CRASH MOUNTAIN
Nothing kills a good champagne buzz like a shocking win for Best Picture. I’m too stunned and appalled to analyze how and why Crash won over Brokeback Mountain, so I’ll avoid it for the time being.
Host Jon Stewart was pretty funny, and a definite improvement from the last several years. I need to watch the show again on TiVo because I was at an Oscar party and did not hear some of his gems.
I’ll break down my initial impressions of the winners by category.
ACTOR – LEADING
Won: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Should have won: Heath Ledger
Hoffman altered his voice and dropped a few pounds to play Truman Capote. He is a veteran of independent film, and has played far more challenging roles. I really enjoyed Capote but did not feel that Hoffman was transformative. On the other hand, Ledger was compelling and heartbreaking in
ACTOR – SUPPORTING
Won: George Clooney
I did not see Syriana, but I will. I’m happy for Clooney. It seems this year the Academy is awarding the men for altering their physical appearance; both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor underwent obvious weight fluctuation for their roles. And yet Felicity Huffman was snubbed for the most daring renovation of all – playing
a man who becomes a woman…
ACTRESS – LEADING
Won: Reese Witherspoon
Should have won: Felicity Huffman
Witherspoon saved Walk the Line. It is a good movie but her spirit and incandescent persona are what make the film. I am a big Reese fan, but this was a safe role, one that didn’t require much reach. She’s a Southern gal playing one of her Southern idols. Yes, she learned how to sing, and sing well, but Witherspoon’s best work was in Election. Felicity Huffman may be more recognized for her television career, but her role in Transamerica is on par with Charlize Theron’s in Monster and Hilary Swank’s in Boys Don’t Cry.
ACTRESS – SUPPORTING
Won: Rachel Weisz
Should have won: Michelle Williams
To me, the women in this category anchored the films they were nominated for. Without them, the movies would have suffered greatly. I’m glad that Weisz has finally broken away from The Mummy, but I hope winning this category won’t affect her future work (see: Mercedes Ruehl, Marisa Tomei, Mira Sorvino, and Kim Basinger). The good news is that she is next starring in The Fountain, an Ayn Rand adaptation directed by her fiancé Darren Aronofsky. And although Michelle Williams didn’t win, she has officially arrived; Dawson’s Creek is now a distant memory, and Brokeback should open new doors for her.
BEST PICTURE
Won: Crash
Should have won: Brokeback Mountain
The only shocker of the night. I was in denial about the strong word of mouth support and momentum behind the film, as well as the power of a Best Picture released on DVD before Oscar ballots are due. I need to sleep on it and get back to you, but I’m very surprised and disappointed.
ORIGINAL SONG
Won: Hard Out Here for a Pimp (Hustle & Flow)
Admittedly, it was a poor year for original songs in film. And to be fair, this song is catchy. The music in Hustle & Flow was the only highlight of the entire movie, if you ask me. But the Academy’s requirements for original music in a film are so asinine that Emmylou Harris was denied a nomination for her original song in Brokeback Mountain solely because it didn’t play long enough in a scene to qualify.
I don’t have the heart or energy to comment right now about the rest of the categories. Stay tuned for more analysis after I sleep and recover from the Crash upset.