Jan 31, 2006, 15:28 GMT
Los Angeles - 'Brokeback Mountain', the poignant but controversial movie about a love affair between two cowboys, scooped up eight Oscar nominations early Tuesday to cement its status as the front runner for Oscar glory.
Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino poses on stage after announcing the nominations for the 78th annual Academy Awards during a televised ceremony in Beverly Hills, California on Tuesday, 31 January 2006. EPA/ARMANDO ARORIZO
The movie, which is still attracting large audiences to U.S. cinemas, was nominated for best picture, best director (Ang Lee), best actor (Heath Ledger), best supporting actress, (Michelle Williams), best supporting actor (Jake Gyllenhaal), and best adapted screenplay. The film's other nominations were for best original score and best cinematography.
The other best picture nominees were the Truman Capote story 'Capote'; the ensemble race relations drama 'Crash'; George Clooney's McCarthy-era chronicle 'Good Night, and Good Luck'; and Steven Spielberg's assassination thriller 'Munich.'
'Capote' and 'Good Night and Good Luck' both earned five nominations, while 'Crash' and 'Walk the Line' picked up four nods apiece.
The nominations favoured lower budget movies outside the mainstream Hollywood fare of action blockbusters, special effects extravaganzas and lavish sequels.
Movies like 'Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith', Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', 'King Kong' and 'Memoirs of a Geisha' were largely ignored by the members of the Academy of Motion Arts Pictures and Sciences, the film industry professionals who vote for the Oscars.
The best actress nominees were Judi Dench in 'Mrs Henderson Presents', Felicity Huffman in 'Transamerica', Keira Knightley in 'Pride and Prejudice', Charlize Theron in 'Noth Country', and Reese Witherspoon in 'Walk the Line'.
In addition to Ledger, the nominees for best actor were Phillip Seymour Hoffman in 'Capote', Terence Howard in 'Hustle and Flow', Joaquin Phoenix in 'Walk the Line', and David Strathairn in 'Good Night and Good Luck'.
The best director picks were Lee for 'Brokeback Mountain', Bennett Miller for 'Capote', George Clooney for 'Good Night and Good Luck', Paul Haggis for 'Crash' and Steven Spielberg for 'Munich'.
Nominated for best animated movie were 'Howl's Moving Castle', 'Tim Burton's Corpse Bride' and 'Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit'.
The best foreign language films were 'Don't Tell' (Italy), 'Joyeux Noel' (France), 'Paradise Now' (Palestine), 'Sophie Scholl - The Final Days' (Germany) and 'Tsotsi (South Africa).
The best supporting actress nominees were Amy Adams in 'Junebug', Catherine Keener in 'Capote', Frances Mcdormand in 'North Country', Rachel Weisz in 'The Constant Gardener' and Michelle Williams in 'Brokeback Mountain'.
The nominees for best performance by an actor in a supporting role were George Clooney in 'Syriana', Matt Dillon in 'Crash', Paul Giamatti in 'Cinderella Man', Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Brokeback Mountain' and William Hurt in 'A History Of Violence'.
The 5,800 members of the Oscar Academy will vote for the winners by February 21. The awards will be presented in the usual star- studded but lengthy ceremony on March 5.
The show, to be televised live around the world, will be hosted by John Stewart, the acerbic comic whose spoof news show 'The Daily Show with John Stewart' has become a huge hit with its sharp criticisms of the U.S. government.
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OB KenobiFeb 5th, 2006 - 09:35:33
It should win the Oscar for most overrated movie of the year. Capote and King Kong come in second and third.
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