Glomming the noms.

"I've been intrigued by the recent discussion of what might be called the 'Politics of Oscar,' the ongoing discussion of the films that have been nominated for Academy Awards and how they might serve as a barometer for whether Hollywood is liberal or conservative or whether the nominated films reflect the values of this mysterious heartland that I keep hearing about," writes Chuck Tryon. Which leads us directly to John Rogers taking on Jason Apuzzo of Libertas, "the wee conservative film movement," point by point. That is one amusing and exhilarating read.

So, catching up with a batch of initial reactions earlier week, let's begin with David Poland: "In the absence of a full-blown push by Universal, the strongest contender to upset Brokeback Mountain will be Crash." Also at Movie City News, where you'll find a collection of reactions from several nominees, Kristopher Tapley: "The single greatest moment of the morning for this viewer was hearing Terrence Howard's name mentioned in the short list of Best Actor contenders for his ground-shattering performance in Hustle & Flow." And the biggest snub? Grizzly Man, writes Gary Dretzka.

And via MCN, Larry Gross at Truthdig: "As the crescendo of Hollywood's award season builds toward the climax of Oscar night, only the resolutely oblivious could fail to have noted that this is the year of the queer."

Nikki Finke argues in the LA Weekly that Brokeback is by no means a shoe-in. Because she's heard too many Academy members won't even look at it.

Ryan Wu grumbles smartly.

Gabriel Shanks will meet you in the "World's Biggest Oscar Pool." A smaller pool means a better shot at winning something: Hollywood Bitchslap.

Mary McNamara for the Los Angeles Times: "Depending on how you look at it, Tuesday's nominations are either a fitting way to cap one of the worst box-office years ever or a wake-up call, a reminder that small, character-driven films have fueled the entertainment industry since it began."

More from John Horn and Susan King (message movies), Rachel Abramowitz (not a good year for women), Tom O'Neil and Steve Pond (the odds), Patrick Goldstein (outsiders), Richard Rushfeld (watching the announcement), Elizabeth Snead (who's wearing whom), Kenneth Turan (indies), Carina Chocano (quips), Chris Lee (no box office winners), King (Clooney), McNamara (Futterman), Robert W Welkos (Crash producers credits mixup), comedians on Brokeback Mountain, online forum snippets and Jim Bates: "All you need to know about how hard it will be to get people to watch the Oscars is that a nominated documentary about penguins has been watched by more moviegoers than any of the five best picture contenders."

"Politics have never been more front and center," writes Anne Thompson in the Hollywood Reporter, which has spruced up its Oscar Watch section.

Sharon Waxman sees "mainly small films with deep political and social themes, from gay romance to the abuse of government power to racial relations to the cycle of vengeance in the Middle East." David Carr, who, as the Carpetbagger, is all over this story, of course: "[T]here is already one clear group of victors: the independent production companies and specialty divisions." Also in the New York Times, Caryn James's audio slide show. And James watches the trailers for the Best Foreign Language Film nominees.

IndieWIRE's Eugene Hernandez rounds up reactions from Indiewood movers and shakers while Brian Brooks calls up some of the nominees themselves.

Mick LaSalle in the San Francisco Chronicle: "In trying to make sense of the Oscar nominations, it always helps to remember one thing: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences likes movies that are socially liberal but artistically conservative."

Aaron Dobbs: "As disappointed as I am in the Capote, Crash and Munich overhyping, I'm equally ecstatic about the Best Documentary nomination that went to Street Fight."

Dennis Cozzalio sorts the hits from the misses in his own predictions.

More reactions? Nick Davis has a slew of them. And more from Matt Zoller Seitz, Craig Phillips, Edward Copeland, Vince Keenan, Marcy Dermansky and Jürgen Fauth and Jeffrey M Anderson.

Salon's Andrew O'Hehir places his bets. So does Tom Hall.

Even the World Socialist Web Site has a take. David Walsh: "[C]ertain realities are making their presence felt."

In the Independent, David Thomson presents "five nominations in the major categories for films, directors, actors and actresses whose reputations have endured but who were not even nominated in their day." Also: Geoffrey Macnab on the freshest guest at the party, Participant Productions. Related: Michael S Malone talks with Jeff Skoll for Wired.

The Washington Post has set up an Awards section. So, too, the Times of London.

Tom Breihan in the Voice: "[S]omething pretty incredible happened on Monday afternoon when the Three 6 Mafia, my favorite rap group, was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Song category."

The Guardian offers its take, focusing on the Brits, and opens its special section. Also: Patrick Barkham explains where the name "Oscar" came from and Marina Hyde offers advice to nominees on how to draw even more attention to themselves.

And girls! Want an Oscar? Kira Cochrane suggests nabbing a role as "a gritty, complicated, working-class heroine who takes on the establishment, aka 'the man,' and wins. It worked for Sally Field in Norma Rae (1979), Meryl Streep in Silkwood (1983), Jodie Foster in The Accused (1988) and Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich (2000). A stellar line-up. And now comes Charlize Theron in North Country, the gleam of a second Oscar nomination surely twinkling in her eyes."

Online listening tip. For NPR, Bob Mondello on who got shut out.

Posted by dwhudson at February 4, 2006 3:40 PM