[John Spencer]

Well, Tim, as Seth said, it may be that AOTC missed out on a nomination by a vote or two. Of the films that were nominatied for Sound and Sound Editing, I don't see a weak one in the group. But that is my opinion. Myself, I wasn't very impressed with the VFX or sound in AOTC, and I've been a huge Star Wars fanboy since 1977. So I don't think anybody got anything "wrong", or lost any "credibility". Their opinions simply differ from those of others.

[Patrick Sun]

The "What have you done for me lately" syndrome is why many just-as-worthy films don't get the nominations they deserve. Add me to the "Minority Report got the shaft" contingent for many of the technical awards.

[Craig S]

David Poland's analysis is up at MovieCity News. Good reading.

As a taste, here's what he said about LotR:

Quote:

Limited nods for Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers will be talked about quite a bit, but New Line should be happy to have gotten the Best Picture nomination. Given the unliklihood of winning in any major categories this year, Best Picture is all they needed. The campaign for Return of the King begins today. Peter Jackson, the writing team. Viggo Mortenson, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellan and the dominant female character in King all become leading contenders for next year's Oscars right now.

I think he's right. Now, before anyone says it - yes, things can (and will) change. But RotK is the pic everyone else will be chasing throughout the year.

[Patrick Larkin]

Seth -- I need to disagree with you. I'm not even a LOTR nut but I must say that TTT would not be the great film that it is without Peter Jackson's direction. It was Jackson's complete dedication and vision that made these films a reality. There is not one person more critical to a film than the Director. The resulting film is a direct result of the director.

Look at the opposite. David Lynch gets nominated for Best Director but not best Picture. How can that happen? Wasn't he recognized for the outstanding film he created?

I believe that the two categories should be merged and let the director receive the award, not the producer.

(Now this all falls apart when you talk about films with Director's for hire - but then again, those type of films aren't nominated for Best Picture.)

[Dan Rudolph]

Anyone know why TTT wasn't nominated for costumes or make-up? Was it disqualified for reusing elements from Fellowship? I'm having trouble thinking of another possible explanation.

[Michael Reuben]

Quote:

(Now this all falls apart when you talk about films with Director's for hire - but then again, those type of films aren't nominated for Best Picture.)

That depends on how you define "director for hire". Arguably that's what Stephen Daldry was on The Hours -- which doesn't diminish his work one iota.

Re: the best actor category. How many people have actually seen The Quiet American? I saw it last year during its qualifying run (review is here), and IMO it is far and away the best performance of an extremely distinguished field. Miramax has been so stingy about release prints, though, that I wonder how many Academy voters will get to see it. (Screeners, perhaps?)

M.

[Randy Korstick]

I'm one who felt the Sound in Star Wars: ATOC did not measure up to the great sound of any of the previous Star Wars movies so I can see why it did not get the nominations.
The sound especially on the DVD was a dissapointment. I thought there was something wrong with my sound system when I was watching it because it just didn't jump out like I expected it too.

[Lou Sytsma]

Yep read all the columnists over at MCN Craig. Lots of Weinstein bashing going on there!

[Patrick Larkin]

Daldry had a track record with Billy Elliot at least...

[Patrick Sun]

Anyone surprised by the lack of noms for "Antwone Fisher"?

[Jason Seaver]

Quote:

I believe that the two categories should be merged and let the director receive the award, not the producer.

I really can't disagree strongly enough. Although the director is often the most important single person in a movie, making a movie is a massive undertaking and it is often the producers (and, don't forget, directors often have producer credit) who hire the director and get him what he needs both in terms of personnel and other resources to get the movie made.

While the director is an important facet, he or she is far from the only one - the director does nothing without the writer, for instance. I wouldn't expect to see a whole lot of variation between the "Picture" and "Director" awards, but I certainly don't think them having a different movie in the fifth slo