Oscars: Party Crasher

In a move that apparently took everyone by surprise, "Crash" won best picture over the favored "Brokeback Mountain" at last night's Academy Awards.

I have to admit that I thought "Brokeback Mountain" was, hands down, the best directed movie of the nominees.  I could make a very strong case for "Munich"--after all, no one has mastered the craft better than Spielberg--but in the end, I thought Ang Lee's handling of his story was more skillful than Spielberg's handing of "Munich," as the directing related to the particular stories they were telling.  Spliting hairs, to be sure, but sometimes, in the "busy-ness" factor, less is simply more.  So I was not surprised to see Ang Lee win that category.  Among the directing nominees, his and Spielberg's efforts were head and shoulders above the rest of the nominees.

But "Crash" as best picture?  That is a puzzlement to me.  Maybe it was the hometown factor, given that "Crash" was set in Los Angeles.  There is also the theory that publicity and awareness for "Brokeback" peaked too early, such that when Academy Voters were at the point of actually casting their ballots, "Brokeback" was losing its lustre, and "Crash" was ascendant.

One thing that pleases me greatly is the continued breaking of the tradition of Best Picture and Best Director going to the same film.  I was very pleased to see Spielberg win the directing award for "Saving Private Ryan," for instance, but I thought "Private Ryan" had major story weaknesses, even though it was a directing tour de force, and I felt that "Shakespeare in Love" was vastly superior as a complete movie. So, "Shakespeare" was more Oscar-worthy as Best Picture.

There should be no rule that the top two awards should go to the same film, and clearly, voters felt the same.  Having said that however, I think "Brokeback" should have won both categories, even while I am pleased that the Academy doesn't give a hoot for traditions.

My only other major comment on the awards this year is that Phillip Seymour Hoffman, while doing an outstanding job in "Capote," did not hold a candle to Heath Ledger.  But his portrayal of Truman Capote was certainly much more flamboyant and lively, and maybe in the end, just more interesting. But still, Heath Ledger was absolutely stunning in "Brokeback".    My ranking before the awards was Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Terrence Howard, and David Strathairn.

C'est la vie.