15 Documentary Finalists Announced For Academy

[Idioteque...]

15 Documentary Features Continue in Oscar Race The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 15 films in the Documentary Feature category will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Eighty-nine pictures had originally qualified in the category.

The 15 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

* The Beaches of Agnes, Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
* Burma VJ, Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
* The Cove, Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
* Every Little Step, James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
* Facing Ali, Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
* Food, Inc., Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
* Garbage Dreams, Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
* Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders, Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
* The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
* Mugabe and the White African, Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
* Sergio, Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
* Soundtrack for a Revolution, Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
* Under Our Skin, Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
* Valentino The Last Emperor, Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
* Which Way Home, Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)

The Documentary Branch Screening Committee viewed all the eligible documentaries for the preliminary round of voting. Documentary Branch members will now select the five nominees from among the 15 titles on the shortlist.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.


No Good Hair or Captalisim? I'm surprised, and could This is It be classified in this category?

[mikejet]

The Cove all the way. It's the one film that really made a difference this year.

[jhiggy23]

The Cove seems to be the front runner for sure. Thank God that This is It wasn't nominated. I would have refused to watch the Oscars if that was the case. I'm glad they nominated films that topically and quality-wise deserved to be nominated.

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

The Cove seems to be the front runner for sure. Thank God that This is It wasn't nominated. I would have refused to watch the Oscars if that was the case. I'm glad they nominated films that topically and quality-wise deserved to be nominated.

Not exactly. I haven't watched much of the other documentaries and even though Moore is known for his controversial antics, I still think he did a good job with Captialism and Good Hair was actualyl an interesting documentary. It was different.

This is It isn't exactly a documentary per say but it showcased some great moments from one of the greatest musicians to live.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Not exactly. I haven't watched much of the other documentaries and even though Moore is known for his controversial antics, I still think he did a good job with Captialism and Good Hair was actualyl an interesting documentary. It was different.

This is It isn't exactly a documentary per say but it showcased some great moments from one of the greatest musicians to live.

Fair enough. The academy is inconsistent when it comes to documentaries. Many years, they pick films to win that have very important issues involved. Other years, they pick films to win that were both critically and commercially successful, like last year with Man on Wire. So, it is tough to pick which film will win.

As for This is It, I won't get into an argument about Michael Jackson since it is way off topic.

As for Capitalism, I am interested to see it because although Moore is undoubtedly biased, he creates very good documentaries.

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Fair enough. The academy is inconsistent when it comes to documentaries. Many years, they pick films to win that have very important issues involved. Other years, they pick films to win that were both critically and commercially successful, like last year with Man on Wire. So, it is tough to pick which film will win.

As for This is It, I won't get into an argument about Michael Jackson since it is way off topic.

As for Capitalism, I am interested to see it because although Moore is undoubtedly biased, he creates very good documentaries.

I really thought Man on Wire was a cool documentary. I could care less about this category though, if they messed up Best Picture (which they usually do) Best Actor, or Best Actress and they messed up big time on Best Supporting Actress last year. I usually feel bothered by that.

And I'm curious of this Michael Jackson hate lol but do agree it would be off topic to discuss.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

I really thought Man on Wire was a cool documentary. I could care less about this category though, if they messed up Best Picture (which they usually do) Best Actor, or Best Actress and they messed up big time on Best Supporting Actress last year. I usually feel bothered by that.

And I'm curious of this Michael Jackson hate lol but do agree it would be off topic to discuss.

There are certainly times when the Academy either does not nominate worthy movies or people and there are times when they simply choose, imo, the wrong winner. However, I think best documentary is a great category as I love the genre.

I disagree that they usually mess up best picture. Yes, they sometimes get it wrong in that they don't nominate a film I consider to be the best of the year (Hotel Rwanda being an example), but I do find myself agreeing with the film they chose out of the nominees, more often than not (Slumdog being the best, imo, of the nominees).

How can you possibly think they messed up big time on best supporting actress last year? The only way they messed up was by not awarding Penelope Cruz the Oscar for her role in Elegy, which was superior to her role in Vicky Cristina. She had far and away the two best supporting actress performances of last year.

