits the character of Johnny Cash without ever lowering his performance into mere imitation.
David Strathairn: Good Night, and Good Luck
Far less showy a performance than those offered by the other nominees, Strathairn's subtle performance is a lesson in how sometimes playing it small is the right thing to do.
Terrence Howard: Hustle & Flow
Terrence Howard gives a star making turn as DJay. He might just be the De Niro of his generation. He takes the part of DJay, a man that by most people’s standards is living a despicable existence, and somehow makes you care about him.
Judi Dench: Mrs. Henderson Presents
With decades of experience behind her she can say more with just her eyes than many young actresses of today can say with whole pages of dialogue.
Felicity Huffman: Transamerica
The two reasons I can think of that this movie is getting the buzz that it is getting, is that one; Felicity Huffman is hot right now thanks to Desperate Housewives, and two; because no one wants to be called a transgender-phobe by insulting this movie. Well, I've never even seen an episode of Housewives and you can call me what you want to, but this is a B-movie at best.
Keira Knightley: Pride & Prejudice
The role of Elizabeth Bennet fits Kiera Knightly like a glove. Her posh accent and saucy flirtatiousness are perfectly suited to this character and the dialogue rolls off her tongue in such a way that it makes you wish that you'd taken elocution lessons.
Charlize Theron: North Country
While possible to simply dismiss this role as a repeat of Theron downplaying her glamorous image, to do so would discredit the fine work Theron does in this film, which proves that her performance in Monster was no fluke.
Reese Witherspoon: Walk the Line
Witherspoon is a delight as the singing, comic June Carter. Very few roles call for singing, drama and comic ability. Reese pulls off all three successfully.
George Clooney: Syriana
More concerned with the politics than the acting, Clooney scores a nomination simply based on his willingness to shed his good looks and pack on 35 pounds.
Matt Dillon: Crash
His character is a series of stereotypes thrown together, yet he does pull the unlikable character off well. The question is, if he wins the award, will he thank his gay high-school drama teacher?
Paul Giamatti: Cinderella Man
Giamatti, who should always stick to character work, gives terrific support as the boxing manager trying to keep up appearances of success amidst the depression. Unlike Jack Black in King Kong, he looks and sounds as though he belongs in the 1930s.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Brokeback Mountain
Jake Gyllenhaal is perfect as the more outgoing Jack Twist, but he is still overshadowed by Ledger.
William Hurt: A History of Violence
An ok job in a very small part in a movie that was good but not great, this nomination falls into the, "Huh?" category.
Amy Adams: Junebug
Adams performance is superb and her nomination well-deserved. If the Oscars were given strictly based on merit, she would be the frontrunner.
Catherine Keener: Capote
The always reliable Keener is over shadowed, like everyone else in the movie, by Hoffman's Capote.
Francis McDormand: North Country
McDormand does good work admist the melodrama, but not enough to make this movie worth seeing.
Rachel Weisz: The Constant Gardener
Oscar quality work without question, but why isn't she in the Lead Actress category? If she isn't the female lead of this movie, who the hell is?
Michelle Williams: Brokeback Mountain
Michelle Williams gives a terrific performance in a fairly small part as Ennis' wife. This nomination, if not the win, was earned for the scene where she discovers Enis kissing Jack and you see the range of emotions play out across her face.