2005 Alternative Oscars

[Antares]

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Winner:Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Clint Eastwood; Albert S. Ruddy; Tom Rosenberg

Other Nominees:
Finding Neverland (2004) - Richard N. Gladstein; Nellie Bellflower
Ray (2004/I) - Taylor Hackford; Stuart Benjamin; Howard Baldwin (III)
Sideways (2004) - Michael London (II)
The Aviator (2004) - Michael Mann (I); Graham King (I)

[Antares]

I saw all of the films except Finding Neverland, and once again I must say that it was another weak field in the Best Picture category. Of the four that I watched, I would have to go with Sideways.

[Tom]

This time I have seen three of the movies:
"Million Dollar Baby", "Sideways" and "The Aviator".
I didn't like "The Aviator". Of these three I probably would go with "Million Dollar Baby".

[RossRoy]

Hey I've seen them all for this year!

I have to agree with the choice of Million Dollar Baby for Best Picture.. with Ray a very close second.

.. but, if I had to choose what to watch right now - I'd reach for Finding Neverland.

[Critter]

I've seen The Aviator, Million Dollar Baby and Finding Neverland. I went with Neverland because I didn't really like The Aviator and Million Dollar Baby left me feeling depressed for weeks on end afterwards. That was one of the saddest films I have seen where not one good thing happens to the main character and it hurt to watch.

[Najemikon]

Million Dollar Baby for me. Critter is right, but the saddest stories still have a positive centre. You're better for having seen it and that makes it important.

I disagree, Antares, as I think this was a rather strong year aside from the predicatable Ray and Aviator. Sideways is a great film, though perhaps not deserving of actually winning. Finding Neverland I also couldn't see winning, but it is a wonderful story, very well told.

[Antares]

Million Dollar Baby for me. Critter is right, but the saddest stories still have a positive centre. You're better for having seen it and that makes it important.

I disagree, Antares, as I think this was a rather strong year aside from the predicatable Ray and Aviator. Sideways is a great film, though perhaps not deserving of actually winning. Finding Neverland I also couldn't see winning, but it is a wonderful story, very well told.

YOU disagreeing with me!!!!!    

But all kidding aside... when you have 3 biography films in the field, it's definitely a lean year.

I went with Sideways because it was well made film with a lot of quirky moments. Million Dollar Baby was very good, but after seeing Ikiru, it's hard to appreciate films that deal with matters of illness and suffering.

[Najemikon]

Million Dollar Baby for me. Critter is right, but the saddest stories still have a positive centre. You're better for having seen it and that makes it important.

I disagree, Antares, as I think this was a rather strong year aside from the predicatable Ray and Aviator. Sideways is a great film, though perhaps not deserving of actually winning. Finding Neverland I also couldn't see winning, but it is a wonderful story, very well told.

YOU disagreeing with me!!!!!    

But all kidding aside... when you have 3 biography films in the field, it's definitely a lean year.

When you put it like that, you are right, I suppose, but that's sort of why I discounted Ray and Aviator as biographical films tend to bore me. On the other hand, Finding Neverland is just how such films should be done. It never forgets it is a film and not a documentary.

I went with Sideways because it was well made film with a lot of quirky moments. Million Dollar Baby was very good, but after seeing Ikiru, it's hard to appreciate films that deal with matters of illness and suffering.

Agreed, but goodness, that's a high mark to set! Few films come remotely close. Clint Eastwood though is currently one of my favourite directors. There is just something about his style that sits so well with me.

[Antares]

Agreed, but goodness, that's a high mark to set! Few films come remotely close.

I know, I know, but every time I watch a film like that, my mind instantly focuses in on Ikiru and how freakin' fantastic that film was.

[Critter]

Million Dollar Baby for me. Critter is right, but the saddest stories still have a positive centre. You're better for having seen it and that makes it important.

I agree that it was a fantastic film Jon, and I am glad that I watched it. I only meant that it's definitely something I don't want to watch again as it left me so down in the dumps.

[snowcat]

Right, I wont be voting this time I own Ray, Sideways and the Aviator.... ive watched none of them :/

[Achim]

I have only seen The Aviator (enjoyed it myself), but can see that one of the others should have won. I can imagine Million Dollar Baby to be the proper winnner of that year, still want to see it at some point in time.