Amy Adams--great in her role and deserved her nomination, but not an extraordinary performance. Fourth place of the five.

Viola Davis--very powerful few minutes on film but should not have won over others who had much more substantial roles, with equal or better quality. Last place of the five.

Taraji Henson--fantastic job but still not exceptional. Tied for second.

Marisa Tomei--the best actress on the list. Very good but no standout moment. Tied for second.

[jhiggy23]

Man on Wire had an extraordinary story that can only be seen to be believed. The feat is mind-boggling. However, the film was not among the best documentaries that I have seen, as I think it had some dull moments.

My Michael Jackson hate does not stem from him as an artist. He is undoubtedly one of the top five most important musical figures of the 20th century. I personally enjoy his classic music. However, his unbelievable talent and influence is matched by his unlawful and wrong behavior. End of story.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

As for Capitalism, I am interested to see it because although Moore is undoubtedly biased, he creates very good documentaries.

"Unfortunately", he disqualified himself (again) with his "populist" stunt of exhibiting the film outside of theatrical engagements first, and by rules left himself out of the running.
Which is a good thing, for those who don't have the heart to tell him his F/911 free-ride ticket ran out after nobody saw "Sicko".

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by EricJ

"Unfortunately", he disqualified himself (again) with his "populist" stunt of exhibiting the film outside of theatrical engagements first, and by rules left himself out of the running.
Which is a good thing, for those who don't have the heart to tell him his F/911 free-ride ticket ran out after nobody saw "Sicko".

I was not a fan of Fahrenheit 9/11. However, I thought Sicko was very good, despite its obvious bias and skewed perspective. I would mention why, except politics are (quite rightly) banned from being discussed here.

[jhiggy23]

But to say nobody saw Sicko is just incorrect. More people saw Sicko than any of the nominees this year, except The Cove.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I was not a fan of Fahrenheit 9/11. However, I thought Sicko was very good, despite its obvious bias and skewed perspective. I would mention why, except politics are (quite rightly) banned from being discussed here.

Thought F9/11 was pretty good, but by accident, not design:
A documentary, within reasonable editing and crafting by the director, has to document footage that's already there, not necessarily preach about what isn't--
And while the first half could've politely been called "speculation" ("What was talked about at that secret meeting? What was going through Bush's mind? Could it have beeeeen....Satan??"), when Moore keeps himself offscreen for the second half, and just lets us follow the Marine recruiters, it shows how much better a documentary can be when the documentarian doesn't make the movie about himself.

But F911 is pretty much the only reason we're still discussing Moore in the hopes he'll make another one (and accidents don't happen twice), and because everyone at the time thought we'd have a Good vs. Evil Oscars with F911 vs. Passion of the Christ for Best Picture.
Well, um...we didn't. Things just kind of puttered out after that.

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

My Michael Jackson hate does not stem from him as an artist. He is undoubtedly one of the top five most important musical figures of the 20th century. I personally enjoy his classic music. However, his unbelievable talent and influence is matched by his unlawful and wrong behavior. End of story.

He's done some crazy things no doubt about it, but he's a man that had a problematic life. Now it might not justify it but it's understandable and he's not a huge difference from other celebrities these days.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

There are certainly times when the Academy either does not nominate worthy movies or people and there are times when they simply choose, imo, the wrong winner. However, I think best documentary is a great category as I love the genre.

I disagree that they usually mess up best picture. Yes, they sometimes get it wrong in that they don't nominate a film I consider to be the best of the year (Hotel Rwanda being an example), but I do find myself agreeing with the film they chose out of the nominees, more often than not (Slumdog being the best, imo, of the nominees).

How can you possibly think they messed up big time on best supporting actress last year? The only way they messed up was by not awarding Penelope Cruz the Oscar for her role in Elegy, which was superior to her role in Vicky Cristina. She had far and away the two best supporting actress performances of last year.

Amy Adams--great in her role and deserved her nomination, but not an extraordinary performance. Fourth place of the five.

Viola Davis--very powerful few minutes on film but should not have won over others who had much more substantial roles, with equal or better quality. Last place of the five.

Taraji Henson--fantastic job but still not exceptional. Tied for second.

