Features
10 February 2006
Volume 118, Number 12
Let the Oscar race begin!
by Bryan Blanks
Courier Staff
On January 31, 2006, nominations for the 78th Annual Academy Awards were announced to the press. Academy Award-winner Mira Sorvino assisted in the unveiling of the prestigious nominations for achievement in film. The Academy Awards is one of the biggest nights in Hollywood and every actor, director, and producer dreams of having his name announced as a recipient of the beloved golden statue. The Awards will be announced on March 5, with Jon Stewart set to host the celebration, which is being televised on the ABC network.
Five films were nominated for best picture, including the controversial “Brokeback Mountain,” which leads the pack with eight nominations. Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams all received nods for their roles in “Brokeback Mountain,” and director Ang Lee tops off the film’s nominations for best achievement in directing. The popular film “Crash” also received a nomination for Best Picture. Recently, “Crash” took home the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. Other films nominated for Best Picture include “Munich,” directed by Steven Spielberg, and “Good Night, and Good Luck,” directed by George Clooney. Both Clooney and Spielberg received nominations for Best Director. In Academy Award history, the recipient for Best Director often wins the coveted Best Picture award as well.
I ultimately feel the 78th Academy Award nominations were almost predictable with a few exceptions, but we will have to wait until March to see who actually takes home the gold. Millions of viewers tune into the Academy Awards telecast to see who’s dating whom, what people are wearing and, most importantly, who will win the year’s highest honor for film. With presenters such as Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx, this year’s Academy Awards are sure to bring a night of laughter and heartfelt moments that make us proud to celebrate American filmmaking.
