Film Ick has just posted a list of the best feature documentary nominee contenders for the upcoming Academy Awards, and although there’s not too many suprises, I was happy to see Jonestown: The Life and Death of People’s Temple included. (you can read my review of the film here) Here’s the list:
Blindsight, Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?, Deliver Us From Evil, The Ground Truth, An Inconvenient Truth, Iraq in Fragments, Jesus Camp, Jonestown: The Life and Death of People’s Temple, My Country, My Country, Shut Up & Sing, Sisters in Law, Storm of Emotions, The Trials of Darryl Hunt, An Unreasonable Man and The War Tapes.
You can pretty much count on An Inconvenient Truth to make it through, but I’ll go ahead and guess what the five nominated films will be. (keep in mind i have yet to see some of them)
Deliver Us From Evil, An Inconvenient Truth, Jesus Camp, Shut Up & Sing, The War Tapes.
I really would’ve liked to have seen The Devil and Daniel Johnston included in the list, but i’m not suprised that it wasn’t. Afterall, it’s hard out there for a bi-polar outsider musician. Oh well, who really watches the Oscars anyways? I know, millions and millions of people. So let’s place our bets now then. Who will be in the top five and who will take the top prize?
Related Link: Film Ick: Documentary Feature Contenders
I like your five selections – they’re the ones I would have selected too. I think it’s going to go to “The War Tapes”.
I’m predicting a “Deliver Us From Evil” win here and now. The Academy always seems to be five years behind the times, so its members should finally be hearing about priest scandals by now. Throw in the Mark Foley thing for a little extra timeliness. Plus, the glut of liberal docs/Iraq docs will likely cancel each other out.
The only movies I have seen is Truth and Jonestown. If we’re going by your selection, I will go with Incovenient Truth.
Not because I thought it was a great movie, but it seems the kind of movie that the spielberg crowd will embrace as “informative, but MOST IMPORTANTLY ENTERTAINING – incl. tons of music etc”.
I don’t know if any of the others are as set up as Truth, but from what I heard about them it didn’t sound like it.
That is great, I’m so happy for Deborah Scranton the director of The War Tapes. I did and interview with her on my podcast check it out. Bias included in my selection, The War Tapes winner. Good Post. Thanks
The Devil and Daniel Johnston actually qualified for Academy consderation last year and it made the shortlist of 15. However, it did not make it to the final 5. This might not be too surprising considering that the Oscar nomination for Tupac: Resurrection was the first for a film about a popular music figure in 30 years.
Yeah, you’re right, it was last year. Living in a small town tends to play with your mind in regards to release dates and what not, seeing as we usually end up seeing smaller films a year or so after it’s released.
I wasn’t a big fan of the Tupac documentary, but I suppose it was nice to see it nominated. I suppose music films can be a tough sell, especially in the case of The Devil and Daniel Johnston, because not only does the film have to work…the audience also has to be convinced that the artist is worthy. I can see alot of people struggling to find the genius in Daniel and I suppose the same can be said for Tupac.
go and see “storm of emotions” and you will see a good movie’ a very good movie!