OSCAR COMMENTARY
by Nathaniel R

days until OSCAR NIGHT!

FOREIGN RELEASES (2005) BOX OFFICE / FOREIGN COUNTRIES -OSCAR RECORDS / 2004 -LAST YEAR'S RACE
OFFICIAL OSCAR SUBMISSIONS FOR 2005 A-F / F-N / O-Z


BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

3/5 correct on my predictions. I missed Germany (wishful thinking to get away from the Holocaust as a Foreign Film nomination) and Italy.
My personal ballot? I wish --it usually takes 2 to 3 years before all of the 50 some competing films surface in some way for viewing.

Should Win: Sadly this is the first year in quite some time where I haven't seen any of the nominees.
Will Win: Barring a surprise (very possibly in any category where the viewers have to see all to vote --which they do here) this contest seems to be between Paradise Now and Tsotsi. Everyone is predicting Tsotsi so Im'a run against the current and say Paradise Now

Did Win: Tsotsi, the first winner from South Africa (which was also nominated last year)
FRANCE
34th nom / 9 wins
Joyeux Noel
GERMANY
15th nom / 2 wins
Sophie Scholl
ITALY
27th nom / 10 wins
"Don't Tell" (Formerly referred to as "The Beast of the Heart")
PALESTINE
1st nomination
Paradise Now
SOUTH AFRICA
2 noms/ 1st win
Tsotsi
The Oscars love films with world war backdrops. They love heartwarming. They love France. International stars, too.
Oscar loves a biopic. They also love WW II (There are a lot of these films every year though)
Italy is a favored country.
Subject matter is harsh but they seem to love it. It was actually in theaters all during Oscar season too which helps.
The big winner at TIFF. Sometimes that spells Oscar. Sometimes. Oscar voters are said to have loved this one. But this category is rarely a simple call.


To Read About the
Submissions and AMPAS Reactions Click Away...
Countries
Argentina to Finland
Countries
France to Norway
Countries
Palestine to Vietnam

 

Nathaniel R