Oscar Nominations

Well, I think, and rightly so, that everyone is upset that Paul Giamatti didn't get nominated for Sideways. They found a way to nominate Clint Eastwood instead, and while I haven't seen Million Dollar Baby yet, it almost has to be a sentimental nod (although I hear he's excellent). If I had to kick someone off, it would be, surprisingly, Johnny Depp (Finding Neverland), who has finally become respected by his peers after being shamelessly shunned for Ed Wood and Donnie Brasco (you could also argue he could have been nominated for What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and others).

Calling Oliver Stone: I'm not sure if anyone else has thought of this conspiracy, but maybe this is in some way a knock on Giamatti's father, Bartlett, who was commissioner of baseball when he banned Pete Rose from the sport and the Hall of Fame. Giamatti was also not nominated for American Splendor. You can put Splendor and Sideways on the map of Best Ever Non-Nominated Performances. Hell, almost everything and everyone else got nominated for Sideways, why not Giamatti? It's a conspiracy. People don't like Rose out of the Hall of Fame, so Hollywood is sticking it to Giamatti's son. I'm sure when everyone starts falling over themselves with glee when Ron Howard's Cinderella Man comes out this summer, Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger, along with Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman will be fawned over while Giamatti, quietly stealing the entire movie, will be snubbed again.

Michael Moore's entry of Fahrenheit 9/11 into the Best Picture category, instead of Best Documentary, led to an absolutely amazing nomination of Tupac: Resurrection. That's a decent doc, but wow!

I liked Ray, but one of the best 5 films of the year?

I liked Jamie Foxx in Collateral, but one of the best 5 supporting actor turns of the year?

More later. Off to New York City! And during seeing the sights, hope to see some movies, maybe post a la L.A., and forthcoming: My Bests and Worsts and Other Observations of 2004 Films & Entertainment.