Sunday, December 11, 2005

AFI Top Ten

I'm still kinda sad that the AFI Awards lasted only one year (back in 2001). Because in that single year they really did seem to have their own voice. Their Top Ten this year? Far more interesting than bandwagon-driving unimaginative BFCA. They chose: Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Crash, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Good Night and Good Luck, A History of Violence, King Kong, Munich, The Squid and the Whale, and Syriana.

Respectable and interesting choices and not one desperate Oscar-baiter in the mix (GNaGL doesn't count because it actually has a purpose for being) --I'm talking to you Cinderella Man and Memoirs of a Geisha. Seriously. Does anyone think either movie would exist were it not for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's annual ceremony? OK maybe Geisha. I'll give on that since it's based on a best-seller.

For those small-screen watchin' readers they chose: 24, Battlestar Galactica, Deadwood, Grey's Anatomy, House, Lost, Rescue Me, Sleeper Cell, Sometimes in April, and Veronica Mars.

Two days isn't enough to see "consensus" but it is not looking good for Match Point --what happened to Woody's comeback. My theory is they waited way too long to capitalize on the Cannes buzz. Seriously... a New Year's release?

15 comments:

NicksFlickPicks said...

Is it fair to point out that Bullets Over Broadway, Wiest aside, was no kind of awards magnet until the day of the Oscar nods, when it rode off with seven? Ain't nobody was talking about Jennifer Tilly getting nominated. Granted, those were the years when Miramax would personally offer to lick you if you nom'd their stuff, but it's at least *possible* that Woody has a core audience in the Academy that he lacks outside of it. (Those screenplay nods for Might Aphrodite and Deconstructing Harry, etc....)

NATHANIEL R said...

well nick you're absolutely right about Woody. i'm just getting worried is all. of course I haven't seen it yet so maybe i won't be behind him but i'm crossing my fingers.

NicksFlickPicks said...

I'm going to seize my Glenn-on-Crash moment here and flaunt that I was sanguine about Keener's chances two months ago, talking her up to a slightly incredulous Film Bitch. Admittedly, he is still the Yoda and I am a little Dagobah creature, but I do have that one bright moment to cling to.

NicksFlickPicks said...

By the way, the Boston crowd are my favorite critics' group, but I don't see there winners posted anywhere else. How did you know that Keener won? Do you know who else did?

Joe R. said...

Brokeback (ru - Munich)
Ang Lee (ru - Spielberg)
PSHoffman (Heath Ledger)
Reese Witherspoon (Kiera Knightley)
Paul Giamatti (Oliver Platt)
Catherine Keener (ru - ?)

I got this from the OW forums. Which I said I wasn't gonna visit anymore. Hmm.

Joe R. said...

http://www.variety.com/ac2006_article/VR1117934415?nav=news

adam k. said...

This Hoffman (ru: Ledger) thing is becoming a pattern. I suspect we'll see much more of this. But at this rate, I see Ledger beating Hoffman to the globe.

But yay for Brokeback sweeping. It will win best picture. It's becoming more and more obvious every day.

Glenn Dunks said...

I mentioned it on my blog, but can I suggest that we have a new contender for Best Supporting Actor?

Oliver Platt now has a runner up at Boston and a win from the NYFCO. Considering how wide-open the category is this year, is there room for an as-yet unnominated actor in a period romance?

NicksFlickPicks said...

I'd love to think it untrue, as I'd love to have an excuse to skip Casanova. Any trailer that trumpets, "And the DIRECTOR of CHOCOLAT!" has got some explaining to do. And Sienna Miller's wig! What ever happened to good wigs?

NATHANIEL R said...

there is a page up at the site where you can follow the critics awards now

http://www.thefilmexperience.net/Awards/2005/critics.html

Anonymous said...

but isn't Match Point a British film??

Glenn Dunks said...

I believe it's financed by an American company. Right?

That's how Maria Full of Grace got a nomination last year. It may have seen like a foreign film, but it was at least partially American.

...or... something like that. Pride & Prejudice is definitely British though.

Anonymous said...

I don't know, IMDB claims it's from the UK and when I saw it, it started with the BBC productions logo if I remember correctly

NATHANIEL R said...

why is everyone talking about British or American financed like it matters? did I miss something awardage wise?

Glenn Dunks said...

I thought for the AFI top 10 they had to be American films. Considering they're the American Film Institute.

...I remember something being said about that last year.