Thursday 19 November 2009

Best Documentary shortlist.



Well the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences have released the list for the films eligible for the Best Documentary feature.

And of course, there are some glaring omissions (I have included links to the trailers for your convenience - I am so ready for saint-hood).
Here is the list:
The Beaches of Agnes, Agnès Varda, director (Cine-Tamaris)
Burma VJ, Anders Østergaard, director (Magic Hour Films)
The Cove, Louie Psihoyos, director (Oceanic Preservation Society)
Every Little Step, James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, directors (Endgame Entertainment)
Facing Ali, Pete McCormack, director (Network Films Inc.)
Food, Inc., Robert Kenner, director (Robert Kenner Films)
Garbage Dreams, Mai Iskander, director (Iskander Films, Inc.)
Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders, Mark N. Hopkins, director (Red Floor Pictures LLC)
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith, directors (Kovno Communications)
Mugabe and the White African, Andrew Thompson and Lucy Bailey, directors (Arturi Films Limited)
Sergio, Greg Barker, director (Passion Pictures and Silverbridge Productions)
Soundtrack for a Revolution, Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, directors (Freedom Song Productions)
Under Our Skin, Andy Abrahams Wilson, director (Open Eye Pictures)
Valentino The Last Emperor, Matt Tyrnauer, director (Acolyte Films)
Which Way Home, Rebecca Cammisa, director (Mr. Mudd)
Although it made the cut off point, they decided to ignore the highest grossing documentary of the year, Michael Moores 'Capialism: A Love Story'. Also, one of the best reviewed films of the year 'Anvil: The Story of Anvil' was also left off the list. Just ask Madonna, the Academy are not big on music documentaries.
Sadly, even though many considered it light weight, 'The September Issue' also fell victim.

Right now, as the list stands, I would say the best chance at nominations are 'Food, Inc.', 'The Cove', 'Burma VJ' and 'Every Little Step' with the fifth being a crap shot. As it stands I think it is a race between what we eat and dolphin slaughter.

2 comments:

Notas Sobre Creación Cultural e Imaginarios Sociales said...

I say Agnes Varda for Oscar!
It's a shame that the academy has left all these greats (like Werner Herzog) to be honored late in their careers for documentaries and ignored the groundbreaking work they did in fiction.

Michael Parsons said...

That is the Academy for you. They hardly reward the deserving for the year (although No Country year was the closest they got)

This year, all I care about it Gabby winning. I feel it in my bones