Marisa Tomei--the best actress on the list. Very good but no standout moment. Tied for second.

I personally thought Marisa Tomei was very lame in her role and Cruz was just not interesting in Barcelona. I personally believe Taraji did the best job and proved her worth as an actress and I don't think Slumdog was the best film, it's a filmed with a similar story to other movies with a new coat of paint. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the movie and liked it but it certainly wasn't amazing and the last 10 minutes were quite Hollywood. I personally preferred Benjamin Button. Such a beautiful film but usually I have a problem with the best picture nominees, they miss out on nominated some best films.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

He's done some crazy things no doubt about it, but he's a man that had a problematic life. Now it might not justify it but it's understandable and he's not a huge difference from other celebrities these days.



I personally thought Marisa Tomei was very lame in her role and Cruz was just not interesting in Barcelona. I personally believe Taraji did the best job and proved her worth as an actress and I don't think Slumdog was the best film, it's a filmed with a similar story to other movies with a new coat of paint. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the movie and liked it but it certainly wasn't amazing and the last 10 minutes were quite Hollywood. I personally preferred Benjamin Button. Such a beautiful film but usually I have a problem with the best picture nominees, they miss out on nominated some best films.

I'm going to have to disagree on each and every point.

First, comparing the problems of Michael Jackson to other celebrities is just absurd. Other celebrities did not (allegedly) molest children, turn from black to white, and turn from good looking to looking like ET.

Second, Tomei is a fantastic actress and conveys emotion with the best of them. Cruz's character was by far the most interesting because her role had the most "meat" to it--she was afforded the most characterization. Her ability to convey humor, sadness, and craziness was what won it for her. She had the most to do and did it the best. As for Slumdog, just because it has a similar story than other films means nothing. Execution is what matters. Virtually every story has been used before, but what makes them different is how they are executed. People complain about the ending, but how else would you like it to end? At least you felt something in that movie, unlike the completely un-emotionally-involving Benjamin Button with its hokey, unaffecting story. I do agree on one point though--Slumdog was not an all time classic. However, last year had many very good films but no true "amazing" film. That being said, there is no doubt that out of the five nominees, imo, Slumdog deserved to win. Benjamin Button was a poor movie to me. Two stars.

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

I'm going to have to disagree on each and every point.

First, comparing the problems of Michael Jackson to other celebrities is just absurd. Other celebrities did not (allegedly) molest children, turn from black to white, and turn from good looking to looking like ET.

Second, Tomei is a fantastic actress and conveys emotion with the best of them. Cruz's character was by far the most interesting because her role had the most "meat" to it--she was afforded the most characterization. Her ability to convey humor, sadness, and craziness was what won it for her. She had the most to do and did it the best. As for Slumdog, just because it has a similar story than other films means nothing. Execution is what matters. Virtually every story has been used before, but what makes them different is how they are executed. People complain about the ending, but how else would you like it to end? At least you felt something in that movie, unlike the completely un-emotionally-involving Benjamin Button with its hokey, unaffecting story. I do agree on one point though--Slumdog was not an all time classic. However, last year had many very good films but no true "amazing" film. That being said, there is no doubt that out of the five nominees, imo, Slumdog deserved to win. Benjamin Button was a poor movie to me. Two stars.

Well as much as I'd love to argue about the MJ thing, I don't want to change the topic on that but Cruz's performance was just alright. It didn't amaze me and she's had so many better performances that overshadow that. As for Tomei she might be talented d but she didn't really show much (well she did in other ways in Wrestler. I felt she was very bland. Other actresses could have made the part a bit more interesting but I don't care much for her performance in that movie because it was a movie about Mickey Rourke and he nailed the role perfectly.

Now Benjamin Button actually does have an affecting story. I felt the characters were quite well developed and I really can't argue with you because I'm not clear on why you hated it. BB definitely had problems of its own like the end and that love story with Tilda was bore but it's one of the best flicks about a romance out there. Now Slumdog was definitely a different type of execution for Western audiences but I've seen lots of film take place in similar settings.

Actually J-Higgy, I think we both discussed Benjamin Button before in another thread and we both respected each other for opinions?