“”Brokeback Mountain””
Usually my favorite movies don’t get Oscar nominations, and this year is no exception. But the horrendous “”Crash”” and the mediocre “”Munich”” getting nods are going to make the ceremony all the more painful to sit through. “”Capote”” and “”Good Night”” were solid efforts, but “”Brokeback”” is the best of the bunch. And if it wins, we’ll get another solid month of “”Brokeback”” parodies. Hooray!
Nate Buchik/staff writer
Best Actor
Heath Ledger
While I would have liked to see Jeff Daniels get recognition for his work in “”The Squid and the Whale,”” the five nominees all give knockout performances. Philip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic and will probably win, but Ledger’s nuanced portrayal of Ennis was subtly affecting.
Best Actress
Reese Witherspoon
Even though this category is as thin as Lindsay Lohan, it’s our best chance to see someone cry when she wins. With no Gwyneth Paltrow-like guarantee among the nominees, my guess is that Reese would bawl in her acceptance speech. Too bad “”Walk the Line”” wasn’t her best work this year. How did she manage to play a ghost … when she was still actually alive?
Snubbed
“”Me, You and Everyone We Know””
Miranda July’s first feature had a unique and original voice in a year full of crappy remakes and Hollywood schlock. It’s not a perfect film and I wouldn’t expect the arthritic Academy to give it a Best Picture nod, but an original screenplay and acting nomination would have been thoroughly deserved.
“”Munich””
With the exception of the most inappropriate slash disturbing slash sweaty sex scene as the finale, Spielberg’s meticulous film is his comeback winner.
Lauren Hillery/arts editor
Best Actor
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
It’s about time Seymour Hoffman was nominated for his exceptional acting. He should have won for his performance as Dean Trumbell, the mattress man in “”Punch-Drunk Love,”” but his portrayal of Capote was as flawless as it gets.
Best Actress
Reese Witherspoon
As if she wasn’t cute enough already, she had to go and portray June Carter-Cash to perfection. I’m just glad that they didn’t overdo her “”dos”” throughout the years like Anne Hathaway in “”Brokeback Mountain.””
Snubbed
“”The Constant Gardener””
This was the most beautifully shot film this year, and although it received nominations in other categories, Fernando Meirelles’ film deserves the best picture nomination because it is complex, complete and controversial.
“”Capote””
This film does not cater to the lowest common denominator of the movie-going public. It compellingly shows one man’s struggle with his own humanity and just how far he is willing to go to make a name for himself. Plus, any film that makes literature important again has my vote.
Celeste Meiffren/arts editor
Best Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman
PSH is one of the most underrated-yet-deserving-of-our-love actors of his generation. His portrayal of Truman Capote was absolutely seamless. Plus, not once did he complain to the press about how hard it was or how brave he was to play a gay character. Cough* Heath Ledger *Cough.
Best Actress
Felicity Huffman
Two words: prosthetic penis. Felicity Huffman played a man struggling with his sexual identity in “”Transamerica.”” Hopefully she will win because she was amazing, not because she made herself ugly. Cough* Charlize Theron *Cough.
Snubbed
Owen Kline
“”Squid and the Whale”” star Owen Kline, who played the young brother Frank, should have been nominated for a supporting actor nod. He drinks beer, plays with condoms and masturbates in the film. And aren’t those the exact behaviors of a Hollywood golden child?
“”Crash””
This film did an amazing job portraying almost every kind of social prejudice that exists and finding a way to tie every story together into the movie as a whole. It’s heartbreaking to watch these prejudices realized in every situation, but even more beautiful to see them overcome.
Tessa Strasser/staff writer
Best Actor
Joaquin Phoenix
Did you see the Oscars last year? “”Ray”” took home the big money. Pretty much any time you portray a dead legend, it means a nice little statue to take home with you. Plus, Phoenix went above and beyond “”Ray”” and actually sang the songs himself instead of lip-synching along.
Best Actress
Reese Witherspoon
Witherspoon did a phenomenal job playing a woman in love with someone she knew couldn’t work. Her chemistry made the relationship with drug-addicted Cash believable. I really felt for her and realized the relationship wasn’t as easy as just giving in or walking away.
Snubbed
Steve Carrell
What’s the only other thing that male actors avoid like Kryptonite besides playing gay cowboys? Playing a 40-year-old virgin. Carrell’s movie was at the top of the box office for ages raking in the dough, but gets absolutely no love? It just isn’t right.
